"How Could You?"

[Baggers]

I haven't been very active on the forum lately, but have been very hesitant to explain my absence to anyone here. Doghouse's post prompted me to break my silence.

My wife and I were parents to two very wonderful cats, Momcat, and her "daughter" Buddie Louise. Momcat came to us as a stray 17 years ago when we were still living in an apartment, and before we could get her fixed she fell under the spell of what must have been a very handsome suitor, and before long Buddie was born.

Long story short, they lived with us for many happy years. Having decided that we were both too immature to have children, Momcat and Buddie became our kids. No major decisions were made without weighing how it would effect "the girls." The thought of giving them away merely for convenience sake would have been abhorrent to us. We had made a commitment to care for them and would never think of repaying the years of companionship, smiles and unconditional love they gave us by casting them aside. I know that most people treat pets as disposable because they're "just animals," but we are not that way.

About 18 months ago we had to put Momcat to sleep. The feline leukemia that had been in remission since she had "adopted" us finally flared back up and her kidneys were failing due to old age. And we had to make the same terrible decision for Buddie about two months ago on New Year's Eve, due to what the vets were sure was a carcinoma in her chest. We would have paid anything to save her and her mother, but in both cases there was no possibility of treatment. We could only end their suffering. We had decided long ago that we wouldn't let the vet do it our absence, and both times we were in the room when it happened, looking into their eyes and whispering soothing, loving words into their ears as they slipped away from us. Losing Momcat was terrible enough, but Buddie's death hit us harder than anything we had ever experienced. It was like a delayed one two punch that almost paralyzed us.

The house is empty now. We feel their spirits are very much with us and always will be, but right now that isn't much comfort. We gave them the best lives that we could provide, but damn, they were our best friends and it's just not right that they have such brief ones when compared to humans. I apologize for baring my soul, but the bond between the four of us was (is) very strong and half our family is gone and we are still struggling to cope.

I just can't understand people who think pets are simply objects of convenience.

Night night, girls. We love you.

 

[Viola]

Baggers, I know this is presumptuous of me but:

*HUG!*

-Viola

 

[Benny Holiday]

Baggers, my deepest condolences on the passing of Momcat and Buddie. What can anyone say when you lose a member, let alone two, of your family?
Which is what 'pets' really are.

 

[Baggers]

Baggers, I know this is presumptuous of me but:

*HUG!*

-Viola

Not presumptuous at all. Thank you.

And thank you, Benny, for understanding.

 

[Sly Style]

I hate you for posting that, its far too sad for me!

 

[Amber DeCadence]

I am now sat here heartbroken, before my husband and I separated a while ago he faithfully promised he would find a place he could take his dog and would be here daily to walk him as long as I could keep him here in the house and feed him. This sadly has not been the case, he comes 3 times a week to see the children and merely shouts at the dog for being in the way. I do my best to care for him but he is so big I cannot handle him alone and it is not fair to poor Bo. I have been in touch with his breeder to see if we can find a good home for him..

I'm sorry I am so upset, I shall finish my post later

 

[Fleur De Guerre]

This is such a sad little story, and I'm already sitting here upset because my mum and dad's little cherished and much loved kitty Tia is missing and has been since the night before last. I know it's not that long but she's never been away fro so long before. I'm beside myself thinking that she may be lying somewhere hurt or dead or trapped somewhere hungry and frightened. Please come home little one. :cry:

 

[Marc Chevalier]

This sadly has not been the case, he comes 3 times a week to see the children and merely shouts at the dog for being in the way.

Heck, be grateful that he's still seeing the kids!

.

 

[Amber DeCadence]

Heck, be grateful that he's still seeing the kids!

.

yes I should be grateful for that, its just a shame he cant keep his word I guess

 

[Viviene]

Amber,

What type of dog is he and what problems are you having with him? I have 3 very big dogs and even though I'm used to them they are still a handful. I'm sure if we can help you with that aspect it might make things a little easier.

