A letter from a shelter manager.

[FutaNeko0200]

What this letter implies is that there are many shelters out there like this, and that there needs to be far less like them.

[★LunaLight★]

I didn't say that.

What? So suddenly everything is the owner's fault? Perhaps they were evicted, and no longer can pay to keep their pets fed or safe?

*struggling to pay rent*
*decides to get pet*
*makes no plans for if things go wrong*

Freak accidents aren't common enough to cause a problem with proper planning. Unexpected things happen, and during tough times it is completely understandable to want a companion. However, is it acceptable to adopt a child that you can't provide for throughout the entire time you are responsible for them? When you adopt something, you are saying, I will take care of this. You are not saying, I will take care of this as long as the circumstances allow. It is a big responsibility, and people should not get a pass because they didn't plan for unexpected events.

[guinness]

*struggling to pay rent*
*decides to get pet*
*makes no plans for if things go wrong*

Freak accidents aren't common enough to cause a problem with proper planning. Unexpected things happen, and during tough times it is completely understandable to want a companion. However, is it acceptable to adopt a child that you can't provide for throughout the entire time you are responsible for them? When you adopt something, you are saying, I will take care of this. You are not saying, I will take care of this as long as the circumstances allow. It is a big responsibility, and people should not get a pass because they didn't plan for unexpected events.

They could of had the pet before times got tough. How exactly could you plan for suddenly losing your job? Even if you save money it's going to run out eventually and the job market isn't exactly booming currently. It's shortsighted to act like there aren't legitimate reasons for people to give up there pets.

[The Australian]

They could of had the pet before times got tough. How exactly could you plan for suddenly losing your job? Even if you save money it's going to run out eventually and the job market isn't exactly booming currently. It's shortsighted to act like there aren't legitimate reasons for people to give up there pets.

This is what I meant.

[Kagamine]

Am I the only one who read this and thought it was more along the lines of convincing people to adopt (as opposed to breeding/buying) than to just not leave pets at shelters at all? Because I agree with the points made here, sometimes shit happens. I'm not saying there aren't careless people in the world, because there are, but there are also lots of loving pet owners who don't want to put their pets in a shelter but sometimes they have no choice.

So yeah, there's that point, too.

[★LunaLight★]

They could of had the pet before times got tough. How exactly could you plan for suddenly losing your job? Even if you save money it's going to run out eventually and the job market isn't exactly booming currently. It's shortsighted to act like there aren't legitimate reasons for people to give up there pets.

I get that it is understandable why it happens. I'm saying there should not be a regularly occurring process that causes people to give up their animals for dead. If there is, something should be done to prevent it. If nothing is done to prevent a problem, that is a sign that people do not care enough.

I mean, this isn't something I can blame anyone for. Everyone has their priorities in life, and I don't expect everyone to place animals high on their list. I just don't want people to think there is nothing that can be done. There is. Abandoning pets isn't an unavoidable part of life. Empower those who do hold animals high on their list by saying that we could do something about it.

When you adopt an animal it is your responsibility. If you fail to care for it, even if you have failed for a reason out of your control; you have failed nonetheless. The world improves by learning how to take charge of things we previously could not control.

[Kagamine]

Also, offering an animal you can no longer afford to someone else you know is an option. Something I don't hear about people doing much, but the option is out there. Plus, that way you can be pretty much sure the animal will get a good home.

For example, some relatives of mine took in a stray cat about two years ago, who, was apparently pregnant seeing as how she gave birth on their front porch only a couple weeks after she was taken in. Instead of putting the kittens up for adoption in a shelter, they were offered and given out to family members- and two kittens from the litter are actually my cats now. I don't think any of them wound up being given to a shelter, at least not directly, since my family was the last to adopt and we got the last two cats in the litter. I think it was a great way to deal with, what was it? 8? 10? Unexpected kittens.

Of course, I can't guarantee they were all given to permanent homes, but I think that since they were given to trusted family members, that's a much safer bet than if they were given to a shelter, or complete strangers.

[Turtlicious]

E:nvm

[Taaja Hart]

... *sigh*

Part of me wants my younger sister to read this, because she wants to open a shelter for animals when she 'grows up.' But she's young and I don't want her heart to break.

Eight years ago, my family adopted a puppy from a bed-and-breakfast in Wisconsin that frequently takes in stray animals on a temporary basis. They're usually pretty good about finding them homes.

This past August we adopted a special needs kitten that has a brain lesion and is unable to walk. Since being in our care it has made tremendous improvements and is friendly, cuddly, and even can flop his way over to his litterbox on his own. ^^

Both of them are very loved and I'm glad we are caring for them.

I hope that as soon as I am able, I'll adopt my pets from a shelter.

Thanks for posting.

[Christiefries]

For me, adopting a pet is like adopting a child. You have to be incredibly responsible, love it, care for it, and make sure it will have a good life. Just as you wouldn't give up your child when things got tough, you shouldn't give up a pet either. Fight to have it. If you can't have a pet, then don't have a kid. Pets are better and cheaper than children anyway.