Foo - Is there a good reason to get rid of a pet?

Just curious.

When the pet is suffering. Yes.

I'll never forget the look on her face as the vet administered the injection.

When the pet is suffering. Yes.

I'll never forget the look on her face as the vet administered the injection.

I wouldn't really call that "getting rid of." I mean giving away your pet.

(If new) In compatibility with an existing pet?

If a baby is introduced and the family pet is a danger to it.

If a baby is introduced and the family pet is a danger to it.Pet was there first. Get rid of the kid.

"Getting rid of" sounds like you're tired of the pet and don't want it any more. That is a terrible reason, but if it means the pet will get a better home where it is loved, then by all means get rid of it.

when you're broke and can't afford cat food or kitty litter.

Pet was there first. Get rid of the kid.

I like your thinking.

My sister has gotten rid of two dogs. The first was when she was out of college and had to work 3rd shift, the poor dog didnt have a proper schedule (but then we got her :)). The next dog she got rid of snapped at her new baby (but the other dog had no issues and is still with them).

I find cats quite useful, they tend to break the ice for house guests.

If the wife objects to the 17 y/o Korean girl...yeah.

Life changes (transfer overseas, loss of job, baby, etc) which forces you into a situation where the pet may not have the best life with you anymore. :(

when you're broke and can't afford cat food or kitty litter.or mounting vet bills.
in this economy, who knows when you might end up jobless, starving, and in need of medical attention yourself. Sometimes you gotta be selfish.

My fiancee had to get rid of (put down) her dog when it got some sort of brain lesions which eventually caused it to go insane and attack her while she was sleeping. :(

I can't think of a reason. Pets are like my other kids. I suppose if they threatened my child.

I suppose if they threatened my child....You'd get rid of the child to keep the pet from being tempted to attack them?

Quit being a girl If you don't want it anymore get rid of it you may not be a pet kind o person just don't do it again that just makes you Irresponsible.

Quit being a girl If you don't want it anymore get rid of it you may not be a pet kind o person just don't do it again that just makes you Irresponsible.

You have some balls to come in here and call me that.

My GSD nipped my daughter. 3 days later, I gave him away. He's now a trained drug sniffing dog and is happy as a clam to have a job. Just one of those dogs who didn't take to kids. Sad, but had to do it.

When she lies about being about on birth control, and find out she is Mormon, and you are Lutheran.
She wants a big family, you want a very small family.

I've never gotten rid of a pet. To me, to undertake the responsibility of first thinking about taking in the animal means assuming I have the animal for it's lifetime. Either that or don't take the animal in the first place. And I've lived through a couple of bad animals - ones I could NOT train, etc. But they were mine and they were treated fine throughout their stay with me.

Had an ex-BIL - who married young and had children young and his wife wanted to have animals in their young children's lives to enrich them, etc. They went through a myriad of cats, dogs, puppies, rabbits, guniea pigs, hamsters, etc etc etc. And every few months they would get rid of the animals AND THEN go get another one. Disposable pets! One kitten I know was dropped off in a drug store. I really hated him/them for doing that. Tried to talk them out of every "acquisition" - "COME ON LAURIE - a guniea pig is cute when little - and it is really a POOP machine (I raised long haired piggies for shows) - and still she would get one so her 2 yr old could experience the THRILL of having a pet.

Idiots.

However, if I did have an animal that proved dangerous - or did not blend into my family if I brought a baby home <edit> or attacked a member of my family or friends <edit> - then I would go and try and find it a home.

But people really need to think about long term when they take in an animal.

I've given up two dogs, and hated doing so both times.
First was a German Shepherd Aussie Shepherd mix. Great dog but extremely protective, gave her up
when she attacked one of my son's friends who (stupidly) climbed our back fence. I had no problem with
that, other than the fact she didn't break off the attack when I called her off.
Gave her to the police dept where she was trained as a bomb dog.
The other was an old Golden Retriever I got from the rescue (I worked for them prior to this), I brought him with me when I moved to Texas, but when I learned that I was going to be sent to South Africa for an extended assignment I really had no choice but to return him. As far as I know he lived out
the rest of his days on a horse farm in Northern Virginia.

