Pets: A lifetime committment (long but worth reading)

A LIFETIME COMMITMENT
by Mary Drosche

I hadn't been in rescue very long and I was reading a story
about Lexi, looking at her sweet golden face in the picture.
Apparently, she had been rescued as a pup from a shelter.
However, in this instance, the word "rescue" seemed to have been used
merely to assuage the guilt of her human mother who was now looking
to find a new home for Lexi.
How else could one justify finding a new home for a family
member? Lexi's mom had two toddlers and other excuses for now
wanting to find "the very best" home for the dog she'd raised for the
past 10-11 years. Her family of four was moving to a new
subdivision, and between the toddlers and the upcoming move, along
with working, she had no time for Lexi.
I didn't understand this reasoning then and still don't understand it.
The dog was part of the family. Yes, we all have lifestyle
changes. We have kids. We move. We work. We become preoccupied
with our children's schedules as well as our own. We don't think we
have enough time.
Well, I had done all those things and never once thought of
finding a home for any of my dogs -- they were part of my family.
How could she do this to this sweet girl?
I made arrangements to pick up Lexi, who was living in a very
nice, gated subdivision, not far from ours. We introduced ourselves
to Lexi's mom and were taken to see Lexi. The garage door opened and
there was this sweet dog, in a large wire kennel where she'd
obviously been living, with a small fan on her, in Houston, in
September.
Lexi had been digging in the backyard and they couldn't have
that -- not with their house for sale.
She gave me a brief history of Lexi, concluding that Lexi would
probably look for her by waiting at the door at night.
I took Lexi, who jumped in the back seat of our truck and never
looked back. From that moment on, she was my dog and she never left
my side, nor did she ever fail to thank me daily with her eyes and
utmost devotion.
Of all the dogs I'd ever had and loved, this one was most
special. She was my first rescue. We took Lexi home to our family
of four other dogs and, after proper sniffing and various other forms
of introduction, all dogs took their places in our lives. Lexi never
left my side. She could be found sleeping at my beside and when Rick
got up early and let the dogs outside on weekends, Lexi wouldn't go
until I got up.
What a wonderful old girl she was. We moved to the bay in June
of 2004. Lexi was getting visibly older and was slowing down. She
had free rein of the house and could always be found at my side,
whether that be at the side of the bed or the foot of the couch. I
never left her outside. She had spent enough time in the heat, in a
cage.
She was 15 years old this past January. She had numerous
tumors on her body and in her eyes and, although she ate like a
horse, was skinny as a rail. I prayed that she would go to sleep on
her own, and not leave me to make that decision for her. I finally
had to make that appointment, and she went to sleep in my arms. She
took a piece of my heart with her and I know she now waits at the
Bridge, playing and waiting with my Huskies.
I write this, not just to honor her memory, but hopefully so
that another young mother, with toddlers, who thinks she has no time
and needs to rehome her dog, will read it.
Lexi was lucky -- she found me. Other senior dogs, and cats,
are not as fortunate. If a home can't be found, they are dropped at
a shelter to a certain death because they are deemed unadoptable by
the shelter. It's not the shelters fault. Over crowding due to a
glut of abandoned pets leaves no room for an older dog or cat.
I hope that the young mother who reads this will think twice and
realize that the pet she has raised loves her, whether she has as
much time today as she had yesterday. I hope the young mother who
reads this will think about what she will be teaching her children if
she gives her old pet away. Instead of teaching them that a pet is a
responsibility for all of its life, she will be teaching them that a
pet is disposable.
I hope she will read this and look into her pet's eyes and see
the love and the life still devoted to her. I hope that she'll have
many long years with her pet after her toddlers grow up and, in that
way, she will have taught her children how to love, care for and be
responsible for a pet -- for all of his or her life.

Re: Pets: A lifetime committment (long but worth reading)

This made me cry. How people can be so cruel to their animals because they are an inconvenience is beyond me. I am due in January and currently have two dogs that are my children. I could never imagine giving them away because they get in the way. They are our family just like this baby will be.

Re: Pets: A lifetime committment (long but worth reading)

Thank you for posting this. I never in a million years would have thought this would happen, but having my daughter really did change the dynamics in this house regarding the dog.

Lately, I've become very frustrated with Luna. Since having our baby she's been acting out slightly (chewing, peeing- no aggression to the baby) and at times I think, "I wish we never got her"

Reading this renewed my love for my first baby. She deserves the very best because that's what she's given us. It's not HER fault that we decided to have a baby. It's not her fault that I haven't made the time lately to show her how loved she really is.

Thank you thank you thankyouthankyou.

Re: Pets: A lifetime committment (long but worth reading)

Posted by Porrruss

Thank you for posting this. I never in a million years would have thought this would happen, but having my daughter really did change the dynamics in this house regarding the dog.

Lately, I've become very frustrated with Luna. Since having our baby she's been acting out slightly (chewing, peeing- no aggression to the baby) and at times I think, "I wish we never got her"

Reading this renewed my love for my first baby. She deserves the very best because that's what she's given us. It's not HER fault that we decided to have a baby. It's not her fault that I haven't made the time lately to show her how loved she really is.

Thank you thank you thankyouthankyou.

Message edited 10/14/2007 11:34:22 PM.

Re: Pets: A lifetime committment (long but worth reading)

Thank you Shanti, for posting this. I think that it is easy to assume what is to come, and then when life changes, the focus changes. The reality is many of our parents had us, and we had dogs. There is room for all of our family members, the 3 furry (one not is furry) babies, and my new human baby. It is not the easiest adjustment, but we make it happen. When DH is making "daddy time" with DS, I make mommy time with the puppies.

Anyway I hope it makes a difference.....

Re: Pets: A lifetime committment (long but worth reading)

Thanks for this.