Poor Missy

Missy is a pure bred female long-hair Chihuahua. Her mother no longer has time for her because of a new baby. Bryan agreed to accompany me to view her. I had thoughts to take her home, rehabilitate her (she had some nasty habits that needed to be addressed) and re-home her with a family that would take proper care of her.

I was suspicious when the owner was less than amenable to the idea of me visiting her home in order to meet Missy but when she was able to produce all her vet/health records and agreed to have her vet transfer all records to my vet...I was appeased. Once I met the lady at Pet Smart, which is a good place to assess a dog's behavior, I realized just how dire this little dog's situation truly was. Her nails were so overgrown, they curled around and nearly met the toe pad. Her gorgeous but neglected coat was matted badly near her rear in spite of the bath she had been given a few hours earlier. What, dare I ask, did she look like prior to the bath? Her teeth were in ok condition but her lower jaw was undershot by a 1/4 inch, she had an extra toe on both front feet and she had collapsed ankles. Further conversation with the owner (who was a greasy mess - poorly cared for, herself), my suspicions were confirmed. This dog was a product of a puppy mill but her owner was unaware of this fact.

Missy's tale begins with an ad in the local paper that caught Shannon's (owner) eye. The advert was for Bichon-Shitzu cross puppies. "Will Deliver" (always a quote to be wary of). Shannon contacted the 'breeder' and arrangements were made to pick her up in a parking lot in St. Albert (also a very bad practice performed by puppy mill operators as they would never allow an 'outsider' to visit their farm). The puppy was 'very' small and when Shannon's sister (who owns a Bichon-Shitzu cross) saw the puppy, she informed Shannon that this dog was not the breed advertised.

Shannon then contacted the 'breeder' and received some crazy story about how the mother was a Bichon and must have 'had relations' with a neighbor dog. While this can happen, there is absolutely NO doubt in my mind that Missy is a pure bred Chihuahua. Many puppy mill operators will give purchasers any pup because the puppies advertised have all been purchased. Also, it cost less to run one small ad featuring only one breed as opposed to running many ads. If the ad listed several different breeds, most people would grow suspicious. They are crafty little buggers, these puppy mill people.

Anyway, Missy is two years old and as I suspected, she has behaviors that have become unacceptable due to Shannon's 8mo old son who is now crawling: "She has frequent accidents and I'm afraid my son will find poop and pick it up and put it in his mouth. She sheds. She's very friendly with cats and other dogs but she does bark at the doorbell."

Shannon was oblivious to the future medical care Missy will likely require due to her collapsed ankles and undershot jaw. I wanted so badly to take this little girl and show her what a caring, loving home was all about. I know I could have eradicated her behaviors that were less than desirable and find her a very good home but, I had to pass. Alas...my good senses kicked in and I had to acknowledge to myself that, although I am fully capable of helping her, it was not the right time in our lives to take on this particular challenge and to do so would not have been in the best interest of my pack at this moment.

It helped that Shannon told me a recently retired couple had contacted her and were awaiting a phone call to inform them if I took Missy or not. I asked Shannon a million and one questions about the couple (pretty cheeky of me, no?) and I fervently encouraged her to give the dog to this couple. They will be able to give her the care and love she requires now as well as in the future.

This leaves me with the question so many true animal lovers ask of these types of people. Why do you get a pet if you have no intention of teaching them how to live peaceably within a household? Is it really all that difficult to teach them basic manners? These people look at dogs as if they are throw-away items...a fair weather friend. Nothing could anger me more. Then, to add insult to injury...these same people put ads to sell/give away their dogs citing "...new baby and now I don't have time to give her/him the attention he/she needs..." Bull Shit! The behaviors they put up with for so long are now an issue because there is a baby in the house. Many of these ads are phony and there is no baby at all. But it sounds good and solicits pity and compassion in the hearts of unsuspecting people. People who often find themselves eventually saddled with extraordinary vet bills and a pet with outstanding behavior issues.

If you are looking to adopt a pet from an internet site or newspaper ad...proceed with caution. Observing the following will go a long way in preventing an experience sure to end in heartbreak for both human and canine.

1) Meet the dog on his own turf. You will get a view of the environment he has lived in and he will be more likely to express his true state of mind more openly while in his own home.

2) Next, ask the owner to meet you at a large pet store following the home meeting. (If there is no chance of meeting the dog on his own turf...this is the next best thing.) You will be able to see how the dog's state of mind changes or remains the same when in a stimulating environment. Could you think of a more exciting place for a dog? A pet store with it's treats, toys, people and other dogs is like going to a fair! Watch how the dog behaves when encountering other dogs. This is also a time for you to introduce your dog (if you already have one) to the potential new dog - but only if you first observe a calm mind while meeting other dogs in the store. Take the dog for a quick spin around the store on leash. Does he know how to walk on a leash properly? If not, does he respond to your cues? Once out of sight of his owner, he may express separation anxiety which should sound alarm bells in your mind. Do not take a dog like this home if you are not experienced enough to deal with it. Believe me when I say that LOVE is NOT enough to effectively curb behaviors such as this.

3) Insist the dog's vet care records are transferred to you upon the purchase/adoption of the pet AND the current vet's records are forwarded to your vet within 24 hrs. Make certain that you obtain the name of the vet clinic that has been caring for the dog. Call them prior to your meeting with the dog to confirm that they do, indeed, possess records for the dog. Don't forget to obtain the name of the owner as well. If people are reluctant to provide this information, you should proceed with the utmost caution. With this information, you can request the health records from the previous vet who is usually willing to transfer the records once they see a 'transfer of ownership' contract.

4) Have the owner sign a 'transfer of ownership' contract. I will post one on this sight in the near future.

5) If the owner insists on making a visit to your home before she agrees to the transfer, thank your lucky stars that you have found a dog that was truly cared for. An owner who asks you 20 questions is a person who really does care and wants the best for their friend.

6) Be wary of health issues. Check the dog's teeth, nails, coat for any abnormalities. Run your hands over the entire body to check for lumps and bumps. Some people try to unload a sick dog once they realize it will require vet care they cannot afford (another reason they may be reluctant to transfer vet records or claim they do not have a vet). Doing this type of exam will also allow you the opportunity to assess how the dog reacts your touch. It is normal for them to feel cautious about a stranger touching them but a dog that snarls or snaps at you should give you ample warning of more severe underlying behavior issues.

7) Any dog is worthy of a loving home regardless of mental or physical state. But it is imperative that you assess your ability to be the proper care taker for a dog with special requirements. Do you have the financial resources to pay for health care? Do you possess the knowledge/experience to effectively rehabilitate behavior issues? Do not be afraid to acknowledge your limitations. If you don't, you will likely be re-homing your new pet before you have a chance to build a loving/trusting bond with her. For animal lovers, our hearts often rule our heads. Unfortunately, good intentions do not do justice for the animal we are attempting to rescue. Be honest with yourself and if you see an animal that is clearly suffering, please care enough to report them to your local SPCA.

8) If you already have a dog or other species living in your home, please acknowledge that your number one obligation is to maintain their quality of life. It isn't fair to bring a problem dog into the pack if you do not know how to integrate them safely. Furthermore, you may find a dog with a beautiful disposition but requires much time devoted to health issues. Make certain you think about how this reassignment of attention will affect your existing pack. Often, the dog/pets you had before the introduction of the new dog will begin to manifest problem behaviors in response to the upset of the pack dynamic. Again, ask yourself if you possess the experience/knowledge to manage this issue should it arise.