You are right. You don't have to purchase them yourself. My POINT was that I worked hard for what I had and therefore it had great value to me. The same for your ponies I am sure.

No. I am not going to lighten up about this situation. Just this morning I was browsing the websites of the local kill shelters to see if there are any animals that I can contact different breed rescues about. There at the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society is a five year old beautiful little dilute calico. Reason for being given up???? Let me quote..."Given up because her owner had no time for her". Her name is Buttons. I am sure at one time she was loved and cared for. But hey you know.......people change...life changes...what can you do right?????? There are thousands of such animals in kill shelters in the US right this very moment...all given up for the same reason.....Given up because her owner had no time for her/him. For those of us that deal with the multitudes of discarded and unwanted animals this touches very dear to heart.

The only difference from all the information we have between the owner of that cat and Cayter is that she purchased Ozzie at a breeder and therefore was able to return him to the breeder rather than a shelter. So hopefully his next home will be his forever home and he won't be sitting on death row with the tag...Given up because owner had no time for him.

I know people are going to think I am slamming Cayter again. And I am sorry for that. It is not my intention because I truely think in her situation this was the best she could do. She was lucky that she had this option for Ozzie. Ozzie is lucky she had this option.

I just despair and become very upset with someone who tells me to "lighten up" with this type of situation. This is a forum for people who love pets and for them to share stories, to learn about others, health issues, training issues etc. But it is also a place for rescuing. For people who have a common goal to saving as many animals as they can. For those of us to come to a place where people will understand how we can go to bed at night sobbing because of the sad eyes of a pet that is being euthanized because they were.....Given up because her owner had no time for her. To be told to "lighten up" hurts like you wouldn't believe. I am just trying to reach some people to say....this is sad....so extremely sad...it happens so often all over the place and we as pet guardians and lovers have a responsibilty to try to educate the next generations as to the importance of pet "ownership". Why adopting them into our homes is sooooo very HUGE and why it is such a terrible thing to discard them. Yes there are times this is the only alternative. Just like some mothers have to put their children up for adoption. It happens yes...but it is never something we should just "lighten up" about.

As the famous saying goes.......If you are not part of the solution you are a part of the problem.

Geez I am long winded today. I think i am going to weed my flower garden.

Denyce