• By velcropap, December 20, 2009 @ 5:46 am only you can answer this but i would think hard about what is right for stanley. maybe your dad could keep him for you.

• By xallyxx16, December 23, 2009 @ 10:20 am Aww that sounds like a difficult situation Why doesn’t your Dad take him? Then atleast you can see him when you spend time with your dad!

• By Peter V, December 26, 2009 @ 5:49 am Your Mom is an A-hole! I think you shouldnt have gotten a dog in the first place since you weren’t capable of all that dog ownership entails….. but you have him now. Id suggest you check in with local NO KILL animal shelters, or put a Craigslist ad up “free jack russell to a good home”. And surrender the dog to a GOOD owner. Let this be a lesson to you, never take on responsibility that you can’t handle, youre too young.

• By Don't Litter! Spay & Neuter, December 29, 2009 @ 3:22 am No I wouldn’t get a ferret to replace him. Rodents and young teenagers don’t mix well. They’re cute for a short period of time until you get bored. Ferrets can live for 9 years, they need to be cleaned often otherwise they STINK and they are actually illegal to own in many places because they’re not considered domesticated. It does sound like your dog isn’t in a great environment though. But INSTEAD of selling him to someone else, you need to get in contact with the person you got the dog from and return him to them. It is THEIR responsibility to rehome the dog, not yours. They are the ones who brought the dog into the world, therefore the dog is ultimately their responsibility.

• By Bloo W, December 30, 2009 @ 7:52 pm if you feel that if one-two days without out him seems soooooo hard, you gotta keep him, but if it is kinda, not too much hard, you gotta let him go….. and get the ferret of coarse. Wait, did you know that ferrets are realated to skunks?

• By omgitzkasey, December 30, 2009 @ 10:43 pm i think that your dad should take care of him!

• By britt, December 31, 2009 @ 11:06 am First off, see if your dad could take your dog. That sucks, I’m sorry. But if you think he needs a better home, then do what is best for the dog. Make sure you know he is going to a GOOD home and not someone that is going to give him away again to the next person. I hate when people dont want to keep their dogss. Dogs get confused and can have big problems, just like a kid being fostered homed over and over again.

• By joanplus4dogs, January 2, 2010 @ 12:04 pm Sorry you are being put in a tough no-win situation from your parents. But your mother is wrong about selling your dog – there are a ton of JR for adoption & a 4yr JR will not sell for $150 unless fully vetted, fixed, chipped & even then it would be a tough sell though fully trained well behaved one would stand a better chance. You need to take that info in consideration that you won’t be getting much money & it is likely to take a while which your mom won’t like waiting. Can you take dog with you to dad’s & let him watch the dog for you when gone on vacation?

• By §hayla, January 4, 2010 @ 12:17 am Dont replace your dog with a ferret. Those things REAK and piss all over. I cant believe you would consider replacing your “loved” dog with a rodent. I think you should take your dog to your dads house

• By durdenslabs, January 6, 2010 @ 3:31 pm I must say, for a 14 year old you have a lot of good concerns and questions and seem genuinely concerned about the long term welfare of Stanley. Based on what I’ve read, and how hard this is going to be on you now and in the future, I’d say place an ad on in the dog classifieds. You’ll get a better response there than on craigslist. Make sure you tell the people he’s a Jack Russel, that he’s been in training and would do good if he was re-enrolled, tell them you’ve had him for 3 1/2 years but know he needs a home that can keep him forever and give him the time/love/exercise that he needs. Ask if they will send you pictures and updates. If they are willing to do that, then you know you have a good home picked out for him. I wish all teenagers were as thoughtful and concerned about things as you seem to be. P.S. Do NOT get a ferret or any other animal right away. If you can’t keep Stanley, you shouldn’t keep another animal. Think about something else that you can get with the money (maybe a good fish tank or a bird *if it has to be an animal*). Remember you are getting rid of Stanley because of school, social life, mom, etc and you will still have the same things in the way if you get another pet.

