Animals being bought and discarded like toys. WTF!

[Sibsmum]

I have just been reading about chickens , bought as pets in lockdown being dumped , literally in parks and tips , because they're no longer novel, no longer laying and bird flu concerns.
I can't abide people considering animals as things, they are live creatures and taking them on is a lifetime committment, not a quick human happy fix.
I would like every household that wants to keep a live animal, have to apply for a license and do a basic online care course to prove their commitment prior to purchase, and a formal registration afterwards which could be administered by a body like the RSPCA who end up dealing with so many unwanted pets.
It's really time we stopped seeing our fellow inhabitants of this planet as objects, and afforded them the respect, dignity and compassion that they deserve. They are live , sentient beings with feelings, not home decor , not accessories and not toys.
I would appreciate your sharing your thoughts.

@letmethinkaboutitfornow

I got the most beautiful young lady. I was struggling with lockdown 2.0 😔 She is a lockdown puppy. She turned my OCD driven life upside down.

I freak out every day that I am not good enough for her and there are other people who could do more for her. But she is the most amazing thing that happened to me. Love her morning greetings (yep, usually after she peed and pooped so where so I need to find it) 🤩

But I don’t know what will happen in a month, or two time. Judge me if you want. She was an impulse buying, never had a pet, had no clue what to do... but she was my last resort to save my life 😔

And she has done an incredible job. She is beautiful and so dependent on me. Now that freaks me out to no end! 😱
I am sure there are people out there like me, I hope I never have to give up this beauty! But sometimes that might be in the pet’s best interest... 😔

@letmethinkaboutitfornow it's great that she's helped you so much, and that you haven't been deterred by the occasional wee/poo accident (which can be demoralising even for experienced owners).

However, it's a bit concerning that you almost seem to be preparing to give her up, potentially in as little as a month or two. While there may sometimes be good reasons to rehome a dog, remember that it should always be a last resort. As you say, she's bonded with you and it would be very distressing for her. Some dogs never fully get over being rehomed.

I was reading some interesting articles about how there are virtually no stray dogs in Germany and the Netherlands
www.gtgoodtimes.com/2019/05/13/there-are-no-stray-dogs-in-germany-and-its-a-heaven-for-dog-lovers-for-its-humaneness/

Abandoning an animal has a heafty penalty and these countries will often take animals from other EU countries shelters. There is a tax on dog ownership.

More regulation only seems to benefit the animals. I whole heartedly support this for cats too.

We are getting more concerned with animal welfare, and not just the fluffy ones, better information is out there (I wince for my poor rabbit and goldfish I had as a child, loved but not kept in ideal conditions). I understand that more hurdles would impact people on lower incomes the most but perhaps there could be means testing to allow everyone to enjoy responsible pet ownership.

Some people seem outraged at having to wait for a pet or at having to be inspected when rehoming but if that's so off putting perhaps they're not really commited to having a pet, they just like the idea.

Back to the chickens we have a few around me that are very laissez faire with sticking to their own gardens. I worry for their safety as a lot of people have dogs. There is currently a very free range peacock too!

Completely agree. We want chickens and have space, I remember being surprised we didn't need a licence. Nonetheless having looked into it I think it's a bit too much for me at the moment so I'm not getting them. I find it disgusting that people discard animals having not done the necessary work in advance to see what the reality is like.

@JesusInTheCabbageVan

Thank you, I know it sounds awful. I always prepare for the worst case scenario 😔
My neighbour is also in love with her and offered to take her ☺️ in case I find her too much.
Should I have planned / prepared more? Absolutely. I did no research, it was love at the first sight. Now I am enjoying her company (she is sleeping at my feet), love how much love she shows when I get home...

