A Very Personal Post And Plea
Thursday, January 4, 2007 by PoSmedley | Discussion: Community
In case you haven't heard, I have a daughter on the way. Joy!
Now the bad news. I have a dog. His name is Bonzai. he is part Golden Retriever and part Chow. The dog has to go. You see, he's big. A whopping 85 pounds, and he is 'fearful'. Don't confuse this with aggressive. He is just very fearful. I raised him from 6 seeks and don't know why he has turned out this way.
He has never bitten or attacked anyone, but you can imagine a persons reaction when a strange dog of his size growls at them when they approach to pet him. he also gets very nervous when my wife and I play (Horseplay) with our stepson. He'll bark and growl like he doesn't know which one of us to protect from being hurt. He likes to jump up and put his paws on you to make you stop. You can imagine my wifes fear of him doing it to a toddler if the child squeals to loud. Get the picture?
We tried dog training. This is one thing we can't break him of. I won't tie him up outside. I have never believed in that and have never had an outside dog, which is all the rage down here in Podunk, USA. So, for 8 months we have tried to find him a home. We have yet to find anyone with the patience to let him adjust and get over his fearfulness, which he will surely have with a new owner. We are down to crunch time. I have 18 days to find him a home, basically.
We have tried all the PET INC., and other animal rescues. Most have closed up in the past few years here. We tried the paper, friends, even a group site on Yahoo. I wasn't overly concerned, because...I hate to say, I thought if I had to, I could take him to the SPCA or Humane Society as a last resort. I have gotten 3 dogs there myself over the course of my life. That is until my wife found out this week that they put down dogs that are 'surrendered' by owners. I guess they figure if the original owner doesn't want it, no one will. They put them down the day you drop them off.
I live in Columbia, SC. My friends, fellow skinners, and any one who reads this, if you know of someone near me (I will drive..to Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee...almost anywhere I have to) that would like to take my dog, email me please.
Now the bad news. I have a dog. His name is Bonzai. he is part Golden Retriever and part Chow. The dog has to go. You see, he's big. A whopping 85 pounds, and he is 'fearful'. Don't confuse this with aggressive. He is just very fearful. I raised him from 6 seeks and don't know why he has turned out this way.
He has never bitten or attacked anyone, but you can imagine a persons reaction when a strange dog of his size growls at them when they approach to pet him. he also gets very nervous when my wife and I play (Horseplay) with our stepson. He'll bark and growl like he doesn't know which one of us to protect from being hurt. He likes to jump up and put his paws on you to make you stop. You can imagine my wifes fear of him doing it to a toddler if the child squeals to loud. Get the picture?
We tried dog training. This is one thing we can't break him of. I won't tie him up outside. I have never believed in that and have never had an outside dog, which is all the rage down here in Podunk, USA. So, for 8 months we have tried to find him a home. We have yet to find anyone with the patience to let him adjust and get over his fearfulness, which he will surely have with a new owner. We are down to crunch time. I have 18 days to find him a home, basically.
We have tried all the PET INC., and other animal rescues. Most have closed up in the past few years here. We tried the paper, friends, even a group site on Yahoo. I wasn't overly concerned, because...I hate to say, I thought if I had to, I could take him to the SPCA or Humane Society as a last resort. I have gotten 3 dogs there myself over the course of my life. That is until my wife found out this week that they put down dogs that are 'surrendered' by owners. I guess they figure if the original owner doesn't want it, no one will. They put them down the day you drop them off.
I live in Columbia, SC. My friends, fellow skinners, and any one who reads this, if you know of someone near me (I will drive..to Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee...almost anywhere I have to) that would like to take my dog, email me please.
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seldomseen
Reply #102 Friday, January 12, 2007 12:01 PM
Reply #102 Friday, January 12, 2007 12:01 PM
Hi, Bonzai!
-11 here, chill -30
schools closed
Stay warm and happy
Here's a double ear-skritch for ya: * *
-11 here, chill -30
schools closed
Stay warm and happy
Here's a double ear-skritch for ya: * *
dragonmage
Reply #106 Friday, January 12, 2007 2:54 PM
Reply #106 Friday, January 12, 2007 2:54 PM
Maybe we could start an email campaign... Write an email telling the story and requesting help from the Dog Whisperer. Post it on every site that you can preferably as news, so more people see it. Ask them to send to all their friends and to the Dog Whisperer, once their servers start getting choked with emails they will be forced to send him out!
I know it sounds a tad militant, but it might be effective...
I know it sounds a tad militant, but it might be effective...
seldomseen
Reply #107 Friday, January 12, 2007 3:05 PM
Reply #107 Friday, January 12, 2007 3:05 PM
#106: Worth a try...
Need slightly more explicit instructions, I think, unless I have another cup of coffee and a small insightful spiritual experience. Will step outside in the -8 weather for a minute...
Also feel like running this by Po' first to get his o.k.
I like the idea, it's a positive move and takes it to the next level.
Need slightly more explicit instructions, I think, unless I have another cup of coffee and a small insightful spiritual experience. Will step outside in the -8 weather for a minute...
Also feel like running this by Po' first to get his o.k.
I like the idea, it's a positive move and takes it to the next level.
