Oh Lord ... (Joyce)

but it doens't just boil down to food. there are many other expenses to owning pets, as we all know. once you can't afford the food - what's next? What's the right thing to do, for the better of the animal? Giving up an animal is not an easy choice for many people. You may not see things the way I do - but I worked in the in-take office for a few weeks last month, and not everyone turns in their pet because it sheds to much. Most of the surrenders that I took in where related to money.

First toys, then food, then vet care, then their home - what kind of life is that for an animal?

I would like to see the story. If people are turning in their pets simply because the price of food is going up, then I agree, it's pretty cold. But what I've been reading about is people losing their jobs, foreclosing on their homes and having to either live on the streets, in their cars or move to a cheaper place that doesn't allow pets.

http://www.petfoodindustry.com/ViewNews.aspx?id=21484

Don't forget to click!
 

Many people are losing their homes due to foreclosure, but didn't a lot of them get in over their heads with the ARMs that allowed them to purchase houses they really shouldn't have qualified for in the first place? 

And it is such a shame that because of their lack of understanding of what they signed that, not only do they lose their home, but their kids and pets do as well.

FourIsCompany

I would like to see the story.

Here's the link -

sharismom

And it is such a shame that because of their lack of understanding of what they signed that, not only do they lose their home, but their kids and pets do as well.

I agree.
 

calliecritturs

 We need compassion. 

I think that really says it all.

Amen.

FourIsCompany

But if it came down to making a choice between putting food in your baby's mouth or putting food in your dog's mouth, I don't think there would be a contest for any of us.

The point is, what if you had TWO babies instead of one baby and one dog? Would you choose between your children? No. You would find a way feed both of them. What if your baby had to go to the doctor for something? Would you abandon it because you can't afford it? No. You would find a way to take it to the doctor. Maybe you wouldn't be able to take it to its yearly check up, but for an emergency..you'd find a way.

Dogs are throw away to most people. It makes me ill. There is not anything that would make me give up my dog. Nothing.

It's true that I've never been on the street. But I (along with my Mom and sisters) sure would have been a LOT of times in my childhood if it weren't for my grandmother. I have moved a lot of times in my life. Every single time with pets. And we've managed to never abandon any of them. Yes, it's harder to find a place to live with pets, but it's definitely not impossible.

chelsea_b

There is not anything that would make me give up my dog. Nothing.

I hope you are always so fortunate and never have to test that. Like you, I have moved with pets. I dragged my 3 cats all over the country for 18 years, but I know that it isn't always possible. My sister lived in her van and took her cat with her and she ran away into the woods.

Of course I wouldn't choose between 2 kids, but dogs are not people.

FourIsCompany

Of course I wouldn't choose between 2 kids, but dogs are not people.

Right... They're fair-weather family....

Dogs are part of a family, but they aren't family.  They're not people--dogs are pets.  I know a lot of people on this board feel that their dogs are their kids, and I do too, but if it comes down to keeping Muggle or losing my house, Muggle goes back to the breeder, plain and simple.  My kids need my loyalty, my finances, and my love first.  Why is it unacceptable to get a dog when funds are low and you can't afford vet care, etc, but it's acceptable to allow your human family to sink to a place where they don't have medical care or a roof over their heads because the dog needs a bag of Ole Roy?  

Sorry, but I will do everything possible to keep my family together--including my dog--but if it comes down to it, I would find Muggle a new home before any member of my family goes without a doctor visit.  I take responsibility for pets...all of them...but rehoming a pet is ok once in awhile.  It really is.
 

chelsea_b

Right... They're fair-weather family....

Chelsea, I do not see any reason to put words into people's mouths.

Please do understand that when one is responsible for one's own children, health insurance, car notes, mortgages, and other expenses, things can change and viewpoints can alter. Other people's priorities may come from living in a different manner, or under different circumstances, than you yourself do currently (which you have shared with us as I recall).

I certainly do not consider my dogs fair weather family...I have avenues open to me re: my dogs, should things take a bad turn here (after all being responsible also means knowing when you CANNOT do more than you can do)...but they are in no way at the same level as my children are, and I would not make the same changes in my life for their needs as I would my kids...

