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Original poster

Looks like we have to sell our puppy :(

276 replies

bounty5 · 10/09/2018 11:08

We got her at the beginning of the summer at a time when my husband worked mainly from home. Our circumstances are now changed, so looks like we have to sell her. I think we've considered all possibilities of holding onto her. But in case there is an angle that I have overlooked, I am appealing to mum's net... We've asked family and friends to look after her during the week and holidays (I work in a college, term-time only so am free in holidays), but no-one is able to take on the long term commitment. We tried 'borrow-my-doggy' - but that would be a bit patchy, unreliable, not fair on her and stressful for us. So we've found a buyer and met up with them... Assuming they are interested, she will spend a final weekend with us, then on Sunday it will be goodbye! Any last minute ideas before we take the plunge?? Or since a sale is looking likely, I would like to know if anyone has been through this before. My 12 year old will be especially upset - does anyone have any inspirational words that will help us through this difficult time?

OP posts:
thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 10/09/2018 20:13

My circumstances have changed in a way that I couldn’t have anticipated. If I mention the reason, that will invite a whole new load of abuse

Sooo is this an admission that the reason isn’t entirely ‘my hands is tied’ situation?

Did I read it right that you took in a week old puppy? You thought that was an ok age? (!)

You still haven’t answered the question properly why you won’t take her to a dog rescue charity/shelter. They check people out so that they can be sure their home situation/lifestyle is suitable for a dog and will take them back if not suitable - unlike Gumtree, which if you’d have done that you probably wouldn’t be in this situation.

Redrosebelle · 10/09/2018 20:13

Just want to point out that I have a dog, when I worked shifts he was alone 0730-530 three days a week until husband got home. Then I worked office hours five days a week. He would be played with/let out for a mooch in the garden first thing, then walked soon as we got home. He’s 7 now. He’s a small breed and not a big walker, but I’m sure a dog walker going in once a day (if really necessary) shouldn’t cost that much. Could you do what I did and walk the dog first thing and soon as you get home? If you leave them with toys, stimulation (my dog loves the telly or radio being on) I think they can be fine. I know not all dogs can be left alone for long periods but there must be thousands of dogs in the uk who spend days alone because their owners work?

IfIWasABirdIdFlyIn2ACeilingFan · 10/09/2018 20:15

I suspect the change in circumstances is that OP is pregnant. Having seen previous similar threads she is right that admitting that would bring down a tonne of abuse.

Frequency · 10/09/2018 20:16

A few things

  1. Why does the landlady need to know?
  2. Why is she funny about it anyway? Legally, she has to change the locks if/when you move out so it matters not one bit who you give the keys to.
  3. Is it even legal for her to tell you who can have a key to your home?

Lastly, please, please do not give or sell this puppy to anyone. Even people you think you know might not turn out to be who they say are. If I had a £ from everyone who said "Oh, but I sold her to X. They seemed so nice." When I was calling to tell them their beloved former puppy was now languishing in the local pound and do they still want it or can I take it to a rescue center? I would be a very rich woman. Literally, everyone sells their dog to someone 'nice' or their cousin's mum's hairdresser's best mate who loves dogs and has a garden etc.

Usually it works out well, when it doesn't it goes horrifically wrong (dogs used as bait, fighting dogs, tortured for fun, shipped to puppy farms) Don't risk your puppy ended up as the one of the unlucky ones. Send it to a rescue if you can no longer cope.

A breed specific rescue would be best if the puppy is a breed and not one of the ridiculous mutts people pay £££ for. If the puppy is not a breed Dogs Trust or a reputable local rescue are the best chance the dog has.

GinIsIn · 10/09/2018 20:19

Fucking gumtree?! Jesus wept. Please take your dog to a reputable rescue. You’re turfing them out. The least you can do is try and do just one thing right here.

BigChocFrenzy · 10/09/2018 20:19

If you said you were taking her to a rescue, instead of selling on Gumtree, you wouldn't have had all these angry posts on your 2 / 3 threads

You can NOT trust random strangers who want to buy a puppy.
You do NOT know their real intentions

A rescue org will thoroughly check out prospective new owners, far better than you could

If you really can't afford doggy care, there is no downside about taking her to a rescue
... except that you won't receive money for her

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 10/09/2018 20:20

Evianliveyoung1 here’s a thought, adults generally plan things and make choices accordingly, if you can barely afford a dog then you can’t afford a dog - the OPs situation is an example of this.

Wolfiefan · 10/09/2018 20:20

So you bought a puppy from a puppy farmer and a few weeks later you stick it back on Gumtree?
It's not the other posters that are vile. It's the idea that dogs can be bought and sold with such little thought.
Get a dog walker or daycare or rehome through a proper charity.

Frankenterfer · 10/09/2018 20:21

I’m sorry you find yourself in this position, we got a dog earlier this year and our circumstances changed, too. We did factor something like this in though, so made sure we could cover the cost of a dog sitter coming to visit the puppy for half an hour once a day, that cost £150 per month (I am not in London so I don’t know if that is a comparable rate) now progressing to longer, socialised dog walks which will cost £200 per month.

Obviously we would prefer not to have to use a dog walker, but our dog is happy, is benefiting from time with an experienced dog owner which means we benefit too. We found ours through recommendations and have been very happy.

My daughter would never forgive me if we could no longer keep our dog, my parents got rid of mine as a child and it’s stayed with me.

I hope you find a way forward, but if you decide you cannot keep your dog please rehome via a respectable animal charity.

