As many of you know there is this dog named Willow who I have posted about, friends of my sons had rescued her starving to death and un able to even stand. My son helps in her care. My son loves this dog and she loves him, problems are arising the dog needs placed, my son has yet to find a place that allows dogs. He currently rents and cannot purchase for at least another year. Here in creates another problem. 

He wants me to take and re-hab this dog she is back to health now, the current fosters cannot get her house trained, she is food focused 24/7 (no wonder there). She has no bite in habition and has nailed him a few times as well as his g/f when they are asleep and she wants to play. Not aggressive but leaves marks, she just wants him all the time! He cannot house the dog for any length of time since his landlord does not permit pets. So he spends a few hours a day and took her for one night only to see how her and the cat got along. She peed on his couch after just going out!

Yesterday he came to me with sad brown eyes and asked me to take the dog for three months until they can get out of the lease. And then, still the problem of finding housing for them as well as the dog. Meantime the good son he is thinks I can work miracles. I appreciate the sentiment BUT we all know..

I am dealing with my own newer adoption, and  training, My other half is a little frustrated over  the energy level of the newest one. And for the past three weeks have had our previous foster dog Cody also. I have explained to my son that the food habits may never decrease. She ran the other day towards a squirrel not to harm the varmint but to take the nuts it was gathering, she promptly put a few in her mouth and brought them back to my son for safe keeping..poor baby girl..

My thoughts are at this stage no one will care for/ adopt/ this dog, my son and her already are very bonded,   I already know we have full plates with my dogs, I know my son will be happy and I know he will help as promised..should I have a reality check??? I think I can help to a degree, of course my son who thinks when it comes to dogs I can always help them and he knows the kindness in my heart will keep her safe.  She has clung to life and deserves better. I have talked to him about the reality of "jumping" when he does not have yet a secure place to keep the dog.  "I am the chosen one"The facts are she may never change some of her behaviors, which is okay as long as she gets house trained for him. She was left in a crate so she goes in the crate. He tries in the two hours a day he spends but then that leaves 22 hours he cannot work with her. Here he can be with her most days and I will be here when he works in the eves.

I have talked myself in and out of this thinking my son loves this dog but sometimes we have to let go..but will this dog be able to find a home..it is doubtful. I have a week to make a choice neither of which is going to be easy..comments? Reality check>bridge?

Big big hugs.  I hear the anguish in your post.

When I was new at rescue, I want to rescue them all and the toughest cases gave me the most grins when they were successful.   Over the years, I've realized sometimes one must make very difficult decisions.   The time, emotional and intellectual energy on the toughest cases can be wearing.  

This sounds like a dog that will always need a huge input of time,  and may always have some challenges in interacting in the dog world.   Your son and you are both in a very difficult situation.

I'm not fully hard hearted, and do work hard with many challenges.    Sometimes there are too many challenges and too many individual dogs needing help, so it is like triage in a medical emergency. 

Big big hugs for a truly tough situation.

With two new dogs, do you and your husband have any more time and patience resources to spare, or at least dig up? Also if a situation ever called for an assessment from a professional behavioralist, this might be it.  Vick's victims had many people wanting to foster/adopt but they needed very careful placement, and some are living at Best Friends to this day.

I would suggest contacting Best Friends for their advice and possible support. Include pictures and as much information as you can.  They may have suggestions and resources in your area, that can help find the best situation fo help  Willow. http://www.bestfriends.org/

What a wonderful Idea! I know poor little Willow has been and seen all the bad times she has needed to. I will talk to someone before I attempt this. I have the patience, at times over the past three months it has been a little thin. But it is still in place for my dogs, adding another is to say the least a hard decision as I need more work yet on my own as you mentioned.

My son will be here a few hours each day to assist  most days but winter is coming quickly. Our foster son and dog will be here over the holidays, just one more hoop!. My latest  was getting Chelsea to stop pulling on the leash and a gentle leader has worked wonders! It took two days for her to not want to take it off and then the thoughts of a longer and nicer walk with her and Buddy worked out to my advantage! She was a puller but when we started walking her and Buddy it was a race to the finish line, ending in shorter walks going in circles and so forth.(Arm has remained intact although I do not know how!) It is good now.

I have also set up another open crate for when I need it. I just jump in it and take a break..(Laugh)  Really I have a large building I always wanted to make into a boarding place but I have thought maybe to set up a type of agility course to occupy and run off energy while working on behavior and such with the dogs, the only problem is, it does not have a great heat source for right now but to go out and play for an hour will not be an issue Idon't think. And vs the only 1/8-1/4 play area I have fenced in we have priced and are ordering a fence enough to fence in an entire acre. That will cut down stress when it comes to off leash play or lounging, I am with them anyway most all times or hubby is. Hubby just does not like to walk that much and many times it is on me to walk the two large ones our little one just plays and comes along she is such an angel.

I had thought that Willow may well enjoy "CC". They are about the same size and can play and walk together. Chelsea has learned gentle play with CC but Buddy still gets overly active and CC walks away. But Buddy is gentle and easy just ACTIVE! My son has worked with Willow enough that she is cat friendly and dog friendly, I just need to work on them all together as a group. Willow likes adults and older children little ones scare her just like Chelsea. We are working on that occasionally, it is hard to find little ones.(children) Trying to find the place to take her safely around them.

With Buddy he is no longer  food aggressive, I can feed them all in the same room, I watch, I make him sit and even when he is last to get his treat he waits patiently. I can put my hand in his food which he was never really bad w/people just mostly dogs and most times now he walks away from the cat when i say leave it Buddy. Once in a while he fixates on them and I can manage to divert him. I crate him still when I  or hubby am not at home. He can be out of the crate all night and just lays and sleeps by us even when the cats are in the same room! And when he is outside and we come in I drop the lead and call him around he comes or just heads for the back door no running off like he used to! Still many little issues from time to time especially with his energy level but that is Bud man and we just need to remain as active as possible.

You see how I talk myself into trouble! I will let my dog therapist alone for now and call these people you have suggested. I think that was a wonderful Idea you have! Thanks

You are so right! I had the same many years ago when I did this and stopped altogether from the stress emotionally. Now 15 years later I am putting myself on that edge again. My son is such a good hearted young man and just is in love with his dog. Otherwise i would wish them well. The dog Willow is almost healthy enough soon to get spayed and she is having her teeth and nails trimmed while under.

Matthew has gotten her used to cats and other dogs and Statica mentioned calling the Pit rescue so I will and go from there. I have slowly gotten things under control here and since it is only for three months I may do this. I want to help my son..no brainier there I guess, But I also want to do what is right for the dog.

 Her biggest issue is food. My biggest issue is time and stress. I am leaning towards doing it for the three months. I need to see how mine react to Willow. She is quite and I am hoping will adapt easily on the other hand Buddy is a teenager and gentle as he is the ball of energy  and may frighten Willow. Chelsea knows how to play with smaller dogs more gently  with less enthusiasm. Still have not given the okay to take her and will further research and make a decision in the next week.

Thank-you for the understanding and thoughts. We will see!