To think more thought needs to go into getting a pet

[Beachcountrysidetown]

I am so confused as to why people get pets without really considering the responsibility they are taking on.
A lot of people talk about getting small pet shop animals for the children then get annoyed when it’s the adults having to look after the pets and remind the children to check food water etc. What did they expect? There is a reason charities only rehome animals where there is an adult with enough time to properly care for the pet.
Another one I hear a lot is “this small pet is rubbish because it bites” again what did they expect when they only get the animal out once a month or when the animal is taken out it is not handled gently?
I also see animals being kept in such unsuitable houses - too small and often without enough room to behave naturally at all!
“farm” type animals being kept in the same condition as intensive farmed animals (garden chickens for example being kept in tiny hutches)
Animals being treated badly because it’s “only” hamster, chicken, gerbil etc.
Dog that need a lot of walking not being walked nearly enough.
It upsets me. Animals take time and need owners to research properly to make sure that the animals are being kept the best way possible.
AIBU? Should I be a bit more light hearted towards animals?

The majority of people I've met who have pets don't look after them properly, doesn't matter whether it is a goldfish or a dog. Cages are too small for small pets or dogs not given enough exercise, I had rabbits who lived lovely lives not being pestered for cuddles and had free run of the garden during the day, most rabbits spend their lives in tiny hutches and runs and are ignored. People like the idea of pets but forget about the work that goes into making them a pleasant companion, some of it is a chore but it has to be done. And people don't do their research before they go and buy whatever animal it is, then are shocked when rats smell or puppies nip. I think if you have 'had' to rehome any animal you shouldn't ever be allowed to get another. I'm always shocked that people are willing to dump an animal on a rescue centre because it wasn't how the imagined. I feel as sorry for a lot of pets as I do for battery hens, because people aren't giving them a better life really.

We did everything for our boxer. He had numerous problems. At one point DH was redundant I was on maternity wage and we still forked out for special diet and meds that he needed. We had no insurance at points as we couldnt afford it but we racked up the fees and paid them off. Our attitude was that as long as he had a quality of life we would do everything for him regardless of cost. He had cruciate op on both legs he had skin removed from his face etc. He was only coming 7 when he had a huge fit (4th one he had had in his life) and shortly after started to display odd behaviour not coming when called not remembering how to get down the stairs . We knew then that this wasnt something we could help. Awful day. Would I do it all again ? Yes a hundred times over.

It does amaze me how many people still don't realise what work it is to have pets. They moan about buying good food, big hutches, vet bills. Its infuriating. Animals cost. Whether it's "just" a hamster or a huge St Bernard. The thing I hate that I've been seeing a lot more of is "do I really need to take my hamster/gerbil/guinea pig/small animal to a vet or can I let it die a slow painful death because it's just a small animal" boils my blood!

My oldest has 4 degu's which he loves but he's still not quite old enough to properly look after them so I do it. That's fine. I was prepared for that. We have 7 dogs, 6 cats and a number of rabbits and guinea pigs. They are hard work and unexpected vet bills can get expensive, but it's just something you need to be prepared for no matter what the pet is or how many you have.

I agree that pets need a lot of input and are expensive to care for properly - insurance, jabs, flea/worm treatment, decent quality food, litter, bedding, cages/hutches, toys - it's not cheap and too many people don't bother insuring their animals because "it's just a rabbit" or "it's an indoor cat, it won't get injured/sick".

But I think people will always buy from places like Gumtree/Pets4homes and breeders because some rescues have ridiculously stringent conditions on who they'll adopt to. I think rescues do amazing work and they're great places for animals whose owners pass away or move abroad, or for abandoned animals, but I think telling people they can't have a cat/dog until their children are over 8yo, or unless someone is home with it 24/7 makes it really hard for a lot of families to go down the rescue route.

A rescue near me does background checks by speaking to your vet about how you care for your current/past pets and insists on vaccinations/neutering (all fine), but they also insist on at least two home visits (not easy if you work) and they won't let you re-home animals if you have small children, or if you both work full-time.

Lots of full-time working families can provide amazing care for animals - they can use dog-walkers/sitters, and cats (for example) are quite happy to be home on their own so long as they have litter trays/outside access, food and water, and toys. I understand they want to rehome to good owners, but I think a lot of the conditions are a little too much for a lot of people to abide by.

What a great thread, so pleased there are so many of us who share these opinions, albeit there should be more.