A month or so after we got our new puppy(2 years ago) our cats started pissing in the floor. I guess they were just mad because of the dog in the house, I dunno. We really hated to get rid of them but we could not live with cat piss everywhere.

I've never gotten rid of a pet. To me, to undertake the responsibility of first thinking about taking in the animal means assuming I have the animal for it's lifetime. Either that or don't take the animal in the first place. And I've lived through a couple of bad animals - ones I could NOT train, etc. But they were mine and they were treated fine throughout their stay with me.


But people really need to think about long term when they take in an animal.

+ a zillion.
Pets are a lifetime commitment and not a lifestyle accessory.
People dont research animals thoroughly enuff or think their own future/situations
out before they get them, thats why our shelters are full to capacity and strays become a problem.
Breeders suck, and if you have an apartment, chances are high you
should not have a dog. Sorry if this offends, but as an avowed animal
rights'er, my opinions are strong on this subject.

+ a zillion.
Pets are a lifetime commitment and not a lifestyle accessory.
People dont research animals thoroughly enuff or think their own future/situations
out before they get them, thats why our shelters are full to capacity and strays become a problem.
Breeders suck, and if you have an apartment, chances are high you
should not have a dog. Sorry if this offends, but as an avowed animal
rights'er, my opinions are strong on this subject.

+1

Closest thing to getting rid of a pet was turning a stray cat over to a rescue. MY mom wanted to keep her but she was felv+ and their current cat is not, just too much risk. I wanted to have the cat euthanized since the chances of a felv+ cat finding a home are slim, but oh no she wouldn't hear of that and paid for all the shots and vet checks then made a "donation" just so the rescue would take it. Stupid woman, wish I could shove her in the gas chamber with all the HEALTHY animals that get killed for lack of good homes.

There are plenty of reasons someone may have to send a pet to a new loving home, but none of them are good, and I wouldn't call it "getting rid" of them either.

when a pet poos in your cornflakes.

I've never gotten rid of a pet. To me, to undertake the responsibility of first thinking about taking in the animal means assuming I have the animal for it's lifetime. Either that or don't take the animal in the first place. And I've lived through a couple of bad animals - ones I could NOT train, etc. But they were mine and they were treated fine throughout their stay with me.


What a stretch of the truth. how about those gazillion cute kitties?


(please don't stick another needle in the voodoo doll)

Got rid my cat years ago. Guh. What an annoying little imp. The only remorse I feel is that she's now bugging my parents. But, hey, they said they wanted her.

+ a zillion.
Pets are a lifetime commitment and not a lifestyle accessory.
People dont research animals thoroughly enuff or think their own future/situations
out before they get them, thats why our shelters are full to capacity and strays become a problem.
Breeders suck, and if you have an apartment, chances are high you
should not have a dog. Sorry if this offends, but as an avowed animal
rights'er, my opinions are strong on this subject.

Not necessarily so, if you are willing to spend time with them walking and playing every day. In fact, I have a Newf right now and besides being great with kids, they're supposed to be very good apartment dogs despite their size. They're sort of couch potatoes and can live great in an apartment... IF you walk them daily so they don't get fat.

It all boils down to a committment to the pets. I still feel bad about having to give away the GSD after 5 years, but there was no other choice. And, fortunately, I was able to find him a really good home.

Absolutely. When the pet no longer brings you happiness.

In the past month, I have re-homed 2 cats, and am in process on the 3rd. When I took on the responsibilities of the animals, I expected it to be a lifetime commitment. The oldest was 5, the middle one 4, and the one we're hoping to find a spot for this week is 1 1/2. I got all as kittens.

