Damn, Damn, Damn and Damn

[MuleSkinner]

I just found out that I was offered a job in Italy for this summer. It's at the place we stayed this Jan in a tiny hill town in Tuscany. The problem is I just adopted a choc. lab 2 months ago that had been abandoned and left at the bottom of the pass(he was in pretty rough shape when he was found). I would love to go but adore this dog and feel that I have made a commitment to him.....

Guess no Italy for me. Oh well.

[thedudeabides]

dude.
find someone to watch your dog for the summer.
you can't pass up an opportunity like that.
tuscany?

[LaramieSkiBum]

shouldnt be hard to find a home for him

I want a pup this summer.

I would take him but i want to be sure of bloodlines, especially for labs with the hips and everything.

[skiguide]

Um. yea, Italy is really tempting, but MuleSkinner's doing the right thing.

You did make a committment to him, and I for one, commend you for that!

Leaving a dog or doing the 'handoff' to someone else just a few short months after rescuing an already once abandoned dog just isn't fair.

that dog is probably so appreciative of Mule for saving him that he sticks to him like glue now. So you'd be creating mega separation anxiety issues and inviting other behavior problems.

[MuleSkinner]

You hit the nail on the head Skiguide - if he hadn't already been abandoned, I would think about going but he has had it rough and deserves a loving stable home(God, I sound like a dork).

[thedudeabides]

a JOB in Tuscany is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
just leave the pup with family or friends for the summer.

[skiguide]

a JOB in Tuscany is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
just leave the pup with family or friends for the summer.

dude, you just DON'T get it, do you?

Fuck, why don't i just have a baby & drop it off with some friends for the summer while i galavant around Europe?

that wouldn't be irresponsible at all, would it?

mule made a choice to be responsible for that dog, and give it what it needs - and now he's got to stick to it, and happily will, as he said. that's called maturity. and it takes more guts than ditching responsibilities.

i also highly doubt that any job in another country is 'once in a lifetime' - if you want something like that bad enough, you'll make it happen when the timing's right.

[Buzzworthy]

I could be nice here, but I am not going to.

Mule, you are a good man and I think what you are doing is very commendable.

The dudeisanidiot, read your freaking avatar you inconsiderate SOB.

Dogs are like people, at least to me and a lot others. You ever had a dog, or rescued a dog? First, it takes a large hearted person to take on a responsibility that some fuckoff decided he did not want anymore. I did it and it was the first of many dogs to come.

You simply can't just hand off responsibility like that, especially a fragile dog, mentally. It is not that easy.

Italy will be there for a while I have a feeling This job may or may not. That is life.

Mule has his head on real straight, and so does Skiguide. I too am a dog owner and lover. A stable home for a dog is very important.

Think about that before spewing off some random shit next time.

[Telenater]

I could be nice here, but I am not going to.

Mule, you are a good man and I think what you are doing is very commendable.

The dudeisanidiot, read your freaking avatar you inconsiderate SOB.

Dogs are like people, at least to me and a lot others. You ever had a dog, or rescued a dog? First, it takes a large hearted person to take on a responsibility that some fuckoff decided he did not want anymore. I did it and it was the first of many dogs to come.

You simply can't just hand off responsibility like that, especially a fragile dog, mentally. It is not that easy.

Italy will be there for a while I have a feeling This job may or may not. That is life.

Mule has his head on real straight, and so does Skiguide. I too am a dog owner and lover. A stable home for a dog is very important.

Think about that before spewing off some random shit next time.

Aside from the Mule being a good man, I agree with everything you've said here.

I don't own a dog, but as soon as I have a stable living situation that allows for a long term canine commitment, I will.

[SkiingBear]

Evidently, I'm gonna piss off a lot people with this post. You can reply all you want about how I'm an asshole, but it's not going to change my mind.

Dogs are pets...they are not people. Yes, they love us, often unconditionally. If you have someone that you trust and you know will take good care of the dog for the summer...go for Italy. The dog will likely miss you for a week or two, but it will move on and will assuredly recognize you when you return.

My family had a dog when I was growing up (yes, I recognize that this is different than an individual owning a dog, but bear with me). We still had that dog when I went off to college, often for multiple months at a time, and I'll be damned if that dog didn't know me when I came home...every single time.

I will not argue that dogs are a huge responsibility...that's why I suggested leaving it with someone that you trust. The job is for the summer? What, 3 or 4 months? Shit, take 3 or 4 of your shirts and leave them with whoever is caring for the dog if you're really worried about the dog getting on.

Sorry, I'm taking the unpopular route here. Your leaving for a few months is nothing compared to the many years you will have with that dog in the future.

[focus]

it's a fucking dog!!

go to italy!

[smmokan]

Obviously she loves this dog so much already... more than living in Italy for a summer. Its hard to believe, I know- but I have a feeling if you can get a job in Italy this summer, then you can probably get one later in life too. Keep the dog and stay in the states.

