Dogs- to keep or to surrender- It's a tough choice- what should we do?

Question

We have two wonderful dogs both seven years old. They are pure bread retrievers and about 85 lbs..

Recently we moved in to a third-floor condo because we had to find a place close to our work. Now we are concerned that as the dogs age they will not be able to climb the stairs- we plan to live here for at least the next 5-10 years. Also, we are not home very much and the poor guys are hanging out all day alone- with no attention.

We are thinking that it's in their best interest to be re-homed. Find them a place where an owner will dote over each of them. Being seven we believe that a family will welcome them. If we don't do this now then as they age and can't climb the stairs we will not be able to place them anywhere. What do we do? We can't lift two 85 lb dogs down three flights of stairs. Will we have to euthanize them? (we just can't do this) We are really on the fence. We take our responsibility to our dogs very seriously and want what is best for them. However, we don't want to be selfish about our attachment to them.

What would you do?

Answer 1

OK lets be honest there are not homes all over the place for 7 yr old  retreivers. DOUBLY ones where the owner dotes over them 24/7..  can you handle them in a home tied to rusted car & ignored except for an occasional bowl of table scraps?

Do they seem greatly discontent home togher while you work? WHat did they do before?

DO you worry about what YOU will do when YOU can't climb 3 flights of stairs?

Turn them over to a pound and they'll be put down NOW more likely than not

Seems to me they become an encumbrance & you just don't want to face the fact that you don't want them anymore. In other words its in YOUR best interest to rehome them not THEIRS

Answer 2

Find someone big and strong and offer him money to carry your dogs down the stairs. Heck, your local fire-department would probably do it if you asked nice enough.

Also, to find a home for them is really quite easy; check with your local shelter to put up offeres, there are websites for that as well; though I cannot remember the URL. If you google around, I'm sure you'd find them.

Answer 3

I agree with the first person that posted about finding a home that would be sufficient for my "kids". However, that is a moot point now.

I understand your situation. As a rescuer, I had a border collie that was raised in downtown Chicago. This caused a world of problems for this dog. Muscle tone was disgusting, he had no muscle tone. He had never been off lead. I am not going to assume you are not allowing them to run. Dogs need to be exercised to be in the best health possible. And, the stairs may be the best thing for them.

The part of the question that concerns me most is the fact that they are home alone all day. What you have to ask yourself is; Is it fair for the dogs to be left alone that long? Are they getting the quality of life you feel they need? Do you think they are going to be happy in the long term?

I appreciate the value of you asking the question. If you contact a reputable rescue group, they should be rehomed rather easily. A rescue group will have more resources to finding them a new home. As a foster, when considering a foster home, I ask one question; Is this home a better home than I can provide for THIS dog? I consider my home a great home for any dog. So, this is a tall order. Most rescue groups are willing to work with you when you relinquish your pets by keeping in contact. Usually, if the new family agrees, you can even keep in contact with the new family and dogs, just make sure you ask before you relinquish.

I trust that you will make the right decision. Another thing to consider, is if you're leaving them alone this long, they are going to find something to do while you're gone. Chances are, eventually what they are doing will become something that you do not approve of, ie chewing up the couch. If you do decide to keep them, make sure you keep lots of fun toys for the dogs. I like to freeze Kongs stuffed with peanut butter (or some other yummy treats), and hide them around the house.

Hope this helps

Answer 4

"Being seven we believe that a family will welcome them."

Time for a reality check here.  While your dogs do have several years of quality life before them, many people are stuck in the mindset that 7 or 8 is "old" for an 85lb dog.  This stems from the fact that decades ago many large breed dogs did not live much past 8 or 10 years old.  No one wants older dogs.  Dogs over 5 years of age are notoriously more difficult for rescues to place because the public mistakenly thinks that they are old and won't live much longer.  Make no mistake, if you surrender your dogs they are most likely looking at several months to a year or even more waiting for an owner intelligent enough to realize that a 7 year old dog is worth adopting.

