Had a crazy weekend...

[couchon]

I am sure this is a common problem, but I am just devastated. I came accross this on craigslist:

Heartbroken ROSCO DIES TOMORROW

I want to help him. My apartment is tiny, and I have pigs. My building doesn't even allow dogs. I did make a donation to keep him alive for a few more days, but it's $10 a day to board him. I don't have any more money. They are actively looking for a home for him. Maybe if anyone helps a bit, he can live until he finds a home. I got him 5 more days. I am going to go see him tonight. I know there are thousands of critters killed, I know, but I just don't want him to die. Maybe you know someone who can help. He is at AC&C in NYC.

I also have a soft spot in my heart for this rotti (I had one as a kid), but they said a family was looking at him:
MAX DOESN'T WANT TO DIE (URGENT)

If you are at all interested in helping these dogs, please call the number in the add or email them. I am in no way associated with them. I just saw the add, and I can't stand the thought of this dog dying.

[pigsmakemesmile]

I know just how hard it is. It makes me want to cry to. I'm currently fostering a dog. He's a lab/shepherd mix. When he was abandoned in the PetSmart parking lot, we took him home and began the process of looking to surrender him. However, that all changed. I called 8 rescues and all were full and they were short on fosters. So, we agreed to keep him until he can be adopted out. When I went on Petfinder through our local paper....the amount of dogs and cats looking for homes was insurmountable. I was just beside myself, tearful of all these helpless pets looking for homes. It more over stresses the need to spay and neuter to cut down on unwanted pets as well as having people not purchase from breeders. I truly, truly hope that he finds a home before time runs out.
God Bless

[couchon]

My weekend was absolutely crazy. As I wrote on Friday, I was randomly looking through craigslist, and I saw an add about a dog that was supposed to be euthenized on Saturday ROSCO on DeathRow at kill shelter in NYC: NEEDS HOME NOW. I am happy to report that I am sponsoring him for the next week, so, hopefully, they can find at least a foster home for him.

I went to meet him on Friday after work. He is the SWEETEST dog. At first, he was kind of scared of the hand (I feel like he may have been hit in the past), but I got to spend an hour or so with him, and he really opened up. He ran with me and let me pet and hug him and licked my face . I was so touched by him!

That place was so sad though. They had so many animals that were about to be put to death. The volunteers that work there to try to get them out are amazing, but I have no idea how you can see that every day. You have to be a strong person. I just started crying when I came out of that place. There was a rotti that had some walking problems that was about to be put to sleep (I had a rotti when I was young). THANKFULLY, he got adopted out. There was another dog that was thin, and she was going to be put to sleep because she was sicker than the other ones. There was a tiny pooch with really big eyes that was shaking in his cage. There was a young kitten that extended his paw out to me as I passed by, and I held it. I really wanted to help them all. But I felt so powerless. My apartment doesn't allow pets (they said it's OK with guinea pigs), it's tiny (150 sq ft), and I don't have money to sponsor all those animals. I can barely afford to help the one dog, Rosco. My heart is hurting even as I am writing this.

And there were all these people there giving up their animals. TO A KILL SHELTER! I couldn't believe it! There are no-kill-shelters half and hour away! There was a woman with an 18-year-old cat that has been with her family forever, but her dad got sick, and she didn't want to take care of him any more. How can you do that?

I really wish I could've taken Rosco, but at least he is safe for now.

Then, the following day, I was walking right in the middle of Manhattan, and I saw a pigeon on the ground. There were people around him trying to give him water. He couldn't fly. I took him to my vet (they are avian and exotic vets), and they directed me to the wild life rescue. That place was great! They took a look at him, and they said that it looks like he hit something. But they don't know why, so they couldn't keep him for fear that it may be paramyxo (it's a bird-only disease, but they have lots of other birds). So, they asked me to take him. I have never had a bird before. They gave me medication and taught him how to hand-feed him and take care of him. They said this was a real tough case, and there is a chance he may not make it. He has been with me for two days so far.

This has just been really emotional. And I don't really have anyone in my life to turn to for support, so I feel so overwhelmed. Just wanted to post my thoughts...

