Ok I was planning to head to the local shelter this weekend and possibly adopt a female beagle and have had my heart set on it. Today I was offered a chance to prevent a bassethound from even having to go to the shelter. My family has always wanted the bassethound. What would you do? Would you take the bassethound to prevent it from having to face the shelter life or would you let it go to the shelter (possibly) to get the shelter dog out?
2007-01-31 16:21:33 · 13 answers · asked by momof3boys 7 in Pets ➔ Dogs
The female beagle i am wanting to look at and possibly adopt was put in a kill pound but luckily the pound transfers adoptable dogs to the shelter so she is in a no-kill shelter but shelter life has been horrible on her, you can tell it from the pound picture to the shelter picture. I feel guilty if I leave her there but I also feel guilty if I let a male basset go into the shelter system too because Males don't get adopted very fast around here.
2007-01-31 17:03:47 · update #1
if i were u i would get both:-)
2007-01-31 16:26:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Have you met the dog? When you are around the dog, do you absolutely love her? You should have the whole family meet this dog, and if everyone loves her, and you think you guys make a perfect match, i would adopt her. If you really want to wait for the beagle (which i understand, because i am waiting to get the dog of my dreams as well) then it is not bad to let the shelter find her a home. Don't feel guilty about it if you decide you are not the best match for this dog. The best match will be out there. Most pure breed dogs go very quickly when in the shelter. I used to volunteer at an animal shelter, and the pure breeds usually got a home within the first few days. And if you don't feel that you are the best match, but still don't want to let this dog go into the shelter, try to find a rescue organization that will place her into a foster home. Or maybe you could be the foster home for her. And if you foster her, and decide that you can't part with her, foster homes usually have the first right to adopt the dog. I hope this helps you come to a decision.
2007-02-01 00:43:03 · answer #2 · answered by Stark 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do you have room and finances both? We took in an abandoned dog and I was going to keep it long enough to find a good home for it. Well it seems my husband had other plans and wanted him. So, now we have 3 dogs, 14 cats, 2 cockatiels, a rabbit, 22 hamsters, a king snake, a rose-haired tarantula, an iguana, a pygmy goat, a red sheep and 2 tanks of fish for a total of 54 pets. Then put 6 people in the equation. I have a mini farm and a 4 bdrm house. The goat and sheep stay outside, the rest are mainly in with winter here. I have 3 cats and a dog to fix now, so put that cost in there and shots (which my dog is getting) soon as weather is better. We have an inexpensive vet that gives discounts on some care when I bring in more then 3 at a time. This was a small breed dog, so for me it wasn't much more on food. Also figure the cost of feeding 2 dogs and regular vet care. I hope you can afford to raise both dogs, it would be great for both and give them each other to be with along with some one to love them. Only down side is beagles and basset hounds love to bark (well my beagle did I had yrs ago).
2007-02-01 02:39:17 · answer #3 · answered by wolfinator25840 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The so called *kill* shelter is not the issue.
No kill shelters get full, then the dogs they don't have room for go to *kill* shelters.
When no kill shelters have to get rid of dogs...these dogs are transferred to *kill* shelters or animal control, where thye are then euthanized.
The only difference is where the dogs are euthanized.
So just get the dog that best suits you and your family. That is the most important thing, when getting a dog. Then it can hopefully have a *forever* home.
BTW, the person that said purebreds have a higher adoption rate.....entirely untrue. Most purebreds are taking in by their breeds rescue org's...so it is rarely possible to find one in a shelter in the first place.
And most shelter dogs are *crossbreeds*..meaning they came from two purebred parents.
Which makes purebred parents the source of most shelter dogs.
Ironic, isn't it?
Good luck!
2007-02-01 01:21:49 · answer #4 · answered by KarenS 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
either way know you are saving a dog from the shelter. but make sure this basset hound is the dog for you. have you met the basset? do you know anything about the dog? it may not fit in with what you truely wanted and you will always wonder if it doesn't work out like you planned. at the shelter normally your adoption fee will include a spay or neuter and vaccines. you will be responsible for this cost if you take the basset. but either way i don't see a difference if the basset would have been the dog you would have chosen anway. why is the owner getting rid of the dog, are there behavioral issues you aren't prepared for? are there medical problems you aren't prepared for? those are questions to ask. go to petfinder and see if a local shelter is online and look at the dogs there for adoption. treat the basset in your mind as if it was already at the shelter and one of your many chioces. if you still pick the basset then that's the dog for you. you can go to the shelter and see if there is another dog that fits you better. but either way you are saving a life and good for you!
2007-02-01 00:30:08 · answer #5 · answered by cagney 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It entirely depends on why the basset is being given away. If it's got behavioral issues, it would be better to send it to the shelter. Pure bred dogs have a much higher adoption rate than mutts, and the humane societies have staff and volunteers to match the dog to the home. Beagles and bassets are pretty similar when it comes to temperament, both are noses with dogs attached and are easily distracted outside, but couch potatoes inside. Both are very smart dogs, both tend to like baying at the moon. Bassets you have to watch for back problems and allergies more than beagles, although beagles can have bad backs too. If you don't take the bassett, have the current owners try www.petfinder.com to avoid the shelter.
2007-02-01 00:36:34 · answer #6 · answered by lizzy 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I would get both if I was able to afford their vet bills and all. It does seem to be karma that this basset hound is available. My recommendation to you would be to look up both breeds on the Internet and find out what kind of health problems each of these breeds have. Another thing to consider is their age, older dogs do not get adopted from the shelters and unless this is a no kill shelter one of them may be euthanized. You have a very hard decision to make, I wouldn't want to be in your shoes. Good luck!
I have attached a website on Basset Hounds and another on Beagles that may be helpful.
2007-02-01 00:42:29 · answer #7 · answered by herzoo64 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Oh Lord--I'd have both of them!!! I own 2 pound puppies (and one potential pound puppy). Just take them both--they'll be friends!! I have 4 dogs--1 was destined for euthanasia--2 were left in my pasture to freeze and starve, and 1 I actually went out and paid for!! Now they're all little fat slugs laying on my couch---2 labs and 2 beagles. Heck--you get one--get the other!!! The only problem will be moving them off the couch or off your bed!!! Beagles and Bassies are lovers!! Sweet dogs!!!
2007-02-01 00:47:40 · answer #8 · answered by fallingstar 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Take the bassethound and the beagle if you have room and you can do that. They'll be company for each other as well as you!
2007-02-01 00:30:20 · answer #9 · answered by chestnutlocs1 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get the dog that YOU want. You'll be the one taking care of it. Remember a pet is a big responsibility and you will be caring for them many, many years to come. So be sure you choose the right one for you. Also, make sure they don't have health problems. My little pup (when I bought her) had an eye ulcer and let me tell you, I've been so stressed out over her I haven't been able to enjoy her. Make sure you get a healthy, happy dog. Good luck!
PS: Please take them to the vet and get a checkup on them to make sure they are healthy and have all their shots and are on heartworm pills!
2007-02-01 08:53:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both they would be company 4 each other
2007-02-01 02:05:16 · answer #11 · answered by tin_ trunk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