some people shouldnt be dog owners

[Beekissed]

Now, you were able to question my level of compassion to the degree that you implied that I want to put down old folks and abused children and I wasn't supposed to be offended by that, but you take offense to my "if" in a line about human suffering? Selective and quite the double standard, I might say.

If you'll notice anything beyond your ranting, you might see that I already suggested to the OP that she just adopt Petey. But...if she cannot adopt and she is worried about his misery, taking him to a shelter and to his eventual demise might be the ticket. At least he wouldn't be suffering.

As for getting offended...I've found that people get that way very easily on this forum and it shouldn't be noticed due to its frequency and lack of real reason for the offense. I've found that a person can get offended by just about anything..it's all relative.

 

[Kaelinstorm]

Quote:
Ok ouch... yes I saw that "through my ranting" but it seemed almost like you were saying if Silkie couldnt adopt him then next best option is to put the dog down. Perhaps I misinterpret, but you flipped the script rather quickly. My point is there is often another option. I am merely wishing to remain hopeful that Petie gets out of his current situation into a better one... My best dog (though I wouldnt tell the other two LOL) was a free dog I got from a rescue. She was bred twice and God knows what else before the age of 18 months! She had bad nightmares for almost 2 years everytime she went to sleep... I wouldnt trade her for anything. The rescue I got her from was about to close because they couldnt afford to rescue dogs anymore, I can only assume what would have happened to her had I not brought her home. Im only wanting poor Petie to have that same chance with the option of a shelter as a last resort. Thats all...

Im sorry I just get really frustrated with people owning animals and not taking responsibility. I feel bad Silkie even has to be put in this situation because the owner is an idiot.

 

[Beekissed]

No worries!

I get frustrated by it too....someone dropped off a skinny, frightened dog near my home the other day and no one can even lay a hand on her. With so many places that will take a dog if you cannot fend for it, why would anyone just drop one off? The same week I picked up another very sweet old dog that someone had dropped off along the road. Both dogs were standing in the middle of the road just looking into cars...you know the look. Sad, sad, sad.

I get mad about it too....all three of the dogs I've owned in my lifetime and nurtured unto their own deaths were throw away dogs also. They are the best dogs, in my opinion, and I can't imagine how anyone could throw away those beautiful, gentle, loyal, intelligent animals. What were they waiting upon? Super dog??

But, their junk was my treasure and I'm thankful to God that He allowed me to find them. When I think about any animal out there suffering and alone, I alway hope someone takes compassion on them and gives them a home. If not, at least put them out of their suffering so they can have peace.

 

[Kaelinstorm]

Quote:
Oh man one time when I was in High School (9th grade) my mother had a co-worker who found a BOX of 12 (12!) Black lab mix puppies on the side of the road... all defecating on themselves and Lord knows how long they were in that box... Their tails literally looked like skin laying on bones. The co-worker couldnt keep them (really we couldnt afford them either, but we took all twelve in and those guys got fat and healthy in no time. But we where we were living the fence wasnt completed so we had to keep them in a round pin and move it throughout the day and clean up poo constantly and there was of course only one corner of the yard with any form of shade. But they grew and were happy and bouncy. And we managed to rehome 3 of them... until some idiot decided to call animal control on us because they said they had no water (we constantly filled the bowl they kept knocking it over) and they were being mistreated... Animal control came out three times and threatened to make us pay a $10 fine per dog... we told them how we came by these guys explained that HELLO we even cut our own budget to ramen noodles and mac and cheese kinda meals just so these guys could eat, get flea baths and live! The third time they came out they said they had no choice but to take them but finally agreed they wouldnt charge the fine for them. I still hope they all got adopted but it angers me that when we were actually doing the right thing and still we (not the owners who dropped them off in a box) were the ones who almost got in trouble for them! Sheez... At least we know those 3 got good homes

 

[loveacatahoula]

The problem with so many human is the fact that they consider animals "disposable" or just "property". I am sure most of us on this forum are not like that, but so many people are. Just recently, we had a very pretty black cat hanging out at my jobsite (an automotive dealership). We fed her and would let her come inside when the boss wasn't looking, finally a coworker took her home (I would of, but I value my life...my DH would of KILLED me!) She was sweet and playful. I upsets me that when people get puppies or kittens, they love them for a month or two then realize that they cost money. On average, when we rescue an animal it costs us about $300 dollars...sometimes more. It is normally $200 at the vet including all shots, heartworm prevention, flea treatments, and spay or neuter. Then another $100 for flea dips, collars, leashes, bed or crate, and of course toys. Yes, we have alot of animals. What made me insanely made one day is that someone had the nerve to say that they would see me featured on animal hoarders. I can say I about lost it. I am able to take care of what we have and no that I am at my limit for dogs and cats. I can't take care of any more. Yes, I have been known to sell stuff to be able to take a dog to the vet. Yes, I have had to figure out ways to make $50 bucks last a week for groceries since I spent the rest of food money on a vet bill. Yes, I have been known to bargon with the vet about prices, but all our pets are healthy and happy and loved. Hell, we have redone the house to make it more convient for the animals! It upsets me to no end that people won't even take responsiblity for one little dog and instead let him wander the streets to get hit by a car, killed by some other preditor, shot or just absused in general. Sorry guys had to get that rant off my chest. I wish I could just go scoop petie up right now!

