Shelterdog update need help

[AmyJo27]

Judging from your posts and the things youve said about Rocky, I think you would be a great foster home for this girl. You seem to have common sence and know how to properly handle a Pit Bull. I think youd do just fine.

This is SO exciting! I wish you the best of luck and keep us posted on your decision! ;D

[loverocksalot]

Thanks I am just so upset to find that she is getting it makes me very sad. I wish I could put my true words here about how I feel about this trainer but I dont know if it is appropriate. Leaving out the foul language of course.

[AmyJo27]

Yea, shock collars are SO wrong! I dont see how ANYONE can think they are humane.

If you have to shock a dog in order to train it, you shouldnt be training dogs, PERIOD.

It sounds like this trainer is a work of art...amazing that the shelter supports this type of trainer and training methods.

Would this dog still have to have training lessons with this trainer if you fostered her?

[loverocksalot]

Oh god I dont think I could foster her and let her go to training with that B**ch. My conditions would be I foster her I train her. Im not collar checking her either as they would like me too. But I have gotten them to use a harness on her so I am getting across. Unfortunately she only had the easy walk I dontated to her for a week cause they hung it on her cage and she chewed the plastic buckle But they have supplied her with a sporne harness which is better than the choking slip lead she was on pulling all the way.

[AmyJo27]

Any improvement is better than nothing. Heck, it seems like you may be educating the people at the shelter and it also sounds like you are really helping this girl out!!! Way to go!!!

From other posts I have read, you really care about this girl! Maybe you should say to hell with fostering and get Rocky a girlie friend and adopt! LOL!
You know what is best for your family! I will quit being the tempter!

[loverocksalot]

I want to foster at this point. I am not sure if Rocky wants to be an only dog or if my dads dogs are like cousins. You like when they come to play but prefer they go home. Figured fostering would be the best way to know. However it would be a long road with this girl. She has lbeen there a long time. However my going and walking her has sparked intere est for people looking for a dog. Generally they avoid seeing her 2 reasons 1. she is a pit bull 2. she is not in the kennel viewing area she has been moved to the laundry room behind the cat house because she could not handle being with the other dogs. Every time I have her out people ask about her since she is a sweetie. She needs to work on jumping on people though.

[AmyJo27]

Any updates Carol Ann???

I understand! 2 dogs= Double the trouble!!!!

[loverocksalot]

Nothing yet still would have to bring Rocky over. I genarally visit once a week and today we are having bad storm came from the west Rocky has not been outside I am going to have to put on his rain coat and drag him for a walk.

[loverocksalot]