As for whether rehoming them would be best, you have to come to that conclusion yourself.  Clearly you do not always have their needs at the head of your priority list (otherwise you would have thought about the stairs before buying your new home and wouldn't leave them alone with no attention for the majority of the time).  You say that you don't want to be selfish about your attachment to them, yet you don't seem to realize how selfish (unless it is simply a convenient excuse) wanting to surrender them because of what may or may not happen at some unknown time in the future (arthritis or difficulty/inability to do stairs).

Ultimately I think you and your family need to sit down and thoroughly evaluate your lifestyle and the needs of your dogs.  Weigh one against the other and then make your decision.  If you are not willing to adjust your lifestyle to make room for your dog's needs, then rehoming would be the best option for them.  But don't delude yourself into thinking that the possibility that they *might* not be able to do stairs in a few years is anything other than a convenient excuse you are making to yourself to feel less guilty about getting rid of your dogs now that they are no longer convenient to the lifestyle you want to live.  

Answer 5

A dog in my opinion is as significant as a child.  However, your situation is a difficult one.  Please contact a breed rescue, and don't just dump them at a pound. Their hearts will still be broken, but at a breed rescue built especially around them, at least they will be lovingly fostered till a new mom and dad can be found.  

Answer 6

That's a tough one. I would start asking everyone you know (co-workers, friends, neighbors, etc) if they themselves are interested or if they know of anyone who might be looking to adopt. You can also contact a local rescue organization or a golden retriever rescue and ask them for help.

Whatever you do do not surrender them to a shelter as they have less than a 50% chance of getting adopted. Don't be fooled by the "no-kill" shelters either because some of them (not all) don't euthanize but the dogs that have been there too long end up going to the kill shelters at some point.

So no matter how long it takes, it will be easier for you to accept having to give them up if you KNOW they are going to a good home. You can know you did the right thing and have no regrets later on down the road.

Good Luck!

Answer 7

Please don't euthanize or take them to the Humane Society.  Call a Retriever rescue. http://www.lilrr.org/  Sometimes they will ask you to keep the dog until they find a home for it.  Make sure you make a good size donation for their efforts so they can continue to help these wonderful dogs.

There are a lot of people who give their Retriever's up for one reason or another so these groups get clogged up sometimes.  Please hold onto the dogs until the rescue can find the perfect place for them.  That's what they do and what they're good at.  People looking to save a Retriever will call the rescues.

As far as them being 7, they still have a long life ahead of them.  They can and do, live to be 13 if taken care of.  I rescue greyhounds and they live to be 12-13 and often aren't released from the track until they are 3,4 and even 5.  They still have a lot of love to go around.

Being at home all the time every day, alone, is not the best situation for them so don't feel too badly about your decision to find them a better home.

Answer 8

dog rescues handle finding dogs new homes. most will fit dogs to the right sutuation.  

Answer 9

Unless he dogs get arthritis, I don't see why they shouldn't be able to go up the steps.

IDK, personally I ouldn't have mvoed into a place I knew my pets wouldn't do well with.

Find them a new onwer if you dont think they can handle the steps. But ask for an adoption fee and make sure they're gong to good homes. You probably won't find anyone though, as old as they are. Sorry.

Answer 10

Ragapple took the words out of my mouth...  I guess I would never set myself up and move somewhere, that I'd have to rid myself of my pets..  I don't understand why people don't sit and evaluate their lives in 10-15-20 years to see if a pet truley works for them, I am aware things change, but still...  It's a responsibility we owe to our pets..  It's no different to me than giving up a child you can't take care of..

Answer 11

I'm sorry, but why would you get a condo on the third floor anyway, when you knew there would be problems with the dogs?

  It will be extremely hard to find these dogs a home at there age.  

Do you know how many dogs are euthanized every day because they are not wanted.

Maybe you can move to the first floor, if that's not an option well maybe you can arrange for a dog sitter to come in each day to take them out for play time and a walk.

Or, maybe you can drop them off at doggie daycare on your way to work and pick them up on the way home.

And, what's wrong with the elevator, do they not like it?

Maybe you could foster them out (you pay for there food and medical needs) but they live somewhere else and you can visit them when you have time.  

  I'm sorry but these dogs are part of your family, don't do this to them. please, please re-consider as they will die form a broken heart.  God Bless!