Hi
Last night I had a call from my brother, he was eating at a restaurant when a man walked in with a puppy and asked him if he wanted it. My brother called me straight away as he knows we are planning to get a dog very soon. So at midnight last night myself and my husband rushed over to the restaurant to take a look.
The puppy was a mix breed, possibly part lab part smooth collie, black with white markings, little girl around 9 weeks of age who they had named Millie. The man told us that he was desperate to get rid of her as he had taken her from a friend of his who also had Millie's brother but whose boyfriend said that she could not keep both. In any case the man who had Millie now said please just take her tonight I can't keep her as I work all day etc etc.
I had a good look at Millie, she had clean ears, eyes, bottom, good teeth, nice coat etc but she was terribly terribly shy, when I went over to her she retired under a seat. When I clicked my fingers to see if she was responsive she did not respond, when we called her she did not come over. When I picked her up she was so sweet but very very timid and on standing she kept her tail well between her legs. She was also quite thin.
The man said that she had had her first injection and I told him that at that age she should not have been out yet until she had them all (not sure if I am correct about that).
I explained that we could not take her that evening as we were not prepared for the arrival of a puppy. My husband and I were also not sure because she was so timid, although I wonder if this is because she was scared and very very tired.
When I told him we could not take her right away he even offered to pay us to take her! I also told him that we would want to have her thoroughly checked over by a vet before comitting to anything at all.
Just as we were still deliberating a couple walked by with a young daughter. They asked lots of questions about Millie and the man started on at them about needing to find her a home right away etc. To cut a long story short, the daughter was begging her daddy and they had been looking for a new dog and took her there and then saying that they would take her to the vet today etc
I am glad that she found a good home but can't understand how they could take her like that without knowing much about her or whether she may have been ill etc etc.
Please I have been tormenting myself and did not sleep all night because I wanted her so much but could not take her there and then and was not happy with how quiet and timid she was. Were we being over cautious or did we do the right thing.
Van

Hi, well it was up to you but i would have taken her just to get her away from the idiot that was giving her away if you hadnt wanted to keep her you could have taken her the next day to a rescue centre and that would have been better than some body else taking her just because there child wanted a puppy at that moment of time, sorry just my point of view. Jackie :-(

Dear Jackie
I was always under the impression that you don't take a puppy if it does not seem 100% because you could end up with a problem dog on your hands afterwards. My brother did this, he was offered a puppy at a music concert and he took it. On taking it to the vets for a check it turned out the poor thing had cancer. He spent a fortune on vet care and sadly at the end of the puppy had to be put to sleep. Also we were not set up to take a puppy in that evening much as we might have wanted to. I would far rather have seen it again today and taken it to the vet today also for a check. The family that walked past had dogs prior to this and were looking for one. They appeared to be very well to do and had a nice house in an area that I know very well. I was pleased in a way even though we didn't take her because I felt that she would be going to a good and loving home
van

Van

imho - you did excatly the right thing. Hard as it was - I would have tried to have done the same - can't say I would have coz it wasn't me in that position. You knew nothing about the little thing - it could even have been stolen for all you knew. Don't get me wrong - I feel for the poor puppy as much as the next person - but by taking it, you could have landed in all sorts of trouble and/or a problem puppy.

Pam n the boys

I'd have probably taken the puppy just to get it away from the person who really didn't want it, and would have then decided the following day whether to keep it or find it a home elsewhere. I wouldn't have left it with that man.

Van

I too would probably have taken the pup from the man; and then if need be, re-homed it.

But you did what you felt was best at the time; hindsight is a wonderful thing, so don't give yourself a hard time over it. ;)

liberty

The good news is that they puppy found a home that very evening with a lovely family. I have thought about it over and over again and think that we were right not to have taken the pup from this man. After all I am always hearing or being told stories by people who have done this and been left with a very very sick dog. This happened to us whilst we were living abroad. We took in a puppy for a rescue centre, they said they could not take her in as she had parvo virus. I had no idea how sick she was until we took her and had to nurse her through night after night, day after day. Miraculously she recovered but it was a long time coming. We loved her so much and were delighted when we were able to find her a wonderful home but I guess with this one I was concerned that the same thing could happen and we would be up all night wiping diarrhoea off the carpets! I have always heard that when you are looking for a puppy you don't take one from somebody who is not a reputable breeder etc and this man was certainly very suspicious.
Van

I do think sometimes that you HAVE to let your heart rule your head and whilst its great the pup found another home I don't think I could have been as sensible as you and not taken it. I think if I was in the same situation I would take any pup or adult dog from someone, even paying money for it, and THEN worry about what I was going to do with it once I had got it home. I also think its different to turn down a dog that someone is wandering the streets trying to get rid of, god knows what he might have done with the pup if he didn't find a home for it, than actually making a choice to go and see a puppy at a puppy farm or pet shop where each time someone buys one of these pups you are creating a demand for them.

Thank you all for your advice. I think that had the puppy not have gone to a good home that very evening we would have taken it as both I and my husband are softies and she was sooooo cute. The man was prepared to take it back that evening and let us take it the next day in any case and had given us his number to be in touch. Luckily these people came along and the problem was solved
van

Although it seems hard, i think you did the right thing. She sounds very much like my border collie cross smooth collie, who was also very timid, she turned into a very difficult and highly reactive dog and whilst i love her to pieces, if i was faced with the situation again i wouldn't have another like her. Also given the circumstances, i wouldn't necessarily believe everything that he said, did he have a vaccination record for the dog? Also if he was so desperate to get rid of the dog why didn't he take her to a shelter? At least she has a home now so hopefully she will be ok.

You seem very sensible to me.

It is a difficult decision to take on a puppy...let alone a puppy you know nothing about.....I really think you made the right decision.

If it was me in that situation, I would have taken the pup anyway, but thats just me....I have done it in the past, and have been told by my more 'sensible' friends that I've been stupid. I've never regretted taking on my four rescues, but luckily, they have all been healthy dogs. You can never know, so I think you did the right thing. Stop beating yourself up now, from what you say, she's gone to a good family.
I know how sad you must feel at the moment, but good on you for sticking to your guns...asking questions, insisting on a vet check etc.
I'm sure the dog you eventually get will be the right one. You certainly have the right ideas.

Take care, and good luck

Lisa