For people who think they want a dog (formerly titled "for dog lovers")

http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/njy/1284 564684.html

Also why if I were ever to get a dog I'd go to a shelter.

Aw crap.

*cries*

Sorry..it's a bit macabre.

Original Post by sharpshootinstar:

Aw crap.

*cries*

Me too.

My cat, Rosie, was sent to the SPCA by her former owner because the new boyfriend didn't like cats.  She was on the list to be euthanized when I got her.

we have the best dogs EVER... both are from shelters.

our cat was from a litter of kittens that came from a stray that our neighbors rescued.

I'll NEVER get a cat/dog from a pet store.

So true.  I spent three months at the shelter when adopted Rebecca.  She was special needs (allergies) and they wanted to make sure that she was going to a good home as she was returned three times before.

Sitting there waiting for evalutions and vet visits I heard a lot of excuses for people bringing in their pets.  Believe me the volunteers there know all of the excuses.

All of my pets to date:

• Furry Murray - stray part siamese that my grandmother found ~ 1 year old
• Otae - Siamese cat of my great aunt when she got put in a nursing home ~15 years old
• Sherlock - 1/2 Saimese adopted from the pound for cuteness ~3 years old, former owner left him and his brother
• Clouseau brother of Sherlock, my mom insisted that we go get him when she heard.
• Lucifer - mongrel garage kitty adopted from a friend of a friend

My friend keeps trying to get me to adopt another cat but I won't because I know that I don't have the time to really be a good owner...I'd adopt one on the kill list except that they make you swear that they'll be an indoor cat and my housemate is allergic...sorry, rent money wins out.

Original Post by smwhipple:

Sorry..it's a bit macabre.

 No no, I'm glad you shared this.  It's important.

I actually  have never owned a shelter animal, but every single one of my dogs and cats have been strays, save for one.  Unless I get more strays knockin' at my door, the next ones will be shelter animals.

Shelter animals are great. You may want to go and look around a couple of times. More times than once and animal will pick you, and it will be love at first Arf or Mew.

Cats take less care. Dogs are more like babies, cats are like teens. Cats will only come to you on their terms, whereas a dog is always willing to please you.

Have one of each. You will have the best of both and they will have each other as friends.

hey they missed an excuse.

My kids wanted a pet, they pleaded for one and said that they would take care of it, feed and water and clean up after it.  They promised me that if we got a pet that they would take care of it forever.  Now I am the one that has to take care of it and I don't want to do it.

Believe me when your kids say that they will take care of a pet, it won't last long.  Unless you are prepared to be the primary caregiver of said pet don't get one.

I have cleaned fish tanks, hamster cages, one snake tank and various other critters over the years.  My daughter 26 wanted kittens this year.  Guess who is feeding and cleaning up after them?

For people whose kids want a dog - make them get up every day at 6am (or whatever unreasonable hour you want to make it) and walk around the block. Then make them do that when they get home from school or work. And again before bed time.

If they can do that every single day, no excuses, for 2 months, maybe they can have a dog. If they forget, have to be nagged, ask someone to do it for them... no dog.

I'd recommend to anyone wanting a pet that they petsit for a friend or become a temporary foster home just so they know what they're getting into.  I cat sit occasionally which gives me my cat fix, but also drives home the point that I don't want to clean a sandbox everyday.

Our first dog was from a breeder but after that we only adopted/rescued. Our lab was adopted from a couple, our shepherd/chow mix was dumped on the side of a road out of a moving truck, my sister's dog was from a shelter and my gorgeous pup was from a shelter. No sense it getting from breeder's and pet stores...

Both my dogs are from rescues; one was given up because he was "marking" the house, which I can't imagine was much of a shock considering we were told his last home had an abundance of other animals including a pot-bellied pig. Our other dog was brought to the rescue via volunteers saving dogs on death row at a pound in Ohio (I'm in Canada). The later one is a bit more work, as she'd never been socialized, but they're are both the biggest joys in my hubby's and my life.

*tears rolling down face*

My dog was a pound puppy.  He's been A LOT of trouble over the past 12 years, but he was my baby for 5 of them.

My husband actually stopped a girl that was dropping off a puppy in our neighborhood.  She said her boyfriend didn't like the dog.  He actually told her to lose the boyfriend, keep the dog.  She got the dog, crying, and drove away.  I would like to think she kept the dog.

I remember when we got our shelter doggeh.  We already had a golden retriever and thought it would be great to get her a little brother to play with. 

