AIBU to be raging about how many people don't consider their pets a long-term commitment?

[KitKat1985]

Today's example: Someone I know on Facebook (someone I went to school with years ago, rather than a friend per se) posted yesterday evening excitedly that she got a puppy yesterday. No word of a lie this morning she is advertising it for sale because it 'doesn't get on with the cat'. Would you not think about how a puppy and cat would mix before you got a puppy? And if they didn't get along wouldn't you put a bit of effort in giving them time to get used to each other, rather than just 1 night? The poor thing will probably end up at an animal shelter or similar, or sold to some random who may or may not take good care of it.

I also had a work colleague who got through about 3 dogs in one year by taking on each one and then getting rid of each of them for various reasons (too noisy, needs too much walking etc) apparently having learnt nothing from each experience that dogs are actually a big commitment and can be hard work, and that maybe she shouldn't be taking one on unless she can make it's needs.

It leaves me so angry and sad. All the local animal shelters around here are full of abandoned pets that people have lost interest in. AIBU to think that if you take on a pet that it should (unless in exceptional circumstances) be a commitment to look after that animal for all it's life, and that should put some thought beforehand into how you would cope if your circumstances change etc?

I completely agree. I've seen the hysteria on MN.of parents who panic when a leashed animal paying no attention to them whatsoever comes within half a mile radius of their precious dc.

oh my god YES. and whenever I try to point out they are being hysterical I get totally and utterly flamed.

I swear most of MN thinks all dogs should be leashed and muzzled at all times regardless or size or temperament.

My puppy, now 14 weeks, and mostly a darling, was handed in to the rescue when he was about 9 1/2 weeks. The owner said she didn't want him as he was 'not housetrained and he didn't like being left on his own'.

Apparently she handed another puppy over just a couple of days before handing my boy in.

I'm looking forward to telling work I'm pregnant (currently 11 weeks, so not quite sharing it yet) and hearing them tell me I'm a fool for getting a 2nd dog, and that I should be rehoming them/the ferrets now there's a baby on the way.

Yes bumble. even assistance dogs dint seem.immune from seething hysterical people who believe it their right to never set eyes on a pet.

Of course YANBU, and so many people seem to be totally clueless.

In Switzerland, you have to take a dog-owner's course before you can get a dog, and a training course with your dog afterwards. It's mandatory. Great idea I think.

In our village, we have a neighbour whose Alsatian is either tied up outside barking his head off, or in garage, barking his head off. I have no idea why they have this dog and re-homing would be best for everybody, at least the poor thing might get some love and attention.

We have other neighbours who always comment on how nice it must be to have such well-behaving dogs like ours, theirs is so difficult. When we recommended the obedience classes where we went with ours, the reply was that oh no, we don't have time. So they expected the dog just magically train itself I guess..

That's a really good idea Switzerland has.

I adopted my boy from a woman who had 2 dogs, had recently had a baby and couldn't cope. I appreciate that it's so hard having a baby as well as two dogs but I couldn't have done it. The dogs were locked in the kitchen all the time :(

She did the right thing though and she was really upset when we took him. We keep in touch and she came seeing him, was very happy about how well he looked.

I know someone who had an older cat then bought kittens. She got rid of the kittens as her husband allergic to them but not the old cat. Old cat died so bought a new kitten. New kitten was starving so neighbour used to feed it, owner admitted she couldn't afford to feed it so gave it to neighbour just before moving. Moved and bougt a new cat who is now pregnant!

Scoobydoo8 Tue 28-Jul-15 09:39:10
Any government who put some controls in on pet owning (licenses, rules on neutering etc) and did their best to stop dog fouling would win my vote for life - why don't they?

YES And they should include exotic pets while they are at it.

I'm not a dog or cat fan. Exh decided we would have a rescue jack Russell closely followed by a jack russell puppy to keep it company. When we split up I kept the house and by default the dogs. Original dog was pts last year age 16 and thirteen yr old " pup" is currently lounging on the sofa. Dh isn't a dog fan either but it never crossed either of our minds to get rid of the dogs.

Yanbu

Whilst I hate cats I do have sympathy for small animals that seem to be viewed as disposable. Things like rabbits and Guinea pigs that live as long as dogs and have better personalities Imo than cats.

Rabbits are one of the most abandoned animals in the UK.

And the staffies mentioned in the first few posts. Are you guys from somewhere famous for its salt? If so they're also on Gumtree and the owner is asking for £350

We have 2 rescue cats and two young children. Recently we've had an outbreak of fleas, which we are trying our best to control.

F came to visit recently and on hearing about the fleas said "why don't you just get rid of the cats then? They're only animals".

DH telling him the cats were part of our family had him utterly bemused.

I don't understand how people can just give away their pets without it bothering them. I had to rehome my pup when I realised DH and I were serious because Dss was allergic to him (and so allergic that one evening in my house meant a massive asthma attack and a trip to hospital). I knew that he'd be easier to rehome while still young and the breeder had a family who could take him. I was heartbroken yet my cousin seems to get and give away dogs almost monthly.

