Is it better to keep the dog or send her to humane society?

Question

We have a six year-old chocolate lab. My wife was in a recent car accident and neither of us is able to get the dog out for daily exercise. Is it better to keep the dog and have her getting sporadic exercise or would it be better to allow her to find a new home.

Obviously, I'm asking from the dog's point of view, is the separation anxiety too much or not.

I'm all for taking care of my dog, but my wife has a fractured sternum and clavical; she is being told to get used to the pain. The human element is most important here! It sounds like I shouldn't worry too much about the exercise. On good days, she'll get love and exercise. On bad days, she'll get love.

That last comment was about our dog, not my wife.

Answer 1

Well you've had the dog for 6 years, it would be really hard to find a home for the dog and she/he will probably be euthanized, food for thought, Do you have a yard? Try getting a runner and hang the end of the runner inside the door (when the dog isn't on it!) so that way you won't have to leave the house for the dog to go out. Or you can ask a young neighbor to walk your dog for you. I'm sure someone is willing to help.

Answer 2

In my opinion, it would be more traumatic for the dog if you took her to the humane society. She has already formed a bond with your family, and if the situation is only temporary, then I would try to keep the dog. She is 6, so its not like a rowdy puppy that is not getting exercise. Does she fetch or play with toys? There are many mentally stimulating exercises and games that can be done in the evening while watching tv or eating dinner. You just have to use a little imagination. She will probably be fine even with sporadic exercise, although if she is a high energy dog, you may have to contend with some behavioral issues. This is of course assuming that the changes in your lifestyle caused by the car accident are temporary and you will able to give the dog more attention down the road. If this is not the case, then I would try to find the dog another home privately rather than going to the humane society. I know there are several lab rescue groups that might be able to help you rehome the dog if that is ultimately necessary. I would first try to make your situation work with keeping the dog as that would probably be the most comforting for the dog. I know my fur kids would have a very difficult time adjusting to a new family, much less I could not bear to be without them. Hope everything works out.

Answer 3

Sorry about your wife's car accident, it must be horrible to deal with - and consider letting go of your lab at the same time.

Unless her accident is very debilitating, and the recovery is going to be longer than 2 years, or if the dog is a harm to her in some manner, don't allow your guilt to make a quick decision after such a tragic episode. Once you give the dog away, its gone. And, you don't know that the dog will be better off in a new place or not. I have watched many dogs be repeatedly placed, abused, etc. going from home to home in such a situation-just like foster care.

If the dog is hyper, enlist family or friends to help walk the dog. There are people who will do it for a fee a few times a week, too, and your human society can probably give you referrals! There are many other options. A shelter should be the very last choice. She's been a loyal companion, she deserves to be with her family. Best of luck to you wife in her recovery.

Answer 4

It depends on you. If your wife is looking at avery long recovery and or may never be able to exercise the dog and it is causing the dog stress and a real hardship for you, then rehoming may be best. If your wife will eventually recover and things will go back to normal, then I see no problem with keeping the dog. Perhaps you can hire a dog walker in the interim to get you through.

If you do decide to rehome the dog, I suggest using a rescue organization if it is a purebred lab. Contact the national breed rescue for labs (see link below) and they will put you in contact with a reputable breed rescue in your area. Your dog will live in a foster home until a permanent home can be found. If this won't work, contact the humane society in your area and ask about relinquishment, adoption and euthanasia policies and make sure you are comfortable before you relinquish your dog. By the way, I work with a humane society and we DO NOT euthanize adoptable healthy animals of any age and we DO NOT have a time limit. That's why it's important to call and ask what the policies are. And we carefully screen adoptive families.


EDIT: I have been in a chronic pain situation before - NEVER EVER listen to a doctor that tells you to LEARN TO ACCEPT THE PAIN. There are ways to treat it, with pain medication and not with pain medication. I am 2 years past my initial injury and off all meds but one and substantially better, with a prognosis of 100% recovery. You need to do a lot of research and work to find the doctors and medical practioners that can help you but there are ways to make things much much better. My best wishes to your wife. I really understand.

