Major Dog Dilema!
Aug 13th 2008, 2:56 pm
#16
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Re: Major Dog Dilema!
Hi there,
Major dilema, I have two dogs who by the time my visa is through, will be 9.5 year s old. One is a highly strung German Shepherd, other is a wee shitzu.
Whilst the cost of relocating them is eye watering, i would be prepared to pay. The GS coming with us is just not going to be feasable (came home today to an eaten kitchen door) and thats not the only damage she has done to the house in past, what do I do?
Having been a dog warden for 10years, I know the reality of getting a good second home, and also have witnessed various cruelty cases over the years. This dog has been with me since a puppy through thick and thin, she hates loud noise, has to be inside house at nite etc. Its absolutly heart breaking making a decision, do i try rehome? or do I take the advice of one vet, to destroy her? I cant bare destroying her, but will it be crueler to try rehoming when all she has known is me and the children? How is anyone going to understand all her little ways and fears. I just have visions of her ending up in a shed or worse rehoming shelters, she will just go to pieces. Shepherds are very much one man dogs. Her age is a major factor as Shepherds dont norm make double figures. Ive given her a fantastic life should i be the one to end it? any one in similar situation?
Major dilema, I have two dogs who by the time my visa is through, will be 9.5 year s old. One is a highly strung German Shepherd, other is a wee shitzu.
Whilst the cost of relocating them is eye watering, i would be prepared to pay. The GS coming with us is just not going to be feasable (came home today to an eaten kitchen door) and thats not the only damage she has done to the house in past, what do I do?
Having been a dog warden for 10years, I know the reality of getting a good second home, and also have witnessed various cruelty cases over the years. This dog has been with me since a puppy through thick and thin, she hates loud noise, has to be inside house at nite etc. Its absolutly heart breaking making a decision, do i try rehome? or do I take the advice of one vet, to destroy her? I cant bare destroying her, but will it be crueler to try rehoming when all she has known is me and the children? How is anyone going to understand all her little ways and fears. I just have visions of her ending up in a shed or worse rehoming shelters, she will just go to pieces. Shepherds are very much one man dogs. Her age is a major factor as Shepherds dont norm make double figures. Ive given her a fantastic life should i be the one to end it? any one in similar situation?
Anyway to cut a long story short - some very old friends of ours decided to take her in for us as a companion for their elderly dog and elderly dad who lives in a granny flat at their house. Our dog is very spoilt and likes to sleep inside most of the time. She went to live with them about four weeks ago to make sure she settled in before we left. We've been to visit her three or four times since and she's settled in well. The new family love her and though it's sad to leave her (we've had her since birth as she's the pup of another family dog) we know she's in good hands.
Good luck with finding a new family for your dog.
Aug 13th 2008, 4:40 pm
#17
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Re: Major Dog Dilema!
Hi Audrey, wow, this is a tough call, but i'd try the rehoming option and seek out German Shepherd rescue for help, these organisations can be wonderful at finding the RIGHT homes for older dogs.Failing that, and if you can possibly do it, why not take her? Or is the kennel issue gouing to prove too much? Personally I could not bear the thought of leaving my two behind, but I understand thats just my opinion, and perhaps the vets etc have valid reasons for their advice.Whatever you do im sure will be with a kind heart and the dogs best interests in mind and I wish you well.
Aug 14th 2008, 9:28 am
#18
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Re: Major Dog Dilema!
Hi i know that this isnt really going to be much help, we to had a dog he is a 4 year old bordercollie, and he is really lovely. But we did make the upsetting decision of re homing him. Even though he was house trained great with kids etc some times he could get a bit panicked and start flying about if it was environment that he wasnt used to as he was reliant on the people he knew. We put the word out that we were relocating and through a friend we met a lovely family who were looking for a companian for their other collie, we didnt just hand him over we took him over there a few times went for walks with them etc till he new where he was and who they were, well now he is completly in love with his new buddie and is actually i think getting more atention as they take both dogs every where with them. I think if your dog gets stressed then maybe it isnt the best thing to put it through the flight its a long time and then you have the wait in quarantine on the other side, i would go with your gut instinct on this one, try to rehome if you can but really if its going to be too stressful for the dog even rehoming it then may be you have to be kind and do the right thing. PM if you want a chat
Aug 14th 2008, 9:49 am
#19
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Re: Major Dog Dilema!
Hi again
When the incident happened, she had full access to huge garden, and utility room, she opened the utility door, and ate the kitchen door, through to rest of house??!! it was during the day, i was out shopping. Went out teatime last nite for 2 hours, again let the back door open to garden came home and she had eaten the utility door! At end of tether, in middle of trying selling house, dont need this , the animal has blown it! Oh and have had a week of getting up to pools of urine and sh**! every morning, she has obviously flipped her lid!
At the end of day, i cant pass on her problems to anyone else.
I am absolutly livid the now!
I have a 1 year old and two other kids, that need to be amused, i am now in a position i can t go out and leave her,this is ridiculous!
Vet on Monday.
