Flat coat needing a home - some advice please

PucciNPoni

PucciNPoni

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I've got a long standing client of mine who has always doted on her Westie (does a great job of looking after the wee dog and has been a very good responsible owner) inheirit a f/c retreiver from her mother who died recently. He's an 18 month old lad with some medical issues. Anyway, the lady who inheirited him has three young children and really can't cope with a large dog (she knew it would be trouble but felt she owed it to her mother to try).

Anyway, the dust has settled somewhat (since the mother's funeral) but the dog isn't fitting in at her home. To make matters worse, the dog has just been diagnosed with some serious medical issues that she can't afford to pay for, dog is uninsured and to be honest the dog is causing some marital strife as the husband is beginning to resent having a large young dog that he didn't want. Please let me be clear - these are NOT irresponsible people who just haphazardly chose a dog and don't like it. This is a really stressful situation for the family who are becoming attached to the dog, but they fully recognise that they don't have the time or the ability to train/treat and house a large gundog.

They contacted the breed rescue and were told that they'd have to keep the dog until they could find a home for it, but due to the medical conditions, this could take a very long time. They were unwilling to take it on a foster basis. This lady isn't wanting to DUMP the dog, but she definitely needs to have it away before they (kids) become too attached. Further, the rescue person wasn't particularly helpful and did not treat the owner with a whole lot of respect in the situation. She also contacted Dog Aid Soc, and they also said they coudln't take the dog from her.

Now, it may be better to have this dog PTS and that is a last resort for this lady. But I wonder if any of you lot might have some suggestions I can put forth. I'm on the verge of contacting the breed rescue myself and explaining to them a bit more clearly on the owner's behalf because I think the owner is perhaps a bit too emotional having just lost her mother.
 
Do you know what sort of medical issues the dog has? Just trying to judge how much of a financial/other impact that would have on someone taking the dog on?
 
For starters, it's got skin problems (don't think it's necessarily diet related). The owner coudln't remember what the medical terms were, but from what it sounds like it may have a collapsing trachea and something else going on with his heart. She said the vet had quoted her thousands to fix, which she hasn't got.
 
Hi there. This sounds like a very sad situation all around.

In the first instance I would tell your friend to contact the dog's breeder. If it is KC registered then this should be fairly straightforward. Most breeders will be prepared to help out in such circumstances - many in fact include a clause in their puppy contracts that asks owners to return dogs they have bred to them in the event that they can no longer keep them.

In addition, if hte medical conditions you have mentioned turn out to be genetic, then the breeder has an additional duty of care. Were it that a pup I'd bred need rehoming I would at the very least be working with the owner to find a new home. Were the situation be as thescue one you describe I would be stepping in and bringing the dog home and working things out from there.

Re the rescue - was it the breed rescue club your friend contacted or a local rescue centre? Also, she should try any FC clubs - it's not a prolific breed in the UK and the breeders/owners are a pretty tight knit group and between them someone should be able to help. Of course, the medical issues this dog has will be an added complication in getting him rehomed and maybe in respect of his life expectancy, but all your friend can do is try.

Finger and paws crossed that this has a happy ending.
 
The owner is trying to chase down the breeder - apparently papers have not been forwarded to the mother even (or at least have not yet surfaced). She thinks she knows the Kennel name and knows roughly where the dog was bred but hasn't been able to make contact as yet.

The woman contacted the breed rescue who told her that they would not take the dog for fostering.

Have spoken to a few people who are reasonably high profile in my area vis gun dogs and their opinion was that it was irresponsible for the lady to be forced to keep the dog when she's made it clear that she can't look after him as he needs. It's a really sad situ all round. I feel for the dog, but I also feel for the owner who when she was speaking to me was shaking and near tears about it because she knows he deserves more than she is capable of giving him. She can't control him either - she's trying to get him out for walks with the buggy (youngest child under 2) and her other dog and he's towing and dragging them around. She does not feel capable of restarting his training with so much going on in her life and it's not fair to any of them.
 
How horrid for this poor family. Im sorry I cant offer any help but I just wanted to say that we were in a similar position recently. My Mum died suddenly leaving behind a little X breed who had emotional issues rather than medical ones. I knew he wouldnt fit in with my pack and my brother was not able to have him. My son who was very close to his Nan wanted to have him, but as he has young children I refused to let him, Sam was not used to kiddies and a nervous dog by nature. We had to make a quick choice and had come to the decision to have Sam pts rather than be placed in a rehoming centre which he would have hated, I posted on here at the time and most of the very knowledgable and respected posters responded and, given the circumstances and issues Sam had, in the main agreed it was the right thing to do. As it happens my brother mentioned Sam to a work acquaintance of his who agreed to take him on trial and so far so good, almost 6 weeks on and Sam is doing really well, but it was a total fluke that we found these people prepared to take on a medium sized cross breed with severe separation issues and not altogether straightforward, homes like this are few and far between. As this is a pedigree dog, I agree than contacting the breeder if possible, is a sensible thing to do, but if they are unable to help I dont think this family should feel guilty about PTS, it is a far kinder option than many seem to think and at least the dog will not fall into an uncertain future. Once again, they have my sympathy, when Mum died worrying about Sam caused me more stress than anything else :(
 
sorry to hear about the problems that she is having especially having lost her mum. In all honesty if the dog has serious health problems she will struggle to find a new home and much as I hate to say this it might be better to consider an alternative option. I hate to say pts but sometimes that really is the best option but does depend on the condition that the dog has. If its a cost issue then chat with the vet they maybe able to sort out a payment plan or at least amend the level of work they do to help keep costs down. make sure she tells them that there is no insurance because quite often vets pile on the costs when insurance is involved.

Lots of the breed rescues try to keep the dog in the home so that 1 they don't encounter huge costs that they cannot afford to foot bills for and 2 because it helps the dog in the long run not to have to go into kennels or bounce around too much especially if its a dog that has health problems. The rescue may well just have told her the truth about how they work, albeit not what she wants to hear or what will help her with immediate removal :(

Look for a forum that is specific to Flat Coat lovers there will be one and ask for help. There may well be someone whose prepared to take on her dog or offer some help. She could also ask the rescue for aid to help with costs for veterinary care... now most won't but in exceptional circumstances some breed clubs will help if it gives them more time to help find a new home. Its worth asking.

If she knows the KC name give registrations a quick call they are incredibly helpful and will be able to at least supply the name of the breeder. If not and she knows the DOB then I don't mind doing a quick look through the BRS.
 
Try someone more senior at breed welfare. Stafford welfare certainly help people with ill staffords where the circumstances dictate ( not crosses though). I would talk to the vet to get a clear view on cost and exact medical condition to take out the guess work and would guess there is a forum to discuss this breed? Post his details there too?
 
I don't know if this will help or not but the RSPCA do a 'Veterinary Financial Aid' its on their website but I have no idea what the criteria is it might be worth a shot??

http://www.rspca.org.uk/utilities/faq/-/question/ENQConcernVetsBills she'll need to contact her local centre which offers the service just click on the 'in your area' section then use the drop down menu to find the veterinary financial aid providers.

They may also help with rehoming... might be a long shot but its worth trying.
 
Thank you all for your bits of advice and information - this is just what I need. I will pass this on to the owner and hopefully she will get somewhere. It's hard enough losing your beloved family member, but this is going to be such an emotional thing for her to do knowing that the dog needs more care than she is willing and able to provide.
 
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