First rehoming failure
Discussion
Hi All,
Nowhere else to vent so thought I may here. I look after the rehoming of English Cocker Spaniels on the east coast of Oz. Anyway, a couple of years ago a guy I knew through work wanted a dog for his kids. Perfect, says I. He was a nice chap and had two young kids. A beautiful boy was in the pound on death row so I went to meet him and he was wonderful. I didnt take him in and just met the workmate with his young son at the pound and they all went home. I got some nice pics and it was all well. I was lucky to name him Cooper (I always name after a western star or a car...called an orange roan Van Cleef once) and it stuck.
Fast forward two years and I come back to the same workplace. A kid comes up asking me if I want to donate to the flood appeal and I recognise him from the pound two years ago. I asked him if he had a little doggy named Cooper. He is about 6 and says "he went to heaven because he kept biting us".
I am really numb now. I totally let Cooper down. If I see the workmate I will be sending him to heaven for not calling me to pick Cooper up and retrain and rehome. He hasnt returned my calls or answered any emails.
Here is Cooper when I met him and a pic I got from when he wasnt a burden to his new forever home.
Nowhere else to vent so thought I may here. I look after the rehoming of English Cocker Spaniels on the east coast of Oz. Anyway, a couple of years ago a guy I knew through work wanted a dog for his kids. Perfect, says I. He was a nice chap and had two young kids. A beautiful boy was in the pound on death row so I went to meet him and he was wonderful. I didnt take him in and just met the workmate with his young son at the pound and they all went home. I got some nice pics and it was all well. I was lucky to name him Cooper (I always name after a western star or a car...called an orange roan Van Cleef once) and it stuck.
Fast forward two years and I come back to the same workplace. A kid comes up asking me if I want to donate to the flood appeal and I recognise him from the pound two years ago. I asked him if he had a little doggy named Cooper. He is about 6 and says "he went to heaven because he kept biting us".
I am really numb now. I totally let Cooper down. If I see the workmate I will be sending him to heaven for not calling me to pick Cooper up and retrain and rehome. He hasnt returned my calls or answered any emails.
Here is Cooper when I met him and a pic I got from when he wasnt a burden to his new forever home.
Very sad story. 
Try not to beat yourself up over it, you did absolutely nothing wrong, the failure lies at the feet of the previous owners who likely caused the dog to bite and his 'forever' home for not doing the right thing when the going got tough.
My grandmother rehomed a rescue border collie many years ago, he was severely abused and would often nip and occasionally bite. She perservered with him, despite struggling to begin with, and he turned into the most loyal dog you could ever ask for who no longer nipped. He had to be PTS late last year in his teens, and needless to say my grandmother was and still is heartbroken.
Try not to beat yourself up over it, you did absolutely nothing wrong, the failure lies at the feet of the previous owners who likely caused the dog to bite and his 'forever' home for not doing the right thing when the going got tough.
My grandmother rehomed a rescue border collie many years ago, he was severely abused and would often nip and occasionally bite. She perservered with him, despite struggling to begin with, and he turned into the most loyal dog you could ever ask for who no longer nipped. He had to be PTS late last year in his teens, and needless to say my grandmother was and still is heartbroken.
mate,
You can't be expected to get it right all the time, you gave old Cooper another chance and that in itself is nothing to be ashamed of. Even assholes can, and do put on a facade when aquiring and selling pets, we have just taken in a 21 month old irish wolfhound rescue 'Tevez' he's soft as sh!t and extremely loving, yet cowers like a startledbunny aussie test opener. Previous owner/breeder said he was a bad-un and not to be trusted, but all he needed was some love and attention.
here's the 'killer' beast
Keep up the good work
You can't be expected to get it right all the time, you gave old Cooper another chance and that in itself is nothing to be ashamed of. Even assholes can, and do put on a facade when aquiring and selling pets, we have just taken in a 21 month old irish wolfhound rescue 'Tevez' he's soft as sh!t and extremely loving, yet cowers like a startled
here's the 'killer' beast
Keep up the good work
Thanks guys. I needed to hear that I guess. At least he had a couple more years of living the dream. I will have to be more vigilant in future for home checks. People suck some times. More than the aussie pace bowlers too.
