Tales & Tails of New York

 

 

 

 

In this world of constant animal abandonment and the supposed need to kill millions of pets in shelters every year because homes don't exist for them, it is both ironic and frustrating to occasionally run into those situations where two parties want the same dog (or cat).

 

A few weeks back, we rescued a small and particularly delightful Chihuahua/Pug mix named, "Molly" (pictured above).  Molly ended up in the pound after someone abandoned her at a police station claiming that they found her as a "stray."  Police then brought Molly to the shelter.

 

Molly went to one of our foster homes, where reports back on her were nothing but positive.

 

Molly's foster person, Florence informed me that Molly was totally housebroken, very gentle and affectionate and extremely "easy" and well behaved.

 

Both Florence and I wondered how anyone could have abandoned such a sweet and trusting dog?  We speculated that something might have happened to the owner (illness or death) and that someone else, relative or neighbor dumped Molly as the police station.  Molly wasn't the kind of dog who would "run away" from her person and thus become a "stray."

 

Almost as soon as she was advertised for adoption, I began getting adoption inquiries on Molly.

 

Most were flaky.

 

One woman, in fact, rudely hung up on me when I simply asked of her experience with dogs.

 

"Can you tell me of your experience with dogs?"    CLICK!

 

Hm, the woman must have murdered her last dog and didn't want to talk about it.

 

Another woman told me she was seeking a little dog who was "paper trained" because she didn't like the idea of having to walk a dog -- especially in cold or hot weather.

 

"Ma'am if you want an animal you don't have to walk, please get a cat," I advised. "There isn't a dog alive who doesn't look forward to going out for walks.  Walks are the highlights of their lives. Walks are what dogs live for."

 

At least two people actually went to meet Molly.  But, one woman complained that Molly "walked funny." And the other one was indecisive.  "I am not sure and need to think about it."

 

I told Florence that one of the frustrating things when dealing with small dogs is that many of the people who want them are perfectionists who seem to regard animals as cute little objects rather than animals.

 

"It's not like fostering Chows," I added. (Florence's previous foster was a Chow who was adopted to wonderful people from New Hampshire.)  "Chow lovers are animal lovers.  Small dog people are just small dog people. -- One even suspects some of them of being small minded."

 

Perhaps because she wasn't enjoying the adoption inquiries being forwarded to her (or some of the things I said about them) or because she was simply getting very personally attached to Molly, Florence began to toy with the idea of adopting Molly herself.

 

Florence called last week to discuss the possibility with me.

 

The problem was that Florence has to travel a great deal for her job.  Who would mind Molly when Florence had to leave on a regular basis for days at a time?

 

I told Florence that most dog boarding or pet services were expensive.  Boarding too, can be emotionally hard on some dogs as it usually involves keeping the dogs in cages.  I didn't say "yes" or "no" to the possibility of Florence adopting Molly. (She represented a very responsible and loving home for a dog.) This was a decision she had to make for herself depending on her resources and options.

 

For the time being however, Molly was still up for adoption.

 

This past week, we received a very good inquiry on Molly.  A middle aged couple from Pennsylvania who recently lost a very loved, senior Chihuahua mix after a long bout with chronic illness and debilitation.  Keith and Kathy had seen their elderly pet through kidney disease and crippling arthritis.  In her last months, they had carried the little dog everywhere with them and were devastated by her eventual loss.

 

The conversation with Keith, the husband was particularly pleasant, right down to the political happenings of the day.

 

"By the way, " I said, "I really like how your state voted in the primary last week!"

 

"Oh, yeah," Keith replied. "My wife and I were big Hillary supporters.  She has the experience, you know. This guy, Obama?  What's really known about him?  Not even one term in the Senate!"

 

"Exactly my thoughts," I concurred. "Seems he started running for President one hour after he hit the Congress. I'm surprised the media doesn't make more of that."

 

I really liked Keith and his wife and highly recommended them to Florence.

 

For her part, Florence also liked the couple.  Keith and his wife made an appointment with us to come in today and most likely adopt Molly.

 

But, on Thursday evening, Florence called to inform me that she couldn't part with Molly and wanted to adopt the little Chihuahua mix herself.

 

Florence had been able to secure pet sitting arrangements during times of travel with a close and reliable friend who has actually done pet sitting in the past.

 

Of course this meant having to call the people who had their heart set on Molly and cancel the adoption appointment. -- Something I didn't look forward to doing.

 

I decided to call Keith and Kathy last night around 8PM, when they were both likely to be home.

 

But, Keith called me around 7:30 last night to confirm today's appointment.

 

It was hard to break the news to him that Molly was being adopted by his foster person.

 

Like most rescue organizations, we have the policy that foster people have first option to adopt when they choose to do so.

 

The couple was obviously very disappointed, but gracious.  I tried to interest them in other dogs and even offered to seek a similar dog to Molly for them.

 

But, its always hard to interest people in other animals when their heart is already set on one.

 

It was not an easy conversation.

 

I'm still hoping to perhaps find another dog (like Molly) for Keith and his wife, the next time I go to the shelter.

One really hates to lose good homes like these knowing there are so many dogs out there who need them.

 

Its just such a strange irony -- and frustrating -- when running into those situations when two good parties want the same animal.

 

That should be our problem every day, shouldn't it? -- PCA

 

                                                    ********

 

 

 

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_1