Looks like we have to sell our puppy :(

[bounty5]

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 where in London are you?
My local dog groomers will take my dog 9-6 for £20. That's in zone 1 so you might be able to find cheaper.
Today my dog was left alone from 9:45-5 and we left a door open for him to wander in and out from (to be fair he spent a weekend at a festival with us and was exhausted today so wanted to stay home)
Most of the time he goes to work with my partner or myself and chills. Is that an option for you or your partner?
What breed is it? Depending on the time you, your DP and kids movements you might be able to make it work.

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??

So you’re telling me OP could afford everything for the dog except a dog walker? And that she couldn’t think about what might happen in her life that would necessitate a dog walker? Becoming ill, needing to work full time, whatever. All sorts of things happen, you dont get an animal without putting a continency plan in place for if/when things change. Dogs can live for 20 years- you have to think about the what-ifs. To not do so is really careless.

No way that your land lady is fine with you getting a dog but not fine with someone letting themselves in and walking it for you. Does your landlady not let you have a cleaner either?
Dog walking is the solution that means you can keep the dog. If you have already decided to get rid of it then an advert on gumtree is the absolute worst thing you can do. Find a breed specific rescue and ask them to take it.
People and cross with you because this is a completely avoidable situation

the nearest doggy day care to my house is 40 miles away - so how would that work exactly?

It wouldn’t, so I would advise you not to get a dog if you can’t adequately provide for it in your absence.

Nope FrangipaniBlue we can all read, she said herself she doesn’t ‘earn so much’ - if you can barely afford a dog when deciding to have one, you shouldn’t be getting one. Is it even insured? What would happen if it needed expensive vet treatment? All this should have been considered. And bollocks about not everyone can find doogyday care, I love 40 miles away from one - she lives in London - it’ll be teaming with doggy day care providers... maybe if you’d read the thread properly you’d have seen that...

she couldn’t think about what might happen in her life that would necessitate a dog walker? Becoming ill, needing to work full time, whatever. All sorts of things happen, you dont get an animal without putting a continency plan in place for if/when things change.

Do you tell that same message to parents before they have kids? No, because you'd be considered fucking rude.

Circumstances change, shit happens and we have to deal with it as best we can. Random strangers on the internet name calling you when you're trying to seek advice doesn't help.

But hey if you all got it off your chests and you feel better right?

she lives in London - it’ll be teaming with doggy day care providers...**

she stated that well over halfway down the thread, posters were jumping in with it well before they even knew where she lived.

Do you tell that same message to parents before they have kids? No, because you'd be considered fucking rude.

Are you serious? Of course people should be thinking about these things before having children. Are you for real?

Yes because actively looking online for a dog, then going to pick it up and buying it is the same as falling pregnant, yes both such easy circumstances to end up in

OP you didn't put up a post asking how to keep your dog, you put up a post saying you had to SELL your dog.
Everyone seems to be agreeing that their are situations that pets need to be rehomed but that selling is not the way forward. If you are so concerned about your pets welfare then ask here tell the breed, and I'm sure someone will know of a suitable rescue.
TBH I am sure someone here will take the poor thing off your hands.

I'm cross because she is selling it. Hundreds of people buy puppies and then their 'circumstances change' I can no longer get angry about that, I'd have driven myself insane. It happens so often, it just makes me sad.

And when they do drop their dog off at the rescue, they are legitimately heartbroken.

I don't understand why they do it but I don't hate them for it. I despise people who buy a puppy and then sell it on to try and recoup costs. My anger is saved for them.

Admit you did wrong, cut your losses and hand the pup over to a rescue. If you can afford it give them a big, fat donation too. If you can't just donate your pup's things with the pup.

The people who repeatedly buy puppies from Scumtree and then drop them off at rescues between 6-12 months later along with the spurious returners are why I left I rescue work. I couldn't cope.

Of course life can change dramatically in less than 6 weeks, and if you don't think it can then you're living in a bubble.

No one can foresee every eventuality of the future.

