Saturday, March 19, 2011

Responsible Pet Owner

This woman has survived a 9.0 earthquake, a deadly tsunami, a nuclear disaster, home is gone, she is hungry and now cold but she still has her dog. This photo brings tears to my eyes and joy to my heart.

Those of us involved in dog rescue have heard it all and frankly, most of the time people's reasons for "getting rid" of their dog sound more like excuses to unburden themselves (and burden shelters and rescues) than unworkable issues. Let me share a few: moving, divorce, having a baby, grew big or not a puppy anymore, kids aren't playing with it, new house, boyfriend/girlfriend doesn't like dogs.......believe me, the list goes on and on.

PLEASE, PLEASE if you are considering getting a dog, do it for the long haul. Don't keep a dog through it's "good" years and then toss it out at the first signs of aging. It sees you as part of it's family and will grieve (if it even survives the shelter). By the way, many shelters kill owner surrenders dogs right away because they only have the resources to hold so many dogs and those are the strays whose owner might be looking for them. Dropping your dog off in a "rich" neighborhood doesn't mean ti will be adopted by a good family - it means it will likely starve on it's own.

If you can't say for certain that you are committed to that dog through it's entire life span, PLEASE consider a goldfish, a hampster, or something that won't live 9 - 20 years and consider you it's family.

Vickie

2 comments:

vivian said...

You are so right! I told my husband this week HOW can someone give up their dog just because they are old! That's when your furbaby needs you the most! It's unthinkable to me.

Skeeter said...

It is so sad the “excuses” people come up with for dumping a pet. Just sickens me to think how COLD the Human Race can be at times. Our fur baby's are family and not something to play with when we feel like it. We humans have domesticated cats and dogs therefore it is up to us to take care of them,.....

PEOPLE,
DONT LITTER, FIX YOUR CRITTER....