I browse through the pet sections of Craigslist pretty often. I visit pet rescue sites every time I’m online, and I even read the pet classifieds section of the newspaper. I think to myself what dogs would fit in well with my lifestyle and with my current animals.
I can’t help it. I always want more dogs.
But as I fantasize about adopting a little sister for Ace, I have to read the reasons why people are giving up on their pets. These excuses for getting rid of animals really say a lot about humans in general.
It’s not a few of us who fail on our animals, it’s hundreds and thousands of us in every community every day. Most of us know someone who has given up a dog or a cat, we might’ve even abandoned one ourselves – or at least thought about it.
We’ve all heard the same old excuses before such as “moving,” “new baby in house,” “too hyper,” “allergies,” “yard is too small,” or even, “barks.”
For some reason people can’t spend one day finding a dog-friendly apartment or house to rent. And even when they have nine months to prepare a dog for a new baby, the dog has to go. What a great lesson to teach older children – pets are disposable just like toys, cars, TVs.
But then again, these are the same people who thought their dog would be fine without exercise, training and socialization. It’s news to them that if a dog gets taken for walks she doesn’t need a big yard.
If I ever have to give up a pet, I will at least be honest and explain why I can’t keep that animal. The reasons why will be my failures, not the dog’s.
I thought I’d share the best excuses I found for re-homing animals. These are all from recent Craigslist postings on the North Dakota, Fargo-Moorhead, Duluth-Superior and Minneapolis pages. I don’t need to say anything more.
These re-homing ads speak for themselves:
- “My daughter brought home a golden retriever puppy a few days ago. I thought it was fun for a few days.”
- “We love him and want to keep him but … Every night it is a fight about who Guedo gets to sleep with.”
- “Boyfriend says I have too many cats.”
- “She pees on beds.”
- “He is getting ‘excited’ over our female Chihuahua.”
- “She likes to get in garbages.”
- “He LOVES to lick and he will lick the baby
Related posts:
- Reason to foster a dog
- Foster a giant breed dog
- Reasons to adopt an older dog
- How to prepare for a foster dog
March 11th, 2009 at 7:39 am
A fellow rescuer told me about two Himalayan cats who were turned into rescue because the owner had redecorated and the cat’s fur didn’t go with the new upholstery. After 20 years in the biz, this is the worst excuse I’ve ever heard!
March 11th, 2009 at 7:45 am
Haha! Although that is pretty sad for the cats, I can’t help but laugh at that one!
March 11th, 2009 at 8:06 am
WOW…These are all real ads?? You would think even if these were the reasons they would put something that didn’t sound so stupid! We are Maggie’s fourth home and the last two both brought her back to the Humane Society because ’she cried when we locked her in the garage alone at night’. It’s no “my son is aggressive towards my dog”, but its still pretty bad!
March 11th, 2009 at 8:27 am
Uhm… a lot of these “excuses” applied to our mutt Dennis when we took him over, but with training and feedback, he is slowly turning into a different dog. He used to have intimacy issues but I’ve caught myself hugging him quite a few times now and realizing first afterwards that any signs of approaching would have him lift his leg defensively and snarl his teeth. No more. As for excuses, there is one I respect and where I would feel inadequate to take over the dog unless I already had a personal relationship with it – and that would be Death of Owner. But that is rarely the case for forced separation, is it?
March 11th, 2009 at 8:30 am
Yeah, I see those lame excuses all the time. The cat not matching is a new one on me though!
I think people who give up animals because of a new baby are lazy for one. Having animals with children teaches the kids social skills and much more. Many happy kids I know have dogs, cats, or both. There is a poor little Yorkie next door who is a “baby victim”. The woman used to carry her around like a baby and get her groomed all the time. Now that they have a human baby, the poor little dog is outside all of the time and usually barking her head off. She hasn’t been groomed in about a year or so and I’m surprised she can see with all of the overgrown fur on her face. I am currently trying to figure out a way that I can take her myself. It kills me to see her out in the sometimes 40 degree (F) evenings with high wind (yes, it gets cold near the coast).
March 11th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Yeah Apryl, a Yorkie is not meant to be an outdoor dog! Poor thing.
Hi Kari, unfortunately these are all from real ads. People never fail to amaze me. One of the most common reasons for giving up a dog seems to be separation issues, like your Maggie had. I’ve known people that have gotten rid of a dog that barked or cried, only to have the same issues with the next dog they bought. Hmm, maybe it’s not the dogs that have a problem …
March 11th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Just recently a fellow that I work with came to work desperately trying to give his registered pure bred pit bulls away. When I asked him the why the urgency? He told me that he lived with his dad like they are roomates. When the mother was feeding her pups she growled at his dad. So his dad grabbed his rifle and shot the mother. And said you have two weeks to get rid of the puppies. That just blew me away. I couldn’t believe that someone would have that short of temper. Any way I almost took two of the pups that he still had left just to save them. But he found homes for them with one day to spare.