We'd love to have a dog now that DS is older and his asthma is much better controlled and his reactions to dogs are much less severe, but it wouldn't be fair on him or a dog to take the risk. Plus the cats would be livid!

Sleepybean--I agree with you that of course you can get pets before having children. I got our cat before I got pregnant. He is still here, and I am still very fond of him.

That said, the reality is that your relationship with a pet is usually rather different once you have a child, and decisions have to be made with your kids in mind rather than the cat or dog. The question of when to go on holiday has to be based on things like school holidays, for example. Decisions on where to live have to center on things like schools, daycares, proximity to workplaces (to reduce commute time) and cost, rather than putting the pet first. There is a limit to how much money can be spent on medical fees, because your child needs so many things. Etc. etc.

Yanbu, and I wish people would stop trying to foist their 'disposable pet' views on me - dd has longed for a dog for years and at least a dozen friends/relatives over the years have asked why I say no, even when I'd love one too, and when I explain about being in rented, too much chance of not being able to keep it if we move etc they've shrugged and said things along the lines of 'well you can't worry about what might happen, you could always have it adopted'. They're living things with multiple needs, not books you can give to the charity shop. Fed up of being seen as mean because I won't get an animal on a whim.

I totally agree, my cat is nearly 15 and there is no way I have ever considered getting rid of her even though my partner is allergic to cats - she came along 5 years before him.

She is an outside cat most of the time so that helps his allergy.

And it's not just dogs or cats . All 3 of my horses have been rescues , two because they were bought and tired of , then neglected horrendously by adults who should have known better ( but had more money than sense ) , and the third is my boy's pony who had 24 homes before she came to us aged 25 , because she wasn't 'easy ' . Who is now , after 9 years , the most laid back placid creature we own . The two big ones haven't cost me more than £251 to buy . One was £250 , the other was £1 . Both of them have had their challenges , but the first one turned out to be an eventer , the second , is still coming along , but I suspect he may be even better . For a pound . All of them will stay with me for life, whatever challenges they may bring .

I had a moan a few weeks ago that dh and I work too many hours, (over 110 between us and we aren't even rich) and I never seem to have any spare time, and someone suggested I rehome the dog to give me more time.

We got our first dog last year, we've been married for 27 years and dh wanted a dog from the beginning.We waited until the circumstances were right for us to give the dog a home he deserved. Eric has a home for life but I see so many people pick up and dump pets when they are no loneger convenient,it infuriates me.

I'd quite like a cat but I don't feel able to commit to definitely being able to look after it long term given various things in the pipeline so I haven't got one. So yes people should give it much serious thought and I'd personally be in favour of licensing or compulsory training.

That said, people do sometimes make mistakes or things change. I have an acquaintance who got a dog and everything was fine for a while but then his personal circumstances changed greatly outside of his control and suddenly it was all very hard. The dog is now a massive bind for him that he could really do without but despite best efforts, the dog doesn't get as much exercise and attention as it deserves. They both seem pretty miserable with the arrangements TBH. On one level I admire his perseverence and commitment but on the other hand I do wonder whether they'd both be a lot happier if the dog were rehomed.

I absolutely refuse to buy a stafford from a breeder or even give one a free home unless it's a rescue.

My boy is a rescue and although he was badly abused and attacked by other dogs, we've managed to get him to the point where he was able to play with other dogs. That was until I moved to go to university and an irresponsible owner allowed her bloody collie to attack my boy, which set me back to square 1 again. Luckily, I was able to get him back to the standard I had him at before the attack and managed it quite quickly so not all was lost. But I fucking despise irresponsible pet owners who buy their pets then just ditch them when something better like DC come along, or they get bored or just can't be arsed to put the effort in to train them.

Sure, people make mistakes, that is certainly true. For a brief rant though... a relative of mine lived in a high rise apartment and bought an Irish Wolfhound puppy. I mean, seriously......that is just stupid. They had him put down, not rehomed as he had (at 12 months) 'behavioural problems.'.

Another person I know has given her cats to a rehoming centre because she is going on holiday. She said if they were still there when she got back she would get them out again.I was agog.

Genuine mistakes. Change in circumstances. Fine,of course the best, most honourable thing to do is to rehome responsibly. But some people are irresponsible sadly.

Yes to be clear from my OP I do appreciate that there are times when unforeseeable circumstances crop up (serious change in health for example) and an owner decides, with a heavy heart, to have a pet re-homed, and these aren't the circumstances that annoy me. But I know so many people who get pets without thinking through the work and commitment involved and the poor things end up neglected or re-homed, and I find it so sad. And yes to the care of rabbits. Rabbits are intelligent, social animals that naturally need a lot of space to exercise as in the wild would do hours worth of digging and running each day. All to often people buy a cute bunny as a pet and within a couple of months the poor thing ends up shut in a hutch all day on it's own as it's owners have lost interest.

Oh and CheesyNachos I also know someone who keeps an Great Dane in a small 1 bedroomed flat. And they both work full-time so don't take it for walks much either. When I discussed this with one of them once they just said great danes are lazy and don't need much exercise anyway. Sigh.

Raging about what other people do that doesn't affect you in the slightest? Be thankful you don't have any real worries