I saw the "Other side" of Rescue Today

[SheetsSM]

Originally Posted by CAROLINA MOM

I use to help a GR Rescue in my state with Intake-some times it was so heartbreaking when families or family members had to surrender a dog to us.

We have a very large Military Base and Community in my area, often times dogs being surrendered were due to Deployments. The ones that really got to me were when the owners had passed away. We also had people that surrendered their dog due to lack of time for the dog and sometimes the dogs were not cared for very well. These were always very sad situations, however, we were there for the dogs and not to judge the owners, because we knew this dog was on it's way to a better life.

What irks me about the military is that they know they will deploy. I'm in the military and it took me 11 years of waiting until I could provide stability for a dog & ensure there was a plan in place to cover those times when I either had extended training or deployments. I have a care plan for my pets and have made provisions in the event something happens to me. I also volunteer with golden rescue and see these families dispose of their pets prior to PCSing (moving) with the thought they'll just get another at the next assignment. It also makes it tougher for us who are responsible that want to adopt because rescues look at us as a risk.

[Blondie]

I am a nurse taking care of veterans. One of our vets(a career Marine), who stroked and came for rehab has a wife who also is a nurse at our facility. She ended up retiring to take care of her husband, once rehab was complete and she took him home. They never had any children. They did however have 2 long haired dacshunds named Heidi and Bear. After the vet was discharged home, his wife became ill. Diagnosed with cancer that has since metasticized to her lungs. The vet returned to us, so that we could care for him while his wife was undergoing her own treatment. A couple of months ago, he said, "I just said goodbye to my dogs for the last time." Upon further inquiry, he was telling me that they had surrendered his dogs, since no one could take them. I was thinking the worst..., a local shelter. However to my surprise, a dog lover friend of theirs guided them into a breed specific rescue in Rhode Island. Music to my ears. I actually had to go to a room and have a good cry, as this guy had been through so much, and then with his wife's illness and having to relinquish his dogs, just overwhelmed me. The dogs were placed together in a family with two boys(one dog sleeps with one and the other with the other boy). The vet hears from them from time to time, which helps him during his time away from his wife.

[CAROLINA MOM]

Originally Posted by SheetsSM

What irks me about the military is that they know they will deploy. I'm in the military and it took me 11 years of waiting until I could provide stability for a dog & ensure there was a plan in place to cover those times when I either had extended training or deployments. I have a care plan for my pets and have made provisions in the event something happens to me. I also volunteer with golden rescue and see these families dispose of their pets prior to PCSing (moving) with the thought they'll just get another at the next assignment. It also makes it tougher for us who are responsible that want to adopt because rescues look at us as a risk.

You are so very right, I know of several Rescue Groups, not just GR Rescues in my state that will not even accept Adopt Apps from Military members.

I have a lot of Military families living in my town, several on my street, it's about 20 minutes both E and W of two Military facilities here. I know several of these families that have dogs who are a part of the family, are well cared for, loved, and go EVERYWHERE with these families.

Adoptions should be done on a case by case basis without prejudice to anyone or any particular group.

[CAROLINA MOM]

Originally Posted by Blondie

I am a nurse taking care of veterans. One of our vets(a career Marine), who stroked and came for rehab has a wife who also is a nurse at our facility. She ended up retiring to take care of her husband, once rehab was complete and she took him home. They never had any children. They did however have 2 long haired dacshunds named Heidi and Bear. After the vet was discharged home, his wife became ill. Diagnosed with cancer that has since metasticized to her lungs. The vet returned to us, so that we could care for him while his wife was undergoing her own treatment. A couple of months ago, he said, "I just said goodbye to my dogs for the last time." Upon further inquiry, he was telling me that they had surrendered his dogs, since no one could take them. I was thinking the worst..., a local shelter. However to my surprise, a dog lover friend of theirs guided them into a breed specific rescue in Rhode Island. Music to my ears. I actually had to go to a room and have a good cry, as this guy had been through so much, and then with his wife's illness and having to relinquish his dogs, just overwhelmed me. The dogs were placed together in a family with two boys(one dog sleeps with one and the other with the other boy). The vet hears from them from time to time, which helps him during his time away from his wife.

That was a bittersweet story, so very unselfish of the owners to let their dogs go into a Rescue that would find them loving homes. I'm glad to hear he gets updates from the family and knows they are doing well.

A few years ago I saw an Ad on a local yard sale website. This site allows pet listings of animals in need of homes for a fee up to $100. I use to monitor this site often when I was helping with Intake for the GR Rescue I was with.

I came across an ad with pictures of three gorgeous Aussies, the owner was asking a $25 fee for each of them. I contacted the person and asked them if they were aware of the Aussie Rescue Group in my state and if they had been in contact with them.

The owner replied to me, she was not aware of the group. The lady had a terminal illness and needed to find a home or homes for her Aussies before she was no longer able to do so. Family members were not able to provide homes for her dogs.

I gave her the contact info for the Aussie Rescue in my state, she was able to get them into Rescue and they found wonderful homes for them all. It was a very sad situation but the owner did what was best for them and it eased her mind and gave her comfort knowing her dogs were happy, loved, and well cared for.