When the incident happened, she had full access to huge garden, and utility room, she opened the utility door, and ate the kitchen door, through to rest of house??!! it was during the day, i was out shopping. Went out teatime last nite for 2 hours, again let the back door open to garden came home and she had eaten the utility door! At end of tether, in middle of trying selling house, dont need this , the animal has blown it! Oh and have had a week of getting up to pools of urine and sh**! every morning, she has obviously flipped her lid!
At the end of day, i cant pass on her problems to anyone else.
I am absolutly livid the now!
I have a 1 year old and two other kids, that need to be amused, i am now in a position i can t go out and leave her,this is ridiculous!
Vet on Monday.
Aug 14th 2008, 10:34 am
#20
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Re: Major Dog Dilema!
I think really deep down you know that you have already made your mind up, yuo have to do the right thing by the animal, it cant be good for her mentaly to be distructive when you leave her, and as for the mess when you come down stairs in the morning well thats not healthy for you and your children. You know that you have given her the best home that you can for the time that you have had her its not that you dont love her but sometimes these things as sad as they are do have to be done, chin up it will be ok. Over the years i have had many animals cats , dogs, horses, duck, pigs, rabbits and the list goes on and i think there comes a time when you have to forget what your heart wants you to do and go with your head.
Aug 14th 2008, 10:38 am
#21
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Re: Major Dog Dilema!
thanks for that x
Aug 14th 2008, 11:21 am
#22
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Re: Major Dog Dilema!
Hi i have sent you a pm
Aug 14th 2008, 1:06 pm
#23
broken but got a visa! :
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Re: Major Dog Dilema!
It is a dilemma, does sound like youve made your mind up but dont do it in anger, she may well 'be losing it' now and the messing etc just a sign of it.
I had to have my old girl put to sleep before we came, i looked at rehoming but it was not an option, she was 12, blind, arthritic, and had started having accidents. I feel guilty etc and desperately miss her but i know it really was for the best, whether i emigrated or not.
I rehomed my younger dog, 7yr old lhasa apso with family and hes so happy - rules their house...my old girl was the boss in our house so he never got to be top dog til we left him
I had to have my old girl put to sleep before we came, i looked at rehoming but it was not an option, she was 12, blind, arthritic, and had started having accidents. I feel guilty etc and desperately miss her but i know it really was for the best, whether i emigrated or not.
I rehomed my younger dog, 7yr old lhasa apso with family and hes so happy - rules their house...my old girl was the boss in our house so he never got to be top dog til we left him
Aug 22nd 2008, 10:41 am
#24
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Re: Major Dog Dilema!
How can you think of not taking a dog you have had since a pup??? Something I could never do..
We are taking our 2 over in October/November even though they both cost us nothing and we are having to pay £4000 to ship them.
Find a way to accommodate her "quirks"...
We are taking our 2 over in October/November even though they both cost us nothing and we are having to pay £4000 to ship them.
Find a way to accommodate her "quirks"...
Aug 22nd 2008, 1:31 pm
#25
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Re: Major Dog Dilema!
good for you! I hope your dogs are ok at the other end! You obviously have never seen an animal in severe stress. Think you should do a bit of homework before being so judgemental. You do realise they will be in the hold with no human contact, (bar a water top up) and are not allowed to be sedated, you try sitting in a crate for 20 plus hours,no food just water when so much as a firework going of terrifies the life out of you, with no means of escape. Would you let you house to an owner of a dog that can eat through copper? DONT THINK SO.
Aug 22nd 2008, 1:40 pm
#26
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Re: Major Dog Dilema!
good for you! I hope your dogs are ok at the other end! You obviously have never seen an animal in severe stress. Think you should do a bit of homework before being so judgemental. You do realise they will be in the hold with no human contact, (bar a water top up) and are not allowed to be sedated, you try sitting in a crate for 20 plus hours,no food just water when so much as a firework going of terrifies the life out of you, with no means of escape. Would you let you house to an owner of a dog that can eat through copper? DONT THINK SO.
Good luck sorting things out..
Aug 22nd 2008, 4:40 pm
#27
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Re: Major Dog Dilema!
Hi Audrey, you know what is best for your dog. Your dog does get very very stressed and i dont think it is kind to put her through the flight and then the quaran 
tine at the other end, you will make the right choice.
tine at the other end, you will make the right choice.
Aug 22nd 2008, 5:12 pm
#28
F*** it!
Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Stepford, WA
Posts: 958
Re: Major Dog Dilema!
I too have a major effin dog dilemma.
Do you you realise they are selling Puppy's milk at IGA????
Disgusting!
Do you you realise they are selling Puppy's milk at IGA????
Disgusting!
Aug 23rd 2008, 2:40 am
#29
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Re: Major Dog Dilema!
Hi Audrey,
What a sad dilema, I've sent you a PM,
S x
What a sad dilema, I've sent you a PM,
S x
Aug 23rd 2008, 11:58 am
#30
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Location: Sunshine Coast
Posts: 60
Re: Major Dog Dilema!
Hi - I fully understand your dilemma. I've also pm'd you.
Take care
Take care