RE: Petfinder, etc

[heinz57_79]

I was just looking at PetFinder.com, after looking at the thread that mentioned it, and there was something that bothered me and I just have to vent about.

Locally, there were at least half a dozen dogs marked URGENT because the familly is moving into a place where there are breed restrictions, or they just don't allow pets at all. "We love our dog so much and have to find him a good home" blah blah blah. My point is, if you love your dog so much you DON'T MOVE INTO A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN'T TAKE HIM!! My animals are my babies, they're just like children. If you had a baby, and wanted to move into a stuffy co-op that didn't allow children, would you get rid of your child? Maybe it's just me, but I just don't get it. My furkid count is up to 10, and I couldn't even fathom moving somewhere where I couldn't take each and every one with me. I guess I just feel that some people are so hypocritical sometimes. They love their dog SOOOOOOO much, but can't be bothered to put in a little more effort to find some place to live where they can take them.

Sorry for the venting, but it's just something that has always bugged me.

[Rio and Me]

you are so right heinz, there may not be many but there are definatly some places that allow pets, it just means looking harder/maybe longer.
Also do any of these people have "friends" that could take a dog/cat etc family etc.
I would NEVER give up rio but if for some reason i had no choice (cant think of any) i have several people who would take her.

There are more choices then a shelter!!
Ky

[catnapper]

I know that Nicki is my baby and nothing wold keep her from me. If we had to move and the house we were looking at didn't allow a big dog like her, then we'd continue our search.

But I have the feeling that more and more places are making these restrctions... and its not just apartments or townhome communities. I've heard of towns making restrictions like that. Ok, so don't move to that town. but what if its 4 or 5 towns next to each toher... where are you to go? That could eat up a 20 mile radius of dog restrcitions! This is the movement thats recently begun. They say that they are "safer" communities.

I heard of it on the news Sunday morning and was so mad! I mean, Anybody could shove their hand down Nicki's mouth and get no reaction from her. I've actually had her really annoyed to the point of serious growling and stuck my face in her face (dumb move on my part, but I've done it many times for one reason or another.) As soon as I did that, she relaxed... its all in the owner, not the pet.

[anna_66]

I totally feel the same way.
The main reason we moved where we live now was for the dogs. And the reason we bought our Durango...again the dogs
I can't imagine making such choices that would seperate me from my furkids.

[minkyboodle]

Well, I'm going to think the most positive thing about these people...of course I know this isn't the case for some people but still it could be the case in a few.

I LOOOOVE my furkids. They are my babies and I care for them alot. But then again...if, well , lets say for some reason an emergency came up and for some reason I couldn't stay in the place I currently live and would have to move and the only choice would be to a place that doesn't allow pets...and I have to move like right away without any choice...I dunno...I would have to let them go probably...but then again I have enough friends that would temporarily care for my animals if needed too...so i guess i just dunno...

and most people say they love their animals but they don't love them really as much as some of us do.

[Cincy'sMom]

I don't always understand how someone could give up their pets, but sometimes we have to be a little understanding...at least they are doing what they can to find their dogs the best home possible instead of just leaving them alone in the house or just turn them loose. As hard as it is for me to believe, sometimes circumstances do change and it is a hard decision to leave a pet behind.

That being said, I can't image ever giving up any of my babies for any reason. One reason we chose this house was becuase of the fenced yard...and we knew we watned a dog. Ralph traded in his Mustang for a mini-van when we got #3...a big sacrifice for a guy

I feel bad for our Spot, that his family left him behind when he had to move, but their loss was our gain!!!

[bluekat]

I know what you mean...its just sad to think that people couldn't just move to a different place because of their dog. It doesn't really seem to me that they love their pet THAT much.
I would never give Blueberry away for anything.

[QueenScoopalot]

We bought the house for the dogs lol! It took a bit of searching for an obviously pet friendly neighborhood, and we lucked out finding one. We were renters for a number of years before, and it got harder to find apts. that rented to pet owners. The last place we rented was decent when we moved in (the landlord was a happy-go-lucky drunk) who said he didn't care how many pets we had. He said "we could grow pot in the gutters, keep chickens in the kitchen". The place turned into a ghetto as the years passed, and we got out of there before the place was demolished. As an ode to Rick...I have chickens in the kitchen, but not real ones. But it is really tough these days when people don't respect either others property, or the pets that many times they bring into the world. Disposable society....sad.

