Happily Until The Ever After
In my entire dog blessed life, there is only one person I ever met who willingly considered giving up a wonderfully loyal, well trained and well behaved canine companion. The dog in question was an accredited service dog, a recently placed yellow lab. She was in excellent health and had absolutely no behavioral issues. Her work ethic was impeccable. The practical question of replacement soon after training and placement rattled me on a number of levels. His logic was to replace her well before she aged and her skills began to slip. Most people who rehome a dog are devastated by the experience, even if the dog in question habitually wreaks havoc in the household. Many dog owners are “held hostage” in a hellish relationship and yet experience an overwhelming guilt at the thought of giving up a dog for whom they feel responsible. Some exercise their dogs at odd hours to avoid incidents with people or another reactive dog. A number of owners no longer have visitors as others are afraid or uncomfortable with the resident Cerberus.
In addition to behavioral issues, there are numerous reasons people are forced to surrender or rehome a beloved dog. Unanticipated life changes such as loss of employment, divorce, aging or a medical condition may cause irreparable disruption to a household. The rising cost of housing can overburden a family. In our Northern California region, the pandemic, fires and soaring rent expenses have all imposed severe limitations on good options. In addition to cost, the lack of availability of dog friendly dwellings for renters can lead a family to the precipice. Many “affordable” offerings have a non-negotiable no pet policy.
The ever rising tide of the price of vet care leaves many pets untreated for medical conditions, or treatments are deferred. The reasons for rising vet expenses are varied and can be traced to many factors (1). The outlay for running and staffing a veterinary facility continues to increase as does the cost for supplies, lab tests and medication. Corporatization of vet care is another of the diverse concerns. Mars, the not so amiable Gargantua, maker of candies and dog food, owns 3,000 vet clinics and hospitals worldwide. (3). Those in Mars’ upper corporate ether are envisioning a different bottom line, levitated far above what you and an independent vet might once have determined.
The cost of dog food has skyrocketed. It has been a number of years since we lost Sammy, our big guy with his big appetite. I recall paying roughly $40 for a mid sized, now 28 pound bag of Taste Of The Wild dog food (owned by Diamond Pet Food). Royal Canin, one of 41 brands owned by Mars, can be purchased today from Chewy for $109.99 (plus tax) for a 30 pound bag (4) (5). It is of some interest to note that there are yet more expensive dry dog foods available but rest assured, you can finance your purchase with four interest free payments.
The choice and timing of when to open your home to a new furry family member can materialize seemingly at random. Sometimes, there appears to be no choice. The death of a friend whose family refused the dog, a small elderly dog trotting down a country road, headed away from civilization, a retired service dog whose owner became homeless and he was diagnosed with cancer and less than a year prognosis. We definitely had no choice when the terrier cross showed up at our rural doorstep and claimed us, finders keepers, as her new family.
Not all of these dogs whose paths led to our door were traveling light. Some arrived with a considerable amount of baggage. The deceased friend’s dog never emerged from a deep funk at the passing of his person. He was accepted by all our homie cats and dogs- all coexisted peacefully but he passed away in less then a year. If the laws of karma prove correct, his unwavering devotion will result in a reunion with his beloved owner. The career changed dog with cancer was a veritable delight to have around. Always polite, his transgressions numbered but two. One, he consumed a full pound of dried (non toxic) mushrooms we had spent a long weekend traipsing about the woods searching for. Two, despite all thoughts, prayers, bargaining for a miracle and attempts to manifest the positive, he was unable to procrastinate on his prognosis and passed away on schedule. We would love to be reunited with him. The terrier cross settled right in and spent close to fifteen years with us. She is at the top or very close on everyone’s all time favorites list (there have been many contenders). We assume she will be waiting in the next time around, lying next to and guarding her empty food bowl. The nomadic senior dog was the poster pup for the old saw, “no good deed shall go unpunished.” She was a nasty piece of work with many medical issues and an extensive repertoire of behavior problems. There was no rehoming this one. We decided to keep her, for in spite of her aggression towards anything that moved, she was quite slow, had poor vision and was easy for all humans, dogs and cats to circumvent. We thought she wasn’t long for this world and decided to provide for her remaining days. But with a decent diet she actually thrived and appeared to get younger for some time. The days morphed into weeks, then months and finally more than a year. No tears were shed at her passing. No desire for a reunion in the next life. Her story could have had a different ending if she had wandered down that road and had been picked up ten years earlier.
In reality, there is always a choice. You do not have to choose to open your home to a random dog. If you were unable to locate an owner and end up keeping a dog with issues, you can choose to do nothing and live with any problem. In this case, do not expect improvement.The problems will most likely not go away or resolve themselves. A troubled dog can be kept out of mischief by managing situations and the environment. Placing the dog outside, in another room, in a crate, behind a baby gate are management techniques that may keep a dog at bay (but not always from baying). If the dog is a litter mate of Cujo, he will eventually grow old, gray about the muzzle and perhaps toothless. Playing calm music or audiobooks (Cesar recommends To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Cosmos by Carl Sagan) may help calm a dog. I would recommend playing Lassie reruns as a possibility to channel good behavior. Unfortunately, the dog in question is likely to “revert to type” at the arrival of a visitor (6). Many dogs take their chosen professions of bodyguard and/or estate security very seriously.
