SPCA question?

Question

When I adopted my 4 month old black lab puppy from the SPCA 3 months ago I signed a contract that states I agree not to sell the dog or give it away. I called them the other day to advise them I may need to return the dog at which point she advised me that dog relinquished by their owner will most likely be put down because they have to give the strays a chance to be adopted. She's only 4 months old and I don't want to take her back just to be killed. I also don't want to violate my contract. I can no longer care for her. I am 3 1/2 months pregnant and struggling with terrible morning sickness and my husband works nights and can offer no assistance with the dog. What should I do? Will they really kill a 4 month old puppy if I take her back?

She is microchipped...how will this affect getting her a new home? Won't the new owners have to register her with the microchip company? and will he company call the spca to tell them we gave her away?

obviously kitty no I was not pregnant when I adopted the dog...and my husband wasnt working nights...that poor dog is crated entirely too long during the day and the morning sickness that I am enduring lasts ALL day...I don't need to be chastised for the decision I am making...it was hard enough to come to all on my own...I feel awful for this!!

My apologies Kitty but I adopted the dog on 7/2/07 and did not become pregnant until 7/23/07!! So I am 2 1/2 months pregnant...I was not pregnant when I adopted the dog!!!

Answer 1

it is understandable that you have a lot on your plate right now, and you don't have the necessary time and energy to devote to this dog
however you must understand the number of healthy, beautiful dogs that are euthanized everyday simply because there are too many of them. Some of them are puppies. If you gave your dog back to the shelter, that would most likely be his fate, even if the shelter did offered him a few days to be adopted.
if you really want to help this dog yet you can not care for him by yourself, then you only have so many choices:
1.) call the shelter and make them aware that you are willing to foster him until he can find a new home (you can post an adoption ad on petfinder.com to show him off to potential families; you can also attend adoption fairs which your shelter holds)
2.) call the shelter and make them aware that you have found him a new foster family (besides yourself) until he can be adopted
3.) call the shelter and ask them if you can "sponsor" him for a period of time (meaning, he stays in the shelter but you pay for all of his daily needs for a week or two)
most shelters will do anything to help an animal find a new home; they do not enjoy putting thousands of healthy, beautiful pets to sleep however they're hands are tied by money, space, and the need to help as many as possible therefore they do not have the time to focus on saving just one: if you offer a certain amount of assistance then they should be willing to give this dog more time.
I've been working with rescued animals my whole life, I wish you luck.

Answer 2

that doesnt seem right at all - when I worked at a shelter it was the owner relinquished pets who often were adopted ahead of strays becuase the public wanted pets with a history - owner relinquished pets save the shelters $$, as they are usually already vaccinated, dewormed, etc.. and sometimes are spayed/neutered, which gives them good shot at adoption.

There are some shelters who get so many relinquished pets it is the strays who never get a chance at being adopted.
Ironically this policy encourages owners to bring in their own pet and call it a stray so it has a better chance at being adopted

Puppys have a better shot at finding a home than adult dogs do - I doubt they would euthanize a well cared for pup ahead of a neglected older dog. Is she housebroke?

I would call back and talk to the manager and ask if the info you were told was correct, and I would point out that this dog is pretty much ready to go (the shelter wont need to get her vaccinated first - if you have records to prove she is up to date)... and I would question the policy of adopting strays ahead of relinquished pets because it encourages owners to lie and say "this is just some stray" and its NEVER in the animals best interest to be dumped as a stray... If this is your shelters policy they need to review it... I would be happy to write a letter for you on this matter (you can e-mail me - see my profile).
If they insist she will be euthanized then ask them to be releived of your contract so you can rehome her on your own. Check potential homes - make sure they have fences and are not going to take the commitment lightly.

Next time you need to put more thought into getting a pet - they are lifetime commitments.

Answer 3

Try to find her a home yourself . My sister got a guilt trip layed on her too when she was going to return a cat . the cat kept urinating on her bed and she did not know why . they told her to take it and have it checked by a vet for a uti and she did not have one . My sister found her a home on a farm outside of town . My sister still stays in touch with those ppl and that cat is happier than ever . So just find her a home yourself . The spca says and does things that are highly unethical sometimes. I hate those places at times. good luck .

Answer 4

Some of them will, some of them won't. If you really, really can't deal with the dog, then I would contact Lab rescue or lab club in your area, and rehome her yourself. Sorry you are having a rough time just now, but things will get better, if you can't find her a suitable home, hang in there, morning sickness is not a permanent condition, neither is puppyhood.

Answer 5

Do some research on some of all animal shelters in surrounding areas near you. You will find that some do not put down animals.... there might be a slight fee. also if it is a puppy, a majority of them will not put it down because it is so easy for them to adopt them out. it was cruel of the SPCA to tell you that they would do that.

Answer 6

Don't give her away, but find a trusted friend or family member you KNOW will take care of her. They can kind of be her foster parents while you're pregnant. Be sure to visit her often to insure she doesn't feel abandoned by you. That way, you will still be her legal owner; she will just have a different caretaker.

Answer 7

Depends on the over crowding.

Often time they threaten you with that so you don't bring it back.

Get ahold of a petsmart rescue see if they will help you. I take a lot of dogs people adopted from the shelter that don't want them to die when returned.

Answer 8

Ask them if you can turn the puppy over to a rescue group. They might be willing to do that, and may actually have a list of local rescues. Most (but not all) shelters try to work with rescue groups to help them place dogs.

Answer 9

Morning sickness usually starts in the first month of the pregnancy, peaking in the fifth to seventh weeks, and continuing until the 14th to 16th week.

I do feel bad for you I really do. Why would you get a dog if there was a chance that you wouldn't be able to care for it while you were pregnant (obviously pregnant when you got the puppy).

Answer 10

Given your situation, I would contact a reputable rescue (preferably a lab rescue in your area) and surrender her to them.

Search Petfinder and limit the search using your zip code. Contact all the rescues and shelters in your area. Be honest. You may have to wait for a period of time to get her in one of them but keep working on it until someone will take her.

You do owe it to your pup to keep her until you find a reputable rescue to take her - morning sickness or not. Good luck.