We went to pick up Smokey today for his trial run at our house. Unfortunately, when we got there, he had a bit of a different vibe to him. He was very clingy and protective of Amanda, his foster mom. He backed away from me when I reached out to pet him, and he growled at me when I came over to him while he was sitting on the couch with Amanda. He was definitely in a different sort of mood than when we saw him on Thursday. Amanda suggested we take him on a little walk to maybe settle him down a little, so I took him down the block with Kelly and Lara in tow (Chilie was not with us this time).
As I mentioned in the last thread, Smokey is a little skittish, probably because of abuse. We walked past this house that had half a dozen kids playing in the front yard. Smokey was ok with them, so we went a little farther down the sidewalk. Instead of crossing the street and coming back on the other side, I decided to just turn around and head back towards Kelly and Lara. As I did so, the kids were running all around the sidewalk, and I was nervous that Smokey would get a little freaked. Well, no sooner did I have that thought when one of the kids let their dog out of the house, and it came racing down the lawn after Smokey! Smokey freaked and tried to get away, and I tried to pick him up to get him away from the other dog. Smokey bit me in the process (not a hard bite; no skin was broken). The owner of the other dog came out and took it back up to the house, apologizing. We went back to Amanda's house and Kelly sat with Smokey to get him to calm down. It was a bad experience. I felt bad that poor Smokey had to be traumatized like that.
I decided that we would not take Smokey after that incident. Since his temperment was just so different at the beginning of today's visit from the visit we had last Thursday, we didn't think it was wise to have him around Lara and Chilie. Amanda was thinking that Smokey may have to go to a home without children; she was worried about him nipping. I honestly don't think that we were the right family for Smokey....I didn't get the right feeling and he must not have, either. He really is a very sweet dog; he adores his foster mom! I'm just sad that it didn't work out. I hope that Smokey will find his forever home.
I think we're going to wait a while before we think about adopting another dachshund. For now, I think that Chilie is perfectly happy being the "princess", and I need to be absolutely 100% sure that it is the right time.
I'm so sorry it didn't work out with Smokey. On the PLUS side, you found this all out before you committed with him. I bet he'll be just dandy as an only dogger with a nice adult family. And you WILL find just the perfect sweetheart for you too. It just didn't happen today.
Okay, let's aim the Dogapault Beth's way-------------------> :heart:
You did the right thing, however hard it was. Its sad when you're all geared up for a gift and it falls through. I'm so sorry but thank you for looking out for Smokey's best interest.
Thanks, Patti and Sandi. I was disappointed that we couldn't adopt Smokey, but I think I was more saddened by the situation that Smokey and 17 other dachshunds had been in at this woman's house. I so wanted to give Smokey the love that he deserves but has never known. All I wanted to do was love him, and that is what makes me the saddest of all....that this person who had him (and all the others) robbed him of that gift.
That is really a shame that it didn't work out - but I agree, the match wasn't right. Your pupper is out there and will show up when the time is right. Sending Smokey rays that his foster mom finds him the right home for him. Bless you for trying to make it work and the sad thing about the whole situation is exactly what you said - that that woman robbed these poor kids of trusting.
I'm so sorry to hear this I was looking forward to pics of him! Poor little guy...such a shame he missed out on a GREAT home.
I'm so sorry it didn't work out!! It is so hard when all you want to do is help them and love them! I wish there was a way we could just tell them so they could understand that we aren't going to hurt them...just going to love them!
I am so sorry it didn't work out with Smokey. I hope and pray he finds a wonderful home. I am sure you will find another baby when the time is right....there is one out there just waiting for you and they say things do happen for a reason. It just makes me so mad how people can mistreat these poor babies :cussing:
That's too bad. Poor little guy must have really been through a lot. I really hope he finds a forever home soon! My husband and I had a similar experience recently with a little guy named Merlin. he is so adorable and would have been perfect, but he is so skittish when they had him come to our home for a visit before papers were signed, he went nuts everytime our neighbors would come into their townhouse next door. It was best for him to find a home where he wouldn't have to be on edge all the time. I am still kinda bummed out about it but, I'm sure he'll find a great home soon!
Hey Beth,
Those situations are tough on the adopter and the rescuer alike. Been there. If you don't feel it in your gut, you did the right thing. The doggie will find the right home, and the right doxie will come along for you. Working with Florida Dachshund Rescue, I've been in the position of being in a home with a foster and not getting the gut feeling that this is the right match. But we've had situations where, because everyone is together, we go ahead and make an adoption feeling everything will work out. In those cases, sometimes the dog comes back to us. So we learn that first instincts are usually best.