Every three months, the 15th day is designated Blog the change 4 animals. A day when bloggers united by their love and passion for animals use their voices to try to make a change.
For me what is near and dear to my heart is the six to eight million dogs and cats that get dumped into shelters every year. More importantly I ask myself why? Why does someone adopt a pet, then unceremoniously dump them; a week, a month or a year later?
Those sweet little bundles of fur grow up, kittens become cats and puppies become dogs and raising an animal takes time and money. All of a sudden a couple months later, what was once a sweet, cuddly bundle of fur is making demands on you.
I don’t have all the answers, but here are a few reasons I can think of.
CATS:
Cats smell. One of the main reasons I didn’t want another cat after I lost my Smokey was the litter box. I hate cleaning the litter box. I forget there’s a litter box until I smell it. GROSS. Sometimes cats don’t use the litter box. Un-neutered males will sometimes spray. If the litter box is full sometimes cats will void somewhere else. In my mind there is nothing stronger than the smell of cat urine. I can smell it as so on as I walk into a house.
Cats scratch. Kittens have claws for defense; that is how they protect themselves. In order to keep their only form of defense in tip top shape, they scratch. Furniture, wood, rugs. My current cat is tearing up my rugs.
Cats climb on things. Yes, the current cat loves to jump on the counters as well as the dining room table. I don’t want a cat on either one of them.
DOGS:
Time. Dogs require training and training takes time! When you meet someone with a beautiful dog that sits and waits for petting you are looking at a dog that has a LOT of time invested. Well trained dogs do not come that way! They must be trained. Just like you ‘train’ your child.
Exercise. I don’t care what anyone tells you; dogs require exercise. Depending on the dog it may be minimal exercise but you still need to exercise the dog. You have a job, a family and friends; your new dog has YOU.
Expense. Dogs are expensive. The cost of food, vet bills, training classes; they all add up to a tidy amount each year. We spend about $2,500 per year on our dogs including food, medications and vet bills; and that is not including training or doggie daycare.
Having just written and re-read this it would seem like I am trying to discourage people from having animals and that is NOT the case at all. What I’m advocating for is for people to educate themselves BEFORE they make a committment to bring a furry bundle of love into their home.
BREEDERS:
A responsible breeder should make sure people are aware of the costs and time associated with a new dog/cat.
A responsible breeder should do a home check or at the very least should check in with you every couple of months to ensure all is well.
A responsible breeder WILL take your pet back for any reason at any time. You may not get your money back, but the goal is to make sure that pet is well taken care of.
Shelters/Rescues/Pounds:
Should educate potential adopters of the time and expense that goes into raising an animal.
Should partner with a local training center/trainer and negotiate a discounted training rate for adopted dogs.
WILL make it right. When we adopted Delilah we were told she was spayed; no-one was more surprised than us when she went into heat. I contacted the rescue and they paid for all the fees associated with her spaying.
WILL take the animal back if for any reason you cannot keep him/her. The American Lab Rescue where we adopted Delilah from REQUIRES we return her to them if for any reason we can no longer keep her; it is written in our signed contract.
For me the goal will be to educated ourselves and others who may be interested in adopting/owning a pet to know the investment required to have that dog sitting nicely; waiting for petting.
Blog the Change. Be the Change!
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I really think it’s important that people THINK about the repercussions of getting an animal. They require anywhere from 10-20 years of commitment and I don’t know about you but if i’m going to be with something for 10-20 years, i’m gonna REALLY think about it… LOL!
It’s really good to remind people that shelters, rescues, and good breeders will always take back a dog/cat into rescue if necessary. I don’t know if people are embarrassed or what, but it seems like many people don’t want to admit their mistake or problem by asking for help from the rescue/breeer/shelter if they need it. I’ve seen more than one case of a dog being dumped, a microchip being found that was attached to a breeder or rescue and them stepping in to get their dog back…
You are absolutely right! It is a committment and many people don’t realize that. They think oh we had a family dog growing up and it was fine. The reality is they probably didn’t realize the work their parents put into the dog. LOL
I think the key here is reputable breeders….breeders from a puppy mill don’t care and more than likely would take the dog back but shoot it. Pardon my bluntness.
Education is the key. Let’s get the word out!
Thanks for stopping by.
Great post! I think we need to talk more about the realities of pet ownership. But here are some other reasons:
the owner died and had not made arrangements for the care of pets.
