by Jade Skyye

Created on: November 15, 2009

Giving Up Pets Excuses

Every day my cyber mailbox is filled with urgent requests seeking anyone who will take another person's once-beloved pet off of their hands. I am sick and tired of receiving cross-posted emails and hearing stories containing owner pleas looking for someone to take their long-time pet because they can no longer care for them. This is nothing but CRAP! There are a few legitimate claims where owners are medically unable to take care of their pet, and a few other extreme circumstances, but for the most part people are just being lazy and irresponsible. They no longer want their family pet, so let's give it away; or better yet, let's ignore the fact that we have a pet and let it starve to death. It is appalling to learn that a dog was left chained to a tree in the backyard of a home where no one lives anymore. Also heartbreaking is hearing that a pet was found tied to an animal facility door or fence because the owner was too ashamed to show their face. How can humans be so cruel? Does this work if you begin to feel that way about your children too? I prefer pets to children, they don't talk back and aren't deliberately deceitful.

Some owners blame the economy as their reasoning for relinquishing their pets. They say they can't afford to feed both their family and their pets, this is not entirely true. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2001-2004) about two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight. This means that if Americans would stop overfeeding themselves and start applying some of those funds to the pet food fund, turning in pets for this reason would decline.

Another way to avoid giving up one's pet(s), is to make a small sacrifice or two somewhere else in your life. Perhaps turning off the television that provides background noise for those who are home alone would generate enough savings and turning off various electricity sources that are not necessary at all times. Simply making a few adjustments to the routine could save a family trip to the local animal shelter, not to mention providing some peace-of-mind knowing that your pet won't be euthanized today.

Ultimately, those who surrender their pets are giving permission to the facilities to kill them. That is a sad and pathetic way to treat the one member of the family who wants only to be loved and to please.

With all of the extras that have become commonplace in our lives, doing without one or two of them shouldn't be a big deal, especially when it can save a life. Imagine the good it would do if people actually made a few lifestyle changes. It certainly wouldn't be causing anyone harm. After all, the pet overpopulation problem was created by and exists as a result of irresponsible owners and breeders.

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