Hate to say it...

Well, we're sorry it didn't work out. Was it one of the little long hair black pups? They were so cute! They only weighed like 10 pounds, tiny little buggers. Yeah, sometimes in the moment, people don't think that far ahead. You're right, people need to be more responsible.

Wait, did you say she didn't know the puppy was blind?

I would be disappointed as well, and I'm not sure if/how I would address my disappointment. However, I have a (mostly) blind cat, and I know that he would not do well with little kids. They are just too unpredictable, and there are too many things moving about. He does really well with limited change. While I don't really like the reasoning she provided, its better to recognize that it isn't going to work early. Before getting another dog, the child should really be exposed to a lot of dogs so she won't be so scared.

At the age of 3 I climbed over our fence and was found a mile from home in the middle of a pack of dogs happily walking down the road. I don't remember it, but I'm sure I just wanted to go with the dogs. I never remember a time when a dog scared me. I was however terrified by a rooster when I was 11 and a Tom Turkey kept me at bay in my car when I was a teenager.

I just found out about this earlier. I guess she didn't realize the pup was blind but the vet did. Pam from Wags realized something wasn't right with the little one and took her back to the vet. I can't remember exactly what is wrong with her eyes but it's forever. I hear she is doing well with Pam's big Bloodhound. Knowing them, she'll probably stay there. I'm always amazed at the people that are shocked that puppies do things like that. I guess that's why they have such stringent adoption policies but even at that, they sometimes get returned. Maybe your friend should look into getting an adult dog that will already know some manners. I think you should try talking to her sometime just to help her think about it. Maybe now is not the time for a dog. Maybe she needs to wait until her child is older. I hope to meet the little pup on Saturday. I can't imagine trying to balance small kids and a puppy like that. I always amazed at the people that can do it. There's no shame in waiting until her daughter is older. Maybe they can "share" a friend or neighbor's dog-walk it, etc if she wants her daughter to be around dogs.

Ok maybe I am assuming things wrong but maybe the 5 year old wasn't ready for a pet. Maybe it wasn't the pets fault- even if she was blind and having a harder time adjusting. I don't have any kids, but I sure do know they can be rough with pets.

I have kids and pets, the lesson I teach my kids will be valuable throughout their life...they get frustrated with Jack because he chews their things as he is a puppy but I teach them that puppies are like human babies and they need direction and to be watched, they understand that he will be bad at times...that is what they do! Pets teach children responsibility, accountability, compassion, at times humility, and the importance of family (human and otherwise). Sounds like it was the mom who needs to learn these lessons. Good luck to her...maybe she should get a cat.

Oh don't suggest a cat! That woman sounds like one who'd go out and immediately have the poor cat's toes chopped off because she doesn't want to teach it to scratch in appropriate places (post, pad, etc.) and she wouldn't want to teach her daughter how to be respectful of the cat so it wouldn't scratch her...

Maybe the daughter is enough for this woman right now. I don't have kids, but I can imagine that it's a chore trying to balance the attention needs and training needs of both a child and a puppy! It's a great opportunity to teach a child about responsibility, that's for sure, but I'm just saying that the lady's life may be too full right now to do either job well.

That's interesting, Connie! I was always afraid of dogs until in my 30s. And now I love them!

That's what I was thinking!

Now in my friend's defense, she does have an older cat, about 10 years old and she is NOT declawed. I don't want to put my friend down, she is compassionate, responsible and loving. I just wish she had thought it through a bit more : (

She did the right thing in under the circumstance. What if the child had scared the puppy and it bit!!! Returning it to the rescue is better than having a child with scars from a dog bite and a dog that must be euthanized.

I think that if you helped your friend find a settled, young adult dog, it could be a great family companion AND help teach her daughter the things that she needs to know about coexisting with animals. Even puppies who are not blind are going to be a big handful, are going to jump, get into things, chew, bark, whine, not be housebroken,etc. They aren't born knowing human rules, but they can be taught. I highly recommend that you go with your friend and that daughter goes along to find a more suitable dog for their family. I recommend one between 15-35# so that it is not inclined to be as snappy as a toy or small dog sometimes can be, and is not so large that it would be intimidating and/or inclined to knock a little one over in its' playful exuberance. And that it have a fairly settled, non-excited personality. There are hundreds of them out there.