Re-homing them was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, but the fact of the matter is, we were no longer going to be able to provide them with a home. We're moving to Boston on monday, and if anyone here has looked for apartments in Boston, they understand the difficulty in finding suitable, affordable housing, especially with the cost of our upcoming wedding. An apartment that took cats, was close enough to my fiancees school and my work and would give us a location where we'd have time to spend with the cats cost roughly $6000 UP FRONT! (between 1st, last, security, and broker fees). We simply couldnt afford it. The other places that allowed us to have pets were 45 minutes away by train, plus bus time, and we'd never get to spend time with the cats anyways. We wound up with an apartment on campus that only required a $1500 deposit.

The oldest cat got me through my divorce and was my closest friend when i had very few. I was amazed at the interest in her when i described her on craigslist, and I interviewed multiple families before picking one. They have several daughters, including one with special needs, who lavish attention on Niblet. I have visited her at her new home twice now, and though she is still excited to see me, she is clearly happy and well loved.

The 4 year old cat had unique coloring and also attracted a lot of interest. In the end I decided on a 16 year old boy who clearely loved her, and whom Chewbacca (Chewie for short) warmed up to immediately. I could tell he was looking for an affectionate buddy to hang out in his room, and that's a perfect fit for chewie. Though I havent been to visit her yet, Eric, the boy I gave her too, has sent a multitude of emails and photos, and she looks to be doing excellent. She's even become good friends with his lab, and the pictures of them snoozing together are awesome.

So, while i didn't want to do this, and it was very hard for me (I cried both times, before the people came to take them, and after) I am certain these two have wonderful homes now.

The youngest, recently had some "bathroom problems" that required vet care. Even though we are re-homing him this week, we're not the type to dump our problem in someone elses lap, so off to the vet he went, and he will now be going to the temporary foster home with 2 cases of his special food and a paid vet bill of $300 to make sure he's in no discomfort whatsoever.

I want it made clear I am sharing this so that people can understand that when you make a lifetime commitment, sometimes you have to make choices that alter that commitment, but that you can handle it in a smart, responsible way that takes the best interest of the pets to heart.

I've never gotten rid of a pet. To me, to undertake the responsibility of first thinking about taking in the animal means assuming I have the animal for it's lifetime. Either that or don't take the animal in the first place. And I've lived through a couple of bad animals - ones I could NOT train, etc. But they were mine and they were treated fine throughout their stay with me.

Had an ex-BIL - who married young and had children young and his wife wanted to have animals in their young children's lives to enrich them, etc. They went through a myriad of cats, dogs, puppies, rabbits, guniea pigs, hamsters, etc etc etc. And every few months they would get rid of the animals AND THEN go get another one. Disposable pets! One kitten I know was dropped off in a drug store. I really hated him/them for doing that. Tried to talk them out of every "acquisition" - "COME ON LAURIE - a guniea pig is cute when little - and it is really a POOP machine (I raised long haired piggies for shows) - and still she would get one so her 2 yr old could experience the THRILL of having a pet.

Idiots.

However, if I did have an animal that proved dangerous - or did not blend into my family if I brought a baby home <edit> or attacked a member of my family or friends <edit> - then I would go and try and find it a home.

But people really need to think about long term when they take in an animal.

+ one zillion and 6!! (additional 6 just to beat -=(8)=-) :thumb:



What a stretch of the truth. how about those gazillion cute kitties?

(please don't stick another needle in the voodoo doll)
Oh puh-lease yourself. Taking in a stray that is pregnant and then re-homing the kittens when born is NOT getting rid of a pet.

To expand, I did give up a pet once and that is why I feel so strongly about NOT giving up a pet! I had a dog that I loved dearly. I had him for about 7 years, but....I got suckered by the girl I was dating in to moving in with her. The only place we could find did not allow pets.

After one seemingly good home (who returned him two days later) my aunt and uncle offered to take him. However, he would have to stay in their back yard ( he had never been an "outside" dog before ). At least my aunt and uncle lived relatively close so I could go by and see him more often.

Anyway, apparently he was barking incessantly because he didn't understand why he was being left outside. It certainly wasn't for lack of space...they had a huge fenced back yard.

