I am compelled to write to you about a very serious subject today. For the 6th time in recent months, someone I know, a cat sitting client, is choosing to dump their cats because they are moving in with someone. In this case, the other person has dogs, so the dogs get to stay but the cats must go. One of the cats is deaf, too. I just don’t understand it…
Taking on the responsibility for an animal, whether it’s feline or canine, is a lifetime commitment. It’s not a commitment that is disposable when it no longer suits your purposes or your lifestyle. To me, the commitment is the same as if you had a child. Animals, like children, are helpless beings that are not able to fend for themselves. They depend on us to love them, give them food, give them shelter, and to protect them for their entire lives. In return they love us more unconditionally than any other being on the planet possibly could. We are their very world, and to abandon them is just unconscionable.
As for me, if anyone wanted to set up housekeeping with me and it was conditional upon my giving up my kitties, they would be looking for a new girlfriend. My cats go with me; we are a packaged deal. Case closed!
Please, before you adopt a pet, think about it very carefully. It is a 10 to 15 year (or more!) responsibility. If you cannot commit to it for life, then don’t adopt a pet! If you’ve already adopted a pet, please take your responsibility for that little life to heart. There are so many unwanted lonely animals out there already. Giving up your pets is tantamount to a death sentence for them.
AMEN! Why are furry animals different than human ones? I’ve seen the pain animals go through when they are given up. They have such a tough time. They don’t understand, any more than a young child would understand.
The allergy excuse is another one I hear a lot. I am allergic to cats and have six. I am also allergic to grass but didn’t choose to go live in the desert! I take meds for it. Thank you for addressing this, Rita!
It just breaks my heart every time I hear of a cat or dog being dumped, especially older ones who have been with their humans for many many years. It’s bad enough there are so many who never get to know the love of a family, but one that has had that love and is then abandoned really is so tragic… They become so attached to us, and even if they are lucky enough to get a new home (and most are not) they are never quite the same again.
As the president of a local Humane Society I see this every day. The
” shelters” are not really shelters because they only offer a very short term shelter with the end result being euthanasia! Running a Humane Society I wish I could save them all but sadly finances to care for them and a place to house them dictate how many can be saved and that amounts to only about 1/8 th of the pets who need us. If you truly can no longer keep your pet : although I can see no reason why this should be so, please at least try to re home them. Unless you are willing to know your pet has been put down don’t take them to a shelter because their lives are in your hands! If you love them, live with them. If your love is not that strong then resist the urge and just don’t get one in the first place.
I couldn’t agree more!