yahoo answers

[crazywiggy]

Sorry, I had to post on this as its driving me nuts!

After someone on here (can't remember who, sorry) I have started visiting yahoo answers. I never realised how many heartless and stupid people there are out there.

The questions are bad enough...

"My pet is really sick, what could be wrong, should I see a vet?"
"My tiny puppy cries all day while I leave alone for 9 hours to go to work"
"How can I make my dog fat?"

Seriously, these people shouldn't be allowed to own a plant! But at least they are asking for advice. What is more worrying is the amount of morons who respond with toal BS!

I have so far heard:

"yes its fine to get a puppy and leave it home alone while you work all day"
"get your syrian hamster a friend"
"guinea pigs are a solitary species"
"male piggies can't ever be kept together"
"piggies only need 2 square feet of space"
"put vit C in the water"
"banana is fine to feed your piggy every day"
"it's a great idea to get a puppy for christmas"
"you should abuse your dog to train it"
"pit bulls are evil"
"breeding is fine / you can make a living from it"
"you shouldn't get a pet from a shelter/rescue if you have other pets because it will be diseased"
"the best place to get pets is a pet shop"
"rub his nose in it"
"dogs misbehave to spite you"

At least the people asking the stupid questions would have a chance of doing the right thing if it wasn't for all the idiots giving them false info.

I seem to be spending so much time on that site fighting a losing battle. Please, if nayone can find some spare time, try to get on and help out.

[Jennicat]

That site is so frustrating because whoever "wins" as the right answer is dependent on votes. So you can give the best answer, like "Don't breed, it's dangerous and there's an overpopulation" and then have some backyard breeder voted as the "correct" answer.

[envisionary333]

Perhaps rather than trying to answer every question you could post links to this site and Guinea Lynx? I really have to wonder why someone would trust the advice of random people in some question-answer forum online. It is rather frightening that they put the well beings of their pets in the hands of someone they've never met, having no idea what their qualifications or intentions are.

[Jennicat]

I used to do both, and my answers were typically voted down.

[envisionary333]

I just made an account and have been answering questions, my user name is "Michelle L." I'm trying to be as nice and fluffy as I can, while still being comprehensive, so people hopefully won't vote my answers away. It seems like a losing battle, though, but it's worth a shot! I have noticed a few links to this site, which is good.

[ellenvega]

Not every answer is voted on. Most times the original poster chooses the best answer. Sometimes they really do select the best answer (in our opinion, anyway!), other times they pick whatever they want to hear.

I get the thumbs down sometimes, but I take it as a compliment.

[pigsforlife]

I have given up on Yahoo Answers. You (Ellenvega) and Justified will have to answer all of those ridiculous questions.

[ctinaw]

Though I agree at the disturbing questions and answers on Yahoo! questions I do have to ask what is wrong with...

"yes its fine to get a puppy and leave it home alone while you work all day"

People who work shouldn't be allowed to have a puppy? Or a plant? I don't own either - I guess that's a good thing? But really - what is the alternative? I'd like a dog someday but don't intend on quitting my job when that happens. I don't believe they give puppy maternity leave.

[pigsforlife]

I would like to add that whilst the questions are rather ridiculous, it wasnt the only reason I refuse to answer any more questions, one of them is that I dont have as much time on my hands anymore. Another was that lots of experienced people are over there and are answering the questions fantastically, so there was no need for me to answer.

I said in my other post that Ellenvega and Justified (who seem to be the 2 main posters over there) will have to answer the ridiculous questions without me, please Envisionary and any other member forgive me for not including your names too.

[wickedrodent]

Yeah, I used to be on 24-7 answering pet questions- mainly in the small animal section. Im confusedbuthappy on there. I stopped a while ago because of no time.. I think I will start back helping.

I used to get a lot of best answers.. Basically I copied quotes from here/guinea lynx for the guinea pig stuff and typed up a hamster manual (copied and pasted different parts for different questions). It might be time consuming but I think it really does help people. At least they are trying by asking. The bad thing is that stupid people that have no idea what they are doing are giving advice and making it worse.

Kudos to anyone taking the time to helping. I think I posted something on here a while ago asking for help.

[daboysmom]

Yahoo answers is a silly place IMO. I click there occasionaly when I am researching something and usually it is of no help. I am really glad that there are some posting some good information on how to care for pets properly though.

Originally Posted by ctinaw

Though I agree at the disturbing questions and answers on Yahoo! questions I do have to ask what is wrong with...

"yes its fine to get a puppy and leave it home alone while you work all day"

People who work shouldn't be allowed to have a puppy? Or a plant? I don't own either - I guess that's a good thing? But really - what is the alternative? I'd like a dog someday but don't intend on quitting my job when that happens. I don't believe they give puppy maternity leave.

There are alternatives to leaving a puppy alone all day. Crate training with toys and yummys and then coming home on a lunch break to let them out for a bit. Also doggy day care or a dog walker/pet sitter. Occasionally it cant be avoided to leave them alone for an entire day. From what I have seen so far since I joined here of your posts you would be a great pet owner no matter what the pet because you seem to put alot of care and thought into learning what the pet needs and giving that to them.

