I just heard today from a mutual friend that a dear friend who has six Spitz was bitten trying to separate two of the males who got into a fight. They'd been aggressive toward each other for a while now, since she boarded them, and the kennel owner withhold food from them. Yes, she has been reported for her mistreatment of animals.
She received such bad bites that she had to go for treatment, and now has a cast on her arm. Unfortunately, she is now going to try to place two of her dogs with a Spitz rescue, and I know it is breaking her heart.
I know she has been keeping the boys apart, but you just can't watch everything 24 hours a day. I feel so hurt for her, because I know how tough this is going to be for her. Not to mention, that she is in physical pain from the bites. They were inside, so she couldn't just turn a hose on them.
I'm sorry about that. It is hard, but you have to do what is best for them, even if it's not what you like. That's part of being a parent to furkids or hookids!
Any news on how your friend is doing? How are her bites, and how is the re-homing going? Sending lots of :bandaid: :bandaid: her way. That surely can't be an easy thing for her.
I haven't heard much from her, but I know that she is doing better. She is a very private person, and will not say much, I am afraid. I know how much she loves all those dogs, and at times, has made some real sacrifices for them.
Unfortunately, the two boys have not gotten along since the woman at the kennel withheld food, and made them fight for what she did give them. Personally, I think people like that should be put in prison for cruelty to animals.
We have a mutual friend who is keeping me up on the situation, so I know that she is okay, but a bit depressed. I would be too. I have photos of the six dogs, and will be working on something special for her for Christmas.
She's a good person. I know that she has been slipping food to a couple of dogs in her area that the owners have not been feeding properly, and keeping an eye on them. Before she left this area, she educated a lot of not so great pup parents, and made good parents of them.
Thanks for keeping her in your thoughts.
Thanks for the update. She sounds like the definition of a true :angel4: I feel for her, sometimes it can be a curse having such a big :heart: It sounds to me that she is a very special lady, and you are as well for making her a special gift. That is very sweet and thoughtful of you!! And I am sure it will be much appreceated!
Stupid kennel. What a nightmare for your friend! It sounds like she is either alone caring for those dogs or is at least the main person in her household who is responsible for them, which must be a real challenge. She must be devastated to lose her boys. She'll appreciate your gift and knowing that someone understands.
Quote from: Jacqueline on November 24, 2005, 12:05:35 AMthe two boys have not gotten along since the woman at the kennel withheld food, and made them fight for what she did give them. Personally, I think people like that should be put in prison for cruelty to animals.
Why the :cussing: would she do that for?
My thoughts and prayers go out to your friend. It is always hard to give up our furkids in any situation.
I'm so sorry your friend is having these unnecessary problems. It's awful that someone would withhold food from them. Being the caregiver for 6 dogs is hard enough (I know. I'm the caregiver here. The DH doesn't do much day to day stuff.) without things like this. Sending rayz and hugs for her.
That women is still here is Florida, and she was more or less running a puppy mill. Rita learned what she was doing, after the incident with the dogs, and she started telling everyone she could what was going on there. Eventually, the woman couldn't breed dogs any longer....but was still running a kennel. Rita went out of her way to let everyone who she met that owned any kind of dog to NOT EVER give her any business, and to please spread the word on her....and pretty well put her out of business.
These dogs are her children; the only ones she ever had. And she did at one time have a little doxy, too. I know that people thought she was nuts, because having 6 long haired dogs means a constant battle against hair, but she never cared....she just kept vacuuming. I was able to visit her this summer, and her new house has tile thru out the house, which will make it easier for her. But she would put up with anything to have her babies. She cooks for them every night, which is more that I do for us, lol.
She has such a good heart, and it really saddens me to see this happen. And not because of something that was her fault.
That's what makes it so tragic. It wasn't anything she did. She's a victim of this awful woman.
My friend called, and she has been in touch with the Spitz rescue people, who have been out to see her and the dogs. They told her that her dogs are all in excellent condition (of course, they are her babies!), and that they would find the best of homes for the two she is going to allow to be adopted. She has had a lot of response from around the country, but there is a woman who wants to take both of them together, but it will be another month before she can take them. A woman in Georgia can take one right now.
Of course, since they have been together since birth, it is much better if they can go together, and that hopeful parent is closer, so I am pretty sure that is going to be their new mom. That will allow her to go see them once in a while, possibly. The rescue group has assured her that they will make a lifelong committment to check on them, and make sure they are always cared for as she has done.
She will be getting emails, photos, and frequent updates. It's not the same as having them there, of course. But she realizes now that the two boys are never going to get along. The rescue people told her that Spitzs tend to imprint stuff, and having been turned against each other, they will not get over it again until they reach the Rainbow Bridge. Knowing that they will love each other again then is giving her comfort.
The friend that told me about it before she could bring herself to let it be know has made her a beautiful slide show like the one Jarratt did for her so that she can see them all the time. She has a screen saver that she adds to all the time of her pups, my birds, Taffy, etc. I am sure these will help too.
This is going to be a really tough Christmas for her.
Oh, I hope they can stay together. :xfinger:
I'm confused. I understand that she has to give them for adoption, but if they are having trouble with each other why keep them together? It would make more sense to me if they weren't kept in the same home since the aggression towards each other is the problem. Is it thought that maybe in a different environment they won't be aggressive with each other or is the potential new family able to work on these issues more directly?
Oh, I thought she was giving away two that got along with each other, but were having a problem with another member of the pack. Jacqueline, please clarify? :grin:
One of the two males that fought has some health problems, and she would never be able to stop worrying about him. She is giving up the other male and his sister, who have never been separated since birth. Because she has had to keep the two males apart, she has keep these two together in one area, and the other male and the rest in another. None have lacked for love or attention. She actually bakes turkeys for them quite often.....my hubby would be happy to be adopted by her....he loves turkey as much as they do, lol.
I have photos of all six of them, but not being Mom to them, could barely tell one from the other, except for one, who is such is guy!! Her other friend can tho, so I emailed the photos to her to identify, and she sorted them for me. They lived together for years, so she really knows and loves these pups, too. She would never stand for anyone to hurt them, and will have a say in where they are going. She doesn't live in the same state, but is in constant contact.
She isn't having a good year. I don't want to "tell all her secrets", but life has been tough for her this past year, through absolutely no fault of her own. I thought I was going to have to go up there and play "pistol packing bad A**" to some idiot who threatened her and the pups. And he was just one more thing that happened to her. Between the two of us, some long distance calls, the local law, and some emails to different authorities, we settled some problems, and stopped some idiots. But it has really taken a toll on her spirit, and now this. She has no family close by, and I know this is going to be a tough Christmas for her.
OK. Thanks for clarifying. That makes much more sense. I hope the potential home for both of them works out.
I wanted to update you on the homes for my friends babies. Another friend of ours went thru Petfinders and located a woman in the Tennessee area who lives about 200 miles away. She wanted both the doggies, and after a lot of talking over the phone, she went to see them. She has two little girls, and they all arrived to meet the dogs.
It was a good match, and they went home with their new family. Stephanie is emailing and sending photos of the pups, and keeping in close touch. They have bonded very closely with the two little girls, who just adore them. I hear they are all going to have their photos taken with Santa this week.
The rescue people had wanted to place the dogs in seperate homes, and this was much better all around. They are close enough for an occasional visit. It's not what she would have preferred....that would have been for everyone to stay together....but this was a good solution that she can be comfortable with.
Thanks for all your good thoughts and rays.