violet0019
Sep 26, 2005, 09:46 PM
quote:
originally posted by labman
puppies are a lot of work. Often i try to convince people to adopt an older dog instead of buying a puppy. I see many questions, here and elsewhere, from people who would have been better off not buying a puppy.
bravo labman! I agree with you 100%. I believe,that in many circumstances, unfortunately, people are impulsive & selfish. They do not think it through properly. It is not like just going to the store to buy a pair of shoes - it is a huge responsibility - one needs to think it through and realize that a puppy needs so much attention, needs to be trained, needs to be toilet trained, needs to be brushed every day, groomed, needs to be walked;for a cat, is one ready to change the cat litter several times a day and keep the litterbox squeeky clean, will they brush their cat every day, and can one afford the food and the vet bills, etc. etc... it can be an approx. 20 year responsibility (depending on how many years the dog or cat will live) - but i see it all the time - this is one of the many sad ways the dogs and cats end up at the shelters, because people just go impulsively to buy that cute little puppy in the petshop window, or the cute little kitten in the cage in the petshop. They do not think of what it entails to own an animal. One has to be selfless - just like having a child! Rescuing and adopting an older dog or cat, from a shelter (most people do not know that every single day there are thousands of cats and dogs being killed, :eek: in shelters across north america) :mad: rescuing and adopting an older dog or cat, from a shelter rather than buying a puppy or a kitten, is truly wonderful. :) first of all, you are not supporting "PUPPY AND KITTEN MILLS"! One can rescue any type of dog or cat - and many do not know this. One can adopt a pure breed, or a mixed breed; a long hair or a short hair,a large or a small - there are so many rescue groups out there - if one wants a poodle, or a german shepherd, a dalmatian or a samoyed, a tabby cat or a siamese,or a mixed breed,etc,etc.please: rescue a dog or cat from a shelter! They make fantastic pets. They are grateful, they are already toilet trained. etc. you can also rescue a greyhound dog (when they cannot race anymore they kill them! You can also rescue a puppy or kitten - if it is a young pet you want to adopt. Every age, every type is available & also, another way to go, if one is unsure as to whether they really do want a pet, or do they want a large dog, or a small dog, or maybe a cat, another option is called "FOSTERING".you can foster a dog or cat in your house, and help out the shelter or group until it gets adopted, or you may decide to keep the one you are fostering, or try another one. etc. they may ask you to help out as they have an urgent situation i.e. they may have found a pregnant cat, who needs a quiet place for a little while, to have her kittens, or they may have a dog who they rescued that was hit by a car, :( had surgery, and needs a place to be nursed back to health until he is ready for adoption... there are so many different programs with different options. Either way, adopting or fostering - you are doing a good thing! I am associated with a no kill shelter here in montreal. (i feel great, i just placed an older cat,whose owner (unfortunately and sadly) had to go to a nursing home. For example,the week before,a very wonderful,and active 91 year "YOUNG" lady(yes!! ),called me to obtain info. As she wished torescue a cat,so i did the "INTERVIEW", and as fate happens, within a few days, she is now fostering (in this case with the option to adopt) that particular cat whose owner went to the nursing home.(plus,her doctor was so puzzled and could not understand how her blood pressure has gone down!! = the cat! )i am so happy at how it worked out for all. You can also become a volunteer - every group or shelter desperately needs volunteers and there are so many varied, assorted jobs to do. Some people think "OH, I COULD NEVER DO THAT, IT IS TOO SAD TO GO TO THE SHELTER AND SEE ALL OF THOSE SAD, TERRIFIED ANIMALS"... but inform yourself, call some shelters, get involved-there are so many jobs available.shelters are usually in desperate need for volunteers. For instance:if one wishes to volunteer at the shelter-to walk dogs,and play with the cats and dogs, to brush and feed them, change the litter, or you can help with fundraising-car washes, garage sales, hotdog stands,or volunteer to do bookeeping, or telephone calls, or public relations, helping out at adoption clinics, taking photos of the animals for adoption, handy people to do repairs, carpenters, volunteers to give medication, people to drive pets to the vet, etc. etc.sometimes when one is retired, it is a perfect activity -helping animals. Get involved! Get your children to be volunteers - help out and make a difference! Volunteering is a truly great thing! PLEASE DO NOT BUY ANIMALS. RESCUE A CAT AND/OR DOG. AND PLEASE REMEMBER TO ALWAYS SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS!!! :) :)
originally posted by labman
puppies are a lot of work. Often i try to convince people to adopt an older dog instead of buying a puppy. I see many questions, here and elsewhere, from people who would have been better off not buying a puppy.