Oftentimes living life, is really the only way you (general) will come to know what truly...you would or would not do.

rwbeagles

Oftentimes living life, is really the only way you (general) will come to know what truly...you would or would not do.

Agreed, and I know sometimes I'm overly idealistic, but honestly, this time I wasn't trying to be like that. What I should have said (and what I truly mean, even if it's not exactly what I meant right that second) is there's not anything I can fathom that would make me give Cherokee up, and that's easy for me to say, and easy for me to MEAN, because I have no kids. I don't have that responsibility, and I very likely won't until Cherokee's, well, for lack of tact, dead.

Possessions are just stuff. Money is just, well, money. Even houses, a place to live, they don't mean near as much to me as my dog. I would much much rather be homeless with Cherokee than have a home without her, and that's the truth. That doesn't mean everyone has to feel that way, I'm just stating how I feel, and what I know. No, if/when I have kids, I'm sure I won't feel that same way. I wouldn't force my kids to be homeless or hungry for a dog, but I really don't see why it would ever come down to that choice.

And for the record, I really didn't mean to point that "fair-weather family" comment at Carla (clearly she is as devoted to her dogs as anyone, so I apologize for that), or anyone in this thread, but really at a lot of the rest of the world, for whom that is a fair and accurate description.

And I still don't see how buying the dog a bag of food takes a home or medical care or food away from children. Seriously. Some dog food is CHEAP.

I agree that some people will sacrifice anything to keep their pets.  However, I often see people who say they are broke getting food at the food bank.  What is bad about this?  They are smoking a cigarette and drinking a Pepsi from the local convenience store and chatting on their cell phones! Just how broke are you if you can afford these things?

Before anyone jumps on me, I lived on welfare growing up. My parents took our cat and her kittens to the shelter while we were at school.  I have never forgiven them for that. However, every other animal we ever owned was either kept until death (domestic animals) or rehabbed and returned to the wild (the raptors we dealt with). We actually ran trap lines to feed the hawks and owls.

I would personally feed my animals lower quality food rather than let them go to the shelter. 

chelsea_b

Seriously. Some dog food is CHEAP.

Ahh yes...but is HW medication? Frontline? Vaccinations? Grooming if you own a breed or mix that NEEDS to be groomed reg.? How many horribly horribly matted animals have we seen on animal cops shows? PAINFULLY matted...maggots in the coat...etc from wonderful elderly folks who FEED those dogs what they can. I have seen blind cats from being fed dog food, or rice because it was "cheap"....is that better than rehoming? Dogs with horribly yeasty painful ears and stinky skin from bad food, constantly itchng themselves bloody...is that better than rehoming?

There is more to owning a dog, than food. The OTHER items a given dog may need...do not come as cheap as Ol Roy...and failing to do any of the above regularly WILL result in a dog with a problem needing vet assistance...and then what? Who will pay for that?

I maintain that sometimes...being responsible sometimes involves knowing when you CANNOT do more than you can do...and finding someone else who can do more.

rwbeagles

There is more to owning a dog, than food.

YES. SO much more! (sorry if I get some stuff confused, I just came from reading the quality of life thread, I'll try to stay on topic here)

If something were to happen to me, where I could not keep up the same matience that I am giving my pets now, I would rehome them. I have already gotten a few people to commit to taking my animals if something were to happen to me. Now- I don't think anything will happen to me, but you just never no, and leaving it up to chance is not a risk I'm willing to take.

And while ending up at a shelter is not the most ideal situation for most animals, it's better than starving and becoming ill.  I can't believe some are willing to wait until the situation becomes 'fatal' to help their pets. I really think some people are being selfish here. Animals have feelings too  - yes, they want to be with you, but for whos happiness? Would that animal be just as happy with a close friend or relitive? If I cannot provide shelter for my pet with climate control, basic vet care, and a daily meal - I cannot keep him, that is cruel, just plain cruel. Yea - he's happiest with me, but how happy will he be when he's sitting in a locked car, or on the side of the road, unsure of where his next meal is coming from? Yea - sounds great to me!

And we lecture other people about this.....