 

[Amber DeCadence]

Bo is an American Bulldog cross Italian Mastiff, he is 8 months old and I guess I am just a little overwhelmed with how much energy he has and am having a few problems getting him to listen to basic commands. Considering my last dog was a little mongrel about 10 years ago this is a huge difference to what I am used to. He is a darling though, touch wood I have no probles leaving him alone for short periods and he rarely chews anything

 

[K.D. Lightner]

Boy, this is a tear-jerker of a site!

My little chihuahua guy left my life three years ago this week and I miss him every day of my life. He had terrible seizures and, finally, a brain tumor.

I would like, someday in the future, to get another sweet dog. I have decided to go to a shelter and find an older dog, maybe one like the dog that was given up by its family.

That little boy will never forgive his father, let me tell you. Unless, he, too, grows up and become inhumane. Then, someday, he may dump his father in a nursing home.

What comes around goes around.

karol

 

[CanadaDoll]

This made me sob for a good hour! How cruel some people can be!
It reminded me a lot of my little dog, he was my first pet and a rescuee, and when I fisrt saw him he was literally in the farthest corner of the cage shivering, he was so scared.
I lost him this year after nine years of wonderful friendship, and I can definitely say if you want a dog go to a shelter first, you may have to look past certain "flaws" (lord knows I did) to find your new friend, but the time spent helping them trust again, and the money spent fixing their eyes or teeth is well worth it.

 

[K.D. Lightner]

I once adopted a homeless mut a friend of mine found on the streets of Queens, NY. He was less than a year old, was scrawny, dirty, starving, limping (we found out he had a fractured femur, possibly from a car or maybe a human kick); he had to be wormed, given his shots, wear a cast for a month, etc.

He would not go outside without a leash. Even when in a place where he could roam free. The friend and I finally discerned that he wanted that leash around his neck because it meant he belonged to someone. Other dogs could roam around, not him, he wanted to be on his leash.

He was the sweetest dog I have ever known. He lived to be 16 years old.

karol

 

[Viviene]

Amber,

The one thing I've found that really helps our dog, Isha, calm down (because she has an enormous amount of energy) is taking her outside in the fresh air. Once she's been walked it's like she's taken a sleeping pill and it really calms her down. Isha, our great pyrenees, is the youngest of ours at the age of 3, and we have a very long leash and harness we use for her. The long leash allows her to run the length of the yard (we are holding the other end of the leash) and she romps around the yard and runs at full tilt (these dogs were bred as herding dogs and Isha's last home before ours was a goat farm). She can run for great distances and a long period of time. By doing this with her three times a day she is much calmer inside the house. Our other dogs, Sugar (an akita-collie mix) and Donovan (newfoundland-labrador mix) are older and arthritic so aren't quite as lively but they have their moments too. They are walked several times a day as well but they don't run. The air has the same effect on them as well. It's also good for me to get outside because working at home I tend to hole up in my office and sometimes you just need to take a break. They walks refresh me and keep me feeling well.

 

[Laraquan]

I have one bit advice for any one who has a cat or dog that needs a home: always charge. Even if it's a stray, charge $50. If someone isn't willing to pay a few bucks for a pet, he's not going to be a good owner, and the animal will probably end up in a shelter.

I wouldn't pay for a non-pure-blood for two reasons. Firstly, I feel more worry for an animal who the owners are giving away. They seem more desperate and concerned to place it right away (not that this is true, that's just how it seems to me). Secondly, I can't really afford to pay $50 just to get it. After all, there's worming, vaccinations and de-sexing that needs to be done once you get an animal and as a university student from a working class background I can't afford yet another $50 thrown on top! Therefore, if there's a free kitten or puppy and one with a price on its head, I'd take the freebie.

I wouldn't like to return an animal to a shelter but there are certain cases where I might not be able to do otherwise. For example, I'm fond of both cats and dogs, but a friend of mine has a dog who rapes the young cats they have and the sounds of the cat's crying out is truly piteous. I don't believe I could give that dog love and affection and fair treatment.