Wrt rehoming, I like to have a plan B, but I hope we can learn to live with each other. 🥰
(Have you ever been watched sitting on the loo, then your PFB joining you and peeing on the bath mat??)- that’s my girl! 🥰🥰

In Northern Ireland, we need to have a poultry licence even for a few hens. I think the new enclosure requirements are proving expensive and unexpected for many people.
I wholeheartedly support animal shelters and fund them in numerous ways but it's hard not to feel abused by the sort of person who thinks a sentient being is disposable and that others will fund their mistakes.

Agreed. We bought chickens this year and a puppy in December.

But... We planned the chicken s for years, read all the books and built a stonking walk in coop which is covered as per bird flu requirements.

And we already have a grown up dog from the same breeder. The KC breeder we use vets all potential owners and so we have been vetted last time.

It is tremendously hard work owning animals, I was out breaking the ice on the chickens water on Xmas morning and having an 8 week old puppy at Xmas is absolutely exhausting! How you could go into that with no planning is beyond me.

@Laserbird16 I’m Dutch - but surely it’s more or less the same in the UK? If you saw a stray or lost dog you would most likely try to make an effort to find the owner or call the authorities?

@actiongirl1978

having an 8 week old puppy at Xmas is absolutely exhausting! How you could go into that with no planning is beyond me.

Couldn’t agree more. I am so grateful that my 12 week old pup can be good (depends on the snacks! She outsmarted me already!) 🤗🤗

Still working on her safe place and trying to find in person puppy training...

YABU to imagine that the RSPCA would be of any use.

The trouble with licensing is that us law abiding/respectful of authority types would of course buy the licence/complete the relevant course and as usual, there’d be the don’t care brigade who would ignore the whole thing and do what they want/discard animals as per, like the charmers down the road frame who dump colts/dogs, often either dead or dying.

letmethinkaboutitfornow I'm sorry but that's not great, it really isn't. The poor dog presumably loves you and has no idea of your Plan Bs. It's all about what you want/need.
I do hope it works out.

having an 8 week old puppy at Xmas is absolutely exhausting! How you could go into that with no planning is beyond me.

Whereas it's beyond me that any responsible person would plan for a new puppy at Christmas. No responsible breeder would plan for that for their bitch either.

Absolutely agree.

Dogs have skyrocketed in price because of being “ Fashionable insta pets”

When work resumes and dogs hit puberty,and separation anxiety from being left 8 hrs a day I predict a mass dumping.

Some People buy pets with as little thought as choosing a new toy.
It is unfair and absurd.

Legislation probably isn’t the answer though, as the perpetually feckless would find ways around it.

Even now, pups are sold without microchips.

Pets aren’t toys.

They are family members that need as much consideration as a human needs.

I lot of people on my SM have received dogs for Christmas. Many being brought home 2 or 3 days before Christmas. The excitement of Christmas and a new puppy is immense, but it quickly wears off and they're a bloody handful and actually require training.
My local fb page is going bonkers with people desperately trying to get hold of trainers and they state how they're completely unprepared, need desperate help with their new crazy puppies etc.

One lady today even asking for a free crate as she didn't expect her puppy to grow so fast 🙄.

Pets as presents is a complete no no.
Only the most irresponsible cash grubber would breed a litter to be 8 weeks at Christmas time.

Dogs Homes are closed for rehoming until well after Christmas
For decades Dogs Trust have had a phrase about a dog being for life, not just for Christmas.

Greeders are online with a never ending supply of pups at extortionate prices.. makes me so angry.

No questions asked, dodgy handover at car park..

All this spells trouble.

I agree.
We got DDog 10 years ago around Christmas, and would never consider getting rid of him on a whim. He’s old now and we’re living on borrowed time with him by this point, due to arthritis. We won’t get another dog for a long time as we don’t have time for an energetic young dog at the moment.
I have considered getting chickens, but we have foxes in our garden regularly so not practical or fair to the chickens. Same reason I wouldn’t get a rabbit or other small animal.
Sickens me to see how easily people get and discard pets. A course would be a good idea to force people to consider the reality of animal ownership. I think there are people who don’t think it through properly and regret their decision. There needs to be a whole section on picking up after their dogs!