Id love to see more pics of Tevez if you have any. Once was driving through the country to get a vintage chev and speaking to a local in a pub about dogs told me of a dog that was abused on a farm. I went to investigate (5 years infantry so not scared of bogans) and ended up leaving with an irish wolfhound that had lost most of her coat due to fleas and biting. Her teeth were worn down so much due to the gnawing of her skin. I called her Princess (because she was one) and to this day is doing great. I still think that both IWH and Newfies have the most expressive eyes.
Id love to see more pics of Tevez if you have any. Once was driving through the country to get a vintage chev and speaking to a local in a pub about dogs told me of a dog that was abused on a farm. I went to investigate (5 years infantry so not scared of bogans) and ended up leaving with an irish wolfhound that had lost most of her coat due to fleas and biting. Her teeth were worn down so much due to the gnawing of her skin. I called her Princess (because she was one) and to this day is doing great. I still think that both IWH and Newfies have the most expressive eyes.
This our first ever rescue husky, Maverick. We wanted a friend for our young (at the time) girl Husky, she met him and instantly swooned over him, they were never apart. He was 2 1/2 years old when he found us, He came from a notorious husky puppy farmer near Rushton, and was owned by a family in lincoln. He got abused daily, kicked out of the door to go outside, never shown love from what we could see and just beaten alot, and to that extent he was very stand offish, growly, bitey and snappy whenever you said NO to him and didn't like to be touched, especially his rears. It took us about 2 months to turn him into the most loving, playful and affectionate dog you could ever meet, and he was my best ever friend aswell as shadow's 'boyfriend'. They would be outside all day just playing with each other non stop. He would even 'mouth' you, put his mouth wide open over you hand or arm, aswell as he would do it to shadows head. A husky sign to true love and respect. Best, most custest thing we saw was when they both were eatign pig ears, shad's finished hers first, then preceded to smooch Mav til to gave her his pigs ear.
Sadly, after 6months with us, he would be in his crate resting, then suddenly cry out in pain, if you went bear him he'd snap at you (the pain talking) he started to find it very hard to walk sometimes and was vrey moody. The vet did Xrays and found major Hip Displacia, and was quite advanced, and said to be fair he was a really 'poor specimen' of a husky. The hip ball and socket was pretty much flat, the vet recommended that he could never run again and have to spend the rest of his life on heavy duty pain relief, not a life for a husky and may only have another 6months at best before he would be completely immobile and in massive pain. So with advice from the husky rescue organisation, our vet and our feeling, we decided to PTS, as hip replacements aren't recommended for huskys. It was and still is the most heart breaking decision we've ever made and I still well up and shed a tear about it even now. We gave him the best most wonderful 6months of his life, but we knew that from the moment he was born, he was a dog that should have never been. But we are glad we got to know and love you Maverick. I miss so so much and I hope you are enjoying your rainbow bridge!
Hence I detest all forms of puppy farming and abuse!
Sadly, after 6months with us, he would be in his crate resting, then suddenly cry out in pain, if you went bear him he'd snap at you (the pain talking) he started to find it very hard to walk sometimes and was vrey moody. The vet did Xrays and found major Hip Displacia, and was quite advanced, and said to be fair he was a really 'poor specimen' of a husky. The hip ball and socket was pretty much flat, the vet recommended that he could never run again and have to spend the rest of his life on heavy duty pain relief, not a life for a husky and may only have another 6months at best before he would be completely immobile and in massive pain. So with advice from the husky rescue organisation, our vet and our feeling, we decided to PTS, as hip replacements aren't recommended for huskys. It was and still is the most heart breaking decision we've ever made and I still well up and shed a tear about it even now. We gave him the best most wonderful 6months of his life, but we knew that from the moment he was born, he was a dog that should have never been. But we are glad we got to know and love you Maverick. I miss so so much and I hope you are enjoying your rainbow bridge!
Hence I detest all forms of puppy farming and abuse!
