To think only a monster would claim a reward for returning a missing pet

[OptimismvsRealism]

Surely any decent human would refuse unless absolutely desperate for food or something

My old boss, who in general was pretty useless did on occasion dispense the odd pearl of wisdom that has stuck with me and proved pretty relevant in life.

"Some people think a service is worth nothing after it has been performed".

I think you are being unreasonable, OP.

If someone puts up a reward it should be honoured.

People may have put in more effort to look for the lost pet because there is a reward, especially if they need the money.

Think of it this way, by your reasoning, Should an undertaker work for free because the family of the deceased are anguished?

I don't think its wrong to accept a reward if one is offered.

I do think it shouldn't be necessary though, anyone that wouldn't bother to help a pet they found that was obviously lost/in trouble unless they got a reward is an arsehole.

This an extreme and rather dramatic take on it!

We have very different ideas about what makes someone a monster op.

You make a good point. Perhaps rewards encourage abductions of pets for money.

I do think giving someone's pet back because it's a good deed should be the prime motivation for returning a stray animal.

Yes I know a child is not the same as a pet, but for increasing numbers of people a dog/cat is considered an extension of their family. So it is perhaps a bit 'ransom like' to request money in return I guess.

Nope. I totally disagree. It's kind and reasonable to offer a reward for a lost pet and it's perfectly reasonable to expect.

Monster? What are you on?

A monster would ignore a lost pet. No, a monster would kick a lost pet and abuse it.

What an odd thing to get het up about.

@Sparklytoe

ehy would you think that? & why/how would it even work as a scam?

Your monster-ometer might need adjusting.

🤣🤣🤣

Jesus Christ what a dramatic op!

Years ago my DH saw an advert in the paper for pedigree rotty puppies , we had always loved the breed but we were piss poor broke and had young kids. But he spoke to the breeder and she said she only had one left from the original litter advertised as she had a little hernia . But would hopefully have another litter the following year and we agreed to do our best to save up.

The following week he saw a poster for a dog that was lost with a £500 reward. That night he had a flat tyre at the end of our road and the weather was horrific. Lo and behold as he was trying to change the wheel he spotted this filthy little dog in the bushes next to a main dual causeway. He grabbed the dog, got bit quite badly and brought the dog home to me. Then he had to run off to work and after his shift get stitched up at the hospital.

I went through the local paper and found the advert for the dog. His name was Barney and he was a gorgeous little spotty sausage dog, very unusual breed for that time. His owners turned up crying their eyes out with relief. He was very skinny as he had been gone for 9 days at that point, since the same day we enquired about the rotty puppies. I waved them off and told them not to worry about the reward but the following morning the couple turned up with £500 and insisted we take it as the insurance had paid for the reward as they had a fancy policy and were delighted to have him returned to them. My DH comes down from sleeping after his shift and I explained everything to him and he said it was a great name, his old childhood dog was called Barney and was a merle like the sausage dog. We just looked at each other as it was just so weird.

On a whim he called the rotty breeder and told her the story. We took the advert in the paper and the thank you note the family had put in the envelope full of cash and the breeder discounted the rotty pup to exact price of the the reward money on the proviso that we dealt with the hernia when she was neutered . When she handed us the kcc reg papers, the dogs show name was my DHs favourite song by David Bowie, one of our wedding songs from 6 months earlier. It was really like the entire thing was meant to be and that dog was the best dog I've ever ever had. We've now got her gr gr gr gr gr grand niece ( but this one doesn't have the same grace or brains 😂).

We didn't profit off anybody's misery 🤷🏼‍♀️

I'd donate the reward to an animal charity, and let the person know that was what I was doing.

I don't see the issue with accepting an award if you have gone out of your way to catch and then trace the owner of a missing pet/take them to the vets etc.

Many people would just walk on by, and the number of "missing" dogs we see on our local page that have escaped from insecure gardens owners should be bloody fined for being so lax with their pets safety (I know mistakes happen, or dogs can get spooked out on walks, but with responsible owners that should be rare).

I wouldn’t take the reward money personally, but if it’s offered I don’t necessarily think it’s wrong to accept it. If you offer it you have to be prepared to pay it out.

No, you're profiting for doing a nice thing.

The person returning the pet didn't cause the pain and anguish, in most cases the pet did (eyes up Houdini cat who's just come strolling back after three days absence).

The person returning the pet actually resolved the pain and anguish. They did a nice thing. Why not get financially compensated for that?

I think you are a bit mixed up frankly. Lots of people take rewards for doing basic humane acts. If you work in the care sector, nursing, health care, police, fire service, ambulance service, etc….. it’s called a career/ work. Kindness and morality deserves a reward of some kind, any time.

Lots of people “literally profit” from other people’s fear and anguish. Firefighters, police officers, paramedics, doctors…

Just because something is a good act does not mean it is financially worthless.

If I offered a reward for the return of a beloved pet I would 100% be insisting that the person take it! They wouldn’t have a choice!

If it were a dead or alive reward like in the wild west, I’d feel awkward accepting it if the dog’s condition was “dead”. But in the case of “alive” yeah why not.

So in your scenario people shouldn't offer rewards? Or people do offer rewards but don't actually hand the money over?
In that case, I am offering a $2mil reward for the return of my goldfish..... 🤑

If there was a reward on offer, then the people who have lost their pet clearly want their pet back so are willing to thank the person who found their pet in a financial manner.

Did you lose your pet? Did you offer a reward for the safe return of said pet? Did you offer a large reward that you're now regretting was as large as it was??

Why wouldn't someone accept a financial thank you for finding a loved pet?

I find this thread very strange. I'm neither hungry or in requirement of a financial reward but if someone lost their pet, put up a reward and I found their pet and returned the pet to them, I'd gratefully accept the reward. Why wouldn't I????

A few years ago I saw a panicked dog in and out of the road dodging buses etc, I was on my home form work, it was a hot day. I abandoned a bag of shopping I had to chase the poor thing, and eventually catch the dog. A passerby recognised the dog and told me where he lived. I went on a futher 10 minute walk to take the dog home,and the owner answered the door to me sweaty and stained with dog. She said 'oh i didnt know he had gone', took him in and closed the door. Was that you by any chance?

In that case this is a very, very random thread.

I think this might well be a reverse anyway.

To me it seems deceitful to offer for a reward for someone to perform an act and then not expect that reward to be taken if that act is done.

If a reward is offered it should be offered in good faith and happily given if the act is completed.

If the reward offerer doesn't want to do that, then best to just not offer the reward in the first place.