OT: Rant - Pets

[Draggar]

Why do people get pets if they're mainly just going to ignore it?

My wife does dog training on the side, she went to a "home" (and I use the term loosely), they had a German shep. puppy, usualy pretty trainable. The puppy spent ALL of it's time in the garage (granted, we're in s. Florida, so it never gets soo cold).

My wife mentioned that one very important factor in training dogs is the bod it devolops with it's human masters, and that only devolops with long term exposure. The guy didn't want it in the house "because it is dirty". Well then either get it cleaned, either by yourself or a professional, or you shouldn't have gotten a dog. So, why the H-E-Double hockey stick did you get the dog if it's just going to be in the garage all the time?

hese are pets who depend and rely on us for companionship, food, and shelter. Take away any ONE of those, and it's not an ideal (heck, even good) hoe for the pet.

Now, I can see not letting a dog on the bed while you sleep, we have to kick our collie off the bed because he gets too excited, but the malinois are very good, they lay between us, or curl up at the foot of the bed to sleep.

You don't want hair all over your furniture (jeez, it's a cat or a dog, they have FUR, they SHED!) get a cover for the couch, even if it's just a cheap bedsheet from Target (best investment we made!). (It doesn't look as bad, we now have a dark green over with matching pillow cases: http://bellsouthpwp.net/d/r/draggar/maiyaseabass.jpg ). (Our rescue cat, Sebastian a.k.a. "Seabass" and Ch. Tribal's Blackfoot War Bonnet a.k.a. Maiya)

Saddest story, my wife and I get our mals from a very good breeder (www.trisorts.com), this year at Westminster, one of their dogs, Tri-Sorts Hot Ticket, won group and was shown in the best in show . Souza (in the pics section or the gallery of champions) is on the Westminster site ad what a Malinois should look like (he's also a spaz at first, but a real sweetheart).

They keep in touch with all their ownders, my wife loves emailing them with the latest tidbit of what our puppy or the rescue has done. She taught him to sit, she was on the computer emailing them, she taught him a retrieve, she was emailing them, he won his class and earned a point or two, she's on the phone with them on the way home. They love it that she calls and emails them so often.

They had one ownder that they actualy sued to get their dog back (after several attempts to even refund his monet, no luck). Why? He was doing nothing. Absolutely nothing. He had the dog tied up in the back all the time. He fed it, that's about it. Luckily, they got it back and re-homed the dog with a loving family.

I know, a lot of people say, "Well, it's just an animal", well, yes, but it's an animal that it's entire world will revolve around us. Treat it with respect, love, and give it affection. If you're not going to be able to treat it like you would your own children, then don't bother getting one. Expect that it will beg for food, shed, possibly have an accident in the house, etc.. that's all part of having the pet.

Your pet needs to be happy, like these two:



(They're playing tug, Orion's Spitfire MacLeod to the left, Tri-Sorts Zorro Del'Mango to the right)

[Tinile]

I totally agree. My across the street neighbors, whom I hate, do this. A year or two ago they brought a big dog home. They leave the dog tied up sitting on the porch most of the time. I don't think he ever goes inside. I don't see the 5 kids in the house ever play with him. He gets off his rope all the time and I find him in my backyard. I really hate this and wonder why they heck they bothered getting a dog. They also have bunnies in cages on their front lawn which they also never play with. I know pets are not for everyone, but you do make a committment to care for them when you agree to take them home with you. I have 3 cats. I would love more, but that would be too much for my household. I promised them all when I took them in to my house 12 and 13 years ago, that I would keep them safe, feed them, love them and be their surrogate mommy. People will always come first before pets and animals, but you do need to treat them as family.

[ancarett]

Agreed: if you're not willing to bring your dogs into your life, why do you get them at all?

My husband adores dogs and we have two, even though he is allergic. That means they are kept out of the bedroom and off of the furniture, but otherwise they have full run of the house when we're home.

We also crate train them so they are safely tucked away in their crates (their own favourite sleeping spots!) at bedtime.

