Saying goodbye to the puppy.

[Phillycat]

As some of you know, I recently rescued a stray dog I found on campus where I work. Molly is a total sweetheart, but it's just not working. She's part terrier, and we've tried everything to get her to stop chasing/attacking our cats, but she can't calm down, and they won't stand up to her. We've been living with a baby gate separating the upstairs and downstairs, and since we spend most of our time downstairs with the dog, we haven't spent quality time with the cats in a long time. They miss us and we miss them, and they have to be our first priority.

I want to thank everyone who responded to my thread asking for advice for this problem. We literally tried every single suggestion on the thread, and it's just not happening. Molly can't help herself, and even with a muzzle, the first time we "let them loose", she pinned one of the cats down in the corner of the kitchen and nearly hurt her before we could get them separated. Holding her on a leash doesn't work, because she simply lunges and barks (muffled, through the muzzle) and even when we establish dominance over her, she can't stop herself. The cats are terrified of her and won't just stand up to her. It's just not going to work.

I had posted a "found dog" ad on craigslist when I initially took her home, to try to find her owners. Well, I never did find them, but lots of people contacted me interested in adopting her, and one of them was a very nice woman. She's a PhD here at the university and lives in a beautiful home with a fenced yard. She came over to meet Molly, and everyone fell in love right away. It's been a week, and now that we've worked out all the details with her, she's coming over tonight to pick Molly up.

I must say I'm relieved. We miss the cats so much and are worried about them. Also, our lives have been chaotic with the puppy. She's so incredibly sweet, but you know how everything just revolves around the dog when you're trying to train an untrained 1-year old.

At the same time, I am so sad!! We've loved having her, and we're going to miss her so much. Just the constant sort of rustle a dog makes is very comforting. Not to mention she was a total lovebug and wanted attention and pets all the time. It's nice to have a dog who's so loving around the house. We are going to be lonely for her for a while.

We know this is the best choice for Molly, and we have complete confidence that the woman who is adopting her will give her the best possible life, but we are sad all the same. I am so glad I rescued her. She's the most deserving and wonderful dog.

Bye bye, Molly.

[flvegan]

1. You done good.

Sounds like she's going to have a great forever home. Sorry it didn't work out for you, though.

Still a life saved.

:thumbsup:

[Phillycat]

4. Thanks.

Yeah, this woman doesn't have cats, and is an animal lover the way my husband and I are. I knew she was the right person when I asked, "Will you crate her at night?" and she laughed and said, "No, she'll sleep with me." :) We did a vet reference check and everything. She's responsible, well-to-do, and has made a solemn promise to call US if anything goes wrong, rather than putting her on the streets or in a shelter. We know we're making the right decision.

It's just...it doesn't take long to fall in love with them, does it? :cry:

[flvegan]

6. No, it doesn't.

It also never gets easier.

:hug:

[Wcross]

9. Yep, that is a good indicator- LOL.

"when I asked, "Will you crate her at night?" and she laughed and said, "No, she'll sleep with me."

I would say you found a person that is going to treat her right.

[stuntcat]

2. omg *sweet* picture!

oh I'd be sad too. I'd want my cats to be happy again though. And Molly will have a happy life too.

[Phillycat]

10. It's the best choice for everyone, for sure.

She just wormed her way into our hearts so fast. :cry: :loveya:

[lost-in-nj]

3. I agree with flvegan

you did good.....

he has a new home and a new friend.....


lost

:thumbsup: :hi:

[Phillycat]

11. She's going to do great.

It just makes me sad.

Thanks. :hi:

[DS1]

5. must not make this a lolpup

Hey, shame it didn't work out for you, but in the long run, Molly scored big

:thumbsup:

[Phillycat]

12. She really did!

Her new house is nicer than ours! I'm thinking about asking the lady to adopt us, too. :D

[Wcross]

7. I am so glad you found her a good home, you're a sweetheart!

Bringing in a new pet often doesn't work out. I have tried it three times and have only had success one time. I am so glad you tried but even happier to know you found her a good home. The best feeling I have had in a long time was rescuing a dog I knew I could never keep and finding her a good home. I will do it again in a heartbeat.

Thank you for being you janesez! One more dog will live a good life thanks to your efforts :yourock:

[Phillycat]

13. We couldn't have let her go without knowing she was going somewhere perfect.

She's too sweet to be entrusted to anyone except the best sort of person. And you're absolutely right, we feel amazingly good about having taken her in, cleaned her up, took her to the vet, and found her a home. :hug:

[alphafemale]

8. Good Lord! That dog has got the "Who? Poor widdle innocent ME?" face down pat! nt

[Phillycat]

14. You have NO IDEA.

We think that's how she survived on the streets for so long - who could resist those eyes? She must have got half of everyone's sandwich! :D

As for us, we are putty in her paws. :loveya:

[seemunkee]

15. You did the best thing for Molly

Took her off the street and found her a new home. Sorry it didn't work out for you keeping her.

[Phillycat]

18. Yes. Also the new woman will get her spayed, which will help other

potential puppies who will now never exist! So it's a good thing all around.

We're going to miss the little bugger though. :cry:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

16. i am so sorry to hear that. glad you found her a new home.

[Phillycat]

19. Thanks.

:hug:

[Fire Walk With Me]

17. Sorry about the separation, but that's good work and good news overall.

:hug:

[Phillycat]

20. Thank you.

:hug:

[Arkansas Granny]

21. I know you are disappointed, but you have made the best choice,

IMO, and you've given Molly the best chance possible to become a pampered pet. You did a very good thing.

:hug:

[Phillycat]

24. Thank you.

I know it's the best choice, but you do get attached to the little buggers, don't ya? :hug:

[ThomCat]

22. All things considered, you made all the right choices.

:yourock:

I'm very glad that she's going to a very good home, and that your cats are getting their home back. I hope everyone lives well with lots of love and affections. :)

[Phillycat]

25. Oh, the cats are gonna be SO PSYCHED.

We're going to vaccuum everything really well after Molly is gone, and then let them come down and tear around the place and smell everything! They're going to be so excited to come sit on our laps again while we watch movies in the living room. :loveya:

[Arugula Latte]

23. I'm sure it's hard, but you made the right choice.

The kitties come first, and it's not fair for them to be scared in their own home.

Glad you found her such a great home! :toast: :applause: :yourock:

[Phillycat]

27. That's how we feel too.

It's not fair on the cats. Both of our cats are rescue jobs, and one's a bit of a neurotic head case as it is. It took them months to get used to each other! We want to get their lives back to normal, and ours too. We made our commitments to them first, so we have to keep them first priority.

We will miss her, but we know she's going to a wonderful home with a wonderful new mommy! :hug: Thanks.

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

26. You did a wonderful thing, Janesez!

Actually, many wonderful things. You got Molly out of the cold, you cleaned her up, you looked for her owner and you tried to train her to be able to coexist with your kitties. And the final wonderful thing is finding her a great new forever home where she will be loved and pampered.

I know you will miss her, but you have done the most wonderful thing of all in realizing that the best place for her is with someone else.

:hug:

[Phillycat]

28. Aw, thank you.

It was so cold last week that I was really glad I'd found her the week before. She didn't even want to go for walks, her usual favorite thing in the world! :D

We'll miss her, but we'll always be glad we did it. :loveya: :cry:

[applegrove]

29. A happy ending.