Re: I know that I will get flamed here, but all pet owners need to read this...

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Posted by palebride

i joke all the time about giving my little ***** cat away but i could never live without him....he's been a part of my life for almost 14 years.....that's half of my life! and even though he's caused me more pain than any other animal in the world and he terrorizes me....I love him for some odd reason

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I have the same situation... I joke with FH allllll the time about getting rid of my witchy kitty and getting a doggie instead... but the truth is, when I saved her from the SPCA, that was a lifetime committment... and as much as she hisses at other people and is probably the MOST unfriendly cat in the world... I'm so attached to her... I love her to death and would never dream of just getting rid of her because I know how attached she is to me...

Re: I know that I will get flamed here, but all pet owners need to read this...

She looks so innocent and sweet in your pic . I could never give my cats away. My FBIL has a black lab and she protects and plays with his 1 year old son. They are best friends.

Re: I know that I will get flamed here, but all pet owners need to read this...

i agree 100%......... unfortunately i think some people dont think about all the responsibilities and at least they are giving it away instead of keeping it and neglecting it......

Re: I know that I will get flamed here, but all pet owners need to read this...

Yes, Yes, Yes!!! I agree!

Re: I know that I will get flamed here, but all pet owners need to read this...

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Posted by oct.2004bride

Hmmmmm interesting. I do believe that before you buy/adopt a pet you should know what your future plans are. I got my dog about 2 years ago and since they live to be about 14-15, i knew somewhere in that span of time i was going to be having children. So i knew the responsibility that i would be taking on. So i think for someone to say that oh i had kids now it is unfair, i can't do both...well i thik that is something you should have thought about or the very least the possibility before obtaining that dog.

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I totally agree. My cat is now 20, and will be living with my mom (who he stayed with while I was in boarding school and college, so he is really as much hers as mine) after FH and I move. We are talking about getting a kitten because my older cat attacks FH because he is jealous of him. But I know that that kitten could live to his 20s--how could I say that I wouldn't have children during that time? To me that excuse doesn't fly. A dog is a responsibility that will be around for a long time, and should not be taken lightly.

Re: I know that I will get flamed here, but all pet owners need to read this...

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Posted by myasmom

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Hmmmmm interesting. I do believe that before you buy/adopt a pet you should know what your future plans are. I got my dog about 2 years ago and since they live to be about 14-15, i knew somewhere in that span of time i was going to be having children. So i knew the responsibility that i would be taking on. So i think for someone to say that oh i had kids now it is unfair, i can't do both...

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I agree and disagree with this statement. The reason being. ..We were going to keep our pomeranian but when we got pregnant, I ended up being hospitalized over 14 times and when I was home i was on bed rest. DH was constantly at the hospital. We didnt expect that I would have such a high risk pregnancy. It wasnt fair to our baby or our lil pup but 'faces' our pom was suffering and I couldnt bear that. The unfair part is people who just let them go on the street. At least the old owner is trying to be responsible and find a new responsible owner.

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well i don't understand this...I do understand that you were hospitalized...OK so if you dog has to stay with someone for a while so be it. What was unfair to you baby? That you had a dog? Now that is where the lack of responsibility comes in... You had the dog first, you got pregnant, Child/baby + dog does not equal neglect.. for either of them! You naturally assumed it would. So here i disagree! How old was your dog?

Re: I know that I will get flamed here, but all pet owners need to read this...

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Posted by WeddingsRock

As I started this post, what I really wanted people to understand that adopting/buying an animal should be an investment of time. Many dogs do live until late teens. I just can't imagine investing 1, 2, -10 years and then giving the dog away because I don't have time. The irony is that as a teacher, I see this all the time with children as well. Parents who just don't have the time and the children get pushed to the side. I always ponder the question 'Why did you have them then?' and not all children brought into this world were not planned, so that excuse doesn't fly with me.

