micro:
Re: “Here in my area you can get a rescue shelter puppy for $200.00 and a young dog for about $175.”
I might not have been very clear. We weren't able to find a small dog at any of the shelters we visited. We got Kermit as a result of a "Small Dog Wanted" ad my wife placed on Craig's List. He was free. The lady even threw in toys, food, a dog crate, flea & tick drops, a choke chain collar (now I know why), and more. She insisted on no money, but we forced her to take $50 - telling her to spend it on her grandkids.
The woman has had a really hard year. Her husband of 22 years died in April after a long illness. Her daughter is divorcing and has moved in with mom, along with her two toddlers. Kermit belonged to her son who moved to an apartment that does not allow pets and left mom with the burden of taking care of a pet she didn't want. She can't deal with everything that's happening and says the dog deserves an owner who will give him some attention. I agree and we SHOULD be exactly what he needs.
She said her son obtained the dog from a shelter when he was 7 months old. She says he will turn 2 on July 4th. That may or may not be true. Kermit is extremely fat for a 24 month old dog that eats Purina Pedigree dry dog food. (However, he is a ridiculously sedentary dog, so maybe it's possible.) I think he could stand to lose ten pounds (from 35 to 25.)
He's neutered and seems healthy. Since he's from a shelter, he's probably been chipped - not that it would have mattered to us had he not returned from the forest. The hypothetical chip isn't registered to us, but to the previous owner.
Kermit has grey on his muzzle. My old Australian Shepherd started developing grey hair when he was 5 or 6, I think.
We're taking Kermit to a vet on Friday. We'll ask for his/her opinion on the dog's age. He or she can probably give us an estimate by looking at the teeth. Dog's usually develop plaque after a few years unless they've been brushing regularly... which I somehow doubt Kermit has.
My wife says that after Kermit's adventure in the forest, he pooped the grossest, slimiest, GREENEST thing she's ever seen.
My wife hasn't met zzfart.
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