That's why I didn't want to say anything, she was seeing my usual vet so I knew she would get an earful once in the room He did look dejected

No-one IMO should get a dog/pup if they have no intention of walking it..... but, some dogs can't handle being in the big bad wo-ld and hate being away f-om home and I know a dog like that, it is infact a GSD and I posted about he- ages ago, but now I know the full facts I know she is best at home, she hates people and dogs.... She has two dogs at home to play with and a huge ga-den.....
When I had my accident Jamie had limited walks and I contacted alot of dog walke-s, no-one wanted to know, as he pulled and had lousy -ecall, I had to st-uggle to walk the block with him just to get him out, he would have gone mad without that walk.... I also played with him in my medium ga-den
In an ideal wo-ld, ALL dogs should be out and about, but its not an ideal wo-ld and its not just humans that can't cope with life...

I do think it's cruel to get a pup with the intention of never walking it. Maybe an oldie would have been more suitable, However I think well balanced dogs can cope surprisingly well when their walks are suddenly curtailed due to ill health, injury etc. Fairly recently I was unable to venture out for an entire month and all the dogs coped admirably. They didn't go stir crazy or act up on their first adventure out. Luckily it was only a month because long term I would certainly have to make alternative arrangements.

It is very wrong to get a dog with the intention of it never going for walks. If you can't walk it yourself then before even considering a dog you should put in place provision for someone to come in and take it out each day.
The only exception would be if the dog had health reasons why it couldn't go out.
Its just not fair either mntally or physically.

Why don't you just give them a bell and ask? They may not be able to do anything but there is no harm in asking. Also maybe they would consider just going to see this woman for a chat, although from how you described her I doubt she would take any notice.

Let us know how you get on,

J

I've made no secret of the fact that I physically cannot do traditional walks with my dog. If I didn't have a partner who loves to be out and about, I wouldn't have a dog at all.
The closest I get to "walks" is when I take her with me to the field. It's secure and there's no one else around, so she can run herself silly and I can sit down to play fetching games, but I don't like doing it alone. If she got into trouble, I would struggle to get to her, so I always prefer my OH or a friend to be with us.

Hopefully all that will change when I get my mobility scooter in a few weeks but I will still need someone with us until we're both confident. But even so, I certainly couldn't have Amberella if a short walk alongside the scooter was all she was getting. By her very nature, she desires the opportunity to run. Since she was spayed last week, she has been sulking at the lack of "proper" exercise - apparently walks on-lead are just not good enough, no matter how far you walk for!

There are some dogs who, for medical or emotional reasons, can't be walked in the way that most dog owners think of it. I do honestly feel that such dogs tend to be a minority, as most of the people I know IRL who do not walk their dogs always have a reason such as "he pulls", "she barks" or the ever popular "I work all day and I'm too tired". Such excuses are simply not fair on the dog. The pulling and barking issues would probably be resolved with socialisation, and IMHO "working long hours" is not a good excuse not to walk a dog.

I think its very easy to be judgemental in these things and until the circumstances are known - oh and of course its so easy to rehome a dog these days!

Regardless of the circumstances or the dog in question or what is done with the dog?

Or in the case of my parents old dog – when they took it on it was very over weight and could not walk far at first – yet you would have them berated to an inch and the dog taken off of them. How nice of you.

Arh the voice of reason.

Oh the overweight thing again! What if the problem is with the dog. Some people like to look at the whole picture before deciding what cruelty is before jumping on someone.

Excellent post

Think you’ve made a very valid point and certainly not confined to owning a goldfish!

Totally agree

I'll give you a hand down hon - you do great by yours and again shouldnt be forced to rehome them and get a goldfish

Its out of their control.

Becaue it`s unavoidable doesn`t make it right. It`s not right for dogs to spend years in rescue centres, it`s not right for dogs to be used as breeding stock in puppy farms - and it`s not right for a dog to be confined all its life. I`m sure no-one is criticising people who are unable to excercise their dog for short periods due to illness etc. - but to deliberately confine an animal that loves to play and run, to damage it`s behaviour by not socialising it, to allow it spend half a life - for years and years - come on...you surely have to admit that`s cruel.
I will add that I could easily have allowed Daisy to remain in the house - she was totally unsocialised when I got her. I very much doubt if she`d been out of her previous owner`s garden - ever!. She spooked at traffic, shops, passers-by, umbrellas etc. All these things were new and frightening to her. Now she enjoys life.

I dont walk mine everyday but i let them have long extended runs/swiming a couple of times a week. But they arent affected but not going out every day. But I think that it is different to having no walks at all.
ATD x

Were those the circumstances of that particular dog and owner? That was not the gist given in the post. I am sure the vet would know the circumstances and advise accordingly.

Do you honestly think a vet would chew the ear off someone who had recently rehomed a fat dog?

Where in my post did I say the dog should have been taken from the owner?