Facebook, Friend Or Foe ?

Thanks to Georgia Bear for giving me a marvelous topic to share with you.  Her comment is under the piece  ( below ) discussing posting pictures online.  We all know from YB that things can get ugly when the right people fall into the mix.  Her question was " how much is to much" on the history of the dog.  Good topic, and becoming even more relevant daily with the increased use of FB by rescues and shelters.
My experience from NHS is that 90% of what they post was designed to manipulate the adopting public, and if creating a sense of outrage would get the dog out the door, that was the tack they took..  That generally draws interest from the sickest type of adopter unfortunately.  Oreo wrote a good story on "looking for a pet or saving a life ?  and it addressed some of the marketing tactics being used today.   The case referenced by GB was a widower needed to place his deceased wifes dog, the dog had never liked him, and I could see where that would make the person and the dog miserable.  Apparently that opened the floodgates of opinion and let the loonies loose to vent..  So, how much is to much.?  At NHS they would have draped flowers, and raved on ad infinitum, in Sac we take a more sensible approach.  Really what is important ?  Is the status of the owner the issue, or the dog ?
 In our area the placement ad would have read, description, behavior, health.
Ex:  Buffy is a 2 year old neutered male pitbull mix, his current weight is 60 pounds.. We think he's through growing.  Buffy is exuberant, he loves to play and is learning the leash .  He has a happy outlook, but can be to rowdy for young children.  Buffy is very interested in meeting all people, but needs to be on a leash until he learns not to jump. Buffy holds his eliminations until he gets out of his kennel, if taken out twice a day. Buffy has his shots and is ready to go to his new home. 
From my view, which I picked up from Oreo, it doesn't matter if Buffy grew up with kids, because he didn't grow up with your kids.  Same with cats and door to door salesman.  the dog will develop new living skills in your home.  Even potty training that was flawless before can go away, or submissive peeing that caused the dog to be rehomed may go away in a one dog household.
Good luck and keep it clean and honest..

Is There Ever A " Happy Ever After " For Bully Breeds ?

Of course, but not so often as other dogs.......This guy seems to be living a good life, got his own chair, complete with window :0 How was he lucky when so many others get left behind ? The answer is simple, he was adoptable. He's not doomed by his breed, but saved by his behavior, the reverse is usually true with dogs on the euth list. Many, if not all, dogs on euthanasia lists have found themselves in the shelter over behavioral issues. They cannot be contained, they are distructive, chronic barkers, maybe even a bite dog. Some of these behaviors are brought on by owner ignorance or neglect, but they are there, and they are difficult at best to change. Why do we blame the shelter for failing to do what the owner could or would not ? The whole " adopt don't shop " thing is another cross to bear. That is like chalk on a blackboard to me.
Who are shelters ,to direct people where to get an animal that will be a part of the family for 10-15 years? That is very off-putting to many and smacks or reverse elitism. Cleaning up after somebody else's bad choices is something we face in all aspects of our lives ( BP comes to mind ) but when it comes to the animal we will share our home with, don't guilt someone into taking a dog because it's homeless.... I do like the statement " thank you for considering adoption" but the other extensions need to be removed from shelter speak. Somewhere on here Oreo wrote a piece about " nice and adoptable are not the same" It's worth a second read. When you have people adopting for the wrong reason, it's not good for the dog, the shelter, or the new owner.....
I was a WWII baby and grew up with stories of people racing to get married as ships waited in the bay. Never much talk about the diviorce rate shooting up in 1946 when the fruits of hurried decisions were born. I wonder about the mindset that leads to impulse couplings. A pet should be a lifetime decision for the animal, to be that we need to be honest, and firm in our convictions of what is adoptable. We don't need any outsiders in the process, adoptions on behavior, not breed will keep a balance.
Pictured is another old dog who lives out his days at home, dogs live in the moment, and his is peaceful.