What is your relationship with your dog
"Some of the biggest challenges in relationships come from the fact that most people enter a relationship in order to get something: They're trying to feel good. In reality, the only way a relationship will last is if you see your relationship as a place that you go to give, and not a place you go to take."
-Anthony Robbins
Perhaps this is why so many animals are surrendered to shelters, rescues or tossed aside on the street - there isn't a relationship. The person was a taker not a giver.
A taking relationship would be:
Getting an animal because you're lonely.
Teaching the children about caring for another being - which can lead to - let the dog have puppies so 'our' children can witness the birth...blah blah blah.
Watch dog.
The children, spouse wanted a dog.
I'm sure there are many reasons why people get a dog. I think I may have heard most of them, and thankfully I can't remember the sad reasons for getting one at this moment, but for me, first and foremost, I get a dog because I must take care of them, and in turn they take care of me. At times I've been lonely, and my dogs comfort me. They can be good watch dogs, but that is secondary. Finally, I get the dog for *me* and only me - not because my children or spouse wanted one. I guess this is why I have the relationship with my dogs of giving and not a place of taking.
In Al Ritter's new book the 100/0 Principle from Simple Truth's, the 100/0 Principle is: "You take full responsibility (the 100) for the relationship, expecting nothing (the 0) in return."
This book is written about human relationships, but of course I can slant it 'to the dogs'. It works.
Check it out - it may change your thinking, and if you shifted your thoughts to "I don't know" - less dogs (and other animals) may be spared the shelter life and/or death.
Now that would be something for your children to witness.
"Change your thoughts- Change your world." - N. V. Peale