help find koa a loving home
A friend forwarded this to me and I wanted to share it here in case any kind lifers are looking for a new best friend. If you are thinking of adopting, Koa might be just what you're looking for, so check out his story below:
Koa is an 8-year old Pure Breed Belgian Shepherd. He is a neutered male, up to date on his vaccines, and in perfect health. He is brilliant, gentle, athletic (fast as hell), loyal, protective. This is the breed that the police and FBI use.
I adopted Koa at 2 months, a rescue. He was fearful, cowering, and is now prideful and courageous. He grew up with a brother Lab Retriever, and a cat, but they've been separated by divorce. Koa has separation anxiety, so until he is comfortable in his new home he needs to be around people. He is all about attachment, which is beautiful. But he's not the kind of dog to be left alone all day and night. He will try to escape to find his guardian. He's not aggressive AT ALL. But, I'd say he's perfect with children 5 and up, who don't pull ears, poke eyes, etc. He loves people and is good with dogs and cats. He is completely trained.
This is a prize dog. Anyone would be lucky to have him. I am broken-hearted at having to give him up.
Koa sounds like a wonderful dog and a great companion, plus it doesn't hurt that he's trained and good with kids and other animals. If you or anyone you know has a home that's right for Koa, shoot an email to peterlandesman@mac.com expressing your interest.
And remember, if you're thinking of bringing a pet into your home, no breeders, no pet stores- adopt and save lives!!
Have a great story about rescuing a pet? Share your experiences in the comments below.
To help out, and find out more about animals in need, check out Much Love Animal Rescue.
Related Stories:
A Ban on Pet Sales
Action Alert: Kitten Season
Action Alert: Sweet Pit Bulls Need Homes
16 comments
-
Sometimes the most loving thing you can do for an animal is to give him/her away knowing that he/she will be better off with someone else. I think that to judge otherwise is to assume that everyone else's journey is the same as yours. With that said, the last 5 dogs I have had were dogs that other people realized that they could no longer care for appropriately. I also come from a family where my 2 older brothers were adopted. I cannot be harsh on people who make difficult choices like this, because I cannot imagine how different my life would be without them.
-
Hooray! We past Koa's inspection! He integrated beautifully into our home.
A loving, committed pet guardian knows his/her dog very well, and often can do the very BEST job of placing the dog in a new home, with all due respect to shelters. I fully understand why shelters sometimes say the dog must come back to them, but I prefer that be an option offered, but the best option is the loving owner (chosen by the shelter after all) placing the dog and letting the shelter know where the dog is now. Keeping animals out of shelters and kids out of orphanages or foster care is really the ideal, even though orphanages, shelters, foster homes all play a vital role for many. (And I've worked in a shelter, served as a consultant for many and I've had foster kids.) But if a child can be with a relative, or a dog not have to spend time in a kennel, but go from one loving home right into another loving home, that is super good.
I also think it is wrong to harshly judge every parent who has to give up a child or every owner who has to give up a dog. There ARE times when it is the most loving choice.
One of the most humane people I know of suddenly developed terrible asthma in relation to her companion animals and she refused to give them up, until she was found collapsed and barely was brought back to life by the hospital. Giving them up was one of the hardest things she had done. Another very humane friend was in the final stages of cancer, had no energy to devote to her dogs, but wanted to select their new homes herself, before she died, and she was able to die in peace after that was accomplished. I disagree that it everyone's business why a dog needs a new home.
I can assure you, it was very hard for Koa's parent to rehome Koa, but very much needed for Koa's well being. And we are in almost daily contact, making sure Koa is getting what he is used to. And Koa and I are in love.:-)
-
My husband and I are talking to Koa soon, to see if we fit his criteria. The 12 year old collie/shep we adopted died at age 14, so there is an empty bed here.
-
Thank you for posting a homeless dog on here!!! FYI there is an EPIDEMIC of homeless pets especially in the southern states, thousands of dogs are gassed in big metal boxes. HUNDREDS per day. Alicia ANY help you give is appreciated, readers go to petfinder.com and you can help save them!!
-
Personally the only thing I see is that I'm totally dependent of my family whom almost every member act like what is called today a potato, it's a miracle I don't hate cats after all that time, and if I would I would be blamed for that...
-
-
I was wonderilng why you were always talking about Rocko the dog, I figured that watching your movie "Excess Baggage" could help while I was scratching my head, and the copy of the movie I have now doesn't seem to be the same at all as the one I saw the first time... I don't remember you having black makeup at the beginning of the movie, you put a lot more energy in the bathroom scene, the clothing was not the same, there was absolutely no disgusting roughness when you swallow the handcuffs keys at the beginning among the things who seemed different... All the other actors were really sleeping compared to the version I just saw today... Did you do many versions of each scenes at the time?
-
What a beautiful boy! I would hope he'll easily find a new furever home. If he were in the Dallas area, I am sure I could help.
-
I suppose giving away a child instead of an adoption shelter is love too right? "I JUST CAN'T KEEP HIM!" No- no one does that. But we put humans above animals because we're smarter. This is why we think it's ok to breed animals for pets in the first place. A reason for a person giving up a dog IS everyone's business. It's on a public forum. This is a kind living site. I find it incredibly UNKIND to give away a dog you've raised from a puppy who is now a senior citizen. There are no bad dogs, only bad owners.
-
Most rescue organizations would prefer, and many require, that adopters return dogs to them when an adopter cannot or will not keep the dog. Any reputable rescue will have an established process for screening applications, including checking references, and matching the dog to a good home. Given the existing separation anxiety, this may not be a simple rehoming situation and the resources of a good rescue may be needed. Perhaps a senior rescue in Koa's area could help. That said, I am wishing Koa a swift trip to a loving home.
-
-
Well I think its wonderful that he made it to this website to have such a great chance at a happy life again. I myself have 5 cats 4 dogs and horse all but 2 are strays . I know he will find a forever home, he is beautiful.
-
@Kate Harvey... Way to be judgemental and closed-minded. It is absolutely none of our business why this person is having to give up their beloved pet. At least they are trying to find Koa a loving home, as opposed to dumping him in a shelter. That's love.
-
Why would you give your dog up for adoption after 8yrs? This person had better be dying or something. This is so sad. I'm disabled with 2 kids, and that definitely didn't happen over night, but I'll be damned if I give up any of my millions of pets.
-
I adopted my girl Roxy! She's been such a great friend and brought so much joy to our lives.
-
my family has rescued all of the pets we've ever had. we wouldn't do it any other way. i have so many great memories with our cats and dogs. it feels so good knowing we gave them better lives!
Available at:
Available at:
Join the Discussion!