Answer 5

By all means keep your dog. She belongs to you and your wife. She loves you and your wife. Love is the most important!She is part of your family and will be patient until your wife is well, or forever. Maybe you can find a friend, relative, neighbor to walk her once in awhile. A lot of dogs don't get the exercise they need because of many (and sometimes good) reasons. Time goes by and all she really cares about is love. A few years ago I had a serious accident and lived alone with 4 dogs. They were taken care of by friends and I visited them about once a week for a few months until I was better. Then I came home with some help (my brother stayed with me for 2 months) and in no time everything was back to normal.

Answer 6

Get her a treadmill, that way she can exercise without having to go outside (you can read up on how to train her to use it). Get her a dog back pack for when you do go outside, with 10-20% of the dogs weight in the pack, it will double the impact of the walk. Hire a dog walker, or even better a dog runner. If you don't live somewhere near a business that provides these things, hire a neighborhood kid. Take the dog to a park to play fetch, that way the dog can get exercise while you don't have to exert that much energy.


You have options, do whatever you can to give the dog the exercise it needs and do all you can not to give it up. Big black dogs are the least adopted dogs in shelters (I know yours is big and brown, but it's not far off), giving her up could mean certain death for the dog.

Answer 7

At six years, your dog is middle aged, so she may be slowing down and not need as much as she formerly did. Rehoming a dog can be traumatic for some dogs, others make the adjustment with little apparent problem.

I would not take her to the local shelter. Older dogs have relatively little chance of being adopted, and being put down is a more likely outcome. If you feel that you cannot properly care for her, I would either try to find someone that could take her and give her the home she needs, or locate a reputable lab rescue group, and ask for their assistance. If they can take the dog, they will not put it down, unless there is something very wrong with the dog. Alternately, perhaps you could find a local teenager who wants to earn a few dollars to walk the dog for you, assuming your finances can stand it.

I hope it works out for you, it's always tough to have to give up a pet you've had for years - frequently tough on the dog, too.

Answer 8

well the question I would ask is if you could live with getting rid of her? It is important for her to get excersize, and it sounds like she at least gets love and hopefully bathroom breaks ect.....maybe consiter hiring a dog walker, even a local teen will be a good person to play with your dog and excersize when you can't. And if you get a younger person you wont have to pay a lot either. Maybe $25.00 a week or so to come play with her and take her for walks. Its a great job for a 13-15 year old who wants some fun money and is responsible enough to take care of a dog while walking it and clean up after it. Talk with your wife, what does she say. Sounds like it is a family pet and maybe you can work something out so she can be with the people she loves and still get the excersize she needs.

Answer 9

You have to look at this long term. Yes, right now you are unable to exercise the dog. However, your wife will recover and then what? If you give up the dog now, you will not be able to get it back. Dogs in shelter have a very limited life span.

The dog can adjust for now, and soon your world will be back on track. Do not give up on the dog now just because your situation has changed for the moment.

Answer 10

I appreciate that you are trying to consider your dog's best interests in what you are able to provide for care with your recent situation, but I would highly discourage sending your dog to the shelter if you decide your dog deserves a better home.

I would suggest searching for a lab rescue in your area/region. They may be willing to work with you on rehoming your dog. Some rescues will offer courtesy listings for dogs they simply don't have the room to foster. That means they'll run a listing for you, but you keep your dog until a home can be found.

Have you considered hiring someone to come and do regular training/exercise for your dog as an option to keeping it?

Answer 11

I would say better to keep the dog. Just try to make time when you can, or maybe hire a dog walker. The dog will understand and adjust to the new lifestyle. The dog is a commitment and a member of the family, not fair to get rid of her just because it no longer fits into your lifestyle. I think the pain and adjustment of the dog being sent to the shelter is far worse. I wish the best and a speedy recovery....and maybe in a few months, you will have more time for your dog. Try and play fetch in your backyard, or dedicate 30 minutes for a walk.