When I got my old cat Perkins he was six months old. I asked why the couple were rehoming him and they said, we've decided we want a dog. Like an old cushion, get bored? Chuck it out. I loved him so much and they were fools as he he gave back as much love as I gave him and a lot more besides. He cost a lot in vet bills but that's part of the deal you make when having an animal.

I once threatened my sister and her daughter that I was going to report them to the RSPCA for cruelty to their hamster who was stuck in a disgusting, filthy cage. That went down well but it was cleaned so I didn't care.

If you are thinking of a dog but put off by rescue criteria then it is worth speaking to them. We found dogs trust to be very reasonable when we adopted dog in January. Dog was approved for children age 11 plus, dd was nearly 11 but not quite. They just said she seemed mature and sensible so not set in stone. They let us do both visits in 1 day, as we had travelled 4 hours to see him. They also let us do our pre adoption class at a centre near home not one he was at. Waived home visit. We had never had a pet so vet reference was just proof we had registered him at local vet. Criteria was not to leave him more than 4 hours. I wfh part time so not an issue for us but there was lots of scope to explain you had a dog sitter etc. This was Evesham dogs trust.

It is interesting people seem able to voice their disapproval about people having animals they can't adequately care for, but not children.

That's good to here @dixiechickonhols - I'm glad some rescues are a bit more lenient and look into people's circumstances before giving a straight "no".

Rabbits being kept in cold damp huntches at the bottom of the garden really is how so many animals live isn’t it?

Ugh, there is an estate in my town where people kept reporting on Local FB pages finding two pet rabbits running loose. Every time the "owner" would post something like "oh they're fine, they just come and go as they please." People would try to explain that they were at risk from dogs/fox attacks or getting run over or freezing to death but it just didn't sink in. Haven't heard about them in a while. I assume the worst.

It is interesting people seem able to voice their disapproval about people having animals they can't adequately care for, but not children

On the contrary, I am vocal about both! But this thread is specifically about pets... so....

YANBU. At all.

I’ve just acquired a hamster from a neighbour who it kept biting and when I fed it when they were away told me she wouldn’t mind if it died! So I’ve offered to keep him. He never bites me as I’ve given him time to build up trust and handle him a lot.

I’m keeping him in the one room my cats can’t get into!

I feel the same about people who get animals but cant afford vets bills (unforeseen circumstances not included here) - animals, especially bigger ones are not cheap to keep!

One of my guinea pigs needed an operation. He was healthy otherwise so I said, go ahead. How surprised was I to be told that no-one at this (multi-vet, years of experience) practice had ever done this op before. When I asked why they said because most people don't even bring small pets to the vet when they get sick, let alone pay for an operation, they just wait for them to die. I get so cross about this.
Guinea pig was fine btw and came through the surgery really well :)

CharlotteBilberry

•It is interesting people seem able to voice their disapproval about people having animals they can't adequately care for, but not children*

What are you in about? How would you possibly know that? Ridiculous.

Oops bold fail

CharlotteBilberry
It is interesting people seem able to voice their disapproval about people having animals they can't adequately care for, but not children.

Not sure how you gleaned that assumption from reading this thread, which happens to be about animals.. I'm sure if you start your own thread about children you will get plenty of responses.

Glad to see so many people standing up for the rights of animals! I do care about children but I wanted to start a thread about animals specifically.

Completly agree. I love my cats they are treated better than dh sometimes too

're selling on gum tree etc I'm assuming that people think "oh I can get it for £20 from there" rather than £100 from rescue centres.
What they don't seem to realise is cats from rescue centres will be neutered, microwaved, vaccinated, fleaed and wormed etc ready for a happy life.
They don't want 3 litters a year, be constantly scratching and NEVER vaccinated.

Yes I'm looking at my selfish friend who doesn't give a shit about her poor cat

Micro chipped not microwaved

YANBU

WetstheVet that is so sad.

I genuinely don't think people have a clue how expensive it is to look after an animal properly or how much work it is

I just love @KingJoffreysRestingCuntface "ludicrous bunny"

I don't think it's recommended that you microwave your cat

Never mind the fashion for "looks cute, can't breathe, needs a caesarian to whelp" breeds of dog..... Currently filling up battersea

Bluelonerose
Micro chipped not microwaved grin

Hahaha good one - I find mine done to a turn on 2 minutes high heat then 2 on low

Any pet or small is a huge undertaking. Why people treat it so lightly is beyond me.

I have a snake (hence the name) and the amount of people I see getting reptiles with no research or forethought is astounding. Just because they're less intensive than other animals doesn't mean you can just do what you like with them. They have very specific needs wrt to heat and lighting. Makes me angry and upset.