Getting rid of dog
October 11th, 2007
I just had a friend tell me that he wants to get rid of his dog. He says he doesn't have enough time to spend with the dog.
Due to lack of attention (and discipline) the dog developed annoying habits like waking up in the middle of the night to go outside. This in turn makes him like the dog less, plus feel guilty about not spending enough time with the dog. I know this person works over 8 hours a day, and may be gone for 10 hours at a stretch.
He says he found a nice home for the dog, on a farm where the dog can enjoy more freedom and time with someone else. Yet, he purchased this dog as puppy, and I am sure it has bonded to him.
I cannot understand why people feel that dogs are so disposable.
Would it be better for the dog to stay with the family that raised him? Would it be better for the dog to go away and live on a farm, hopefully with a better life?
How attached do dogs become to their owners?
Comments
I think your thoughts are
I think your thoughts are compassionate however, canines have very different developmental and attachment patterns than humans (much, much less complex). I know many adopted dogs in healthy homes and they show no signs of any adjustment or residual effects of being separated from their original home. The memory of dogs tend to be more functional and survivalist (i.e. where do I get the food) as opposed to who gave them a bath when they were a puppy. A happy dog is an exercised, fed, loved, and healthy dog regardless of the home. The risk of neglect in the current environment is a much more serious concern. That said, I would be cautious of giving a dog to a farm unless it can be properly cared for and live inside in MN winters. Many "farms" have dozens of dogs that run wild, get hit by cars, and turn into neighborhood dog gangs. Why not a no-kill shelter where the dog can be assured a forever home?
I completely agree with your sentiments regarding "disposable" dogs. It makes me angry and the dogs suffer because of a lack of accountability and maturity.
Its so sad that people don't
Its so sad that people don't take the time and consideration of what a pet is. Its a baby, a child. I have a puppy whose 14wks old. I work 8 hours a day and then some nights I have school and I get home and might have 30 minutes in between with her and then gone another 4 hours and then another hour for her and its bed time. The this is though its the time that you do have that counts. And they look forward to that. They get into a routine. Sounds like your friend should have just taken a little more time with his pet. Its plain and simple he wants attention.
I have a 3 year old dog that lives with my ex husband. And I don't believe that they "forget" who there owners were. I believe if you have a strong enough bond with your pet they will remember you. Maybe not forever. I might see him once a month. But he is just as excited to see me as if I saw him everyday. However although it was a pet we bought together he bonded with me. Where he didn't want to be with out me. I paid more attention to him and gave him all his daily needs.
But I do think it depends on the dog. Some dogs just don't care. But they are way smarter than anyone thinks.
IF your friend doesn't want his baby then he should send him to a new home. Because dogs feel the anger and they know just by the tone of your voice what is good and bad. So it'll be better to go somewhere else. Unless he changes his tone and works with him a bit more. It could get better.
The dog will be better off
The dog will be better off where he's wanted.
I'm in a more complex situation. I have an old dog that I need to find a home for. My wife simply had to have a big dog. That was 10 years ago. She simply had to find herself and a new bed to sleep in a couple months ago as well. She never took care of the dog or even played with him for one second. I ended up taking care f the animal. The dog was never really loved by anyone. Though he's well cared for and seems to be happy, he's just there. I've taken a job on the East Coast. I was only here because of my wife anyway. Now I have an old dog that I can't take with me. The shelters have pretty much assured me the dog would not be adopted and would be put down.
I'd say that your friend's dog would be much better off as a farm dog than being neglected. Most dogs need companionship more than anything else. My dog seems fine as long as he's fed and has room to entertain himself. Some dogs are loners but most aren't. I've given my dog a nice dog house and plenty of toys and such but never spent any time with him. I really dislike animals in the house and didn't want a dog in the first place but I couldn't let the poor animal freeze to death either so he's house trained and all that. Though he did quite well in that environment, most dogs won't. Most dogs need friends and if they don't have human friends, they'll run off and find other friends and cause trouble. Though me and my dog aren't really what you'd call friends, I suppose we have an understanding that works well enough to keep him healthy and happy. I wish I could find a farm for him.
I don't get how people could
I don't get how people could part with their dog. I'd rather give up a kidney and a lung before I'd part with my dogs!!
I agree with Joe that your
I agree with Joe that your friend's dog is better off on a farm instead of being neglected. I can foresee a vicious cycle of bitterness forming between your friend and his dog. The dog will take on more undesired behaviors (such as going out in the middle of the night) which will piss your friend off and his attitude will show and piss the dog off. After a couple of iterations of this inevitable loop, all hell will break loose.
I just bought a puppy 2 weeks ago and I already started neglecting him because he was pissing me off like no other. He kept eating his own shit and making a mess of the house and I ended up getting physically sick because of his unsanitary ways. Anyways, my point is that I knew a vicious cycle of animosity would form if I kept the puppy any longer, so I just gave him back to the breeder.
The bottom line is that your friend should just do the responsible thing and give the dog to an owner who can take better care of him.
With regards to dogs and attachment to their owners, I don't think the dog will be that attached in this case especially if your friend is neglecting him and not treating him well. The dog is most likely already pissed off and wants out, so he'll happily join the hands of another owner who can take care of him. Just my two cents.