Advice please - outside only dog

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

Please can you give me some advice....

Yesterday AM I left my housing compound and the security guard had a puppy tied to a tree outside the gate. It had food, water and shade, but I was still worried about it, so I asked who it belonged to and they siad it had been running around outside and barking a lot, so they tied it up.

I have checked with my shelter and no puppy has been reported missing in my area.

I took him into my garden, gave him food and water etc, and arranged for the shelter to collect him to give him all his inoculations, tick and flea dip etc and keep him until Saturday.

I have an option to keep him, but he would be outside-only. I CANNOT have a dog in the house. Of course he would have shade, a kennel, a water trough to jump in and cool off, quite a large garden etc, but in summer the outside temperture is over 120 degrees F!!!

If I don't keep him he will stay at the high-kill shelter (also outside but only a concrete floor - no grass) UNTIL (or IF) he is homes, otherwise he will be put to sleep. Of course there are hundreds of dogs here who live outside in these high temperatures without the benefit of fresh water and shade!

So the choices are:

Keep him as OUTSIDE ONLY
Leave him at the shelter and hope that he finds a better home than I can offer.

[Cincy'sMom]

What a sweet face!!!

I have never been crazy about outdoor only dogs, however, I do know that some are very, very happy and would actually prefer to be outside.

I think providing a loving home even if it is outside is a better option then a high kill shelter. Becuase I know you would give him the shade and water and food he needs, I think you should keep him.
Maybe you could ask around or see if there is someone else intersted that would be able to make him an indoor dog, but with just the options of high-kill or with you, I say keep him!

[Pam]

After seeing that face I could not turn him in. It only takes a minute for me to get "hooked." I think maybe if you took him in you might be able to find hime a good home for him yourself. If not, well you have one super cute outside doggie of your own!

[lbaker]

Where are you located? Is there not a rescue organization you could call? OUTSIDE in 120 degrees with no water or shelter or shade? There has to be another option if you have the time to seek one. This breaks my heart.

[anna_66]

Ohhhh look at that face! I don't think I could turn him in. I think him being an outside dog is much better than possibly being put to sleep. Who knows maybe someone you know is looking for a dog!

[lizzielou742]

I would keep him for now, and maybe post ads in the newspaper for "Found Dog" and if that doesn't work then try posting ads in the paper and petfinder.com for him and see if someone else doesn't want to adopt him! Make sure he has some shade :-)

[SandraDee]

what a cutie! I agree with the others, I would suggest that you keep him and look for an indoor home for him, where he would feel more a part of the family. There may be someone out there looking for a beauty like him. With his/her good looks, it shouldn't be too difficult. Good luck!

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

Originally posted by lbaker
Where are you located? Is there not a rescue organization you could call? OUTSIDE in 120 degrees with no water or shelter or shade? There has to be another option if you have the time to seek one. This breaks my heart.

Thanks to everyone for their advice!!!

I am in Bahrain (Middle East). There is ONE shelter and it is high-kill. He will have shade and plenty of water, but unfortunately that is the best I can do for him. If he goes to the shelter he will have shade and water, outside in a concrete yard with dozens of other dogs

I am NOT taking the decision lightly - it will involve a large cost of my part to FENCE IN my garden which is currently open, and construct shading etc, plus buy a trough, kennel etc plus cover his vet costs.

The choices are:
High-kill shelter or outside "pet".

He will be walked every day, and the kids can play with him in the yard after school. It also puts a huge financial burden on me when I leave here, to transport him back to South Africa, as I have always said I will never leave a pet behind.

[ramanth]

What a sweet face.

I concur that him being your outside dog would be much better than a fate at the shelter. That way you could try finding him a new home.

[Karen]

I agree - keep him yourself as a foster dog, then work on finding him a good home. What a sweet face! Surely someone (else) will see his picture and fall in love ...

He looks a lot like a Smooth Collie - but that may just be the pictures ...

Can you make a flyer and put it at all local vets offices?

[lv4dogs]

Oh my gosh I am hooked! he is such a sweet looking pup! I would keep him vers. the high kill shelter. Keeping him as a foster dog would be great too. The best of luck, if you lived closer would come & get him!

[wolfie]

I think you should keep him! Keeping a dog outside is doesn't make you a bad dog owner. Just make sure he gets lots of love and attention - and shelter and water of course! ^_^



...funny that so far in the poll 100% of people said to keep him as an outside dog, but before when people have said they have an outdoor dog people jumped down their throats and told them to bring their dog inside or to the pound.

