Some Bad News

[ramanth]

Do you crate him?

Kia is a Husky/Cattle Dog mix and she has to be crated when I'm not home or else she becomes destructo puppy.

I know you're faced with a hard decision and one that is not easily made. But I know deep down, you'll know what is best.

But I just wanted to add that Karen made some good suggestions.

Best of luck to you.

[primabella]

Im sorry about this sad news. You need to do what is best for Casey. I know when my family picked up Primo, a collie mix, we thought he was the right dog for us. We were all acting on impulse and had to bring him to the shelter. I still feel terrible about it, and it's been over a year it happened. Our yard was too small for him and the "breeder" lied to us about everything. She said he was 4 months old. Impossible. He held his pee all night, was already obediant and was already huge. He also had a huge scar on his back that the "breeder" told us would heal naturally. I'm sure he was adopted, as he was a beauty and a very sweet dog, but I still can't forgive myself.

A bit off-topic, sorry. What I was trying to say was that we couldn't keep him because he was too big a dog for us. I didn't want to make him miserable. Same thing with Casey. You need to do what's best for him. I can't even imagine the pain you must be going through but I do know that by doing this for Casey, it'll be what's best for him.

As been mentionned, maybe you can see Casey on occasional visits. Good luck.

[CattleDogMom]

Right now, I'm in a holding pattern because I can't get the Refuge to call me back. Perhaps it's a sort of "waiting period" I don't know.

I'm going to be taking a trip to LA at the beginning of the month and I have to take him with me if I still have him. That's going ot be hell on him I think.

[Rottieluver45]

I sort of know what you`re going through! I`m so sorry I hope you don`t have to give him up!

[CattleDogMom]

I have an update...


A lovely lady called me from the country. She is looking for Blue Heelers. Her and her husband are ranchers, and their last blue heeler of like 10 years just died 6 months ago. After greiving and sobbing for 6 months, they have decided they are ready for more. I began crying on the phone with her and she sent me a long letter on what Casey's life would be like with them. she says Blue Heelers are their life. She also says she is getting him a buddy.

Here is the letter:

"I hope this reassures you somewhat that Casey would be a busy, well cared for and loved family member.
got to thinking after our telephone conversation this evening and wanted to outline a day in the life of Cheyene, our previous Queensland.

Monday through Friday her day started about 5:00 AM when she went to work with Steve. Going to work was the biggest part of her day and the most loved as she knew that each day brought a new adventure in that Steve works various farmgrounds in the Monterey County area. For the most part she and Steve worked an area from 1 day to a month, depending on the size of the job. Steve would come home in the evening with stories to tell about what Cheyene chased and what she may have caught and played with that day (mostly rabbits). Occasionally she would find a friend (another dog) and they would rom and scour the countryside together in search of treasures. More often than not, by the time Cheyene came home from work she would be so "dog tired" from having "worked" all day that she would climb into her dog house (in the garage) not wanting to be bothered and too tired to play anymore (I usually wanted her to play with me after I came home from work). I could always tell how hard she "worked" by the amount of dirt in her nose and dirt clods on her belly and in between her toes!! Dog tired as she was, if Steve needed to hop back into the pickup to go somewhere, she was always ready - all he had to do was shake his keys. The next morning she was up and ready to go again, afraid she might miss something if she didn't get out of her bed and hop in the truck. On the weekends (at times consisting of just 1 day), the pickup never left that she was not in it. She went everywhere Steve went, whether it was to work or the grocery store, post office, etc. We took her to the beach and she would be full of sand and stink from rolling in anything dead she could find (frisbee was her game of choice on the beach). At times we would take her shopping at PetSmart where she would scour the isles looking for a new "squeaky toy." We took her to all the 4-H fairs - we never left her with anyone. She went everywhere we went or we didn't go. She was spoiled to say the least. As we aquired her at 5 weeks (they should have kept her until she was 8-10 weeks - better for Queenslands I've read), she always knew the inside of the house was off limits. She was deathly afraid of gun shots and fire crackers, so she never went hunting when Steve did go, and we had to really comfort her during 4th of July fireworks as she would tremble with fear. That was the only time she was ever allowed in the house where she laid on a blanket by my side of the bed. She didn't like coming in the house as that was the way she was trained, so I usually had to carry her to my room during the 4th. With her coming home muddy a lot of the time from work, it would have been impossibe to bathe her every night in order for her to come into the house and sleep in our bed, not to mention that she didn't like baths). She always had a clear view though to inside the house where she would lay and watch us as she was guarding the back yard. She would usually be in her dog house asleep before we hit the hay. She also had a seat on the back of Steve's quadrunner where she rode when we went to Hollister Hills (motorcycle trails). She had a favorite stop where she would jump into the pond there and bring us back the stick we would throw out. She was our baby and she was very much a part of our family. When she died Steve litterally sobbed. He loved her so as she did him. I just wanted you and her previous owner to know that Cheyene loved her life just the way it was and so I understand your feelings regarding what Casey has been used, and wanted you both to know that we fully understand your wanting to choose a home where she is allowed in the house and can see that Casey would think it strange that she wasn't allowed in since she has been raised that way I just wanted to convey to you what life would have been like for her, and one I believe she would have truly enjoyed except for the fact that she wouldn't have been a house dog. Best of luck to you both. "


Well, I'm sorry this is long...what do you all think??? They live a good 4 hours away and I probably won't see him much, except in pictures.