We have guinea pigs who live in a big spacious indoor cage (a proper C&C one, not some pet shop box).

@FlyingPandas Music to my ears! I have yet to see a suitable guinea pig cage on sale in a pet shop. We have a C&C cage which we planned ourselves, it's 14sq feet and was meant for 3 pigs but only has 2 in it. We do have a pet shop cage in the shed which is an emergency cage for when we foster orphaned baby pigs as obviously it's a good size for ones we get which are only about the length of my hand. They go in there until they are too big to get out through the gaps in a C&C cage!

@Lucywarlowsrighthand I'm sure you're right. I don't live in the UK anymore but in general I think the rules in the UK are on the better end of the spectrum. The mix of regulation and cultural factors just seem to be really working in Germany and the Netherlands from all reports. Do you think there's anything done differently in the Netherlands that means animals are better cared for? ..I couldn't find any statistics for chickens in any country!

God, that’s horrid. Poor chickychoos. We had hens while I was a child/teen, would love to have them again if we were a bit more rural.

Reputable Dogs homes are really strict in their assessment of potential adopters.
I was pleasantly surprised at the lengths they went to, home checking, interviewing all family members on household..

And also good at training advice.

You don’t want a new dog to get “Dependent “
On you,as that is where separation anxiety is born.

They also give ongoing advice, and I’d the canine/ human match is well suited, there will be no need for dog psychologists or trainers, as house training begins the minute the new arrival enters your home!

Separation anxiety is a crippling thing, and a reason many poorly socialised dogs are re- homed.

A dog with serious SA can hurt itself trying to get out of a crate or room.

A dog that follows you all around the house is not a secure dog, but new owners are flattered by it.

@twinsguineas I was actually shocked when I was researching small furries at how much care is required for guinea pigs (I eventually got a hamster). They are really not a novice pet. Most people use fleece these days as disposable bedding can cost a lot due to the size of cages (unlike a hamster) so you need to be able to commit to pet laundry weekly and spot cleans twice a day plus big clean once a week (how many young children would not require parents' help with that?). They need daily fresh vegetables and regular nail clippings (difficult for novice adults, let alone children). Storage for the unlimited Hay- It is the adult who needs to think about where that goes. Also you need to get at least 2 and get a new friend when 1 pet inevitably dies.

Some people are so selfish and just see a pet as a fashion accessory to be got rid once fashion moves on.

These people are just the worst and I hope society starts to judge them in the same way as drunk drivers are judged, too many just get a pet without considering the animals needs.

Both me and DH grew up with dogs with my DH heavily involved with a difficult breed that suddenly became fashionable and it took all our will power not to get one from the dogs trust as we knew it would be cruel to do so given our pre Covid lifestyle.

We considered getting a goldfish as a starter pet for our children, (knowing in reality it would be our responsibility), and started our research, some of it on here, and discovered that they are not that easy so needless to say we are not getting one either.

Too many stupid people and too many irresponsible breeders.

With respect @oakleaffy, SA in dogs is a multi-factoral. Whilst there is definately some behaviours and experiences an owner can encourage that help a dog cope alone, it is not the sole answer. Genetics, the dogs' experiences pre and post birth (i.e. whilst still in the womb and in the first few weeks of life) and the dog's specific endocrine system also all play a large role.

I wanted to call it out in case anyone out there has a dog with SA and just assumes they are at fault for it. They are not. They can help their dog learn to cope a bit better but not all dogs will "get there" and they should not assumed all the blame.

@CurlyhairedAssassin

having an 8 week old puppy at Xmas is absolutely exhausting! How you could go into that with no planning is beyond me.

Whereas it's beyond me that any responsible person would plan for a new puppy at Christmas. No responsible breeder would plan for that for their bitch either.

You can actually plan your dog’s heat? 😳 and when to get pregnant? Clearly a lot to look up ...

@SpiderGwen thank you for answering my question. My lovely ladies are young and I'm in the South, so I guess that explains the high production.