Quality of life

Gizmo83036

If that's true of your dogs, or of dogs in general, than why do we expect certain things of people who come here looking to get a dog? We expect them 1) to know the needs of the dog 2) to have time for the dog 3) to have room for the dog and 4) to have adequate finances for the dog. Those aren't human comforts - those are bare minimums.  

If someone came to the forum looking to get a dog and said that he/she was homeless and/or living in their car, I'm sure most of us would discourage them. People coming to us looking for "dog" advice are usually living a more normal existence. When people find themselves homeless they often choose to keep their dogs with them with the hope that things will start looking up again. Before they became homeless, they were most likely able to meet the bare minimums of time, room, finances, etc.

Joyce

fuzzy_dogs_mom

If someone came to the forum looking to get a dog and said that he/she was homeless and/or living in their car, I'm sure most of us would discourage them. People coming to us looking for "dog" advice are usually living a more normal existence. When people find themselves homeless they often choose to keep their dogs with them with the hope that things will start looking up again. Before they became homeless, they were most likely able to meet the bare minimums of time, room, finances, etc.

Joyce

Right, I agree. However, I don't think that the standard of care changes based on the owner's situation. A dog needs certain things, and when an owner can't provide those things, it may be time to think about other options.

Gizmo83036

To those of you saying your dog would choose one thing over another, do you think those choices are in the best interest of the dog?

hmm... if i came on hard time, and had my dog, i do believe my dog will live better than i do... heck... even know i'm not on 'hard times' my dog lives better than me.

so is it fair or isnt it? i mean... afterall... my dog is still living better than me right?

CoCo Chanel

so is it fair or isnt it? i mean... afterall... my dog is still living better than me right?

Does it matter if your dog is living better than you? Probably not. Just saying that they would live better than you is very subjective. It doesn't mean that they have a good life, it just means that you have a worse one. What matters is that the dog, as your dependent, is properly cared for. If you were someone's dependent, then they would be responsible for you in the same manner.

Hmmmmmm, this one hits a bit close to home.  Granted my "car" is a thirty seven foot motor home, but it isn't terribly spacious and not quite enough room for all of us.  I certainly spend more per week on their food than I do on ours........

Sheba would not do well in another home.  She's got her little quirks and issues that I seriously doubt that anyone else would be willing to deal with those things.  The others could probably be rehomed and might be happy, but to what end?  I do consider this to be a temporary situation and these dogs are family.  I wouldn't rehome one of my human children so..............

Really - I don't think dogs give much thought to their quality of life.  I don't think they care whether their food is "premium" or whether there's an agility class that they're missing out on or how much their collar costs.  I think if they're with the people they love, and who love them, and they have food and water ... they're happy.

Joyce

I agree with Glenda our pets are family members. I wouldn`t rehome my children so why would I rehome my pets. This is Mollys only home she knows as we got her as a pup. Bella is on her third home already and only two years old. I believe that they would rather stay with me even if life wasn`t as good as it is now for them then for me to give them up.

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Really - I don't think dogs give much thought to their quality of life.  I don't think they care whether their food is "premium" or whether there's an agility class that they're missing out on or how much their collar costs.  I think if they're with the people they love, and who love them, and they have food and water ... they're happy.

So true.

mollymoo

I agree with Glenda our pets are family members. I wouldn`t rehome my children so why would I rehome my pets. This is Mollys only home she knows as we got her as a pup. Bella is on her third home already and only two years old. I believe that they would rather stay with me even if life wasn`t as good as it is now for them then for me to give them up.

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Really - I don't think dogs give much thought to their quality of life.  I don't think they care whether their food is "premium" or whether there's an agility class that they're missing out on or how much their collar costs.  I think if they're with the people they love, and who love them, and they have food and water ... they're happy.

So true.

Obviously, premium food, agility and fancy colllars go far beyond what I'm getting at here. I'm talking about the bare minimums of care - good meals, water, exercise, and a living area. Sure a dog might like getting table (fast food?) scraps and sleeping with mom - but they'll eventually suffer malnutrition and mental effects from being cooped up.

Gizmo83036

Sure a dog might like getting table (fast food?)

I guess I better go back and reread as she said that she has a part time job so maybe she is buying dog food for the dogs.

Gizmo83036

The comparisons with re homing children are really not relevant.

Depends on how you view your pets

The problem that I do have with living in a car and having a job or a part time job is summer is coming. It gets to hot for any pet to stay in a confined space.

