Would You Have Given Up On 15 Year Old Nero?

[ladybirder]

https://www.rescueremediesdogrescue.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=8563&sid=4a6a503814551ca4cac1293154196ce6

[Prudie]

In general it isn't but the circumstances need to be assessed. This poor dog had been part of the family for 15 years and probably only has a year or two left if that. Here's hoping he goes to a a loving home but that does't wipe out the time he'll have spent bewildered and lost. Dogs are not like cats, they are devoted to their owners.

[pastafreak]

I think every dog deserves a second chance. I'm sure the rescue assessed Nero and determined that he wasn't a threat in circumstances without children. When i was looking for another dog,I frequently saw older dogs classified as being more suitable for homes either without children, or children above a certain age. I don't think the owners were scum...they realised the dogs limitations, they were thinking of their child, and they gave Nero a second chance.

[Deskdiary]

iluvemargie has described these people as “scum” - my question is...is that fair.

Is it fair to describe people, who have put their child first (as literally everybody else would) as scum.

I don’t think it is.

[Mamyalynne]

No, I don't believe it is fair.

Scum abandon pets in motorway laybys or throw them into a canal or worse.

[Deskdiary]

So it's clear then that iluvmargie was wrong.

I knew she was, but it's nice that other people agree.

[jno]

I agree, Deskdiary. If you get that furious over dog-owners, what words have you got left for rapists and killers? A sense of proportion's a useful thing.

[tomus42]

Reading between the lines of the dog's description, it could be that the dog has started to bite the child.

That may be down to bad training and as such not the dog's fault, but it's not a situation that can continue. Sad, however.

[Deskdiary]

^^^I couldn't agree more.

I'm 50 now, and I have lived with dogs for 50 years, I love dogs - I have one sitting on my lap now - but the simple fact of the matter is, they are merely animals, so the response from iliuvmargie to somebody protecting their child was, frankly, moronic.

[Deskdiary]

Mine was to Jno

[ladybirder]

Tomus I know this rescue pretty well as I support it and have adopted and fostered some of their dogs over the years. If Nero had bitten, they would say so, they don't hide it. It is a rescue that takes from death pounds and is not one that rescues only the easy to home dogs.

[jno]

I'm not specially pro or anti dog, but I do think it's difficult to get a child never to make sudden movements. My parents "trained" me to not jump suddenly - not to save upsetting a dog but my father, who had a weak heart; so we weren't to leap out and say "Boo!" or anything like that. But really, I don't think I got the message till I was 8 or so - I think you'd be pushing your luck to expect a 6yo to be so demure.

Plus I also got the suggestion that the dog might bite the child, or that the parents might fear this, though I know that's reading between the lines and may not be accurate.

[Barmaid]

For whatever reason the previous owners took this difficult decision. They didn't dump the dog or mistreat him they gave him up for rehoming. If it wasn't working for them it probably wasn't working for the dog. To me an animal is for life but circumstances sometimes mean that's not possible.

Some friends of mine rescued a collie female. It worked ok until their child was born. The other dogs were fine but this one turned even more nasty than she was before. They rehomed her with another friend and over time he and this dog built something special. She had 6 more wonderful years with this guy and I suspect they were her 6 best years.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Although I do agree that you should give an animal a chance, I feel this scenario is different. This is not a 3 year old dog who has taken badly to a new baby. this is a dog who has lived for 15 years with the same family, and who, because of on going serious health conditions has become 'grumpy'. The owners are irresponsible for giving this dog to a rescue centre. The poor animal must be in so much distress, deaf, almost blind and now in a very stressful environment. I think the kindest thing would have been to have had the dog PTS at home. 15 years is a good age for a dog. Sorry but I think the owners are a disgrace for not stepping up and doing what most animal lovers would do -put a dog who has been in their lives 15 years out of its misery.

[pastafreak]

What are the "serious health conditions"? I only saw loss of hearing and sight mentioned..."vision is now poor as is his hearing".

[AuntPollyGrey]

Well to me being deaf and blind is pretty serious. Are you suggesting these are not serious health conditions? If the dog was human these would be classed as serious health conditions. Do you really agree that the dog is better off in an animal sanctuary, or a home its not familiar with, when it can't see and hear properly?

[naomi24]

I love dogs, and until fairly recently have always had dogs, but if owners can no longer cope - for whatever reason - it’s best for all concerned - the dog included - to have it re-homed. I wouldn’t mind at all taking on an elderly dog but I wouldn’t accept one that is described as having become grumpy with a few growls. Grumpy growls have been known to extend to more and, in my opinion, no dog can ever be trusted one hundred percent, especially around children. Yes, we know children should be taught how to behave with animals but children sometimes do what children sometimes do so there can never be any guarantees. Some people become cantankerous and bad tempered in old age - and so do some dogs. I think that must be acknowledged.

[AuntPollyGrey]

naomi you have to also bear in mind why the dog has become grumpy. The poor thing can hardly hear and can hardy see. This grumpiness could be because the dog is anxious and frightened. this anxiety will be 10 fold worse in an environment it is not familiar with.

[naomi24]

I know, apg. I recently lost all three of my dogs to old age - and two of them had become blind and deaf, the third deaf but still as daft as he ever was - dear old boy. I think a dog like the one in question would settle nicely into a quiet home with, say, an elderly person. He wouldn’t need a great deal of exercise - just a caring owner and peaceful surroundings to live out his time remaining.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Yes I can understand that. I just don't give my animals away full stop. We've had a couple of working dogs over the years that have become dangerous as they got older -collies often go a bit weird or should I say more weird -and we have had them quietly PTS at home. That way I knew where they were, at peace at the bottom of the field.

[ladybirder]

He's gone to his new home this morning. Scroll down on this link to see him when he was young and also now with his new family. I am so pleased, they seem perfect for him.

https://www.rescueremediesdogrescue.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=8563&sid=cb96366ba32d4bd21637c9dd2e7b2b9e&start=20