dog question

I shouldn't be doing this, but here goes.... Does anybody know of any local English Setter breeders?

here you go, free!

here you go, free!

Have I told you lately that you're a devil woman?... Although the *second* thing I thought was, why do people get a dog when they already have two kids and then decide they don't have time for a dog *and* two kids. Jeez louise.

But no, much as the face nearly breaks my heart, I'm thinking in terms of a future dog. And although it may come to simply taking in a dog who happens to cross our path (which is the way it usually goes), I'm hankering after a particular sort of English Setter. Had one when I was a kid, have been sitting here looking at her picture, and oh me.

But dammit woman.

There's a rescue organization for almost ANY breed. Check out:

Another Chance for English Setters -- http://www.englishsetterrescue.org/
Above & Beyond English Setter Rescue -- http://www.esrescue.org/
English Setter Association of America Rescue Committee -- http://www.esaa.com/rescue.html

There are probably a lot more organizations, but this could get you started.

Lois

There's a rescue organization for almost ANY breed. Check out:

Another Chance for English Setters -- http://www.englishsetterrescue.org/
Above & Beyond English Setter Rescue -- http://www.esrescue.org/
English Setter Association of America Rescue Committee -- http://www.esaa.com/rescue.html

There are probably a lot more organizations, but this could get you started.

Lois

Thanks Lois. Great suggestions.

here you go, free!

Dammit, Marsha, that dog is nearly identical (but for the sex) to my English setter Lady. Same coloring exactly.

And now Gary is being helpful, as usual, by saying, "Honey, you can get another dog now, if you want to."

I sent the people an email. I'm an idiot.

So as Gary's off to work this morning he says, "Honey, you can get the dog if you want to. It'll be your Valentine's Day present." And then he calls later in the morning and says, "You showed the picture of that dog to me just to make me feel bad, didn't you." So by now I'm wondering who *really* wants this dog. I'm thinking he misses our Pete who died last Christmas and he can't really say *he* wants the dog.

So when are you picking him up?

So when are you picking him up?

Well, two emails later and still no response. I'm hoping they were able to place him in a great home. I think Gary was feeling sort of haunted by his face all day. I kept asking him, "What've you done with my husband, and will he ever come back?" He wasn't an animal person at all when we met, even though he had Sophie pup. But his ex-wife had dumped her on him and he felt obliged to help. Over the years, especially the past handful, he's turned into a real dog person.

Jane Renner
10709 St. Rene Road
Louisville, KY 40299
502-267-6214
jane.renner@insightBB.com
http://www.freewebs.com/ravenwoodes/index.htm (this lady breeds the dogs that you like) good luck. annemarie

Do you know her, Annemarie? I was looking at her web site earlier today, and wow. Spectacular English Setters. Just gorgeous. I'm absolutely keeping her in mind.

But having explored the rescue sites Lois listed, I came across one dog in particular who's really captured my interest. He's from a fabulous rescue outfit who does all the right stuff,... thorough vet care, obedience training and socialization, and a really thorough application process for adoption. I like everything about the organization, and I like everything about the dog. They're completely open and honest about the behaviors (good and not so good) and the stage of education the dog's had and is currently undergoing. We're going to submit an application.

Oh, that's cool! I love to see people support pet adoption groups.

BTW, kind of off subject, but Petsmart in Clarksville (and the other stores too) is have a Pet Adoption Days special event this weekend. We're going to be there between 11 AM and 2 PM on Saturday with our Greyhounds, but there will be several other adoption groups there as well. I believe they are going to have various groups there on Friday, Saturday AND Sunday, probably throughout the day. Just in case anyone else is thinking of adopting a pet at this time.

Lois
http://www.GPALouisville.org
Greyhound Pets of America/Louisville, KY Chapter

Thanks Annemarie. My problem is always that there are so many beautiful dogs in the world.

Lois, thanks again. I've just finished filling out the application and putting a stamp on the envelope to send the check in. You folks who do rescue and adoption are miracle workers and saints. A good friend from Minneapolis does the same thing, and she's always fostering and ferrying and doing adoption weekends. She came through Louisville the night the ice storm hit, with a truckful of 35 dogs, and she does that sort of thing routinely. I did a couple of weeks down in Louisiana for the dog rescue effort after Katrina, and wow. Something like 400 dogs we ended up with. And running on pure adrenaline the whole time. And then the big dog rescue in Arkansas a year later with something like 250 dogs discovered in the middle of the Ozarks forest, just outside my old home town. A bizarre and horrifying case of hoarding. And when you realize those are just a drop in the bucket, the sheer number of animals needing homes and rescue, it's overwhelming. After it was all over, I realized I don't have the emotional wherewithal to do it the way my friend does it. It's hard work, and it's emotionally grueling. I admire you for what you do.

I shouldn't be doing this, but here goes.... Does anybody know of any local English Setter breeders?

In addition to their rescue link, http://www.esaa.com also provides a list of registered breeders, if you're interested in a puppy...

It's usually a lot of fun and very rewarding. For instance, last Saturday, we made a run up to Columbus, Indiana, to accept the surrender of an almost 13-year-old dog named Giovanni whose owner wanted to give him up after 8 years because suddenly he couldn't find an apartment that would allow a big dog. Not knowing exactly what we were getting (he'd adopted from a group in Arkansas), we picked him up. This dog is an absolute sweetheart! His teeth are a mess and he's about 10 pounds underweight, but he's in generally good health. I was pretty sure I was going to end up with this dog on my couch for the next 2 or 3 years because everybody knows that "nobody wants a 13-year-old dog", right? We dropped him off at the vet on Saturday afternoon to be checked out, picked him up on Sunday and by Monday evening, we'd found someone who wanted to adopt him, one of our own members. By Tuesday, we had another family asking about him as well. "G" went to his new home tonight! He's going to be VERY happy for his remaining years.

Other times, it's not so much fun, but we do it for the dogs. Overall, they give us so much pleasure and we love traveling around the country with our dogs going to Greyhound Gatherings and hanging out with our greyt friends.

Lois