Edited by PaulG40 on Friday 18th February 14:28
Don't beat yourself up. Sometimes, with all the homechecks, meetings and phone calls in the world, things still go wrong
I find it very, very hard when people turn a dog into a scared, bitey thing Sadly, there are so many dogs with no issues that find it difficult to find a home, that dogs with even minor issues are finding it almost impossible. Thing is, that most of these dogs would be fine if only people would only get a clue 
Instead of which they make them worse
I find it very, very hard when people turn a dog into a scared, bitey thing
Sadly, there are so many dogs with no issues that find it difficult to find a home, that dogs with even minor issues are finding it almost impossible. Thing is, that most of these dogs would be fine if only people would only get a clue Instead of which they make them worse PaulG40 said:
This our first ever rescue husky, Maverick. We wanted a friend for our young (at the time) girl Husky, she met him and instantly swooned over him, they were never apart. He was 2 1/2 years old when he found us, He came from a notorious husky puppy farmer near Rushton, and was owned by a family in lincoln. He got abused daily, kicked out of the door to go outside, never shown love from what we could see and just beaten alot, and to that extent he was very stand offish, growly, bitey and snappy whenever you said NO to him and didn't like to be touched, especially his rears. It took us about 2 months to turn him into the most loving, playful and affectionate dog you could ever meet, and he was my best ever friend aswell as shadow's 'boyfriend'. They would be outside all day just playing with each other non stop. He would even 'mouth' you, put his mouth wide open over you hand or arm, aswell as he would do it to shadows head. A husky sign to true love and respect. Best, most custest thing we saw was when they both were eatign pig ears, shad's finished hers first, then preceded to smooch Mav til to gave her his pigs ear.
Sadly, after 6months with us, he would be in his crate resting, then suddenly cry out in pain, if you went bear him he'd snap at you (the pain talking) he started to find it very hard to walk sometimes and was vrey moody. The vet did Xrays and found major Hip Displacia, and was quite advanced, and said to be fair he was a really 'poor specimen' of a husky. The hip ball and socket was pretty much flat, the vet recommended that he could never run again and have to spend the rest of his life on heavy duty pain relief, not a life for a husky and may only have another 6months at best before he would be completely immobile and in massive pain. So with advice from the husky rescue organisation, our vet and our feeling, we decided to PTS, as hip replacements aren't recommended for huskys. It was and still is the most heart breaking decision we've ever made and I still well up and shed a tear about it even now. We gave him the best most wonderful 6months of his life, but we knew that from the moment he was born, he was a dog that should have never been. But we are glad we got to know and love you Maverick. I miss so so much and I hope you are enjoying your rainbow bridge!
Hence I detest all forms of puppy farming and abuse!
Got something in my eye now...Sadly, after 6months with us, he would be in his crate resting, then suddenly cry out in pain, if you went bear him he'd snap at you (the pain talking) he started to find it very hard to walk sometimes and was vrey moody. The vet did Xrays and found major Hip Displacia, and was quite advanced, and said to be fair he was a really 'poor specimen' of a husky. The hip ball and socket was pretty much flat, the vet recommended that he could never run again and have to spend the rest of his life on heavy duty pain relief, not a life for a husky and may only have another 6months at best before he would be completely immobile and in massive pain. So with advice from the husky rescue organisation, our vet and our feeling, we decided to PTS, as hip replacements aren't recommended for huskys. It was and still is the most heart breaking decision we've ever made and I still well up and shed a tear about it even now. We gave him the best most wonderful 6months of his life, but we knew that from the moment he was born, he was a dog that should have never been. But we are glad we got to know and love you Maverick. I miss so so much and I hope you are enjoying your rainbow bridge!
Hence I detest all forms of puppy farming and abuse!
Edited by PaulG40 on Friday 18th February 14:28
I once sold a Stafford puppy, one of a litter of two bi tches, to a Staffordshire Bull Terrier show judge. Long story short, I received a phone call some months later from him to say he had just had the puppy put down for allegedly biting a young child. The young child was his friends. It appears they had been looking after the pup in their home after she had recently been taken out of kennels... Why was she in Kennels? Because he decided to build kennels at his property in Bristol and put the pup into commercial kenneling until job was completed.
Poor bi tch did not stand a chance, , three "homes" inside a few short months, no socialisation and no second chance. Speaking to people who worked at the kennels one a very well respected Staffordshire Bull Terrier breeder and her friend a professinal dog behaviourist the pup was fine, no nastiness just a nice little bi tch.