And if anyone shouldnt have a plant it is me. The one plant I have ever kept alive for more than a month my cat ate! hehe

[Percy's Mom]

Originally Posted by daboysmom

There are alternatives to leaving a puppy alone all day. Crate training with toys and yummys and then coming home on a lunch break to let them out for a bit. Also doggy day care or a dog walker/pet sitter. Occasionally it cant be avoided to leave them alone for an entire day.

Additionally, you can also adopt an already trained adult dog. Not that it's ok to always leave them alone either, but they often require less training and supervision than a puppy.

[Alusdra]

Ditto on the older dog. Puppies need to go out like every couple hours or they have messes in your house. That's pretty much asking for it to leave them alone all day while you are at work. With an older dog (making sure you get one that doesn't have separation anxiety) you can let them be out in dog-proofed room in your house when your gone versus a crate, or even your whole house if you trust them.

Actually, though- I think there was a study that animals bought as presents didn't have a higher surrender rate than dogs bought/adopted by the person. I haven't actually seen the study, only heard about it from several independent sources, so I can't verify, but it seems that might not be the most horrible thing.

[crazywiggy]

As some of you guys mentioned I have been adding links wherever I feel it might help - to this site and a few others I know to be good.

People who work shouldn't be allowed to have a puppy? Or a plant? I don't own either - I guess that's a good thing? But really - what is the alternative? I'd like a dog someday but don't intend on quitting my job when that happens. I don't believe they give puppy maternity leave.

Sorry, I'm probably going to upset people now....

Is it okay for me to keep a single cavy in a 10 gallong aquarium because I want one but don't have enough space?
No - of course not.

Is it ok to get a puppy and leave it alone from 8am-6pm while I work?
No!

If you can't provide for an animals needs you shouldn't get one it's as simple as that.

I'm not saying no dog should ever be left - but puppies are a special case for lots of reasons.

For a start, many puppies do not get full bladder / bowel control until 6 months old. Until then they should be taken out to toilet approximately every 2 hours, as well as after eating or waking up.
Leaving a puppy at home all day means he will be forced to mess indoors, which is not only unpleasant but will undo any housetraining you try to do while you are there.
If you crate him this means he has to lay in it all day!

Secondly, puppies need a huge amount of attention, socialisation, training and play. They won't get all this in the couple of hours you are home in the evening. Chances are your puppy will be virtually impossible to train, poorly socialised etc.

And crating.... oh how I love this subject. Done properly, crate training is fine.
BUT - leaving a dog in a crate for more than the occassional couple of hours is no different to leaving a guinea pig in a shoe box!!!

A lot of dogs suffer from separation anxiety, because they can not cope with being abandoned as they see it and become extremely distressed. They may bark or whine constantly, mess in the house, become destructive or even self harm. Some dogs will chew their paws until they are a bleeding, limping mess.

To prevent separation anxiety means getting the dog used to being left alone. This is a slow and gradual process, building up from leaving him in a different room, to going out for a few minutes etc until you can safely leave him for a few hours. You can't do this if you work full time unless you were to take a couple of months off work.

Dogs are an active, intelligent, social species. They NEED exercise and mental stimulation. They NEED socialisation and training. They NEED company. To take a puppy that has had company 24/7 and effectively abandon it all day every day is nothing short of abuse in my opinion.

And don't forget, one of the most common reasons for dogs being dumped on rescue is that they become noisy and destructive when left.

By all means go to a rescue and find a mature dog that is used to being left. Even then, it is preferable to get someone round to let him out or walk him during the day. And of course there are some good interactive toys like kongs and activity balls to keep them amused.

But please, if you have any compassion or concern for your pets welfare do not get a puppy if you work full time. It just isn't fair.

[Jess Z]

I have an account on there and try to help as much as possible. I help the sensible people and ignore the ones about how to make dogs fat etc. I have told countlessly about pregnancies and the issues. Some people are just plain ignorant and others are realitively sensible. If you help the sensible you can ignore the people most likely to just be asking random questions but would never actually do it. It makes me mad and I agree that Yahoo Answers is no better. My username is jessz57 or jess I don't remember. Your right these people shouldn't be able to own a plant!

[daboysmom]

If you can't provide for an animals needs you shouldn't get one it's as simple as that.

While I do agree with your statement in general I also disagree to what extent "provide for their needs" means. If only the people who have resources to spoil animals rotton kept pets in their families then the number of animals dieing in kill shelters would double if not triple. A home can be a good loving home and still have some imperfections. Just to make it clear I'm not saying neglect is alright in any case! I am just saying a home that has to leave a dog alone most of the day but then say comes home and spends all evening with them at the dog park is much better than an animal being PTS in a shelter because no one wants him. Granted it isnt ideal but it isnt the worst thing on earth either. Three of our six were gated/crated as puppies with lunchtime bathroom break and they have done just fine.