Puppy quandry????

Jack Hexter

My wife and I are Puppy Raisers for Canine Companions for Independence. We get the puppies at 8 weeks, raise them till they are 18 months, teaching them 30 basic commands, and turn them back to the organization who puts them thru 6 more months of training with professional trainers who teach them to turn on lights, open doors, etc, then gives them to a handicapped person. Very rewarding to say the least.

Anyway, our current pup, a lab golden mix, is 9 months old and has been found to have elbow dysplesia. As such, CCI has "released" him. We have two options, have the surgery done and keep him, or turn him back to CCI who has a a long list of people wanting released dogs. As the raisers, we have first right of refusal. Cost of the surgery is irrelevant as CCI will pay for it whether we have it done or they have it done. Problem is, the surgeon says he should not be around other puppies because the interacting activity will then cause him to limp for the rest of his life. This means, if we keep him, we cannot get another puppy to raise for fear of hurting the current puppy. I'm all for turning him in and getting another puppy, but the wife is still up in the air, having become attached to this dog. She had no problem turning in the other dog we have raised (this is #2), knowing it was going to go to help someone who needed him ( He went to a 10 year old autistic girl), but to turn him in to become someone's house pet is bothering her.

Mister-Jr

First, congratulations on being a quality human being! Second, it you and your wife are committed to this project, send the limping puppy to a good home, and continue traing other dogs to help others.

Actually, whatever you do you will continue to be good people, tough choice for sure.

tag

Get someone to foster the pup for you while he heals.

mindyabiness

I think you know what the right choice is.
Being a house pet is being needed, as a dog person you probably know that too. I think your wife wants to know the dog is going to be well cared for.
Keep the dog and then find a good home for it. I'm thinking there might be a "quality" dog person here that would understand the dogs needs and provide for it.

zamog

mindyabiness wrote: »

I think you know what the right choice is.
Being a house pet is being needed, as a dog person you probably know that too. I think your wife wants to know the dog is going to be well cared for.
Keep the dog and then find a good home for it. I'm thinking there might be a "quality" dog person here that would understand the dogs needs and provide for it.

what myb says....or just keep the dog yourself. unlike kids they don't talk back

Jack Hexter

mindyabiness wrote: »

Keep the dog and then find a good home for it. I'm thinking there might be a "quality" dog person here that would understand the dogs needs and provide for it.

That is one of the problems, Even though CCI has released the dog from training, it will always belong to them, even after they give it to a handicapped person. So, they are the organization who decides who gets the dog. We cannot pick the foster parent. I have several friends who have expressed interest in taking this pup, but CCI has a LONG list of people who want released dogs and it will go to one of these people if we choose to turn it in.

mindyabiness wrote: »

Being a house pet is being needed, as a dog person you probably know that too. I think your wife wants to know the dog is going to be well cared for.

This is a very good point. Thank you

Jack Hexter

JB The dog is limping slightly now. This is how my wife and I noticed the problem. During his recent surgery to be neutered, we asked the Vet to x-ray the elbow/leg. She diagnosed dysplesia, then sent the films to a radiologist who also diagnosed this problem. Both recommended Dr Hay who we consulted. Dr. Hay also diagnosed the elbow Dysplasia. He did this thru physical exam as well as x-ray, those done by our vet as well as his own. He is also the one that said the dog should lead a sedentary life after surgery. He advised the surgery will not fix the problem, only reduce future problems. He recommends surgery within a couple months. He stated that in his opinion, the dow would be a wonderful house pet, but he could see only a very limited niche as a service dog.