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::sigh::: really talking about a second dog...
Happy New Year everyone 
.
I have a question---When considering where you would get your pet--what did you consider?
For example--I feel like we have a good handle on...what type of dog would be a good *match* for us, what we are looking for etc...
BUT....In our town 8000 pets enter the humane society each year and 7000 are euthanized 
...
I am considering adopting from a cattle dog rescue that is out of state--because we really "want" a cattle dog and think it would be good for our family...but I feel like we are neglecting the needs of our local humane society. There are NOT (no really) any cattle dogs locally.
I feel a tug to help our humane society--but worry it will be at the cost of the other things we wanted for a second dog...if that makes sense...
Re: ::sigh::: really talking about a second dog...
For us, we knew that we'd go with a rescue or the humane society. We ended up with adopting from a human society, but we decided that we'd just meet with a few dogs and see which one we clicked with.
We felt even better about our decision because the local HS is a no kill shelter, so we loved knowing that we were helping to support that while giving an older dog a loving home
*TTC since 10/11*
BFP: 9/30/12, EDD: 6/15/13
*~*Our miracle arrived on 6/13/13*~*
We got our 2nd from a rescue form out of state. I also wanted to help our local humane society, but there were no dobermans there, and that is REALLY what H wanted.
Turns out that we didn't get a doberman anyway, they thought he was a doberman mix, but as he grew and his personality came out, we found out that he is actually an Australian Kelpie.
Anyway, maybe research some other herding breeds, and see if you like any of them that might be more prevalent in your HS. If you are set on a cattle dog, then go with the rescue, and maybe do some volunteer work at the shelter, so that you are at least contributing to them.
Well I don't have a dog, but I do have an opinion.
)
I think rescuing a dog is saving a life, no matter where you get it from. By getting a dog from this rescue, you free up a space for another dog to potentially get pulled from a humane society (among other places of course), and maybe someday that rescue even pulls from your local society. So in essence, you are still helping out dogs in humane societies too.
I don't think you should feel guilty at all for not rescuing from a particular place - the system is all interconnected in one way or another. A rescue is a life saved, period.
Good luck
)
I totally understand. In New England, we have lots of kill shelters, but if I was looking for a particular breed that worked for us, I'd look at any shelter or rescue. For example, our next dog would have to be a young, male, puppy, and I'd really like a pure bred German Shepherd. The chances of me finding one in our local Humane Society or pound are slim to none. I wouldn't hesitate to save a life from out of state.
You can always give back to your local HS in terms of time or money, or even by spreading the word so that your friends adopt from them.
It's a very personal decision and you really need to do what is right for your family. We're open to a 2nd dog, and have gotten approved by a local lab rescue. I want to give every homeless animal a forever home, but need to come to terms with the fact that our lifestyle right now (both working, longer hours,etc.) will not be the best fit for every possible dog.
It's harder, imo, to make the *right* decision vs. what you *want* to happen.
To make myself feel useful in the meantime I've volunteered to do transports, home visits, reference checks, etc. until the right dog, and one that we are right for, comes along.
I wish you well in your decision (hugs).
Part of me is so frustrated...in CO the cattle dogs were literally a dime a dozen AND there was a sweet rescue that I followed (stalked?)...but even if we didn't go through them--you could look through and find cattle dogs all the time at our local awesome shelter..it's like here in the South--nope..not so much...
And--I can't remember who mentioned this--but we DO go and look at dogs who might meet what we are looking for each weekend--and we found TWO that did!
One--OMG we love, love, loved her--she was actually a springer spaniel...and we went to see if she was still there..and someone was adopting her right as we walked in--which was happy the lady adopting her seemed nice I suppose.. but really--okay I was super sad for us : / Then the other dog--same thing!
I couldn't believe our luck lol.
blurgghh...I DO see how we are helping a pet no matter what..that helps to think of it that way...I just want a dog to appear...and be awesome and us to "know" it's the right one damnit!
5 cats. 1 baby.
Saving a life is saving a life. When we adopted Cal, he was in a shelter 4 hours away. It's just how it worked out.
In a similar vein, the women on the Adoption board on the Bump talk about this sort of situation. The decision to pursue domestic adoption or international adoption is personal, and both sides have benefits and detriments. Too often, the families who choose international adoption get flak for not helping the children in this country first.
What's right for you is right for you, and only you know what that is. I'm sure you'll find an awesome dog...yay and congrats!
Also, I'd forgotten you'd moved. I don't remember where in the South you are, but there was a stunning kelpie in a shelter in Alabama last year. I was ready to drive down and get her myself. But yeah...for the most part, the South is all hounds and hunting dogs and hounds.
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