Dog in Ohio needs a new home

[Ash]

I have a friend who lives in Columbus, Ohio. She has a dog (don't know the breed, but it's an expensive one), had it for years. For various reasons - I won't go into all the details - she has now decided that she has to give the dog away. She has been asking around friends and aquaintances but hasn't found anyone yet who wants him. She doesn't want to place an ad in the papers out of fear some weird person might take him, with strangers you never really know. So, she's looking for organisations in that area who re-home dogs. So far she found 4gotten4paws, whom she will contact shortly.

Does anyone here know of any other organisations in that area, or where she can find a list of such organisations. If she doesn't find anything in time before her and her family move (in about half a year or so) she might bring him to a shelter! I'm so worried and want to help out.

From what she describes, the dog is really unhappy with her - they have no time for it, she just had a baby, and the dog behaves unfriendly towards it (she's quite worried about that), he urinates inside the house everywhere, detroys carpets etc ... she doesn't have the patience nor the time to tackle the problem, it seems. I think it would be better if he found a new loving home, but not the shelter! Are there any shelters in that area which don't kill dogs?

I'm quite upset about this, and will end the friendship with her if she brings him to a shelter!

[Traci]

It's ultimately her responsibility to find a resolution to the problem. It sounds like she has 6 months to find a decent home for the dog, that is plenty of time for her to check out various rescue organizations, etc.

I'd also strongly suggest if you're talking to her, it would be wise to get the dog seen by her vet, it sounds like the dog is under a great deal of stress and could be developing health problems due to that stress.

[Ash]

I will tell her that but not sure if she'll do it. A while back he had something wrong with his ear and she let it go on until the ear was all bloody from scratching until she finally took him to a vet. I doubt she will go if he has no symptoms yet. But I'll mention it anyway. I'm pretty sad about her attitude. She had him for many years, but recently she married, had a baby and now the dog is considered a nuisance. It's very sad.

[E's]

Ash wrote:

I have a friend who lives in Columbus, Ohio. She has a dog (don't know the breed, but it's an expensive one)

Knowing the specific breed is of vital importance. Almost all pure-bred dogs have rescue organizations. Then too, there would be breeder lists. In fact, if this is a pure-bred dog, its owners should know that already, or should be able to access what information is available if the dog was a rescue to begin with. Most breed rescue orgs will give due consideration to a mix, if the dog is spayed/neutered, runs true to type and is in good health.

There are a number of major cities within fairly easy driving distance of Columbus... Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron, Dayton in Ohio, and several in nearby states: Louisville KY, Pittsburg PA, Indianapolis IN... even Chicago IL is not that far....

If you can determine the breed of this dog, I will do an area search... At least this might make YOU feel better about the situation.
__________________________
Dot B
I lived in Cleveland several years and traveled around those states quite a bit... most of the area is a very civilized part of the USA

[Ash]

Thank you, E's! This is the dog. She posted this picture a while ago on another board. I think it's an American Bulldog. I think he's not neutered (not totally sure though) and at least 5 or 6 years old.

[Guest]

Sorry - this is unlucky on at least two more counts: I'm almost certain the dog pictured is not an American bulldog. Devon of Kansas, who hasn't posted here in awhile, has a beautiful American bulldog named Skittles [maybe Traci could find one of the pics] ... Another example is the dog called Chance in the Disney "Incredible Journey" movies (voice of Michael J. Fox. ) The breed is popular in Missouri and Kansas - my dad had one when I was a young child, wonderful dog... I am sure there are rescue orgs; however, it is still not a recognized AKC breed.

I am not that much of an expert on all breeds, but the dog shown in the pic doesn't ring any bells with me as a pure-bred unless it is an Am Staff - American Staffordshire terrier - with uncropped ears. And if it is, that does not bode well either, as the Staffordshire terrier is a pitbull.

Below is the AKC URL for Am Staffs; note there is an Ohio name and phone number. I can't advise further than this: the dog's owner is correct in not wanting the dog to go to just anyone, as this type of dog, even if it isn't actually a pitbull, could go to criminals who would use it for horrible purposes.

Of course no one likes to suggest euthanasia, but there are situations where such a decision really is the most humane. At least, as Traci says, your internet acquaintance should have the gumption to take responsibility for a pet that has become a liability. Thanks you for caring - I wish I could be more helpful.

http://www.akc.org/breeds/american_staf ... /index.cfm

[E's]

Well, I know better than to take too much much time posting during late hours... seem to have been timed out Bedtime anyway... see ya next week, maybe!

[Ash]

I assumed it is an American Bulldog, because that thread she posted in was about pit bulls, and she wrote "People mistake mine for a pit bull", and she went on talking about American Bulldogs, so I assumed hers in one.

"the dog's owner is correct in not wanting the dog to go to just anyone, as this type of dog, even if it isn't actually a pitbull, could go to criminals who would use it for horrible purposes."

That's exactly what she's scared of. She does love the dog, but just can't see a way to keep him.

Thank you for trying anyway! I will ask her again what breed it exactly is.

[k9Karen]

I don't think it's a pit bull - the head doesn't look right (nose is too long). Although there is some variation in the breeds, this dog also looks too slight of build to be either an AmStaff or a pit bull. The ones I've seen are quite broad-shouldered and have a look of strenth about them. Just an FYI, the AmStaff is not a Pit Bull Terrier. My AKC book lists two different "Staffordshire" dogs - the 'American Staffordshire Terrier' and the the 'Staffordshire Bull Terrier'. The 'American Pit Bull Terrier' is not recognized by the AKC. The picture of the 'Staffordshire Bull Terrier' in the book has a slighter build than the AmStaff, so that's a possibility for breed. These three dogs are distinct breeds, but the AmStaff is very often mistaken for a pit bull. If this is one of the 'bully breeds', that does make it difficult to place. Some insurance companies will not insure homes with these breeds, or charge a higher "dangerous dog" premium. Some cities have banned the pit bull and anything that looks like one, and most landlords will not rent to anyone with this type of dog.

I wish your friend lots of luck. Do try to find out the breed so a rescue group can be located.

[MicksMom]

I am not that much of an expert on all breeds, but the dog shown in the pic doesn't ring any bells with me as a pure-bred unless it is an Am Staff - American Staffordshire terrier - with uncropped ears...

If the ears were uncropped, they'd lay down, not stand up. This dog's ears remind me of a French Bulldog, but Frenchies aren't that big. Except for the ears, he reminds me of our son and daughter-in-laws Boxer/Greyhound mix. I honsetly don't think he's a purebred, but could be a mix of any of the bull breeds.