[Core Shot]

please dont compare babies and dogs.
As soon as they become equal, I will be locked in jail for leaving my dog in the car with the windows cracked.
My wife thought it was cruel to leave the dog in the car while we ski. I thought it was crueler to put it in a kennel. If the dog could choose, it would choose the car every time.

I love my dog, but I am not stopping vacations or travel jsut becuase I have a dog.
If you pick the right foster home for the summer, your dog will come out just fine.
The're dogs, dammit, not humans.

[TheDingleberry]

You will cherish every memory you have working in Italy over the summer. Your dog will cherish everytime someone thows a tennisball to him while you're gone. Then when you get back and he sees you he'll be wagging his tail happy to see your return. I am a huge dog advocate but passing up an oppertunity to live a great life in Italy for a couple of months is ludicrious. It makes one think are you the master of the dog or is the dog the master of you. Think about it somemore then book your plane ticket.

[skiguide]

please dont compare babies and dogs.
As soon as they become equal, I will be locked in jail for leaving my dog in the car with the windows cracked.

Actually, you could get arrested or fined for animal abuse and neglect - check your local laws.

(not that this is likely during winter- but VERY likely during the hot months when idiots leave their dogs in cars all the time)

all i'm saying is that a previously abandoned dog has different considerations than a normal, well adjusted dog. I'm sure Mules dog is doing well already, BUT - he's only had him for 2 months- he may not be ready yet to spend that much time with someone else, and if he develops separation anxiety, it could be difficult for whatever friend has to handle the dog, all sorts of problems could arise. He'd better have REALLY good friends not to hate him after that.

(and FWIW, i'd be the first one to offer a foster home for a 'dog with issues' -but well, that's just inviting some other issues)

i'm pretty well done with this subject now.

to clarify, however, a vacation for a week is not the same as 3-4 months away. and a kennel doesn't have to be like 'jail' -find a really good one. Kage's is like 'doggie camp' - he waits by the car the second you say he's going. he loves it there. but he loves it even more when i pick him up after a few days.

[focus]

first off, muley's a she.

and for christ's sakes. it's a DOG. he's yer buddy. yer best buddy...but he's NOT a child. If ya got a friend who'll do it the dog Will Be Fine.

[skiguide]

first off, muley's a she.

didn't know... my maggette apologies extended, of course - i totally understand

and, that solidifies my position even more, us girls typically get that maternal attachment (ie, until we have babies) to dogs that you guys don't. Yea, they're always replaceable like girlfriends to you guys. (ok, sorry to lump all y'all in there)

dogs ARE like children to those who don't have any.

[MuleSkinner]

[QUOTE=skiguide]didn't know... my maggette apologies extended, of course - i totally understand

and, that solidifies my position even more, us girls typically get that maternal attachment (ie, until we have babies) to dogs that you guys don't. Yea, they're always replaceable like girlfriends to you guys. (ok, sorry to lump all y'all in there)


No Problem My name definitely sounds like a guy's

I already love that dog too much to leave him and I know that my roommate would gladly take him as well as another friend whose dog we frequently watch for months at a time and they would definitely take great care of him but I just can't do it. Yes, Italy would be an amazing experience but hopefully another amazing experience will come along when the timing is right. Also, would be working 14 hour days over there with very little time off in a town where no one speaks english and with no train station so would be unable to really get anywhere else. And Jackson is sooo much fun in the summer.....

[skiguide]

And Jackson is sooo much fun in the summer.....

Cool... maybe we should make a play/hiking date for the dogs this summer if I make a weekend camping trip up there

[MuleSkinner]

Cool... maybe we should make a play/hiking date for the dogs this summer if I make a weekend camping trip up there

Definitely - would be fun. Come on up whenever and we can get a good crew together.

[The Jackamo]

actually, if you wanted to go, what you could do is start to familiarize the dog with your friends and family, and gradually go away for periods of time so he gets used to you not being there (but leave him with a friend or family member), that way he won't be hit with this big seperation when you go, and he'll be comfortable with whoever you're leaving him with.

i mean, it's an option if you're willing to try it out, but staying with the little guy is definately a mature move.

[Shredhead]

Maturity is way over rated.

[Paladin]

I've heard of "pussy whipped" before but this is the first time I've heard of someone being "puppy whipped."

[skifishbum]

This mans best freind will never be an Euro. Stay with the pooch. Of all the places in Europe I've been Italy was the worst by far. Amersterdam thats another story

[fondigley]

What about taking your dog with. I am sure he would love to see Italy. Hell I know if I were a dog it would be an adventure.

I myself with be there this summer. Flying in to Florence on the 22nd of June. But only for a quick tour. My girl will be taking law school classes there this summer from the end of May to the end of June.