Okay, so here's the story. I have a male mini-schnauzer (10months) who is scheduled to be neutered this month. I get a phone call from a friend asking if I wanted another dog. I find out the details. A 2yr old female mini-schnauzer is in need of a home. Her previous owner abandoned her alone in an apartment for a week. :( She is not spayed (which doesn't make me happy, considering) but needs help. My husband and I decide to take her in. The day after I bring her home I am leaving town for a few days for work. I find out from my babysitter that my dog may have been mating with her the next day. I'm freaking out but she tells me that they haven't shown any signs since.(they never got "stuck")
As soon as I get back in town, I make appt. for vet visit to get her all her shots and make sure she is healthy and up to date on everything. I inform the vet of what "may" have occurred the week before. I tell her that I do not think she is pregnant because he only tried once and has not shown any interest since. MPO is that he was just showing dominance to a new dog in his house. But I didn't witness it. Well, here is where the ranting starts.
The vet was very understanding, but the technician comes in talking under her breath how people should know not to put a female in heat in the same room with an intact male. I couldn't believe it. The wonderful vet did speak up and stated that I had just rescued the dog and was not aware as to whether or not the dog was or was not in heat. (thank you mrs. vet) Then upon paying she speaks up again about how she can't believe people are trying to breed puppies, and they should have more sense than that.
Come on now! Seriously. If I was out to have puppies, why would I be having my AKC schnauzer neutered, and at that very same facility!! It was outrageous. I read on here earlier about a Dane that may have been pregnant by accident and some came down hard on that owner, but sometimes, things happen. Granted, if you don't plan on breeding, which most of us shouldn't. Spay/Neuter your dogs, but technicians and vets alike, don't judge everyone as BYBs just because they really did have an accident before neutering/spaying could occur. Just saying. Thanks for listening.

Thank you. I told her that I didn't know whether she was and that I left the very next morning. I have no doubt it was a dominance thing, but what gets me is her quickness to judge. Here I am doing a good thing by taking in an abandoned dog and she judges and criticizes me. Crazy days. The worst thing is she runs a rescue organization and takes in dogs herself, you think she would understand that you cannot get a dog fixed the day you bring it home.

Too, something to think about is what i do. Anytime a new rescue comes to the house, they are secluded from the rest of the household until they can be seen by a vet, evaluated to be sure they are not carrying disease in and until I know the temperament.
They are generally here several days at minimum before having any direct contact with the other dogs.

Yes, have to agree with LPN. ALWAYS keep a new animal separate until he/she has been vet checked. Even if the animal has an easily treatable disease, a lot of times, you won't even see signs of it for 3-4 days. By then, it's too late...your animals have already been infected. It really is one of the basic rules of rescue.

And I would never ever take a chance of leaving an unspayed female dog with a male dog that has not been neutered. And I realize you probably didn't know if the dog was spayed, which is all the more reason to keep them separate.

That vet tech is not very bright. Doesn't she knows that with out those people who make puppies she would have been out of a job?
she should be thanking every person that walk through the door with an intact dog or a littler instead of ridiculing them and preaching to them.

At least the vet obviously knew who butters his bread.
The vet I used to go to knew that very well. So did his stuff. They were always courteous to me. No matter how many dogs and litters I brought in. They knew that I was the one who kept a roof over their head and their fridge full. They knew that had they not kept their opinions to themselves, I would have just taken my business elsewhere. And with the amount of business I brought their way, it would have been a big loss.

LOL! Well, that's true, Juno. But on the other hand....I'm sure I have "donated" more than my fair share of money to my vet, and every one of my dogs and cats has been spayed/neutered! I refuse to take even the smallest risk of an "accidental breeding" which it seems 95% of the people on here seem to have at one time or another. (and notice how it is always someone else's fault?)

The bottom line is people should be taking on the amount of responsibility they can handle.

If you can't, it is not fair to the animals. I am not one for rehoming pets, but there are becoming occasions where my first thoughts are that it would be best for the animals involved for the humans to get themselves together until one day they are ready for the permanent relationship and commitment for these animals.

Animals live few years, we owe it to them to claim 100% responsibility for what we can provide for them. They deserve the best every one of those years.
Health (this includes the emergency medical cost), good diet, all the kisses their little faces take, protection (us for them), patience, sunny spot on the floor, a few favorite treats and toys. The ability to just be themselves.

