Well, I'm coming to the sad conclusion that there's not a whole lot I can do about this.

If I had enough money, energy and motivation for it, I guess I could take all these steps to secure
the dogs--I even considered buying a piece of property where they could be kept, at least temporarily.

But I'm seeing that a lot of this would be disruptive to the life I have now, and could even end up jeopardizing
my ability to take care of my own dog.

I have to distance myself from this or pay a big price emotionally.

I guess if there's something to take away from all of this, it's this:

If you care about what's going to happen to your pet when your gone, do something about it while your still around.

Hi Walt,

Aren't you going to adopt them from the shelter and put them in a no-kill shelter? Please don't give up! There is a place that might take them and keep them for the rest of their life if they can't be adopted. Go to bestfriends.org... this is a wonderful animal sanctuary that has hundreds of animals and 8 vets on staff full time... they are run strictly by donation. They are located in Kanab, Utah but they may come and pick the dogs up in Florida or may meet you somewhere.


Well, I'm coming to the sad conclusion that there's not a whole lot I can do about this.

If I had enough money, energy and motivation for it, I guess I could take all these steps to secure
the dogs--I even considered buying a piece of property where they could be kept, at least temporarily.

But I'm seeing that a lot of this would be disruptive to the life I have now, and could even end up jeopardizing
my ability to take care of my own dog.

I have to distance myself from this or pay a big price emotionally.

I guess if there's something to take away from all of this, it's this:

If you care about what's going to happen to your pet when your gone, do something about it while your still around.
[/quote]

I know Craigslist has some preditors when it comes to pets but I have had good luck with saving dogs in bad situations through posting in the pets section. If there are active rescues in your area and you can help with food & vet expenses many of them will do all they can to save these dogs. I was unable to take in the dogs but could help with adoption fees and donate a bit of money for their care. I did a lot of posting about them which only cost me my time. People are very caring about dogs in this situation. I helped with a German Shepherd who lost his owner and he went to a police officer in a different town from where he was. I was 150 miles away from where he was in the shelter also.

I agree about making arrangements while you are here. My Mom is almost 90 and claims that when her old dog is gone she plans to get 2 puppies!!! I try to convince her that it is not fair to the dogs or the rest of the family. We are dog lovers and I have a lot of room but not sure I could take on a couple more pets and my sister is disabled. I couldn't have them put to sleep just because she was gone.

We recently took a cat that belonged to a friend who died and it has not been easy to add him but he is a joy to have. We had given the cat to him as a kitten when we found him, got him his shots & check up but felt unable to keep him at the time so could not let him go to a shelter.

At least you have given an effort for these poor dogs who must be very confused and extremely distressed being in the shelter and wondering what has happened to their owner. How sad that Page's family would not try to find homes for them.

I completely understand your desire to help but realize what a toll it takes emotionally to be unable to do more. The pets are unable to help themselves and you feel so helpless while caring so much what happens to them.

This is so sad to me and I wish I could help in some way. Thanks for caring what happens to these dogs who were obviously loved by your friend.

Ginger

I called the pound this morning, and they're still there. I told them I'd been in to adopt them.

I've also posted to 3 florida craiglists and I'm starting to get responses.

Wish me luck.

AWESOME WALT!!! Great job! You not only saved 4 dogs lives but you did one last amazing thing for your friend.

I called the pound this morning, and they're still there. I told them I'd been in to adopt them.

I've also posted to 3 florida craiglists and I'm starting to get responses.

Wish me luck.

Oh man, Walt, do I ever wish you luck. I don't know how you are going to manage with your own dog, but GOOD FOR YOU!! You obviously have a heart as big as the sky, and these dogs really NEED you right now.

Congratulations and I DO wish you luck--you're going to need all the help you can get!

Fondly--

Margi and Ladywolf

Walt,

I was so glad to hear you may be making progress. Many people will be touched by the fact tat the dogs lost their owner and need help. They may have a better chance than strays or owner surrenders.

Reputable rescues will check out prospective adopters and if you adopt them out yourself I'd be sure to ask rehoming fees so they don't fall into the wrong hands. It's obvious you have a good heart and the best of intentions so I should probably keep my advise for someone who needs it...................

I wish you lots of luck & will be checking in often to see how it's going.

You are truly a good friend to Page as well as his dogs.

Ginger

I'm not feeling too optimistic about this.

Tomorrow, I'll leave about 7am to pick up a van to drive to Brooksville, about 90 miles.

At Animal Control in Brooksville, I'll adopt the dogs, and start back. Then...what? I don't know.
I've already decided that I don't have enough room at my place to keep Page's three males
and my dog apart, so bringing them there is out.

I'll probably drive to some big field between Brooksville and here, where they can get out, stretch
their legs and enjoy some open air and a little freedom again. I'll pet them and tell them what
great guys (and gal) I think they are, and that if it was up to me, they'd live out long lives as happy
and free as when they lived with Page.

