It's not fair!

So... I love dogs. Love them more than people most of the time. I love their faces and their floppy ears and... well just about everything. And those who take in the strays and the hard luck cases? Heroes. Because it isn't easy. My friends and I pride ourselves on saving the mutts of the world.

Today I get smacked upside the head with man's absolute cruelty.... one of my coworkers fosters daschunds for a rescue group. She had 16 in her home and has been getting calls from owners who want to surrender their doxies (usually for selfish... "it's inconvenient" reasons). Then she gets a pup like Ariel...

Her owner just let her out to fend for herself. ??????? Yeah, obviously that worked out really well! I just don't get it. I understand that not everyone feels about their pets the way I do, I get that. But how in the world could you just abandon a creature that has depended on you for everything? How could you live with yourself?

So on the heels of hearing all about this baby this morning, I learn that my best friends David and Summer had to put their dog Petunia (aka Toots) to sleep. She was one of those abused, abandoned dogs that got rescued... probably by the best puppy parents I know. They did everything for this sweetheart... more than I think I could have done... but it wasn't enough to undo whatever was done to her. Petunia could be sweet, and loyal and a big goof (playing fetch with sour oranges was my favorite). Unfortunately she had violent fits. Some bad ones... but D&S tried to solve the problems... correction, meds, "counseling"... they even gave up Pugsley to me because they knew if they didn't keep Petunia, no one would have her. Well.. she caused some serious damage this weekend... and there was no alternative but to put her down. It was the best thing, and she's scampering madly in doggie valhala right now, but it doesn't change the fact that it sucks. Here was a dog that wanted so much to be good... but she had something broken in her and no amount of love, attention or money could make it better. And my friends are probably going mad with guilt right now... and some worthless piece of skin who booted their dog to the curb is probably feeling nothing, except relief that they got rid of that little problem.

It just hurts, y'know?

Here's a picture of Petunia... in case you need another tug at the heart.

Sweet, crazy dog....