March 11th, 2009 at 8:56 am
That is crazy. I don’t even know what to say about that. Obviously your co-worker’s dad has some anger issues and control issues. I hope those pups all got good homes.
March 11th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Wow – these ads amaze me. Honestly, I don’t understand this concept of having all these excuses to “get rid” of an animal. I have had 10 cats over the last 12 years or so (4 with us currently) and I have re-homed ONE. It was only after two years of trying to change behaviors that we decided to find her a new home. I didn’t advertise to find her a new home – I worked through friends only. I wanted to be positive she was going to a good place! I can still get occasional updates on how she is doing (great!)
I wish more people would realize that having a pet is a long-term commitment. You have care of these animals – they depend on YOU. They deserve to have great care and love.
March 11th, 2009 at 10:29 am
People have gotten used to disposable things, pets included. Our current dog Fresca was given up to rescue for the sole reason that she has a ‘broken’ tail. The breeder didn’t make the effort to sell a less than perfect pure-bred. Her Foster at the Humane Society said several people passed on her for the same reason, she isn’t a perfect pure-bred. Oh well, their loss is our gain. and that broken tail gives her ‘character’ or is that she is a character. I get confused sometimes.
March 11th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Tammy, when I hear about people re-homing their animals, I often think of you and your cat and how you did it responsibly, knowing it was best for your cat and you would find her the absolute best home.
Stephanie, thank you for your comment. I can’t believe people would pass up Fresca. She is so pretty, and I’m sure she is a character! You’re lucky to have her. She’s lucky too (although she probably doesn’t know it)!
March 11th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
As he was growing up, my husband’s family never had a dog from beginning to end. Always ended up giving it away due to some behavior issue. Hard to understand even though my own childhood dogs often made us crazy as training your dog was not something that was very widely practiced 20 or 30 years ago. We just put up with the nuttiness. As adults with dogs of our own, both my husband and I believe very strongly in trying to do the best for our dogs with stimulation and training. Makes life better for all of us. I wish people would stop seeing animals as disposable and either take responsibility for an animal for its entire life span, or just not have pets at all.
March 11th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
This really saddens me, Lindsay. Yes, unfortunately some people will have lame excuses to dispose of their dogs.
I know two people who gave up their dogs after a short time because:
“He’s always after food and sheds too much!” (Damn it, didn’t she find out if the dog would shed a lot BEFORE HAND????)
and the other:
“He was peeing all over the house!” Why didn’t you train him??!!
It’s really very sad.
March 11th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
It is really sad. I feel somewhat guilty for drawing attention to these ads in a humorous way. But it is reality. The examples you gave are classic.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Scary. So many of the reasons are just down to people being idle. Do they think Dogs somehow miraculously train themselves?
March 12th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Apparently that is what they think.
March 13th, 2009 at 9:13 am
So much about keeping a dog is about the owners and their commitment. I remember one thing our puppy class trainer told us – your puppy isn’t misbehaving to piss you off, he just doesn’t know what you want him to do. Instead of getting angry or frustrated, teach him what he should do/praise him when he does something you want him to do more.
I am in horror from Shane’s story about the co-worker.
November 21st, 2009 at 1:17 pm
These are just more reasons why:
Animals never cease to amaze me and people never cease to disapoint me.
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Agreed.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:27 pm
I have the same obsession! I cannot help looking at the ads for a second dog. I love Duluth and Fargo but Minneapolis depresses me with all the terrible owners and the people who charge WAY to much for a re-homing fee.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Also, I think the biggest issue with owners today is commintment and attitude. It doesnt matter if you are a low-energy person and your dog is high-energy. Make it work! There is a reason why this dog came into your life, whether it was to make you less lazy or teach you patience.
Many owners are picking ‘cute’ breeds and not considering the shedding, medical costs are more.
I dont understand why people think pets should adapt to us when we cannot even make an effort to satisfy them. I got a dog expecting him to be perfect… boy was I wrong. It would have been much smarter for me to give my dog away after the first surgury he needed or the first problem he had but I didnt. He is a work in progress and always keeps me on my toes but now I am such a kinder, more patient, accepting and thinner person today thanks to my dog.
I shudder when I see other college students with part-time jobs, like myself, getting a dog. Most people do not realize the financial, mental and physical challenges these animals will put us through. I can honestly say that I work my butt off for my dog.
The most common ads I see are usually allergy related or moving.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
It amazes me how little people know about dogs when they share our lives so closely with us.
I am always browsing through the local rescue sites.