DO NOT ADOPT AN ANIMAL IF....

[Anonymous]

I believe the moral obligation would be to put your human children before the dog. Or the cat. Or both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you cannot commit to caring for that animal through its life. This means figuring out whether you might have kids, and what your plan B might be in that instance. There are a few circumstances that would warrant rehoming a pet but it should be a last resort. Think of it like getting rid of a family member, because that's what you're doing. It makes me so sick to see so many people trying to rehome pets on listservs, on this forum, on craigslist. These animals were good enough for you for years, but you just ditch them when your life circumstances change. UGH. Guess what: you're an asshole and you SHOULD NOT HAVE ADOPTED THOSE PETS IN THE FIRST PLACE. People probably told you that at the time.

Nope, not at all the same to me. I don't equate pets with people.

They are a part of the family - and they believe they're a part of the family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Good to know you can diagnose a child you have not met. Ever see a baby or toddler with really bad asthma?

No, I can't diagnose a child over the Internet (duh!) but I can read between the lines of that OP's post a little. Pretty sure that if her "new baby" had really bad asthma as a result of a cat, she probably would have said as much.

Not sure why this is soooo hard for you to understand. Some people look for any excuse they can to get rid of their pets after having kids b/c they realize that they have no more time left for them. I don't know if this is really what is going on with that OP, but I have seen firsthand where this has happened in MANY cases. In one case, it was supposedly due to the kid having allergies, except that the family subsequently got another pet a few years later. Ummm....no allergies. Mommy and Daddy were just overwhelmed by a colicky newborn.

Really you can read between the lines, but you can't read the actual lines where she says she loves her cats dearly. Who do you think gives up pets after twelve years on a whim? Don't blame her for the bad behavior you have seen in other people.

[Anonymous]

I went with a different philosophy.

I adopted a cat whose owner died. The cat was in a shelter and was going to be destroyed if it did not get adopted.

I decided I would take it home in the HOPES that I will be able to care for it. But if something happens that means I have to give it back, I will do what I have to do.

I gave this cat a shot at life when no one else would. I hope it works out and I will strive for that. I am glad I adopted him because if I hadn't, he'd be dead already. What the future holds, I can't predict. But at least he has a good life now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Good to know you can diagnose a child you have not met. Ever see a baby or toddler with really bad asthma?

No, I can't diagnose a child over the Internet (duh!) but I can read between the lines of that OP's post a little. Pretty sure that if her "new baby" had really bad asthma as a result of a cat, she probably would have said as much.

Not sure why this is soooo hard for you to understand. Some people look for any excuse they can to get rid of their pets after having kids b/c they realize that they have no more time left for them. I don't know if this is really what is going on with that OP, but I have seen firsthand where this has happened in MANY cases. In one case, it was supposedly due to the kid having allergies, except that the family subsequently got another pet a few years later. Ummm....no allergies. Mommy and Daddy were just overwhelmed by a colicky newborn.

Really you can read between the lines, but you can't read the actual lines where she says she loves her cats dearly. Who do you think gives up pets after twelve years on a whim? Don't blame her for the bad behavior you have seen in other people.

Who? People with a new baby. That is exactly who gives up their long term pets on a whim...THAT is my problem with that OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you cannot commit to caring for that animal through its life. This means figuring out whether you might have kids, and what your plan B might be in that instance. There are a few circumstances that would warrant rehoming a pet but it should be a last resort. Think of it like getting rid of a family member, because that's what you're doing. It makes me so sick to see so many people trying to rehome pets on listservs, on this forum, on craigslist. These animals were good enough for you for years, but you just ditch them when your life circumstances change. UGH. Guess what: you're an asshole and you SHOULD NOT HAVE ADOPTED THOSE PETS IN THE FIRST PLACE. People probably told you that at the time.

Nope, not at all the same to me. I don't equate pets with people.

They are a part of the family - and they believe they're a part of the family.

They believe...so you talk with them about their feelings of belonging? Umm okay! I've seen pets change homes and be perfectly happy in their new homes. Apparently they didn't get the memo on how they were supposed to feel.

[Anonymous]

I think it is sad when for certain circumstances you have to give a pet away. When we were younger we had 4 cats! Two of which were old and hated the new kittens we got so my mom had to give them away but to a family friend. Come to find a few years later, they gave them away as well.

So its hard because I do emphasize with the OP because I know its not the greatest thing to do to an animal but I have to try and have hope that the person giving it away wont just drop it off at a shelter and will truly try to find a loving home. My mom tried but had no idea the family would give the cats away again.

I think the key here is to really try to find a good loving home for them. Not just "let them in the wild" like some idiot said and not to just drop them off at a shelter.

