I need some advice on a dog........
 

Ok, If any of you have ever talked to me you will know that I am a huge dog person. I have recently moved into an apartment and have been wanting my own dog for quite some time. I know they are a big responsibility and I know they cost alot of money, but I think I am a mature enough person to have a dog. I take very good care of the dog my parents have when I am at home. Well, an opportunity to get a dog has now come up. This dog in my opinion is perfect. He is medium size and a year old so he is fully grown, he has had all his shots, and is housebroken. He is trained for the most part (still has problems with jumping, but some dogs just never learn how to stop that I am afraid.) He will be free to me as my best friends sister will have to give him to a shelter if she cannot find him a home. (I am so afraid that he will be put down if he is brought to a shelter.....he has so many more playful puppy/dog years left in him to be put down) Anyways, he comes with a bed and all the toys also. He is used to staying in an apartment too so it will not be like I am taking him away from a big backyard or something. The only problem is convinciing my parents that I am responsible enough to take care of him. My mom swears that I am not ready for that kind of responsibility. She is afraid that I will not be able to handle him and she will get stuck with another dog in the house. (She loves dogs too, so she hates when people are talking about putting one down) my roommates have not been so hard to convince. I already have one convinced and one of the others will be easy and then the lst one we will ahve to work on, but she will want him in the end.

So I guess what I am getting at is how do I convince my parents that I can take care of him? I am just wondering because I dont want to do this behind their backs at all.

Well hopefully you can give me soem good advice!

If your parents have a dog, how about offering to take care of him/her for a week or so? You walk him, feed him, etc., and if you do that to their satisfaction, then you get your own dog. (It doesn't prove that you can handle unusual situations like emergency trips to the vet, but it does prove that you can handle the day-to-day requirements of owning a dog.)

And tell your mother that if you don't take the dog, he *will* be taken to an animal shelter and *will* be put to sleep (even if that's not a given - pull on the heartstrings :) )

rescuing dogs
 

Wait until you're out of college to get a dog - it's a heckuva lot of responsibility.

And when you get a dog, get one from a rescue - yes, we exist all over!

Your friend should find a rescue to give her dog to & not to a shelter. The rescue will find a new home for the dog.

I have been working with an English Bulldog rescue group for 7 years & it has been a new experience for me, working with animals, instead of the typical philanthropy projects I was used to.

Here is our group's website: www. buddiesthrubullies. com (no spaces).

Good luck.

Re: I need some advice on a dog........
 

I'm happy to hear that you are putting a lot of thought into this -- as you know, getting a dog is a HUGE commitment that lasts for hopefully many, many years.

As you don't live with your parents, I'm not sure that you *need* to convince your mom of anything. What if you just make your decision and then tell her when and if you decide to take the dog?

You sound to me like you would be a responsible dog "parent," but only you know for sure whether you are able to handle the walking, feeding, cleaning up, caring for and loving dogs require, as well as the financial aspects of having a dog. As long as you have considered all the issues -- like who will watch the dog when you go on vacation, and how hard it might be for you in the future to find an apartment where dogs are allowed -- I'm sure you will be a wonderful "mom" to any dog, and I think that it's awesome that you want to rescue a dog that may otherwise face an uncertain future at a shelter.

As long as you are responsible and loving, I say go for it. I don't think you should feel the need to wait until after college. I was a junior in college when I got my cat, and she's still with me today (along with her 2 new "sisters") and I am SO glad that I decided to get a cat back then. It can be done!

Let us know what you decide! :)