They have the understanding of about a 2 year old child. They certainly cannot decide things for themselves.
They only know about a hundred words, you would never expect an ability to judge or even at times practice self control.
It is all about the environment and the situations they are put in.
Our decisions. Our judgement.

Unaltered animals can be kept in a single home as pets. There are members of this board that successfully do so everyday, but you have to use your brain and take precautions.
Animals very well could have been hurt in this situation before you know this new girls quirks or even how your own dogs would respond while she is in heat. Some dogs would fight to the death over a bitch in heat and some would jump fences.

Imagine yourself being left abandoned for a week when all you want in this world is a little attention from your best friend only to be moved to a place with new smells/people/animals, well there you go, here comes someone else... another week goes by I start to get use to this person and our schedule...you get the point. Talk about confusing and stimulation overload.

I think that would also trigger little sympathy in a fellow poster is that it is not an admirable trait to play yourself as the victim and expect everyone in the world to instantly become your best friend loving all of your own quirks.
Stand up, seek to understand yourself better. Strive to learn from mistakes and accept who you are along with stupid crap you have done and start researching things before jumping in feet first. You can only get so lucky in this life.

Very valid points catlover!

Fair to say all their patients and owners helped butter some bread quite a few times over.

"bread and butter" as you call it or not, any good vet will take the animals side and call a spade a spade.

A good vet would not sit idly by and allow dogs to be bred to death, in poor condition, etc and never say something to the owner on the animals behalf no matter how much business they give him.

I breed only occasionally and still swear I should own stock in my vets office, lol.
Its not about the quantity of pups you can pump out for them to care for, its the quality of care you give the few you have.

Okay, I feel a little attacked on the previous posts. I didn't take the dog in if I didn't feel as though I could handle it. I also was not trying to put the blame on someone else as indicated. I was simply stating facts. For an update, the new addition is in fact NOT pregnant as I suspected and also my male is now neutered. She is scheduled for spaying in October. I had no and have no intentions of ever breeding dogs. There are plenty of animals in shelters and homes that simple do not want them anymore as in our new additions case. Thank you for the comments.

Climber, whenever I see a post from you, it likely will involve the words "I feel attacked".
Perhaps if you didn't come out so vulnerable and offensive you wouldn't feel attacked, rather engaged in a exchange of opinions through conversation.

I took the time to type out a heart felt response not only about your own situation, as well as the great dane pregnancy thread, but my beliefs on pet ownership in general. I'm sorry you did not find my views favorable or even relatable.

Those who know me, know they can count on the fact that I am eager to learn things. I seek out a lot of information not just involving dogs, I have many interests and I am a straight forward person.

I am currently trying to help my husbands grandmother stash away some money to have her miniature pinscher spayed because her 40 year old son that still lives at home with her would rather exploit this dog than get a job.
I don't sugar coat when those discussions come about either.

I wish you luck. I am glad she is not pregnant and that things worked out this time.

Pope, thank you so much for your comments. I do not think I come across as vulnerable, but I appreciate your keen eye judging me. I also do not always "feel attacked". The post was "ranting" that is exactly what I did. I read posts on here and almost always the OP is attacked by others, when they are only asking for helpful advice. You have to admit, that gets old. I get tired of reading it. Yet, somehow I find myself back here in hopes of finding intellegent conversations between dog owners. However, almost everytime, it is the same threads. Preaching and fighting. People defending themselves from others. (rather what I feel as though I am doing now) Anyway, I do thank you for your post. I hope you have a wonderful day.

So is she pregnant and what are you going to do about it?

Have you had her spayed yet? Males remain fertile for a few months after being neutered, so she still needs to be spayed ASAP.

Rottluvr...that question was answered in her previous post.
The female was not pregnant, male has been neutered and the females has an appointment to be spayed in october.

My last post climberchic had nothing to do with you. Obviously seeing the way the post began it was in responce to another posters thoughts.

Oops, I just remember Pope's being the last post, but I didn't realize she and climberchic posted again. Sorry, glad to hear everything's good.

Yep, bet it was a huge sigh of relief for climberchic.
Tis why I handle my rescues the way I stated previously...leave nothing to chance.

If I was the tech I would have said something.

When you get a new dog in its your responsibility to keep the dogs apart. If you are going on vacation or having a reunion, funeral, christmas etc its not a good time to get another dog into a mix with other unfixed animals. Two unfixed dogs together often equals puppies. If you know that and ignore it then your ok with having puppies.

Luckily this ended good for you. You live and learn.