I believe people like that are not as spiritually developed. A good, spiritual person does not disregard life so easily. He/She has a respect for all life and cares for the lives that come his/her way. You're a really good person to love Roo and care for her. The person who lectured you doesn't really know much about love if she doesn't understand your actions. I think you're doing a wonderful job with your girls. To h#ll with that lady! ;)

I hear this about Winston too, and agree with you about not giving up. Winston also has made great strides with his aggressions, he has learned to be nice to his brother's & sister's and even let's Jack visit us without a snarl. He even allowed a stray in til I found his family.
Time is a big thing for our special ones.
As my vet has said to me many times they come to us for a reason.
The post I've read you are doing the right thing by working with Roo and only you will know when it's time to give up. Winston's aggressions developed around 1 yr old he is now 3 and he just seems to do better with age. So hang in there.
Actually I have 6 special ones
Sammi old & mean lol, Sadie hates being alone,Sophi bad hips, Tucker hated dogs but not now, his new fear is vaseline due to abnormal anal sac gotta chase him and grease that end up daily what a sight, Kiri unwanted so left in a basement alone developed cage aggressions but doing better since he is never alone. And then my Winston. Point is all in all they are loved and cared for and all seem to be bonding well an over coming their issues. I think you handled the lady nicely.
Keep up the good work...

When Andy had Cushings, his care was not cheap. A friend told me that he would never pay that much for his dog. He told me that Andy was just a dog so get over it. Then he told me that he just paid several hundreds of dollars on his stupid truck just to make it look "neater".
And his wife just backed over their little dog with the car and killed it. They were not too upset because it was just a dog that was in the way.

I never liked this guy and after we talked, he knew that I didn't like him. When he drives by my house in his stupid truck, I always seem to be busy and can't wave to him. He has tried to make up by taking an interest in Daisy but I know he is lying.

I didn't say anything to him about spending all of that money ($700)on his truck because that was what he wanted to do. I expected the same respect from him about us spending all of that money on Andy who was a member of our family.

I really don't understand why people think it is OK to make comments about how much money someone spends on their pets. Some people get rude about it too, as if it offends them! I think I would've had a field day with that guy on the truck. I try to be good, but sometimes my horns come out! ;)

Hoover has had some real agression issues, too. The comment about having him put down was made to me several times. "What if he just snaps and goes after a person?" Well...he won't because I'm in control, that's why. I can read him like a book. I totally agree that when someone says that, they might has well be talking about a human who has mental/physical problems. There are some very violent mentally ill people, are they going to "put them down"? Of course not.

They are not "just" dogs. People who say that, just don't get it and I really do not care to speak to them again.

You are Roo's angel and she knows it. It's not her fault that she's having problems. Give her a big smooch for me.

I'm sorry this lady disrespected you like that. I know where you are coming from. When we had Freckles, and before the existence of IP, I used to talk to people about her like you would talk about anyone else in the family that was sick. I got a lot of hurtful comments, even from immediate family members. Everyone thought I should put her down to save money because she was "just a dog." When this family member's dog was having issues, my hubby told them they should put it down and we got chewed out for that...This same person went as far as telling me that I "turned" Freckles into a sick dog and hoped I would not do that to Tilly.

If anything, we should all applaud you for your dedication and time to work with the girls and to love them. They're members of your family. Why wouldn't you work at keeping peace with those you love?

My favorite is when people tell you how you could help so many homeless people or starving kids with that money. So how do they know that I'm not helping starving kids or homeless people? I like how it's an either/or thing. Actually I think most animal people are so compassionate that they do support other causes than just animals. As far as the woman at work-consider the source. Obviously she's never been lucky enough to experience true puppy love and is a lesser person because of it.

I've never understood why people choose to offer unsolicited advice about me, mine or my money. It says a lot about that person's character and values and I'm sorry you had to hear that.

I'm sure you were much more gracious and/or composed than I would've been. :)

There's a reason for everything - Roo is so lucky to have you.

Oh yeah, the humans vs animals argument is classic. I do help both. When people give me that crap, I lay out all the things I've done/money I've spent toward helping people. Then I look at them and say, "What do you do?" I usually get silence. Those type of people generally do nothing but complain and put everything down.

Whenever people get the "it's just an animal" attitude I like to remind them that humans are animals, too. I also tell them that dogs and cats have the same IQ as toddler humans. That seems to shed a new light on it for some people, as they begin to understand that our pets have thoughts and feelings of their own. Of course, everyone who knows me knows my dogs are my furkids and are my world, so no one has ever had the gall to suggest I spend too much on them. Saving Lily from bladder stones was the best $1500 I ever spent. I find doing everything possible for our pets just like human family to be proper and commendable, and anyone who doesn't think so is ignorant.

OMG! Who does that woman think she is?! You have amazing fortitude for keeping your composure and explaining your philosophy on family. Because that's what Roo is, a part of your family.

My mom flipped out a little bit when she found out we adopted another puppy. She said "concentrate on having kids!" I had to laugh bc "concentrating" isn't going to make a baby. But that's a whole 'nother issue.

Yeah, people thought we were crazy for spending so much money on physical therapy and treatment for Checkers, but I would say, "How do you take the best years of a companion's life and then decide one day, when they need you the most, that you give up?" I told my mom that when she is old and feeble and needs me the most, I will be there for her too. That took the wind out of her sails. It's funny, though, because my dad is the less emotional one, but he loves dogs and gets why we are the way we are when it comes to our dogs.

Hugs to you and your family.

That's just beyond rude. I think you handled it much better than I would have. I've been told over and over by coworkers to "get rid of the cats". I explain that they are older, one is blind and has health problems, and the other is just plain grumpy. I then ask them if they know anyone who would take them. They never have an answer. I then ask them why I should condem 2 older, innocent cats but to death just because I developed allergies late in life. Again, not much of an answer. I agree with Stacy. These people are not as spiritually developed. Who are they to choose what life is more important. A life is a life.

We all love you and your babies, and everybody knows we are WAY more enlightened than the average bear ☺ I'm afraid I would have told her to sit on it and spin. Some people are just unable to evolve with the rest of us.