I've been thinking about a thread that has been open now for a while -it's about a person who adopted an aggressive dog so that he was not put to sleep - she knows what he is and is working though it. She came here looking for advice, and guidance.

There was a comment, basically saying that with all the good dogs out there, why was this person doing all this work with a dog that may end up being put to sleep anyway.

I have mixed emotions about that type of thinking - yes, there are some great dogs in shelters that need homes, and they won't be as much work as this dog is.

BUT.

Sometimes a dog just calls to you. I tried to save a dog in a shelter thousands of miles away. There were probably very adoptable dogs between here and there... but I tried to save her. Ultimately, I failed and she was PTS, but it wasn't for lack of effort on my part.

I also brought home Caterina - one of my Malinois. She was a terror - there were people telling me right and left that she was crazy and not worth the effort. Caterina is now a therapy dog, and my soulmate. Had I listened to those nay-sayers, I would not have her in my life, and I don't even want to think about that...

When we question someone's actions, like taking in an aggressive dog, where does it end? Why take that old dog out of the shelter - he's gonna die soon any way? Why save that blind dog - she can't have much of a life. Why bring that sick and mangy dog home, there are plenty in the shelter that aren't that sick. Etc. Etc. Etc. Where does it end? When only perfect dogs are up for adoption?

Please, before you question someone about WHY they are doing something for a dog that you may not think is worth it, think about it. It may not be worth the effort for you, but for that person, it is... or they would not be doing it. Yes, sometimes we bite off more than we can chew when we take on a situation like that - and we come to a place like this for support, advice, and guidance.... not criticism. I was lucky to have Ed, Cindy, and Michael Ellis at my beck and call when I ran into problems with my dogs.. not everybody has that.

The Universe gives you the dog you need, not the dog you want. I believe that whole heartedly.

As I write this, I have Caterina looking at me and wagging her tail - she was a very special needs case, and while she took some great steps forward, she also took some pretty big ones back. I had a LOT of support while working with her, and I owe each person more than I can ever express. Was she worth it? ABSOLUTELY. Would I do it again? ABSOLUTELY.

Please think before you judge.

Kel

Thanks Kelly for your post....so true...

It reminds me the Starfish story....

Once upon a time, there was an old man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach every morning before he began his work. Early one morning, he was walking along the shore after a big storm had passed and found the vast beach littered with starfish as far as the eye could see, stretching in both directions.

Off in the distance, the old man noticed a small boy approaching. As the boy walked, he paused every so often and as he grew closer, the man could see that he was occasionally bending down to pick up an object and throw it into the sea. The boy came closer still and the man called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young boy paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The tide has washed them up onto the beach and they can’t return to the sea by themselves,” the youth replied. “When the sun gets high, they will die, unless I throw them back into the water.”

The old man replied, “But there must be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. I’m afraid you won’t really be able to make much of a difference.”

The boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned, smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one!”

adapted from The Star Thrower, by Loren Eiseley (1907 – 1977)

But I believe, that dogs are not born agressive, but made agressive by dog owners.