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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:
IfIWasABirdIdFlyIn2ACeilingFan · 10/09/2018 22:42

Someone is suspecting the change of circumstances is because I am pregrant then having a go at me for that.

I didn’t have a go at you for it.

EmmaC78 · 10/09/2018 22:50

The dog walker sounds like the only realistic option of keeping her. I think I would risk upsetting the landlady rather than having the worry of rehoming the dog.

Wolfiefan · 10/09/2018 22:54

Don't want to give her up?
Why post saying you have to sell her then?
Stop making impulsive and knee jerk decisions about a living creature. Poor bloody pup. Sad

Dollymixture22 · 10/09/2018 23:08

Poor puppy. I recently got a kitten after years of considering it! She is curled up on the sofa beside me now and I could bpnever give her up. I work but I have arranged for my family to visit during the day, every day. She is not alone for more than four hours.

A dog is a huge commitment - but I know a lot of people who leave adult dogs home alone during the working day. Not ideal but doable.

In the meantime dog walkers seem to be the most cost effective and kind solution. For a small pup a walk in the morning and a welfare check in the afternoon? Any neighbouring teens who could call after school. I would have loved this job when I was young.

If dog ownership isn’t for you, please contact a local shelter for advice. They will have good homes already checked for pups. If there are no behaviour issues it won’t be hard. Don’t sell on gumtree.

Dollymixture22 · 10/09/2018 23:17

Once he dog is about six months you could get a dog door if your garden is enclosed? He should be able to hold pee for about six hours by then? A dog walker plus a door might be the solution.

But do your cpchanhing circumstances mean you will have tom for him when you are home?

psicat · 10/09/2018 23:36

As has been said repeatedly look for a good dog walker - no reason your landlady should mind, it is a very common thing for tenants to have dog walkers, cleaners and all manner of people that may professionally need access to your home.

Do NOT sell your dog on gumtree or Facebook or any of the others. I work in animal rescue and enforcement. Like anyone in this field I am sick of the number of times we pick up strays or worse, dogs in welfare conditions that have been sold on by well intended people. We know this as we get their details from the microchip that has never been changed - even when the dog has been sold multiple times since (I've had dogs change hands 7 times by 7 months old, not uncommon).

If you cannot sort this and need to rehome your dog then do it via a GOOD rescue such as Blue Cross. They will snap up a puppy of that age, no matter the breed, as they will have a list of suitable homes waiting.

Pup gets security of back up for life and you do not have to worry that it will end up being used for breeding (doesn't matter if male or female, all puppy farm dogs have miserable existence), being ill treated or just plain passed for piller to post until their temperament is ruined and they are dumped.
I can reel off story after story that always starts like this, some end better than others. Yes there are a few lovely people out there who may give it a good home but they are shockingly few and far between.

I am not here to pass any judgement, your plans did not work out, life throws curve balls all the time, but! If you cannot keep this pup, give it to a rescue. I really really REALLY mean it.

ShakeVigorously · 10/09/2018 23:39

Do you have a garden OP?
A doggy door was the best investment I ever made.

Viviennemary · 10/09/2018 23:41

No I have no inspirational words. After three months of owning a pet you are now getting rid of it. Pathetic.

BigChocFrenzy · 10/09/2018 23:54

Bounty The advice if you will not / cannot afford doggy care
is
Do NOT sell your puppy on Gumtree

Give the poor animal to a rescue

and please, don't have any more pets

danadas · 10/09/2018 23:59

Wow OP you have certainly had a bit of a hammering!!

Shit happens and if dog needs a new home then that can't be helped (presuming all other options are exhausted)

Round here, the local rescue offers a service where they will home check new owners for a donation. Might be worth seeing if any round your way do that and then the buyer can give the money he was going to give you to the rescue maybe?

Good luck.

BigChocFrenzy · 11/09/2018 00:06

The "vitriol"

is because the Op is proposing selling a dog on Gumtree
and so far has not bloody listened to people telling her to take the poor sod to a rescue instead

The most likely reason is because she wants to recoup some money.

We are very worried about a dog who may end up as fightbait, or be passed along a series of owners,
not about the hurt feelings of the person who is getting rid of it.