I do have an update. It is about 2 years this spring that I have been visiting this dog at the shelter. My mom expressed she was ready to get a dog. She met Lucy before on a few occasions before my step dad passed she was interested in her then but my step dad did not want any more pets since their last cat passed. Well he passed unexpectedly in Nov 09. My mom bought a house very close to me only a block away this summer. I told her to go to the shelter and walk dogs to see how it feels. I did not think she would go on her own. She likes me to go everywhere with her since she is new to the area. But after church she found her way to the shelter and has been walking Lucy and only Lucy for the past two weeks at least 3x a week. I put the ball in moms court as I dont want to be making decisions for her on this. Only advising. I believe she is going to put in an application today. They have said that they will allow for since it is me for her to foster to adopt. They do not normally do fostering. I have agreed to bring Rocky to meet her during the week as my mother will probably not adopt her if they cant at least tolerate one another because she has taken into consideration if anything happens to her, Lucy will become my dog.
I have a few concerns though that I might be needing help with if my mom ends up getting her. I have confided in Mary about it. Mary felt my mom should consider a dog with no issues ie: prey drive, shy. real laid back would be good. And I agree with that. I talked to my mom about it but she has not seen nor have I this extreme drive. We have only been told about incidents that happened at the shelter. Like she got out of the yard and got into a pen holding a duck they were rehabilitating. She killed the duck and they were very upset about it. Some took it personally. She got out on another occasion and ran as fast as she could when her name was called. They later found her down the road in a pond trying to catch geese. 3rd time was she got out to chase goats that live in a farm animal pen next to the play yard.
Since my mom is leaning toward adopting her anyway I have now moved on to telling her all the things she will have to do if she adopts her. Like she will have to be on leash at all times at least until we can work on her in the yard. Baby gates need to be put up to deter her if she happens to get out the door. Fencing options to keep her from jumping if she gets out. Walking her obviously.
Last issue with her is that she has some kind of bad allergy condition. Her skin is extremely red on the Belly and back of legs. She does have a redish color skin. Her nose area is a red color and her claws have red in them. But her belly is almost burgundy in color. They tell me they have tried everything and had her tested she is allergic to everything outside. Especially ragweed. WHAT? she is never outside she lives in a crate in the office. I doubt they changed her food. They use science diet. I doubt they give her fish oil or coconut oil. I have not experienced this with ROcky so I dont know if it is normal for allergy dogs to get that red. He gets rashy on his belly I put coconut oil on and it reduces.
Last issue, she had to be moved out of the kennel area about 2 years ago. She was getting kennel crazed. They could not walk past her kennel with another dog without her acting like she wanted to kill them. She use to go to doggie play day at the shelter and had friends then a new dog came into program and they got into fights the trainer said Lucy could no longer participate. She now lives in the back in the cat area. Although they say you cant have a cat she will kill it. She pays no attention to the cats in the cages.
I am not sure this is the perfect dog for my mom, but she is making her own decision. If she decides I will help work on it to a point. I refuse to take over. I have chosen to only take over helping her with medical insurance right now. I give her basic dog and training advice as I enjoy that. And I will not let Lucy go back to the shelter so that I would take over.
The good things. Lucy is crate trained, cries when she has to go out. Previous short term owner said she brought leash to door to go out. She walks nice on a harness. She does not drag you when she sees prey just hones in (from what I have seen over 2 years). She is dog tolerant on walks. She was turned in 2x. First family owner was incarcerated she was turned in because mother of owner had a young child with disability and could not care for the dog and child. 2nd owner adopted her shortly later. had her 3weeks, reported excellent family dog couch potato loving but does not come when called. She had been picked up by aco a few times. they had no fence. Lucy becomes deaf when she is outside. WOW that is nothing new to me. Rocky gets away from me and he becomes deaf too. Reason for not doing agility or any other off lead work.
OH P.S. from the time I originally posted they have purchased her a sporne harness which is what my mom has been walking her on with success. However I will be donating a sensation or a freedom or replacing the easy walk she ate last year going to see if Pet Smart will replace it.

Photo of Lucy this past summer on my sensation harness

[loverocksalot]

Almost forgot the important reason for Mary's advice. My moms neighbors on either side have small dogs. Once cant be seen from behind fence dont even know what kind of dog but think it is a pug they also have a lab or golden. Other side has a little white furry dog. that thinks he is a bad ass. They do not let him out in yard he is walked on leash. He might go out with them supervised though.
I was concerned bout the potential problems.
Yesterday my mom talked to the neighbor and advised she is thinking of getting a dog and that the dog does not like small dogs. The neighbor said basically awe go get her, you live alone.
Also talked about the crazy pit bulls that use to live in that house. Well that explains all the chewed doors and window sills as well as the hair cakes in corners and the stench when she first got the house. One of the dogs was well liked. He must have been the only one I ever saw outside in the yard. Pit Bull mix maybe. I was never sure.
Does Lucy look like a mix? She does to me shelter says no. I want to look at her file. She looks like a pitbull/lab to me. Her body is not Pit bull like her front and hind same size not narrow in back maybe she just needs to loose a few.

[maryellen]

honestly i would get your mom to pass on lucy. your mom needs a dog with no issues, and lucy has a few. and if her and rocky get into a fight its going to be you and your mom trying to break it up, and that isnt good. rocky is super good around other dogs, and honestly you dont want a fight to break out between them and have rocky become reactive to other dogs. its not worth the risk honestly. there are too many problems that can arise with lucy, and you dont want her to be returned to the shelter yet again if it doesnt work out.

honestly if your mom wants a pit bull have her apply to www.outofthepits.org or www.animalfarmfoundation.org where the dogs live inn foster homes and their temperments can be better asssessed. both rescues have great dogs for adoption and could get one for your mom that doesnt have any issues.


i have broken up a few fights and trust me they are not fun and when you are by yourself or with someone who doesnt know what to do its even worse.

[loverocksalot]

Thanks for that advice. I am just on here quickly as I am stepping out. Had to come on to let you know they friggen approved her already. But I warned her about being pressured. Thank God because she told them she needed much more time. She is approved to foster her with adoption. I was going to bring Rocky there tomorrow or TUe and ask my dad to come along if possible. She does not necessarily want a pit bull. She has liked Lucy for some time. I am going out with my mom now I will let her know your opinion. I do not plan for them to have play dates so to say unless they got along real well. Just want to be able to walk together or tolerate if I have to care for her. And no I do not want Rocky becoming reactive. They do not actually have to interact at all. But I have also been told by another trainer not to take anything with a grain of salt this shelter says. I really wish some of you had time to asses her.

