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.
From the German Shepherd Rescue-
“Hello,
We are full and also have a long waiting list. If we had room we would not be able to take a dog that’s aggressive to people and or dogs. We already have too many dogs like that the we can’t get adopted.
Sorry we can’t help.
GSR”
Now I’m really maybe off to bed.
Psalm 56:8
Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
Here is another place to try. They specialize in fostering dogs for the military if this is a military family
I’m very overwhelmed by the support, care and help that’s been offered. I’m trusting that God has the right person for my challenged, but loving dog. God always has a plan. He’s a God of life and not death. He’s the God that loves the unborn and the handicapped. He loves the widow and the orphan. God’s idea of perfection is so vastly different than ours. Perfection is what’s in His eyes, accomplishing His purpose. If our faith was never tried, we would never grow in Him, and we would not be able to praise Him for the miracles He’s done for us. I’ve always felt the dog (”God” backwards) was one of the best gifts He’s given us, and judged a person’s character by how they treat a dog. If I’m forced to go with my last option, at least I’ll know who my dog will be with. I would rather have him be with his maker that loves him than let him suffer or abandon him. He had a very good, loving home for almost 5 years. I think he was one of the lucky ones. He was very well loved. He wasn’t one of the many thousands or more left to die in the street or butchered in a 3rd world country for dinner. I had a neighbor who was Westernized. Her adopted stray puppy was hit by a car. Sadly, I witnessed it. Friends showed up and offered to butcher it for her. FOAF in the Philippines bought a dog in a shop. She picked out a cute puppy to take home. She was horrified when they brought it out butchered. These are things that have tugged at my heart strings in my relationships with dogs. A large portion of my heart goes with my dog, but yes, if there is no solution, I will be at his side as he drifts off to sleep in “mommy’s” arms before I’ll let anyone abuse or harm him, and he will go knowing that he was greatly loved,just as he unconditionally loved me.
Sounds like you have already made your decision. But just in case, ue to the quick time line, I wonder if it is possible if some freepers that have shown an interest could get in touch with you via phone, etc. so you are comfortable with them. Get an agreement of sorts written up, and then put your dog up at a kennel for a few days until the new owner could get to your area to pick up your dog? Just a thought.
“Sounds like you have already made your decision.”
No, the only decision I’ve made is that I won’t abandon my dog to fend for himself or adopt him out to a Michael Vick home. I’ll do everything I can to find him a good home, and I believe God has one. Not long after the presidential election, I was praying and agonizing over my dog’s temperament. I got a very clear message that I’d want a big, scary dog because of the times. Now he’s removing me from where I am and maybe someone else needs a good dog, because the conditions are such that I can’t take him.
I hope that things work out for you and the dog and your move. A hectic and stress full time. I’ll say a quick prayer for your situation - and that you can get some sleep! I wonder - is your dog not socialized with other people only when you are around, or when it is in his territory? It may just be that as master you are the only alpha. But with a new master - perhaps he will recognize them as the new alpha if you are gone?
“It may just be that as master you are the only alpha. But with a new master - perhaps he will recognize them as the new alpha if you are gone?”
I think he would recognize a new master as Alpha fairly quickly. He’s a very smart dog and I think he’d figure out not to bite the hand that feeds him absent several meals from “mom.” He knows that the few weeks my husband is home he is the Alpha, but like My Big Fat Greek Wedding- “The men may be the head of the house but the women are the neck and they can turn the head anyway they want.” He’ll obey dad, but he knows who the neck is, and he knows he’s in a world of hurt because “mom” nearly always defers to dad and God help him when I do. My dog very well knows his order in the pack- kind of a “wait till your father gets home” scenario.
I have a contact with GSD rescue in Arizona if you need it. Its only a few hours from LA.
It sounds like a few Freepers have offered to talk to you about giving your dog a good home. I hope one of them works out.
I think you misdirected your post. I do not have the dog, it’s the poster before me.
A few years ago a neighbor had a German Shepherd that needed to go to a good home. No rescues would take him as they were “full.”