I kept the second pup, Tilly, she's lying her now snoring away, 14 years plus, never a days trouble and totally trustworthy. The only thing "wrong" with her is she turned out to be a taller terrier "type" example of the breed not the sort you would include in a breeding plan, which is the reason he purchased the pup? Tilly in her prime!
Fortunately for Staffords he is no longer involved in the breed. No matter how hard we try we cannot save them all.
Poor bi tch did not stand a chance, , three "homes" inside a few short months, no socialisation and no second chance. Speaking to people who worked at the kennels one a very well respected Staffordshire Bull Terrier breeder and her friend a professinal dog behaviourist the pup was fine, no nastiness just a nice little bi tch.
I kept the second pup, Tilly, she's lying her now snoring away, 14 years plus, never a days trouble and totally trustworthy. The only thing "wrong" with her is she turned out to be a taller terrier "type" example of the breed not the sort you would include in a breeding plan, which is the reason he purchased the pup? Tilly in her prime!
Fortunately for Staffords he is no longer involved in the breed. No matter how hard we try we cannot save them all.
Edited by g3rrd on Saturday 19th February 12:09
Chilli said:
PaulG40 said:
This our first ever rescue husky, Maverick. We wanted a friend for our young (at the time) girl Husky, she met him and instantly swooned over him, they were never apart. He was 2 1/2 years old when he found us, He came from a notorious husky puppy farmer near Rushton, and was owned by a family in lincoln. He got abused daily, kicked out of the door to go outside, never shown love from what we could see and just beaten alot, and to that extent he was very stand offish, growly, bitey and snappy whenever you said NO to him and didn't like to be touched, especially his rears. It took us about 2 months to turn him into the most loving, playful and affectionate dog you could ever meet, and he was my best ever friend aswell as shadow's 'boyfriend'. They would be outside all day just playing with each other non stop. He would even 'mouth' you, put his mouth wide open over you hand or arm, aswell as he would do it to shadows head. A husky sign to true love and respect. Best, most custest thing we saw was when they both were eatign pig ears, shad's finished hers first, then preceded to smooch Mav til to gave her his pigs ear.
Sadly, after 6months with us, he would be in his crate resting, then suddenly cry out in pain, if you went bear him he'd snap at you (the pain talking) he started to find it very hard to walk sometimes and was vrey moody. The vet did Xrays and found major Hip Displacia, and was quite advanced, and said to be fair he was a really 'poor specimen' of a husky. The hip ball and socket was pretty much flat, the vet recommended that he could never run again and have to spend the rest of his life on heavy duty pain relief, not a life for a husky and may only have another 6months at best before he would be completely immobile and in massive pain. So with advice from the husky rescue organisation, our vet and our feeling, we decided to PTS, as hip replacements aren't recommended for huskys. It was and still is the most heart breaking decision we've ever made and I still well up and shed a tear about it even now. We gave him the best most wonderful 6months of his life, but we knew that from the moment he was born, he was a dog that should have never been. But we are glad we got to know and love you Maverick. I miss so so much and I hope you are enjoying your rainbow bridge!
Hence I detest all forms of puppy farming and abuse!
Got something in my eye now...Sadly, after 6months with us, he would be in his crate resting, then suddenly cry out in pain, if you went bear him he'd snap at you (the pain talking) he started to find it very hard to walk sometimes and was vrey moody. The vet did Xrays and found major Hip Displacia, and was quite advanced, and said to be fair he was a really 'poor specimen' of a husky. The hip ball and socket was pretty much flat, the vet recommended that he could never run again and have to spend the rest of his life on heavy duty pain relief, not a life for a husky and may only have another 6months at best before he would be completely immobile and in massive pain. So with advice from the husky rescue organisation, our vet and our feeling, we decided to PTS, as hip replacements aren't recommended for huskys. It was and still is the most heart breaking decision we've ever made and I still well up and shed a tear about it even now. We gave him the best most wonderful 6months of his life, but we knew that from the moment he was born, he was a dog that should have never been. But we are glad we got to know and love you Maverick. I miss so so much and I hope you are enjoying your rainbow bridge!
Hence I detest all forms of puppy farming and abuse!
