Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 2:55 am Post subject: Labs needing a loving home
Sorry, but I have been looking around the lab rescue sites, and I just can't believe how many lovely labs (& other dogs) are in rescue looking for a lovely forever home! It is absolutely heartbreaking.
Many of these labs (or others) are only youngsters in rescue through no fault of their own - ok they may may need alot of work and love to bring them round but surely the reward is so worth it! Also, there are so many ex-breeding bitches that have never known what is it is like to live in a home and be loved - they have just been used again and again to produce litters, basically just breeding machines until they are no longer useful.
Don't want to upset anyone but I think we all know there are breeders out there like this.
The message I am trying to get across is please consider rescuing a lab (or any dog) before going for that cute little lab pup. There are so many lovely babes out there that so deserve a loving home.
I know, it breaks my heart too and I would have them all if I could! It is a god send that there are people like Sylvia at Many Tears and all the other caring rescues around who ensure these dogs have a chance at a normal loving life, no matter how long it takes to find them that home.
We have talked about getting a resuce lab next when the time is right. We'd so like another lab and it would be great to give a lab that needs it a loving home.
I got three rescues Lab (ok, my Gracie is a Lab X) and I love them to bits but it has been extremely hard work too. We thought long and hard when getting Finlay from a breeder. I fell in love with Flatcoats and thankfully they don't come into rescue very often, also its nice to know Finlay's parentage and where he comes from etc etc You have to see it from both sides as taking on a rescue is a huge responsibility and not knowing the background can be very daunting for a lot of people. But bringing a dog around is tremendously rewarding too.
I agree with Sonia - as i have seen both sides of the coin too - with bailey being a cute little puppy and Tylo who i recently lost being my rescue (and first dog!) its a big question mark when you bring back a rescue dog as their history is blank
However - i soon noticed (more so when he passed away recently) how bloody proud i was of rescuing him and that thanks to me he lives his life happy and better than he may well have lived it in the rescue
and THAT makes it all worth while
I was a big hummer and errr'er when it comes to my next dog - really wanting a GR puppy next - but i know when the situation comes around my next dog will 100% be a rescue lab or another breed which happends to need a lovely home!
To be honest I think any dog can have "issues", not just rescue dogs. I have had Daisy since she was 6 weeks old from the NCDL, so yes she is a rescue but she had as normal an upbringing as the next pup (apart from being hand reared). Joey is my parents dog who was rescued from the NCDL at 18 months old (I rescued him but Daisy took a dislike to him when we moved house so my parents took him).
BUT, to be fair, Daisy has "issues", and I KNOW her history and I know how well I have cared for her. Joey was the perfect dog for the first 2 years my parents had him although he has now developed SA. Of the two, I would actually say Joey is the more stable!
So yes, you do take on the "unknown" with a rescue dog but any dog can have its quirks. (I love Daisy to bits, quirks and all - she's a nutter but she is my nutter!).
If Daisy was more accepting of other dogs, I would take on an older rescue dog tomorrow, but I have to "settle" for a pup (from a rescue centre, I add) so Daisy accepts it (another of her aforementioned "quirks").
It is sad Nikki & I see the same poor faces time again coming up on the link at the top left of the page. We rescued & would do it again & again. Boo isnt the perfect dog (rescued her at 14months)and will never be but we manage her issues. She is happy & healthy and gives back so much fun, joy & love. We are so lucky to have her
I have had dogs all my life. Zonks is my first rescue and my first blind dog. I didn't think I could feel so attached to another dog after my beloved Chelsea went to the bridge and although Zonks is a totally different personality I sometimes feel my heart will burst with the love and pride I feel for him. He has been through so much (and I only know half of his story) but despite all that he is a loving and very trusting dog. It's amazing how much he trusts me and hubby. Why just this morning while I was walking him to our morning park a double decker bus came roaring down the high street. I remember just two weeks ago Zonks panicked and howled and tried to run for cover. Today I just kept talking to him as the bus roared past and he didn't miss a beat. He just looked up at me with his milky blind eyes and then kept going. I feel honored to be his protector. He's got his quirks but the rewards outweigh them.
Oh, what wonderful posts from those that have rescued these poor babes. I know you don't always know the background of these dogs and also know that there can be be major problems to overcome.
It really does take alot of hard work to bring these poor babes around and I know it dosen't always work out but giving these poor darlings a chance is the main thing.
I think what really breaks my heart is seeing all these breeding bitches, who are just got rid of when they are no longer useful. It makes me sick to see these poor girls that are just bred and bred again, all they've every known is a kennel and they have just been used to make money. There are so many of these poor girls in rescue now (or worse), I just want to urge people to give these poor girls a chance. Ok, there will be problems, but with lots of love and patience you can show one of these poor girlies what it is to be loved.
There's a lovely pic of Maggie from Mrsm, I don't know if she was a breeding bitch but it just goes to show how happy Maggie is now!
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One of the best things i ever did was to get her we adore each other 
