Pet owners and summers - a rant

[Kelshara]

Ok so I just finished reading through a few articles on pet owners and summers, which just added on what I've been told by a friend of ours who work in a pet shelter in Sweden... this is a rant and I expect to be made fun of but oh well..

I have a huge soft spot for pets in general, cats in particular. And I hate bad pet owners with a passion. We have two cats ourself, one I got from a pet shelter that had been found on the street a few days old with dog bites all over his face and one that we found outside our apartment, almost starved to death and abused to the point that she has permanent brain damage. And these two aren't special cases at all. Now during the summer a LOT of pet owners who are going on vacation either try to dump the pet off on a shelter, throw the pet outside or simply tries to kill it. I've read stories about blackmailing shelters ("Take the cat/dog or I will kill it"), cats found in trashbags in trash containers, dogs left outside etc. Now I have had cats while leaving for Norway for 2-3 months at a time and I have always managed to make sure they are taken care of. It truly isn't that hard, either have them stay with someone you know and trust (and who the pets like) or use a pet hotel or whatever they are called.

On a side note: Get your pets fixed/neutered!

Seeing all the homeless pets at shelters or on websites really makes me both sad and mad I remember when I got my cat from the shelter I wanted to take all of them with me..

[Xouqoa]

I get depressed each time we go to PetSmart to get cat food for our 4 critters. With local community programs that pay for half of all spay/neuters, there really isn't a valid reason to not get your pets fixed. It only takes one escape from the house/fence for them to get out and impregnate another animal, and then you have a litter of animals that someone has to find homes for.

We have three indoor cats and a stray outside that we 'adopted' cause he was starving to death. He'd come to our front door and meow for hours at a time until we finally figured out what he wanted. He's been a real sweetie too but we can't bring him inside cause he's 1) not fixed (yet), 2) hasn't been to the vet and had shots (yet) and 3) doesn't get along with my cat through the glass in the front door at all. But at least he's got a full belly and some attention now and then!

[Kelshara]

Glad we are not the only ones Every time we see the billboard with all the notes with pets lost and pets needing homes we get really sad.. yet we can't keep ourself from looking We have two indoor cats now and plan on at least one more most likely.

When we caught the last one outside we took her straight to the vet to have her checked up and vaccinated. Only way to do it to make sure both it and your indoor cats are safe. They didn't play well together at first but now they are good friends

[Dregor Thule]

Pets are probably my softest spot. Watching my dog deteriorate because she's aging abnormally due to a bad liver (a problem she's had all her life) is killing me. And she's getting cateracts now. So yea, I'm with you totally.

[Boogahz]

This is why I got my dog from the SPCA. She and her brother were both rescues, and I had originally hoped to adopt them both. Fortunately her brother was adopted just a couple days before I could get my dog, so they both got new homes. I don't think that I could ever get a pet from a breeder again just because there are so many out there that are just fine but never got a chance.

[Siji]

Pets are probably my softest spot. Watching my dog deteriorate because she's aging abnormally due to a bad liver (a problem she's had all her life) is killing me. And she's getting cateracts now. So yea, I'm with you totally.

I feel for you. I lost both my little girls (dogs) within months of each other. One was completely unexpected and the other started to deteriorate quickly when her little friend was gone. It killed me for a really long time. I've saved multiple animals and found many animals homes. I simply can't turn animals away.

Love this:

If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can get going without pep pills,
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct him,
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,
If you can face the world without lies and deceipt,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
If you can say honestly that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed, color, religion or politics,
Then, my friend, you are almost as good as your dog.

[Kelshara]

I liked that Of course one of my cat loves my coffee cup...

I had a Chow growing up and when she got older she got arthritis. She wasn't in pain but struggled with tall steps etc. We had to balance out our (and hers) desire to live and what would actually be good for her.. and we finally had to put her down. I couldn't stand to be there when the vet came to do it but had to leave home

I've made my decission that I will most likely volunteer to help out at an animal shelter, even though it will kill me to see the animals At least I can help them in some little way then..

