Everyone at work knows I love animals. But recently not a week goes by when someone doesn’t try to pawn off their “wonderful” pet on me. Three weeks ago it was a woman trying to give me her mother’s border collie mix, because the mother was in the hospital and hadn’t really been taking care of the dog properly. Last week the warehouse manager called my up - he had a woman in his office who had to find new homes for her 4 cats - could I take them? Then today a new person I’d never even met sent me an e-mail trying to give me her cat. She rented a place knowing she had a cat and that it wasn’t allowed.
Each person tries to blackmail me by saying “I don’t want to have to take Precious to the pound…”. Look. These animals are your responsiblity. I have 6 dogs, 4 cats and 4 horses. They are well cared-for. I can’t afford to feed and vet more animals.
Oh, yeah - I forgot about family. I have one cat I’ve been taking care of “temporarily” (for the last 3 years). Three weeks ago my niece called me to take a dog she “rescued”.
I just inherited a new-used dog myself, a 4 year old blond dachshund. The lady who gave her up had 2 dachshunds, 3 labs, a pregnant chihuahua, two recent dog demises and 4-6 cats. She’s asking if I can take the other dachshund now.
I probably will, but I’ve already spend 250.00 on this one having her vaccinated, de-wormed and a nail trimming/deep ear cleaning (I thought she was deaf at first, being a blondie). I’m cleaning her teeth daily to get them in shape for a proper cleaning next month. Of course, she is not trained in anything and reportedly spent up to 14 hours at a time in a crate. Sigh.
The dog’s a sweetie and I’m glad to have her, but seriously, if you can’t take reasonable care of your pets or afford to take them to the vet for regular care, you have too many pets.
Maastricht - There are some rescues, but most stay full. As soon as they adopt out one animal, 4 more are vying to fill the vacancy.
Ca3799 - Most of my animals are rescues, including the horses. Adopted from the pound, from bad situations, at auction. But fortunately I know when to say enough. It would be easy for me to become a hoarder.
Everyone is so desperate to find homes for animals that once people know you’ve done it, they think of you next time they find an animal. They don’t seem to mentally cross you off their list of potential homes (“StGermain adopted just last year! That’s a full house, I’ll have to look elsewhere.”)
This is an issue for us too, despite our 2 dogs, one cat, three parrots and a hamster.
I feel your pain. As the “animal lover” teacher at school, the students are forever bringing me any orphaned/injured/stray bits of wildlife they come across. The last one was an alligator snapping turtle the size of a quarter they were trying to feed lettuce and strawberries to. :rolleyes:
Amen. I’ve currently got 2 dogs, 6 cats, and all the rats. We’ve had a lot more dogs, done dog and cat rescue, used to have a pair of rabbits and a cage of cavies, etc.
That does NOT mean that I want more animals. Seriously.
When we were doing cat rescue, we used to have people drop off pregnant cats on our porch at night. We’d wake up to some VERY pissed off cat taped into a cardboard box or stapled into a brown paper bag, round as a basketball and ready to go. Just because someone rescues animals, or has a lot of pets, does NOT mean they’re equipped at the moment to take in any more.
We recently lost my 15 year old Border Collie, which has totally devastated me. And in return, TONS of people are trying to give me “new” dogs to replace her. I lost 2 dogs 5 years ago in a freak accident - and the people at my work chipped in and gave me a brand new puppy a week later. Seriously, folks?
I feel your rage. Too many times I’ve had to deal with one of these scenarios:
Dog Owner: I must find a home for my beloved dog. Can you take him or he’ll have to go to the pound. I can’t bear the thought of that and would do anything to save him.
Me: Are his vax up to date? Is he on heartworm prevention? Is he neutered?
D.O: <blank stare>
Me: Here’s contact info for a free/low-cost vet clinic. Get those things done and I’ll help you find a good home for him.
D.O.: Ummm…that’s okay. I know some folks who said they might be able to take him.