[teenster3]

Hello,
I have a comment on this subject as well. You're definitely not alone feeling "upset" by people getting rid of their dogs / pets. I posted a message on Petfinder once about this topic and received a lot of angry responses. I just stated that: "I didn't understand how people can up and get rid of their beloved pets".......I must have hit a soft spot. (I had people that if I had met them, would probably want to rip my face off.) I had people tell me that: who the h*** am I to say what's good for a person to do, that I obviously had not been in a situation like their's before, etc. Well, fortunately I haven't and I'm grateful for that! If I had to give my dogs up......geez, I don't know what I would do......probably sit and cry. I'm very attached to them. I don't have children yet so, they're like my babies. I had 1 woman tell me, it's no different than giving up a child. What does that mean?! I agree there may be circumstances which are unavoidable but, it seems that this happens so often. Why is it that we live in a society that is so evil? I mean seriously, I was asking my husband this question tonight. I'm probably going to get bashed for this but, I'd like people to tell me, why animals (poor innocent animals) are abused on a daily basis? Why there is abuse (period) to children, women, men ( in some cases)? Why is this such a crazy world we live in? This may not be the area to write in but, you got me thinking on this subject.....I apologize if I upset anyone. I'm also just venting and wondering if other people feel this way???
Tina

[CathyBogart]

There is no situation that could make me give up Chubby. Ever. I've been in a sutiation where I had to give up some of my rats, and I made sure they went to the best possible place. (And in fact I got a happy update today)

The main reason I have not moved out of my parents' house is that there are almost no apartments around here where I could bring Chubby. I'll stay here for as long as it takes.

If it were just one or two peopleI might me more understanding, but it happens SO OFTEN. It's sad that people aren't willing to give that little extra bit of effort to take their pets with them.

[honor_fl]

Personally, I think its all about planning responsibly.

In my own case, I didn't dream about getting a dog until I owned my own home with a fenced yard. From the time I graduated college until now, I shared my life with cats, because I couldn't stand the thought of living without a pet. I had grown up with dogs, but I knew there was no way I could take care of a dog in an apartment and commute to work.

When I finally bought a place, it was a townhouse, with a small fenced courtyard. Cats again, because I was commuting 65 miles a day, and no way could I take care of a dog in the proper way.

And now finally, MANY years later, I have a house with a fenced yard that's two miles from where I work. I don't think we were there more than two weeks before we had our first dog. (The cats are still learning to cope ) I go home every day to let the dogs out at lunch. The yard is adequate, and we live next to a park. The neighborhood is extremely dog friendly, and this was one of the things I looked for when I was looking for a new house.

Unfortunately, people do things without thinking it through.

[catnapper]

LOL honor_fl, what a great story! Hubby and I were talking about this the other day. He has a great job interview tomorrow (fingers crossed) and the job will be about an hour's drive. Since I work from home and could do my job anywhere, we are considering moving if he gets the job to be closer to work, but also because its further out in the country where we could buy a nice piece of land for Nicki to run. I wasn't thinking of the extra land for me. As far as I'm concerened, I don't need a yard, just pave it over and paint it green (kidding!) but I want a huge yard so Nicki can wander and play.

We all make life choices, and having a pet is a major one that shouldn't be made lightly. Imagine the public's reaction if we started "no kids" communities and families that moved into them took their pets, but posted their kids on kidfinder.com!!! "This sweet 6 year old loves baseball and is an A student. He has a small fear of the dark." LOL.... it would never happen, but why is it happening so carelessly and thoughtlessly every day with pets?

[honor_fl]

LOL

Its happened here (to a small extent) in florida, where they have adult only communities, and the grandchildren have come either for an extended visit or to stay permanently. What a hullaballoo because children are present. You'd think they were the spawn of satan.

Good luck for hubby's job interview tomorrow!

[CathyBogart]

Originally posted by honor_fl
LOL

Its happened here (to a small extent) in florida, where they have adult only communities, and the grandchildren have come either for an extended visit or to stay permanently. What a hullaballoo because children are present. You'd think they were the spawn of satan.

Good luck for hubby's job interview tomorrow!

Hey now - If I could find an adults-only community, you can bet 'd be there in a heartbeat!! :-P They ARE the spawn of satan to a degree.

[heinz57_79]

Wow... I must've hit a soft spot! LoL

About the only thing that could ever make me give up my babies is if there was some sort of medical condition which absolutely, under no circumstances allowed me to have my animals. But even then, I'd probably try every drug known to man before finally giving up. There are more and more places that are putting up breed restrictions. Which, to me, is just ignorance. At work, at least a handful of people who knew I got Arthur (a rotti pup) gave me the "Gasp! Aren't they violenT?!" response. And I know it's because of him that the place we're in now is probably going to be the last place we'll ever rent. We're already looking into a bigger place to BUY so we have enough room for the monster he's gonna grow into, plus the other 2 dogs and 7 cats. (The kittens are doing great, btw. I'll get more pics soon!)

Having pets is a bigger responsibility than most people realise. It's not just a matter of walks, feeding and cleaning the litter box. You have to think long term. To me, there's nothing more heartbreaking than going into a shelter and seeing a 10, 12, 15 year old dog sitting there because the family moved and didn't take her with them.

Too many humans just leave me scratching my head in wonder.