PoSmedley
Reply #108 Friday, January 12, 2007 3:44 PM
Reply #108 Friday, January 12, 2007 3:44 PM
It's ok with me. I am not sure what else to do.
seldomseen
Reply #109 Friday, January 12, 2007 3:57 PM
Reply #109 Friday, January 12, 2007 3:57 PM
_02
Reply #110 Friday, January 12, 2007 4:02 PM
Reply #110 Friday, January 12, 2007 4:02 PM
It's a great idea to me and I would be glad to send an email or 2 or .....
dragonmage
Reply #112 Friday, January 12, 2007 5:34 PM
Reply #112 Friday, January 12, 2007 5:34 PM
ok Po write us up the email requesting help from the dog whisperer, including his email address. oh and yours so he can reply. we can then start spreading it.
seldomseen
Reply #113 Friday, January 12, 2007 6:02 PM
Reply #113 Friday, January 12, 2007 6:02 PM
dragonmage
Reply #114 Friday, January 12, 2007 6:19 PM
Reply #114 Friday, January 12, 2007 6:19 PM
good idea, it wouldn't hurt to include some pics in the email. everyone love cute doggy pics
seldomseen
Reply #115 Friday, January 12, 2007 6:36 PM
Reply #115 Friday, January 12, 2007 6:36 PM
Note to Po': How old's Bonzai and is he "fixed"? Shots current? All that ad-in-the-paper stuff...
tawoods
Reply #116 Friday, January 12, 2007 6:37 PM
Reply #116 Friday, January 12, 2007 6:37 PM
Bonzai, are you eating this attention up boy????? *rubs Bonzai on his head* 
_02
Reply #117 Friday, January 12, 2007 8:10 PM
Reply #117 Friday, January 12, 2007 8:10 PM
I don't want to rain on anyones parade, but I feel it's important to tell you something. I've worked for a local no kill animal shelter running the phone lines for a couple years. The one thing that is never encouraged is newspaper articles and the like advertising free animals. So many of those who say they want the animals are actually people from experiment labs looking for....
Anyway, among friends you have nothing to worry about, but out there in the world there are many people dying to get hold of animals they can experiment on or torture.
It is a very sad fact of life and one I have a hard time coming to grips with.
Anyway, among friends you have nothing to worry about, but out there in the world there are many people dying to get hold of animals they can experiment on or torture.
It is a very sad fact of life and one I have a hard time coming to grips with.
seldomseen
Reply #118 Friday, January 12, 2007 8:35 PM
Reply #118 Friday, January 12, 2007 8:35 PM
Thanks, Cindi. That's a very real concern, and something most of us would never even think exists. That's so scary the bottoms of my feet are crawling!
_02
Reply #119 Friday, January 12, 2007 8:39 PM
Reply #119 Friday, January 12, 2007 8:39 PM
I know. I never thought of it or any of the horrible things I have learned from working there either. It will give you nightmares. Hell, it will give you daymares too.
PoSmedley
Reply #120 Friday, January 12, 2007 8:45 PM
True.
3 years old and fixed. Shots are good until March. Toe nails need clipping. Wife hasn't been able to help with that since it takes 2 people to do it with the way he is. One has to distract him and hold a half pound Kong filled with frozen peanut butter and kibble while the other clips. Tried taking him to the groomers once for the nails and had to muzzle him. I hate having to muzzle him, it breaks my heart.
I think the Dog Whisperer may be out at this late point. My wife is concerned about when she is home alone with the baby. For some reason, I am the only one he listens to when he gets too excited or fearful. Probably cause I have a big loud yankee mouth.
His worst habit is walking around with socks in his mouth. he doesn't chew them, he just gets nervous and walks around with them in his mouth. He will chew little things like Blistex, Chapstik, and 20 dollar bills, and contrary to popular opinion, the 20's are NOT retrievable. He sleeps in a crate. He LOVES his crate. First big dog I ever had that preferred a crate. We keep it by the bed. He's not wild about cars, they make him nervous. He likes to stare out the front window. We raised him the first year with another , smaller dog, and they got along well. He's NEVER had an accident in the house, not even as a pup and has never chewed anything other than what I mentioned..oh,,,and he likes to chew kleenex, napkins, paper towels, and much to my step-son's displeasure, Superman, Batman, and anyone who is of good standing with the Justice League.
Reply #120 Friday, January 12, 2007 8:45 PM
| The one thing that is never encouraged is newspaper articles and the like advertising free animals |
True.
| How old's Bonzai and is he "fixed"? Shots current? |
3 years old and fixed. Shots are good until March. Toe nails need clipping. Wife hasn't been able to help with that since it takes 2 people to do it with the way he is. One has to distract him and hold a half pound Kong filled with frozen peanut butter and kibble while the other clips. Tried taking him to the groomers once for the nails and had to muzzle him. I hate having to muzzle him, it breaks my heart.
I think the Dog Whisperer may be out at this late point. My wife is concerned about when she is home alone with the baby. For some reason, I am the only one he listens to when he gets too excited or fearful. Probably cause I have a big loud yankee mouth.
His worst habit is walking around with socks in his mouth. he doesn't chew them, he just gets nervous and walks around with them in his mouth. He will chew little things like Blistex, Chapstik, and 20 dollar bills, and contrary to popular opinion, the 20's are NOT retrievable. He sleeps in a crate. He LOVES his crate. First big dog I ever had that preferred a crate. We keep it by the bed. He's not wild about cars, they make him nervous. He likes to stare out the front window. We raised him the first year with another , smaller dog, and they got along well. He's NEVER had an accident in the house, not even as a pup and has never chewed anything other than what I mentioned..oh,,,and he likes to chew kleenex, napkins, paper towels, and much to my step-son's displeasure, Superman, Batman, and anyone who is of good standing with the Justice League.
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Reply #101 Friday, January 12, 2007 10:51 AM