He wasn't there more than a couple of months before my cousin told me she went out to feed him in the morning and he was dead in his dog house. They strongly suspect a neighbor poisoned him. They think it was probably the same teenager that they claimed poisoned their cat a year or two before.

I'll never forget that "pit in my stomach" feeling like I completely let him down. How sad and frightened he must have been that his "daddy" abandoned him. I'll never give a pet up again. A pet is like a child to me....I'm in there for the long haul because I LOVE them like a child. You would just abandon your child because of any reasons given above would you? If you get a new job and the pet can't come with you - don't take the job!

What a stretch of the truth. how about those gazillion cute kitties?


(please don't stick another needle in the voodoo doll)

No, I could not keep all 9 kittens, but I rescued them from a certain death from other cats or oppossums outside - and instead ran ads for each kitten and interviewed each recipient and family members accompanying them before the adopted out a kitty. And I am pleased with each placement. This is one area I am pretty animate about, not something to poke me for.

We got rid of our two dogs a few years back. We weren't giving them any quality attention, so it seemed best to pass them on to someone who had the interest.

I still like dogs, and it can be nice to pet a friend's dog or play fetch for a bit, but I don't miss owning ours one tiny little bit. The smells of them, the messes, the having to kennel them, blah blah blah. For a few months after we got rid of them, I'd have the occasional "nightmare" where one of 'em would come back home. Aah! :eek:

Breeders suck, and if you have an apartment, chances are high you
should not have a dog. Sorry if this offends, but as an avowed animal
rights'er, my opinions are strong on this subject.


Not necessarily so, if you are willing to spend time with them walking and playing every day.

I agree with skiahh on this one. We've got a ridgeback/boxer mix and live in an apartment. I run (well, as much as you want to call my shuffling "running") the dog in the morning before I leave for work. We have a walker who comes Mon-Thur for about 90 minutes of solo time for the days we aren't home, and I'm back home about 3 hours after the walker leaves. For any given stretch, the pupster is only alone for 3 or 4 hours.

We got rid of our two dogs a few years back. We weren't giving them any quality attention, so it seemed best to pass them on to someone who had the interest.

I still like dogs, and it can be nice to pet a friend's dog or play fetch for a bit, but I don't miss owning ours one tiny little bit. The smells of them, the messes, the having to kennel them, blah blah blah. For a few months after we got rid of them, I'd have the occasional "nightmare" where one of 'em would come back home. Aah! :eek:

I really would like to have pets. I like playing with other people's cats and dogs but I would be a disasterous pet owner so I don't. I just keep trying to bribe the neighbours' cats to come and hang out in my garden. No luck so far. They just amble through, without a by-your-leave.

"Originally Posted by skiahh
Not necessarily so, if you are willing to spend time with them walking and playing every day."



I agree with skiahh on this one. We've got a ridgeback/boxer mix and live in an apartment. I run (well, as much as you want to call my shuffling "running") the dog in the morning before I leave for work. We have a walker who comes Mon-Thur for about 90 minutes of solo time for the days we aren't home, and I'm back home about 3 hours after the walker leaves. For any given stretch, the pupster is only alone for 3 or 4 hours.

This is why I specifically said "the percentage is high", not absolutely.
But, being aware of such stuff, I see waaaay too many people who shouldnt have
dogs. In any rental situation IVe ever lived, we have been surrounded by
inconsiderate, selfish dog owners. I feel very sorry for any animal that does not
get lots of attention every day. I wonder why these people (mostly younger) get
dogs and only do the bare minimum just to sustain life ? Its not fair to the dogs,
who I feel are much smarter and aware than people give them credit for.

I really would like to have pets. I like playing with other people's cats and dogs but I would be a disasterous pet owner so I don't. I just keep trying to bribe the neighbours' cats to come and hang out in my garden. No luck so far. They just amble through, without a by-your-leave.

BUT - I bet they leave a calling card ...

BUT - I bet they leave a calling card ...

