I recently had 2 cancer surgery's and am now clean. But while thinking about dieing, I wondered about my dogs. They would be going to the pound if I was not around? While facing death, you think about everything? So I decided, if I lived to try to save the dogs being killed everyday for no fault of theres? So, do they have souls and spirits? Because I've had five dogs over twenty five years and I seen things that make me feel they are so misunderstood as creatures we live so closely with?

Also, is there any place you can find funding for projects like mine not being a nonprofit group? It's all with lawyers and above board, so that it's not seen as some scam. I have info at "BARK" (Tales From Doggy Death Row)

Thanks for the time.

starbuck8

I told you Alty....hide himmm!! Say he ran far far away from home, and he took lots of food with him, so it doesn't look like he'll be coming home soon! Tell them you think he met a poodle on the internet, so you think he went to find her!! LOL!!

Altenweg

Hee, hee, tempting Starby.

The sad thing is, I don't think it would be hard to convince them to let us keep him, she's already hinted (not so jokingly) that she's done, stick a fork in her.

He's such a sweetheart, such a big fluffy lovey, he deserves a good home. My friend is a good person, she just got in way over her head when she got Bear. It was a case of "Oh, look at the cute puppy, gotta have him", and then "I don't know what to do with him, he won't listen", and then "I yell, I scream, he doesn't get it". They really have no idea how to raise a dog, it's not meanness or uncaring, it's a matter of lack of education and understanding. He's been here a week and has learned more than he has in 3 years with them, that has to tell you something. Patience and understanding, caring, love and companionship, that's all this pup needs, and he's getting it here, he deserves all that.

He needs to stay with us. Oh, Starby, Bear could be Niki's big furry brother, don't you think?

bushg

Alty Your heart has already decided...."just do it"

Btw you are a understanding friend...I hope she learns form this dog and doesn't jump to get another one without thinking about it.

Your right he is very cute and would make Nikki a very handsome boyfriend.

Altenweg

Bushg, you actually mentioned my main concern, her getting another dog.

I've only known her for 3 years, they got Bear because of our dogs. We went camping together, and they saw how well behaved our dogs are and decided they wanted a dog too.

Now, around 6 months after I met her she got rid of her two cats, gave them away, they were spraying everywhere and she was done. She swore that she wouldn't get another cat or cats, she'd learned her lesson. Well, she's had 4 cats since then, one died and she has three others, bought as kittens, and they are quickly becoming a nuisance now that they are full grown. I do worry that she'll get another puppy, she loves baby animals, but isn't capable of putting in the time and effort required to raise them.

I can't think about that right now though, I hope she won't get another, but I can't stop her if she does. My main concern is Bear, he deserves better. Here he is loved. I've spent the last week working with him, and he learns quickly, just needed someone to spend the time to teach him. I've also been brushing him, he is a long haired pup and is full of mats, I've had to cut allot of his hair because there's no brushing through it. If he becomes ours he's going to a groomer, and then I can start from scratch with daily grooming. I don't have the tools to brush away all the mats he has, poor pup.

He's a high maintenance dog, not because of his behavior, but because of his coat, he needs daily brushing, and she doesn't do it.

I have already decided, he's mine, now I just have to convince her 100%.

linnealand

what a face! fantastic! it sounds to me like bear is heading towards a bright future as a member of the altenweg family. it also sounds like his current owner is like a crack-mom with pets. she just keeps getting "pregnant" with them, and then she doesn't take care of them like she should. although you are certainly not to blame for her getting a dog because she liked yours so much, i bet you feel especially concerned about his well-being. you've got a huge heart, and it's in every one of your posts.

i've never heard about a 2 dog limit. why does it exist? unless you have some really horrible neighbors who are after your jugular, i don't think you will run into any major problems. if the unofficial "adoption" goes through, you might want to establish some agreements with her in case of legal complications. for example, if the wrong people start poking their noses where they shouldn't, you can use her as a back-up, like you said.

i don't know this woman from eve, but you might want to get something unofficially in writing so that after a year with you, when his manners are famous, she doesn't decide that she wants him back. that happens every now and then with baby adoptions, which is a total nightmare.

maybe there's a way to sway her into not getting another dog, but in an artful way that makes it look like it's her own idea. don't say anything offensive - maybe you can tell her how difficult it is to go on vacation, or how they pee in the house or something. that might make you sleep easier at night.

kudos to you for being such a hero to your fuzzy soulmates!!

Altenweg

I don't know why they have the two dog rule, I find it a bit weird myself, but I guess some people do go overboard and this rule helps prevent that.

I will put something in writing, because like you said, after a year with us she might decide that she wants him back. Also, I want to make sure she knows that we will be responsible for all his costs, he will be ours, even though he'll stay registered under her name until I can make it official.

She does love to buy new pets, loves baby animals, but they grow up and she starts yearning for a new baby animal. I hope she doesn't get another puppy to replace Bear, and I will try my best to persuade her to not go that route. I'm hoping that the fact that she's pregnant with her third child will dissuade her from adopting any more animals, she has her hands full as it is.

Bear is just a big sweet softie, and he fits in so well with our family, kids and other fur babies alike. He even likes my rabbits. He's afraid of the bird, which is a bit funny, but he's slowly getting used to her. I think in his puppy mind he's probably wondering what the bird is and that it must be vicious, that's why it's in a cage. The bird loves Bear though, and will climb to the bottom of her cage so that she can see him better, it's very sweet.

He belongs with us, and I'm going to do everything in my power to keep him here.

I really am the crazy pet lady, I need a farm.

Peter Wilson

I don't know if dogs have souls, but my dog, who has been gone for 18 yrs, certainly had a personality. She would obey with a nod or gesture of my head, you didn't even have to speak.
In Genesis 9:5, it says that even animals have to give account before God, and in Isaiah 65:25, it says that the wolf will graze with the lamb, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
They may not be in heaven, but they will probably be on the new earth.
There will be 2 resurrections, make sure that you make the first, that is, consider your life now and determine that you cannot make heaven by your own works of goodness. (Eph. 2), (Rev 20:4-6) If you make the first, you judge yourself as in need of a Saviour now, and submit the rest of your life to Jesus. Or you wait until the 1000 yrs are up and are judged on your works.
Make sure you are born again, (John 3) it is the only way to see or even enter the kingdom of God. Get baptized by full immersion and then seek for the baptism in the Holy Spirit with signs following. ( Read Acts) (Rom 10:9-10)
You may already be born again, but this is for those that may read this.
Love, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost be yours in abundance.