I gotta go...I'm going to go cry.

Crystal

[catland]

That's so wonderful. I think they could give Casey a wonderful life. This thread promted me to look for other info on blue heelers and they definately are dogs that need a very busy life like this.

I know you will be sad and miss him - but I don't know if you could have found a better home - these people sound just great.

[tikeyas_mom]

Originally posted by GoldenRetrLuver
Psst....TM, i like your "Adopt a husky, and make a husky smile" icon, its really cute!

hee hee it looks like Tikeya doesnt it?? !! I thought so .

[micki76]

Originally posted by CattleDogMom

Well, I'm sorry this is long...what do you all think??? They live a good 4 hours away and I probably won't see him much, except in pictures.

I gotta go...I'm going to go cry.

Crystal

What do I think? What do I think? I think I want to go live there with them!!!!! Sounds like a fantastic place for him. I'm tentatively doing a happy dance.

[binka_nugget]

I think they sound like wonderful people. I'm sure Casey would be happy there seeing as how busy he would be. Keep us updated...good luck!

[Cataholic]

My and my opinions...but, I say look elsewhere...I don't like a house where an animal isn't welcome. Something about the email letter sounds a little off to me.

[lizbud]

Ah, just at the last minute.....a home in the country.Where he
will live happily ever after. He'll even have a friend doggie to
enjoy this paradise with him. How perfect.Sounds like a made
for TV movie to me. I don't believe a word of it. Just be honest
and do whatever it is you were going to do, without all the
phony drama, o.k. Geeeze.

[CattleDogMom]

Originally posted by lizbud
Ah, just at the last minute.....a home in the country.Where he
will live happily ever after. He'll even have a friend doggie to
enjoy this paradise with him. How perfect.Sounds like a made
for TV movie to me. I don't believe a word of it. Just be honest
and do whatever it is you were going to do, without all the
phony drama, o.k. Geeeze.

Oh man, that's harsh.

Now I REALLY don't know what to do.

As far as not being welcome in the house, she did tell me that they converted their garage into a "dog house" by carpeting it and making it their own. She daid they don't use the garage for their cars. She also said the dogs are allowed into the house on the 4th of july's.

why else would they want him? Why would they make up such an elaborate lie? To sacrafice him or something? I just don't know why they would like like that, then drive 5 hours to come and get him.

I will ask them for pictures of their

[Twisterdog]

Blue Heelers are very smart. They are herders and need something to do at all times. If they don't have this...ie. cattle to herd on a huge ranch, then they become unhappy...which leads to destruction ... According to everyone I've talked to, he's unhappy with the living space, and this is his way of telling us. I read it's normal for the breed. They need a ranch with jobs to do.

I'm sorry to be critical, I know this is a difficult time for you, but I have to say something about this. You are drawing vast generalizations about the ACD breed - generalizations which are NOT true in the majority of cases. Yes, they are smart dogs. Yes, they like to have a "job" to do. However, it is NOT true that the "job" HAS to be "cattle to herd on a huge ranch". Their "job" can be guarding the yard, playing ball with a child, learning agility or flyball. My ACD, Queenie, has lived as a house dog with us for almost nine years. Her "job" is chasing a tennis ball and guarding the yard from people passing by on the sidewalk. She's never even seen a cow. There are literally tens of thousands of ACDs living perfectly happy lives as house pets with active family in cities and suburbs. To generalize that this breed is ONLY happy on ranch is wrong and unfair.

Having owned, rescued and trained ACDs for many years, I have to say that your dog's behavior - while certainly not unheard - is also certainly not the norm for the breed. There is something else going on there beside just the fact that your dog is an ACD. Have you had a vet check with a complete blood panel, to start with? If you want to try it, put your dog in flyball or agility. It works wonders - obedience on a leash is NOT enough activity for an ACD. There ARE ways to entertain and busy an ACD without him living on a ranch, obviously, because a LOT of families keep them as pets.

I have to agree with Cataholic about the letter. I find this particularly heartbreaking ... "always had a clear view though to inside the house where she would lay and watch us as she was guarding the back yard." The dog couldn't come in because she was muddy, so she had to watch her family from outside? And that is supposed to be comforting and reassuring? Me personally, I wouldn't place one of my rescue dogs here.

[CattleDogMom]

Well, yes, I have had all of the medical stuff done. It was done the week before we brought him home from the Vet hospital. My father is a horse rancher and has ACD's and he agrees that my place is just to darn small.

I have done alot of research on ACD's myself.

Also, flyball or agility stuff....anything that costs money to put him in is a no go for us, as we are an extreemly poor family, and I can't afford that stuff. At any rate, I havn't even seen that kind of stuff around here, and I have looked at all the local pet suppley stores, vet's ect. My best friend is his Vet...she wouldn't steer me wrong.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by CattleDogMom
My father is a horse rancher and has ACD's and
he agrees that my place is just to darn small.

Doesn't "Dad" have a spot on the Horse Ranch for an extra
*Horse Herder* ??