So I’m starting to wonder if we’re ever going to get another dog.
Actually, what I’m really starting to wonder is if in a year, I’ll be writing some crazy book called, The Dogs Must Be Crazy: Our Year-Long Search for Fido. Because we’ve struck out again.
As many of you know, our German Shepherd/Akita, Uno, died a year ago. We adopted him from the Human Society when he was two. This is going to sound like a bad Nicholas Sparks movie, but we met him and just knew he was our dog. The people at the shelter practically shoved us out the door with him — he was a 90-pound, adult male who was on the chopping block, and we didn’t look crazy, stupid, or like medical researchers. So it was a simple transaction.
This time, not so much. We’ve been hitting the shelters and surfing websites with little success. I’ve had one run-in with a questionably stable, dog rescue person who I’m fairly certain would’ve wanted to run fingerprints and an FBI background check on me (which would’ve gone badly because I’m fairly certain I have a file). And now — NOW — we’ve been screwed again.
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| Photo by Asia Jones |
We drove all the way to Sacramento (from Reno), to check out puppies that we thought we could, you know, do something crazy with like take home. But nooooo. This was just a meet and greet. The puppy in question couldn’t leave the rescue home because then just one puppy would’ve be left alone with its mother. So we would’ve had to wait until the other puppy was adopted (and then, I’m guessing, coordinated with the other adopter so that we’d all show up at the exact same hour to pick the puppies up).
I’m seriously starting to wonder if these rescue people want to find homes for dogs. I mean, I’m just going to toot the hell out of my own horn and say that you couldn’t find a better home for a dog than ours. We’re truly ridiculous. If there’s one place I do not feel insecure about in my life, it’s my ability to provide a good home for a dog. And yet. . .
Here we sit. Strike two. This shouldn’t be this difficult.
I got so annoyed last night that I actually started searching puppies for sale. And that’s so not our thing. Not to mention, it turns out I’m completely out-of-the-loop and not-in-this-decade because I was shocked to discover that puppies cost something like $3000! Suddenly I was channeling my grandfather, talking about how much a loaf of bread cost in “my day.”
Anyway, I know our dog is out there and it’s just a matter of time. But seriously, this is getting annoying. Especially when you have to watch your kids cry (I hate watching the kids cry — unless, of course, it’s because of me and completely warranted).
So if any of you happen to come across “our” dog, please, let me know.
Wanted: Puppy/young dog to join family with kids. Must be able to go on lots of walks, get petted relentlessly, and be in the middle of everything. Must be “fluffy” (not short-haired and oily) or Sunny will break out in a rash. Large breeds, mutts, German Shepherds, and Akitas a plus. Applicants with hoarding disorders who would actually rather keep all of their dogs instead of placing them in homes need not apply.
Tammy Soong is a writer, wife, and mom from Reno, Nevada. She takes an absurd amount of pain medication, but not enough to have actually named her children "Newt" and "Elfie." She spends most days stressing out over clutter, writing stuff for this place, and working on podcasts with her gal pals, the Blogging Betties.
I SO related to this post! We've been through the same thing. The rescue groups really make you jump through a lot of hoops and seem to make it so difficult to find an animal. We were looking a couple of years ago after our Old English Sheepdog died and just keep striking out. I didn't really want a puppy, because I just didn't really want the hassle. We finally, after many months of searching, got lucky and found our dog through craigslist. A 6 year old Golden Retriever. The owners were moving to a rental home in another state and couldn't have any pets.
Lucy was worth the wait. She was 6 years old at the time and completely housebroken. She and my kids took to each other like crazy and are inseperable. After about two weeks, we could barely remember NOT having her. She's great. So hang in there – it will work out and you WILL find the perfect dog for your family!
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I also suggest Craig's list. Found my mom a puppy there. He was only the cost of the vet care and neutering, through a local no kill shelter. We also almost adopted a puppy right outside the petco in town. Another local shelter who gets the dogs from puppy mills is there almost every Saturday. If you get there early, you can basically take one home that day. You should check with them to see if they have a group that does that. Our puppy is costing us close to $600. My hubby scoured all the local and w/in an hour's drive people who had Chocolate lab puppies. Our breeder is certified by the state. We get Woodrow on Friday! So I feel for you. I wanted a rescue, but hubby really really wanted a dog whose parents he could see. I get it. My Mom also has adopted through the Human Society for my grandma and it was an ordeal to get a dog for her. She's elderly and they didn't want to give her the dog. Really, my Mom had to adopt it and then promise to take care of the dog should something happen to my grandma. Those people LOVE the dogs way way too much. I understand wanted to find a forever home, but it is really really hard in the meantime. I have a friend that just rescued a wonderful dog. They are in S. CA. I'll ask her the name of the rescue shelter, maybe they will be better.
I'm starting to think this is the universe telling us to get an adult dog. That's what we did the first time, and it was so easy. Maybe that's what will drop in our laps.
Give Lucy a good scratch from me.:)
I remember years ago, before we got our dog, I was telling a friend that I didn't think we should get a dog because we traveled a lot and it wouldn't be fair to the dog, yadda yadda. My friend, who actually volunteered for one of the shelters, said, "I'm sure any dog would rather be left alone sometimes instead of being dead." So we got a dog.
That's why I sort of don't get the intense scrutiny placed on adopters. Sometimes you just have to say, it's not the perfect home, but it's a home. Like in your grandmother's case.