Discussions

I agree with you 100%. It is great to have a pet but you need to consider the time, love and attention that animal needs from you and your family.

It is really sad to see all of the ads on ebrandon with people looking to sell their dog because they don't have time, gone back to school, had a baby, moving to an apartment and so on. I find it so incredibly selfish and unfair to these animals. These life inconveniences should have been forseeable when you decided to take on your pet.

A person should be prepared to change their lifestyle to work the pet's needs into their lifestyle. When we plan vacations we plan so the dogs can go with us 90% of the time. Not very often will we leave the pets behind.  

Pets are a lot of work, and people should take all of that in to consideration before committing to one.  
 
However, I do feel badly for people who do end up having to give up a pet for one reason or another, and then have people bash them publicly like this.  
What if you'd had a pet for a few years, then had kids, and the kids were allergic. Can't help that.  
We know someone who was moving and could not find any place in her new city that would allow dogs. Lucky for her, her mom took the dog in for a couple of years until she was able to afford to buy her own place, and now she has the dog back in her care. Not everyone is that lucky though.  
 
I do not think it is ever right to give up a pet just because they don't suit your lifestyle anymore, but there are legitimate reasons that people do give up a pet though.  
 
 

I feel is the few times that it is ok to have to replace the pets.  
It's people who have pets that ignore, neglect them, claim they work too much and don't have time for them......so I wonder why they get them and continue to get horses, dogs, cats.......

yes sometimes there are legitimate reasons for having to find a new home for a dog but very rarely. I was at the SPCA once and saw somebody dropping off a large breed dog because they didn't realize it would get so big. The woman receiving the dog was dumbfounded but kept her cool. All she said was well ya it's a (can't remember what it was now)  
People need to research an animal before getting a specific breed. It doesn't guarantee behaviour but it will give you a good idea of what to look for.

Should get a dog if they do not want to be an Alpha. Dogs are pack creatures, who need structure and discipline in addition to affection. If you treat that thing like a companion, a toy, or a replacement to children, they will become the alpha themselves - they will act out, pee on everything you own to claim it, jump up on you (which is a domination act, it is not cute) etc.  
 
People just do not understand - and with all the internet offerings these days, there is no excuse not to do research before getting one.  
 
Our block has had a problem all summer with one dog in particular - it barks non stop. It is outside all day (and some nights) It is bored, it is untrained, and never do you see any of the (at last count eight) people who live in that house pay it any attention. The kids don't play with it or walk it. We have asked the owners to stop it from barking, the neighbors have asked, then we all began calling bylaw when they refused.  
 
We have had many chats with by law about this issue, and they admit there is an issue in the city with certain groups of people who get these dogs as they are viewed as a "status symbol".  
 
I just have to shake my head. If a person does not have time for a ten to fifteen year period, they should get a fish. At least those are easy to flush.

THANK YOU for posting this. It's absolutely heart-breaking to me to see the puppy mills so busy because people want a dog, but haven't considered the commitment they are making. Dogs are not like cats. They need a LOT of attention. They need space. They take a lot of money to feed and groom and keep healthy. Large dogs in the city need to be taken somewhere daily where they can run. Even small dogs need to be let off their leash.  
 
I want a dog. I am a dog person and I desperately want a dog. However, it would be so selfish of me to get a dog as busy as my husband and I are and until I have a lifestyle that is suited for a dog, I refuse to consider getting one. It just breaks my heart that so many people go buy some puppy milled animal and a year later it's on an advertisement, or abandoned many times not trained and unhappy. If you want something cuddly buy a teddy bear.

Mela said "THANK YOU for posting this. It's absolutely heart-breaking to me to see the puppy mills so busy because people want a dog, but haven't considered the commitment they are making. Dogs are not like cats. They need a LOT of attention. They need space. They take a lot of money to feed and groom and keep healthy. Large dogs in the city need to be taken somewhere daily where they can run. Even small dogs need to be let off their leash.     I want a dog. I am a dog person and I desperately want a dog. However, it would be so selfish of me to get a dog as busy as my husband and I are and until I have a lifestyle that is suited for a dog, I refuse to consider getting one. It just breaks my heart that so many people go buy some puppy milled animal and a year later it's on an advertisement, or abandoned many times not trained and unhappy. If you want something cuddly buy a teddy bear. "

I know how much it sucks. When we were first married we rented and were not allowed a dog so (shocker) we didn't get one.  
 
We waited until my second child was a toddler and could be taught how to behave with a dog to get our puppy.