Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Romanos
............What do you think?
|
I think, no I know, you need a serious reality check as to what is rescue and what isn't. In the simplest definition, a rescue dog is one that through no fault of its own finds itself in need of a new home. Connie qualifies on all levels - she is a rescue. The ONLY human element in this equation who holds any relevance is Connie's elderly ill owner and she can no longer care for her. Those she has trusted to care for Connie in her absence are not taking the responsibility and as a result Connie is neglected, overweight, and even her simplest needs are not being met. That's the reality in a nutshell.
Your opinion of what Connie might be able to teach the daughter in terms of dog wisdom doesn't matter and is totally irrelevant. My guess is the daughter is never going to "get" what dogs mean on deeper planes and levels anyway; I don't care how many designer puppies she gets. It doesn't matter how much money she has or room she has or monetary means she has to keep and care for Connie, she doesn't want her plain and simple. She isn't even going to put in a little effort for her mother's sake.
With Connie's background, has her breeder been contacted to assist? In the States and any number of other countries as well, if for anytime during the lifetime of the dog the owner can no longer keep the dog for any reason; it comes back to the breeder. Should you decide to revisit and rethink Connie's situation, that is another avenue to explore; get in touch with her breeder.
As Bonnie said, rescue is about the dogs and what is in their best interest. People, to a large degree, aren't high up on the priority list. I had one owner say to me; "You care more about the dog than you do me!" My thought was, "...and your point?" This was a couple who were educated, had a well paying job; bought a pet store puppy on impulse, who had no time in their life to raise a puppy, nor willing to make time for puppy ownership; gave the dog to a family with a young child, (NOT the right place for this puppy with her behavioral issues due to lack of training); family returned her. This owner played the blackmail card of threatening to dump the puppy out in the country if I didn't take her ... and just continued to grow increasingly irrational as the conversation went on. It was the middle of summer here, 90 degree days and 100% humidity; the owners left her out on their apartment deck, in her crate in which she had defecated, no water; for us to pick up. She was treated for beginning stages of heat stroke at the vet's where she immediately went after pick up.
Michael, you've not begun to see the tip of the ice berg when it comes to the stories and actions on the human side. I've lost count of the times I've had to have my tongue reattached from nearly biting it off. I have a permanent indentation in my forehead from my head hitting my desk when dealing with some of these owners and there is a hole in my wall from where I've hit my head against it so many times. It takes a lot of patience, finesse, psychology, wiliness - a big bag of tricks and tools to deal with the human side many times. I do understand and empathise with your frustration with the daughter, but she doesn't count here, Connie and what her true owner would want for her does. You've just become another name on the growing list of people who have failed Connie.
I would recommend you network within your Walking Club and recruit some foster volunteers who might have time and room in their homes and hearts for cases like Connie's.
Debbie