[Melinia]

For about a year I volunteered for a local animal rescue service. The service only took in abandoned animals or animals about to be put down at the various shelters in the area. This service was a 100% volunteer service in which the pets would stay in "haven homes" (foster homes) until they were adopted. We only had room for so many animals at the various homes. there was now "shelter" or pound.
Every saturday & sunday we would set up shop in a local pet store to get the various cats and dogs adopted to good homes. With out fail people would bring thier pets in expecting us to take them on the spot becuase they didnt want to deal with them. regardless how we explain the service they would try to feed us a "sob story" to get us to take them. I've flat out said to one person: "When you adopt a pet you adopt if for the pets life, not until its no longer cute and cuddly"
It was really interesting on the types of people applying to adopt a pet. one that sticks out in my mind was a girl maybe 17 or 18 who had a baby which was about 6 months old who wanted to adopt a cat. (a cat which was the cutest & sweetest thing). On the application she put down that she had a dog. when i asked if it had a vet she said it was her ex-boyfriends dog and she didnt care for it (like she couldnt even bother). she had her friend with her also, about the same age, also with a kid. apparently living together.
(this is going to snobbish but... ) I couldnt help thinking.. you couldn't take responsibility enough not to get pregnant out of wedlock, wouldnt take responsibility for a pet in your home, and you want to take one of our cats that has already been thru one abandonment.. ya right. needless to say she didnt get the cat.

(I'm an owner of 2 wonderful kitty's -Xena 7yrs -Zion 14yrs wouldnt trade them for anything)

[Chenier]

Draggar, your babies are SOOO CUTE! I wanna curl up on the sofa with them!

My heart breaks everytime I go into Pet's Mart when the local "foster home" pet folks are there...I want to take all the older dogs and cats home so they have someone who loves them. /sigh...makes me misty eyed thinking about it.

But yeah, ignoring your pet is just evil.

[Maddoc-the-Wayfarer]

I just have to ask...

Which one won the Tug-o-War?

[Cantatus]

I agree. My neighbor has a dog that's about 15 years old and in bad health. It was the husband's dog in college, but the wife doesn't want it in the house, so it just sits in their backyard - all the time. It's been out there in the freezing rain and the blistering heat. It was no surprise when it got very sick and could barely walk anymore. Sadly, they wouldn't even have it put to sleep when it got to the point where it was dying.

It's not just dogs though. I don't understand why people get cats and then let them roam the neighborhood. To begin with, it's scary enough to have to dodge cats who decide to cross the street in front of your car. It's also annoying to have these cats digging up your yard or antagonizing the cats in your house. Secondly, with all of the cats I see dead on the sides of the road, I don't understand how anyone could ever get to the point where they could open the door and let their cat outside without worrying it was going to get hit by a car, attacked by a dog, or harrassed by some kid.

[Draggar]

I just have to ask...

Which one won the Tug-o-War?

The collie usualy lets the puppy win mainly because then he goes to my wife who showers him with attention while the puppy is taunting everyone with the toy.

People think we're overrun with pets (3 cats, 3 dogs, 2 ferrets, and an annoying parrot). We're really not, they can take care of themselves, yet when they want attention, they come to us. We feed them daily (well, when the food runs out for the ferrets and parrot). We can't allow the cats in the bedroom at night anymore because Maiya has a strong herding instint and prey drive, and she's taught the puppy that (they don't do anything with the cat, they catch the cat, and the game is over, unless the cat doesn't want to play, then he or she scratches the dog and they chase the dog).

And don't think the dogs get a free ride! They all have jobs to do! The collie is actualy a service dog for my wife (prosthetic hips) and she has a harness for him that allows her to use him as a mobile crutch. He's also incredible with children. He's also a very loud alarm dog (which when he starts to bark, the puppy joins in). The puppy is being protection trained (he's not agressive, but he is protective), and my wife is training him for Schutzhund (www.dvgamerica.com).

the other Mal, Maiya, I may start working her with agility and / or herding.

They're all basic obedience trained (sit, stay etc..).

As for the cats, ferrets, parrot and fish (forgot about that one), they do get a free ride.


BTW - the person my wife is training for, his puppy was the result of an 'acciental' breeding, both parents are chamnpions, but the puppies couldn't be sold as show dogs since the mother's hips wern't certified (yet). The owner bought the dog for his daughter, whom he sees only every other week, and my wife estimates he paid $2500 for the puppy. The sad part is that he's really sweet, intelligent, and good looking. So he got a dog that is a pet once every two weeks?

[Draggar]

I agree. My neighbor has a dog that's about 15 years old and in bad health. It was the husband's dog in college, but the wife doesn't want it in the house, so it just sits in their backyard - all the time. It's been out there in the freezing rain and the blistering heat. It was no surprise when it got very sick and could barely walk anymore. Sadly, they wouldn't even have it put to sleep when it got to the point where it was dying.

