Disposable Dogs

[LoftyLottie]

Just wondering, as a result of something that has just been said to me today . Do pet owners consider their animals as part of their family or disposable commodities that can be replaced quite easily if anything happens to them?

[supersuezy24]

I definitely consider Bobby my Yorkie as part of the family, I'd be so upset if something happened to him. He's so lovely

[tamborine]

JJ....you better stop jogging without a cop escort - you're in our sights :)

[joggerjayne]

LOL tambo ...

I don't have pets (I live in a flat, and it would be a bit cruel), but I wondered if anyone was going to take the side of ...

... "not part of the family"

[lil75]

I dont think dogs are disposable...I loved mine very much....and nothing can replace him, I have thought about gettin another rescue purely for the fact that I love helping animals in need, but I just cant bring myself to do so just yet, its too soon...there is a dogs home not far from me and I have spoken to someone that works there, she said the breed that is in there the most are staffs, because people buy them as an accessory and then realise they need looking after, at the time of our conversation there were 4 staffs that she said were lovely but needed homes urgently otherwise they would be put to sleep, I think its terrible, I have a staff and she is a lovely little lady, another rescue. I must confess I did have a sneaky peek at the website and was tempted to save another poor soul, but its just too soon

[ruthann58]

i would put my dog before a stranger, animals give so much and ask for nothing in return how many humans do you know like that

[ttfn]

lil why do you think it is too soon? I have rehomed many cats and dogs in the past. I once waited many months before I took another on but I was just so miserable without a 4-legs to love. Since then I have always thought get another asap - give a needy animal a good home when it needs one. It helped me to channel my grief into care for another. I never felt disloyal to the one I had lost. Pets aren't replaceable. Go and have a closer look. Best wishes ttfn

[joeluke]

I think the word needed here is Perspective

Dumb animal or human being?

Do the math

[LoftyLottie]

There doesn't have to be an either/or Joe Luke. Some so called dumb animals are so much more worthwhile than some dumb human beings. Why can't we love both and treat both with as much respect as they deserve.

You obviously disagree so let's leave it there.

[LoftyLottie]

Having rescued loads of animals over the years I agree with you ttfn. You can't replace a loved pet but you can go on to help others. Bless you.

[kawakiri]

My Mini Schnauzers are part of the family.

[wolf63]

Frankie has asthma and I get worked up when he has an attack. I actually make myself ill - I am Bipolar so it doesn't take much to push me over the edge.

I didn't realise how upset I was until I saw the psychiatrist the other week. He asked how I was and instead of my pre-planned answer to this I blurted out "My cat's ill".

He was ssssooooo nice to me - not so long ago people treated animal lovers as freaks and did not understand why we would get upset after a furry friend died.

My cats are my little furrybairns. I often want to strangle them but mostly I love them. I can understand people hating cats but not being cruel to one.

I often say that my brother couldn't have a furrybairn because his wife is allergic to them - so they had to make babies of their own so that they would have somebody to love.

I am off to see what made the massive 'thud' upstairs. I suspect that Frankie has tried to climb the clothes horse and toppled it over.

;-)

[Meg]

We've always had a dog or 2 or 3. They have been very much part of the family. Now have one old girl left who is definately the last of the line. When she goes a replacement is out of the question.
Can't understand anyone who gets a pet then has it destroyed because it becomes inconvenient, flipping disgusting.

[ttfn]

Quite so Miss Meg. Always put the animals first in any consideration - or why bother to have them in the first place?

[supersuezy24]

And maybe for good reason Vibra lol ;)

[Andyvon]

Hi Lottie,

I think you are right but it's also a matter of context - or perspective as Joeluke says. We don't have a dog at the moment but we've lost four over the years and every loss has been devastating. What seems so cruel with dogs especially is that they live just long enough for you to develop a deep love for them and to accept them as a member of the family - and then they die! We haven't got a dog at the moment as the losses hurt us that badly at the time.

My wife and I never had children so our dogs were very much members of our family - it was always the three of us. That doesn't mean we considered dogs as substitutes for children. We aren't fussed by children but that's only because we never had any. We never experienced the special bond that only parents can have with their children so we only experienced a bond with our dogs. That makes each loss devastating as it stands alone and we've never had anything to compare the loss with. However, the loss of an animal pales for someone who has children and can imagine (or has experienced) their parental bond being broken by the loss of a child. As Joeluke says, it's a matter of perspective.

With regards to your question, I think it's a matter of practicality or being realistic. If some manic with a gun insisted that we had 10 seconds to choose between saving the life of a child or our dog, then of course we would choose the child every time. But when a donation of 50p can save the sight of an African child and £2 can feed them for a week, no pet owners refuse to take their pet to the vet so that they can donate the money to save children instead. Terrible as human suffering is, we live realistically so we spend the money on the dog.

[tigerlily11]

I have heard some of the utterly idiot reasons from the RSPCA for people wanting to get rid of their dogs. The worst one was "he doesn't match the colour of the new sofa."
My old gentleman is part of my family. He is welcome on the sofa and when we have guest he willingly gives up his seat.
He might eat from a bowl in the kitchen but thats because he hasn't quite grasped the table manners and he hates the chairs at the table.
He sleeps at the bottom of the bed or under it or by the side and even on it if hubby isn't there.
I don't even want to think of the day I might have to do him his last favor because he is my best friend and the reason my husband can still walk., The thought of it brings tears to my eyes.
He is family and cannot be replaced. But I have no objection to giving another dog a home and a chance at a good life. But that dog will not be my old boy and will never be a replacement.

[lil75]

ttfn, that has made me smile, I have thought about it a bit more and I cant bare the thought of an animal suffering with no love, when me and my family can offer it so much......I shall take another sneaky peek at the site and maybe give them a call....and thanks x

[ttfn]

It just males sense to me lil - 1 grieving family and 1 needy dog - what a shame not to put all that energy to better use. If you know you are having another dog to love some day why not just bring the calendar forward? Nothing can ever take our memories away but they can always be added to! Do keep us updated x

[madmaggot]

I have 'lost' pets and I have also 'lost' a child. Whilst my dog means the world to me and I would certainly not consider her to be disposable, she does not hold the same place in my heart that my children have (both the living and the dead one). Nevertheless she is a part of the family and very dear to me and my OH and any family plans that we make will always take her into consideration.