people dumping their cats or dogs away because of reasons borne out of personal convenience and sheer irresponsibility. A contact told me that she gave her then-kitten to a young couple who promised her they would never give up on their pet. The kitten came in addition to the cat they already had.
Now, in the best interest of their baby girl, they asked my contact if she could take back her kitten (who has grown into a full-blown adult cat) and their own cat!
What disappointment, what anger. C then replied that there's no correlation between a newborn contracting anything and a pet animal, really. C, a mother now, had three cats when her daughter was born. A mammoth task, on top of post-natal depression, but she loved her pets more than the average person.
A promising near-adolescent now, her daughter has developed a love for cats and animals and exudes a graciousness beyond what most could comprehend.
For those who have been through adoption, or those in the animal welfare circle... do you often face this dilemma? The dilemma of not wanting to help the 'dumpers', yet so fearful that they'll indiscrimately get rid of their pets? So mad at the family, yet you can't do much to confront their irresponsible approach to a pet's life?
Didn't they think of the consequence before adopting the cat? What if they have a baby, what if they move countries? What if they can't collectively commit to the cat?
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9 comments:
I've gone through this too. As someone has adopt the puppy I've rehome to him few years ago, but when the puppy turn to adulthood and no longer been cute. This person has give lots of reasons and want to pass the dog back to me.
Love reading your blog, keep it up.
Oh yes, this has always been an ongoing problem. They always come up with the most creative and ridiculous of all reasons to not want their pets anymore. Before i rehome any pet, i will always ask the potential adopter for any chances they might not be able to keep the pet later on (even tho this may not prevent them from doing so anyway) and i always tell them, no matter what happens, never ever dump the pet, just return to me. This may not be the best thing to say to the adopter but at least i hope it will protect the pet fm being an abandoned stray one day.
I fully agree with Jules. At least we open our doors rather then the adopters don't know where/how to find a home for those unwanted pets, then they abandon them....at the end of the day, animals are the one who suffered. None of us want to see this happen, I believe.
i`ve thought the same as you last time, but as a rescuer having 5 dogs and now pregnant, juggling all the housework, 5 dogs and sensitive to their smell of pee and poo is very bad.
I mean we must always keep our options open, and face the reality if we can juggle or not. I always change my dog`s pee and poo till i puke on top of the news paper that contains their pee because the smell i can not take it and i`m doing it all alone.
But look on the bright sight that they are willing to have their rehome rather than throw them away.. I`m 6 months pregnant now and juggling is not easy.. i`m still trying to persevere till my baby is out.. But with a bigger tummy, it`ll just make my task worst..
So please dont judge just because of baby must throw away the pets
Which is why pet ownership needs to come as a result of informed decision and your own sound forecast/plan of what's gonna happen in the next 10-15 yrs.
Look at it this way, would you discard your flesh-and-blood baby, just because you adopted two new Chihuahuas?
Of course, we aren't equating dogs to human babies, but certainly in what we're talking abt here, pets that precede the arrival of a newborn shld be given a sure amt. of care and commitment? That is, NOT to be transferred to any household?
I can choose to "look on the bright side" but in any context, there's always a downward comparison side to things. I'm afraid if we were to "keep our options open" all the time and avert to enforce a measure of decency in how we deal with animals, or animal welfare, we might send mixed (and often incorrect) messages to those who adopt dogs that have taken great efforts to rescue and rehabilitate.
KZ
hi KZ, i`m the fosterer who posted above.. Yes i would rather abort my baby than give away my dogs when my family forced me to give away thats why till now i still have them.
Although i have predicted/calculated that i would be pregnant while they are alive, one thing i didnt calculate was the sensitively of smell to their pee and poo which not much people will faced.The tiredness has been calculated and now i`m facing with it which i just shut up and face it.
So its not everyone`s fault that they didnt calculate this and that. Because something will always pop up suddenly.. and we cant predict.. Unless you`re a master that can forecast what will happen next.
And a baby once aborted cannot come back but yet a dog rehomed you can always visit him.. which will you prefer? And base on your comments i guess you`re not a parent yet? You`ll understand what i mean when you become a parent one day =)
I believe we need to contextualize what we're saying here. I'm leaning towards a family nucleus having 1-2 pet dog in the household, whereas in your case, unless you live on a farm, five dogs in a Singaporean household could be too much, plus having a baby around and coping post-natals. As much as I love dogs.
I also don't want to stray from the core message that a pet is FOR LIFE, otherwise don't keep one. That's the essence of responsible pet ownership. Going so far to present an ultimatum unto oneself of aborting baby vs. giving up dogs is missing the point.
When pregnant mothers decide to give their petdog away, I'd think: can the dog be entrusted in foster until the baby is deliverd and grown bigger with stronger immunity? When a pregnant mother decides to give her petdog away because having a dog around brings ill luck, I'd think: can dog be entrusted in foster until her pregnancy is over, however irrtaional her superstition may be? I hope you see my line of thought here.
Needless to say, we can never be a 100%-accurate predictor of our future. Anything in the world can happen, bankruptcy, natural diasters, family tragedies... but we needn't go down this track.
If you need help to cope with your current situation, pls email us at projectjkteam@yahoo.com.sg. Not a master at this, but we can try. Appreciate really your comments on this, for the diversity of views brings abt an impetus for constructive change.
KZ
Hi KZ,
Its ok.. i am trying very hard still to juggle but i will perserve down because i love them like my kids.. Yes a pet is for life but what if they cant cope, wont giving them a better owner would be better? Not meaning those selling them but rather those who really put their heart into rehoming to a better home.
I dont think its missing the point because as i said my dog is like my baby.. theres no way i will give away my dog even if i were to starve to death at the streets.
Yes correct can be entrusted to foster, but how many people is willing to foster foc plus with a baby coming the financial tag is even worser than ever..
And dont forget what if the pregnant woman is having a diffcult pregnancy, with bills and boarding fees.. I understand if its because of superstitous or what to give away.. i would be angry too, but if they cant cope i think that giving away is a better way..
Thanks for your help and view really, will email you when i really need help =)
Just like to add to the perspectives of new mothers who have to give up their cats/dogs.
I have 3 adopted cats and love them dearly. Even I do not have kids now; I am facing increasing persistent pressure from my in-laws (especially mother-in-law) to get rid of them. She doesn’t even stay in my house and I’m already in my 30s. As she goes around telling relatives that she’s upset we are raising cats rather than real kids, I’m getting a lot of unsolicited “medical advice” on how cats are bad for kids etc. I’m sure this’ll get worse when I actually have kids, but I’m determined not to cave in to these ridiculous demands. Thankfully my side of the family loves animals.
The adoption contract always ask whether the other family members in the household are supportive of the adoption. Sometimes, the powerful negative forces come from outside.
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