Not a day goes by without a call from a very emotional dog owner looking for support. They have a dog whom their cherish however, their circumstances have changed and the dog is no longer the central focus of their lives. As such, the dog is being neglected. This is not the same as abuse. Neglect can be as minor as not being walked regularly. But inevitably it leads to a change in the dog's behaviour and if lifestyle changes cannot be made the dog can develop serious behavioural problems that are hard to treat.
So I take my hat off to owners who love their dogs too much to see them in anything less than an ''ideal environment.'' Why wait until it is an emergency before seeking help? Sadly, others in the community do not always share this proactive approach. Well meaning owners trying to re-home their dogs are often unfairly judged for not being able to keep them. for reasons detailed previously.
I am inundated with enquiries from applicants who desperately want to give a dog with a known history a new home. They can't take a chance on a dog from a refuge or a pound but don't want to support the back yard puppy industry or pet shops. By putting struggling owners and applicants in touch we are also reducing the pressure on pounds and shelters - that are always over run and at maximum capacity. We are also saving dogs from needlessly being put to sleep or enduring the sometimes traumatic foster system.
DOG ADOPTION offers understanding and support for owners who are already feeling terrible about having to re-home their dog - almost always a regrettable decision - and protection from the bullies who judge without taking time to think things through. In some ways I suspect these narrow minded people are actually contributing to the number of homeless dogs by making struggling owners feel so guilty they don't seek help. I think bullies often prefer the drama of waiting until it is urgent. There is almost always something major missing in these peoples' lives.
Regardless, owners who are in genuine need of support to re-home their dogs do not need to feel guilty - they should be praised and commended. After all it is often easier to do nothing leaving the one most vulnerable, the dog, suffering.
So I take my hat off to owners who love their dogs too much to see them in anything less than an ''ideal environment.'' Why wait until it is an emergency before seeking help? Sadly, others in the community do not always share this proactive approach. Well meaning owners trying to re-home their dogs are often unfairly judged for not being able to keep them. for reasons detailed previously.
I am inundated with enquiries from applicants who desperately want to give a dog with a known history a new home. They can't take a chance on a dog from a refuge or a pound but don't want to support the back yard puppy industry or pet shops. By putting struggling owners and applicants in touch we are also reducing the pressure on pounds and shelters - that are always over run and at maximum capacity. We are also saving dogs from needlessly being put to sleep or enduring the sometimes traumatic foster system.
DOG ADOPTION offers understanding and support for owners who are already feeling terrible about having to re-home their dog - almost always a regrettable decision - and protection from the bullies who judge without taking time to think things through. In some ways I suspect these narrow minded people are actually contributing to the number of homeless dogs by making struggling owners feel so guilty they don't seek help. I think bullies often prefer the drama of waiting until it is urgent. There is almost always something major missing in these peoples' lives.
Regardless, owners who are in genuine need of support to re-home their dogs do not need to feel guilty - they should be praised and commended. After all it is often easier to do nothing leaving the one most vulnerable, the dog, suffering.
