Breaking the Rules

Rules private rescues would have to break to adopt to us

This is a common rule, and a rule that I am fine with people breaking for me. I understand why rescues have this rule- they want the dogs to be secure outside and have room to run around.

Here’s the thing, when I had an escape-y dog, a fence never stopped him. He could jump over fences under 4’ tall. And he had no issues going under or through fences. And since here in the PNW, your wood fence can’t touch the ground for mold reasons, and mesh/soft wire fences are easily cut up by lawn mowers, there were multiple opportunities for him to find escape routes. (I don’t do chain link fences. Broken chain link fences are dangerous to dogs. In fact, one almost amputated one of Moree’s legs.)

And, naturally, he didn’t always choose to make his digging habits known. We were in our first house for over 6 months before he decided to dig out under the fence one day. But once he did that, there was no stopping him.

So, my dog didn’t stop escaping the yard until I stopped letting him go out unleashed.

That leaves the question of exercise. Well, let me tell you, just because people have fenced yards does not mean they allow their dogs out there for exercise, especially if they have barky dogs and complain-y neighbors.

However, if you are interested in adopting to me, you ask how my dogs will get exercise. And the answer is we go on a morning walk and then have regular (almost daily) trips to the dog park to allow the dogs to run and socialize.

So, I break rule one, but I meet the intent- my dogs are safe and secure when they go out in the yard to do their business and they get plenty of exercise, including running.

I’ll be honest here, I can give you all the reasons I go to a dog park – lots of room for the dogs to run, socialization, that currently, I have two dogs with widely disparate exercise needs and the dog park allows us to meet them both, etc. But, if you’re a person who is anti-dog park, none of my reasons will work for you.

Your reasons for not liking dog parks start with little dogs get attacked (And I will concede we were talking to a mini-Aussie person. Not only are they little dogs, but they’re crazy little dogs who might not be good dog park candidates) and end with dogs get sick.

I counter this with responsible ownership. Yes, dogs can get attacked/get in fights (as Larry has shown). But as a responsible dog owner, I am present. I remove my dog from the situation before it escalates, or if it escalates too quickly, am willing to risk myself to remove my dog.

And as for dogs that might kill my dog before I had a chance to react, I figure that’s got as much chance of happening when I’m walking my dogs on the street as it does at the dog park. In fact, I personally know more people who have had their dogs attacked while walking on leash than have had them attacked at the dog park. No rescue is going to have a rule that I can’t take my dogs on walks.

As for dogs getting sick, that’s even easier to counter with responsible ownership. My dogs go in for all their regular checks and get all their shots. we’ve had a dog get bordatella (kennel cough) and know how scary that is, so we vaccinate against that, too.

Maybe my dogs have had some tummy troubles after the dog park due to water quality, or something, but my dogs develop tummy troubles pretty randomly on their own.

I accept that some owners are uncomfortable with dog parks. And that’s fine, if you’re uncomfortable there, don’t go, but don’t try to foist your fears on me.

I also understand that some dogs aren’t good dog park candidates due to their own unique personalities. And that’s fine to, but I’d appreciate it if you would let me, as the adopter of the dog, make that decision. Or, since your dogs are in foster homes, have the foster family do a write up of why the dog isn’t a good dog park candidate, so that I can take that consideration into account when deciding to adopt.

Under socialization is one of the leading factors in dog attacks- both on other dogs and on people. The dog park allows my dogs a chance to socialize with dogs and people, learning correct doggie etiquette on most accounts. (June is never going to stop jumping in laps, or looking for pets from strangers.)

I honestly believe that going to the dog park lessens my dogs’ chances of getting in a fight.

So those are the rules they would have had to break to adopt to us. But by the time you have both those rules, I’m not likely to want to adopt from your organization. We just wouldn’t be a good fit.