Why do I read articles like this?

[wordinista]

This breaks my heart.

People suck.  And some people suck so hard, they deserve to have a Louisville Slugger taken to their kneecaps.  AUGH.  WHY.

Comments

[vitani]

Man, we're forever having people dump animals in our parking lot.

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

I don't understand what's so hard about finding a shelter, or a rescue organization, or SOMETHING. I just... why. I mean, I look at how completely trusting Darwin and Sydney are, and I can't imagine betraying that trust. I mean, ideally people wouldn't give up their pets at all, but if you're going to, then at least don't be a complete scumbag about it. :(

[karit.livejournal.com]

Oh, god. How can anyone do that? I don't--I literally cannot understand. Oh, those poor animals. Scared and alone and so confused, and how--augh. It's monstrous. I just--

I really need an icon to express rage right now. Blinding, incandescent rage.

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

These are probably the same kinds of assholes who figure the dogs don't know any better, since they're "just dumb animals."

[rya-kelley.livejournal.com]

Man, what a downer.

[literary-dragon.livejournal.com]

I once read a very sad poem from the dog's point of view about being abandoned and faithfully waiting for his person to come back.

I couldn't imagine my pampered little kitty cat surviving more than a few minutes in the wild. I think I'll go give her a cuddle.

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think I've read the same one. :(

And, yes, both of our pampered pooches have gotten plenty of snuggles now.

[smartycat.livejournal.com]

Part of it is laziness and callousness to be sure. Part of it is municipalities that don't have a devoted animal shelter. (And there are more than you'd think.) And part of it, assuming the people know about it, may be the kill rate. Memphis Animal Services at one time was infamous among rescue groups nationwide for its kill rate. Too much inflow; not enough output of adoptions. They're working at it and slowly getting better, but (dependent in part on the season) owner surrenders still largely die soon after they're brought through the doors.

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

See... that's why I could never volunteer at a shelter. I'd be bringing home all the Green Mile dogs. Every. Last. One. Because I'm that much of a sap. :(

[thatnanda.livejournal.com]

When my sister and her roommate had a falling out, rather than look harder for a home for her two cats, the roommate said she was just going to have to put them down. Two perfectly healthy, sweet cats. My sister said no way, she'd rather keep them herself if that was the case. Fortunately, a good home was eventually found, but I can't believe that some people would even consider that an option. It makes me sick.

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

Augh. That's fucking ridiculous. You'd rather pay to have two cats put down than put a little bit of goddamn effort into finding a home for them? I... can't follow that line of thinking. There are so many avenues to find good homes for pets -- my vet's clinic has a bulletin board specifically for that purpose (lost and found pets, as well as people who know they can't keep their pet, but don't want to drop them at a shelter).

[ankoku-jin.livejournal.com]

It's right up there with the people who, when told I am considering chemo for my cat or that I spent $1800 just to get a diagnosis, give me a blank look or straight-out say, "It's just a cat!" And then I feel like saying, "If your child had cancer, would you just cut your losses and have another one? Chemo is expensive!" But I settle for giving them the blackest look I can muster, which is apparently so vile as to cause the target to physically recoil. ;P

It's clear that money and convenience > love for these kinds of people. For me... well, if money could fix my kitty I'd live in a shack to save her. :(

[tatertott.livejournal.com]

I totally agree. My dog, Rugby, now has a fixature on his arm due to a second surgery to straighten his arm from when he broke it as a pup. The first surgery for the break was at least $4000. This current one will definitely go over $5k easily. And yet I get asked all the time at work, "so...when would you ever say 'nope, can't do that'?" or I get told "it's just a dog." Might be "just a dog" to some people, but he truly is my four-footed child.

We also got a cat after our neighbors moved out and left her behind. For two weeks, she was skittish and howled outside the house, waiting to be let in - but no one was there. We gained her trust with food and water and she's now the most adoring cat I've ever met.

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

Yeah, exactly. We don't have kids (and we're not sure we want to), so... our pets are basically four-footed children, and if keeping them well and healthy and happy means that I've got to sacrifice some comforts, then that's what has to be done.

There's a quote I use as a signature on a forum I frequent:

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

That... pretty much says it all for me.

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

*nodnodnod nod*

I know exactly where you're coming from. I will never forget when my own mother asked me "So how long are you planning on taking this?" in regards to Bronte, and trying to find a treatment for her. We spent $1500 on a blood transfusion and a bone marrow test, and for a while there, she had vet visits every two weeks. Sometimes, when she was really bad, once a week.

Sydney's got GI issues and allergy/skin issues, which as necessitated a switch over to a grain-free diet. It's going to require some fancy footwork in the budgeting department, but if it can take care of her itching and her anal sac problems, it's totally worth it. Darwin and Sydney go to doggy daycare once a week, every week, and if things are tight, then they STILL go, and it comes out of some other part of the budget. These aren't "just" animals -- and every time someone say something like that, I want to kick them.

[ankoku-jin.livejournal.com]

It's going to require some fancy footwork in the budgeting department

It's funny you should mention that, because as I was prepping this month's budget, I slashed my own food budget by over 30%, and increased the pet food budget by about 400%. XD; I may plan my own meals around the bargain circulars, but my cats will eat like kings...

[emrlddragon.livejournal.com]

Yes, people do indeed suck.

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

I think the part of the article that made me cry (in fact, it's making me tear up right now) was the part where it mentioned the pile of pigeons. The dogs had known enough to catch them, but couldn't figure out how to get past the feathers. I don't think I really realized until that point just how deep their dependency on us really is.

(Though it makes me wonder if dogs fed on a raw diet might have a better idea, since they frequently get rabbit or duck frames. But the chances of someone who cares enough about their dog TO feed raw, and can also AFFORD IT, would not be the type of person to ditch their animal.)