[maryellen]

i can go to the shelter with you to see how she is, but the main concern is your mom being able to handle her if she fence fights with the neighbors dogs or tries to go after birds or cats.. is she at the warwick shelter CA? i am free monday and tuesday night after work, wed and thurs i have physical therapy for my shoulder so those nights are out, or i am available next saturday anytime after 10am (3/19) if you want to meet me there to see how she is with other dogs and how strong she is . you can bring your mom too and i can talk to her about lucys issues and try to get her to understand what she might be in for once lucy gets comfortable in a house..
honestly if your mom fosters her i wouldnt bring rocky around for at least 2 months so that lucy can settle in and then maybe see how they can walk with each handler ....

when i adopted sonny from there i lucked out with him, but i also knew what i was looking for and tested him 3 weekends in a row with jesse and my ex's kids and other dogs..

your mom would really be better off with a dog that is in a foster home and that plays well with others whether pitbull or not so that she can get a true assessment of the dogs personality

[loverocksalot]

Oh Maryellen that would be awesome. I also asked my dad to come. He is available tuesday. I was going to bring Rocky that day. Yes this is Warwick they are not open at night. they close at 4 probably would only stay to 5. My mom told them she would try to make a decision by Friday but no promises. So possibly Saturday would be good. I dont want them to rush her as they have done to me. She is not very strong on a harness on the slip lead she chokes her self more than she pulls me but it breaks my heart when she chokes herself so I only walk her if they will put harness on. I told my mom what you said while we were out and she said to me. I know you value your friends opinion but I really want to help Lucy. I like her and she needs a home. I would love for you to come. I do not value their trainer or half of their opinions. They are close minded. Lucy has very little chance of being adopted. She gets little or no interest. They told us they rarely or never allow fostering. But for us they will (dont have a clue why). My mom seems to have no interest in looking at other dogs. I was going to take her up to pets alive to help make a decision. She has not been excited to go. She does not use a computer so shelter shopping is about all she will do and I am trying not to get too over power, I want her to make decision with my advice so I am not responsible if she makes wrong decision.
I agree about the adopting a dog from a foster home. I think she has just fallen in love with Lucy. She has not walked other dogs. There was one she kind of liked at West Milford. But she has kind of forgotten about that one. Its Lucy's long term at warwick that has caught her heart. You still have my cell? I will try to contact you more about this tomorrow?

[maryellen]

i still have your cell, saturday would be best as i get out of work at 4 and it would take me almost an hour to get to the shelter which wouldnt be good. see if your mom would go saturday and i will meet you there any time after 10. i will also suggest to your mom that she thinks with her HEAD not her heart, and try to explain to her the benefits of getting a dog in a foster home.

call me this week.

[maryellen]

CA here is a dog to show your mom, she is 12 years old and in a foster home

www.outofthepits.org/OOTP-adoptions4.html

[loverocksalot]

I will talk to her tomorrow. I think she can wait till Sat. No problem. Nice dog at outofthepits. She prob wont go for a dog of that age though. When she first started having thoughts of a dog she thought Lucy was too old as she was not ready to loose a dog in just a few years. But she got over that once she realized Lucy could be around for another 5 years. I think Lucy is older than 7 or 8 but that is what they say she is about.
I think that dog Gina is the cutest. Poor girl. But outofthepits would be a ride. Do they do half way meets? also there is a dog at Animal farm that someone said would be good for me. I think she is one of the OH200 her name is MOMO. But I am not ready yet. But I would love my mom to get a dog from there also. I just dont know if she would want to go around to all these places. I told her we were going to Petsalive just to see how other dogs are. But she has not asked for me to take her any where else. Maybe I could fit it in this week. Of course I too would love to see Lucy get a home or even a foster. Damb it they told my mom to fill out the application because it takes time to approve and no pressure but this way all that would be done. Well it took about 10 min walk to find out she is approved and no pressure but can you take her Wed after your daughter brings her dog if it all goes ok. Glad she did not come home with her today at least.
What time do you get home from work?

[loverocksalot]

do you have any free time to talk during day or only after work?

[maryellen]

i get out of work at 4, and i cant talk at work unfortunately. you would have to call me after work.

[loverocksalot]

Ok no problem.