There are occasions when it IS necessary/acceptable to re-home an animal?

[Lookmeupanddown]

And that doing so doesn't necessarily make you the devil incarnate? Just seen something on FB (I know, I know!) along the lines of, if you re-home an animal after you have a child you are pond scum. Similarly worded to the below:

FREE TO A GOOD HOME: 2 year old child. Genuine reason, I've just got a new puppy so no longer have the time for the child. Also worried the child may bite the puppy. Child is crate trained and up to date on all shots. Needs home by tomorrow or it'll be put to sleep. Thanks! YOU WOULDN'T DO THIS TO A CHILD SO WHY DO U SEE IT AS ACCEPTABLE TO DO IT TO A DOG? If you can't dedicate 15yrs to a dog, don't get one!!

Firstly, I can't believe anyone would actually put an animal to sleep because they had a child. Secondly - surely there are sometimes valid reasons for re-homing an animal? (I speak as someone who re-homed two cats after having second child so am digging out my hard hat.)

AIBU?

I think there are legitimate reasons to rehome your pet. Death, illness, having no income are some of these reasons.

However, I think most pets are rehomed because their owners did not do enough research before getting them, or are lazy, or because they just don't really care.

These are (except in extreme circumstances) not valid excuses to rehome your pet:

"I've decided to move into a flat that doesn't allow pets, despite the fact I have pets."

"I just got my pet a few months ago, and despite it being pretty obvious I was going to have children and in the next few years, I don't want pets and young children at the same time."

"My pet has behavioural issues because I don't train it/take care of it properly, so it needs to go"

"My pet has a behavioural issue and I refuse to change any part of my lifestyle to solve the problem."

etc etc etc

Nearly 2 years ago I had to rehome my beloved dog. It broke my heart but I have no regrets. When DS was born he became very jealous. Snapping at DS randomly. On DS's 2nd birthday he snapped and broke Ds's skin and that was it. We tried everything, vets, behaviourists, training, the lot. He just couldn't get along with my son.

We found a new home for him and never has a dog been so utterly spoiled and loved. It took 2 years before we gave up, but I'm glad that we at least tried. Sometimes it has to be done, but it makes me furious when people just get animals and not think of the long term. My upstairs neighbours have had about 4 dogs (no exaggeration) in the last 2 years.

We now have 2 incredibly loving and insane cats who are fantastic with the children.

Statuses like the one OP posted are widespread, but if they deter people buying pets and then discarding them when they dont fit in with their exact requirements then I'm all for them.

YANBU. There are many valid reasons to rehome an animal. Some of them are less important reasons - e.g. when my Mum moved in with her partner, she didn't want to take her cat, because he already had a cat, and they were worried about them fighting.

Her cat went to live with her best friend (who had always had a soft spot for him) and Mum still sees him when she visits.

I agree with Mothership - If you rehomed you pet in a responsible manner for good reasons then don't take it personally, it's not aimed at you!

YOu know people get pets on a whim they love the little fluffy cuteness of them and then get rid of them for no reason as they are not cute and fluffy anymore, or they have baby and suspect cat will try and lie on baby, Animals are rehomed or PTS for no reason other than selfishness sometimes,

I agree with others who have said that that facebook post is aimed, obviously, towards those idiots who just get a dog/puppy/cat etc and then give it up without a care in the world when they can't be arsed any more. It's not aimed at people who have a valid, genuine reason for re-homing.

For those who gets pets and then give them up for flimsy reasons, I too think that they are pond scum!

The people that get rid of their dogs just because they are having a baby infuriate me.

We had 2 big but soppy dogs who were 9 and 7 when DD was born and found it really offensive when people said 'guess you'll be getting rid of those 2 then'.

Um no actually, they were part of the family and I strongly believe they were good for DD's immune system as she is never ill and they prevented me from falling into PND as I HAD to get out and about to walk them.

I think there are occasions when it's necessary to try to rehome an animal, but advertising it on Facebook or Gumtree etc is not IMO the right way to do it.

There are also a lot more dogs given up for some ridiculous reason or because the owners just can't be bothered than for good reasons, and for me having a baby is not automatically a reason to give up your dog. Sadly many people think it is, and dogs end up homeless or dead for that reason.

My mum had to rehome our dog when I was little because she was very poorly and couldn't take care of him (he was bonkers and needed A LOT of attention). It was the best thing for him as he would have been miserable stuck in the house, unable to go out for walks most days.

One of my cats appears to have rehomed himself . We moved last year to a road mainly populated with little old ladies, and once the cats started going out to explore, Lemmy seemed to be getting fatter and fatter. I suspected one of the neighbours was feeding him, and eventually he spent less time at home and would disappear for days on end. From January onwards, we've seen him every couple of weeks when he comes to visit and I see him out and about, but he has definitely decided he doesn't live here anymore.