I have been eying this little one on petfinder and finally called today:

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=10270520

I asked if she was still available and they told me yes.  They asked if I owned or rented my home.  I told them I owned and they told me I could take her home today if I wanted!

I will wait for my husband to get back - he is in South America for work - and see if I can't get him to agree.

She is tooo cute!

Awe, she looks so sweet!!! 

Posted By PamWh on 03/10/2008 2:47 PM
What a sweetie! I think you should go ahead and get her. When hubby gets home and asks about the new dog, say "New dog? Oh, she's been here for a long time."

That's what I do for new shoes/sweaters/purses ....

what a cutie...  "sometimes it's better to ask for forgiveness than for permission".... or is it "easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission?"  i can't remember the saying......  oh well, almost the same thing.... and explain that she really pulled on your heartstrings and you couldn't sleep at night....  just thinking about her etc... 

He is in Chile until Sunday.  He will get back on Sunday afternoon after travelling for 17 hours....he'll be nice and tired when I ask him...

My biggest concern is Egypt not being nice to her, or that she and Egypt will gang up on the cat!  Egypt already drags the cat around by his scruff - but then again, he attacks her when she least expects it, so I suppose the ying-yang in my house is okay for now....

How exciting would that be?!?!  Hope hubby says Yes!

Awww!  She looks so sweet and scared too!  I hope your hubby says you can get her!  Good luck! 

So that's how you do it!!   it makes me feel so good about fostering, or pulling a dog and taking it to another foster home or whatever.... just getting the dog out of the pound is a good feeling and finding a home for them is even a better feeling.... 

And it feels like we accomplish something, even in our crazy households!!  lol 

I called the shelter and they want a $175 adoption fee and the dog is not spayed!

The vet said it would be $250 to spay her - okay so now we are up to over $400 and I have heard that many of the animals that come out of this shelter are sick. 

A friend told me that someone they knew had gotten a dog there and it ended up at the vet for 3 months will full-blown parvo and pneumonia.

My co-worker adopted a cat there and it was sick too.

Other people told me they would never get an animal there, they have heard too many bad things...

So now I am in a quandry about what to do.  The dog is potentially sick in a cage at a shelter that wants way too much money for an unaltered animal....

I can't pay $400 + for a potentially sick dog.  I think many people would agree that the fees are rather high.  But I feel so bad that she is there....

She is sooo cute!!! Just darling! Perhaps they'd welcome a sponsorship? Or fostering?

From what I just read about that shelter...they have a spay coupon. Many of the rescues in Ga do that.

There ARE vets who do spays and neuters for very reasonable fees. $250 is ridiculously high.

Adirondack Save-A-Stray is a non for profit, 501c, no kill shelter. We survive on the kindness of others and their contributions to continue the work we do. We receive no state, federal or local funding so donations and fundraising events make up 100% of our income. Adirondack Save-A-Stray takes in stray, abandoned, abused and unwanted animals, as well as rescuing animals from around the country and surrounding areas. Many of the animals come from kill shelters that still use the gas chamber or lethal injection. With each adoption you receive shots, wormings, a coupon towards the spay or neuter, one month of flea and tick control, 1 month of Shelter Care Pet Insurance for $1.00(which you must activate), an herbal bath and free gifts for your new pet.

Appears they are overwhelmed and need volunteers. They are so full that they are offering Cats free to good homes (donations requested) .

Other people told me they would never get an animal there, they have heard too many bad things...

THAT is just tragic! I think I would make that known to that shelter, and also perhaps find out what could be done to change that!

Sarah - my vet does not accept these certificates, and the shelter told me they would refund $35 after I get her spayed.  Have you had any experience with this shelter? 

As I posted above, the animals coming from there tend to be sick and I would not want to risk anything happening to my dogs, especially my 15 y/o dog who would be more apt to catching something.

I cannot take this dog.  I spoke to my vet and she told me to look elsewhere and directed me to this:

http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2008/feb/19/0219_puppies/

It just confirms all the horrible things I have heard about this shelter.  I wish there were something I could do, but I cannot bring a potentially sick animal into my home.

The vet said the actual facility is constructed of wood and so the germs never get eliminated.

I also called several other vets and the $250 is right on target for a small dog that has been through several heats.

I am so sad....

Sorry Malta you can't get her...she's so cute! I understand your reticence tho. I recently sprung a Pound pup and was afraid Yogi might catch something...so I kept her isolated just in case.

She (the little rattie) also looks older and older pups are more resistant to Parvo.....just saw she is 3 yrs, so Parvo wouldn't be an issue. And Parvo seems to be the main issue for that shelter.

It saddens me that that shelter is getting such bad press...they seem to be really trying to save dogs (cats, pigs, etc) from certain euthanasia....no kill shelters are between a rock and hard place. We all want shelters-rescues to be no-kill, but the drawback is, if adoptions are not quick, and no volunteers to foster, etc. they end up turning down serious last minute cases. No room.

I read that the director stated they offer free vet care if any animal ends up sick.

Parvo can affect pups who have even had shots, it can rampage through a vet's kennels, a breeder's kennels, and most shelters cannot guarantee a parvo free pup....the incubation period is around 10 days. IF they have room, isolation/quarantine is possible, but very few shelters have that kind of space. ESP no kill shelters.

I wonder if that particular shelter has deserved the bad press it seems to have received.

I read the reader's comments in the article and most were saying the same...parvo can hit pups anywhere...any environment. And especially in rescues....

A shame that this shelter has been slammed so badly.....now more people in that area will refuse to rescue from them...that is the saddest part..

I feel so horrible about this entire situation.

My husband flat out said no more dogs until old girl Luna passes on - she is 15.

On the other hand, there is a dog that needs a home.  She is in a shelter that is notorious for sick animals and while the owner of the shelter - remember this is a PRIVATE institution, not a county or state regulated place - says she will give free dogs to people who adopt sick ones, etc., the thing is that many of the animals are sick.  AND she is not willing to negotiate on her fees.  She wants $175 for an unspayed animal, and the spaying charges are high because the animal has been through several heat cycles and has had at least one litter.  That complicates the procedure from what I understand.

I am really at a loss about what to do.  I wish a reputable rescue operation could get involved with this, but since the dog is already at a no-kill place, I doubt that will happen.  It just makes me want to cry....