It should always be like this.

I wish Sparky wasn’t a sore loser or a mean drunk or whatever analogy is appropriate, but he is.  Rusty can’t stay, and it isn’t his fault.

If you want a great dog who wants to be good, please let me know.  I have submitted the form for him to be taken in by the Friendship APL in Elyria.  It will probably take several days to complete the process.

Animal shelters have a process to screen people wanting to adopt, to make sure the dog will be cared for and successful in the new home.  They don’t want to get the dog back.  

A shelter has some responsibility, so is much more likely to accept a dog that came from their facility.  Sparky came from the Friendship APL.  They are a small, but friendly and comfortable, animal rescue.  Rusty came from the Richland County dog warden.  That is a clean, utilitarian facility with crazy, barking tough guys.  I won’t take him back there.

 Rusty is a 3 year old, male, beagle mix.  I tried to present him in a good light so that Friendship APL will take him in.  The intake form is a Google Docs form with specific questions, so I took liberties to argue on Rusty’s behalf.

This is the case I made for him.

Briefly explain any behavioral concerns, if any?

Three years ago, I adopted a 9 year-old beagle from Friendship APL. He is very charming, and I pamper him. He is very jealous of the new dog. I have managed their interactions, and they seemed to get along with some tension. As they are together more, if I show affection toward the new dog, my old dog growls.

A week ago, they had a vicious fight with biting. I broke them up, and thought it was sorted. Last night, they had another vicious fight, and the old dog was bleeding. The wound was superficial, but they cannot stay together.

The new dog has to go, and I won’t be getting a second dog. The new dog does not initiate these confrontations.

Are you aware of any health concerns with your pet(s)?

No, the dog is in better shape than he was when I adopted him 5 weeks ago. I had him neutered, got him rabies shots, and he’s had a Bravecto to protect him from fleas and ticks for two more months.

Please provide additional information regarding the surrender.

I had been on Petfinder and other sites, looking for a happy beagle for several weeks when I found this dog (Rusty) at the Richland County Adoption Center. The other dogs were mostly pits or other big dogs, barking their heads off. Rusty was in his compartment, quietly wondering how he ended up there.

Rusty is a very sweet dog. He has shown no aggression at all, and is confused by my old dog’s attitude. He likes people and is happy to play or to lounge. He’s got the general idea of house training, and is learning basic commands. Rusty has done nothing wrong, and it breaks my heart that my old dog is so jealous.

As I said, I got my old dog (Sparky) from Friendship APL. When I was looking for a new dog, I visited Friendship APL, but couldn’t find the right dog. I adore Sparky, and can’t have him living out his remaining years in a tense stand-off. Rusty is a young, enthusiastic dog who deserves hugs, play time and affection without looking over his shoulder.

I did my best for Rusty, but it didn’t work out. All I can do for him now is to get him to a nice facility where he might find a good home. Friendship APL is the nicest place I know. I suppose that he can be returned to Richland Adoption Center, where I found him, but that’s too rough for such a nice dog. The same is true for the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter.

Animal shelters are a business.  They may be non-profit or governmental, but their job is to humanely take extra pets, and get them somewhere.  They have limited resources. 

Rusty has to go.  He is good-natured, but confused by Sparky’s behavior.  He is bigger, younger and has better teeth than Sparky.  I can’t risk Sparky being badly injured.

I want dogs who are free to roam as far as they can handle.  For beagles, that means free to roam the house and sleep where they want.  I don’t want to keep caged dogs, with brief periods of freedom. 

Rusty and Sparky both deserve beter.

I hope that Friendship APL is persuaded that Rusty is a good dog that they can place and that they won’t mind doing me a favor by taking him.  In any case, he is going somewhere.

My sister assured me that I did my best for Rusty, and to think of it as fostering him for a month or so.  With the rabies shot and neutering, he is a new and improved version.

I hope it works out for him.