thoughts on a weird situation

alafairnadia

I live in ecuador. people don't do rescue here, for the most part. the vets that are low priced have months long waiting lists. I'm used to always getting pets from rescue organizations.

unfortunately, we had a big tragedy on my property on xmas eve. on of my mom's rescue dachshunds was murdered by two dogs that I'd adopted from a friend of the family (who told me the dogs were great with little dogs and cats). the other dachshund is seriously depressed -- he spends most days curled up under a blanket that still smells like lucas and sleeps. many days he refuses to eat.

the murderous dogs have been passed along to someone I have qualms about -- he breeds dogs. but whatever, I just wanted rid of them and was ready to shoot them if they didn't get the fuck out. they also attacked one of my cats who escaped our cat enclosure and chased her until she was on top of the fire place. so, I'm kinda in no mercy land for those dogs and thank god I was in quito when they were passed along.

oh, and they were attacking my 91 year old grandmother's beloved dachshund -- irreplacable, obvi -- so they kinda either needed to go or get put down.

in any case, we ran into an indigenous family in the market the other day that has a pregnant dachshund. they told us that normally when their dogs breed, they just give them away. but because they send the dachshund to a vet (aka expensive) they charge for her puppies. we promised to come back in a week to check in. however, I feel weird paying someone for a dog when it's not for, say, rescue costs.

granted, I'm aware that a vet here can cost as much as the states and people don't have that kind of money just lying around -- they depend on the bounty of their investment to pay it off.

something feels icky about this potential transaction for a puppy to replace the murdered one, something else feels a-ok about it. what do you guys think?

modsquad

I don't see the necessity in replacing a dachshund with another dachshund. Dogs are probably the most unprejudiced species on the planet. If anything, take the remaining dachshund to a rescue place and let him pick out a new friend.

opossumqueen

Agree with mod, but since you said rescues are hard to come by maybe you have limited options for finding a small dog.

Maybe you could talk to them about paying money directly to their vet if that makes you feel better about it. Maybe the cost to spay the female so they don't keep breeding her.

Also, getting a puppy might just stress the other dog more. If you can, try introducing it to some friendly dogs of friends to see how it seems to feel about a new companion.

alafairnadia

I hear what you guys are saying. unfortunately, most people here, whether indigenous or mestizo, don't feel the same way anyone on this board feels about dogs/pets in general. shit, a lot of people don't even treasure their children -- they're replaceable.

our rottie, meadow, was super friendly with the dachshund -- she's good with little dogs, not cats. and there's a lot of pack tension right now: meadow (rottie) and lola (my grandma's dachshund) are obvi both female, micah, the remaining dachshund of my mom's, is the only male. so there are a lot of nutty attacks going on. we'd do well to get another boy dog just to balance out the estrogen levels.

anyway, I still have qualms and I think I have to be in quito next week for a business contact, so I'll leave the decision to my mom. maybe she can take micah and he can pick out his new friend. not sure how meadow would do with newborn puppies -- they tend to look like food to a fight-trained dog.

pitu

OpossumQueen wrote: Agree with mod, but since you said rescues are hard to come by maybe you have limited options for finding a small dog.

Maybe you could talk to them about paying money directly to their vet if that makes you feel better about it. Maybe the cost to spay the female so they don't keep breeding her.

Also, getting a puppy might just stress the other dog more. If you can, try introducing it to some friendly dogs of friends to see how it seems to feel about a new companion.

yeah . . . lots of new potential problems
It's a great idea to let the dog decide...spend time with new dogs, etc. How old is your mom's surviving dog?

I don't think 2 male dogs, esp unneutered, make for the easiest pack adjustment. That "balancing out" idea doesn't work with dogs. Our showdog/rescue/trainer genius relative always has to keep the boys separate from each other if she has more than one in the herd.

Good luck, grrrl.

alafairnadia

thanks. we're staying away from new dogs right now b/c, well, I'll post now.