I went to the shelter to look for another golden retriever, but instead, I noticed the most ugliest dog standing there waggling his curly tail.  boy.. this guy was hideous!!  I couldn't even tell what kind of dog he was!!  he had mange, and was ozzing from all kinds of different sores on his body.  He was really nasty!! 

He was about 20lbs underweight.  I could see his little ribs and hind-leg bones sticking out, and I started to cry.  I looked at his chart and read the area where it said that he was to be euthanized the next day.  I cried more and went back into the office and adopted him.  At first they didn't want/feel that he was adoptable because his mange was so severe and he was malnourished.  I begged them to give me chance and they did. 

I had to wait a couple of days to pick him up because he had to be neutered.  When I went in to get him, they sat me down and told me 'how' to take care of this yucky, ozzing little guy.  I had to rub some kind of stuff on his sores and it took MONTHS for his fur to grow back in.  He gave my golden retriever kennel cough.  I ended up dishing out more money on this mangie critter than I would have for a pure bread golden.

Now... he's a 5 year old chunky monkey without mange and is part of our family.  He is so happy now and his favorite thing in the entire world is to cuddle and sleep on his back (like a human).  and you can tell how appreciative he is.  he's a sweet little thing!!  he is still really REALLY ugly, lol.... that that just makes him who he is.  I love him.

we tried to name him Harry (from Harry Potter because my golden's name is Hermione)  but it never stuck.

his name is Butt Ugly.... but we call him Bugly.  Hey... could have been worse.  hubby wanted to name him Fugly, but I said, NO! hehe

he's a sweatheart and I would do it all over again.

^^^ moodymomma!!!  Your story is so sweet!  I'm so glad you rescued bugly!

I don't have a good story - - went to the Humane Society and fell in love with Cadie and adopted her.  Whoever said big dogs don't make good lap dogs was wrong!  My 75lb princess lays on my lap nightly and is so spoiled... I'll sit there for 2 hrs not moving as to not disturb her snoring. 

^^awww.. thanks jennpenn  :)

My dogs are big ol lap dogs too, hehe.  my golden is 105lbs and my other one is around 75lbs and they like to sit on your lap too.  they're so cute.

Please note:  i know my golden is over weight and I'm working on that with her.  she IS however a 'larger' golden.  most female goldens should weigh about 75lbs, but since she's a 'large' golden, the vet said she can be around 85-95lbs.

poor baby... I really need to work harder with her.  I walk her everyeday, but she's getting old and can't really handle the 6mile walks anymore (hence why she gained some back) so we only walk about 2 miles aday.  I check for signs to see if she's tired, but if i think she can handle it, then I'll add a few more blocks in.  sometimes, I'll even take her out for a second time around later on in the evening if she's up to it.

she's my baby and i don't want her to die because I kept her overweight  :( 

anyone have any advice, other than just keeping up the walkings?  they get  dog treats every once in a while, ,but mostly I give then baby carrots or ice cubes as treats.

Feed her less regular food?

I seriously need to see a picture of Bugly. He sounds totally awesommmmeee.

See if your vet can offer a "diet food".  My cats are on "diet food" from the vet's office because the little one is borderline overweight and the big one gets that way if I give them regular food.  Don't feed them grocery store food though; it's mostly crap.

Original Post by moodymomma1977:

^^awww.. thanks jennpenn  :)

My dogs are big ol lap dogs too, hehe.  my golden is 105lbs and my other one is around 75lbs and they like to sit on your lap too.  they're so cute.

 

 

 

Please note:  i know my golden is over weight and I'm working on that with her.  she IS however a 'larger' golden.  most female goldens should weigh about 75lbs, but since she's a 'large' golden, the vet said she can be around 85-95lbs.

poor baby... I really need to work harder with her.  I walk her everyeday, but she's getting old and can't really handle the 6mile walks anymore (hence why she gained some back) so we only walk about 2 miles aday.  I check for signs to see if she's tired, but if i think she can handle it, then I'll add a few more blocks in.  sometimes, I'll even take her out for a second time around later on in the evening if she's up to it.

she's my baby and i don't want her to die because I kept her overweight  :( 

anyone have any advice, other than just keeping up the walkings?  they get  dog treats every once in a while, ,but mostly I give then baby carrots or ice cubes as treats.

I worry about what my dog's eat as much as I do my human children.  I feed a grain-free food like Innova EVO, Blue Wilderness, etc...whatever you'd like and mix canned greenbeans in.  Just rinse the greenbeans first to remove as much salt as possible.  Greenbeans are a good filler and grain-free foods are far to rich to feed a lot of.  It works great for weight maintenance. 

I have fostered over 400 dogs since 2005 and I have six of my own.