• By askaway, January 8, 2010 @ 12:26 pm i have had many dogs in my lifetime as well as cats,gerbils and hamsters im also training myself to be a vet or something similar(where i can work around animals)so email me a question you have and i will do what i can also my mom is a psychiatrist so i have some experience with people too

• By Archie?r, January 10, 2010 @ 9:55 am You mentioned that the dog lived with your dad for a while. Ask your dad if he can go live there again. Or, if you have family members that could take him, see if he can live with them. Then you could still see him, but your mom wouldn’t have to deal with him. A friend would work too. BUT that’s only if you choose to not get him. It’s really up to you.

• By happy2luvk9s, January 13, 2010 @ 2:19 pm 1) you are a minor and can’t legally sell anything because that would be a contract and you can’t be bound to it 2) you can’t “sell” a dog on craigslist because it’s not allowed you are only allowed to ask for a small re-homing fee for a dog 3) your mom is just saying that because she doesn’t like the breed of your dog over her own which is wrong 4) your dad needs to learn more about breeds before he goes gets you any more dogs or else you could be in the same boat all over again. 5) you mother needs to be the adult here and take over all of these worries that she’s placed on you 6) also you mother shouldn’t descriminate against poor stanley but you my dear has to keep up his training and show your mom that you are a responsible pet parent (even though the dog is legally hers%2

• By Aussie Mom, January 14, 2010 @ 10:43 pm You need to talk to your Dad. Tell him the whole situation and how you feel about Stanley. Since you are 14 you can’t just move out with your dog and get your own place. Your Dad got him for you and you love him. Now you need your Dad’s help if you want to keep him. If you do decide to give him up I would contact Jack Russell rescue. Find out how they screen adopters and if they take the dog back if it doesn’t work out. Ultimately you want to know that Stanley is safe, happy and well taken care of wherever he ends up living. He’s worth a lot more than $150, he’s a loved pet. Make sure your decision is in his best interest.

• By MICHELLE, January 16, 2010 @ 10:59 pm I got my dog when I was 12, and I loved him so much, it hurt so much everytime I had to leave for school, and when I went away to school I thought about him everyday. It helped to know that he was in good hands with my father though. I knew I would be home to see him, and when I came home for good after the 4 years it was as if I had never left. I actually took him with me when I moved out and he lived with my fiance and I, up until about a month ago when we lost him to cancer. I was with him right up until the end. Looking back, I would have not changed anything about my life with him. He was the best present my father could have ever given me. Dogs can give you so much more than ferrets…no offense to ferret owners, but a dog can do so much more. I can’t really relate to this situation, because I am a dog LOVER!!! I would have never thought to get rid of my dog, ever, but if you’re having a lot of doubts as to whether you can properly love your dog, then maybe it is better off in a good home. Then you also have to think about that new home, and how you will not know whether or not they are great owners. Maybe you can think of people you know in your family, or your friends that are dog lovers and you know he will have a great home. But don’t give up on him if you truly love him.

• By BDizz, January 18, 2010 @ 6:19 am First, I am so sorry for you and Stanley, and it sounds to me as if you mom just does not like the dog, and that is not fair. Second, I commend you for even considering letting your dog go for a better life for your pup, I know at 14 I would have never been able to make an adult decision like that. Third, I think as much as I really want you to keep the dog just to spite your mom (see I am 19 and you are way more mature then me) I think it is probably best to let Stanley go, maybe you could go through petfinder, or a rescue org. to do it and just keep him until they can find a home for him. Craigslist can be full of mean people with bad intentions that will seem perfect and then take your dog and make Stanley stew for all you know. Fourth, ferrets are really cute sweet animals with so much personality, I think it would be a good pet for you, don’t consider it as a replacement pet, just think of it as a new pet. Good job on doing your research as well. Finally, what ever you decide to do I am sure you will have made the right decision, you seem like you know what you are doing, and very responsible. Good luck sweetie! B.

• By Patient Paws, January 19, 2010 @ 6:05 am Aside from the horrible ideas that your mother has, its against CL rules to SELL any dog. Rehoming fees are required to be less than $70 dollars. Who CARES if he’s a JRT, convince her that he’s a Rat Terrier instead. At a glance, they look exactly alike. Dogs aren’t items that you can barter, trade, and replace at the drop of a hat. If you’ve already considered getting a replacement animal- then perhaps this dog SHOULD be rehomed. If this dog is being abused and essentially neglected by your mother, I’d rehome him- but since he’s your dog, do the right thing and rehome him to a local JRT rescue.

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