Love , Life and Lose

Today is a different kind of day for me. A friend is broken for something that wasnt her fault. A Rescue is rethinking their adoption policy. A family is without their pet.
Could it all have been avoided ??? In my opinion only, the answer is yes .
Rescues take in dogs that humans throw away. Rescues work hard to rehome these dogs( and cats) where they will be understood and loved forever. We have pups come in at 6-8 weeks that are already scarred by neglect and abuse and will never forget that treatment.
Sometimes , the match doesnt work , and the dog should and must be returned to the adopting rescue. There is no room for second guessing. A dogs life is at stake. And both the dog and the family will suffer.
However, if an adopter has all the information tools that are so readily available to them through any rescue group, foster home or the internet, the most serious of issues can be resolved before they get to the point of no return at all . That was the case yesterday. I dont blame anyone for the death of a good dog . I do, however question why there wasnt more communication and co-operation between both parties, OR why the family waited so long to do something about the dogs problem behaviour.
If there is an issue of spending the money to help the dog, I understand and so does every Vet we deal with and every rescue group. But these dogs are your family member and they will be for the next 10-15 years. If a person isnt ready with time and money to deal with problems, perhaps they shouldn`t adopt.
EVERY adopter must take responsibility for their new pets behaviour from the very first meeting. If they dont have the skills to keep the dog well behaved, socialized and free from illness, they should be willing to get help. They should contact a Vet immediately to see if the dog is ill if behaviour changes . Or they should call in a reputable behaviourist at once, if behaviour changes even a bit. Or they should take time to read. There are hundreds of articles on line that can help .Time and love doesnt "fix" a throw away.
Consistancy, re-direction of aggession,and the maintaining of Man/Dog heirarcy are needed at all times. Something as simple as crating , can calm a dog enough to work with it .
I truly dont understand whats so hard that humans dont "get it"
And people wonder why rescuers cry when their fosterbabies go to forever homes.
And why we check check check before even thinking of sending the babies out into a new world. And why we are so nosy afterwards.
And why every rescuer cries when a good dog dies.
So, my word for today is RESPONSIBILITY.
Just my opinion.
later