[Xzion]

Ok so I just finished reading through a few articles on pet owners and summers, which just added on what I've been told by a friend of ours who work in a pet shelter in Sweden... this is a rant and I expect to be made fun of but oh well..

I have a huge soft spot for pets in general, cats in particular. And I hate bad pet owners with a passion. We have two cats ourself, one I got from a pet shelter that had been found on the street a few days old with dog bites all over his face and one that we found outside our apartment, almost starved to death and abused to the point that she has permanent brain damage. And these two aren't special cases at all. Now during the summer a LOT of pet owners who are going on vacation either try to dump the pet off on a shelter, throw the pet outside or simply tries to kill it. I've read stories about blackmailing shelters ("Take the cat/dog or I will kill it"), cats found in trashbags in trash containers, dogs left outside etc. Now I have had cats while leaving for Norway for 2-3 months at a time and I have always managed to make sure they are taken care of. It truly isn't that hard, either have them stay with someone you know and trust (and who the pets like) or use a pet hotel or whatever they are called.

On a side note: Get your pets fixed/neutered!

Seeing all the homeless pets at shelters or on websites really makes me both sad and mad I remember when I got my cat from the shelter I wanted to take all of them with me..

Im the same way, i have a badass indoor/outdoor cat (mainly indoor) coco, who happens to be one of the smartest animals on the planet, he almost has a human personality. Hes been around for 8 years now and is very healthy. Its never hard to find someone to take care of him when im gone...ive even taken him on a trip before, took his ass in a hotel room too. anyone whos willing to abandon or try to KILL there pet due to a trip is fucking disgusting.

[Cartalas]

"On a side note: Get your pets fixed/neutered"



OMG Kelshera is Bob Barker"

[Kelshara]

Who? Second time someone uses that name and I have no clue who it is..

Anyone else who are soft for animals ever worked at a shelter? Wonder how tough it would be.. and I guess it is kind of sad in a way that I am way softer for animals than for other people.

[Fairweather Pure]

Who? Second time someone uses that name and I have no clue who it is..

Bob Barker was an animated dog that was used in public service anouncements by the US government in the late 1950's to help promote spaying and neutering your pet. I thought everyone knew that. He is a pretty huge part of popular culture.

[Marbus]

Bob Barker is the Host for a Game Show in the US called "The Price is Right"

Back to the subject at hand though I completely agree with you. We have three cats (2 inside and one outside that like Xou's was starving) and will soon take my mom's as well until she can find an apt. that allows pets.

Personally I rank people who hurt pets, small defenseless animals, close to those who hurt children.

Marb

[Fairweather Pure]

Bob Barker is the Host for a Game Show in the US called "The Price is Right"

A lot of people make that same mistake!

[Cartalas]

Bob Barker is the Host for a Game Show in the US called "The Price is Right"

A lot of people make that same mistake!

dont you guys remember after every show he says to have your Pets Spaded and neutered?

[Kelshara]

Never watched "Price is Right" and never seen the animated dog in question.. guess that is what I get for not growing up in the US!

[miir]

Anyone else who are soft for animals ever worked at a shelter? Wonder how tough it would be.. and I guess it is kind of sad in a way that I am way softer for animals than for other people.

I've done some volunteer work in the past for the Toronto Humane Society. It was pretty basic stuff like cleaning their pens/cages, walking the dogs and feeding them.

Bob Barker was an animated dog that was used in public service anouncements by the US government in the late 1950's to help promote spaying and neutering your pet. I thought everyone knew that. He is a pretty huge part of popular culture.

ROFL, Fair!~

The price is wrong, bitch!

[Fairweather Pure]

ROFL, Fair!~

Well, at least someone knew I was fucking around. I was beginning to worry...

[Pherr the Dorf]

As a breeder bad pet owners make me want to puke, I am very very picky about who gets my dogs, it's rare not to turn down half the prospective buyers.