Being over-defensive is your style wpr.
To me an animal that is shut up in a shelter or kennel is not all that different from someone being locked-up in a jail. IMO, adopting an animal and getting it into a better environment as soon as possible would be the best thing for any animal. If after a reasonable amount of time it is concluded that it is not going to work out, returning the animal back to the shelter is always an option. Pets are rarely returned, but it does happen.
As for a name, I and others have suggested names per your post. That final decision is entirely yours, but don't cast negatives over suggested names if you please.
Good Luck
and
Happy Holidays
Originally Posted by: Smokey
Oh Smokey you are the one who is overly sensitive.
I appreciate every single suggestion even if you don't think I do. I am merely trying to let you and others know a little more about
why I would not select a particular name. If that hurts your feelings I am sorry. It is unintentional. I am not being negative nor unappreciative of any of the suggestions. Some names will work. Others will not. Would you prefer me not to comment at all? Anyone else who has given me suggestions, how about any of you? Shall I remain mum?
As for taking the dog on Saturday. That couldn't have happened. As I mentioned, my wife wasn't with me. She has an equal vote in the matter. Or would you suggest I bring the dog home and tell her to deal with it whether she likes it or not?
Even if I wanted to, the shelter has rules. They don't give a dog away to whom ever shows up and plunks some money on the counter. They want to know the match is going to be a good one. They told me when I walked in the door and asked to see her it was going to take 2-3 visits. I told them I expected as much.
Many rescue places want to inspect your home before they leave the dog with you. All of them want to know if you have other animals. If you have children, especially small children. They want to know if you smoke. How long you will be away from the house during the day. One particular rescue place turned my sister in law down. My brother was on the road a lot. Their daughter was only a yr old. The people at that facility told my sister in law that she already had her hands full and they wouldn't let her have a dog. My brother was a senior executive for Ameritec at the time but they would rather keep the dog in a shelter than in someone's home.
Let me ask you this, have you ever acquired a dog from a shelter? This will be my third one. All from the same place. They know me. Both my wife and I have sent them emails this past week. They looked up our file before I got there.
The first dog I got from them had been with them for more than 8 months. I was able to take her that same day. She was thrilled and excited to leave. The second dog was afraid of men. When my wife and I sat in the little room with him he ran to my wife but would not come to me even when I had treats for him. He took them from her but not me. The next two visits I went alone. He warmed up to me a little bit on the 3rd visit. Not much but it was enough for me and the shelter to see he was beginning to trust me. This is the third dog from this facility. She more afraid than the first two by a lot. She will need a lot more attention. I picked up a hair brush to brush her and she jumped back when she saw what was in my hand. I hadn't made a sudden move. I was showing it to her as I approached her. That tells me she was probably beaten by her former owner. I am not an expert in animal behavior but her reaction was not a positive one.
When I took her for a walk. She tried to run away from me. After about 15-20 minutes I told her we should go back inside, she ran to the door. When I had her in the visiting room she stared out to the reception room the whole time because the people she knew and trusted were out there and she could see them through the window in the wall. She may not want to live in a shelter her whole life but she feels safe there.