Same here. We have 2 oldish dogs and we decided a while ago not to get any more. Don't want to leave animals behind. We don't have any family who are in a position to adopt dogs. Barring a plane crash or suchlike at least one of us should outlast them.
We lost one earlier this year. I've buried a lot of dogs and that was the hardest, he was a major character and the smartest dog I ever had. We didn't plan to replace him but we ended up taking in another dog of the same age who had been abandoned at our vet's place. Our remaining dog just wasn't getting over losing her buddy,
The guy who died came from our vet as well. Owner took him in, asked for him to be put down and walked out. All 4 bones in his forearms were broken. An assistant there knew something about the family who dropped him off and said he had been tormented by devil children and never let out of his crate. He was 1 year old when we got him.
The vet tried to fix his legs but it didn't take. We spent $3K taking him to a specialist and he never had a problem with his legs again. He looked like a Pomeranian but just kept growing, ended up at 22lbs. Poms don't get that big.
Still miss him.
That's awesome you took that dog in. For the life of me, I will never understand how some people can treat and/or abuse animals so badly. I just don't get it.
in 1998 we took in a GSD that was bounced around from place to place. Gorgeous dog from Germany. The last owners abused him with one of those electric training collars. They had no clue how to train a dog. Those collars should be outlawed. They aren't needed. When we got the dog he had many burn bumps around his neck, all from the shock collar and using it at not recommended levels.
It took him about six months to come around to understanding he was in a safe home with humans who weren't going to hurt him. He bit me pretty good around my left knee the first week we had him. Our vet said we should put him down, we said no way. We very patiently worked with him. My wife took him to her grooming business to socialize with other dogs and people. Brighton turned out to be one of the best canines we ever had. He earned his Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog certifications with flying colors. We took him to old folks homes and the children's hospital for visits and also the VA to visit the veterans.
Hate to say it but some folks just shouldn't be allowed to have animals. They aren't fit for it. The ones who get an animal, then take it back and get another one over and over are the folks that bug me the most. They always have lame excuses, "it just isn't working", when in reality it's them who is failing the animal. Animals aren't throwaway material items. They're affected by being placed in foster care places and multiple homes. Canines seek human companionship.
And all the non-professional backyard breeders and puppy mills. Both should be outlawed IMO. Sorry for my mini rant.
).
