Disposable Pets Rant

[mufasa]

I was poking around on Craigslist and found a rash of ads with the theme of "Got a puppy, guinea pig must go" or "Got a cat, guinea pig must go" and it made my blood boil. Since when is it okay to dump one living creature for another? The guinea pig was there first, but apparently that doesn't matter when people want to go on to the next new "plaything." God help those dogs and cats if a new baby gets added to those families.

I'm personally of the opinion that pets, no matter what type, are a lifetime commitment. I even rescued a goldfish that a co-worker was going to flush because it chewed the tails off its bowl mates, and he made the move from IL to FL with us, along with the rest of my menagerie. I've owned a feral (literally) cat for nearly 15 years, even though he pretty much stays under the bed 23 1/2 hours a day and will bite you to the bone if he gets the chance. My piggies, Borat and Amy, are here for life, and if some problem would have cropped up between them and my kitties, I would have taken the responsibility to sort it out so everyone could stay.

I know there are some extreme circumstances that justify rehoming, but "I got a puppy (or kitten)" isn't one of them. I just hope that sort of person isn't as frivolous with their human relationships.

[Wildcavy]

I completely agree with you. When I see / hear things like that, I have moments where I really understand the phrase "blind with rage." People start using "only" and "just" (they're "only" rodents, they're "just" "dumb" animals) and I swear my teeth start to crack ....

We're starting an education campaign in my area, precisely to address the attitude that they are disposable or practice pets. I've had to channel that anger into something more positive. Ultimately I hope it will make people think twice about getting piggies (or other small animals) from pet stores, or getting any small animal from anywhere without doing appropriate research.

Having piggies really has changed my life. Always knew pet stores and breeders were bad news and would never get animals from either, and in fact spoke out against them, but it never hit me so personally as with these little guys. People are easily appalled (relatively speaking) by cruelty to dogs, but the smaller the critter, the more people are apt to cluck their tongues and say "oh, too bad, but they are JUST a rat or ONLY a guinea pig and JUST go out an get another one."

[Dee_E]

I agree fully. The phrase 'It's just a' makes blood shoot out of my eyes. I simply don't understand that mind set.

I was telling my MIL about having to take Poppy to the Vet for a URI and she said that phrase. I was speechless. She had spent $100's on her dogs. To her, I guess a Piggy is a sub-pet to a dog or cat.

[MissJean]

My sister is stupid with kittens. She gets rid of a lot of cats when they older because she tires of them, then turns around and buys another baby kitty. She makes up obvious excuses like,"Oh, his personality just didn't fit with us" or something. She liked it well enough when it was a baby....

I also hated going to my last vet, because they didn't just take in exotics. People would come in with their dog and cat to get treated for something, see my guinea pigs, and then proceed to tell me a horror story from when they owned guinea pigs.

The first lady I encountered brought her dog in, and said her daughter let them "free" outside. I quote,"They're probably out in our backyard somewhere making babies and living good!" I wanted to tell her that no, they're probably dead.

A second time I went in this old man was there. One of those men who tell tall tales. He said his grandson's guinea pig went missing and he found it living in his basement a month later. I just put on my best fake smile and kept quiet. I don't like being rude to elderly people, but it's hard to hold your tongue sometimes.

I am so thankful my new vet's office only sees exotic animals. People there with birds, rats,turtles etc know that even the smallest of animals should be valued just like any other pet.

[Dee_E]

A few years ago I had to take my Rattie in to be put to sleep. The vet gave her the trank and gave her to me to hold while the meds worked. This older couple came in with their dog and sat next to me. When the woman realized I had a RAT!!! she huffed and made a nasty comment about vermin. I proceeded to tell her Harriet was a very loving creature and her S$#% didn't stink like a dogs does. The woman proceeded to go to the front desk to complain about having 'vermin' in the Vet's office. The Vet came out and showed her a photo of a rattie he had operated on for a tumor and told her they are creatures worthy of love and care just as are dogs. She and her husband left in a huff. The vet said something like 'Oh, well, some people never learn the sacredness of all life.'

I still miss Harriet.

[kananaka]

A few years ago I had to take my Rattie in to be put to sleep. The vet gave her the trank and gave her to me to hold while the meds worked. This older couple came in with their dog and sat next to me. When the woman realized I had a RAT!!! she huffed and made a nasty comment about vermin. I proceeded to tell her Harriet was a very loving creature and her S$#% didn't stink like a dogs does. The woman proceeded to go to the front desk to complain about having 'vermin' in the Vet's office. The Vet came out and showed her a photo of a rattie he had operated on for a tumor and told her they are creatures worthy of love and care just as are dogs. She and her husband left in a huff. The vet said something like 'Oh, well, some people never learn the sacredness of all life.'

I still miss Harriet.

That vet is a gem!

[Dee_E]

Yes, he certainly is!

[Wildcavy]

The woman proceeded to go to the front desk to complain about having 'vermin' in the Vet's office.

This is where I'd get in trouble by handing her a mirror and saying yes, there is a vermin in this office, could you please leave now ma'am?

[Dee_E]

This is where I'd get in trouble by handing her a mirror and saying yes, there is a vermin in this office, could you please leave now ma'am?

Absolutely! Sickening that people think this way

[mufasa]

I'll bet that woman is also a closed-minded, bigoted, discriminatory person in her dealings with humans, and I feel sorry for her dog. Life is life, regardless of the "package" it comes in. The way a person treats ALL creatures says a lot about his or her character, or lack thereof.

[Dee_E]

Well said. I wonder how she really viewed her dog.

Sorry if I have hijacked this thread.

[CavyMama]

I know what you mean. When I lived downstate, there was a vet who saw exotics, not far from where I lived. The vet was somewhat competent when it came to my pigs but came across to me as a little curt and abrupt. She didn't seem that interested in what I had to say about my pigs. Even going so far as to overtly ignore almost anything I was saying.

Not only that, I dreaded having to call to make an appointment. The people answering the phones didn't seem to enjoy working there at all and did nothing to hide it. The way they spoke to me when I called, I could almost see them rolling their eyes on the other end when I mentioned I was calling about guinea pigs. I got the "I'm bored with this" sighs from them and the "Why bother?" tone of voice.

When Shammy needed surgery to remove a tumor, the vet there referred me to a vet an hour away to have it done. I liked that vet a lot and ended up going to them for regular appointments, even though they were an hour away and probably double the price for services. It was worth it to me, to go somewhere where they didn't see me and my pigs as a waste of time.