Am I the only big softie left?

[tifttu]

I admit it, I'm a total softie. I am a sucker for sad lonely creatures and I want to save them all. Today, coming home in the rain from taking DS to preschool I pulled into my neighborhood to see a cute little terrier mutt running around in the street trying to sniff the cars as they passed. I just knew this dog was going to get hit and she was getting closer and closer to a very busy road, so I got out and called her to me. She was so sweet and had a tag with name/number/address so I drove her home...nobody there. I took her home and called and left a message.

For the rest of the day the kids and I played with this dog. She was well behaved with them, had a tea party with DD, and had a blast running around the yard. Our cats were less than impressed, but they were safely tucked inside the house. Anyway, the phone eventually rang with the owner who asked if I just wanted to keep the dog. I said I couldn't (DH is VERY against a dog right now) and she sent her husband over. I had pictured this dog running up to her family and being so happy, but she didn't. She whimpered, tucked her tail, hid behind the chair, went to DS, and did all she could to avoid this man. He finally picked her up and carried her out. He says she's been like that since his daughter found her 6mos ago. Apparently they both work all day and she's either in the house or tied in the yard. They don't really do anything with her.

It ripped my heart to shreds. DH called and I just cried while I told him what happened. What did I get???..."well, it's good you sent her back, she probably had some issues or something." I tried to call MIL, but got FIL instead who tried to lecture me on how I shouldn't be messing with stray dogs because they might not be nice and that I could have avoided the situation by just calling the animal shelter.

You'd think one of them could have come up with SOMETHING supportive to say. Anyway, I know I have to move on and I can't save the world, but that doesn't make me feel much better.

If you read all that, thanks. I needed to get it out.

[pawprint]

:(

I would have had to keep her. I would have cried.

[HammBugga]

That is terrible :( I don't even LIKE dogs and I would have kept her.

[TheLorax]

I'm so sorry that you couldn't keep her. I'm sorry you're hurt too.

[tifttu]

The porch and yard were so empy after she left. That dog was wet and muddy all day playing in the rain and I still pet her...that's love. I do wish DH was more of an animal lover. He'd be happy if we had none.

Thank you, I'm glad I'm not the only one.

[QuiltyConscience]

Still got their number?

Yeah, I'm a softie too.

Not too long ago, I found a little schnauzer waling along the main drag. I pulled over and picked her up and took her around to the local groomers and vet to see if anybody recognized her.

We had her all weekend, and she spent most of that on DH's lap. Monday morning, one ogf the groomers had found the owner, and the owner's daughter came and got her.

Doggie was very happy to see her and The woman told us her Mama was eldery and had cried all weekend about her dog, and had half the family out looking for her until 2:00 in the morning.

DH told her if she ever needed a dog sitter, she could call us, lol.

[tifttu]

Oh, I still have the number and even if I lose it I know where they live. It's only a couple of streets deeper into the neighborhood.

I did tell they man that if they ever wanted to let her come over to play the kids would love to see her again. He gruffed that he'd be happy to drop her off tomorrow and I don't think he meant just to visit. It was obvious he didn't want her back, so why did they put a tag on her? I just don't get it.

[ChristmasTree]

ohhh Gosh...i have two dogs because i just can't say no to a helpless, needy little (in my case very big) creature ;(

You could just tell DH that you are dog sitting for a while :) and then say her owners died....*ok, yes, i am evil like that*

[Becca75]

You're definitely not the only one. We have three dogs to prove it!

[StillSingingMom]

I have picked up many a stray dog. You aren't the only softie, by any means.

[Still_Tbog]

Naw--not the only softie. That is how we have gotten most of our pets. :) I bet that broke your heart to see. :(

[Meredith]

Awww, that's so sad. :( I'm glad you were able to rescue her.

I probably would've kept the dog temporarily and then tried to re-home him/her. I would hate to send a dog back to a family that didn't want it. :(

[tifttu]

"I probably would've kept the dog temporarily and then tried to re-home him/her. I would hate to send a dog back to a family that didn't want it."

I have pondered this one a good bit. DH might go for that because I've told him in the past that when the kids are older I'd like to do some fostering. I worry about DD being so young. DS will be 5 soon and I think he would understand, but Dd is just 2 and I worry that when we did find a family she would already be very attached (she wants a dog more than ds anyway).

[Justicedog]

I'm sorry he was so mean. Some people don't deserve dogs. I think I'd maybe take the dog and take him to the animal shelter where he'd have a chance to be adopted by someone caring.