 

[Pele]

Beekissed, I am shocked and amazed, but I completely agree with you (please don't faint).

I am a firm believer that just being alive isn't inherantly a gift. Having a GOOD life is the gift. A dog stuck in a lonely cage, or dying of starvation and neglect isn't being done any favors. If after a month or so they have not been adopted out, you're just going to end up with a dog who develops psycological problems from being isolated from a pack structure, which they are designed for.

My family ended up with a dog just like that, who stayed in the shelter too long. She chewed on EVERYTHING because she was seperated from her brother (whom she was deeply attached to), left in the kennel too long, and developed the doggie version of OCD. We tried and tried with her, but she was just mentally broken

. She eventually ate something (we don't know what) that ended up killing her. I hate to say it, but it's made my whole family leery of shelter dogs.

((edit to clarify: Not being sarcastic with you in the first line. We're on the opposite sides of issues so often that I've started to be amused about it.

))

 

[sparkles2307]

Animals are posessions. As an owner it your ethical responsibility to take good care of that which belongs to you. But animals are still animals. If you have to choose between feeding your kid and feeding the dog its a pretty clear cut choice. That doesnt mean you can just dump the dog, that falls into the responsibility dept again. My chickens are my posessions, I take care of them in a responsible and ethical manner, but they arent pampered or cossetted, and sometimes a fox gets one. When that happens we take measure to prevent it recurring, but we don't like, move the chickens into the house with us. There is a circle of life and it applies to all creatures no matter what their slot on the food chain.

 

[loveacatahoula]

I guess I should of worded that differently, yes, animals are property and possessions, but they also have feelings. I would rather see petie be put to sleep and go across the rainbow bridge then have to suffer from being hit by a car, straved, beaten or killed by some predator. It just sickens me that the people who own him won't take responsibility for him! And Pele, the same thing happened with our family with a shelter dog. She had been in the shelter for so long she had a horrible case of seperation anxiety and would often pace for hours on end in the house. I get leary of shelter dogs. Most shelters do not do temperment testing, nor do they have any history on the dog. Just recently, my husband and I were at petsmart with one of our kids and while we were walking by some shelter dogs that a local shelter was trying to adopt, a husky lunged at my daughter. The lady from the shelter had the nerve to say that she had never seen him act aggressive before. Meanwhile, I was thinking "yeah, because he has been cooped up in a dark, damp cage for the last week, so you have no idea how he acts"

 

[Beekissed]

Stewardship is the key. Yes, animals are our possessions....if you don't believe so, have someone hit your cow that got out and is standing in the road. Your homeowners insurance will tell you that, yes, that animal was in your possession and is your responsibility.

Property...same thing.

But having stewardship over all your animals is the thing that people have lost in one way or another. Misplaced compassion that keeps them trying to "give an animal a chance" when it is beyond their help instead of giving it the peace of a quick death is one example.

Another is the thought that any life, even one that has been dumped along the road, is better than taking it to a shelter that will put it down. These people who dump animals are either lazy or of the kind that thinks some kind person will pick up Fluffy and they will live happily ever after and isn't that a better chance than being put down at a shelter???

Animals in my possession are my responsibility from the day they step foot on my property. I can either choose to nurture that life, give it to a good and responsible home, or kill it so it won't be anyone else's problem and it won't be moved from home to home and eventually land in the shelter once again.

Taking a good dog to a no-kill shelter is a good chance. Taking a dog that has serious problems, kills livestock, is a breed no one wants to a no-kill shelter is irresponsible and heartless, IMO. If you know it has very little chance of ever having a normal life, kill it quick and now. Giving it a chance is sometimes just passing the buck and the dog lives on in misery, awaiting a home that never happens. The shelters are overcrowded, underfunded and desparately understaffed....why add your responsibility to that mess? Do the kind thing and kill the dog, I say.

 

[silkielover5]

Quote:
if i brought him to local shelter he would be put down with in days thats why we havent. they are the largest kill shelter in US