Putting old ddogs up for adoption

[YogaWannabe]

Sorry if this doesn’t really fit here or brings the tone down a bit.

I can’t help but trawl the adoption section of my local gumtree type website and lately I’m seeing absolutely loads of people giving up their older ddogs. 6 years right up to 12 and 13. All sighting difference reasons and of course some of them will be genuine and absolutely heartbroken but some of them have busier lives now with young kids etc. Surely you see these things coming, surely you know a dogs potential lifespan.

I just find it so hard to understand and think about how confused the poor ddog will be leaving the family it’s known it’s whole life.

Why more now than ever before is this happening I wonder?

I think some people see dogs as disposable I personally feel it's reprehensible to give up an old dog because you've had a baby etc it's awful isn't it? I want to give them all a home however as my puppy got attacked by a dog in our garden today maybe that's not such a good idea!

Oh NewYoiker I’ve just read your post! You poor thing! The same happened to my dog when he was a few months old, two other dogs took him and tossed him up and down the beach. He was whimpering and me and DD were chasing them up and down. It was the most traumatic experience I’ve ever had with ddog or DD!

I don’t blame your older dog at all, surely the dog shouldn’t have been on your property?

I agree, it breaks my heart. I finding it disgusting when people give up younger dogs after giving it and deciding it’s not for them but it’s much more understandable (purely because so many people don’t seem to understand what they’re getting into) imo than giving up your old friend!

Oh, that's so sad, and to stick them up on Gumtree like some item for sale.

People can be SOOO disappointing

It's sad, but sometimes the alternative is a horrible life for the dog. We adopted our dog when he was five. The family who had him had a child who was allergic to the dog. They had the choice to rehome the dog, or gate off part of their yard and just leave him there away from everyone.
Some people have to sell their houses and rent, and it's very difficult to get a rental property with pets. Sometimes circumstances change, and there isn't an option.

It’s not just dogs, it breaks my heart. The number of people getting rid of birds is unprecedented. Birdline UK is currently inundated with birds for which they need to find safehouses and fosters.

They have therefore had to take the difficult decision to close the doors temporarily and will not be taking In any more birds for the time being.

The last budgie I rehomed had been bought from a pet store for a child who was bored with it after 2 weeks and the family shoved it on preloved. They gave me the receipt from the pet store when I collected it. It’s a chuckaway society. I understand personal circumstances can change, but some people have no idea about the meaning of responsibility. Heartbreaking how some people believe any pet is disposable.

I've recently seen an increase in people who've done this because theyve gotten a puppy.

One man local to me was rehoming and said the dog was amazing, loyal and had been of the family for years but he isn't getting on with the new puppy and it's not fair to the puppy so they're rehoming the older dog.

Was tempted to say I hope his wife does the same to him when he doesn't get on with her younger and better looking man.

@snitzelvoncrumb

I know circumstances can change and I be gutted if I ever had to give my dog up. I wouldn't take any money for her and I wouldn't be advertising her to strangers on gumtree though.

I've read horror stories about what happens to dogs that are "free to good homes" and what happens to them :(

I've adopted two dogs that were 12 when we got them. I'm a volunteer dog walker, for the first one I happened to be in the room when the owner called to surrender the dog. The shelter didn't want to take him so I did. He was one of the best dogs ever! He lived to be about 15.

Second dog is a purebred lab. The parents of her family bought her from a breeder for their daughter. Daughter went off to university, dog got dumped at shelter at 12 years old. She just turned 15 in January and is no trouble at all.

I don't know how some people can live with themselves.

This breaks my heart as to how anyone could simply not want their dog because it's old after all those years of pure loyalty from them. Someone I know adopted an older dog from a rescue because it was abandoned by its owners (the dog was chipped so the owners were initially contacted) because they now had a new puppy and didn't want an old dog .

I just don't understand how lots of people care so little about their pets and simply treat them as disposable. Yes there might be genuine changes of circumstance but I suspect that you are talking a few percentage when most simply invent a 'good excuse'.

It's horrible isn't it? Have you ever seen the 'Hope for Paws' videos on youtube? They're a dog rescue organisation that film as they go. The vids are harrowing but (nearly always!) have a lovely happy ending when the pups are cleaned up and rehomed. They're in California and it's jaw-dropping how 'normal' it is to just abandon your dog when you've finished with it. I can't can't get my head around having a dog from a puppy, playing with it and feeding it and taking it for walks and having it love you, then years down the line 'getting rid'. I think some people just don't have a conscience at all.

