Kirska

Harley figured out how to jump over the dog gates... rather effortlessly for an 11 year old... and in turn we discovered that Anabelle can't cope all by herself during the day.

Being 11 years old, he realistically doesn't have too much time left. He spent a lot of his life grossly overweight and unhealthy before his thyroid problem got under control (before we had him). We've decided that in the event of him being the first to go, it would be better to go ahead and find a 3rd dog now so that neither would have to be alone, rather than rushing out to find a 2nd dog once one is gone.

So this leaves me with a few potential issues.
1. I live alone right now. Is it reasonable for a person by themselves to handle 3 medium-large size dogs? I only have 2 hands and have to do all the house and lawn work by myself. I wonder if it would be too much for me to deal with.
2. Foster or adopt? I like the idea of fostering, but I'm afraid if we cycle dogs too often, Harley will get too stressed. He is very resistant to change and generally doesn't like new dogs. He takes about 3-4 weeks or more before he stops snapping at them. He also feels it's his job to protect both me and Anabelle and I feel that may make the problem worse.

My plan is to look for a senior female dog that needs and home, but I am still uncertain if it's a good idea. I am not set on any breed.

The shelter I volunteer at currently has 2 sister chihuahuas about 8 years old that are very sweet but they are so attached to each other I don't know if they'd be good company for Anabelle.

The shelter by me has a 7 year old beagle that I have not yet met.

Of course the local basset rescue is always looking for new foster homes.

Thoughts? Opinions? I'm just looking for feedback

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Mom to Anabelle and Lila, rescued ladies and Harley, Corgi/Beagle/Basset/?? mutt

"Saving just one dog won't change the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog." - Richard C. Call

Wworm

Can't be of much help, as my person says me, me, me is alreadys a handful! she couldn't imagine 2 at the moment, much less 3!

but good things bout your situation is that you have a nice yard. and perhaps adopting better than rescuing for Harleys sake?
--Worm

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see what the Worm is up to: http://bassetworm.blogspot.com/

jaleely

my only problem besides hubby not wanting to have 3 dogs to have to "deal" with....when all he does is deal with me sleeping with them, deal with me feeding them, and deal with me bathing them, and me cleaning up after them *rolls eyes* is that Bowser will get jealous. He's the sweetest boy who loves his world with mama. dada is okay, and daisy is usually ignored, though played with when she wants to.
Another dog would take mama time away for sure, and he'd be so unahppy!

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Baby Bowsah's Bwog

Kirska

I thought about it last night and I think I will try to get Anabelle's teeth situation under control before we get a 3rd dog. She needs to be taken to a doggy dentist and it's going to cost us a lot. Then I got a list of dogs being killed today at a nearby shelter at 2 PM to try to be saved and felt guilty about deciding to wait :/

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Mom to Anabelle and Lila, rescued ladies and Harley, Corgi/Beagle/Basset/?? mutt

"Saving just one dog won't change the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog." - Richard C. Call

Kirska

I am back to changing my mind again. I am thinking about going and meeting this dog. She is at a shelter I give spare dog food to. They are a local open intake no kill shelter so I like supporting them. They say she is a sweetheart.

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Mom to Anabelle and Lila, rescued ladies and Harley, Corgi/Beagle/Basset/?? mutt

"Saving just one dog won't change the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog." - Richard C. Call

eclairs mom

I have 4 dogs after my most recent adoption. As far as im concerned, 4 are not really any more work than 2 or 3, but then again, I have a great husband who helps raise and care for our doggie family.

Realy consider the cost of vetrinary care though. For many years our vet bills consisted of just preventative maintenance checks and meds. Over the past 12 months however, we have had a sick dog from getting into something she shouldnt, an ear haematoma, cherry eye, 2 dental cleanings and took on Ethel with Phnumonia. It adds up to be a chunk of change. Fortunately, I have the resources to support them and anthicipated and planned for it.

Im pro rescue, anybody willing to rescue another unwanted soul is an angel.

Good luck with your decision, whatever it may be. The love and appreciation your current or potential new pups will give you will pay you back for anything you put out!

Kirska

We have all of our dogs on pet insurance with 100% coverage for non-maintenance care so we are able to budget for that.

I am taking Harley to meet her on Saturday. I was waiting until an off-site adoption event because I'm not comfortable taking an 11 year old dog to a shelter that has recently had a disease outbreak.

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Mom to Anabelle and Lila, rescued ladies and Harley, Corgi/Beagle/Basset/?? mutt

"Saving just one dog won't change the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog." - Richard C. Call

Wworm

How did it go, Harley? she looks cute..

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see what the Worm is up to: http://bassetworm.blogspot.com/

Kirska

Well...

It went rather well. They got along great. So I told them I was driving Harley back home, and that I would most likely be back in about 30 mins to pick her up. It wasn't a done deal because I hadn't cleared it with my husband. I called my husband to make sure he was okay with it.

I came back in the 30 minutes that I said I would and in that time someone else had adopted her. I was happy that she had found a home but obviously pretty frustrated and disappointed. I was reasonably angry after the fact, not at the shelter since I would've done the same thing (half the time people say "I'll be right back" and never come back), but just at the situation. She was there for about 2-3 weeks and only in the 30 minutes between me deciding to adopt her for sure and showing back up does someone else come along.

So back at square one, searching for a medium sized female senior dog. When my husband is here for Christmas break we are going to scour the pounds in the area if I haven't found one before then to see what we can find.

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Mom to Anabelle and Lila, rescued ladies and Harley, Corgi/Beagle/Basset/?? mutt

"Saving just one dog won't change the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog." - Richard C. Call

Kirska

We have been in contact with this dog's foster, if she is still around at Christmas we are going to meet her. She is a beagle/basset mix.

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Mom to Anabelle and Lila, rescued ladies and Harley, Corgi/Beagle/Basset/?? mutt

"Saving just one dog won't change the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog." - Richard C. Call