People and Pets...

MyLuvBugs wrote: Ok. So what if you had a friend that had a pet (cat or dog) for 5-6 years, and it was the most loving animal. Then one day you go over to your friends home, and the pet isn't there. When you ask about the pet, the friend says "Oh we got rid of it, b/c it was just too much trouble to take care of."

Now, you know there was no illnesses associated with this pet, so what do you now think of your friend and what do you say?

This recently happened to me, and I'm totally at a loss of words. To me my two cats are like my children, just with fur and really bad breath. So, I would do anything for them.........What do you all think?

C&K*s Mommie replied: Me, being the tactless and nosey person that I really am (sometimes I try to keep the nosiness to a minimum ) I would flat out ask why? they chose to get rid of the pet so suddenly, especially if they are a good friend, then I would not see the boundaries to where they may take offense to it. But that is JMO.

DVFlyer replied: Since we can't control what others do, it's best to let sleeping dogs lie (pun intended) as it were. If you are really close, I guess you could say that "you" wouldn't do something like that, but it usually doesn't help anything by going there.

luvmykids replied: I'm like you, our pets are just as much a part of the family as any of us. We take the responsibility very seriously. We had a dog for a few years who was kind of a pain but knew we could never get rid of him, we chose to take him on and in our mind made a committment to him, kwim? Sounds weird, I know. He is currently staying with some friends of ours because we had to move and simply couldn't bring all 3, and he was already well loved/known by our friends so they have him until we build our house and then we'll get him back.

I can understand though, people taking on a pet and realizing they truly can't do it. I'd rather they find it another home than neglect it.

I totally admire Nicole for giving up their dear puppy when they realized the girls weren't ready for her, they put the puppy first and instead of banishing it or subjecting it to innocent unpleasantries, let it have a chance at a more suitable home.

Kated replied: I dont know how people could do that. I just dont. Its wrong. How could you have an animal for for that long and not have any feelings for it and just toss it out like that?

I understanf if you have problems cause the kids or you cant take care of it but at least fnd it a good home.

Edward's Mommy replied: I had a mixed dog growing up. She passed away from cancer last November. I was so upset that I still cry when I talk about her. My dad loved her so much that her food and water dishes are still in the same spot because my dad can tell himself that she's just outside and she'll be in in a minute. My grandmother still changes her water everyday. Nobody can talk about it because it still hurts so bad. Dogs and cats or whatever other pet you may have are family members. To me, getting rid of a pet is like getting rid of a family member. Chris and I have a mini schnauzer who pees in the apartment and I have a hard time training him. Both our families think we should give him away. I won't do it...even in my frustration....because he's like my oldest child. I have two children, one is just really fuzzy. Animals are just as precious as children. I would have asked why, and said that I would have taken the dog/cat/bird/ whatever the animal was...unless it was a snake! I hate snakes! ::shudders::

mckayleesmom replied: I don't know....I don't think I would say anything....at least they gave her to someone who loved and had time for the pet....instead of ignoring it and not putting the pets needs first.

ilovemybaby replied: ITA I know what you mean. I was reading an article in our newspaper about the SPCA and all the ridiculous kinds of reasons they get for people not wanting their pets anymore. One lady said something like "my cat doesn't go with my furniture" because she got a new lounge suite that was white and her cat was black. How cruel is that?!
But all I can say is it sounds like that cat was better off with a new owner.

I can understand people giving their pets to other families when their kids don't look after them properly (if it was their responsibility) or when they are just too young for pets. They are putting the pets needs first and I am sure they go to nice familys that will take good care of them.

I just don't get having a pet you supposedly "love" like your children for that long and then just giving it away.
We have three cats (was only meant to be two) and we could never part with any of them. Even though Kitty used to pee or poop inside because he was too lazy to jump out a window overnight if it was raining. And they sometimes throw up inside or bring dead mice or birds inside. It's just part of having cats. Just like their fur on everything and the hayfever I get from handling them too much.
I am definitely a cat person. Family members have offered to take them (when I was pregnant with Abby) and I have always said no. My grandmother said she'd take Mischief and I couldn't let her because she is the baby and I would feel like I was getting rid of her because I was having a baby. Then she said well I could take Cleo. And I said no because I have a real soft spot for her. She is definitely my baby LOL And Paul loves Kitty too much so we can't get rid of him. He rescued him out of a tree thinking he was Cleo and then he followed Paul home. And Paul goes "but he's so cute, can we keep him?!" So that's how we ended up with three cats.

EvesMom replied: My pets are my babies. I would never get rid of them. I can't understand why someone would do that.

redchief replied: Man if I had a dime for all of the times we decided Buster (he's our somewhat aged Rabbit who used to be litterbox trained but lately has been pooping all over the house) was too much trouble I'd have my retirement taken care of.

Anyhow, I think that getting a pet is a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. They require a lot of time and patience, not to mention vet bills, food and the potential for allergies in the household. I think anyone who takes on the responsibility of a pet needs to think of these things first. In the long run, though, I'd sooner people who've decided they made a mistake in getting a pet would give the pet to someone who would give it a good home than to see a poor animal mistreated.