[Meredith]

Just to be clear, I didn't mean to imply that I thought you did the wrong thing at all, Tifttu. I know sometimes you don't think of things when you're in the moment, and then later, you're like "damn, I shoulda done X," or something like that.

[still_me]

I took one look at our dog in a kennel at the APL, and he came home with us that night. So, no, you aren't the only big softie.

[tifttu]

No, I'm not worried about that, Meredith. I feel like I did what I had to at the time since that's what I told DH I would do. I have no doubt that if I called this family tomorrow or in two weeks or whatever and asked if I could take the dog, they'd let me so it's not like that was my only moment of choice.

I've thought about so much, taking the dog during the day for them, fostering the dog to find it a new home, and of course just letting it go. I don't think she'd do well in a shelter setting. I could be wrong, but I'm afraid she'd get looked over because she's not the cute little puppy or the small dog (I'd say she's more med sized). Our shelters here are very full right now.

Ds said this morning that he missed her and asked if I did too. I told him that I did. I didn't tell him how much. Having DH out of the country certainly doesn't help. I am going to ask a few of the moms I know to see if maybe any of them are toying with the idea of a dog.

[tifttu]

Dd and I drove by to visit her this morning. She was right out front on an actual chain. She could go in the garage where there was a bed, food, and water. She looked much better dry, almost schnoodly. She had very curly legs and of course the terrier type wirey hair and facial hair. She came right up wagging her tail and loving on us with no shyness at all. I do think I found why they want to get rid of her though...she seems to have excitement incontinance. There was a little puddle on the drive as soon as we started to walk up to her. I'm not sure I know anyone willing to deal with that.

[3girls2luv]

Nope you are not the only softie. I would have done the same thing you did. When I was younger and we lived on a 5 acre ranch I had 8 dogs and the majority of them were strays. I could not do that anymore since I don't have the room for them but like others have said I might of tried to re-home her. I am glad you all got to go and visit her and hopefully you can find someone to take her in.

[still_me]

Dd and I drove by to visit her this morning. She was right out front on an actual chain. She could go in the garage where there was a bed, food, and water. She looked much better dry, almost schnoodly. She had very curly legs and of course the terrier type wirey hair and facial hair. She came right up wagging her tail and loving on us with no shyness at all. I do think I found why they want to get rid of her though...she seems to have excitement incontinance. There was a little puddle on the drive as soon as we started to walk up to her. I'm not sure I know anyone willing to deal with that.


We deal with it everyday. lol Our dog will roll over when he does something wrong. If DH walks towards him, he pees straight up into the air from being scared. Many a times has DH walked away with pee on him. It is a part of dealing with a dog that had been abused from their previous owner.

[Sassafras]

There should have been a warning on this thread (just kidding) It has me feeling bad too!

[3girls2luv]

We deal with it everyday. lol Our dog will roll over when he does something wrong. If DH walks towards him, he pees straight up into the air from being scared. Many a times has DH walked away with pee on him. It is a part of dealing with a dog that had been abused from their previous owner.

My louie has never been abused and pees when he gets excited too ;) He is a chihuahua and the vet said its pretty common in that breed.

[tifttu]

I think it must be pretty common in general. I've known a lot of dogs of various breeds and backgrounds with it. Tough sell for an adoptive family though.

[3girls2luv]

Well we deal with it and we have just learned not to approach him with too much excitment and we usually wait till he comes up to us. Most of the time he can control his bladder but if we go to pick him up he will get so excited and he will pee.

[tifttu]

Poor guy. I would guess that even a dog would rather not have uncontrollable pee.

[StillSingingMom]

It is often possible to work with a dog who has an excitement/submissive urination problem to increase confidence and mostly eliminate the problem.

Often a dog on a chain all day or for any significant period of time feels very insecure, which makes this type of problem much worse. A nervous dog often feels better if she can run away if something frightening comes by. The chain takes that away. A better environment and good socialization might completely eliminate that problem.

[tifttu]

It's funny you posted that. I looked it up earlier today and found some sites that talked about that. I didn't see about the chains, but it certainly makes sense.

I did finally get a little family support today. I talked to my dad who's a total softie too. He completely understood and had encouraging words. I also talked to my sis. She's not much of a softie at all, but even she said she'd take the dog in. FWIW, she pretty much hates dogs, but maybe he hates mean people more.

Hearing that you guys would have felt the same way definitely helps. Thank you!