Dr. Doug Mader's - "To Your Pet's Health"
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Looking For a Dog -- Try The Animal Shelter

By Dr. Doug Mader

Q. My wife and I are seasonal residents here in the Keys. Just before coming down to the Keys this year we had to put our wonderful "Jon Jon" to sleep. He was a 13-year-old yellow lab, but in spite of his age he acted like a puppy right up until the time we had to say goodbye. After we put him down we decided it would be better not to get any more dogs since we do a lot of traveling. We did not want to have to train a new dog. When we got to our home in Islamorada it was so empty. Jon Jon loved the water. He went out on the boat with me, would swim and chase balls until our arms were too tired from throwing them. At the end of the day he would curl up next to our bed and would always be the first thing we would see when we woke in the morning. I really miss that little tired wag of the tail as he opened his sleepy eyes. He was always happy, no matter what kind of day I had, he always made me smile. We realize that we miss having a dog more than we want to admit, but we are not sure that we are ready to replace him. I'm not sure what to do. Any thoughts you have would be greatly appreciated.

-- Carl, Islamorada

via Montana

A. Carl, I can tell you really loved Jon Jon. Labs are great -- just as you described. They never really grow out of that puppy stage. Life can be cruel when someone or some pet we love gets taken away. You will never be able to replace Jon Jon. He will always have a special place in your heart. When the time is right, it is OK to move on and get a new dog. It will never replace Jon Jon. Think of it as a new chapter in your life. There are several excellent pet loss support groups. You and your wife may want to consider joining one of them.

I would also encourage you to volunteer your time at your local animal shelter. There are many (too many) dogs and cats there that need love and attention. Spend a few hours a week helping out, brushing the animals, walking the dogs and just offering a hand. The shelters desperately need the assistance, and it would be good therapy for you. You never know, you may meet a future family member.

There are many factors that need to be considered when selecting a new dog. For instance, do you want a puppy that you can train, or a mature dog that is already housebroken? If you get an adult you have no idea of its upbringing. That said, if you get a puppy, will you have time to train it? Also, if you adopt an adult dog, you may not know its medical history. Perhaps it ended up in the animal shelter because it has a serious disease that the previous owners either didn't want to, or couldn't afford to treat. Make sure to have the dog checked by a veterinarian.

If you go to the Internet you can find "Pet finder" programs that help guide the potential pet owner toward selecting a new friend. The programs are self-prompting, where the computer asks questions regarding the owner's preference for certain personality traits in the dog they desire. For instance, is coat length more important to you than aggression toward children? After you have selected and ranked the personality traits that you find important, the computer program will proffer a list of suggested breeds, and will rank them based on your responses.

You can use this information to help you narrow your search. These programs are fun but not always the "perfect match." I still think the best thing you can do at this time is "walk before you run." Don't rush into getting a new dog. When the time is right, it will happen.

In the meantime, please go check out what the shelters have to offer. Get involved. Your efforts will benefit all around! All the best (and let me know what happens).

Dr. Mader is an ABVP board certified veterinary specialist practicing in the Keys. Send your questions to Mvh525@aol.com.