The economy hit and there simply was no other alternative
The owner now requires nursing home care and there is no one to care for the pet.
I know alot of animals are the victims of poor judgement on the part of humans. Others were victims of life.
You are so right. I hadn’t thought of those reasons but they are valid. I think you could easily find a rescue that could regime for those reasons. My next dog will be a senior for exactly those reasons! 🙂
Very good reminders of the responsibilities of caring for a pet.
I’ve been thinking how helpful it would be to create a network of pet lovers who could support new pet adopters and offer advice. Kinda like “dogparents” if you will.
In Blogville, we get a lot of this support. But it would be great to carry it into the real world.
Pamela,
I sent you an e-mail.
Education is key, knowledge is power…you are so right to emphasize the realities of pet ownership – before one is adopted and taken home. If responsible breeders, shelters, rescues were to, say, present your information to potential adopters/purchasers – wonder if it would help?
Thank you for blogging the change for animals!
Kim Thomas
BtC4animal.com
CindyLusMuse.blogspot.com
Kim you are right and the key word is RESPONSIBLE, a responsible breeder (one who is not in it for the money) should be willing to do this. I think most rescues and pounds would as well.
I’m not sure it would help because I sometimes think people are impetuous and fluff advice off, but if it could help that would be wonderful!
I think expense and dogs is my biggest issue when it comes to people getting a dog. People have no idea how expensive it is.
Cats….im not a cat gal at all, I dont know much about them at all.
Thanks for participating in the event.
Kari they are expensive and so worth it, if only more people ‘got it.’
Thank you for reading.
Nice post Jodi. So many people jump in to getting a kitten or puppy and don’t think long term!
I have in my contract and my puppy packet information and instructions and I say over and over throughout please do not hesitate to contact me for any reason even to brag. I state very specifically in my contract that the buyer can not give the dog away and I have first rights back to the dog if they can no longer keep it. In fact all my puppies will be micro chipped before going to their new homes, just in case. Most every breeder I know has very similar guidelines for their puppy people.
The day we can put a stop to the puppy mills and the pet stores that support them will be a great day for reputable breeders and the unfortunate dogs and cats they continue to produce with no regard to their welfare. Okay I will get off my soap box now!
Your post as well as the others I have read for this great cause are absolutely wonderful!! Thank you 🙂
Thank you Misty, breeders like you are RESPONSIBLE breeders; which is what we need more of. You are not turning puppies out hand over fist and you are willing to take the dog back for any reason. I applaud you.
Thank you for reading and you are welcome to bring your soapbox over here anytime. 😉
Great post and an excellent reminder of the responsibilities of bringing a cat or dog into your family.
So many people are impetuous and don’t think about the dog. We need to educate more.
Thank you for the comment.
Hey Jodi. Great article. I hope your article is read by lots and lots of people. The hardest part of my job is dealing with owner-pet mismatch or owners not understanding the costs involved with owning a pet. Currently there are so many behavioural problems developing in pets due to lack of education, high expectation from pets, low delivery from owners and so forth. I simply can’t understand why we have not established means to make it very difficult for people to just pick up a new pet. There needs to be better education on the part of the pet shop staff, shelters and so forth.
With cats, they are one of the most fastidiously clean pets and so if you aren’t on par with cleaning their litter boxes very regularly, you will be asking for trouble. That includes rinsing their cat litter boxes with disinfectant and regularly using fresh litter and so forth. Both desexed and entire male & female cats can spray urine and usually it is indicating they are stressed. Stressed from the environment or lack of suitable clean facilites for them to do their business. I totally agree, cat urine/stools does smell but it isn’t so bad when you regularly clean it to prevent the buildup.
As for dogs, I am shocked by how many owners I have met that rarely take their dogs for walks not even once/week or fortnight or EVER. I must confess I would love to take my dogs for a walk everyday but sometimes it is not possible because of work. However, I try to make up for it somehow, whether playing with the ball or so forth. I also realise that I need to do better but I don’t assume my dogs don’t need a walk simply because it does not suit my schedule.
As for the pocket pets (bunnies, guinae pigs, ferrets), I am disturbed when I hear the parents telling me they aren’t sure exactly when the pet got sick because their child first noticed the issues. Many of these pets are looked after by childern without supervision and when these kids loose interest, the poor animals are neglected or given up.