The last few months of Ddogs life where awful. She was poorly and we knew it. I barely ate some days as I just had that horrid sicky feeling. She was 13 years old and I am so glad I was able to spend her last weeks just playing, holding her and loving her. She was my best friend

I thought I may have to give up my dogs when relationship ended due to getting accommodation and so know there can be genuine reasons where life changes & its not a decision owner wanted.
I find it hard to comprehend how some have no real bond even after years as my dogs are family. However I'd rather see animals rehomed responsibly than kept in situations where its unwanted its needs aren't being met & living unhappily. Ideally these people would learn & not replace with other pets.

I've also seen it from the other side volunteering with adopters wanting young dogs and writing off anything 4+ even if they'd be perfect. It can be difficult with dogs age 8+ financially if you need to rely on insurance cover, but some rescues do help with vet fees or offer on a Long-term foster basis so maintain responsibility.

I've had my ddog 4 years, he was 12 when I adopted him. He's so slow and gentle. I think he makes me happier than I make him! Sadly, having worked at an animal rescue, people do see pets as disposable once children come along. It makes me so angry.

I spend a lot of time collecting older dogs that people want rid of.

I can honestly say that none of the 'owners' I have met care at all about what they have done.

I've yet to meet one who even bothered to vaccinate or worm their dog before getting rid on Scumtree.

Years ago we adopted a 7yo dog which had been rehomed because the owners were going on holiday and didn't want to pay for kennels.

It mystifies me too.

Happens with rabbits too, sometimes when they're only 6 months to a year old because they've lost that "cute baby" look. Or when they're over 5-6 years old and starting to slow down a bit or the kids have entirely lost interest or gone off to college. The amount of older rabbits in rescues is rising and the amount that get handed in with easily fixable but obviously long-running serious ailments, argh I could rant on and on.

Freelisting sites like Gumtree have also become an easier and more "profitable" option for people to offload animals, instead of signing over to rescue.

I've also messaged a few people giving away dogs especially for free on Gumtree, just a friendly message to ask if they've tried rescues instead. I've had some weird responses back, including ones completely offended I'd even ask such a thing (but giving your dog to any old person for free/pennies is fine).

A lot of these people are weird about rescues. Sometimes it's about the money, sometimes it's because the rescue can't take the dog that very minute or have had the audacity to suggest that the owner vaccinates and neuters the dog before expecting a rescue to take it on.

I messaged someone about a 7 year old free dog last week. It was a specific breed and there was a specialist rescue. She replied that a rescue wouldn't take the dog because he had never been socialised and didn't like children so she thought a better option was to give it to a random stranger for free

Agree Bunnygeek - rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, all at terrible risk and being listed on these free sites daily.

@bunnygeek

I know it. I used to be on a rabbit care forum back in the day, and some guy who'd had (and doted on) his bunnies for years rehomed them some time after having a baby because he realised he didn't really love them after feeling what 'real' love was after becoming a father. I thought that was very strange.

Call me suspicious, but I have occasionally seen a dog for rehoming (on Internet sites like gumtree) because of lack of time/house move/allergy (take your pick), and you can see another dog in the picture. Okay, it might not be their dog, but I always wonder why/if they are getting rid of one and keeping another.
Occasionally you do see some very honest ones, like dog not housetrained, badly trained etc, and I wonder who will take these on?
The ones that really annoy me are for very young puppies which have not long been acquired - like 10 to 12 weeks old. Obviously bought on a whim, and then discovered that puppies are hard work and not necessarily lovely little balls of fluff all the time.

Not everyone gives them up or thinks of them as disposable. Mine turned aggressive. I have vets helping , behaviourist helping. I read and read and read. Everyone was telling me I had to have him put down. He then went for my sons neck for no reason ( he is an older teenager so no messing about with the dog ).

I spoke to a re homing place and they said they would take him and give him one last chance with one of their behavioural people. I wanted to give him that. Even though it meant losing him. He deserved that.

I cried and cried like a baby on the day he left and I still cry now.

He was there with this person for months. And then he was only re homed with someone who knew what they were doing.

I always give a long explanation of why I let him go so people don’t think I was heartless.

Beaten, abused and tormented.

But he has a loving home now.

I have often taken one dog from a multiple dog household @longearedbat and there can be many reasons - they get rid of the old one but keep the younger dog, or they get rid of the one they didn't bother to train but keep the 'easier' dog have been the most common.

I've adopted Bella who was nine. She was up for adoption because she had come to the end of having repeated litters I suspect. She is just lovely and enjoying her retirement. I'd definitely consider an older dog next time as well, certainly easier than a pup or an adolescent.

Even worse with horses who can live up to 25-35 years but need a long, and expensive retirement. You see people advertising a 17yo horse, retired, free to good home...why aren’t you the good home your horse needs?