I'll probably cry a lot, too.

I'll tell them I'm buying them a little more time, but, so far, things don't look promising. It seems like the
whole world is in the same situation I'm in.

I'll then drive them to ASPCA in Largo and check them in there.

Someone there told me that they'll be examined, and if healthy, will be put up for adoption. If not, they'll
be--"put to sleep" is the most comfortable way to say it. By turning the dogs in, I'm relinquishing ownership
to them and have no further say in what happens to them, except that I can adopt whichever ones are
adoptable--hopefully all of them.

It's a delaying tactic, but, hey, it's something.

Good Luck for tomorrow Walt. I hope all goes well for you and the dear dogs. You are certainly doing your utmost to help them.
Thinking of you.
Jan and my Angels x

Good luck, indeed. Your plan sounds courageous and better than the other alternative.

Have you tried yet calling the newspaper and tv stations, now maybe around Largo instead of where you live, and telling them the story? I'll betcha' that it could get picked up and publicized, since it has the potential to open up the whole topic of animal care after the owner's death, making provisions, etc. If you could get it on TV or in the newspaper, you'd be making great headway. The press is ALWAYS looking for good "human interest" stories,as well as "animal stories." An article or tv feature could end up doing a lot of good for a lot of people, and would, no doubt, find them a home or homes.

Good for you--Page would be proud of his friend--as all of us are! Thank you for being here, it is an honor to "know" you!

Margi and the Wolf

You are indeed a courageous person Walt and I wish you luck with your plans. I think Margi's idea is a good one too, someone may even take all four of them together if the plight of those darling dogs is publicised. Take care xx

madi xx

I'm having a change of heart on this.

I've been giving it serious thought, and it occurred to me that
Page's dogs were as lucky as dogs can be. They had two owners
that loved and cared for them dearly, Page and his wife--while she
was there, a wonderful home on a river across from a state park
where they could run and explore, and with four of them, never a
moment of loneliness. This is not common for dogs, it's rare.

If they were to die now, well, their lives were full. They had what we
would want all dogs to have, but what few ever get. If I can extend
there lives a bit, what have they got to look forward to, sitting all day
in a cage? Bringing them to that from where they've been is nothing
less than cruelty and abuse.

Sure, I feel better because they can live longer, but how do they feel?

Can I guarantee them anything close to the full life they had? No. All I can
guarantee is a good chance of boredom, idleness, loneliness and more
suffering, and finally getting euthenized anyway.

Two of the dogs are quite old and probably not candidates for adoptions.
The other two are fairly young, but not much different than thousands and
thousands of other dogs waiting to be adopted.

Sure, miracles can happen, but it should have happened already. More waiting
just means inflicting more punishment on the ones I'm trying to help. I probably
should not have interfered, but I was selfish, trying to keep Page alive a little longer.

I think it's time for me to give this up.

I know this is not what you guys want to hear. But it seems right to me. It feels right.

Hi Walt--

Okay, I'll brave enough to answer you. In a way, I agree with you. Euthaniasia is the unfortunate ending for many of our pets anyway, realistically, and I can see how you would have decided that sooner rather than later might have been in the dogs' better interest. I am sure that you agonized over this decision, as we did with you. Your assessment--that they might have ended up living out their lives in cages or tied to ropes or in some kind of boring, limited life situation is probably accurate.

You have a heart as big as the sky and I want you to know that we appreciate that. You jumped in and tried to do something about a miserable situation, and you just didn't have the resources to accomodate four adult dogs. I totally understand that. It is like when Ladywolf had her last horrible, bleeding, open tumor a year ago, and I didn't have the money to have it treated for months and months, so I tried to treat it myself. (Finally, a rich friend paid for the surgery, bless her.) My intentions, like your's, were very pure, but I just didn't, and you don't, have the means to fulfill them. One or two dogs left behind would have been a different story for you--but FOUR? That's overwhelming.

I just wanted you to know that we haven't shunned you because of your decision. We all do the best we possibly can under the circumstances. Page would be blown away just to know that you cared that much. I am so sorry for your loss of him--I'm sure he was a great friend, and it sounds like he led a pretty idyllic life with his dogs, one to be envied.
Best of luck to you, don't beat yourself up too much for trying and "failing," and please keep visiting us.

Hugs--Margi and Ladywolf

Thank you.

Walt

Walt,

I attemted to send you a message twice yesterday but we have lost power twice for several hours at a time so I am saving my battery on the computer. We are now without power for over 8 hours again so I can only say that I agree with Ladywolf completely.

It probably took more courage to come to the conclusion that you did than to make the almost fruitless effort to do otherwise. Since you know what a wonderful life they did have you have done what probably was best in the long run.

You are a true and caring friend to Page.

Ginger