Adult male GSD needs a new home

Hi all, it really, really hurts me to post this but i am faced with either having my 9 yr old GSD put into a dogs home or, god forbid, to sleep. I really dont want to do either so i'd rather give someone else a chance to have some company with him.
Taz is a 8 1/2 yr old male GSD that i've owned since he was a pup. He was brought up in a family with children, cats and parrots and has no issues with any of them. He has a fantastic nature, isn't at all aggressive and doesn't bother with other dogs at all. He is great with children and i'd fully trust him with any stranger or child (although because hes a big dog, most people run a mile when they see him :-)
He has been chipped, castrated a few years ago and recently is being treated by the PDSA vets out at Huyton as he has the occasional seizure for which he sees the vet every 2 months and gets tablets for and im treating his ears at moment as they are a little infected. Ear drops and a daily clean is the usual routine for this. He is a little overweight at moment so could do with a diet and some serious walks which would benefit him really .
I am both unable to and can't afford to look after him any more due to being in ill health and unemployed and with the recent housing benefit changes meaning i now have to pay part of my rent from my benefits. Also the PDSA costs which although not necessary i feel i have to give donations to, as after all, they are looking after Taz but it all comes out of my living expenses. I've been looking for a smaller house which would let me keep him but no private landlords want pets in their homes and im not eligible for council housing so it gives me no real choice now but to let Taz go.
He eats most foods readily, dried, tinned or fresh and relishes his usual chew treats. Regular visitis to the butcher for a marrow bone usually results in it being demolished in a day or two.
I've had some great times with Taz, so i know anyone else who could take him would have fun too so if you feel you can commit to looking after Taz and would like to meet him, then please get in touch and i'll bring him round. Please remember I am really really reluctant to, and dont want to let him go, i can't emphasise this enough. If i had an alternative, i wouldn't be writing this now. Thanks for your time taken to read this. Scott
I've attached a picture of him from a couple months ago.

[Tedsmum]

Hi Scott, really sorry to hear about your situation. it is very sad that you have to consider passing Taz on to a new home.
Perhaps you should tell us where you are so that anyone interested knows how far they have to travel.
All the best for you and Taz. x

Hi Gill & Ted, so sorry, never even thought about mentioning where i am, wasn't thinking properly when writing the message. I'm in St.Helens by Manchester. Thanks for letting me know though

Regards
Scott

[Billy Sitch]

Hello Scott, How long ago did he start fitting? Has he had a fits since being on medication and do you still have the cats and Parrots?

If you didn't give the PDSA a donation, could you then keep him?
I'm also sorry about the predicament you are in but am more concerned about your dog being rehomed when it's ill as it isn't going to be nice for the dog or a new owner.

You have had him for a long time and I, personally, would not want to give a dog away that had given me all those years of his life. Is there really no other way you can keep him?

Have they performed any blood tests?

[wildmoor]

Hi Scott
If someone was willing to provide you with the food would you keep him?

I can get dog food at a reasonable price and would be willing to bring some sacks of food over to you.
Pam

Hi Pam and "Billy" in response to the fits, hes had i reckon maybe a dozen over the last 2-3 years. The first few times i didn't know what had happened, thinking maybe he was sick or something then one night he had a seizure in front of me so i then took him to the Vet who did do all the blood tests etc then he was properly diagnosed and put on phenobarbitol to help. His ears just need cleaning and drops so no big problem there and time will hopefully heal them. Please please don't think im trying to fob a sick dog off onto anyone (i know you aren't thinking this but just had to mention it so please dont be offended) and its why i made it clear in the post that he is sick and in need of treatment. Believe me please when i say i do not want to part with him! It's not Taz's fault that he is ill and i have battled on getting him treatment where necessary but its just getting beyond my means to look after him and afford to give him the care and attention he needs. I realise it won't be nice for him or a new owner but there really is no other option other than having him put into a home or asking if someone wants to take him on with the problems he has. At the end of the day, with my rent situation and it going up shortly, the benefit having being lowered that it no longer covers the rent and coupled with the transport costs of going to the vet every month myself for his prescription (every 2 months with Taz to check up) It's all just really brought it home to me that i have to think of what bill to pay next. Im faced with letting him go unless i can get a cheaper house and one that will allow me to have him with me. There is no other real way out for us both.
in response to Pam's post, the food isnt a problem as i can get quality low-cost food locally too and besides i'd rather go without than have Taz going hungry but thank you for the kind and generous offer

Scott

[wildmoor]

Hi Scott
I was thinking that it would be one less expense for you, the main problem is there are so many rescues around and for the older ones it can be difficult to place them, I am not sure of changes to HB in your area, I know in Oldham they will pay £86.30 per week for a single person and more in the Failsworth area due to it having a Manchester postcode which is £103.56, Rochdale is the same as Oldham and Tameside is £92.05.

[super D]

I really hope you managed to sort things out for you and your lovely woofer xx

[kita]

Have you tried internet sites like this one:

Houses for rent Huyton, Merseyside | Property to rent Huyton, Merseyside | Rooms For Let Huyton, Merseyside


Also it may be worth placing an advert on a few of those sites (and your local newspaper). Landlords will often rather reply to an advert than have to place one themselves.

If they know your dog is an older one they may be willing to rent you a place (they know the dog is not going to chew/wreck the place and is house trained).

Sue

Thanks Super D, appreciate it :-). Pam, St.Helens council did the dirty on all housing benefit claims by bringing in a "review" before the reductions were supposed to be introduced next year and as a result they dropped the LHA to just over £86 a week (rent is £92/week). So i have to put some of my own cash to the rent, it's not much at the moment so not that it bothers me at all, im just happy to have a house but its unfortunately going to have to be one without Taz when the rent goes up in a couple of months. Thats going to cost me nearly £50 a month out of my own benefit unless i can find a cheaper house somewhere and one that allows dogs. I am on the council list but theres a 3-4 year wait as i dont have enough points and this new bidding thing they have just really rules me out altogether so its going to have to be a private landlord.
As for his food, yes i totally agree its one less outgoing for me and its really appreciated but as i make a lot of his food fresh (friendly with local butcher who gives me a lot of meat scraps & bones) and supplement it with tinned and dry to vary his diet, its not really a great expense for me and really wouldnt make much of a difference if it didnt cost me anything for his food. I do often forego my own pleasures when shopping to buy him a treat etc and on the occasions when i do buy myself something nice, he just dribbles all over me until he gets a nibble so he always wins :-). I do have an offer to take care of him temporarily until i get a cheaper house and although its very short term at least its there if its needed but im actively looking for a cheaper house which will hopefully allow us to stay together. Until that happens though my problem remains