Otherwise, an animal gotten is a massive responsibility to cherish. If you can't cope - the cat or dog loathes children, for example - then it's your responsibility to find it a new, childless home or try to find some alternate arrangement that makes both happy.

Personally, when I get a place where pets are allowed, I would like to get a kitten and a full-grown cat, the full-grown because there are a lot of wonderful adult animals that can't be kept on because the owners must move (like if their landlord wants to sell the place) and they can't find another place that allows animals, and the kitten because they're just adorable!

As much as I'd like a dog, they're a bigger responsibility that I'm just not ready for yet.

Why do so many people not desex their animals, though? There are far too many kittens and puppies born each year and not enough loving owners to go around. Considering it's a once-only event, it's not really that expensive. Sure, some people just love litters of kittens but for most people they just don't care either way. It's very unfortunate.

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

Well, I'd buy the screening process, except I've been a foster home for several shelters for a number of years (I have had everything from wild animals to mundane pets), and right now I have a foster parakeet that goes to a home tomorrow. It boils down to money: they don't think we make enough income. (hugely edited)

As a former shelter volunteer, I wanted to point out the there is another factor to your adoption problems - it's that there are a million people who want little dogs. The little dogs go the fastest so the shelters are more choosy simply because they can be. If you were to try adopting a senior or a larger dog you might have more luck...but then of course then fence becomes a problem. Incidentally, why NOT install a fence in the back? Then you can get a doggy door too and have happy canines!

 

[Viola]

Well, I ended up paying 250 bucks to get my kitten, Bug, (...she jumps...) fixed because I couldn't wait for an SPCA drive and she wasn't FROM the shelter, she was "free."

Some free cat.

I love her. She's adorable even though she's no longer a baby, and she means the world to my family...but she's still essentially five shelter cats despite her, uh, "free to a good home"-ness.

I found her at the subway terminal, eight weeks old and about to get run over. I dropped on her. She didn't like me very much in that moment, and we later learned she was of a line of cats that have been living feral in the trains' junkyard for about twenty generations or so, but she was young enough she forgot that "eww, humans are gross!" somewhere during the ten minute drive home, and she's been nothing but love since.

-Viola

 

[BegintheBeguine]

I love animals

But considering how many people dump their spouse to pursue someone they like better and start a new family, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that they'd dump the dog, too.

Why, I didn't know you knew my husband, Paisley. Just today he instant messaged me that the only things I care about are pugs. Not quite accurate but would it be any wonder?
Also, posting a fee in the ad does discourage the sickos who round up all the free animals advertised in the paper for blood sports and other yucky stuff. Of course the person who is offering the animal can always waive the fee when the nice person shows up to adopt it.

 

[Viola]

As a former shelter volunteer, I wanted to point out the there is another factor to your adoption problems - it's that there are a million people who want little dogs. The little dogs go the fastest so the shelters are more choosy simply because they can be. If you were to try adopting a senior or a larger dog you might have more luck...but then of course then fence becomes a problem.

I 2nd the love for the big guys. They're also NOT always more hyper or require more exercise than a lot of little dogs. Around here the shelters get a lot of big dogs, but really a Great Dane, for instance, does a lot less running around in circles in the house than, say, a Jack Russel.

My "little" dog (she's the smallest dog I've ever had) is a 50 lb pit-mix and I must say she's an absolute dear. She was eight years old when I got her. She hops around and runs and plays as much as you want to play with her...but if there's nothing going on, *thunk* straight to sleep!

She loves long walks and will do whatever you want, but she doesn't have that wired energy that sends dogs richocheting around off the furniture and stuff.

My bigger guy is a 85 lb. Akita, and he was five when we got him. Adult dogs like that are great because once they settle in, they know a lot of the rules. In fact, we "untrained!" Okami quite a bit, because we have a casual home. My dad still sometimes has to beg him to "c'mon, boy...get in the bed! C'mon!" lol

-Viola