Another management technique that appears innovative to many is to put a leash on the rowdy greeter before opening the door to a visitor. While this does not prevent excitability, it certainly prevents jumping and more serious assaults. There is also the possibility of training the dog. Far too many owners see training as a last resort. It is far more difficult to undo entrenched, often rehearsed, bad behavior, than to teach what you want from the get-go.
But prior to the get-go, a bit of forethought, research and planning may prevent an impulsive decision leading to adopter’s remorse. If you are interviewing a furry applicant for the position of family member, you want as much information as possible. What is on the adoptee’s resume beyond a reasonable assumption of age and a best guess of breed(s)? If adopting from a shelter, a temperament test will probably have been performed. (7). This will provide some good information and likely identify serious timidity or potential aggression issues. However, the adopter. himself or herself needs to assess the dog personally, if possible.When you buy a new or used car, you will certainly do more than admire its sleek contours. You might look under the hood or even kick the tires. Certainly, you will test drive it. Do the same with your new potential roommate. If possible, take the dog for a walk or observe the dog walking on leash in the real world. Ideally, plan for another dog to pass by. Literally take the dog for a drive in your car. Some dogs have never ridden in a vehicle.
The bottom line is that you want to know as much as possible about your new beastie. Can you see this pup around a cat or other animals? Is it known to be housebroken? Has the dog ever been inside a house? Does the dog know how to interact or how to play? If under socialized, an adopter may face a great deal of remedial effort. There are a lot of boxes to check off and you will not get all the answers at the shelter or rescue. Many shelters, breeders, breed rescues and rescue organizations seek a successful placement for their charges and offer a good return policy. Many sources are not so reputable or helpful once the dog is out the door and now your problem. Working with a group or individual that allows you to foster a furry waif can be an ideal situation. With a foster you are given a warranty that the dog can be returned if the placement does not work. In the meanwhile you get to truly know the dog. If you decide to return the dog, it will have benefitted from your training, socializing and simply hanging out. His or her resume will have helpful information for a future adopter.
Rehoming a beloved family member is no doubt traumatic but sometimes unavoidable. Most pet owners have no provision in place for rehoming a pet if misfortune comes knocking unexpectedly. There may be an advanced directive for an elder owner’s medical care in case of emergency on the refrigerator but rarely any foresight on caring and providing for the dog. Calamity may arrive in many forms- accident, the failing health of the dog or owner, employment or economic change, divorce, housing issues and so on. The Fates are not just fickle but often outright cruel to some families. Options for a positive outcome may not exist. No matter how hard you try.
To be sure, a number of pet owners have discovered the “best dog ever” in an impulsive adoption or random out of the blue experience.But this has not been the case with a large number of well intentioned adopters. Connection at first sight is no guarantee of future success. That potential family member with those beguiling eyes and sales technique that makes Zig Ziglar (7) look like an amateur, can soon become doggo non grata. As mentioned, there are a lot of boxes to be checked. We were fortunate not to have Catastrophe come calling unexpectedly. To be honest, it never occurred to us to provide for a future home and care of our dogs and cats if something happened to us. We were young and immortal back then. And we could make do when required. While we do not regret any decision to open our home to a dog in need, we were fortunate to have enough space and very importantly, understanding family members. We were also lucky enough to keep a step ahead of the Fates.
Serendipity can occasionally appear when there is a search for a suitable home for a misfit dog. In one instance a woman presented her parents with a puppy without consulting them. This was definitely not a good idea, in spite of the woman’s lengthy list of the benefits for her parents.To me the puppy looked fit, healthy and was quite cute. The recipient repeatedly stated, “This dog is too big! My daughter said it would only be 10 - 15 pounds. It is becoming enormous, over 20 pounds already!” In truth, the puppy could eventually tip the scale at 30 pounds, max. Being humongous was the least of the puppy’s problems. It remained unsocialized, too afraid to go for walks and in spite of its gigantic size was adept at running away and concealing itself from strangers. “It’s so big!” the designated owner lamented at least half a dozen more times. Eventually, the daughter took the dog to find another home. It so happened that the daughter of the daughter was smitten by the puppy. In what became her new home, the colossal puppy shrank to a normal size, was accepted and thrived. She was now considered cute, no longer repulsive. Who would ever believe that body shaming could have so affected a puppy?
In the second situation a lifelong, dyed in the fur cat partisan ventured into dogdom when she adopted a Yorkie. She was his third home and he entered prepared to rule his new roost.The cats quickly taught him they were to be respected, if not admired. Over time, adopter and adoptee earned the other’s respect. She appreciated his scruffy “terrierness” and smiled inwardly at his “bad boy” antics but tolerated no guff.. He was a quick study to transition into the system and make all its silly rules work for him. Neither was the type to run off with just anyone who scratched them behind the ear. One day they were at a beach on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Yorkie was avoiding the surf. Hock high water was more than deep enough for him. Suddenly a wave knocked over two people in his entourage. He leaped into the surf and swam to the rescue. What his plan was, once he arrived, we will never know as the two upended persons righted themselves before he reached them. Still, he was an incredible12 year opening act for the introduction of a first dog.
