We recently, suddenly, and tragically lost our beloved golden of 8 years to hemangiosarcoma. For the past couple of days I've been doing research on golden breeding practices, genetics and cancer as I consider finding another, which brought me here to this forum.
I also found a local golden retriever rescue shelter, and it is truly heartbreaking. Most of the available dogs are over 8 years old, and reading through the histories for each dog is heart wrenching, I wish I could bring all of them home. I get that there are people who just aren't dog people, but I just cannot fathom how someone can live with a golden for a decade or more and then nonchalantly abandon it. Over and over I saw stories such as "owners were contacted and did not want dog back" or "owners were sick of taking care of the dog". I don't understand what kind of cold, heartless, empty person could not let such wonderful animals into their hearts after all that time, what kind of people could do this and live with themselves. It makes me feel ashamed to be a human.
So now my dilemma is between a new puppy, which my son is craving (and me too of course, who doesn't love puppies!?) and giving one of these beautiful older dogs who got the short end of the stick in life a couple years of happiness before ultimately breaking our hearts again. I feel guilty already for even considering a puppy while these great dogs remain homeless, but it also seems like emotional abuse to put our family through this again so soon.
I also found a local golden retriever rescue shelter, and it is truly heartbreaking. Most of the available dogs are over 8 years old, and reading through the histories for each dog is heart wrenching, I wish I could bring all of them home. I get that there are people who just aren't dog people, but I just cannot fathom how someone can live with a golden for a decade or more and then nonchalantly abandon it. Over and over I saw stories such as "owners were contacted and did not want dog back" or "owners were sick of taking care of the dog". I don't understand what kind of cold, heartless, empty person could not let such wonderful animals into their hearts after all that time, what kind of people could do this and live with themselves. It makes me feel ashamed to be a human.
So now my dilemma is between a new puppy, which my son is craving (and me too of course, who doesn't love puppies!?) and giving one of these beautiful older dogs who got the short end of the stick in life a couple years of happiness before ultimately breaking our hearts again. I feel guilty already for even considering a puppy while these great dogs remain homeless, but it also seems like emotional abuse to put our family through this again so soon.