For a very good guide to all sorts of dog training processes and dog behavior challenges, I use and recommend Clickertraining ...that link goes to the description of this terrific ebook you download immediately, wherever you are! -- Rosana

Chances are that what I am about to say doesn’t apply to you. Most of us can afford to keep our pets. But a significant number of the people, in the US and around the world, are facing – or will be – such basic challenges that they will have to consider giving up their beloved dogs or cats. Already shelters are reporting increases in the number of animals turned in by owners who haven’t found a way to keep them. If you have friends in such circumstances, or belong to online groups, I encourage you to give them the website address of this page, or even to cut and paste this entire article (keeping my name and website name please), and put it in emails or post it around the web.

If you are thinking about giving up your dog or dogs, or other beloved pets, because of hard times…

I want to encourage you to keep them as long as you possibly can – for their well-being and for your own.

Your dogs don’t care if they have any new toys. They don’t care if they have veterinary appointments or even medications. They don’t care if they eat the most expensive and healthy food. They don’t care what kind of dwelling they live in.

What do they care about? You. Being with you. The habits that they have established with you, the little games and small things. They have an excellent sense of time and look forward daily to your return from work, the moment when you will pick up their leash for the afternoon walk, or whatever special moments you have with them.  They love you with all the love in their large dog hearts.

Well, you know they love you. Why I am making such a point of it when you may be feeling that you have no choice? It may be money, it may be having to leave your home and look for rentals which aren’t so easy to find for people with dogs.

I just want to encourage you to do everything you can to keep your pets: explore all the possibilities and be willing to ask others for help. These times are going to call for us to help each other out more. You won’t know till you ask if the potential landlord will be willing to bend the rules, if your cousin could take the dog till you get back on your feet, if your friend would sell you his old motorhome for monthly payments, or whatever other options are out there. When we are under stress, we typically don’t think as clearly, so try not to make any hasty decisions. If you have a dog who is old or has behavior problems that mean he isn’t likely to be adopted, if you absolutely cannot keep him, consider whether euthanasia is an appropriate choice. This is a deeply personal matter that only you can ultimately decide.

I hope that you and your dog or dogs can continue to be a family together. Get creative. We are all more resourceful than we usually realize.

Rosana Hart
www.training-dogs.com/blog/

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