Subject: Re: CLASS: Re: Screening dogs
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 13:36:27 -0400
From: Grannie Annie - grannie.annie@SHORE.NET

I would like to take in all of the dogs (mutts and strays), though of course cannot. However, if I know an owner will just dump it in the woods, or bring it to a kill pound to end it's life horribly, I would rather give the dog a chance first to see if it IS truely adoptable; and if not, to have the last moments with someone who cares. BTW, if a dog HAS to be pts, I will stay with it 'til the end - they deserve that! What are your thoughts on the matter?

Lila Borge Wills

Hi Lila,

I agree with you entirely. NEOESRescue takes in all OES, all ages, all reasons and evaluates them on a case by case basis.

There have been a number of times when one of our volunteers has accompanied an owner to the their vet to have an OES euthanized for health or temperament reasons. They have expressed gratitude to us for validating what they knew they should do but weren't sure or were scared or guilt ridden. [We think no one should have to endure those final moments alone, dog or owner]

I also agree with the Lister who suggested that there are SPECIAL homes out there. Theoretically, there is a home for every dog, no matter what. It becomes a matter of space, time, money, energy, and the patience to wait for that special home.

HAVE A GOOD DOG!
Grannie Annie

email: grannie.annie@shore.net
New England Old English Sheepdog Rescue, Inc.
Home Page: http://www.shore.net/~neoesr
Hotline: 781-259-8173 Fax 781-259-0720
NEOESR Inc., 49 Stonehedge Road, Lincoln, MA 01773

Subject: CLASS: Re screening dogs
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 14:44:50 -0400
From: crabtree - jakekc@INFINET.COM

Question: Where do people (rescue groups) stand on taking in a dog, even though you know it is not placeable (due to health, temperament, etc) because it is in a bad situation and will probably die in a less than humane way. Would you take it in knowing that you will take it directly to the vet to put to sleep humanely.

That's not an easy question and I don't feel I'm capable of playing God in most cases. I'm sure there will be some cases that are cut and dry. Dog should be pts, but not many. I'd be taking quite a few dogs to be pts if I didn't believe that good things can happen and that miracles do happen. But in those few cases where the dog will not survive or the temperament is so bad, I will help the owner make the decision that best suits the dog's needs. I'm always trying to help people understand what "responsible" means.

If the dog is in the shelter and is very, very aggressive, I wouldn't put myself in danger. I don't think it's my place to do that. In fact most shelters in my area wouldn't let me leave with a dog that is unadoptable to begin with.

I'm interested to hear what others do. I've heard some people do take in questionable dogs, then later pts. I try never to put myself in that position. There are way too many dogs that aren't aggressive or too sick to help. I can only spread myself so thin, then I start to fall apart.

Jenny Crabtree
Australian Cattle Dog Rescue/OH
CUR # 354

Subject: Re: CLASS: Re screening dogs
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 18:10:55 -0400
From: Tallanwood - malamute@MAIL.BANCOM.NET

Everyone would prefer to shift responsibility to the rescue group and delude themselves that the dog will be placed.... This at the emotional (and financial) expense of the rescuers...

This is a horribly difficult position to be put into. In the early days of our rescue, we once knowingly accepted an owner turn-in of a Mal with a truly bad temperament. The thought was that we could work with him, but it proved to be impossible. The situation deteriorated until our only solution was to have him euthanised. He was so very dangerous that we could not transport him to the vet-- the vet came to us.

This dog fought his death to the very end. The situation was so bad that we were all traumatized, including the vet. From that time we have worked with owners of dogs like this one to ensure that they take the responsibility of humanely ending the dog's life.

Molly

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Molly Moldovan & Jim Thomson
Tallanwood Northern Dogs
Ontario, Canada (2.5 hours N.E. of Toronto!)
malamute@mail.bancom.net
****************************************
visit the Alaskan Malamute HELP League, at:
http://www.accel.net/accel/malamuterescue/
Housing, Evaluation, Love, Placement

Subject: Re: CLASS: evaluating dogs -- if bitten
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 23:11:50 EDT
From: Janine Peters - NenePeters@AOL.COM

ESOMMERS@COURTS.STATE.NY.US writes:
If you are evaluating a dog, HAVE SOMEONE ELSE HOLDING THE LEASH. You don't know the dog (or else you wouldn't have to evaluate it) and having someone in a position to pull the dog away from you could save your life.

Betsy, thanks so much for this good advice! We all learn from someone's troubles, don't we!~ this I will remember! And make the one on the other end of the leash someone you really trust!!!

Janine Peters
Louisiana
Basenjis and whatever else.... ;>

Subject: CLASS: Re screening dogs
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 22:50:15 -0500
From: Russell & Becky - Nobozos@concentric.net

We are fairly new to rescue (1yr) and have only taken 5 dogs in so far. We have only been fortunate enought to receive vet records on one dog. All the others lied to us or simply had never taken the dog to a vet before. If we only took in dogs that had been cared for enough to have vet records, I guess there wouldn't be as much to do, just sit and wait till some one calls and says' I have this great dog for you to rescue'. In the case of our current rescue, Ollie, the poor boy would have been dead in a week if we hadn't found him on the internet. The woman wanted to give him away. She led us to believe he was well taken care of, just in need of a bath. I simply don't understand how----how can you let a dog like that die? Is that what most of the rescue orgs do? It seems like he needed rescue worse than any dog that has been to a vet and is current on everything. I know that at least two other rescue groups think the way we do, but I'd be interested to know if there are any more. Do you take in SO many that you kinda have to get particular? I don't know how I could choose between them if I had to. Please share.......

Subject: Re: CLASS: evaluating dogs
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 22:15:31 -0400
From: Linda A Forrest - sosbeagles@JUNO.COM

Monica B." - Rednoyz@KINCYB.COM writes:
I was there too and I thought it was *great* ! I keep the work sheet in my backpack, to use, wherever I go.

Can it be shared?

Linda Forrest
SOS Beagle Rescue, Inc.