Dumping the old dog or cat and replacing them with a younger pet...or even a sofa??

[brentspeak]

This is the first I've ever about something like this. Anyone who tosses aside their elderly pet in favor of a younger one should be condemned to Hell forthwith -- and that goes double for those who "trade one in" for a freaking piece of furniture. But then, according to the story, even the puppies can get abandoned. From an article in Scotland's Evening News:

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/features/Pets--Puppies-and-kittens.4791034.jp

The Scottish SPCA's Edinburgh and Lothians Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Balerno is already bracing itself for a busy season.

Centre manager Diane Stewart urged people to think twice before "trading in" an elderly animal.

She said: "Every Christmas we are bursting at the seams with abandoned animals. It's one of our busiest and most heartbreaking times of year, when people get rid of their old and loyal dogs to make way for the Christmas puppy or for new furniture, because they think it might get ruined.

"We pick up the pieces. This means finding new homes for elderly animals who don't understand why they are no longer wanted.

It also means finding new homes for the Christmas puppies. Sadly many people soon tire of their new puppy and they are dumped on us or thrown away like rubbish."

[flvegan]

1. It happens so often, it's shocking.

When I volunteered at the humane society, you'd see it all the time. Turned in because of a new pet, getting on the couch...I saw a couple dogs come in, and the reason given what "they didn't go along with the couch" (they were the wrong color).

With my rescue, I get calls all the time for this very thing especially this time of year. "Well, we're getting a new puppy for Christmas, and 2 dogs is too much". Which is nothing compared to the June/July months when folks that got a puppy for Christmas now realize that an 8 month old dog is too much of a handful and isn't "cute enough" anymore.

[dawgmom]

4. I know

I do rescue also. It's maddening, isn't it? See my post below. Are you near a military base? If so, I'll bet you see a lot that come into rescue that way, also.

[flvegan]

5. Macdill AFB is 10 miles south of me.

We're lucky in that we have a good program in the county to foster the pets of soldiers sent overseas.

[dawgmom]

10. We could never keep up with the volume here

I'm in the DC area. This is military-central.

[redqueen]

2. I wish I hadn't read that.

What the hell is wrong with those people? x( :cry:

[dawgmom]

3. Adopting a pet is a lifetime commitment

I wish I believed in Hell, because it would be nice if there were a special spot there for people who abandon animals simply because they grow tired of them, or they're too lazy to train them (and get ticked off because they pee in the house or chew up their belongings.)

The only exception to this are the sad cases where people are forced to give up animal companions due to financial circumstances (as in, they lose their house, or they become ill). Those situations are heartbreaking both for the pet owner and the pet.

We have another situation here locally. We get a lot of animals in the sheltars who belong to military families. When they relocate overseas, they can't take the pet with them, and it ends up in the sheltar. While I understand a family's desire to have a dog or cat, that's pretty short-sighted on their part. Pets aren't disposable. If it's likely that you'll be stationed overseas at some time, you should make arrangements for somebody to take your pet while you're gone, imo.

[Arugula Latte]

6. I want to strangle people like that.

I can't imagine.

Here I am wishing my 16-year-old cat (who is still healthy and frisky, thank goodness) could have 40 more years with me ...

[Richardo]

7. When I'm king, adopting a pet will be just as rigorous as adopting a child

I don't understand people who think a pet is an inanimate object.

[Inchworm]

8. I see this 2-3 times a week

and I want to knock people like that in the head.

x(

[Tuesday Afternoon]

9. ~

:wtf: :grr:

[littlebit]

11. That just makes me sad.

I love my old mutts. I would never get rid of them. I wish they could live forever.

[dropkickpa]

12. Ugh

Old dogs are so cool, and people are such fuck-tards.

[undeterred]

13. I loved my old dog so much I can't even fathom this.

He was nearly 16 when he died last summer, and I still miss everything about him. I love the new dog because he is adorable and fun, but we don't have the shared experience and years together that I had with the old one... its a different kind of love. It takes a while to develop the deep attachment that you have with a dog who has been your companion for years. I guess some people never develop that. They don't know what they're missing.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

14. I adopted

an old cat several years back.

He was 14. He was hiding in a corner at the shelter. I asked about him and the woman who was showing us the cats said he was left by a man whose wife had died - it was her cat and the husband hated the poor thing.

He lived to be 17. He had a happy life here and was loved.

This OP made me cry.

Damn you brentspeak.

[brentspeak]

18. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that to you

I have decided, though, that when I can afford to have a dog in my place, I'll adopt one from the local animal rescue place.

[Initech]

15. People who do that should not be allowed to have pets.

As a pet owner this infuriates me to no end. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[derby378]

16. We just rescued a young female cat off the streets last night

I don't know if we'll be able to keep her. We already have a cat that's 19 years old and very territorial. If they can't get along, we'll have to take the poor girl to a no-kill shelter.

She was dumped in our neighborhood. Her fur shows signs of being pressed down by a collar until recently, and she looked completely lost. I am furious at whomever did this, but filled with compassion towards the little kitty, who is now in a safe place with food, water, and warmth. Just in time, too - Dallas has been hit with freezing temperatures and high winds. She's not going to suffer and freeze on our watch. No way.

[jobycom]

17. Why not kill two birds with one stone?

Just serve the family dog instead of turkey or ham. You save money, and you clear the way for next year's dinner.