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?

New statesman, of course, you prioritise your children, but using my examples of the constant thought and planning that pet ownership brings (expense, holidays, house suitability) aren't, barring extreme misfortune which can of course happen at any time, really reasons why you might find yourself unable to keep your pets and have children. They're factors that are always there if you have pets, and which become- like everything else in life- more pressing and complicated when you have kids.
If you have planned carefully and sensibly for both, I still don't accept that having kids makes having pets a lot more difficult, or much less likely to be sustainable.

I think there are really two mindsets- people who are born into having animals, and /or have had dcs born into it. And people who think of an animal more as the final accessory for their family.

I got my last cat (had to be pts six months ago at ten years old) when he was a kitten. Shortly afterwards I fell pregnant with my first baby.

My eldest was a screamer and I had ONE, but my cat was actually a great source of comfort in that time. I've since had two more kids and he was with us for the birth of each.

I felt a bit sorry for him at times, dealing with babies and small children all his life. And yes sometimes he felt like an added responsibility I could do without! But he was part of the family and well loved.

We've just got a new kitten, she's gorgeous. With three kids (including a newly walking one year old!) it's full on but I need a cat in my life. Pets can teach kids companionship, responsibility etc but you need to show them and lead by example.

I just think some people don't realise the commitment. Cost, veterinary visits, cleaning up after them, time and attention.

Sorry ONE should read PND

I know two people who got rid of their dogs because their new boyfriend/girlfriend didn't like dogs. The mere suggestion would be end of relationship for me. In fact I'd go as far to say I wouldn't even enter into a relationship with such a person.

Me and my dsis have a pact that if ever we need help we will take on each others pets for as long as necessary (or forever in the event of whole family dying in a crash etc). It's in our wills with money to cover expenses.

We always accept pets in our rental house too, never had a problem and I know a woman who has recently split with her DH and has to pay £50 per month to have her pet in a rental house of which I think this landlord is BVU.

specificocean I wish you were my landlord, I offered him an extra £500 security deposit to be able to have our 2 cats in our flat and the tosser still said no. despite the fact there is no carpet and despite the fact that all the furniture is ours, so I'm not sure what he expected them to do.

we have them anyway and if he found out and tried to evict us we would move out and take them with us. they will never be given away. thank god we will be buying our own place in January!

We accept pets in our rental. DH even had dog kennels built. The house is located quite rurally so we would be fairly surprised if tenants didn't have pets tbh. Children can create more damage than pets do!

I'd just be careful of being so sure of yourself there, sleepybeanbump.

We had two cats for ten years before we had our first baby. I had no intention of ever rehoming them, I loved them completely. I couldn't have ever imagined that it could happen in fact, I was that sure of myself.

The reality of it was that at first the cats were fine and just avoided him but as ds got a bit older they struggled to deal with it. They spent all their time hiding from him, the doors were being kept closed because of a toddling boy so they were unable to easily get to the outside because of our layout. And then they started scratching him, completely unprovoked I might add! We kept finding scratches on his arms and once I saw our most gentle cat lash out at him while he was standing minding his own business.

One of our cats was quite fierce, and we'd always liked that aspect of her personality, but a child isn't going to understand when to back off and leave her alone so she doesn't attack. She used to grab on with her front paws and kick with her back legs, and if she'd got hold of his arm and done that it would have been really severe. I have a scar from her when she was little and there's no way I was going to allow that to happen to my son. The idea of having a danger to him in the house went against all my instincts.

The notion of keeping them apart was impossible really, it was very stressful for a while. We didn't make the decision lightly and I think about them a lot still. I'm sure they're happier in a nice quiet home with no kids. I think they just couldn't adjust after ten years of peace and quiet!

So I'm just saying, please don't be so quick to judge people, it's not always that simple.

We had to put our cat on prozac too after a breakdown.