Rescue people...

[Spudlet]

Sorry about the two posts in quick succession but I have a question.

As you know we lost our family dog, Barney, in September last year. He was a lab that we had for 16 years.

This really hit my mum hard. She misses him dreadfully still and often talks about getting another but says that she feels she must wait until she retires.

I don't think she needs to wait and would like to know if you think so too.

She works part-time as a nurse, so does work shifts. My step-dad works normal office hours. My brother and sister, aged 22 and 18, also both live at home and as they are both students are in the house a lot of the time. It is quite rare for the house to be totally empty although of course it will happen at times!

They have a large garden with 6ft fencing all the way round and my mum and stepdad go walking all the time, they have boots and a map-holder (which Jez insists on wearing round his neck

) and everything.

I really do think that if the right dog came in - it would have to be a lab and a younger dog for mum to consider it - they could offer it a good home. However, am I being blinded by the fact that I think mum really needs a dog? Would rescues agree?

Wht do you think?

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

My mum and dad only stopped having dogs after their last ones went and that was after they had retired - now they just babysit ours!! They go away a lot so it wouldn't be fair to have a dog but they get to look after Sweeplet when I need it and my sisters lab - and obviously my soon to be 'new' lab!

- they get to go for walks etc still as they do miss having dogs to walk but obviously get to give them back!! - and bloody spoil them when they stay

- they think I don't know.....

I guess it really depends on how much your mum wants another one.

 

[Booboos]

Sounds like the ideal home for the dog, as long as your mum is ready for another one.

 

[Spudlet]

Everytime she says she has to wait until she retires, her lip wobbles a little bit... she loves Henry but she really wants one of her own and it will have to be a lab.

I'll talk to her again. I think she might also be worried that at the moment she will compare any new dog with Barney. If that's the case she should probably wait, it's just I do really think they could give a dog a good home, so if that's not the case I see little point in them waiting for ten years!

Mum spoils Henry rotten as well - I do know cos she even does it when I'm watching

 

[MurphysMinder]

I would definitely pass your mum if I was doing a home check. The GSD rescue criteria is not to be left for more than 4 hours generally, but the home checkers are allowed to be a bit flexible over this. Of course she will compare a new dog to Barney, he was a very special part of her life, imo it is not a good idea to go for an exact replacement, e.g. if Barney was black perhaps go for a yellow lab, or maybe even a bitch. I hope you can persuade her to consider another dog, sounds like an ideal home.

 

[camilla4]

I second the above - it does sound time for your Mum to get another dog and I can't see any problem with the set up. I imagine the rescue society may want to know how long your brother and sister will be living at home and how long the dog may be on its own if they leave but, apart from that, everything sounds fine. The fact that they do so much walking is great!

Good luck