My Aunt contacted the local authorities and they came out to do an evaluation. As far as we know he ended up working for the Canadians on the border.
But maybe this link will help find a rescue:
http://germanshepherd.rescueshelter.com/Arizona
You can click on “Private reply” under any post by pops88 and can contact her by private messaging.
Bumping your thread & hoping that a FReeper’s offer to take your dog will work out. He’s a very nice looking dog.
You obviously love him.
I feel for you.
Best of Luck
And what would you do if you were told you had to move overseas in 4 days? Should I leave my husband? 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.
Outside of crippling social detractions, he sounds like a wonderful animal in the home.
No way I could take him even if you could get him to the East Coast, so I hope you find the right home for the guy.
I had a visiting friend bring her mini-Aussie, a happy little soul who was way more interested in chasing a thrown ball than in being petted or loved on by me. My formerly sweet, playful lab turned into a hateful, snarling beast. All we could figure is she wanted to make sure the newbie wouldn’t steal her status and make her the lowest of now three instead of two dogs. Kinda sad how we had to keep her & the visitor separate for the whole weekend while my dominant dog ignored the drama.
Blessings, and the best of all things as your family begins life in a new land.
“One could take a few days out of one’s busy schedule to take care of what needs to be done, like finding a good home for a loved family member.”
That’s exactly what I’m trying to do. I got 4 hours of sleep last night and that was sitting up on the couch.
“There’s no law saying you have to move at the same time as your husband....I hear there are several flights a day to world-wide destinations.”
You have no clue what my husband does or why flights to world wide destinations isn’t an option.
“It seems all your alternative solutions involve abandonment or euthanasia.”
Well should I be wishing for some magic fairy to show up to take him to live with My Little Pony?
“That “dagger in your heart” is guilt because you’re not going about this the right way. While seeking help from everyone, you’ve thrown in the “threat” that unless someone comes forward the dog will be disposed of. This is what I find offensive.”
No, the dagger is having to give up a beloved friend because he can’t go with me and the reality of the situation is that my options indeed are that limited. I’m really glad you live in a perfect world. I don’t.
Now you’ve done it, he looks like my Jerry who passed away 5 years ago. He had some of the same issues you describe with your GSD which fortunately we were able to work through. He became a wonderful protector of our family as a result. I’m here in IL, wish I could help. Others have given you good advice to seek out good GSD Rescue’s or no-kill shelters. A dog as you describe will find a good home, rest assured of that.
Also, kind Freepers, while I’ve been freaking out and not thinking very straight, have actually been helpful by providing links to no kill shelters and groups I haven’t heard of. It was my assumption that if I had to take my precious pup to a shelter that they’d euthanize him because of his aggression issues. You have absolutely no idea how much I love my dog and what he means to me, but it’s the internet so feel free to sit at your keyboard and say hurtful things rather than try to help. You don’t have to see the tears I’ve been crying the last two days.
HAVE YOU EVEN CONTACTED ANY FREEPERS WILLING TO HELP YOU? HAVE YOU CONTACTED ANY RESCUE GROUPS? And what’s with the “four” days to pack up? No, none of us has a clue as to why you have to be rushed out of the country with such short notice & with no plan in place. What about family members? Friends? Neighbors? This whole story sounds weird especially since you believe there are no options left. From the other posts it’s obvious this dog is going to be put down as this seems to be the direction you’re moving to. Is this plea on FR an attempt to soothe your troubled soul or are you really trying to find this dog a home. Seems there are several alternatives out there without having this dog killed.
Could you tell us moore about this beutiful dog. What happens when visitors come to the house? Is he aggressive to them? What happens when you take him to the vet? Does he have to be muzzled? Could he not be muzzled during training? There are many unanswered questions & solutions for someone that could adopt him. I'm sure a FReeper would not adopt him for the purpose of abusing him.
I am miles away -but would take him in a heartbeat if I could. We had a GSD years ago that was a beloved member of our family until he went to Rainbow Bridge.
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