Everyone is trying to find the easy way out. Whatever happened to trying to make a marriage work? Or working with an animal to TRAIN it properly, er, actually train the stupid owner, NOT THE DOG. Or taking allergy shots if you're allergic.
And yes, I do understand there are circumstances that will force one to make a decision to give up an animal. Loss of a job resulting in the inability to care for the animal, severe asthma/allergies that send someone to a hospital, or a caregiver's illness. I'm sure there are more instances, but that's all I can think of at the moment. I'm not talking about these conditions, I'm talking about pure laziness on the part of the owner to train an animal, or loss of interest in the creature, or simple allergies, or not researching the breed of dog prior to getting it.
This seriously PISSES ME OFF!
Years ago, one of the trainers at my horse barn had a litter of kittens to give away. Her female Abyssinian got preggers by the neighborhood tomcat. I told her I would give one a try, but I knew I was allergic to cat hair/dander--I found that out when I worked for a veterinarian in high school. I took the kitten and by the time the month trial was up, I was sneezing my head off.
Did I give him away?
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| Mr. Kato Kitty in his younger days |
Heck, no! 21 years later, I had to put Mr. Kato Kitty to sleep, only a few months ago. I took allergy shots, medicine, and used an inhaler when needed. I also learned to wash my hands thoroughly after I finished petting him. I dealt with MY problem.
After my hubby and I married we had an assortment of critters--Siberian hamsters, rabbits and guinea pigs. Uh, I found out the hard way that I'm allergic to guinea pigs. I still pet and groomed Harry (really, Harriet), but I couldn't clean her cage as there was too much of the concentrated allergens. So my hubby did. After Harry died, who do you think saw Rocky and talked the family into having another Guinea pig? Yep, me. I just love those little guys!
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| Rocky, this AM |
When I was in high school, I adopted a brindle Great Dane (tiger striped) named Gretchen. She was such a sweetie, but with many physical problems--she was a puppy mill dog. Turns out the dimwit who owned her didn't realize she wasn't an apartment dog. What part of GREAT Dane suggests under 20 lbs?? After Gretchen died far too young when she was only three and I was in my first year of college. After I graduated college, I bought Pippin, a harlequin Great Dane. Though I moved out of my parents house and I had to leave Pippy behind, I still payed for his board. My dad and Pippin used to go for walks in the neighborhood. Pippin had to be put down at the ripe age of 12. The life span of a Dane is 8.
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| Katie, age 12 |
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| Maggie and family |
We currently have an Old English Sheepdog. This one is Maggie, but before her we had Katie who we had to put down at the age of 12 due to stomach cancer. We knew they would have to be indoor dogs--the heat is simply too much for an OES in Oklahoma. We knew she would need to be groomed and trimmed regularly. We knew what we were getting into.
All kittens and puppies are cute, but do a little research before picking up that animal to see if,
a) you are willing to do what it takes to have a new family member
b) realize how long these animals can live--and then add two or three years. Birds live a very LONG time--something to think about.
c) look at breed characteristics. If you want a laid-back dog, don't buy a rat terrier or lab. If the dog has to be outdoors, take into consideration their abilities to cope with the temperatures in your area, make certain you provide adequate housing, food and water.
Pets are family members. Would you give your kid away when they ticked you off? How about when you were potty training them? Did you get frustrated and give up? How about when they were a teen and they sassed you?
--Yeah, I know you want to give them away, but really, would you?
Be a knowledgeable and savvy pet owner. If you can't afford a big dog, don't buy one. If you buy a small pet for your kid, stress to the child that the animal can live for years. It the kid loses interest, then be mean mom and tell them to take care of their pet or step up and do it yourself. How fair is it to the animal when you desert them?
Animals become part of our family. They deserve your respect and love, because love is all they have to give back along with years of pleasure.
Later, peeps!
The last time we decided to get another dog, we had a grandson who was a year old. We did the research, and one book told us that English setters were more likely to let a toddler poke her without reaction, so that's what we got.
ReplyDeleteIt's been more than 10 years now. My dog and my grandson love each other. :)
Margaret--
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my soap box issues. Living in the country, we get all kinds of unwanted pets dumped on us. The healthy ones we find homes for. . .
Breaks my heart to find one on the street in front of the house.
Don, like you, is highly allergic to cats. He found a starved kitten in a trash can. We have a granddaughter of Catzilla.
Awesome, Edie! The world needs more responsible pet owners like you!
ReplyDeleteMeg--that just breaks my heart. I'm so glad Don was able to overcome his allergies to keep the kitty . . . and her eventual offspring's offspring. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou are so right! My BIL got a border collie because he loved my new border collie so much. Didn't do his research. Border collies need LOTS of exercise and attention. They are too smart and will get into trouble if not given enough run time. He was complaining this weekend that his dog was always moving and wouldn't just lay around the house. Duh. BC's don't just lay around! Unless they've been outside running around for a while.
ReplyDeleteBut our dogs are part of our family. We wouldn't give them away for any reason.
Why yes, I WOULD give my kid away if it ticked me off!
ReplyDeleteBut, you're talking to someone who has had her current "pet" for 18 years now, so you know where I stand on THAT one. :) I've bought food for him when I could barely afford it for myself. If both of us need shoes, he's the one who gets them first. I've told boyfriends (and even husbands) to hit the road if they didn't like the time and money and energy I devoted to him. I've saved his life twice, and in return he's saved mine a thousand times over. He's the sweetest soul I've ever known and he's my bestest buddy ever. Period.
Hey, Cyndi! I knew you were all about BC's! . . . now, the bird is another topic. :-) But something to think about since many of them live as long as humans!
ReplyDeleteWow, Jods, I didn't know you had Murray for that long. Geez, time sure does fly doesn't it.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand how you feel about him. I still regret that I had to sell Buster. When I put him up for sale, I figured no one would buy him for 6 months to a year,and by then our financial situation would have turned around. Imagine my surprise when he sold in 3 weeks! And yep, our financial situation improved less than three months later. *sigh* oh, well. He was the best horse I ever had!
I hate people who dump their pets when they no longer want them, except for one fact . . . all nine of the dogs we've had have been dumped. Most of them were starved and sick when we found them; our coonhound didn't like being hot, cold or wet and had been beaten until he was terrified of people. He was with a rescue group for 14 months before he could be trusted with potential parents. (And we snapped him up.) We rehabbed our bloodhound/lab who was paralyzed from the neck down and got him walking again, then coddled him until he died at the great age of 19. We spend more on vet bills that anything else some years.
ReplyDeleteAnd some people think it's too much bother to put out a dish of food and water every day? I just want to hurt them.
Aw, Marilyn, I love the story of your 19 year old puppers! Who would have thought that a little TLC could extend the life of a big dog?
ReplyDeleteSince the wastoids are dumping their dogs, I'm glad you're the one to find them.
I think the dogs are leaving some sort of trail to us -- marking trees, whatever -- because it seems sick puppers know exactly where to go.
ReplyDeleteOur vet says when she dies, she wants to come back as one of our dogs. ;)
It's nice to know you are a SAFE HOUSE for the furry.
ReplyDelete