If you use the internet, especially Facebook, you don’t have to look far to find a post where someone is trying to rehome their dog. Some give excuses such as: “I just had a baby,” “We’re moving,” or “I don’t have time.” To me, there is not a single good reason in this world to “rehome” your dog, and if you have read the tab labeled “the dogs’ complicated relationship” (go read it) on this website, you’ll see that people can keep their dogs in tough situations.
Dogs are family. If you are thinking of getting a dog but don’t believe in that statement, do yourself and the dog a favor and let it find a home that does believe in that statement.
When I got Caesar in 2011 I was fresh out of high school and completely broke. I had moved out of my parent’s home my junior year at 17 and had moved to several different places trying to find a stable place to live. I was also depressed and suicidal. When I was at my lowest, I felt that I needed something that loved me and depended on me to live – something that took my mind off of how I was feeling inside – something that brought joy. Getting a dog literally saved my life. Caesar gave me a reason to live, and while I thought it was he who needed me to survive, I can now look back and 100 percent say that it was I who needed Caesar to survive. I really believe that I owe my life to Caesar, which may help some to understand why I love my dog so much.
In 2011, I was working minimum wage at Mcdonalds and living by myself in a low income apartment. I couldn’t afford to feed myself; most days I ate my free employee meal, and that was it. While I didn’t have a lot of money to spare, I made sure Caesar was taken care of. He was my priority, and he was a very well watered flower while I was something more like a stomped on dandelion.
When we were threatened with homelessness in late 2011, I made a decision that I would rather sleep in my 90s Grand Prix rather than give Caesar up. Luckily, at one of the my lowest points in my life, I was given a chance at a job that offered a good wage and great benefits. From there, I’ve worked hard to make our lives what they are today. You know the saying, “Started from the bottom, now we’re here?” For Caesar, it’s more like, “Started on Ol’ Roy, now I’m eating Diamond.” His diet is thankfully much healthier now.
Give me an excuse to rehome your dog and I’ve probably lived it and kept both of mine.
Moving? Caesar and I have moved five times together in the past eight years. Caesar, Jeter, and I have moved two times in total together. Not once was giving either of them away an option for me. Find a place that takes dogs or don’t live in that place.
Not enough time? Currently I physically go to school 5 hours a day, work 8-12 hours a day, sleep 6ish hours a day, and my “free time” is spent doing homework. Yet, I still find time to cuddle my dogs, walk them, and give them attention. Next!
Allergic? First, how did you not know before getting your dog? Second, I have a cat and I’m very allergic to cats. Make it work.
Just had a baby? Okay, I’ve never lived this one because I don’t ever want children. I like dogs more. But….. your dog was probably in your home first and if you have another child, will you rehome the first child if they don’t get along? Probably not. Stop thinking of your dogs as property and start thinking of them as family.
Bad behavior? Jeter wants to kill Caesar when he sees him. Most bad behaviors aren’t this extreme. If I can live with this, you can live with your dog jumping on people until they learn not to. Sometimes training works, sometimes it just takes time to break bad habits, and sometimes, like in my case, you have to adjust life to work around them.
Recently, a shelter in Allen County, Indiana announced that they would no longer be accepting owner-surrenders. Instead, they would help people in tough situations find ways to keep their dogs. Brilliant! Listen, if you wouldn’t rehome your child, don’t rehome your dog.
My point is, so many people just give up before taking the time to try to problem solve and work things out. Like I said, sometimes it just takes time. When I was at a loss on what to do with my two dogs when they began to hate each other, I made it work until I was able to get to a larger property where life on all of us is much easier. I’m glad I will never have to know what it feels like to regret giving either of my dogs away just because I was going through a rough patch.