bravo labman! I agree with you 100%. I believe,that in many circumstances, unfortunately, people are impulsive & selfish. They do not think it through properly. It is not like just going to the store to buy a pair of shoes - it is a huge responsibility - one needs to think it through and realize that a puppy needs so much attention, needs to be trained, needs to be toilet trained, needs to be brushed every day, groomed, needs to be walked;for a cat, is one ready to change the cat litter several times a day and keep the litterbox squeeky clean, will they brush their cat every day, and can one afford the food and the vet bills, etc. etc... it can be an approx. 20 year responsibility (depending on how many years the dog or cat will live) - but i see it all the time - this is one of the many sad ways the dogs and cats end up at the shelters, because people just go impulsively to buy that cute little puppy in the petshop window, or the cute little kitten in the cage in the petshop. They do not think of what it entails to own an animal. One has to be selfless - just like having a child! Rescuing and adopting an older dog or cat, from a shelter (most people do not know that every single day there are thousands of cats and dogs being killed, :eek: in shelters across north america) :mad: rescuing and adopting an older dog or cat, from a shelter rather than buying a puppy or a kitten, is truly wonderful. :) first of all, you are not supporting "PUPPY AND KITTEN MILLS"! One can rescue any type of dog or cat - and many do not know this. One can adopt a pure breed, or a mixed breed; a long hair or a short hair,a large or a small - there are so many rescue groups out there - if one wants a poodle, or a german shepherd, a dalmatian or a samoyed, a tabby cat or a siamese,or a mixed breed,etc,etc.please: rescue a dog or cat from a shelter! They make fantastic pets. They are grateful, they are already toilet trained. etc. you can also rescue a greyhound dog (when they cannot race anymore they kill them! You can also rescue a puppy or kitten - if it is a young pet you want to adopt. Every age, every type is available & also, another way to go, if one is unsure as to whether they really do want a pet, or do they want a large dog, or a small dog, or maybe a cat, another option is called "FOSTERING".you can foster a dog or cat in your house, and help out the shelter or group until it gets adopted, or you may decide to keep the one you are fostering, or try another one. etc. they may ask you to help out as they have an urgent situation i.e. they may have found a pregnant cat, who needs a quiet place for a little while, to have her kittens, or they may have a dog who they rescued that was hit by a car, :( had surgery, and needs a place to be nursed back to health until he is ready for adoption... there are so many different programs with different options. Either way, adopting or fostering - you are doing a good thing! I am associated with a no kill shelter here in montreal. (i feel great, i just placed an older cat,whose owner (unfortunately and sadly) had to go to a nursing home. For example,the week before,a very wonderful,and active 91 year "YOUNG" lady(yes!! ),called me to obtain info. As she wished torescue a cat,so i did the "INTERVIEW", and as fate happens, within a few days, she is now fostering (in this case with the option to adopt) that particular cat whose owner went to the nursing home.(plus,her doctor was so puzzled and could not understand how her blood pressure has gone down!! = the cat! )i am so happy at how it worked out for all. You can also become a volunteer - every group or shelter desperately needs volunteers and there are so many varied, assorted jobs to do. Some people think "OH, I COULD NEVER DO THAT, IT IS TOO SAD TO GO TO THE SHELTER AND SEE ALL OF THOSE SAD, TERRIFIED ANIMALS"... but inform yourself, call some shelters, get involved-there are so many jobs available.shelters are usually in desperate need for volunteers. For instance:if one wishes to volunteer at the shelter-to walk dogs,and play with the cats and dogs, to brush and feed them, change the litter, or you can help with fundraising-car washes, garage sales, hotdog stands,or volunteer to do bookeeping, or telephone calls, or public relations, helping out at adoption clinics, taking photos of the animals for adoption, handy people to do repairs, carpenters, volunteers to give medication, people to drive pets to the vet, etc. etc.sometimes when one is retired, it is a perfect activity -helping animals. Get involved! Get your children to be volunteers - help out and make a difference! Volunteering is a truly great thing! PLEASE DO NOT BUY ANIMALS. RESCUE A CAT AND/OR DOG. AND PLEASE REMEMBER TO ALWAYS SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS!!! :) :)