Wanter: Blue Heeler (ACD) Puppy

[caboteria]

The Dedham ARL shelter is not far from my house and they've got dogs for adoption: Animal Rescue League of Boston

Here's their list of dogs: www.PetHarbor.com Animal Search: ADOPTABLE

They've also got horses, bunnies, chickens and all sorts of other animals.

[xxaarraa]

A strange request, but I'm not part of any dog forum or anything.

My girlfriend wants a blue heeler (australian cattle dog). She REALLY wants to adopt one less than a year old. Like REALLY wants to adopt, and until recently has not even once considering buying from a breeder. Sadly, we both live in the city, puppy adoptions are super competitive, and its really hard to convince the adoption agencies that the dog will see a ton of outdoor time. That being said she keeps on getting rejected. If you know me and my chocolate lab you know that we never spend any time in the city, ever.

Because of all the rejections, she may need to go the route of purchasing from a breeder. I drove 7 hours to get my dog in Amish Country, PA but my girlfriend is looking for someone more local, if she eventually needs to go the breeder route.

Anyone have any input on local ACD breeders or local families with puppies? My search is coming up super empty...there really only appears to be 1 or 2 breeders in the area.

I am curious.

1. Why were you originally not considering going to a breeder? Is it a cost/expense issue? Or a question of not wanting to deal with house breaking and other stress associated with a puppy?
2. I can see how adoptions are a noble way to save a dog's life and give it a good home. But if you are looking for a very specific pure-bred, 'adopting to save a life' doesn't hold.

As a dog owner, the way I look at it, adopting a dog, any dog, is a noble decision. But if you are in need for a specific breed/type of dog, adopting is more hassle than it's worth, especially considering the huge 'hit or miss' with the dog's past history. I'd rather take my chances with gene probability than gene probability AND questionable early upbringing mixed in.

[JettaJayGLS]

I am curious.

1. Why were you originally not considering going to a breeder? Is it a cost/expense issue? Or a question of not wanting to deal with house breaking and other stress associated with a puppy?
2. I can see how adoptions are a noble way to save a dog's life and give it a good home. But if you are looking for a very specific pure-bred, 'adopting to save a life' doesn't hold.

As a dog owner, the way I look at it, adopting a dog, any dog, is a noble decision. But if you are in need for a specific breed/type of dog, adopting is more hassle than it's worth, especially considering the huge 'hit or miss' with the dog's past history. I'd rather take my chances with gene probability than gene probability AND questionable early upbringing mixed in.

My girlfriend wants to rescue one to do a good thing and "save" a dog. She fell in love with one that had both eyes removed and another one with 3 legs.

The 3 legged one was awfully cute. His name was Bucky. He had since been adopted and his new owners dressed him up as a pirate with a peg-leg for Halloween.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bucky...37590662993794

[JettaJayGLS]

ACDRA

Too bad my girlfriend doesn't want a girl...she may have to settle cause this girl is perfect.

[nhbubba]

Bitches are awesome. Just sayin'.

[JettaJayGLS]

Bitches are awesome. Just sayin'.

I fully agree. My chocolate lab is a girl and she is most definitely awesome. *insert obligatory picture and video of said dog

https://instagram.com/p/2MBNKirj1B/?...by=gerryantics

[Legally Jackie]

Blue heeler, puppy, male.... is it just me, or does it seem like a lot of requirements for wanting to adopt a dog and NOT go the breeder route?

Not meant to offend in anyway, I just didn't think it was possible to be so particular when looking to adopt.

I'm probably just naive - we've had 4 dogs, the first we got from a yard sale (seriously), 2nd and 3rd from the old animal rescue league in Salem, and the current dog from Northeast Animal Shelter. Each time (other than the yard sale) it was just a matter of going in and deciding which mutt was right for us. We truly did rescue Scooby, though. Animal rescue league was a kill shelter and he was next in line! He lived a good long life with us. RIP Scooby.

[JettaJayGLS]

Blue heeler, puppy, male.... is it just me, or does it seem like a lot of requirements for wanting to adopt a dog and NOT go the breeder route?

I completely agree. I've been pushing her to go with a breeder from day 1.

[Legally Jackie]

Well hopefully you can talk her into considering 'Phyllis'. Blue heeler & a rescue, the gender seems like a reasonable compromise to me! and she is a cutie! Good luck, Jay!

[JettaJayGLS]

Well hopefully you can talk her into considering 'Phyllis'. Blue heeler & a rescue, the gender seems like a reasonable compromise to me! and she is a cutie! Good luck, Jay!

She applied this morning! Hoping for the best!

[OreoGaborio]

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANT!

good luck, dude. Better bring her to the track if you get her.

[JettaJayGLS]

Anddddddd denied.

[Paul_E_D]

These shelter places are zealots. They weren't going to give that dog to anyone with a job? LMAO

[black]

Feel your pain

We tried shelters a ton ... we live in a cul de sac, nice bacyard (9 not fenced) but we border a nice pond with no major roads near us.
the biggest issue / push back was
1- Fence needed
2- dog must not be left alone in house for more than 4 hours. either dog day care or hire a walker every day to let them out.
3- dog must be read " the poky little puppy" every night

I got in an argument with a Northeast shelter lady based on the above issues. My wife was thoroughly embarrassed. we never went back. We eventually went with a shelter in Sudbury. We had a home visit. Monitored the site on FB ( real time updates) scheduled a visit after visit we handed over 150$ and took him home on the spot.

Last Hope K9 Rescue

[OreoGaborio]

3- dog must be read " the poky little puppy" every night

HA!

Apparently some some shelters can afford to be picky...

[nhbubba]

I said it before, in my experience, most shelters in New England can afford to be very picky. We got very similar push-back. .. But not from shelters down south!

[black]

Try Last Hope K9 Rescue on FB it was a great resource like i said. ( you might even see my dog on it in a couple of days if he poops in the LR again)

[carsick]

Anddddddd denied.

Oh what the hell Have you thought about getting a kid? They'll give those to anybody!

[JettaJayGLS]

Oh what the hell Have you thought about getting a kid? They'll give those to anybody!

I've thought a lot about it...and the answer is no. No no no.

In an ideal world, I will get one new dog every year so I will always have a puppy and on average 13 dogs at any given time once the plan is fully rolled out.

[Point37]

the top one is through a shelter that we just started fostering for...
https://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/32830599/
https://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/32876485/