HELP! What can I do?

:x

Hi,

It's been a while since I've been on the board. Lots of things have happened. I think I wrote a while back that one of our dogs that came to us as a stray, had puppies. Nine to be exact. We thought she might have been pregnant but wasn't for sure. Well, she was.

We could have had her spayed and aborted the puppies, but I was dead set against it. To me, I wanted to give the puppies a chance to live and get a good home.

Knowing that we could not take care of 9 more dogs, I seeked out a no kill rescue group that is not terribly far from where we live.

We met at an inbetween town and gave the puppies and the mother dog to the lady. She gave us a paper that said something about giving up the rights to the mother dog. She said it was only necessary for them to be able to give her medical attention if needed during their care. That it was not to give her up for adoption. Knowing how hard it was for me to part with the mother dog, the lady volunteered and asked if after the puppies were weaned, would we want the mother dog back? Of COURSE!! I was so much more relieved.

Well, time came and went, and she called us one day and asked if we still wanted her back. Let me back up a bit, the day we gave her the mom and puppies, another stray came to our house. A red cocker spaniel. He kept hanging around and hanging around, we finally started feeding him and he's made us his home. He was very scared and shy at first, and is jut now coming around.

Back to the story, knowing that we took on another dog, and we were strapped for cash at the time of the lady's phone call, my husband asked her to try and find a home for her. Not really wanting to, but at the time, we didn't have the money to pay for the adoption fee to get her back. We told her that if she couldn't find a home within 45 days, we would defentely take her back.

Well, I have been totally depressed, moping around. My husband couldn't figure out what was wrong. I just kept telling nothing, it will pass. But it hadn't. I finally broke down and told him I wanted the dog back. I miss her terribly.

He called the lady about 2 weeks ago and asked if the dog was still available. She said yes, and he told her we would like to have her back. She said that would be fine. He told her we could pick her up on the 18th of this month. She said that would be okay, to give her a call closer to that date.

Now, this past Wednesday, she calls and asks me are we sure we still want her. That there is a lady that met the dog and really wants her and is really excited about getting her. That she had a dog of this same mix before that died and she really loved that dog. I told her that was unfortunate, but I really miss the dog and have been crying my eyes out over it, counting down the days to pick her up.

The lady said that another member of their organization already accepted this lady's application. She didn't sound very optomistic as to us getting her back.

I am so devistated. I Love this dog. I helped her with the birth of her puppies and I want her back.

The board members were suppose to take a vote and let us know. They have not, they do not return our phone calls. They do not answer when we call them, we just get a recording.

I feel like I'm being punished for doing a good deed. Like I said, I could have had the puppies aborted or let them be born and stand outside a grocery store with a sign, free puppies to just anyone. But I didn't, I thought I was doing the right thing by notifying a no kill rescue.

What can I do????? I am sooooo upset :-(

 

HMMM....that really is a sad story...i am so sorry that happened to you. well...i think it was good that you pursued it. maybe filing a grievance???

i am not sure if you realize this...but your post is in the cat forum....if i were you...i would repost in the dog forum...just copy and paste this post into the dog forum so they can give you feedback. but an animal is an animal, and something like that doesnt seem right. you gave the mother and puppies to the shelter so that the puppies could be with the mother until they were old enough to be weaned. then you wanted the mother back...sad...welll...good luck to you. just doesnt seem right...

 

I have to play the devil's advocate here...part of my Libra heritage and being the middle of 3 daughters.

Your first concern at the beginning of this was you couldn't afford to take on another pet - very admirable of you and also responsible.

IF you told the rescue this they probably feel that you still can't.

Also you have found another dog (or a dog found you and you are giving it a good home) the other adopter had a dog like the one you nicely put into rescue's hands...I would think you would feel good about giving this person the opportunity to be able to adopt a dog that is much like one she is probably missing a lot.

By saving this mother dog and giving her pups a chance at life you have made someone happy - and probably the chance for the mom dog to go to a good home. It's sad you miss her and all...but you have a dog in your life now. Can you afford 2 dogs? Vaccines, medical emergencies, etc. Will the cocker you took in want the other dog around - will they accept each other?

Yes it's sad....but I think letting dog #1 go to the other home and not raising a ruckus would be an extremely unselfish thing for you to do. Trying to get her back would be selfish. You don't even really know the dog that well and I would worry about the 2 dogs getting along.

Why rock the boat with 2 dogs now have good homes.

 

well...yes...and i can see that side of it too...

i get into trouble sometimes, mary, when i play "devils advocate" but sometimes things just need to be said, too.

the only issue with posts...is that there may be more information that we dont know...like...do you normally have the money to care for your pets, and you just had alot of unexpected expenses at the time you found the mother? you said you didnt have the money for the adoption fee...or to care for the puppies. what happens if one of your dogs has to go through vet care for medical issues...are you prepared to care for two dogs? or more, if you have more animals?

people have posted in the past about wanting kittens...cats...but not being able to afford them...but taking them on anyway, out of selfish reasons. that is not fair to the animal. if you have the financial wherewithal then no problem...

 

:m23: Catwoman. I believe you gave up the rights to the dog once you sign away that form. I don't think you you have a case against her unless she admits that she said she would give the dog back to you after the dogs were weaned.

You will always have an ache in your heart knowing that you don't have her in your life. But you will rest assured knowing she is going to a loving home where she will be cherished and doted on. In time the ache will be lessened.

You did the right thing at the given time and situation. Sometimes things don't go our way for a reason. Maybe this dog that you rescued was meant for this other person. If this incident had not happened, would you have your red cocker spaniel now?

Sometimes it's just easier to give in. You may feel better. I'm sorry you are so sad. I sympathize.

 

I'm sorry that you're upset catwoman.
At least the dog will get a good home either way and thanks to you so will her puppies. I do think the shelter should at least return your calls to let you know what they have decided.