Home » Plants & Animals » Dog Rescue » In Memory of Aspen

In Memory of Aspen

© Joan C. Fremo

Everyone who does Pet Rescue knows the call, knows the tone. We receive calls and emails from Owners wanting to give up their pets. We hear ALL the excuses---moving and can’t take the dog along; won’t stop barking; growls at their neighbor’s dog; food aggressive; dog aggressive; pulls on the lead; got too big… One dog was received into Rescue because it didn’t go with the family’s new Blue carpet. We know these calls all too well. Sadly, most are a lack of commitment, a lack of training—and it is the dog that suffers.

Recently I received an email from a young woman. She wrote: ”I have a Great Pyrenees, 18 wks old. He needs home w/o kids & maybe w/o other dogs as well. I love him very much but he's been overly aggressive when he has food, toys, or when he just doesn't want you to have what he has.”

Good grief, I thought. This is just a puppy! A 4 ½ month-old puppy! It needs to be taught, it needs to learn manners, and it needs… I thought this was just a case of another thoughtless owner---of someone not knowledgeable of puppy behavior and training, of someone lacking commitment and caring.

I was wrong, so very wrong…

I spoke with the Owner on the phone. I heard the grief, and I heard the fear. I heard the anguish in her voice as I listened to her explain, and as she answered my questions. Please forgive me, I was so wrong.

My heart sank as I realized that this poor gal was grasping at straws—out of love and commitment for her Pet. She had done EVERYTHING right! She WAS committed. She had trained, sought and found a Professional Trainer. She sought help from her Veterinarian—and she sought help from the breeder…

The Breeder offered to take the puppy back, resell it, and send her the money. The Breeder that told her this puppy was weaned at only 3 weeks of age. The Breeder that had explained away what seemed like aggressive behavior in the parents with the excuse that they had just been given turkey necks.

Thankfully, this young woman rejected that avenue. She was afraid someone else would end up with this aggressive animal, that he would end up tied to a tree, or abused by someone else unable to change him. She was advised by her Vet, and her Trainer---and with a heavy heart, she was seeking help—or confirmation of her fears.

The copyright of the article In Memory of Aspen in Dog Rescue is owned by . Permission to republish In Memory of Aspen in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.