Personally, I feel priveleged to have pets. I love them to bits and can’t imagine my life without them. Although they take up so much of my time and I can feel exhausted after I have attended to all of their needs, I would never give them up. I made a promise to them when I asked them to join my family. I promised to love them and to look after them. In return, they offer me their unconditional love, support, love, forgiveness and entertainment. I would not trade their love or loyalty for anything.
For anyone who has never owned a pet, don’t…unless you do the appropriate research and are prepared to be a responsible loving pet owner.
Thank you Dr. Rayya, I hope a lot of people read this too!
I’m sorry I forgot about the ‘pocket pets’. Parents think it is cute for the kid to have a pet but don’t put the thought into who will care for it. I know of someone who got their kids a cute little wiemerienr for Christmas, put nothing (training or timewise) into the dog. The woman then complained about how much she hated the dog because the dog drooled all the time and she couldn’t walk with the dog because the dog pulled….etc. When they decided to move, they found someone else to take the dog (good for the dog I say!) I really wanted to screech at her, but didn’t. I did try and guide her but some people just won’t listen.
Spending hundreds/thousands now on a Christmas gift for a three-year old is a little ridiculus if you ask me!
Thank you for the comment!
Great post Jodi. LOL cats smell. Never noticed.
I agree that education is key. I also think that rescues need to be up front about any issues a dog or a cat has before they are adopted by their new families. More and more I know of rescue animals that were just not the right fit with their new family, and in a couple of cases were actually dangerous animals. I think placement of these types of pets actually does harm to the cause, (and ultimately these animals end up euthanized or back at rescue). That being said, my kitty is a rescue and just the best. However, I have had no contact whatsoever with that rescue since the day I wrote the check. By contrast, we speak to Thunder and Storm’s breeders probably weekly, or every other week.
BTW, yours is not the first case I have heard of a rescue pet not being what was advertised. The sister-in-law of of one of my co-workers adopted a heart worm positive dog who had been spayed (or so she was told). The dog had under gone treatment and she got the dog at the point in time where the dog has to be kept quiet with no exercise. As time wore on the dog was getting fatter and fatter. She asked about it and was told that it was probably due to no exercise, just cut back food. One day she came home from work and….puppies! Guess that dog was not spayed. The shelter did pay for the care of the pups and the spay, but can you imagine? Luckily she was able to place all the pups (sweet pups). The shelter would have taken the pups if she couldn’t place them, but she did.
Still it wasn’t what she signed on for…lol…
Holy smokes! That would really have ticked me off! I agree rescues need to be upfront regarding any illness the dog has. In some instances I think they may not know, like in Delilah’s instance, she came from Louisiana. The vet check from LA said she was spayed, where they saw a scar is beyond me, because I looked and could not see one. But they made it right and to me that was important.
I also think they need to follow-up and have an adoption coordinator. Someone who follows up with the placement to ensure things are going well and verify there are no issues. After our home interview I never heard from the rescue again, until I contacted them to let them know she was in heat which was three months later. Even though they made it right, I won’t ever rescue from them again.
At least in your co-workers SIL’s instance they made it right. The key to all this is responsibilty, if you are a responsible breeder, a responsible rescue you will do what is best for the animal. Period.
And yes, education is so important; I can’t believe more people don’t educate themselves before making such a commitment!
Thank you for the comment, I always love reading your comments because they always make me think. 😉
I am very lucky to have near me the nonprofit Your Dog’s Friend, which was set up precisely for the reasons you mention. So many dogs end up in shelters because
1. people often adopt the wrong dog for their lifestyles, and need to give it up, or
2. without positive training and socialization, dogs manifest behavioral problems that could have easily been prevented or could still be modified using simple, positive methods.
Their mission is to give free advice to dog owners at every stage of before, during, and after acquiring a dog–so that people choose a breed that is right for them, and learn how to nip problems in the bud. I agree that having a dog–or three–can be overwhelming, but so much less so with a supportive community!
That sounds like a wonderful resource, Kirsten. I am going to google it and see if I have any near me.
I think if I wasn’t so stubborn I would have given Delilah back. I know it sounds awful, but she was really a handful when we first got her. I was so distraught and felt overwhelmed. Luckily for me I had the resources to put her in daycare a couple of times a week which really helped her burn off energy.
I also felt bad for her because it didn’t seem like anyone put anything into her, that was another key reason I didn’t give her back, I didn’t want to be another human that failed her.
She is living proof that perserverance and training pays off.
You are right, having a supportive community really helps! Thank you for your support.