Would you keep this dog for 3 months then give her back? - Page 1

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/pet/3213926034.html

I answered this ad on CL for a female GSD to re-home. Only 3 years old and looks like a really sweet girl. The guy said he was moving his family (wife and 3 kids) to Florida and couldn't bring the dog with. About 5 minutes into the convsation he said he was changing his mind and asked if I could just take care of the dog for 3 months instead. Said after he got his family situated in Florida he would come back for her.

It's not a matter of money (he offered none) but I don't think I could just hand her back after 3 months. I get attached too quickly. I'm also concerned it might be longer than 3 months then I for sure wouldn't give her back. I said I would still take Maya but not on a temporary basis. Now I feel kind of bad  Would you take this dog for 3 months (or longer) then give her back? Sounds like these people don't have a lot of money.

No, I would not. He's just feeling guilty about leaving her behind. Not sure what your conversation was about, but I learned a long time ago to never try to give options to a person who didn't value a dog enough to suffer a few inconveniences in order to keep it; they probably didn't deserve the dog in the first place. There is no dog ban in the state of FL. Odds are, even if you did agree to his terms, you would never hear from him again, but are you willing to take the chance? Personally if I really wanted the dog, I'd agree to his terms and then tell him to get lost if he wanted her back.

This may be irrelevant, but just in his ad it seems she's been well-cared for and is most likely loved a great deal...at least she has food/water bowls, brushes and a bed.  Maybe they're just in a really bad spot and are trying to do what's best for her - maybe you could agree to 'foster' her, but if he doesn't come back then she's yours.  Granted, I don't have a whole lot of experience with Craigslist, so I can't comment about what goes on there. 

Even if jra is right and she does look well cared for, I'd run a mile from this.  Photos can be staged.  But in any case if you are the sort of softie who would find it hard to hand a dog back to even a loving owner in
3 months,  stay out of the fostering business !   [& Don't run a boarding kennels; don't work full time with any other owners dogs; don't puppy-walk assistance dogs.  Just don't !  Too much heartbreak IMO]

Hell no I wouldn't give her back. Why should you let them use you as a cheap boarding kennel? And for sure it would break your heart. You have nothing to feel bad about because you said no. He's damn lucky a decent person offered to buy her.

Ira, good care includes lots more than bowls, brushes, and beds. Like a commitment to the dog and finding a way to keep her when she becomes inconvenient instead of dumping her.

Triodegirl, that looks like a real fine dog. I'd go see her, and if she's what they say, pay for her with no promise of returning her and get her out of there. She deserves a lot better than being jerked around from one home to another. If you do take her and give her back, what happens the next time she becomes inconvenient? Dumped again! If they act real upset about giving her up, promise to email them pics of the dog and do it. They may just want to see that she's OK.

"Ira, good care includes lots more than bowls, brushes, and beds. Like a commitment to the dog and finding a way to keep her when she becomes inconvenient instead of dumping her."

I definitely agree...When someone asked us if we could take their dog, we didn't get anything but her.  It wasn't a problem for us, but it did leave me wondering what it had been like for her before, you know?  That's the only reason I mentioned that at least this dog came with those items - it was more than what our dog joined us with.  We just relocated with two dogs and a cat and it was not easy or cheap, but doable for us.

Taking the posting at face value - she looks beautiful, the people seem to love her and it sounds like they're in a rough spot (from triodegirl's post) - just trying to see things from that perspective.  However, I certainly understand everyone else's views/thoughts.  Makes me sad for her the same way I was sad for our dog before she came to live with us, that's all.

I hope she ends up in a great situation.

I do think the owner is in a tough spot, but then at one point in the conversation he asked if I thought his dog was worth more money. Then he asked if I would agree to just take care of her for 3 months. Tough to know exactly what to think. Does he want me to care for the dog until he sells her for more money? I don't know. He said he has had Maya since she was 4 months old. And yes, I am a softie. I considered offering him more money to help out. I just don't think I could take the dog then give her back. I like Blitzen's idea of telling him to get lost if he ever comes back for her. ( Mays is spayed so no chance I would be interested in her for breeding.) 

That is how we got one of our dogs. :P

His previous owner was a coworker of ours, and one day was saying how sad she was because she had to get rid of her dog that her daughter had already been taking care of for a few years (she was moving into a place that didn't allow pets, and our friend already lived in an apt that didn't allow pets) so we said we would watch him for the couple months it was going to take for them to find a new place. Here we are 5 years later and they only moved out about a month ago and we still have Yapper.

At first we were worried she might ask for him back, but she realized that he doesn't even think of her as his owner anymore (he is SUPER attached to my dad... I think there would have been a custody battle, LOL) and that he is happier here than he would be there.

I would not do it for a stranger.  I'm not going to judge the person or assume that it's a scam but I have to pick my battles, so to speak.  I could not accept dogs from CL and basically board them for free, regardless of whether I'd get attached.  I do foster dogs but they get medical treatment and even food through the rescue, as I'm not financially in a position to be taking in new dogs indefinitely.  We did take care of my uncle's dog for 8 months while their family was on sabbatical and of course gave her back but that was for family and everything was pre-arranged.  I think he gave my brother (who did most of the care) a large stipend to cover her food and expenses.  I would hope that if this person is geuinely well-intentioned, they have a friend or family member who can step in.