Dog Community

placing a dog

anne

Posted : 5/17/2006 5:11:37 PM

Okay, I admit this should probably be in the "dogs looking for homes" section, but I need advice. I agreed to foster what I was told a 3 year old lab mix who would "find a home soon". I didnt ask to see the dog or inquire about the group, I guess I am too trusting. Well I now have a 10 (is what the vet estimated) year old dog high HW positive and he is not a lab mix at all. The rescue I am working with has pretty much told me I need to place the dog on my own since she is "too busy with her own foster dogs to place". I dont want to bash the rescue. It comes down to I pretty much have to find a place for this guy to go. I took him to the vet to be HW treated but my vet (who doesnt like HW treating any dogs) said he is old and he might pass away due to the treatment so the best thing we can do is put him on the preventative which will take 2 years to kill the HW. Okay, sorry if this sounds selfish but I cant foster ANY dog for 2 years, I started fostering because I wanted to help AS MANY animals as possible & if I keep this dog for 2 years that is neither fair to me, the dog or the other dogs who I could have saved in that time frame (we have a high kill shelter here). Anyway, the rescue I am helping decided it would be best to not put him through the treatment. However, the rescue says they have asked a couple different rescues (dont even get me started!) and they said they would take him if he wernt HW positive. I told her it was worth the risk but...(Sorry agian!)

So anyway, I am looking for ANY advice about finding a home for this fellow. He is 8-10, HW positive, beagle? mix. I have NEVER placed a dog before on my own so I am clueless. Someone was interested in the dog but she asked a pretty steep adoption fee & the people said they wernt willing to pay that much for an older dog who is HW positive. I have also been told he could go back in boarding but than he will be kept in a kennel & I think the rescue knew I wouldnt do that. Sorry if I am venting, I am just frustrated mostly at myself for not knowing more about the dog or rescue before I took him in. He is a sweet guy, gets along great with dogs & cats, is crate trained, housebroken & altered. People are detoured by the HW thing (which I would probably be too) and they wont get him treated. Is it realistic to think that he can find a home soon? I dont want to put him in boarding but if he isnt going to find a home I dont know what else to do, I can't keep him, I have 2 or 3 organizations who are asking me to foster for them but I can't since I have this guy. Thanks in advance for your advice. If you would prefer you can PM me instead. Thanks.

glenmar

Posted : 5/17/2006 5:25:13 PM

I PM'd you.

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Posted : 5/17/2006 6:42:25 PM

Good Lord, I can't believe they would ask a steep adoption fee for a 10 year old, HW positive dog. You'd think they would be just overjoyed that someone was willing to give him a good home to spend his final years in.[:@]

Joyce & Max

anne

Posted : 5/19/2006 7:36:18 AM

That is what I thought too & told her. I know they have programs like "seniors for seniors" where they allow senior citizens to adopt senior dogs at a discounted rate. I think that would be absolutly perfect. I truly think that would be the perfect home for him. He is small and doesnt get excited, he would be really easy for an older person to handle. I dont care about the money (but than again I didnt have to get him vetted when he got pulled), I just want to see him find a good home.

I also told her that if I find someone with an excellent home who will take extra good care of him than I will help pay the adoption fee. (I would of course go by & check up on him after he is adopted & he isnt going anywhere without me personally seeing the adopters house..I think they do housechecks too but I would want to do it myself since he is my foster.) She said it was stupid to "bargin" with them but I personally know I wouldnt pay the fee she is asking & I know the humane society here charges less than she is asking for him for young, healthy dogs.

The only thing that is important to me is for him to find a good home, not for her to make money. (And I dont want it to sound bad, I know she doesnt care about the money.) I think she just doesnt understand she can't charge the same amount for him as she does for a young, healthy dog, people will refuse to pay it, and again I am doing no good if I have a foster who stays with me for years..Our shelter here is considered "high kill", and I volunteer there once a week and every week I go there I think how many I could have helped in the time I have had my foster. Don't get me wrong, I think the dog is wonderful, but the dogs at our local shelter are also wonderful. I guess though in rescue, you quickly learn who to deal with & who not to.

However, there is a sweet, beautiful GSD at the shelter whom I have already told the manager if her time comes up, I will take her. (and rehome her) I am sorry to say but if her time does come up, I will have to give Capone back, or follow through with your idea Glenda[sm=happy.gif]. I put an ad in the paper that is supposed to run next weekend, I am planning on cutting the adoption fee AT LEAST in 1/2 if someone calls interested in him. I dont mind paying the fee, it is worth it to me to see him get a good home. He deserves to live his last few years out with someone who really loves him and spoils him. Then again I know that whoever adopts him needs to pay at least $50 to ensure they will take good care of him. What I cant understand is why she cant keep him at her place? I will let you all know what happens. Thanks for your advice again Glenda, I truly appreciate it, I hope he gets a new home soon too. I might just follow through with what you said...