Moved for reiavt:

 My loving Rat Terrier is in need of a new home. I have had her (Killer) for almost 5 years now. However, in the last 2 and a half years I have had three children. It breaks my heart to see her moping around the house because I don't have time to give her the attention that she deserves. She does OK with the children but I would prefer for her to be in a home that knows about the needs a rat terrier has and has no children or older children that understand these dogs as well. She is crate trained, house broken and knows a number of tricks. She has been spade. She loves being held and loved on. She hates children that interupt her sun bathing! I feel horrible for doing this. Before I had my first kid she was my baby. I know that giving her up is for her best though. PLEASE HELP!

I am wondering why you think she needs no children?? I myself have a 7 yo, 4 yo twins and a 1 year old and I could not ask for a better breed of dog to be with the kids. They snuggle with them, play with them and are great friends. If she was your "baby", then why do you feel the need to re-home her. Don't you think she would be more miserable to loose the only home and mom that she has ever known? Why do you think she is unhappy? Or is it you who is unhappy? I just personally don;t understand how you can just get rid of a dog you've had for 5 years cause she seems "mopey" due to the kids? I am not trying to be harsh, but this is the reason why we have so many dogs in shelters. If she truly meant to you what you say she did, than I don't get the whole "I gotta get rid of her" plea. Can you rethink the whole thing or are you set in stone?
On another note......where are you located and do you have pics?

Hey Sarah,

Who is and where is this person?  Perhaps Ratbone can offer her our GAP Program.

Not going to go on my tirade of owner surrenders because of kids again...

Well, you are being harsh.  I have been in tears all afternoon because I don't want to"get rid" of Killer.  I would never put my dog in a shelter.  That is why I am on this site.  I am doing this for her not for me out of my love for my dog.  When I purchased Killer I was single and living in my own home with a fenced in backyard.  Since then I have moved (no fenced in yard) married and  have had three children in 2.5 years.  My oldest who is 2.5 and they think he may have high functioning autism that makes him act out violently toward people and even Killer when he can catch her. My middle son is almost 18 months and I have a 3 month old.   I think that I am going to go somewhere else this is ridiculas.  I thought I had found a site where I may find a loving home for my Killer instead I found a lynch mob.  One more thing, how do you switch from your a terrible person to by the way do you have any pics.

A couple of things...It may have sounded harsh, but I think she was trying the "snap out of it" moment - a la Moonstruck....

I think most of the regular posters here would be anxious to assist you in getting through this "mopey" period with your dog because they want your dog and you to be happy together.  You have invested five years of love into your dog.  I'm sure the situation with your son is very stressful, and seeing Killer be "mopey" is heartbreaking. 

Have you considered setting aside some special time for just the two of you?  I am a mom too, so I do know that it is hard to juggle life and parenthood, and a dog or two - so please, give Killer a chance - even just a few moments of mommy kisses.  I am sure the kisses will make you both feel better....

~rachel

Please don't take it personally.  Sarah really was trying to help. 

Again, I understand that the situation with your son makes this even more difficult, and if you feel you need to find Killer a new home, I am sure there are individuals here to help you....

Well said Donna, very well said.

This is a very good point.

Let's all take a step back and breathe.

The original post is from a woman who seems to be at her wit's end with three kids under the age of 4, and a dog that she feels she is not able to care for the way she used to.

To all the moms out there, don't you remember what it was like to want to pull your hair out and even the slightest thing aggravated the living hell out of you?  Please remember that feeling, and if you have been there, imagine having three kids that young who all need your attention at once.  Add to that the stresses the OP has with the reality of an autistic child.

Now, this poor dog may not be getting the attention the owner feels it needs.  Let's be glad that she is seeking help, rather than neglecting her dog.  We all know how we feel about our dogs, but we should not judge lest we walk a mile in her shoes.  She may be having a really difficult time right now, and getting rid of her dog is probably the last thing she ever thought she would do, but in her mind, it is the best option.

Can we try to help her? 

I know there have been people who have posted about rehoming, and have captured our hearts with their tales.  Let's please have some compassion for her.  She has a very hard line to toe and deserves our empathy if not sympathy and assistance.

~rachel

k....

Guys: You know I love you all and I understand the frustration. I do, but this was my original post in the Please Post Here If You Have to Give Up Your Rat Terrier (or whatever the title is):

This post is for those who may be visiting our site because you have found, for whatever reason(s), that you need to consider giving up your rat terrier:

Please, on behalf of all of our members, we BEG you to register here and post about your rattie!!! While we may suggest alternatives like training to help you to be able to keep your rattie in your family, what we want most of all is for you to know that if you decide that your rattie can no longer be a part of your family, that everyone here will reach out a hand and do our absolute best to see to it that your rattie is NOT taken to a kill shelter.

We have members all over the United States, and in Canada as well. We have many members who belong to a fantastic rescue group known as Ratbone Rescues ( www.ratbonerescues.com ). PLEASE visit their site and contact them, but do post here as well.

We recognize that this fabulous breed is not for everyone and that sometimes extreme extenuating circumstances arise that are beyond our control. Whatever the reason, it is IMPERATIVE that the dog not be taken to a "pound" where they will undoubtedly likely be "put to sleep". Rat terriers, even very cute, young ones, do NOT "show" well in typical shelters in cages. They are often reported as cowering in the corner of their cage and becoming depressed and fearful. Please do not do this to your dog. Somone, somewhere is waiting to provide him or her with a great forever home where they will be loved and provided for in the way that they deserve!

I probably shouldn't speak for us "as a whole" and I try not to do it much. But I feel like I created that thread so that visitors looking for help would feel like they would find it here. Because a rattie in need of a new home has the best chance if we all know about it. You all know that. There isn't anywhere else "online" that they can go to that will give them as many options as we can. At least that's how I feel and that's one of the reasons I started the thread originally.

There are always going to be things we don't understand and can't fathom, but sometimes they just are what they are, and all we can do is what we can and that is finding the best possible home for a dog that needs it.

As always, this is with much love

Well, that settles it for me.  Please accept whatever help members offer and consider contacting Ratbones to get her/him into their foster home program.

Your first post (without the additional information) made it sound like you got this rattie, then you added children and decided you didn't want her anymore.  Since you have explained further I totally understand your position.  Please stick around and we will try to help you find a new home for your rat terrier.

I give you many many kudos for trying to make it work and for returning to R-T for assistance.

I hope that the ratbone foster moms here see your post and can offer some assistance.  Please, please don't take Killer to a pound - if you tell them about the biting it will be a death sentence.  

Perhaps you can go to the ratbone website and contact them through there.

~rachel

She looks like a beautiful dog!  If we can get her to Georgia, I'll take her.