Edited by Barbara Schuler (10/18/2010 06:59 PM)
Edit reason: typo

Kelly, I am glad about Sadie. She was tugging at the heart strings too, but being an alpha female I didn't think she would fit into my pack.

Can you do us all a favor? When it comes to be Saki's time, can you give him an ear scratch and tell him that a whole lot of people he didn't even know love him? And give him a little kiss on the muzzle, just from me??

But know that there are groups that exist just to take in frosty muzzles.

And unfortunately, many of these older guys and gals are surrendered when their humans are just too old themselves to walk them and care for them. And sometimes it's a matter of funds, unfortunately.

An arm of our training club fosters and adopts aged dogs (mostly Pugs, but not 100%), many of whom are frankly hospice dogs. We have no funds for transport (although we did arrange a relay of drivers after Katrina, first leg to Barstow to meet the second leg to San Luis Obispo to join up with the last leg up to us).

It's terribly hard to see these old dogs taken from their long-time homes to undergo a confusing journey and then a bewildering new home, but every senior who we can keep from the cement floors of the shelters is a triumph.

We are also extremely lucky that the local SPCA will call us whenever an older or disabled dog is surrendered so that one of us can go right over and get the dog and either foster him/her for the SPCA or (often) adopt the dog to someone in our group. (Almost everyone I know who has a GSD or a MAL also has a pre-owned Pug. )

So while it's true that there are people who actually surrender "inconvenient" seniors to replace them with a new puppy, and those people make me sick to my stomach, there are also those whose hearts break when they must give give up a beloved companion because they are going to a nursing home or no longer able to move around without a walker or no longer financially able even to buy the dog's food and meds.

My heart aches for both them and their dogs.

Did I ever mention that this is the wonderful place that I've got both my amazing dogs from? Sara was a stray, and Koenig was an owner surrender. Sad, that people could let a beautiful, sweet dog like Sara wander loose, 20lbs under weight, and someone just didn't want Koenig. (some days, I can't really blame them for that one... the dang dog does not have an off switch!)

Still, my dogs are examples of the wonderful animals that go through that place.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/turnnburn52984/Koenig/IMG_0918.jpg

 Quote: connie sutherland

So while it's true that there are people who actually surrender "inconvenient" seniors to replace them with a new puppy, and those people make me sick to my stomach, there are also those whose hearts break when they must give up a beloved companion because they are going to a nursing home or no longer able to move around without a walker or no longer financially able even to buy the dog's food and meds.

My heart aches for both them and their dogs.

That is SOOO true. The 2 dogs that I mentioned sleeping by a gate for a week were dogs that came from a foreclosure. Dad was living out of his car- no room for 2 90+ lb dogs in there as well.
Ultimately you are right Connie- It's important to keep an open mind, and remember that there are still individual people, and entire organizations geared at finding seniors a comfortable place for what time they have left.


Kelly- Saki will gets LOTS of extra love. I'll make sure to mention his extended Leerburg family to him.

Is it safe to assume the two little "two legged" animals were home grown? Cute family Kelly.

 Quote: Katie Finlay

the confusion and fear that she would have gone through to just be thrown out into a place with a small kennel with concrete floors and chain link fences for the rest of her life.

Just so you know.... when the FurryTale farm was well funded (and even now, in our last days) We are not 'that' type of place. Call it a rescue, shelter, what ever you want. Our lucky puppies live in a HOME. They get run of 3 rooms of the owners home. Kitchen, 'dog room' and the laundry room. (probably about 800sq ft total) While there are some kennels in the kitchen for at night... they are only used for new dogs that can't be trusted to behave at night, or dogs that are not house broke. (mainly young dogs that won't sleep/ try to play all night) The walls are all lined with big cushy bolstered beds. They have a doggy door to get outside into a small 'night yard' 24/7, and they have the run of 2 acres during the day!

They may have lost the family they were used to, but we do our danged'ist to make them happy at the farm. Some dogs don't do well. They need more 1 on 1 time then we have to give, or can't behave in a pack. They get put into smaller yards, with at least 1 other dog for company. They also generally get adopted first.

Not a piece of chain link on the property. While the floors in the house are polished concrete, they are also heated!

I'm not trying to sound defensive.... not at all. But this is the type of shelter/rescue that needs to exist all over the country. For the most part, our dogs live happy, satisfied lives. Vol's walk them, play fetch, love, and groom them. It's really a shame the funding just is not around.

 Quote: connie sutherland

So while it's true that there are people who actually surrender "inconvenient" seniors to replace them with a new puppy, and those people make me sick to my stomach, there are also those whose hearts break when they must give give up a beloved companion because they are going to a nursing home or no longer able to move around without a walker or no longer financially able even to buy the dog's food and meds.

My heart aches for both them and their dogs.

Oh my gosh... this thread is so heartbreaking and so heartwarming. Just so dang sad that the frosty muzzles don't simply get to live their lives out as they deserve.

We've found homes for most of the seniors now!! Even Jake, the 14yr old dal, and Nanook, the incontinent Malamute, who's very standoffish.

We've got most of the frosty muzzles living the best life we can find for them!


I owe a big THANK YOU, to everyone here on the Leerburg board for all the networking, and support that is happening. I'm glad I live in an apartment, and have a pet limit. If I didn't I'd be wading through dogs, and spending life taking everyone out for potty breaks.