[PayItForward]

Originally posted by wolfie
funny that so far in the poll 100% of people said to keep him as an outside dog, but before when people have said they have an outdoor dog people jumped down their throats and told them to bring their dog inside or to the pound. [/B]

It is generally unacceptable to have an outside only pet, when NO other option exists.

If there is only one outcome, outside in garden versus outside in high kill shelter, people pick the most humane option.

But keeping any pet outside only is cruel, when they have the chance to be inside (or inside/outside IMO) either at no-kill shelters OR rehoming to an inside home.
----------------------------------------------------

Julie,

Go with your heart, if you can afford to keep him safe and sound, who are we to argue.

A cheeky question, can't the doggie come inside at your house ? (After a proper introduction with the kitty kats of course)

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

Originally posted by PayItForward
It is generally unacceptable to have an outside only pet, when NO other option exists.

If there is only one outcome, outside in garden versus outside in high kill shelter, people pick the most humane option.

But keeping any pet outside only is cruel, when they have the chance to be inside (or inside/outside IMO) either at no-kill shelters OR rehoming to an inside home.
----------------------------------------------------

Julie,

Go with your heart, if you can afford to keep him safe and sound, who are we to argue.

A cheeky question, can't the doggie come inside at your house ? (After a proper introduction with the kitty kats of course)

To answer both points above:

1) I was refreshed by the open-mindedness of the responses, taking the circumstances and available options for the dog into account. I WAS worried about getting flamed, so thanks everyone for being so understanding.

2) The dog can't come inside because that is the condition which my husband has stipulated. He has been totally against having pets here, as he knows how expensive it will be to re-locate them. Three years ago he agreed to take Ally in, and last year when Connor was on "Death Row"at the high-kill shelter, he relented and agreed to cat #2. They also have restrictions - they have their own "bedroom" (the kitchen) and are not allowed in the lounge or dining room at all. Small price to pay for having them in my life!

I don't want to turn this into a debate about equality in marraige or anything, the fact is that he LOVES dogs, but is not prepared to have ANYTHING messing up the house (the cats are restricted to certain areas, the kids clean up after themselves, and a dog will not be allowed inside). I am grateful that I have the cats, and would be able to at least give this dog a home, albeit NOT inside the house.

I would of course be only too happy to give the dog up to a good inside/outside home but I must be realistic. I will never place a "free to a good home" ad - there is a lot of dog-fighting and cock-fighting etc here in Bahrain. People will not pay for a "pavement special" dog. I will do my best through my animal welfare contacts to find him a home, but I will offer him the best that I can.

[Cinder & Smoke]

HEY! "OUTSIDE" a Loving Home is NOT such a bad "deal"!

We "Adopted" Arrow an handsome ~9 mo Shepherd/Husky? Mix from the County Pound to be "just a watch-dog" after the new house got broken into.

Fancee *Insulated* Dawg Howze (with overhanging roof / observation post / patio roof, raised floor, heavy Rug Front Door, attached water buckit, and a Variety of floor coverings & bedding). *NICE* Place! And with a *View* - he lived beside the driveway with a good view of the road and close enough to the BigHouse that he NEVER was "forgotten"...

You had about 4.5 minutes from arriving Home to let him *OFF* his chain... At 5 minutes he started to *YAP*; at 5.5 minutes he was in *Full BARK Mode*! NEVER left the yard or pastures (well, almost never... had a *thing* for Kids... if he wasn't Home - he was 4 doors down the street playing with the pre-teen Kids )

Oh - I should add - he started out as an OUTside ONLY Dawg -
"just a *watch dawg*"...

Yeah, right...
He had his choice at night and weekends -
in OR out -
too HOT in the house - and he'd *ask* to sleep out (chained for his safety).

Off to work or shopping?
Happie as a Klam he'd jump onto his Observation Post /roof, accept the chain, give a *Kiss*, and go ON Duty...
NObody even slowed down in front of the house without him going into **FULL ALERT** with a serious *BARK* that lasted till the *intruder* was sent on his way!

I could tell a thousand ARROW, the Guard Dawg Tails... ...
Rest In Peace, lil Buddie - You're gone but NEVER to be forgotten!

The POINT ??

MANY Dogs can and DO live VERY Happie Lives
as outside only or "limited" inside dogs...

If New Pup minds his *Pees* an *phoos* -
and gets some basic Obedience Training - Hubby just might
*warm up* to him and invite him in...

And life In the Garden doesn't sound so bad to me!

/s/ Phred