The topic of getting a dog had come up lightly in conversations with my wife over the years, but one particular Spring day during the cycles of Covid lockdowns, our thoughts about dog ownership took an impulsive turn. I had typically been the voice of reason, reminding my wife of the responsibilities and the lifestyle changes it would require. But this time was different. This was a time when I was desperate to prevent my wife from going back into the depression that she had struggled with in the past. But also, looking back, it was the hope that a dog might bring us closer together, giving us something to care for and an experience that might push us forward in life - motivating us to pursue our goals. Like a typical giddy kid, my wife promised to share equally in the responsibility of taking the dog out for walks. Whatever it was, this time the conversation sparked a sudden change in me, a need to make her happy that overpowered all my previous reservations.
The impulsive decision to get a Siberian Husky
The moment I agreed, the momentum was unstoppable. Filled with excitement, we began searching online immediately. She had never had a dog, and I had always loved the idea of a big, stunning dog. We found a purebred Siberian Husky on Kijiji, it felt like fate. My mom had often talked about Huskies being her favorite breed. I also recounted stories of my childhood experiences with them when neighbours would bring these beautiful dogs by my grandparents’ house. It all seemed to align perfectly. The Canadian Kennel Club’s (CKC) reputation for purebreds only solidified our belief that this breed was the right and “ethical” decision, to support CKC purebred breeding, which I have now come to somewhat challenge.
Within hours of finding the ad, we had agreed to meet a family looking to rehome a 5 month old puppy the following day. They lived in a large new house on a sprawling lot, but were moving to a new construction neighbourhood and they explained that the lack of infrastructure in the new subdivision, particularly that the sidewalks were not built, would make it difficult for the dog to get proper exercise. Their two kids seemed attached to the dog, yet the parents were insistent that their situation wasn’t ideal. What was odd about this is that we were on their doorstep about to take this dog to a small basement apartment without any objections.
Getting a dog from Kijiji
The exchange was rushed. We mentioned our bunnies and experiences fostering cats, but the family just seemed to admire the fact that we were animal lovers and like us, missed the red flags about how these animals would all get along in a tight space. They were more focused on finalizing the deal, which ended with an e-transfer right there in their living room. I remember it being awkward waiting for the large transfer to hit their inbox and be deposited, taking almost 20 minutes of small talk to achieve. In less than an hour, we were heading back home with our new dog!
Reality hit hard and fast. The Husky, far larger and more energetic than we anticipated, struggled with restlessness in our apartment. Our bunnies, who had been with us for years, were terrified, huddling in the corner of their enclosure. Working from home became a nightmare, and the upstairs tenant and our landlord, who we hadn’t consulted, were less than thrilled with the new addition.
It only took two nights for us to realize we had made a huge mistake. We had rushed into something we weren’t prepared for, underestimating the breed's needs and the impact it would have on our lives. With heavy hearts, we called the family back, admitting that we couldn’t handle the responsibility. To our relief, they were understanding. They came to see our living situation and agreed to take the dog back, albeit with yet another awkward wait for the partial refund of the adoption fee.
The lessons we learned and why Kijiji is dangerous for pet ownership
Looking back, the experience was a harsh lesson in the dangers of impulsive decisions. We had jumped into something without doing the necessary research, without considering all the factors, and without asking enough questions. Equally, the family who had the pup didn’t properly screen us either. Both parties were at fault. It taught us the importance of understanding a breed's needs and the responsibilities of pet ownership. It definitely made us wary of the ease with which platforms like Kijiji allow for impulsive, life-altering decisions without any checks and balances.
To read more about a breed you are interested in, check out Paction’s Breed Guides or use Paction’s Breed Matchmaker Tool.