My mom is paying (literally) for it now though because she is catless, but has a puppy mill dog (which she and I believes we rescued) and he has severe medical problems and she is taking care of all his needs would never give him away for anything. We are talking $10k atleast in the hole for his surgery but she does it. So there are trade offs. No one is perfect as long as you really try I cannot fault people for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you cannot commit to caring for that animal through its life. This means figuring out whether you might have kids, and what your plan B might be in that instance. There are a few circumstances that would warrant rehoming a pet but it should be a last resort. Think of it like getting rid of a family member, because that's what you're doing. It makes me so sick to see so many people trying to rehome pets on listservs, on this forum, on craigslist. These animals were good enough for you for years, but you just ditch them when your life circumstances change. UGH. Guess what: you're an asshole and you SHOULD NOT HAVE ADOPTED THOSE PETS IN THE FIRST PLACE. People probably told you that at the time.

Nope, not at all the same to me. I don't equate pets with people.

They are a part of the family - and they believe they're a part of the family.

They believe...so you talk with them about their feelings of belonging? Umm okay! I've seen pets change homes and be perfectly happy in their new homes. Apparently they didn't get the memo on how they were supposed to feel.

Yeah and often foster kids find a good home where the people don't abuse them too. Doesn't mean their crackhead biological parents who abandoned them were justified.

[Anonymous]

OP, I totally agree with you. And after volunteering with a dog rescue for many years I have come to the conclusion that there are many pathetic morons out there who should not try to take care of any living being at all.

[Anonymous]

kids >>>> cats and dogs.

animals are disposable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Good to know you can diagnose a child you have not met. Ever see a baby or toddler with really bad asthma?

No, I can't diagnose a child over the Internet (duh!) but I can read between the lines of that OP's post a little. Pretty sure that if her "new baby" had really bad asthma as a result of a cat, she probably would have said as much.

Not sure why this is soooo hard for you to understand. Some people look for any excuse they can to get rid of their pets after having kids b/c they realize that they have no more time left for them. I don't know if this is really what is going on with that OP, but I have seen firsthand where this has happened in MANY cases. In one case, it was supposedly due to the kid having allergies, except that the family subsequently got another pet a few years later. Ummm....no allergies. Mommy and Daddy were just overwhelmed by a colicky newborn.

Really you can read between the lines, but you can't read the actual lines where she says she loves her cats dearly. Who do you think gives up pets after twelve years on a whim? Don't blame her for the bad behavior you have seen in other people.

Who? People with a new baby. That is exactly who gives up their long term pets on a whim...THAT is my problem with that OP.

New pet owners do that. This is not a new pet owner.

[Anonymous]

since when do we call "buying" a pet "adopting" a pet? Give me a break. It is personal property of the owner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you cannot commit to caring for that animal through its life. This means figuring out whether you might have kids, and what your plan B might be in that instance. There are a few circumstances that would warrant rehoming a pet but it should be a last resort. Think of it like getting rid of a family member, because that's what you're doing. It makes me so sick to see so many people trying to rehome pets on listservs, on this forum, on craigslist. These animals were good enough for you for years, but you just ditch them when your life circumstances change. UGH. Guess what: you're an asshole and you SHOULD NOT HAVE ADOPTED THOSE PETS IN THE FIRST PLACE. People probably told you that at the time.

Nope, not at all the same to me. I don't equate pets with people.

They are a part of the family - and they believe they're a part of the family.

They believe...so you talk with them about their feelings of belonging? Umm okay! I've seen pets change homes and be perfectly happy in their new homes. Apparently they didn't get the memo on how they were supposed to feel.

Yeah and often foster kids find a good home where the people don't abuse them too. Doesn't mean their crackhead biological parents who abandoned them were justified.

Once again, pets are not children.

[Anonymous]

You're an ass.

I adopted my cat when I was 22 and before I adopted her, I actually spoke with my doctor about how a cat could potentially affect a pregnancy down the line and got all of my facts before adopting. What did I not know to plan for? A husband that will have cat allergies. I had my cat for 4yrs before ever meeting my husband I had never met anyone with a cat allergy before in my life. I made him put up with his allergy for 2 yrs of dating and 3yrs of marriage until his allergies just became too much for him.

Now we are trying to find a good, reliable, happy home for our cat. My husband is being very strict on the criteria (she's an amazing cat) and refused posting on listservs and only finding an owner that we know and trust.

You can't plan for everything. Get off your high horse and get a life, OP!

[Anonymous]

I agree with the sentiment that a pet is a family member, and while there are certainly situations where re-homing is a necessary evil, it should always be a last resort. We adopted our kitty 14 years ago - learned a few months in that I'm allergic to cats (I'd only had dogs growing up). I have been taking various allergy medications since, including through two pregnancies (and now two healthy kids who do not appear to be allergic to either the cat or the dog). Re-homing was not an option for me, despite my allergies. That said, we won't get another cat (unfortunately, because I love animals). I could be wrong, but I think this is what OP was trying to say.