Hello, my wife and I recently about three weeks ago adopted a gsp hound mix from a local shelter. He is five years olf. He were working on his issues ( housetraining, basic commands, and leash walking) we were making progress, but he is very bad off leash and has run away many times (broke a collar, and two times got out of different dog parks (both should never have happened however)). He was to much for my wife as she is home all day long with our toddler and just couldnt work enough with him, so we had to bring him back to the shelter. We fear he will be put down, as this is his second time being brought back and he is a very good boy, kind, gentle, and very loving and we would hate to see this happen, so if anybody knows anybody or a rescue that would be willing to take him please let us know as he doesn't deserve that fate he is a good boy and can and will make a great pet with some work. 

Please help this poor boy find the home he deserves

sorry forgot to add that he is at the local humane society in Utica Ny

yes i would say that was to judgemental...we tried the fence, he got out, we tried the dog park got out, he was clawing up the house, even on leash outside all he wanted was to go.  you could not get his attention, We brought with with us to our inlaws this past weekend, got out of the house, she has two GSP's and she tried to work with him and nothing, he just wants to run, and seeing as we have a BABY it makes it a little bit hard to work with him for hours a day, when all he wanted to do was runaway. he didnt want to run, he wanted to runaway. i walked him till he didnt want to walk anymore and still nothing nothing at all. even after running away and being picked up after running for 4 hours he still tried to get out and run.  so yes i would say you were to judgemental and you should stick to the task at hand and help try to find him a new home as he deserves one as much as your dogs do.  he needs somebody who can spend hours a day with him and we just dont have that time...remember the baby!!!

Dan,

While your baby is napping, please go online and do a google search with your zip code on all-breed rescue groups.  Contact them all and check Petfinder as well.  Or ask the shelter if you can sponsor this dog in some way to buy him time and make him a more adoptable prospect. 

These are tough times for rescue programs and shelters with the added burden of more displaced animals from foreclosures, job losses, etc.

Deb Orpen

Let me just give you a little background.  My daughter goes to nursing school, has a full time job and a fifteen month old baby.  Dan also works full time.  They also have a rescue lab that is now almost two and two cats.  It was Dayle's decision to "rescue" max from the shelter.  She loves my 2 shorthairs and could not imagine them being in a shelter.  So long story short she rescued max, very first day he broke the leash and bolted.  After calling shelter, police etc.he was found four hours later and brought back to the shelter.  Dayle and Dan picked him up as soon as they called. 

I was the one that suggested that they join the shorthair forum for some advice on how to handle max.  Last weekend My hubby and I went to visit them in NY.  I was excited to meet Max and see if I could help in any way.  I took him for a walk and tried to get his attention  but to no avail until I took the special treats I brought from home  He was highly food motivated so we worked on sits and downs.  He needed lots of work but that takes lots of patience and time.  I honestly think they had good intentions but got way in over their head.

On Sunday we found a dog park that had just opened two weeks prior.  We thought wow this will be great we can take max and let him off leash in a safe place. (Dayle and Dan do not have a fenced in backyard) Wrong...there was a section where the fence came up about a foot off the ground and before we could do anythig he was gone.  Called the necessary people again to let them know what happened.  My husband and I drove back to vermont hoping he would be found okay.  Sure enough four hours later a women found him and coaxed him with a piece of steak.

This weekend the kids came to vermont  with max as we had a potential adopter wanting to meet him.  We took him to a dog park up here and made sure it was secure.  We met the guy who absolutely loved max, we told him everything we could about him, no surprises.  All of a sudden people came in at the other end of the park and left the gate open.  Max took off once again with all of us in tow.  We called the necessary people and an hour later he was waiting for us at the police station.  The guy did not want to deal with a bolter sooo what to do?

This was not an easy decision for Dayle or Dan to return Max.  They are young and I think they learned a very valuable lesson.  There hearts were in the right place just didn't realize the work it takes to help a dog like this.  When they did drop him off the girl taht worked there said "don't feel bad this is the fifth time he's been returned, all for the same reason."

We did contact a rescue group to see if they could help, they already knew about max.  Also had Two other people interested in him, never called back-one was a musher-to bad that might of worked.

So That's the story, hope you all get a better picture of the whole situation.

