Adoption and UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS can lead to death

I will start off by saying that I DO believe that most people who adopt a shelter dog do so with good intentions.  However, many of these people also do so while wearing rose colored glasses.  I make this statement due to the number of dogs, especially, that I have seen lately returned to the kill shelter (pound) after they have been in their new home for only one or two days.  If a dog is returned, there is an automatic assumption that something must be wrong with it, otherwise everything would have been just wonderful.  It is not the dog 99% of the time, it is those unrealistic expectations-and unbeknownst to you, you have inadvertently given that dog the kiss of death.. 

So, folks, I am asking everyone to take off those rose colored glasses and look at the reality of adopting a shelter pet or a pet from any source for that matter.

IF YOU REMEMBER NOTHING ELSE FROM THIS BLOG, REMEMBER THIS- THE PET YOU ARE ADOPTING IS TERRIFIED.  IT HAS BEEN LIVING IN A CAGE OR CRATE, HAS BEEN THROUGH AN UNKNOWN HISTORY, OR WAS BOOTED OUT BY A FAMILY IT TRUSTED AND THOUGHT LOVED IT.  TRUST IS SHATTERED, HOPE IS OFTEN SHATTERED, AND CONFIDENCE IS SHATTERED.  THIS MAY CAUSE ISSUES RELATED TO BEHAVIOR THAT YOU, THE ADOPTER, WILL NEED TO LOVINGLY WORK THROUGH.

So, here are some things to think about BEFORE you adopt:

If you RENT, make sure that your landlord will allow you to have a pet and if there are any breed/size limitations or limitations on the number of pets you can have.

If you do NOT have a fenced in yard or a secure place for the dog to relieve itself, you may not have a successful adoption unless you are committed to walking the dog on a daily basis.

Realize that if you get a young puppy- it will DEFINITELY not be housebroken. If you adopt a shelter dog, even an older one may not be housebroken.  Shelters often do not know the history unless the dog is an owner turn-in.  Be prepared to housebreak in a humane manner and understand that it can take weeks or months to successfully housebreak a dog. If you don't have time to housebreak, you may want to adopt an owner turn-in dog or a more senior dog where the history of house breaking is known.  Even then, be prepared for accidents as your new pet will likely be terrified and will not know the "law of it's new land".  Enzyme cleaner and a rug shampooer will be your best friends for the first month!

PLEASE, PLEASE understand that your new animal will be scared, very scared.  AND, over-whelmed. New people, new smells, new pets who have already established turf and may not be welcoming, new rules, new feeding times, new expectations about where they can and cannot be, new standards for where and when they go potty, new expectations and rules.  They cannot adapt and learn this all in a few days- it will be closer to a few months. Read books on training before you adopt and learn how to train in a humane manner with love and patience.

It takes AT LEAST a month, and sometimes longer for the new pet (and you) to work through the many issues related to owning a new pet. Commitment to make it work is key.  You may have to deal with "accidents", chewing, scratching, jumping, digging, unenthusiastic resident pets, training, etc.  Commitment to an animal means that you commit to working through these issues and do so lovingly and with patience.  I have many links on this blog site about dealing with various issues when adopting a pet.  Please use them to help you keep your new friend.

Here is the story of Stubb's adoption experience, from the persepective of a shelter dog:

I was sitting in my cage at Houston BARC when a lady pulled my out of that cage and took me home to the coast of Texas.  I had no idea she was a foster who had just pulled me off death row in the nick of time.  Life at her place was pretty cool.  I had two other bully dogs who liked to play like I did- kinda rough and tumble, and I could actually pee and poop on her porch!  Didn't have to step in wet grass or anything!  She let me sleep on furniture or any place I wanted.  DOG HEAVEN! 

THEN, my new family adopted me.  I could tell they loved me and they gave my lots of affection, but boy was it a different house.  It was a lot bigger and I had no bully buddies to play with- only a resident cranky dog who didn't want me there and nipped at me if my new mom tried to play with me or pet me. She played with him too, but he was quite happy being the only dog.  We had a few minor battles (always HIS fault), but gradually those became less.  We now, after 8 months, have a peaceable truce most of the time. He still tries to nip me once in a blue moon, but he gets in trouble for it (ha, ha Alex!). We bark at the door together, run in the yard together, and gang up on the cats together, but he STILL won't play with me!  Mom and my sis have to do that!

Speaking of CATS, soon after I arrived I got in trouble with the cats.  I'm sorry, but those critters still look like snacks to me.  Mom separated us, but I was pretty sneaky and determined to taste one of those things. I kept racing out into the garage where Mom hid the cats, but mom would grab my collar.  Since I am so strong, I drug her under the Ford Expedition three times before she could wrestle me back in the house. But, I AM persistent and managed to get that orange one twice. The second time Mom had to pull the orange CAT (not to be confused with SNACK, says Mom) out of my mouth, I found myself shipped off to doggie boot camp for two weeks.  Yup, back in a kennel again and had a professional trainer teach me some manners and how to walk on a leash!

My next drama was where to sleep.  I of course, being the great and powerful Stubbs, thought my rightful place was any where I wanted to sleep.  My foster didn't mind.  But certain members of my new family had other ideas (not naming names!).  I had to sleep on a dog bed on the sofa at the foot of the bed.  Not ON the bed, not ON all the other sofas- just that one.  I still am not liking that rule so much, but I'm used to it now.

Then came drama with my heartworm treatment.  Mom was trying the slow kill method, but freaked out the day I coughed up a teeny bit of blood (personally I thought that was less of a deal than the big poops on the carpet, but hey, I'm just a dog).  Mom got me into the vet within two days to do the real fast kill.  What this meant to me was two days at the vets office (they kept me in the reception area with them when I tried to bust out), shaved back, and shots.  And, oh yeah, for some reason it was VERY IMPORTANT that I be QUIET!  Hmmmm.  For a pooch like myself, that posed a problem, and since I couldn't be kept in a crate, the vet and Mom decided that super doggie tranquilizers were the answer.  Yep, I spent the next 6 weeks totally stoned.  Best six weeks of my life!

So, my new family had to deal with housebreaking, training, HW treatment, teaching me the house rules, teaching me how to interact with the resident pets, and not to scratch up and ruin doors and moulding in an attempt to escape (which was how I spent my first three days of terror in the "new house").  I get a hold of Mom's shoes now and then (3 pairs down so far), but I just like the smell (dogs like stinky things) and it's fun to get her to chase me! 

I'm used to my new place now.  I have lots of toys, get lots of love, tolerate my brother, have a new sis to play with (gently, says mom, or we get separated), a soft bed, two squares a day plus snacks when Alex and I put on our Mooching Faces, a yard to run and do my business in, and the run of the house.  Still don't know why I can't eat those blasted CATS though.  They even have their own room in the house now, but I'm not allowed in.  No fair.  But it sure beats a cage at Houston BARC in the Euth line!!!!

I'm lucky that I got a family who was so committed to making it work.  If I had gone back to the shelter, I know that I would not be here today.  Please, if you adopt a dog, try your absolute best to make it work.  Give us some time, understanding, love, and patience and we will be your BFF !