Dog Community

The Dumping Begins!

Posted : 1/3/2007 9:36:48 PM

Here we go, again! I saw on the news that our local shelters are overwhelmed with animals that were given as Christmas gifts being surrendered. This really makes my blood boil! Are people ever going to realize that it's a living, breathing thing that is NOT disposable? [&:] Angry

mondayblues

Posted : 1/3/2007 9:39:26 PM

[:'(] I feel your frustration.

BEVOLASVEGAS

Posted : 1/3/2007 10:18:25 PM

I agree with you wholeheartedly. Today I went into work for about 2 hours this morning before a doctors appointment. I don't answer phones unless the receptionists are in a major pinch. I answered the phone probably a total of 10 times, 6 calls were people looking for homes for their Christmas puppies. Apparently, when you get a puppy for Christmas it is not supposed to show normal puppy behavior because it was for Christmas.[:@]

ladiebug

Posted : 1/3/2007 10:27:05 PM

ORIGINAL: BEVOLASVEGAS
Apparently, when you get a puppy for Christmas it is not supposed to show normal puppy behavior because it was for Christmas.[:@]

Ahh, yes, that must be it! The miracle of Christmas wore off, and the people realized that there IS work involved caring for a puppy.

I still say the best puppy to give as a Christmas gift is this one:

Mookies Mom

Posted : 1/3/2007 10:32:23 PM

Yeah, in 2 days of walking the Mster, we've encountered 3 new puppies in our "hood". 2 goodendoodles and a yellow lab. Unfortunately, IMO not even rescues.

ladiebug

Posted : 1/3/2007 10:52:34 PM

As a child, we lived in a tourist location. The people would come up for their summer vacations, adopt kittens locally, then dump them in the streets because their apartments did not permit pets. I came to know of few of these tourists and I asked one "why do you bother 'adopting' when you're going to leave it to die when you leave next week?" The, pathetic, answer was always the same "it's so cute, someone will adopt it."

In Sept., riding the school bus, we'd see the signs of the tourists = the poor kittens and cats dead along the road. They figured if they dumped them along the road, they'd find their way to a house and someone would adopt them. [sm=angry.gif]

I'd like to take these people and put them thru a week of the treatment they give these poor animals!

stormyknight

Posted : 1/4/2007 12:23:25 AM

Our shelter has been swamped with ill-thought Christmas gifts...we are completely full on dogs with no end in sight. [:@]

tacran

Posted : 1/4/2007 12:35:44 AM

I shouldn't even start typing, because this is something that really, really infuriates me. Pets given as gifts (Christmas, birthdays, etc.) are often a bad idea -- bringing a living being into your home requires careful consideration, and too often it's given for just the cute factor or because the kids beg for a pet. It makes me wonder if shelters should put a freeze on adoptions between December 20th - 31st or something. Also, no bunnies adopted out near Easter, black cats at Halloween, etc.

My sister worked on Block Island (RI) for many summers, and the "temporarily adopted" cat problem was huge. Imagine getting a pet KNOWING you'd only keep it during your few weeks on vacation? It's a lifelong commitment, people!

I'll sign off now -- don't get me going!!! [:@][:@][:@]

ron2

Posted : 1/4/2007 5:54:21 AM

I'd like to take these people and put them thru a week of the treatment they give these poor animals

So would I. Exact vengeance upon those that cause the suffering. And that's why I would have a hard time being an ACO.

You asked the question in your OP of when will people quit thinking of these pet animals as disposable. I think the answer is not in this lifetime. To have that respect and forethought and consideration would appear to be beyond the ability of a lot of people and that's the nicest way I can put it. They are too selfish and impulsive and were brought up in a world of instant gratification and minimal responsibility and accountability.

snownose

Posted : 1/4/2007 7:35:27 AM

The best tourist location is Ocra Coke Island, NC.
The cats that get picked up are spayed or neutered and then released again.
Just about every giftshop has a donation box for that program.

I hate how stupid, and ignorant people are when it comes to animals[:@]

spiritdogs

Posted : 1/4/2007 8:21:44 AM

It's a really good thing I have a stable temperament, because this is one of those issues with which I could "go postal"...[sm=uhoh.gif]
People will never learn. I may be pessimistic, but just Google the word "puppies" and see how the Internet has ruined dogs. Just pick up any want ad newspaper and read the countless "puppies in time for Christmas" ads, and then go to petfinder.com to see the hundreds of failed relationships....
Humans suck. [:'(]

Tashmoo5454

Posted : 1/4/2007 8:29:02 AM

We are still waiting at our shelter for the onslaught of Christmas pets. Usually in the middle of January is when we start getting overloaded. It makes me ill.

sharismom

Posted : 1/4/2007 8:36:54 AM

I was working at the local shelter on New Year's Day - they were closed for business, but two older ladies pulled in upon seeing volunteers and cars there and delivered 2 female cats, each with litters. The shelter director was there and accepted them even though they weren't open. The really scary part is that they told the director that another worker told them that all they had at the shelter currently were adult cats (at least 25 of them), so they seemed to think the shelter should be grateful to get some kittens in.

Tashmoo5454

Posted : 1/4/2007 9:21:02 AM

People just don't get it. We have had arguments with people bringing in pure bred pups, who get upset when we tell them there is a $25 surrender fee. Many times they feel that we should be paying THEM for their pup, since they spent so much money to buy it in the first place. Can you imagine??

Stacita

Posted : 1/4/2007 9:33:10 AM

It's really sad.

Tasha arrived as a 12 week old stray on January 14, 2000. She was full of worms but otherwise a happy, healthy puppy. I still have visions of somebody preferring to spend their small amounts of money on beer and getting a "free to good home" puppy as their kid's Christmas present.

Compounding the matter they probably saw her in our yard later and showed the kids that puppies they don't want anymore DO find good homes. She's the exception to the suffering.

Big Sigh.