If it were a dog, they'd leave him a P-Mail.

if only i could train them to pee and poo in the tomato plants.

There's nothing more "enjoyable" when gardening in digging in the garden and going to break a "dirt clod" up only to find it's a cat poo. I developed torette's those days.

After we got our dog (who finished obedience school last night but still needs a lot of socialization), we were talking to the neighbor lady. They had some tiny, loud little fuzzball for awhile, and then it mysteriously disappeared. So we asked her what happened to their dog. Turns out the mom was such a neat freak that she couldn't handle having a dog in the house, so they gave it up!

Well duh lady, maybe you shouldn't have adopted a dog in the first place! Or just man up and vacuum the more often (which is what we do)! And from the way their teenage daughter looks at our dog, I get the feeling it wasn't a unanimous family decision.

When the wife and I committed to get a dog, we committed to it for good. The rescue agency asked a whole bunch of questions (what you do if you had a baby or had to move or developed allergies, etc. etc.). The answer to all is the same. We will do our best to keep that dog in the family. Now, if we can just get her to like strangers, we'll be all set. We knew the job was tough when we took it.

And the instructor last night asked us what our "exercise plan" was. I laughed at her. Exercise plan!? How about 3-4 walks of 1-4 miles a day (so maybe 5-6mi a day on average), hikes of up to 9mi, and short rollerblading excursions with my wife? I don't think our dog hurts for exercise.

In any rental situation IVe ever lived, we have been surrounded by
inconsiderate, selfish dog owners. I feel very sorry for any animal that does not
get lots of attention every day.

We're pretty lucky in the fact that all but 1 person in our complex seems to take really good care of their dog(s). It's unusual to head into the parking lot and not encounter someone else just heading out to or back from the hiking trails with their dog.
There was one guy who kept his dog on the porch and it would just bark and bark all day long, but I think enough people complained about it because he moved out a few weeks ago.

Here's where the forum jumps on me as an evil person. I "got rid of" (my choice of words, too) our dog about 4 years ago.

Simply put, we were bad owners. We both had a dog growing up and knew what it entailed. So we got a great spitz mix mutt from the local no-kill shelter. However, although we adequately fed the dog (healthy food and not overfed), petted it, and generally treated it OK and respectfully, it was always an afterthought in our minds and it wasn't fair to the dog.

Good example - we noticed we weren't taking him on many walks and he had a few accidents. Our solution? doggie door to the back yard. Gave him lots of toys out there, even bought a great bowl that hooked up to the hose to always give him cool, fresh water in Texas. I kept the backyard cleaned up. He LOVED the door.

Once again, not fair to him even though he felt well treated and acted that way.

Anyway, when our first child was due, we analyzed our behavior and thought that if he was that secondary to us now, what would it be like after the birth.

I put an ad in my company's online, internal, classified. One of our production managers called me up and told me that he wanted a nice dog for his elderly parents who wanted a dog to take on morning and evening walks around the retirement village.

We won't be getting another dog - even when my son is 8 years old and begging. We will get a fish and name it dog.

I used to say my pets were like my children until I had children. Now the pets are simply that: pets.

I see nothing wrong with "getting rid" of a pet as long as it's done in a thoughtful way. For example, if you want to get rid of a cat, find someone who is genuinely able in taking the cat; don't just hand it off to anyone who wants one.

We're pretty lucky in the fact that all but 1 person in our complex seems to take really good care of their dog(s). It's unusual to head into the parking lot and not encounter someone else just heading out to or back from the hiking trails with their dog.
There was one guy who kept his dog on the porch and it would just bark and bark all day long, but I think enough people complained about it because he moved out a few weeks ago.

Its hard for me, cuz I wont complain, no matter how much noise the dog makes.
Ive left notes for owners recommending they get someone to check on the dogs
hoping they take the hint, but I worked in shelter for a short time and dont want
a dog to end up in one f them under any circumstance, so I keep official types out
of the complaining process so there is no "Dogs must go" ultimatum given to the
irresponsible owners.