Re: [PyrNet-L] rescue dogs (was Greetings again!)

[MagEBroD@aol.com]

In a message dated 5/17/99 12:05:52 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
vanwey6@bitterroot.net writes:

<< We also have not
 ruled out a rescue dog. I would love to hear feedback from those of you
 that could offer advice from actual experience in this. Are rescue dogs
 well-suited to adapt to life with a new family of children and possibly
 other dogs?  >>

   I have had 30-something rescue dogs throughout the years.  It just depends 
on the individual dogs.  I seem to just have a good sense for picking out 
rescue dogs, or allowing myself to picked out by rescue dogs!  There have 
been a few that I decided were not the right fit for our family before I 
picked them out. In 35 years I have only picked out one that was not a good 
fit after coming to our home. That was because she  (Brittany - a Brittany 
Spaniel) was a determined escape artist who could climb/jump an 8-foot fence 
with ease in seconds.  She would run a long ways from home each time and our 
young child would try to follow her.  After one terrifying day when they were 
gone for hours and found many miles from our home in the wilderness, by our 
Newf, who we finally let go to find them when we couldn't find them (silly us 
had only gone as far as two miles away!)  (Our Newf had saved our child's 
life 2 times before and we trusted him a lot!)  When we found them the Newf 
had Brittany sitting nicely and every time she thought about getting up he 
growled a growl to be taken seriously.  Our child was hugging the Newf's neck 
and being licked by the Newf. I decided enough was enough.  We found her a 
new home with no young kids and she became an inside dog there. 
   Every rescue we have ever had was a sweet, affectionate, loving dog.  The 
kind that make you wonder who could have not wanted them.  Had two that had 
been abused severely by a real psychotic individual who abused his wife and 
kids, too, until they left home.  He had even shot one of the dogs!  And he 
beat them with shovels regularly.  We took them both and they were the 
sweetest dogs!!  Took a while before we could hold a shovel without them 
slicking off with their tails between their legs in fear, but after a few 
months they were fine.  These were the Newfs. They were sweet and good with 
us and our children from the moment we met them, even though they'd been 
severely abused.  Of course they had also been left abandoned for 2 weeks, 
too, after the owner committed suicide. (Neighbour contacted the wife who had 
ran away with her kids to live with her brother. She said her brother would 
take them up in the Olympics in the wilderness and dump them!! Neighbour said 
she'd find a good home for them.) They melted our hearts enough to take both 
of them within about 2 seconds!! 
   Now there have been a few dogs that I did not feel were right matches for 
us. I always take all my family to meet the prospective dog(s).  I also like 
my other dogs to meet the dog first, too. And I ask if they get along with 
cats. And I trust my gut instincts. I always feel when it is right I'll know 
it.  (We probably would've kept Brittany if my son were about four years 
older at the time, too.) 

:)  &  :)```   (me grinning & Albert grinning & drooling!)

See Albert's photo at:   
http://www.sonic.net/~cdlcruz/pyr-l/pyrlpix3.htm#Albert

Janice Vocke
MagEBroD@aol.com
Shelton, WA.