[magiccookie]

Well done for looking after the bird-have you named it? You did the right thing with Rosco I would have done the same thing!

[Paula]

Just a reminder to avoid starting multiple threads. Since this is more or less the same topic as your previous thread with some additional details and other issues, I've merged the two threads.

[couchon]

OK, sorry about that! Thank you.

[guineapigluver1]

Originally Posted by couchon

My weekend was absolutely crazy. As I wrote on Friday, I was randomly looking through craigslist, and I saw an add about a dog that was supposed to be euthenized on Saturday ROSCO on DeathRow at kill shelter in NYC: NEEDS HOME NOW. I am happy to report that I am sponsoring him for the next week, so, hopefully, they can find at least a foster home for him.

I went to meet him on Friday after work. He is the SWEETEST dog. At first, he was kind of scared of the hand (I feel like he may have been hit in the past), but I got to spend an hour or so with him, and he really opened up. He ran with me and let me pet and hug him and licked my face . I was so touched by him!

That place was so sad though. They had so many animals that were about to be put to death. The volunteers that work there to try to get them out are amazing, but I have no idea how you can see that every day. You have to be a strong person. I just started crying when I came out of that place. There was a rotti that had some walking problems that was about to be put to sleep (I had a rotti when I was young). THANKFULLY, he got adopted out. There was another dog that was thin, and she was going to be put to sleep because she was sicker than the other ones. There was a tiny pooch with really big eyes that was shaking in his cage. There was a young kitten that extended his paw out to me as I passed by, and I held it. I really wanted to help them all. But I felt so powerless. My apartment doesn't allow pets (they said it's OK with guinea pigs), it's tiny (150 sq ft), and I don't have money to sponsor all those animals. I can barely afford to help the one dog, Rosco. My heart is hurting even as I am writing this.

And there were all these people there giving up their animals. TO A KILL SHELTER! I couldn't believe it! There are no-kill-shelters half and hour away! There was a woman with an 18-year-old cat that has been with her family forever, but her dad got sick, and she didn't want to take care of him any more. How can you do that?

I really wish I could've taken Rosco, but at least he is safe for now.

Then, the following day, I was walking right in the middle of Manhattan, and I saw a pigeon on the ground. There were people around him trying to give him water. He couldn't fly. I took him to my vet (they are avian and exotic vets), and they directed me to the wild life rescue. That place was great! They took a look at him, and they said that it looks like he hit something. But they don't know why, so they couldn't keep him for fear that it may be paramyxo (it's a bird-only disease, but they have lots of other birds). So, they asked me to take him. I have never had a bird before. They gave me medication and taught him how to hand-feed him and take care of him. They said this was a real tough case, and there is a chance he may not make it. He has been with me for two days so far.

This has just been really emotional. And I don't really have anyone in my life to turn to for support, so I feel so overwhelmed. Just wanted to post my thoughts...

I know how you feel.
We got our previous dog from a kill shelter. It was a really, really small place that reeked. They had 4 dogs and a kitten and put them down within five days, less if they were sick. Three of the dogs were siblings that had been neglected and possibly abused. They were tied up outside, and the one we took with us had the fur rubbed off of his neck and his neck was still healing. He seemed really friendly and the lady said he followed her every where. We had him for nearly two years, but, sadly, had to put him down due to aggression. He needed a home without kids but wasn't adoptable. He bit two people and we dreaded having guests over because he didn't want anyone getting near us let alone touching us.
It was really sad because we tried everything, even a behavior trainer.

I still don't know what happened to the other dogs and kitten, but she did say that some lady was interested in Buddy's (the dog we took) siblings and I think someone was coming to pick up the other dog later that day.

[couchon]

Thank you for everyone's kind responses!

I have an update: I spoke to the landlord, and she said I could have a dog stay on a temporary basis (no more than a week), but the lady volunteer was really happy. She said that they were going to ship him to a kennel three hours away, and it would be harder for them to place him. So... I am taking Rosco in for the next week. I am excited and really nervous - it's a huge responsibility. Plus, my conditions are not ideal for him, but I told the lady all about it, and she said it would still be a lot better than the kennel they were going to put him in, because he would just have to be in a cage all day.