Posted on 03/30/2012 7:26:44 PM PDT by pops88
I just sent the following to someone involved with animal rescue, and wanted to share with Freepers. It's been a very hard day here :
I found out last night my family has to move overseas in the next 5 days because of my husband's job. I have a highly intelligent, well trained, well behaved, 4 year old German Shepherd. If I can't find a foster or permanent home, he will have to be euthanized. I've worked with him extensively. He's obedient and knows many commands, but he's not been able to be socialized to other people or animals. From the time he was a puppy he was fearful of other people and I was unable change that behavior. As a family pet, he has been wonderful. He was neutered as soon as possible to avoid problems with dominance issues. Some of the commands he knows: sit, stay, lie down, leave it, drop it, take, put (here,) give, find (person/specific toy), back up,wait, shake,kiss, crate, etc.
He is pool safe. He does not enter bedrooms or bathrooms unless on command. He does not get on furniture or eat food that has not been given to him. He will not take food from counters, coffee tables or the garbage. He is housebroken. If his water is empty he will nudge his dish and sit and wait. If a toy is taken away and put up he will not try to take it back. He doesn't beg at the table. When I'm cooking he goes and lies down. He is in good health and not over weight.
He can be a big ham with doe eyes or a head plant on a knee when he wants attention. He's so smart and communicative that I've referred to him as our toddler. He was taught to heel as a puppy, but because of his fear and aggression with strangers and other animals he has not been walked on a leash for several years. He's had to be confined to our home and backyard. My husband is a pilot and was unemployed several times in the last few years because of the economy. It's been a real struggle for us. We didn't have the money to take him to a professional trainer to deal with his socialization issues, and he was too big for me to handle on walks. He would be an absolutely wonderful dog for someone willing to work with him.
I've kept a file on all his vet records and papers (purebred from East German blood lines.) We absolutely hate the thought of having to take him to the Humane Society and be put down when he's such a wonderful dog otherwise, but again, we have to move overseas on extremely short notice and we're all pretty much in shock. I live in Las Vegas and expect to be driving to Los Angeles on Tuesday.
PLEASE don’t put that healthy dog to sleep. Thst would be horrible.
If i can be of any help, just let me know. I would be glad to research places that help, and ask a local place i have fostered through if they recommend a local place.
Have you tried calling your local police/sheriff’s offices, or the local Army recruiter?
They might be able to use a 4 year old, well-behaved, good looking dog like him.
I can’t remember who has the latest doggie ping list. It was Hairofthedog a long time ago.
I would try posting it on your local FR board (Vegas? possible LA delivery?)
Love the doggies. Let’s see what I can do about alerting your local board.
Once again I am disgusted and upset that when “plans change and a helpless and dependent animal becomes inconvenient to his family, the phrase “put down” is used. Kids can be inconvenient too Hope and pray this beautiful dog finally gets his ‘forever’ home with people who will truly love him this time around.
Perhaps Grammy can help?
I wish I could take him, but I’m too far away..
He’s beautiful!
Praying for you both!
Jim,
I’m pinging you to this thread because I tried to post on other state boards and was flummoxed. Wouldn’t be the first time. :)
Is there anyway we can help these folks out with the local boards? Sounds like some loving people with a great dog. Thanks!
“Have you tried calling your local police/sheriff’s offices, or the local Army recruiter?
They might be able to use a 4 year old, well-behaved, good looking dog like him.”
Hadn’t thought about that. Hard to have a clear head when I just found out last night we’re moving and I’ve got about 4 days to pack. Our living conditions have been pretty stable the last 8 years. When we’ve moved we’ve accommodated the dog. Back in 2000 we had a Shepherd we were looking at spending a lot of money on and putting into quarantine because we had to move to Hawaii. We had travel arrangements made for him, vet lined up, etc. A friend said he knew someone with the police who worked with their dogs and if we wanted he would come and evaluate him. The dog passed, and we thought it would be kinder to the dog to let the police use him than put him in the belly of a plane for hours and then in quarantine for 60 days. It was pretty heart wrenching. If there was any way I could take “puppy” I would.
Off-topic ping.
What state are you in?
Joe...did you see this?
“Once again I am disgusted and upset that when “plans change and a helpless and dependent animal becomes inconvenient to his family, the phrase “put down” is used. Kids can be inconvenient too Hope and pray this beautiful dog finally gets his ‘forever’ home with people who will truly love him this time around.”
And what would you do if you were told you had to move overseas in 4 days? Should I leave my husband? Oh, maybe the real kind thing to do would be to abandon the dog on the street or drop him in a field /sarc. My dog is at my side all day long except the few hours I run errands. Like I don’t already have a dagger in my heart.
German Shepherds are great dogs. Wish I could take him.
I’m in Las Vegas, Nevada. I’m going to L.A. on Tuesday or Wednesday. The 727 captain already bought us an extra day.
Thanks, MS.B....
pops, another thing....ask your vet!! Does he/she know of any kind soul??
IF you have a Facebook account, FRmail me your name....we can do all we can THERE to network in this short time...
Geez, I feel bad for you...
“pops, another thing....ask your vet!! Does he/she know of any kind soul??”
My vet was the person that hooked me up with the professional trainer locally that works with rehabilitating and re-homing problem dogs. He’s full. He did say he contact some of the groups/people he knows.
we have a german shepard ping list I am contacting.
Contact German Shepherd Rescue!!! I donate to Coastal German Shepherd Rescue regularly
I think it is extreme to talk about putting the dog down if you don’t find a person to take him in 5 days
That is what breed rescue organizations are for
And our SPCA is a no-kill shelter for adoptable pets that are surrendered, though not for strays. So talk to the SPCA and also talk to folks on the military base, your veterinarian, and the police department about fostering your Shepherd if necessary unitl breed rescue can pick him up
I’ll talk to my daughter and her husband in Santa Clarita, Ca. She has a male GSD who is getting very old and his hips are shot. They love the dog, but how much longer he’s going to around is anyone’s guess. That dog is spoiled rotten. Based upon what you wrote it looks like it would be a good fit. I’ll private email you with my contact info. as well as follow up that way to let you know one way or the other.
How heart-breaking for you. Please do everything under the sun so euthanization is not an option.
Sounds rather strange that you can’t spend several more days stateside to take care of personal business while your husband travels ahead to take care of arrangements at your destination.
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