This is a heartbreaking article....
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This is a heartbreaking article....
I wonder why they acquire pets. What do they think will become of the animals, for heaven's sake?
Many of them take their pets with them from station to station. But they can not take them with them if they are deployed or go to war.
A friend of ours has a three-legged Pomerainian that has been all over the US and is now living in Germany with his wife while he is on deployment.
Not everyone thinks about the 'what if'...people divorce and pass away and leave pets behind for various reasons...basically no one wants to contemplate the negative, military people are no different.
Pets fill a need in people's lives. They are important to them for many reasons...especially emotionally. My son chooses not to get a pet because I was very proactive in teaching my family that you must plan ahead and be prepared for a pets needs and my children were right by my side helping with many of our rescues. My kids know how much work a companion animal is. Not many parents that I know raised their kids to think that way. I am a minority.
Doesn't make it right to have to leave behind a companion animal and doesn't make them bad people...but not everyone has the foresight to plan ahead. And not every family is willing to help out.
Most people that I have met on the BB's over the years do think ahead and make plans...but quite honestly we are the minority.
Please remember that unless you have walked a mile in someone else's moccasins you really don't understand their journey.
I watched the President address the nation last night.
Please folks...whatever happens...support our troops.
You can disagree with the policy of our President. That is your right.
But please...don't take your frustrations out on those who serve, they cannot change the policies...they need our support as a nation regardless of how we feel about policy.
If you need to voice opposition the way to do it is to contact your representatives. That is what they are there for. It serves no purpose to take out your displeasure on the men and women who chose to serve so that you don't have to.
Very Well said Anakins Mom, and Thank you.
Jackie
I'm probably going to get flamed, but I've gotta say this. This is my own opinion.
After 6 years in animal rescue, having rescued, fostered and placed DOZENS of pets from military families, I believe that no one in college or the military should be allowed to have pets until they are discharged or have graduated.
Too many pets these days become disposable. The only one that suffers is them.
Then there are people who don't get their pets spayed/neutered. SHAME ON THEM!!!!
Again, this is MY opinion and not necessarily the opinion of this website.
I live in a place with a lot of military personnel and volunteer at an animal shelter. If people can/want to take their pets everywhere they are posted, I salute them. However, I believe a lot of people get a pet and KNOW that they will be giving her/him up when they move on. I would beg these people to make arrangements with relatives or friends if they are really unable to take their pets or PLEASE don't have a pet. If you need an animal fix, volunteer at your local shelter.
I won't flame either of you...I too have rescued...and quite honestly it was families that let go of their pets in my area. I was overrun with senior horses and ponies here for a while!
I know college students and military personnel who plan ahead and take care of their pets needs.
I have discovered that it is where your rescue is located logistically that has to do with what you see coming through and from where they come from.
Live in a college or military area and you will see them come in from college and military people.
Live in a rural area like me and you see them come in from farm families.
Live in a city and see them come in from city folks.
Live in an affluent area and see them come in when they don't match the decore anymore.
In my humble opinion you can not make across the board generalizations about who should and who should not have pets.
All kinds of people in all kinds of situations give up their pets. If we start to judge by where they work, or live or by the type of job they have... the next thing you know it would be narrowed down to only 'single females with red hair' can have a pet...understand where I am going with this?
The BEST that we can do is educate, educate, and oh! Did I mention, EDUCATE!
Teaching people from all locations and all walks of life that companion animals are a life time commitment is the answer.
Thank you, this was very well put. I know that Brian has wondered when they get back how people are going to treat him for being one of those soldiers over there. I hope that most of the people out there will look at it the way that you and I do. Thank you for your support and for voicing this point. It means a lot to us military families!Quote:
But please...don't take your frustrations out on those who serve, they cannot change the policies...they need our support as a nation regardless of how we feel about policy.
Okay, now I'm not really trying to start any fights here, but I do have a problem with a comment made. I understand that you are free to your opinions. The only problem is that I felt offended when a generalization was made in one of the recent comments. I have a right to voice this opinion and my feelings too. I understand that unfortunately most military do not plan ahead with animals or do the responsible thing. However, I do not feel that it should stop the rest of us responsible military families to have pets. Brian is active duty army and has been for almost 4 years now. After we got here and got our military housing, we got our first pup. We now have three. Those are our babies. Nothing would ever stop us from taking those girls with us whereever we go. Some of us are responsible. Our oldest 2 are spayed, but Sierra still has to be about 3 1/2 months older before they'll do it around here. We do keep them in the house, we do play with them daily, and we do care very good care of them. The generalization was made that military should not be aloud pets. That deeply offends me. I did nothing wrong and I was included in that generalization. Many of my friends around here are the same as me. We are the responsible ones. Please do not generalize us, just as you may not want to be generalized or discriminated against. NOT ALL OF US ARE IRRESPONSIBLE! Oh yeah, Brian is being deployed but I will be taking care of our babies, we did plan that way ahead, infact, when we got them!
Oh yeah, I'd also again like to thank Anakins Mom for everything you've said on here. There's no way that I could have said any of that any better, thank you!
You are welcome Dakota's Mommy. :)
Keep the Faith Dakota's Mommy!
My cousin has been deployed too and I suspect it may not be long before my son is.
I'm here for you! :)
My cousin is the captain of an army transportation division.
Her parting words to us (the families) was that the most important thing we could do for them (the deployed) was to stick together and support each other while they are away.
I too pray our nation's people will keep separate our leaders policies from those who serve. I have two Vietnam vets in my family and I saw first hand what the hatred of a generation did to them when they returned home.