I will never be in this kind of situation so I guess I can`t really can`t reply on what would be the right way to go for people that are..

mudpuppy

Most people agree that there is a minimum standard of care required for pet ownership. It includes regular balanced meals, water, physical exercise, mental stimulation, basic physical (grooming) and vet care, and some type of living quarters.

well now think from the dog's perspective. Certainly starving to death isn't optimal, but most dogs would cheerfully give up regular meals for more time and attention from their social group; most dogs would happily trade in their "balanced" kibbles for table scraps; I suspect most dogs would rather sleep in a car or leaky tent with their family than be kept isolated 23/7 in a lovely backyard or spend 10 hours a day alone in a plush mansion; most dogs would definitely opt for less vet care and probably opt for less grooming if asked.

I agree totally.  River is 140 lbs and I can promise you he would be happier living with me in a car than going to shelter.  As long as I can provide food, love and care for him - he would be better off with me no matter where I lived.  Not unless I thought my dogs were unhappy or I couldn't provide food would I ever consider giving them up.  If a family memeber were willing to take them for me for awhile and I new they would be happier then I would agree.

mollymoo

Gizmo83036

Sure a dog might like getting table (fast food?)

 

I guess I better go back and reread as she has a part time job so maybe she is buying dog food for the dogs.

Gizmo83036

The comparisons with re homing children are really not relevant.

 

Depends on how you view your pets

Mollymoo, I'm not referring to that story specifically, but to the situation.

I also view my pets as family members, but the point was that comparisons with rehoming children could not be made. You wouldn't have a choice in rehoming your child if you couldn't care for it. The government would make you. But, there are programs in place to help struggling parents so they have more opportunities to avoid a "rehoming" situation. Pets don't have those kind of safeguards, so it is up to us, as their guardians, to properly care for them and admit it when we can't.

mudpuppy

well now think from the dog's perspective. Certainly starving to death isn't optimal, but most dogs would cheerfully give up regular meals for more time and attention from their social group; most dogs would happily trade in their "balanced" kibbles for table scraps; I suspect most dogs would rather sleep in a car or leaky tent with their family than be kept isolated 23/7 in a lovely backyard or spend 10 hours a day alone in a plush mansion; most dogs would definitely opt for less vet care and probably opt for less grooming if asked

Ok, so you have a dog suffering malnutrition from eating table scraps at irregular intervals, a dog that's happy sleeping in the car with his family but is mentally suffering from being locked in that car while the owner is working or looking for work, a sick dog that has contracted a disease due to no vaccinations and a poor immune system from poor diet, and has matted hair and bloody skin from no grooming.

So that's the worst case scenario, long-term consequences of these decisions... but it shows that even though the dog may choose that, it isn't in their best interest. That's where we have to choose for them what is best.

Having 9 dogs and 5 kids this is a daily choice.  We could have ignored the extra work and money and told the adult Hey you made you deal with them....  instead we have raised them as we did our own, loving them and sacrificing to make sure they are loved, they have what they need and whay we can give them.  Should we have allowed them to be adopted out to a family unable to have kids?  Sheeesh How would I ever know?

Our pack is adored and we feed them the best we can,  if we run low on funds we adjust, we make the standard as high as possible BUT we adjust. Excercise is consistant,  water is clean and pleantiful,  crates are clean so this year the crate pads are not all brand spanking new , they came from a waterfront mission and are used but fluffly clean comforters, the dogs cuddle down into them and everyone is happy.  Vet care is never skimped on.

Will we retire and travel the world as we planned ? Nah that ship sailed...will be be able to send everyone to college ? Hey grades better be above excellent and all of them will be thinking community college and scholarships. Adjusting it is part of the world we live in. No I would not take my pack of 9 and make them live in my car. Thankfully I have friends, we have supported rescue to the max ....if we could not live in our rv then yes I would place my younger dogs, they deserve the best I can arrange for them. My older dogs would do without, eat old roy , sleep in the car , anything to be by my side. My Jasmine  would need to be PTS if we had to be apart forever. She would never stop looking and needing me, just as I would never stop looking for or needing her.

Bonita of Bwana

I have to think that at this point in time it is neither in this woman nor her dogs' best interest that they be further traumatized by separating them; she has endured a very unfortunate series of events leaving her in a precarious circumstance, but she is clearly doing her best to take care of herself and them and saying she should make the decision to give them up to a shelter seems almost punitive. 

I just don't think we can make a blanket statement - each situation is as individual as that pet and that person.