Giving Bailey to a new home........

[Bo Peep]

I have talked to Edie a lot lately. She wanted to come up NEXT week-end. I'm not ready yet. I told her I didn't have the alarm clock done yet, or the land phone. She said she looks at Bailey's picture everyday and has sent it to all her friends saying "That's MY dog!!" I just ordered the vest and haven't even taken her to a pubic place besides petco or Lowe's or Home Depot. Her obedience is not quite up to CD level. She isn't ready. Edie wants her so bad. I'm not ready to let go. I don't feel comfortable turning her over as a service dog yet. But my friend really needs her. She feels the pain of the loss of her Belgium dog. She wants to come up over July 4th and spend 3 days adjusting. I don't know if I can train Edie in 3 days- LOL.

 

Then Usher will need another pet. So I will be looking for another rescue. I used to do rescue and it wasn't difficult, but I guess I figured Bailey was here to stay and I got attached. Edie said she won't take her if I want her. Well, of course I want her. But my first point of taking Bailey out of the shelter was to save her life and her and Usher DO fight- she deserves a one dog home, she loves camping- it's a great placement, I'll see her again, yet I feel really sad.

 

WHY???

[kelpiegirl]

Just read your last sentence. You know what to do.

[bcnewe2]

Never easy but you do it for the love of the dog and the people you are helping.

 

Maybe you can start a little thing where you get a rescue, train them up for service, place them in the perfect home and get another one. Usher will like the variety and think of what you'll be putting out there in the world. Good things all around!

 

Good luck, you'll do what you need to do. Tears are gods way of cleaning us out so let them flow when you need to.

 

Kristen

[bexie]

Feeling sad is normal. Even if it is great for Bailey, you're still saying goodbye to a dear companion that you've spent a lot of time with. It is even harder when you don't feel confident that she's ready. You're going to have to focus on training EDIE when she is there so she can continue Bailey's training.

 

Even if you know what you are doing is right, you're allowed to be sad and worry and cry. You care about this dog and you want the best for her. It hurts to admit that the best isn't with you. It'll feel better with time as you see her settle in.

 

Even though Edie is a friend, sign a contract that she must offer to return Bailey to you at the same price as she is getting her from you if any problems arise. Also put in there about appropriate vet care. It isn't because you don't trust Edie, but putting it on paper avoids any disagreements or hurt feelings later. That way you're agreed and you both sign it and you know thta if Bailey doesn't work out, you'll have a chance to take her back to keep her or rehome her as you think is appropriate.

 

Good luck with this tough adjustment.

*hugs*

bex

[Dixie_Girl]

When the folks came to take Lucy, they asked how I could give up such a sweet, loving girl after having her for so long. I told them I was only holding her till her "real" owners came to get her! That's how I look at fosters. They are "lost" dogs that I am holding for their owners. Whoever they may be. It is hard NOT to get attached to them, even the PITA's, like Holly! But you know that there is a place for them somewhere, and you are just "holding" them till they can go home. Being sad only says you're a caring person! I cried when all my fosters went on to their homes. But I know they are happy, and the people who have them are happy, and that makes me feel good. Hang in there. You'll be fine, and Bailey will always be glad to see you!

[Debbie Meier]

It's hard letting go, the future is unknown and it is easier for us to leave things as they are, thinking about what could go wrong or asking ourselves whether they are ready makes it worse. Trust in the dog, the solid time you put in, and trust in the new owner. Last year I allowed Sheila to be placed in a new home, I tried so hard to talk the people out of her, what if she could not handle the change, what if they put her into a situation that scared her and she got snippy, what if they could not control her and she started nipping, what if she was a dog.... Last week I heard a report from her new home, they would pay anything asked to get another Sheila if anything was ever to happen to her, they feel they were given a once in a life time dog. They have never has such an obedient, loyal, well adjusted dog. The flaws I feared were just fears, and now Sheila has her own people with her own boy, her own 1 acre yard and her own swimming pool. She gets to go on cub scout camp trips and show off her fetching and frisbee catching abilities, I still cry thinking of letting her go, but now it is tears from thinking that I almost didn't.

 

Deb

[Skyler]

Im very sorry to hear that you are having a rough time of it. I can certainly understand why. I took Zak out of the shelter but if I had to give him up now I would just want to die. Dogs have a way of just really getting into our hearts and its hard to let them go. Me saying it doesnt probably help but just think of what you will be giving the person she is going to. Its a good home and you will bless somebody very deeply. You saved this dogs life, gave her what she needs to be healthy and happy and you will enrich the other person beyond what they will ever expect. Personally, Im proud of you and thank God for people like you.

 

Ryan

[WyoBC]

I have only fostered once, but I know what you are going through! When I had Bo for about three weeks before she went to he great forever home, it was heck letting her go. I cried, thought I had messed up and let her go. I missed her and always think about her. But I knew it was best for her. I know you know what's best for Bailey. If you don't think she is ready is there anyway to keep training her after Edie gets her? I hope that everything works out and you still get to see her. It's not easy being around a dog and training it without getting close to it. You and her will always have a bond no one else will ever have. You are doing a good thing.

[Bo Peep]

Thank you everyone. I have fostered many dogs in my lifetime. I didn't expect Bailey to be a foster. I went to the pound with my BF and saw her looking so ragged and scared. He said "You don't need this dog" and I said No- she needs ME. Good thing, because if papers would have exchanged hands between the vet part and shelter, she would have been gone. I got there in time and KNEW something was wrong. My idea, fix her and find her a home, then I fell in love and figured she was MY dog. She's so attached to me. She wouldn't walk on a leash and now she is amazing. I took her out about 8 PM tonight and took her around her biggest distractions- lawn mowers, UGH. Children in the pool- FUN. Put her on a sit-stay and she stayed over 5 minutes. When I walked her, the leash was at my side, she didn't pull once and was sitting when I stopped. Her down-stays are great even when children on skateboards go bye. OOPS- old herding lingo- LOL.

 

Edie's son thinks I am the greatest dog trainer in the world. LOL. I've only had 6 months with this gal and I love her dearly. YET. She has brought Usher down. Usher is my main concern. She will be the only dog now. I regret another change of hands. She is beautiful. She is attached to me. Edie knows that if she doesn't work out, she WILL come back.

I have already contacted someone about fostering dogs. That was a great idea. Usher won't be alone, he'll get variety and I can still help people.

Bailey came to me with hardly any fur. Her tail looked like a rat. She weighed 66 pounds. She's down to 49 pounds, on meds, has a lovely coat- doesn't drag anyone down the street anymore. HA HA. I guess I did a good job. The problem is, she's probably one of the best dogs I've had. Once, I had to give up my gal I had for 6 years, due to my divorce. Best home I ever found. I was offered $1,000 for her- wasn't the right home. Gave her away-they paid the shipping costs. She's gone now, but we still keep in contact. In the end-it was the best decision I made. She was so happy and made their lives so happy. I missed her every day.

 

I'm just feeling more sad as the time gets closer. I'm ignoring Usher more-I need to stop that. Just trying to get my last moments and training time with Bailey.