RESCUE is not a placement service for irresponsible ownership or accidental or irresponsible backyard breeding; neither is it a dumping ground for Dobermanns that have the misfortune of being owned by people that think obedience is not necessary or those know-it-alls who only know our telephone number after a bite has occurred, when knowledge and some work could and would have prevented the situation. Do people ever do research before bringing another breed in a Dobermann household? Of course not, after all they "know it all" and in case things go wrong there is always RESCUE to dump on. In a situation like that, Rescue is not the solution. How about living up to your responsibility and taking charge, and get help from a professional.
Every agency involved in helping animals is overwhelmed by the influx of animals seeking help. These past few months have stressed everybody to the maximum and there seems to be no end in sight.
This said, I hope you are listening.
Christa
apparent that a definition of the meaning of RESCUE is in order.
RESCUE means helping a Dobermann in need. Maybe we should define need also, but the two go hand in hand. A Dobermann in need is a dog that has been abandoned either on a city street or some country road, in the hope some farmer will take it in (farms don't need more animals, they are farms not rescues). This is a Dobermann that is in need of RESCUE. Abused and neglected Dobermanns are in need of RESCUE. Dobermanns that find themselves in Animal Shelters for whatever reason are in need of RESCUE.
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Brutus was sent to the Rainbow Bridge.
The agonizing decision to euthanize him was not made lightly. As in every case of this nature all aspects were taken into consideration and yes a Veterinarian was consulted before the decision was made.
Rescue first heard from the mother of the owner of Brutus. The story goes, (if one believes it) owner bought a house, then discovered they were not allowed to have a dog in the complex. They wanted us to find a good home for Brutus. This lovable, supposedly 4 year old boy was said to be in excellent health, obedience trained, 120 lbs. nice "pit bull" ear-crop, up to date on shots, and so on. He needed to be re-homed immediately! Could we help?
A potential adopter was found. He went to the address where Brutus lived. He was living in a new house Al-right, (which we knew), but so were several other dogs and animals (which we did not know). He questioned the owner about Brutus' apparent condition. Something about a stroke or injury was mumbled. The adopter feeling sorry for Brutus took him anyway. Next day he and Brutus went to Brutus' vet, he found out that the vet had not seen Brutus in over 2 years. He had never received any inoculation nor had he been heartworm tested or on preventative and the likelihood of him being positive was very good. A fecal sample showed he was heavily infested with different kinds of worms. The new owner being of modest means, decided to worm him first and then do the shots.
The second night in his new home, when the owner returned home from work, he set down the groceries to open the door. Brutus bolted through the door past owner and groceries and ran away. Owner and friends pursued him for three hours, but he refused to come and finally disappeared. The new owner was very unhappy with the whole situation and stated that even if Brutus was found he did not want him back because he felt Brutus had been misrepresented. (What an understatement.)
Nothing was heard about Brutus for three days, then he turned up in a yard next to a gal who works for "Last Chance Rescue". This is an area with a high population density and the chance of this happening is one in a million. The Rescue Worker took him to her vet which also happens to be Dobe Rescues vet. There they not only discovered his identity, but the examination showed he had been severely injured in the past. His nose had been broken, the right side of his head was paralyzed with drooling and drooping as a result, he had spastic tic and a large growth (most likely cancerous) in his anal gland. When he ate, the food would fall from his mouth, and to just simply to eat was a task indeed. Also this "120 lb. Doberman" weighed 45-50 lbs. or less. More sad parts of the story is that none of the phone calls to either the mother or the original owner have been answered or returned.
In addition to the prognosis of Brutus' condition was the distinct possibility of a future serious stroke and major care and suffering, also to consider, significant costs in future vet care.
Having taken every aspect into consideration and only Brutus' best interest at heart I called the Veterinarian and asked to have Brutus euthanized.
And so his suffering in this valley of tears ended on Saturday, December 15, 2007
Sleep in peace Brutus~
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Getting a Dobermann or any other breed is not Childs play, it is a responsibility the owner has to live up to. Get a knowledgeable trainer to work with, and if anything undesirable happens, tell him or her. They will be able to advise you on what to do, and help you find a solution. Dumping
on Animal Shelters, Humane Societies, or RESCUES is not the solution. And as for breeding--have you ever heard of spaying and neutering? Try it! It works and you will have a healthier animal to boot.
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