I hate to poop on a happy ending, and it is a happy ending...ultimately...but to me, its also a cautionary tale. For every happy ending like this, is one that ends badly. With an unwanted animal being dumped off with friends (who later dump it off at a shelter or a/c facility because they can't care for it either), particularly if that animal is older, has behavioral problems, or is an undesireable breed.
I guess I wonder why people who are even remotely likely to be sent overseas adopt pets. Pets are at the mercy of unforseen circumstances all the time, but being sent overseas if you are military or in a field that requires travel isn't "unforseen." If you cannot make plans to care for your pet for the entire life of the pet (which may be up to 20+ years) then don't get one. I'm sure rehoming this pet was traumatic for the owner who felt pushed into a corner. Let's hope he learned a lesson as well -- not to adopt another pet while he is still in a position of being unable to guarantee (to the best of probability) a permanent home for a pet.
P.S. I've also had the experience -- many times -- of a happy ending where an animal is placed and everyone is happy, and yet the NEW family gives the animal up because of landlord issues, dog compatibility issues, child compatability issues...and by then the original owner is long gone and unaware of the dog's plight.
I guess I wonder why people who are even remotely likely to be sent overseas adopt pets. Pets are at the mercy of unforseen circumstances all the time, but being sent overseas if you are military or in a field that requires travel isn't "unforseen." If you cannot make plans to care for your pet for the entire life of the pet (which may be up to 20+ years) then don't get one. I'm sure rehoming this pet was traumatic for the owner who felt pushed into a corner. Let's hope he learned a lesson as well -- not to adopt another pet while he is still in a position of being unable to guarantee (to the best of probability) a permanent home for a pet.
P.S. I've also had the experience -- many times -- of a happy ending where an animal is placed and everyone is happy, and yet the NEW family gives the animal up because of landlord issues, dog compatibility issues, child compatability issues...and by then the original owner is long gone and unaware of the dog's plight.