Anyone thinking of selling an animal to random strangers should expect an MN hammering
It's nothing compared to the rl hammering the pup is likely to receive

BigChocFrenzy · 11/09/2018 00:14

danadas It would be much simpler just to give the pup to the rescue
Once there, they could consider the OP's buyer, or they might already have some vetted new homes waitin for a pup.

danadas · 11/09/2018 00:26

BigChoc - yes it definitely would but I was under the impression that it isn't that easy getting a dog into rescue. That might just be locally though which is why they are offering home checks instead. I admit, it isn't something I have ever looked into though just what I've noticed on Social Media posts.

Kleptronic · 11/09/2018 00:34

How much did you pay for the pup.

How much are you selling her for.

penisbeakers · 11/09/2018 00:39

Sounds like you got more than you expected with a puppy and are giving up. They are HARD WORK. Be honest - you've got a puppy and regretted spending the money because it's hard work. How much did you spend? Is the puppy vaccinated, micro chipped and neutered if they aren't a large breed?

You wouldn't sell it, you'd rehome it if they were an animal you cared about. Plus, as many others have said, you can send a puppy back to the breeder if they're reputable, unless you were foolish and got one from a terrible breeder.

What kind of pup is it?

passwordfailure · 11/09/2018 01:10

What is the breed? I'm in London and there are so, so many dog resources. Maybe you haven't been doggy long enough to meet enough dog mates? Where do you walk her? Is she neutered?

BirthdayKake · 11/09/2018 06:36

OP don't post on Mumsnet about dogs. Ever. Unless you're saying how amazing yours is.

Oh and don't re-home to Loubilou! She sounds deranged.

crazydoglady6867 · 11/09/2018 06:47

I went on this thread to get some advice, because I DO NOT WANT TO GIVE HER UP!!! End

But you aren’t listening bounty5. It’s not the giving up slot on here have an issue with it is selling her to someone on fucking GUMTREE

Oddsocksforeveryone · 11/09/2018 06:50

This thread is fucking nuts.

OP I hope you work something out, try not to let this all this bizarre rage from strangers on the internet get to you.

Wolfiefan · 11/09/2018 06:58

Odd socks if you had any idea what could happen to dogs sold through Gumtree then you would understand the rage.
Get a dog walker, use doggy daycare or give the pup up to a rescue. Don't flog the poor thing for a second time on Scumtree. Sad

lljkk · 11/09/2018 07:08

Isn't the govt going for the opposite model advocated here: puppies soon will be for sale ONLY via breeders (who may advertise on gumtree)?

Other posters seem to argue that if you acquire a dog for free or at least by donating to a rescue (except some don't ask for donations) that somehow this will create a better home for the animal. Where would the evidence be for that?

lljkk · 11/09/2018 07:14

I reckon OP would have avoided almost all criticism if she had written..

...So we asked around and think we have finally found a new home and met up with them and I think they'll be great, but on Sunday it will be goodbye!

If OP made it sound like she was giving the animal away to a nice person, she'd be fine. It's only because money is exchanging hands that posters are treating OP like Cruella.

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 11/09/2018 07:20

Other posters seem to argue that if you acquire a dog for free or at least by donating to a rescue (except some don't ask for donations) that somehow this will create a better home for the animal. Where would the evidence be for that?

No definitely not. Just that the rescues can do all the background checks which an individual can’t. Giving a puppy away without background checks does risk a ton of problems, all of the same sort as selling it.

The new law won’t stop rescues and is aimed at preventing puppy farmers. Depending on how bad the breeder really was (hard to say as really evasive about answering the OP’s questions) the new law might have stopped this puppy being sold in the first place, but obviously we need to see how it’s enforced.

ADastardlyThing · 11/09/2018 07:24

I cant believe people STILL buy and sell dogs on gumtree. Fucks sake.

Op, if you care about the dog even a tiny bit, you'd take it to a rescue, it would be snapped up with it being young. And these people know what they are doing, unlike people who buy and and sell dogs on gumtree.

Waterlemon · 11/09/2018 07:39

I can see why I never read pet posts!

OP where do you live?
Maybe someone here can recommend a local doggy daycare that’s not going to break the bank? (Although I’d probably start a new thread for that!)