Comments for Obama Family Dog - Rescue Information

Comment on How Life Changing A Dog Rescue Can Be by drezdogge

drezdogge — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:34:59 +0000

having done rescue, i would expect you to ask
1. where does the money come from? where does it go
2.is the dog neutered, up to date on shots, what is his health like
(if he is not neutered walk away, that shouldnt be your responsibility- i wouldnt leave it up to an adoptive home to spay or neuter)
3. what happens if it doesnt work out?
4. how did the dog come to be with the rescue? is it in foster care?

Comment on How Life Changing A Dog Rescue Can Be by oracle

oracle — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:17:52 +0000

The condition,appearance health of the dog when it was rescued and what did they have to do ,if anything to have the dog be healthy. What was the general state of health of the other dogs. Did any of the animals have any communicable diseases that are a danger to other dogs animals or people, did any of the dogs die after rescue and from what. Any aggressive and or anti-social behaviour noted by any of the staff by the dog you are adopting. What is the personality of this dog- for example-outgoing,shy ,timid etc.Any health concerns or behaviour concerns that it would be important for you to be informed of. Are there any dental concerns-like excessive plague buildup or tooth structure that would require attention ASAP . Any special Dietary Requirements or just good quality Dog food-No Animal Byproducts(the junk part of the animal ground up into powder listed as byproducts under Contents).Have any Medical tests been done on this dog and if so any records you can have to take to your vet(ANY Records you can get your hands on would be very helpful for you and the regular Vet that you’ll use.)Any history of physical abuse or signs of physical abuse on the dog when rescued.etcHave any socializtion tests been done and if so what ws the outcome. I think its commendable that you are planning on adopting this dog and the questions etc are things I’ve learned to watch out for through the years. Took in a stray several yrs ago that had been severely abused(very obvious from cowed behaviour) and why I suggest ask about dental for he’d been kicked in the face so hard when puppy that one teeth in nasal passage and whole jaw tooth esp canine front were out of place and it was quite costly to have it repaired-had i known could have saved the dog some pain-would still though have taken in-is now a healthy happy dog.Feed Authority Brand Dogfood that I get from Petsmart-also make dog bones and treats and has NO ByProducts. Wish you and your prospective Pet many happy times together.

Comment on Do You Want To Be a Part of a Dog Rescue by tmrvt

tmrvt — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 09:27:51 +0000

Sadly, the biting is a big deal. If you find her a new home and she bites someone, you are responsible. You have to be honest about the fact she has this problem. You don’t need to put her to sleep at this point. It could be an issue that someone else can deal without any problems. With proper training, she could stop biting. But it depends on how bad the problem is. If you think it is possible she could severely hurt someone, then adopting her to someone else may not be the most responsible thing to do. You wouldn’t want that on your conscious. But like I said, someone else may be in a position to get her proper training.

Comment on Do You Want To Be a Part of a Dog Rescue by GLENDA S

GLENDA S — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 08:58:08 +0000

My grandchild was bitten in the face by MY sweet dog. He knocked her down and bit her. He was a very loving dog. Just went crazy. I didn’t have a problem with putting him down. I understand your pain. I was in pain when I had him put down.
Did you have him fixed? That might be an option. Sometimes that helps. I’m not saying it will for sure. Ask your vet. Hope this helps. I totally understand. Don’t wait around like I did and think it will go away by itself. It won’t.

Comment on Do You Want To Be a Part of a Dog Rescue by th3dogmomma

th3dogmomma — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 08:16:49 +0000

Have you taken her to the vet and ruled out medical issues (thyroid issues come to mind)? Are you keeping her out of situations that seem to trigger her aggressive behavior? You should at the very least consult with a behaviorist (NOT a trainer, a real, veterinarian behaviorist) before rehoming or putting the dog down.

ETA: In my very humble opinion, a dog never “just goes crazy.” There are always signs and often when dogs go after small children it is because the DOG wasn’t protected from the CHILD or the dog was put in a position that was known to be dangerous to the dog and the child. People should consider keeping their dogs from biting people as much about protecting their dogs as it is about protecting other people. Children who are going to be around dogs also need to be taught to be dog savvy.

Do you know what your dog is mixed with? When you say she has a “small problem sometimes with biting” what exactly do you mean? Is she actually biting or is she nipping at kids when they run around? It occurred to me just now that herding breeds are often accused of having an issue with biting when it’s actually their herding instinct being mismanaged (they also get worse if they aren’t getting enough exercise and mental stimulation). There are a lot of things that need to be looked at before you decide to put a dog down.

I’m sorry, it just upsets me to see so many people telling you to just put the dog down after being given so little information.

Comment on Do You Want To Be a Part of a Dog Rescue by Bozema

Bozema — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 08:05:38 +0000

Unfortunately biting and aggression is not a small problem. It is a big one and a difficult one to work with. You did the right thing consulting a trainer who was honest with you. But if she is biting and aggressive and you have kids, your kids are at risk and you should probably look into a placement for her.

That said, it won’t be easy. Most rescues take only purebreds and most rescues and humane societies won’t take a dog that won’t pass temperament tests for aggression. This is due to public safety, staff safety and liability issues. Also aggressive dogs can become more aggressive in a kennel environment and it is difficult to work with them to do behavior modification in a kennel environment. You can try and work with her yourself and your trainer, but you are putting your kids at risk and she may never be 100% safe. You can try and place her yourself, but please be honest with potential adopters about her history and don’t give her to any one else with kids.