I don't agree at all with buying and selling animals on gumtree and yes with the best will in the world we like to think we plan ahead, but like I said, sometimes shit happens.

There really isn't any excuse or necessity for the vitriol and hate directed toward the OP on this thread.

She's made a mistake, that doesn't make her a twat.

Can I just ask a question to all those posters suggesting the OP contacts a local rescue - have you ever given up a dog to a rescue?

We once rescued a dog (she had actually been turned loose by the people who bought her when they no longer wanted her) and our first thought was to contact the local rescue. They said that they had no space at all and asked us to find her a home! So we kept her ourselves.

Not so long ago a friend's dog had two puppies. It was a planned breeding. She had plans to keep them and train them for farm work. She owned both parents, both good quality purebred dogs. While the pups were still very young - too young to be sold - she became very unwell and had to undergo life saving surgery which would lead to a long and very slow recovery. She and her husband decided to rehome the pups and once they were 10 weeks, fully house trained, vaccinated, chipped etc they started to contact rescues. These puppies had had the best of everything and would have been snapped up in no time - in fact people were asking to buy them from her. Because she was so ill she wasn't able to vet the homes and so wanted them to go to a rescue. In the end she had to pay the well known charity to take them because that was the only way she could guarantee that they would go to good homes.

I'm not posting this to make the OP feel bad but to point out that "take the dog to a rescue" is not and never has been an easy option.

And I want to reiterate that there are lots of people out there looking for dogs of all sorts of breeds who are happy to take on older puppies or adult dogs and give them a forever home. I resent being described as "some random" because I bought a dog from a Facebook ad.

"We have to sell her"

No, you don't. You have to find her a new home. The best way to do this is to get her to a rescue. Of course, the best course of action would've been to not get a dog in the first place if your position was precarious enough to mean that a change in circumstances happened within a couple of months of getting one.

And for the record, I had to take my dog to a rescue in the end. I persevered for four years, but I couldn't feasibly give her the life she deserved after a series of extremely unfortunate circumstances. I was completely and utterly heartbroken, and though I was basically destitute it would never, never have crossed my mind to sell her.

ithinkisaw

Many rescues will offer to vet potential rehomers, do all the leg work etc for the OP if she keeps the dog with her until they find it a home.

op,i know situations change but you really haven't thought this through. I think people are either animal lovers or not. Incidentally,i was given an older puppy in June,a farmer I know kept her in a crate all day and when I went to do my cleaning round,it really distressed me to see her cooped up.No toys,no love. He said she wasn't right in the head. I mentioned I would take her on and a few weeks later he said 'take her'.It wasn't an ideal time as I was off to corfu a few weeks after,but she stayed with my friend who dog sits and was fine. If i'm working all morning,i take her on a morning walk,rain or shine and teaching her to walk on the lead, taking her to fetes and getting her socialised. I got her spayed two weeks after she arrived. yes she still shits on the floor but it will come. please rethink your options(and don't get a guinea pig or rabbit as replacement as these get very neglected after a few months) hmmm

You bought your dog off GUMTREE? Christ almighty. 'Nuff said

I think your heart is in the right place with your OP, but please don't ever get a dog again. Ever.

If I was so callous, why would I put up a post asking for suggestions about how I can keep her?

I must have misunderstood OP - I thought you were asking for ways to soften the blow for your child.

Some dogs are fine to be left at home all day if they are walked well morning and night, (many aren’t to be fair) but if it is a spaniel then he may be ok.

Crazydoglady - We have three spaniels - they have off leash walks for about 3 hours a day in total, and they still chase each other round the house and garden like lunatics, because they have huge exercise needs.

This is just insane and out of control. Someone is suspecting the change of circumstances is because I am pregrant then having a go at me for that. Another person misunderstood and thought I'd bought her when she was a week old. I would love to read every single message as I'm sure there is some helpful advice in there somewhere (e.g. that doggy day care costs are hugely variable - I will definitely look into that one). I went on this thread to get some advice, because I DO NOT WANT TO GIVE HER UP!!! End