Overall, I think people in general need to take the time and think about the choices they make in their lives before jumping into them. JMO

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You can't plan everything in your life and you cannot predict the future..
I would think that you would commend someone who would be responisble enough to know their limitations...
Wouldn't you rather see that dog or child in a loving home rather than being neglected?
Like someone said...and it happens a lot more often that you think, say you got that promotion at work, which you now have to work twice as hard and twice as many hours...you hands are tied..

But i do agree with you on some level..People who have dogs then have children and say they can't 'give the time' to the dog anymore...well my mom raised two girls with a dog...it is possible...and yes it is a effort that should be made!
In the end it depends on everybodys situation..you can't just make a blanket statement...
yes you should understand the repsonsibility of owning and caring for a animal but like i said ...you can't predict the future 100%..

Re: I know that I will get flamed here, but all pet owners need to read this...

we never gave any pet any, and probably never will, BUT, that does not mean that i am aganist it. as far as comparing an animal to a child, totally different set of circumstances. yes i would be heartbroken if i had to ever give a pet away, but if it was for the sake of my child's or fh's health, i would have to. i understand that you get attached to pets, we've have our cat for over 7 yrs., but if my familys healthh was affected b/c of him, we would have to possibly give up the pet.

Re: I know that I will get flamed here, but all pet owners need to read this...

You see this is why I wont judge anyone who gives up their pets..you dont know the circumstances..therefore you cant make a general statement and prejudge....and I think i just was...

We got our pomeranian when he was 3 months old. And went through his molting stage and he was almost a year old when I became preggo. At 7 weeks I got a severe case of hyperemesis where my body would literally make me throw up if I got enough saliva in my stomach. I was the primary care taker of the dog, hubby worked but I was in school so I was the one who was able to take care of him. I was put on complete bedrest which meant no walking unless necessary and I was on IV fluid with VNS (visiting nurse). So here is where the neglect came in. Being a dog that required constant holding..I could not. I could not take him for bathroom breaks. I could barely feed him. I could not take him for walks like he should have. My parents are not animal lovers..they do not allow pets to stay in their home..so it was not an issue of this is Ann's dog who she loves..its a cultural thing...most older west indian people consider this to be NASTY to have animals where they sleep or eat....Most keep them in the yard. BTW we had an argument over my having a lap dog....so therfore he would have stayed outside most of the time alone since my parents leave at 7:30 in th emorning and get home after 7..that is neglect to me.

Now back to my reality..I never knew that my pregnancy would be the way it was. I expected to have my dog and my baby.. I had visions of them growing together. If I had known that I would get Hyperemesis which would then lead to premature labor due to the constant contracting of my stomach muscles when I threw up or developing pre-eclamsia or hypertenstion all in one pregnancy..heck no..I would not have taken on the responsibility so this should clue you in that peoples circumstances change and unless you go and interview all the people who do give up their pets you may be surprised that its not always something they do willingly.

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Re: I know that I will get flamed here, but all pet owners need to read this...

Well, all I have to say is that these threads are not suppose to be used to pass judgement on people, I think even starting this string was completely inappropriate!
Come back and when you are put in a certain situation and are overwhelmed and tell me where you stand. I don't think any mother has any ida at how overwhelmng and time consuming motherhood could be. So.. unexpected feelings arise. Again, initiating this thread was completely INAPPROPRIATE! We are not here to pass judgement but rather to provide support.

Re: I know that I will get flamed here, but all pet owners need to read this...

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Posted by The Original 2nd-time-around

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Posted by emilain

well, I just started a thread last night regarding looking for a home for my dog, so I guess this may have promted you to begin this string.
You cannot compare a child to an animal, If/when you have children you may feel differently. I never thouht I could love anything as much as I loved my dog and I sat in the labor room crying after I gave birth because I was so sad that I knew my dog would take the backseat since the baby would be first priority. Now that I have children my feelings of course have changed, animals are wonderful and I had a dog who was my EVERYTHING, but once kids come around there is no where near as much time to care for them and give them the EXACTLY what a dog thrives on. Of course most peope would not give up their children, but you absolutely cannot compare your child to your dog, it is such a different relationship.

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Sorry, but I have to agree with this

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Me too.