I have been doing animal welfare for 8 years now .. it is something which becomes addictive ... once started how do you start learning to say NO ... sometimes I wish I could do that ...

Two weeks ago I had a call about a bitch who had turned up in a nearby town, she was heavy in milk and apparently very frightened .. living in someones garden. There were no puppies even though from her milk they could only have been a few weeks old. I drove over to collect her ...

Sadly, although a lovely dog for the most part, she had some very unpredictable traits and in the time I had her she went for several men while we were walking (fortunately she was on lead at time and although a struggle I managed to contain the situation), and she started becoming agressive towards other dogs including my own which meant I could no foster her.

Yesterday I took the most painful decision to have her put to sleep .. which left me distraught ... she had such love and trust for me her rescuer ... but it was an act of kindness ... there are, I have discovered an endless number of dogs needing homes and she was not a happy dog and would not have found a home easily ... and would not kennel well (went for men in the kennels too).

Somewhere out there are a family/man/woman who are responsible for this dogs sorry state ... while I tortured myself over her fate they have probably bought another dog ... will anyone ever do anything to stem the number of unwanted animals both x breds and pedigree in this country ... does anyone have any solutions. Although a small rescue we ensure every dog and bitch we rehome is neutered .. yet I know of other rescues which do not do the same .... I listen to breeders say that all their dogs go to good homes ... yet every day I hear of pedigree dogs turning up in rescue ... I know many are puppy farm bred, but I also know of those which come from personal breeders who refuse help when trouble arises.

Oh I don't know what I am asking here ... any thoughts on solutions anyone?? After 8 years I despair that things will ever get easier.

HI Caitlin

I felt so sorry when i reaad your message; at least the poor bitch is at rest now.

I wish there were solutions to these problems; I wish i could think of them! I do feel that in some way, education is the answer, although don't ask me how to implement this!!

I was reading in a dog magazine about the RSPCA; they have recently been evaluating animal cruelty and feel that is it deeply embedded in human society (which is bad for us as well as the poor animals, because many beleve that murderers and serial killers are cruel to animls first, before people).

They have apparently concluded that education is the way forward. Don't know if they're right, but what else can they/we do?

Best wishes Caitlin
lindsay

hi, I too have had to make really painful decisions on labs that have come into rescue and have been aggressive once unknown in our breed they are usually from puppy farm beginnings and maybe fought for food etc when a pup also cruel owners have a lot to answer for I had to have a labrador put down recently he could not be trusted at all and worse he was unpredictable and he weighed about eight stone so you wouldnt stand a chance with him if he had a go I drove him to the vets and he was nuzzling my neck in the car I felt terrible,I sat with him and talked to him and he went to sleep,whatever his demons were they were gone now I sat in my car and cried I felt as a rescuer I had not done enough for this dog I said to my friend I am not in rescue for this and she pointed out how many dogs I had helped over the nine years and that I should think of that.
It is the worse side of rescue when you have to take this step which cowardly owners should do and not dump them on unsuspecting rescues I feel for you I really do but keep going there are many dogs that need our help and luckily these cases are few and far between (you have my number if you need to talk)

Caitlin and Mattie, You cannot take other peoples troubles on your shoulders. You do your best for the dogs. A lot more than most people, me included, do and for that you should be proud of your selves. And in that i also include the many other people who give their time and often money to help dogs. You can't hit your selves over the head because others allowed this to happen! It's the responsibility of them not you, even though you are left to pick up the peices. Just try to think of the ones you help.

Regards, John

thankyou john

Thanks everyone ... today I feel more positive ... I know others do this hard work too but on the days you do it you feel so alone ... and yes Mattie that this isn't what we are here for. You drive them there and feel like a traitor .. they trust you above all others ... but it is right we cannot take on these problems as our own .. If I had kept her then my fostering days would have been over ... even if I could have stopped her behaving badly with my dogs. And while I cry there are kennels filling up with the other unwanted/abandoned/poorly treated beasts ... so wipe the tears away and carry on ... cos like I said .... "how do you learn to say no ... I hope I never do"

Caitlin

me too