Floralnomad · 10/09/2018 20:21

The point is OP you should not be selling her at all , if you genuinely cannot keep her then you should be taking her to a reputable rescue to ensure that this never happens to her again . The people who are buying her may be lovely but what happens in 3/4/12 months when they also have a change of circumstances or decide they don’t want her ? At least with a rescue you have properly vetted homes and an assurance that if things go wrong she goes back to them , for all you know this time next year she could be being used as a bait dog or puppy making machine .

w4yty · 10/09/2018 20:22

Backyard breeder by the sounds of it. Is it a "designer" pup by any chance?

AdoraBell · 10/09/2018 20:22

Haven’t RTFT but I really hope you have taken notice of the reactions and will look for a local dog walker.

StylishMummy · 10/09/2018 20:25

@bounty5 what breed?

Crystalblue13 · 10/09/2018 20:28

Poor puppy :(

Feefeetrixabelle · 10/09/2018 20:29

Well that’s great that a dog walker is an option. Yes they will need keys but it’s not your landlords business who has keys unless they live with you or if you have flat mates. It would be no different to having a cleaner or gardener. Just ensure you get the keys back. Just arrange a lunch time ish visit and it should tide the pooch over while your out at work. He may take a couple of weeks to settle into the new routine but he will get used to you being out.

Frequency · 10/09/2018 20:31

And yes, rescues are able to check people better.

If, for example, Joe Bloggs from 9 Bloggs Street, Bloggs town, gets a dog from one rescue and then when the rescuers go to do their post-adoption check they find out Joe Bloggs doesn't have the dog anymore or doesn't live at Bloggs Street (it has happened. It actually happens a lot) The rescue is able to take legal action as the dog is still theirs until after the post adoption. They also tell all local rescues not to rehome to anyone from 9 Bloggs Street and will circulate a description of Joe Bloggs.

A single person rehoming via gumtree does not have that recourse. Puppy farmers and dog fighters always have a nice family as a front.

Also people are more willing to share their details with official rescues. We used to ask for bills in the adopters name and photo id to prove they were who said they were and they lived where they said they did. We had legal documents drawn up stating the dog was still our property and would remain so for the rest of its natural life and we did not give permission for it to be sold on, rehomed, or pts without our expressed consent. All dogs had to be returned to us if they were no longer wanted or afforded, no matter how far down the line that was.

Can you do that? Can you check with the Police whether your potential buyer as been banned from keeping animals? And do a home check prior to and after adoption? Can you guarantee to take the dog back at any point in its life, even it is because it becomes ill and the new owners can't afford vet treatment?

If the answer no to any of these questions, a reputable rescue is the best chance your dog has of finding a secure, happy home for life.

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 10/09/2018 20:32

Actually, OP, you said you only worked term time and schools have only literally been back for a week. Call me suspicious but I don’t think that there’s been any change in circumstances - you’ve gone back to work and not thought it through beyond the 6 weeks holidays.

Loubilou09 · 10/09/2018 20:34

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FrangipaniBlue · 10/09/2018 20:35

Well then you don’t get a dog you can’t walk, do you? It’s not difficult.

But apparently reading a thread properly is too difficult for some. Pretty sure 95% of the posters on this thread just saw the bit about selling the dog and saw red, and their brains disregarded everything else the OP said.

The OP has clearly stated TWICE that her circumstances have changed, how the fuck is that getting a dog you can't walk or look after FFS??

@bounty5 I think your issue was saying you were trying to sell the dog, if you'd simply said your circumstances had changed, you've tried family and friends to help with care but to no avail and did MNers have any other suggestions this thread would have had a very different vibe.

I'm also inwardly laughing at everyone jumping in with "doggy day care!!" for starters not everyone can afford £100+ a week especially if when they originally got the dog they weren't expecting to need to use doggy day care regularly, and secondly the nearest doggy day care to my house is 40 miles away - so how would that work exactly?

Sheesh.

Loubilou09 · 10/09/2018 20:37

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cheesefield · 10/09/2018 20:37

Why do you insist on selling her?

Why won't you take her to a good rescue centre that will vet potential new owners and rehome her properly?

Just because of the money?

Loubilou09 · 10/09/2018 20:38

Where the hell in the country are you? what puppy is it? I don't think I can bare this any longer, I might take the more mite off you.

WindyShrimp · 10/09/2018 20:39

If returning her to the breeder isn't an option (and this is one of many reasons it's worth going to a decent breeder; having that back up in case circumstances change in ways that couldn't have been predicted) and you can't meet her needs then please go through a reputable rescue to rehome her rather than just selling her online.

There absolutely will be rescues who can help who will be much more experienced and able to find her a loving, permanent home than you will be on your own. If you're worried about her being in kennels, many rescues these days are primarily or entirely foster based and you may well find one who is happy for her to stay with you rather than be in their care whilst a suitable home is found for her.

As I said on your other thread as she's a bitch, and particularly if she's a popular/fashionable breed/type/cross, then even with a decent price on her she's at risk of ending up being seen by someone as nothing more than a cash cow and used accordingly. Dodgy people wanting to make some extra cash (or a very nice living in the case of large scale breeders) are going to be just as good at conning people out of pups/dogs they have for sale as they are fooling people into believing the puppies they sell are all lovingly home reared and bred with great care...

If you can give a (vague) location and say what breed she is then there may be MNers who can point you towards rescues who can hopefully help.

Loubilou09 · 10/09/2018 20:39

Frangipan - do you circumstances suddenly change 2 weeks after giving birth? Not expecting a child to be that needy so sell it?

FrangipaniBlue · 10/09/2018 20:41

Nice @Loubilou09 aren't you a peach?

She hasn't had the dog 2 weeks - do go learn to read dear and get off your high horse

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