I am NOT the person to give up on a dog. I am NOT the person to get rid of a dog. I am the one that loves the dog that no one else wants. I HATE this.
This is the letter I've been sending to every rescue I can find. If you know of anyone or anyone that knows anyone who might be able to take proper care of him, PLEASE pass on his info.
In the meantime, I would greatly appreciate prayers for Smokey's new people to know they are his people and come meet him/get him and peace for me while I hunt desperately for them for him.
Woof woof! Woof woof woof woof! Hello! My name is Smokey. I'm a big dog mix (~100lbs.) I think I might have some Mastiff or Bull Mastiff in my blood. The first people said I'm Great Dane/Great Pyranees. Perhaps there's some of all of it. Whatever I am, I'm quite stately. I am so thankful that my current master got me out of that place. There were rumors that I was going to be killed and put in a ditch by the dirt road since I scratched the man's truck! My current masters are really trying to take good care of me and my brother. I can tell they really love dogs and really want the best for us. I love living here, but I have a tendency to just get angry with my brother and attack him. Sometimes it's over food, sometimes it's over a lady dog, sometimes I just get the urge and can't help it. Sometimes we just have squabbles, but recently it's been more "real" fights. Unfortunately, they have a two year old son. I would never hurt him on purpose, but sometimes I think he just doesn't know when I'm in a "mood" and steer clear and I'm afraid I might hurt him by accident. It seems like a dangerous situation to me. They have tried very hard to help me relax, control myself, escape the situation, focus on them when I’m feeling unstable, but I just can’t seem to get it. I think it would be best for me and my humans if I could find somewhere else to live. I think it might be kind of hard for them to find me a good place though since I have lots of skin issues. They've done a really good job of helping my itching go away (even done the blood work and started me on allergy shots and lots of other medicines to clear up my infections and a special-kind of bit more expensive-food.) I bet I've been to the vet 10 times since I came to live here in early February. I think we've almost got it figured out though! Hopefully, I won't need to go nearly so much anymore :-) Could you PLEASE PLEASE help me? Or tell me who might be able to help me find a new home?
Translated by Stacy (Smokey's master and friend.)
He is neutered, up to date on vaccines/heartworm/flea protection. Estimated age of 1-2. We'd like to send his allergy serum with him so he can keep getting shots. I really, really, really want him to be in a home with someone that will stay on top of his skin/itching. We're willing to send his allowance with him too to help with any extra vet/food expenses. We've never seen aggression with anyone/thing except his brother, but I still wouldn't want him in a house with small kids. He did great at Bark in the Park and can walk on a leash well. He stops what he's doing and comes when you tell him "leave it." It is with a heavy, heavy heart and lots of tears that I am writing this. I am not the person to give up a dog, but unfortunately for Smokey, I have to make my son’s safety my priority and Smokey deserves better than having to be in a kennel/run in the back of the yard...any help/suggestions of where to find him help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for all you do!
Stacy and Andy
7o4 75six 93six2
PS – We are willing to drive him to his new home.
For those of you who want more:
I HATE this. HATE HATE HATE it. Smokey is making our house too unstable, possibly dangerous for Will. In the last week he has jumped on Bear several times - sometimes over food, sometimes for no apparent reason. He has never hurt (or even growled) at Andy or Will or me, but we can't let him be around Will. Period. There is no room for a reflexive snap if Will runs into him or the chance that Will gets between them when they're scuffling. And its not fair to him to be locked up all the time (though I realize that a pen in our yard is the best that some dogs would ever dream of - and that makes me cry even more.) It's not just that he needs a new home (as a single dog, with lots of space. Or maybe he gets along with other dogs it's just something about Bear? I have no idea. That's hard enough to find.) but he also has all his skin issues and allergy shots. We've finally got the itching to stop, but it took us almost 3 months and numerous vet visits. Now that we've got it under control, perhaps giving him the shots (easy) will keep him comfy and it will be simple to maintain, but I can't just send him somewhere and hope for the best. I need to know the person that gets him will stay on top of the itching and not let him be miserable. I'd even send his allowance to help cover some of his extra vet bills/food/etc. But I've got to SEND it. We can't keep him here and put Will in danger of an accidental injury.
If for some reason, someone only wants him if Bear comes too (keep them together?), we'd be willing to let him go to ensure they are both in good homes.
