The author does make one vaild point. Some people do use the excuse "he was an abused dog - so I don't want to make him do anything he doesn't want". We have a guy that is a volunteer at the same shelter as I. He is a loving, giving human being that goes to the shelter almost everyday on his lunch hour to walk the dogs. He feels so sorry for them that he lets them pull on their leashes, jump on people, play bite him, etc. He even brings them fast food for lunch!!! It is hard to fault him because these dogs desperately need a release from the kennel. (It is an city run animal control facility - so adoptions are a secondary concern). But at the same time there are those of us that are trying desperately to teach them some manners to make them more adoptable. The authors mistake I feel was in thinking it is the rescue organizations that promote this type of behavior. It is actually what rescue organizations are trying to avoid. Ill mannered pets that end up back in shelters!!!
I have adopted both my dogs from shelters - I don't think they were physically abused - but I do think I rescued them because I took them from a 4X6 cage into a loving home where they are well fed, much loved, exercised and have the medical care they need. Does it make me feel better about myself - YES! Does it prevent me from teaching them manners - ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!
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