Ditching the family dog :(

[Cataholic]

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. She wrote the story to make herself feel better. Ditching a pet is ditching a pet. How, after seven years, someone can 'dispose' of a pet is beyond me. I cannot even get rid of my too tight jeans after 12 wearings.

That made me sad.

[elizabethann]

This quote especially pi$$es me off: But it was too late—Shadow was already my starter baby.

So many couples get a dog for this purpose - to see what it's like to have a baby. And when the real baby comes along, the dog is just cast aside.

[JenBKR]

This quote especially pi$$es me off: But it was too late—Shadow was already my starter baby.

So many couples get a dog for this purpose - to see what it's like to have a baby. And when the real baby comes along, the dog is just cast aside.

Arg I missed that when I first read it. IMO, when you adopt a pet, that is a part of your family for life. You wouldn't leave your child behind, would you?

[Miss Z]

Ugh, some people do not know the meaning of responsibility, or love, IMO. I suppose the upside to the story is that Shadow found a home that actually understood him.

Our lives are calmer, freer, and in Paul's case, healthier.

These people seem to be forgetting that Shadow was part of their family aswell. He has feelings too.

My favorite image of Shadow is his tail waving in the air as he walked away with Ed that weekend. He didn't look back.

Why am I not surprised?

[JenBKR]

I agree Miss Z, I wouldn't have looked back either

[jenluckenbach]

I did not go to the link to read beyond what is posted here but why are you all so shocked? Stuff like this (and things 10 and 20 times WORSE) happen hundreds of times each day!

This person was honest. This family no longer was able to or willing to care properly for this dog. Keeping him would have been like staying in a loveless marriage. The dog was not PTS, left along the side of the road nor brought to a shelter to live (or die) in a cage. The family saw that they were no longer a dog-friendly family and left him in the care of someone who had time for him.

Our very own moosmom (sorry Donna, I hope you do not take offence at this example) has rehomed several of her kitties. She NEEDED to and she thought about their best interests as well. Doogie is having the time of his life with his new dog brother and I bet that Eli is relishing his time on his new farm.

As a person who has heard hundreds of stories about why they have to "get rid of" their pet, most are weak arguments or cliche's. But I think for this dog's sake, he wins! It is when a family trades in one old pet for a new "baby" that really infuriates me. This does not seem to be the case in this story.

JUST MY OPINION Thank you for allowing me to share it.

[carole]

I am with you on this one Jen, however i still think it is so sad when people continue to think of pets as being disposable, it is still wrong IMO, but the main thing here is Shadow is better off where he is, if he had stayed with the family just imagine how unhappy he would be, so there really is a happy ending, it is just the principle of it all that i dis-agree with as you all do, pets should never be adopted with the thought oh well we can always get rid if we have to, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.

[lizbud]

Yes I did read the article. (I'll read anything about animals)
What struck me about the story is that she first got the dog to please
herself, and then desposed of the same dog later for the same reason.

I am glad that the dog finally found someone to properly care for him
an wanted the dog just for himself.

[Cataholic]

I did not go to the link to read beyond what is posted here but why are you all so shocked? Stuff like this (and things 10 and 20 times WORSE) happen hundreds of times each day!

Jen, this doesn't sit well with me, and I don't think you mean it as it was worded, since I 'know' you. That bad stuff happens much worse every day doesn't change that THIS is a bad thing, and is 'deserving' of our attention, too. Sure, lots of worse things happen, but, that shouldn't detract from this situation.

This person was honest.

Honesty or dishonesty doesn't make give this woman any more character, IMO. If I say, "I hate you" and slap you across the face, my statment of hate doesn't support my action, does it? Yet, I am being 'honest'.

Our very own moosmom (sorry Donna, I hope you do not take offence at this example) has rehomed several of her kitties. She NEEDED to and she thought about their best interests as well. Doogie is having the time of his life with his new dog brother and I bet that Eli is relishing his time on his new farm.

The difference with Donna's situation was HER needs were put second. She rehomed her pets because it was best for THEM. Not her. In fact, if she could have done it differently, I think she would have preferred they stay with her. It wasn't like Donna said, "Oh, I am tired of having so many cats, some have got to go!". Of course, Donna is quite able to speak for herself, so, I will conclude with this is MY interpretation of her situation. An interpretation for which I could very well be wrong.

I think the wrongness here is the desensitizing effect the article could have on people 'ditching' pets. The more we hear, support, agree with lame reasons to ditch our pets, the more it happens. It is changing the minds of individuals, one at a time, to support inclusion, responsibility, commitment and love, that needs work here. Not articles putting a positive spin on 'ditching' family pets.