Dog Owner: I must find a home for my beloved dog’s puppies or they’ll have to go to the pound. I can’t bear the thought of that and would do anything to save them. BTW, I had no idea she was pregnant.
Me: Have they had their first shots? Have they been dewormed?
D.O: <blank stare>
Me: Here’s contact info for a free/low-cost vet clinic. Get those things done and get momma (and dad) speutered and I’ll help you find a good homes for them.
D.O.: Ummm…that’s okay. I know some folks who said they might be able to take them.
Dog Owner: I must find a home for my beloved dog. He bit my nephew. Can you take him or he’ll have to go to the pound. I can’t bear the thought of that and would do anything to save him.
Me: Has your vet checked him for organic diseases, injuries or hormonal imbalances? Any of these might cause grouchy behavior in dogs.
D.O: <blank stare>
Me: Get him checked out by your vet first. If there are no medical issues, here’s contact info for a canine behaviorist who will work with you to rehabilitate him.
D.O.: Ummm…that’s okay. Somebody at work said they knew a guy who was looking for a guard dog.
Oh my god, not really? What did you do? I can’t imagine thinking I should get someone a puppy, much less a coworker in that circumstance. WTH were they thinking?
I’ve had people try to give me cats, but my excuse is that my current cats would make them miserable.
This is exactly how I ended up with 6 cats. Now I’m down to 4 and I’m turning down all potential adoptions.
It’s not just the people, either–it’s the sad little stray who’s been dumped on a cold morning who spots me and says, “Hey, do you think you could take care of one more little sweet adorable ball of fluff? Just ooooone more? Pleeeeaaase?”. The jerks.
Someone dumped a wee kitten in my yard last year. All my dogs were barking at the poor thing, quaking in my lilac bush. I was at the vet’s to get it’s first shots and there was this nice family (mom, dad and 8 year old daughter) coming out of the office with a puppy and adult dog on a leash. I said, “you know what you need to round this out? A kitten!” and showed them the little kitten in the carrier. I told them I’d pay for the shots and the future spay, and they took her. As the daughter was walking off with the puppy, the mom told me that their adult cat, who looked just like the tabby kitten, had died that morning while the daughter was at school. They told me I didn’t need to pay for the spay, but I said they had a lifetime to pay the kitten’s vet bills, and I’d feel better knowing she had her shots and spay taken care of.
Toucanna - It’s amazing how many “wonderful” pets aren’t neutered or house trained and have aggression issues.
I guess they were thinking a puppy makes everyone happy? I dunno. I was kinda in shock so I put him in my purse and took him home with me. I still have him. Bump is NOT the kind of dog I would EVER have chosen for myself. I like big, rough-and-tumble dogs and he’s one of those little frou-frou poodle mixes. I love him, but I’d never get another! He’s a coward, but he totally knocks my pitbull down whenever she bothers him.
Yup. Double-bagged, folded over and stapled at the top.
StGermain: Check your PMs. Damn chimpanzee is going through puberty and is more than a handful. And the gator outgrew the tub. I don’t wanna have to let them loose, so please help me.
ETA: I’m not looking to make any money here, just what I paid.
It’s going to get worse before it gets better. I saw a science program that claimed it may soon be possible to clone dinosaurs, and of course once people can do it they will, without thought to the consequences.
You think people get tired of puppies and kittens that have grown up? Eventually, we’re going to be asked to re-home Tyrannosaurs.
“I had no idea he’d get so big and…rambunctious. And the shelter says it’s full! Please, you’re so good with your other animals…”
I dunno. I was kinda in shock so I put him in my purse and took him home with me. I still have him. Bump is NOT the kind of dog I would EVER have chosen for myself. I like big, rough-and-tumble dogs and he’s one of those little frou-frou poodle mixes. I love him, but I’d never get another! He’s a coward, but he totally knocks my pitbull down whenever she bothers him.