I am not allowed, but...

    • Gold Top Dog

    I am not allowed, but...

    So I don't usually do this but I found a dog that I'm in love with.  In December I went with my mom to our local Humane Society to get her kitten's shots and I went and looked at their dogs.  There were so many wonderful dogs there, but one stuck with me.  He just reminded me of Max and I knew that SO would love this dog.  I looked up their site today and guess what?  The poor baby is still there  [&o]  and he's been there since the beginning of Nov.  I brought it up to SO knowing full well that he isn't ready for another one (having 3 dogs, 2 rabbits, and 2 birds already)...but he seemed to actually be considering it!  I just feel so bad for this poor boy.  Here's his picture:

    [linkhttp://www.wpahumane.com/available.html]http://www.wpahumane.com/available.html[/link]

    That link only gets you to their main page.  Click on dogs in the northside on the lefthand side and go down the first page until you see Harvey.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Oh wow, he's a Catahoula! That alone is something special[:)] What a sweatheart.
    • Gold Top Dog
    He's very cute, but he sure doesn't look like a couch potato. [:D]

    • Gold Top Dog
    I'm pretty sure that's why he's still there.  He was pretty hyper when I saw him. 

    We are redoing our very large backyard this spring and plan to fence the whole thing in...so that's why I'm tempted.  He would have a ton of room to run and play, plus I can take him to doggy day camp on days that I work so he can socialize and play.  Our yard right now is just full of weeds and stuff and I can't wait to get it so the dogs can have more space.
    • Gold Top Dog
    aww he is very handsome, I can't believe they have dogs that have been there since AUGUST!!! Thats 5 months! is it a no-kill shelter?
    • Gold Top Dog
    I was on there reading about them and yes, they are a kill shelter, but I think they try to foster out as many as they can.  Also, if they get any aggressive dogs in, they are put down.
    • Gold Top Dog
    We adopted our Sammy from the North side shelter - it wasn't too bad there.  They didn't ask about much of anything, but otherwise it was alright.  I hope you do eventually get to take him, he looks like a cutie!  It always helps to get one more out the shelters.....
    • Gold Top Dog
    Thanks, Nicole!  I was wondering what kind of check up they do on homes before adopting out.

    Although now I don't think SO wants another dog  [&o]
    • Gold Top Dog
    I was surprised how little WPA Humane asked.... we live in an apt, so all we needed was a copy of the form that says we can have a dog.  Didn't ask about time spent outside or how we would exercise him, didn't ask if we ever had a dog before, didn't ask about anything about how we would care for him at all.  We had been there a day or two prior to look at some dogs, and Sammy had just been neutered so we thought he was shy/anxious cuz of that.  went back in a day or two and he was still shy, scared, anxious....  and now I know that those were some "warning" signs that he might have SA or not be an appropriate apartment dog, but we didn't know then.  No one mentioned a peep.  He was "calm", and the other dogs were outrageously hyper, and something about him just told me that he needed someone to love him, so we brought him home.  But, had I not fallen in love within minutes, when he destroyed things or wouldn't stop howling or tumbled around in his crate, etc etc, maybe we would have entertained the idea of bringing him back.  I was committed, but I could see how things we had noticed but ignored earlier were signs of how he acted at home.  and had someone mentioned something to me, maybe I wouldn't have adopted him, but if I did I would have been informed and understood what we were getting into.
     
    Now, 8 months later, we are all fine and living fairly happily together :)  But I'm still somewhat disappoint in their adoption routine.  But, since they ARE a kill shelter, I suppose getting some of them homes is better than them being too pickly, in some instances. 
     
    Also, those little sheets that tell you about the dog's history - Sammy was dropped off by folks who had him as a stray, so his info was "known" but at least half of it was wrong.  Don't put too much stock into their info sheets.
     
    Anyway, I know you said DH didn't want another dog..... but if you do go thru WPA HS, I just wanted to share my experience with them.  Calling them on the phone is impossible, too - they are just too busy and you have to leave messages and hope they call you back, even about their clinic. 
    • Gold Top Dog
    The shelter's page for him is pretty adamant that he get a lot of walks and mandatory obedience training. It's certainly none of my business and I don't presume to know how much time you have for a dog like that, but I know that no matter how much I liked him, that description would give me pause. He sounds high-maintenance and I'm sure they're not kidding about that.
    • Gold Top Dog
    WOW you sure get a LOT with their adoption fee!
    • Gold Top Dog
    Well, unfortuneately Harvey will not become mine  [&o]  for two reasons:
    1. SO thinks we don't have the time or room for a dog that size (and I agree, he would be a handful, but I am going to let my friends know...I know a couple who are looking for a dog and they do have a lot of time to give).
     
    2.  Today at work I found out someone wants to give her dog up.  We have had two dogs at our bording facility since April 2006.  The owner comes and pays (but never visits) monthly (she is having some health probs).  Gizzy is an 11 year old shih tzu and Benny is a little over a year Pomeranian.  So Benny has been there since he was about 6 months old.  We all feel so bad for these dogs and she is finally willing to give them up...this is no life for these dogs.  I think we're going to end up with Benny, as my suervisor would really like me to take him.  He needs a lot of work...he isn't house broken, and he isn't trained (but his owner is willing to pay for training classes for him).  We will have to start at the beginning as if he was a little puppy.  I will be taking my dogs in to meet him this week.  I know Max gets along with him just fine, as they have met before.  So here I go, welcoming doggy number four!