Edited by PaulG40 on Friday 18th February 14:28
s.Hi J&J,
Good thinking. However, rescuing dogs over here is nothing like England. I have seen what happens in England and it is on par with adopting a child. In oz we have so many kill shelters and its either feast or famine with rescues. I find it is linked to fuel prices. When they go up, Poochy gets the chop.
I normally go on gut feel when choosing a home. I assumed because I knew this guy it was legit. My mistake. With all of the others I have never been steered wrong and I think the best way I can avoid this is to keep better contact with my charges so if a problem comes up quick I can knock it on the head then and there.
Paul,
Maverick had a great life. I like to think that dogs dont have a perception of time. They follow cues to know when to wait at the door for you. But as I said, I like to think they cant read a watch. Therefore the life you gave Mav cannot be measured in human time of months. To Mav it was an entire lifetime and a fortunate life at that :-)
Puppy farmers are scum. If I am ever feeling cheeky, when I advertise for a new home I wont put that the dog is desexed. It is amazing how easy it is to spot a puppy farmer. The first question they ask is "is it desexed?". An old lady used to constantly have cockers for sale in the local rag. She was registered as a breeder though so it seemed legit. I kept hearing rumours though so I went to visit as a prospective buyer. It was disgusting how she was running it. I tried to get the RSPCA to help but those useless pricks had no idea what was going on and were literally no help. The council were kind of ok but not quick enough.
Anyway, so if you want a job done properly you have to do it yourself. I had all the puppies sorted and most of the adults to go to homes. There wasnt too many. But what was truly horrible was what that monster had done. She had de-barked all her breeding dogs. I knew the locals vets and she didnt get them done there so one could only imagine. I ended up taking in one I called Puddles as a foster for a while and I wont go into details about his misery. I will say that when he came to my place, he was still learning to walk properly on ground that wasnt a cage up in the air (he was about 5 years old) and very nervous. I couldnt get him to drink a drop of water. But he loved licking my face. Add in one bottle of water poured slowly over my head and you have the scenario.
When he finally did get enough fluids and things were working as they should. He chose his name.
Called Stan now and is king of the castle. Here he is on his first trip in a car after having his dreadlocks clipped off.
Good thinking. However, rescuing dogs over here is nothing like England. I have seen what happens in England and it is on par with adopting a child. In oz we have so many kill shelters and its either feast or famine with rescues. I find it is linked to fuel prices. When they go up, Poochy gets the chop.
I normally go on gut feel when choosing a home. I assumed because I knew this guy it was legit. My mistake. With all of the others I have never been steered wrong and I think the best way I can avoid this is to keep better contact with my charges so if a problem comes up quick I can knock it on the head then and there.
Paul,
Maverick had a great life. I like to think that dogs dont have a perception of time. They follow cues to know when to wait at the door for you. But as I said, I like to think they cant read a watch. Therefore the life you gave Mav cannot be measured in human time of months. To Mav it was an entire lifetime and a fortunate life at that :-)
Puppy farmers are scum. If I am ever feeling cheeky, when I advertise for a new home I wont put that the dog is desexed. It is amazing how easy it is to spot a puppy farmer. The first question they ask is "is it desexed?". An old lady used to constantly have cockers for sale in the local rag. She was registered as a breeder though so it seemed legit. I kept hearing rumours though so I went to visit as a prospective buyer. It was disgusting how she was running it. I tried to get the RSPCA to help but those useless pricks had no idea what was going on and were literally no help. The council were kind of ok but not quick enough.
Anyway, so if you want a job done properly you have to do it yourself. I had all the puppies sorted and most of the adults to go to homes. There wasnt too many. But what was truly horrible was what that monster had done. She had de-barked all her breeding dogs. I knew the locals vets and she didnt get them done there so one could only imagine. I ended up taking in one I called Puddles as a foster for a while and I wont go into details about his misery. I will say that when he came to my place, he was still learning to walk properly on ground that wasnt a cage up in the air (he was about 5 years old) and very nervous. I couldnt get him to drink a drop of water. But he loved licking my face. Add in one bottle of water poured slowly over my head and you have the scenario.
When he finally did get enough fluids and things were working as they should. He chose his name.
Called Stan now and is king of the castle. Here he is on his first trip in a car after having his dreadlocks clipped off.
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff