We are in the market for a new pet again. My pup needs a friend to play with. My son wants a cat. So we head to the local humane society to look at kitties. One we are interested in is 8 years old and cute as can be. Very people-oriented. Loved on all of us when we held her.
She was surrendered by her owner who had owned her since she was a kitten for one reason only: she meows too much. According to him, she meows so much he can’t sleep and the neighbors were putting notes on his door due to the noise. I was disgusted. A member of the family FOR EIGHT YEARS given up because it was an inconvenience to the owner.
One dog we saw on craigslist that was up for “rehoming” (which is such bull. Rehoming should be “don’t want anymore”) because it wouldn’t walk on a leash without pulling and lunging for other dogs and the owner wanted a “nice” dog he could take to the dog park and not have to worry about. They had owned this dog for two years. Beautiful, full-blooded mastiff. I was sickened as well. And they want money! They want to be rewarded for their ineptitude!
Pets are just like people–they come with individual personalities and problems. One of our cats we got from the humane society likes people food and roams the counters all the time. She is also our lap cat. Our other cat does not like to be picked up but loves to sit in the bathroom with you and sleep next to you at night. He lays in windows and purrs constantly.
Our puppy, like most puppies, has a chew problem. She chews stuff left out. She chewed our $3000 couch! She also cries every time I leave the house. But are we getting rid of her because of it? Emphatically no! She is a part of our family and I will love her and care for her till the end. So are the older cats we adopted.
We are renters. Our pets go with us. I’m tired of posts on craigslist saying “I moved into an apartment and can’t keep my dog anymore. She needs a yard to roam around in.” Then you shouldn’t have gotten a dog in the first place! Our dogs go with us (and, yes, even to apartments we have rented) no matter what. I would never give them up. Despite the sometimes outrageous pet deposits and the limited places to rent with pets. Yes, I have had landlords hang up on me once they found out we owned mastiffs. I don’t want to rent from them anyways!
The United States does not have a pet population problem–it has an owner problem. Irresponsible owners who want pets only when it is convenient for them but give them up as soon as it becomes “inconvenient”. As soon as a needy cat decides to meow because it’s left alone all day. As soon as a dog is not a “trophy” dog and pulls too much. As soon as the idea of work is involved and dog training is something “I don’t have time for”, the dog is gone and probably forgotten.
I am also tired of people thinking the rules don’t apply to them. At soccer yesterday, no dogs are allowed at the soccer complex. Yet here’s a lady, walking her boxer right by the sign that says “no dogs allowed”. The scary thing is she has her 4 year old daughter with her. What is she teaching her? She’s just lucky we were too far away and I wasn’t dressed officially or I would have had to say something.
Pets and dogs especially aren’t “show animals” that get you attention or make you feel better about yourself…
I’m just so saddened really. And these are just two stories. There are hundreds and probably thousands more. My heart bleeds. I want to rescue all of them and upbraid their owners but I can’t. And the upbraiding I’m sure wouldn’t do any good.
Sigh…
Not for sure why I am sharing. Venting really (and thanks for listening!) as I have no solution. I wish I did…
I pray for these people that they’d have a change of heart. I also pray they don’t get any more pets until they do. I pray some day I’ll sell a book and can donate more money to unwanted pet organizations who rescue these animals and find them a forever home where they will be loved and cherished, idiosyncrasies and all.
For now, I do my part. Trying to convince my husband we should adopt another cat (which would make three). And get another dog (that would be three as well). My husband is against the idea because we are renters and it’s not our home.
And I post my thoughts and my heart-ache to you all. Which helps me. And maybe encourages you to help where you can (either adopting or donating). For collectively we can make a difference much more than individually…
For God gave Adam domain over all animals (Genesis 1:26). And we need to honor that responsibility and care for God’s creatures.
Every living creature is precious in God’s eyes. So should they be in ours as well.