Dan,

What a bummer. I am sorry to hear that it has been such a bad situation, i can imagine that it must be taking a toll on your whole home right now. hopefully things will work out.

Hello, This is the wife talking.  I love dogs.  I love all dogs.  And I couldn't bear to bring him back to the shelter with the thought that he might be put down.  It breaks my heart.  For some of you to send your hate through your messages just kills me.  If you knew me, this was the hardest decision I have made in a long time.  I promised my parents if i ever saw a GSP in a shelter I would foster them until I could find a home.  I couldn't do it.  Max bolted four times in two weeks.  He's got hound in him and a one track mind.  I thought I could do it, but I couldn't.  I have talked to gsp rescues throughout new york and new england, so for those who think I didn't try, well they already knew about him and his problems.  Thus the reason why he wasn't rescued by the groups.  He needs room to run and a task to perform.  When he's gone, he doesn't look back.  It upsets me that I ask my husband to write a post about Max, and this is how we get treated?  Like I don't care about animals.  Have some of you no shame?  Obviously some of you have nothing better to do than ridicule others for their foolish decision, which mine was.  I should have really considered it before I went through on it.  That is my fault.  But don't kick me when I am down.  My whole heart is for the best interest of the dog.  I want him to be happy and healthy.  And as for the lady who said she would cut off her head then give it to a shelter, get over yourself.  I was an idiot, but I love animals, but I now know I cannot save them all.  Any suggestions on where I could bring Max would be great.  I thank all of you for your advice and support, and I stress again that this was a hard decision I had to make.  Try to understand.

this is the wife...how dare you say something as cruel as that, when you know nothing about the dog.  Quick to judge.  I love animals, but i am not going to destroy my life over it.  i cannot save everyone and how dare you make me feel like I am just one of those people who gets a dog and doesn't understand the breed.  Maybe you should adopt him, since you have all the time in the world to be on this site.  Think before you say something so harsh.  Try to be in my shoes.

We all hate to see Max go back to the shelter but he may have issues that even a professional would have a hard time solving. The fact that he has been able to escape his confines several times and put himself and the public at risk is impossible to ignore. Think of the terrible accidents he could cause and the horrible injuries that could befall him. Although sad, and with no other alternative immediately available, giving him back to the shelter might be the most responsible thing to do. Hopefully it will give Max his best shot at permanent home also.

Thank you for the new posts.  I want to address the issue of the leash.  The humane society never told me that Max was a bolter, and to be quite honest, I don't know if I would have adopted him knowing this.  I want my dogs to be able to run, to get out, so they are tired when I start to train them.  I feel like every walk I gave Max, he could go forever.  So when bringing him to the park, we kept the leash on him, looked at the fences and then debated whether or not to let him go.  When a group of people left he gate open, I couldn't get there in time.  Who leaves the gate open at a dog park?  Of course Max bolted and never looked back.  He always is found 4 hours later, whether by the police or a friendly neighbor, but  I can deal with the fact that he could cause a major accident, or kill himself.  It's too stressful for me. My mom and I tried the check cord in the backyard, but he doesn't budge.  He won't listen to you or even look at you.  I am 22 years old with a 15month old baby, a rescued black lab, 2 rescued cats, and a husband, while working at the hospital and enrolled in nursing school.  I think this dog took the last bit of time and patience I had left.  I just couldn't do that.  I don't see it as giving up, but I can't save everyone.  If anyone knows of someone who could help Max that would be great, or someone who could point me in the right direction.  I have him on multiple sites as well as talked to therapy groups in Vermont and rescues in Albany.  Any and all advice is appreciated and I thank you for the story of the bolter.  That was funny and lifted my spirits, but how long will it take?  One never knows.

as do I.  I want nothing more than for this dog to have a home and be healthy.  But it's the way you say things that make me upset.  You are darn right, I asked for help and advice on this site because I knew you guys all cared about your dogs very much and were always so helpful to my mother with her abby and elle.  I thought maybe you could be a little more understand.  I admitted I bit off more than I could chew with max, but maybe that was my lesson to learn.. To kick me while I am down just hurts, that's all.  I am doing everything I can to help the dog and I really do appreciate all the advice.  Sometimes Dan doesn't know how to word himself and writes in anger, but we are both very upset.  Max needs something we cannot give him.  I thank you for your advice, minus the part of chopping your head off.  A little too graphic for the baby.