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: The only reason I would choose to find a new home for my furry critters was if Logan turned out to be allergic to them. It would be hard to see them go, but I have to put Logan's health first. So far, no signs of allergies. Now if only I could get him to not pick up the ferrets. They really don't appreciate it.

My3LilMonkeys replied: We have considered getting rid of our dog a few times because she's destructive (chews a lot) and extremely high energy. But when it comes right down to it we always keep her. Personally it isn't something I could do unless it was an issue that couldn't be resolved (biting my kids is the big one - allergies also). But I agree that if a person feels that way the animal is better off somewhere else in a more loving home.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I wouldn't say anything. It's personal choice. And IMO, if the animal has a better home, then I think it's a good decision. I love our dog dearly, but sometimes I don't believe we are giving him the best he can get, so at times, I do think about giving him up to another family. It would just have to be the RIGHT family!

ashtonsmama replied: I would probably ask WHY?!? being the nosy girl I am, but some of you sound more tactful!

That's sad though-I'm sure she had a reason though, and it's not my place to judge, I'd just ask because I cared...JMO.

NEWMOM05 replied: My sis and bro-in-law go thru pets like mice on cheese. I never know when and what kind of animal they have. Next thing I know they've taken another trip out to the animal shelter. It makes me and at the same time. My cat is just like family, but his brother is another story, he pooped and peed on everything even after he got fixed. I tried everything and finally had to give him back to my friends who gave him to me. I later learned that they turned him out onto the street. I really wish I had given him to someone else.

ilovemybaby replied:
Yeah if Kitty had not stopped doing that after he was fixed (that's exactly what he did) then we probably would have given him to the SPCA. It's just something I didn't want to be doing every day ... cleaning up poop and pee and especially with a young child. And no one else would have taken him. We got rid of our litter trays when I was pregnant with Abby and made the cats go outside. They already went outside then but the litter trays were for overnight so they didn't have to go outside in the rain or cold. It was only Kitty that had a problem with that. We had one more incident after we cleaned our carpet and that was it. Thank goodness.

MyLuvBugs replied:
But they didn't give the cat away, the put her down. I did flat out ask why and what happened, and all I got was "It was just too hard to take care of". WTH? So, you take a perfectly healthy animal to the vet to be put down!?!?!? I guess that's why I'm totally a loss for words. This friend is not who I thought she was...

luvmykids replied:
I do not at all like the idea of putting any animal down just because the owner is tired of taking care of it.

Crystalina replied: I would have to ask Why....it's obvious the dog isn't there anymore right? Your not being nosy, your just making an observasion.

I don't know how people (my sis included) do it. Right now I have 10 dogs alone, I still have 2 cats, rabbits and all the farm animals (5 goats that THINK they are dogs ). Four of my 10 dogs are inside all the time (the yorkies) because of coyotes. Four of them stay outside during the day and come into their Kennels in the mudroom at night. Two others are hunting dogs and have an outside kennel (except on cold nights when they ALSO have a kennel in the mudroom). We are definately dog lovers. I have even cremated the ones that have passed away and the cat I've had since junior high, I even keep them after death .

I can't imagine having a dog that long and getting rid of it. Two of mine were strays and in the amount of time it took to place ads for a home for them I became attached and they've never left.

I can understand if you TRY and realize it isn't your thing and never do it again. But some people get the "puppy urge" and keep getting rid of them when they grow up, then wait a few years and do it all over again. I

I call mine my furbabies because that's what they are and my house is their Forever Home.

redchief replied:
ITA... Killing an animal just because you can't be bothered with it is sickening.

CantWait replied: I think it's pathetic, but thinks the same way as your friend. He wants to get rid of our dog because "he's to much trouble". Even though he's never here to take care of it, or spend the hundreds of dollars to fix it's ears, and get needles etc, that I have

CantWait replied:
I totally agree, but Nicole also did this while the puppy was that still a puppy, and for a good reason, not years down the road just because they couldn't hack it.

MamaJAM replied: Well - we actually had two dogs at one point. The one dog was a lot of trouble. We had her for over 2 years and she still wasn't housebroken. She could be out in the yard for half and hour - but she'd wait until she was back inside to poop. Also - our cat....who had been with us for 4 years before we bought the dog - started getting frustrated with her and peeing around the house (even though we never allowed the dog upstairs...the cat was increasingly annoyed). I was pregnant with DS#2 at this point and just couldn't take life with this dog. We were going to look for someone to take her by placing an ad in the paper - but ILs offered to take her. They've had her for almost 3 years now and we get to see her fairly often. It was just what worked best for us.

I wouldn't judge my friend for getting rid of her pet....I'm sure I wouldn't know all of the circumstances. Not everyone considers a pet to be like a child. I consider my pets to be animals - not 'family'. Therefore, there are some things I am just not willing to put up with.