His successor was a Min Pin/Yorkie mix with serious issues. The Yorkie temperament is depicted as intelligent, vivacious, courageous and independent. Did I mention stubborn? The min Pin is described as fearless, alert and spirited. He may have had all these traits but early experience left him clueless as how to fit into polite society. He was a biter. While not having near the 700 psi bite force of an Anatolian Shepherd (9) he still had 42 teeth and was intimidating when in a barking, toothy frenzy. Not a good fit, he was returned to the foster from whence he came. Eventually he was re homed to a savvy family with older children. Interestingly enough, he gave up his self defined professions of personal protection and property management and took up the pleasant metier of happy family pet. The first adopter has not given up on dogs and will probably entertain a third act, such was the impact of her original Yorkie. There is no rush but the vetting process will be very thorough.
The third case involved a black Lab pup. The little dynamo was a quick study but did have a tendency to push limits. The main problem was the husband/wife were not on the same page or even in the same book, as far as training and care of the puppy. She had prior experience and knew what was required. But he knew better with his lazy-faire, let the puppy be free, approach. He encouraged the Lab to wildly bite a gloved hand. There was an on switch but no aus or off switch. The little yoof was a budding anarchist- no need for no stinkin’ rules or restraint. All the wife’s work was undermined. I would have re homed the husband, if possible. At any rate,the puppy was eventually re homed. Months later, the wife gave me an update. She had found a very nice home and the dog was doing great. She showed me a picture. The dog, now full grown, had been placed in the home of a hunter. The picture was of the mature, once ne’er-do-well, retrieving a duck. Most Lucky-Dog or what?!
I don’t know what befell the wonderful Yellow Lab mentioned above as I left the organization shortly after that followup visit. Although unanticipated, the retirement question of the handler was totally legitimate, perhaps even timely. The average lifespan of a Lab is 10-12 years (10). Of course, how long a dog will stay in service will vary. Guide Dogs Of America says the average working life of one of its dogs is 8-10 years (11). It is probable that the Lab in question enjoyed many years of service before her retirement.
Guide dogs and service dogs placed by some training organizations have an IRA in place for their working alumni. This non controversial Golden Parachute will at least guarantee a home and in some cases, veterinary assistance. In some instances, the graduate or close family member may keep the dog as a pet. The puppy raiser will be next in line to adopt. After that will be a lengthy waiting list of people eager to adopt the furry pensioner or a career change dog.
What color is your dog’s parachute for re homing, should misfortune occur? Civilian pet dogs can also have a plan. Let’s call it an Individual Re homing Account, your pet doggie version of an IRA. Contributing to this account with some funding, if possible, will help the a new owner defray feeding, veterinary and possible grooming costs.This will give the parachute a more attractive, gilded tint. Long term investment in training and socializing will compound the behavioral dividends and make a much more appealing, adoptable prospect.
Stuff happens. Bad things can not be predicted but you can be somewhat prepared for aftershock. Having a place to re home your dog is not a pleasant thought. It is hard enough, in many cases, to find a suitable playmate. Fostering, management, training and avoiding impulsive decisions when unprepared will help prevent some dogs being unexpectedly hurled into a homeless situation. There are a lot of wonderful, overwhelmed people dedicated to finding homes for needy dogs. This will not change but perhaps the number can be reduced by planning ahead. Unfortunately, it can be a stressful roll of the dice as to an outcome once a dog loses his home and family. Where would your dog go if something happened to you? It is a tough question to ask yourself. We want best for our companions- to live happily until the Ever After.
(1). What Spiking US Veterinary Prices Reveal About Inflatio ..
l Mars
KPMG estimates that corporations own about 6,600 vet clinics. Nearly half, or 45%, are owned by Mars, which has 3,000 vet clinics.
(3). 15 Largest Pet Food Manufacturers in the U.S.
(4). ROYAL CANIN Breed Health Nutrition German Shepherd Adult Dry Dog Food, 30-lb bag - Chewy.com
(5). Audiobooks for Dogs | Audible.co
(6). Dogs by Desmond Morris. Page 465. Corgis are a herding dog with strong inherent traits. Morris refers to the Queen Mother’s Corgis redirecting herding instinct by nipping her Majesty’s staff. There were a number of incidents over the years. Including a bite to the royal clock-winder.
(7). SAFER-Guide-v1-25Feb10-with-Forms.qxp:ASPCA Guides -
(8). Zig Ziglar - Wikipedia Legendary salesman
(9). The Impressive Bite Force of the Anatolian Shepherd Dog - 🐶 Tailwise
(10). What is a Labrador's Lifespan and What Do They Usually Die From?
(11). GDA_TLC-FAQ-22.pdf