We would be on the phone with animal control so quickly if we saw that.

It's not just dogs though. I don't understand why people get cats and then let them roam the neighborhood. To begin with, it's scary enough to have to dodge cats who decide to cross the street in front of your car. It's also annoying to have these cats digging up your yard or antagonizing the cats in your house. Secondly, with all of the cats I see dead on the sides of the road, I don't understand how anyone could ever get to the point where they could open the door and let their cat outside without worrying it was going to get hit by a car, attacked by a dog, or harrassed by some kid.

We're in s. Florida, the stray capital of the world, we never got an offical number from the main shelter in Miami, but we estimate it to be in the thousands of animals that are euthanised weekly.

If you're not going ot take care of it, don't get it.

[Cantatus]

We would be on the phone with animal control so quickly if we saw that.

*sigh* Yeah... I know the guy and his wife really care for the dog though. When he got sick, they did let him in the house and the wife stopped home every day during lunch to give him his medication. They just need to pay more attention to the weather and at least put the dog in their laundry room or something when it gets bad. It's not as bad as I make it sound. The dog has a covered porch he can go under to get out of the rain. It's just sort of frustrating to see, but if I thought the dog was in any danger or that they didn't really want the dog, I would call animal control. I have before on other people.

[Froni Thunderpaws]

I grew up with an outdoor pup but he wasn't being neglected. We brought him in a few times a day to eat and play a bit indoors and cool off if it was too hot outside, but there were two problems keeping him in all the time. Mom was allergic and he was huge and energetic. He was a German Shepherd but grew really fast a pup and was 135 pounds at 2 years old. If I had my way he would have stayed inside but looking back over twenty years I think he liked it better outside. He had two customized well-insulated dog houses (probably built better than our main house) in a big dog run. He liked playing outside and going on runs with me in the field whenever he could (and was less than a big help when I would build dams in the stream in the woods). He loved the snow as well and would stand on one of the dog houses and eat snowflakes. (Going berry picking with him was a riot in hindsight, he would sniff out the best berries and nip them off leaving the core still attached to the plant!! He also liked eating fruit from the neighbors trees - apples, peaches, and plums. They loved him too.)

I am not trying to defend anyone who neglects their dog either indoors or outside, but he was not lacking from attention, play, or comfort as an outdoor dog. He was as spoiled as my three indoor only cats are now.

[Verdandi]

Oooooh now I need a puppy fix! Some of the most worthwhile time I spent in college was volunteering for the local Humane Society. It was just once a month or so, but the time spent giving hugs and getting kisses made all the worries of papers and exams and deadlines melt away. It's hard to obsess over grades when you're holding a critter doesn't even have a home or a family, but is thrilled to pieces for even just a few minutes of your time. Alas, my allergies keep me from adopting some of my own. As it was, in college I had to take meds in advance, have tissues ready in the car for the ride home, and hop immediately into the shower upon my return. But it was better than any therapy could have been.

But the things some of those animals went through before they made it to the shelter.......

[Kyahra]

I know, a lot of people say, "Well, it's just an animal"

That kind of attitude is so infuriating. Yes, they're animals. Guess what? So are we. My cat is not 'just' a cat, she's a *cat*, with a personality and needs that may be simpler than mine in many ways, but are no less valid or important.

/grumble

/rant off

[Draggar]

That kind of attitude is so infuriating. Yes, they're animals. Guess what? So are we.

Most humans don't think that because we build nuclear weapons and fly to space.

[Melinia]

inside/outside cats

Regarding cats being left out. My cats would be what people would consider "Barn Cats". They live to be outside, hunting, playing, and just being a cat. Sadly, In the community where I live I would be evicted if I let my kitties out (yet the board members cats have free roam ). Letting ones cats outside would be based on the area. If you are out in the country with little traffic, few neighbors- then let them be cats. If you live in an area with high traffic, many-many neighbors then keep them inside for both the cats safety and your sanity.
True story:
When I lived with my parents the cats were not to stay inside permanently. a few hrs was ok but not day in day out. They slept in the garage. Yes they would make thier way to the neighbors but they didnt mind because my kitties would clear out the moles and mice. When I moved out with my cat(Zion) (had 2 but one passed away(radar)), the mice, moles, and chipmunks moved in. It got so bad that one day my parents were talking in the garage when a chipmunk wandered in, stood on its hind legs, then started chattering at them. The next day my mom was on the phone asking for my cat back.