Hardest decision of my life!!!! Need help

Originally Posted by StarryEyedTiGeR

I disagree! Pit bulls are WONDERFUL dogs. (and yes i have quite a bit of experience with them- i work around them every single day at my job at the shelter as well as other breeds) It's the media and people who are not experienced with them that give them a bad name/reputation. A properly trained pit bull can be just as gentle around a child as a golden retriever. And a mistreated golden can be just as likely to attack someone as a pit can. Please do not criticize an entire breed like that. An entire breed does not deserve a bad name just because of what one dog may have done. (and believe me i've seen more bite/attack dogs come into our shelter that are NOT pits than i've seen pits come in for that.) I mean this in a kind way (not trying to be mean at all hon)- but please do not criticize an entire breed of dog simply because of their unfair reputation that the media and people who are uneducated on this breed have given them. APBT's have it hard enough- they do not need any more negative attention. It's not right - they can be just as wonderful and loving as any other animal out there. Now i will say as far as the breed itself goes- yes, it may not be the right breed for everyone. Everyone is different and has a different lifestyle- some breeds may be more well suited for a person than others- so that is correct. I know for me personally, although i think they're cute and nice- begals would not be a good match for me breed wise just for a number of reasons....yet i seem to do better with larger more "high risk" breeds - it just depends

That being said- i wish you had a chance to come down to our shelter and see some of our wonderful APBT's- i know you'd change your mind on them being "the worst breed"- they can be soo loving and wonderful. They just need a chance

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VERY well said about the PitBulls

any type of training can make any dog mean, even a ankle biter like a tea cup terrier. I have never know a mean pit.

Building an outdoor enclosure would be a great idea if you owned the property. Since you are renting, it's doubtful you'd be allowed to, and it would be silly to do all that work when you're moving soon anyway.

Is there not anyone who could take them for awhile, and then once you are settled take them back?

Babies and cats get along much better than alot of people seem to think they do. If you're worried they'll be too rambunctious, they won't hurt your baby any more than they'll hurt you! You're right, you do have alot going on in a small space, but why have these two cats been singled out when you have three cats and a dog?

If you have been looking for an excuse to rehome them, then just do it, but it isn't fair to you or them to do it for reasons beyond their control.

I don't really understand why the cats have to be re-homed. I actually think it would be worse to keep a large dog in a small apartment.

Ok I know that this is going to sound harsh and get some people mad BUT... I don't see a reason why you can't keep them just because a baby is on the way. Things might be a little tight for a little while but if you are going to get a bigger place eventually I think that you could make it work until you move...even if its not the most comfortable situation. Two cats don't really take up alot of space. I think that once you adopt a pet you should keep them unless something comes up where you HAVE to give them up like serious health problems.

I don't agree with people rehoming their animals just because they are going to have a baby. Its not fair to the pets and if you know that you are going to want kids in the future it should be thought of before even considering adopting.
But if you are set on it I think rehoming would be the best option for them. Putting them outside would be selfish, unfair and cruel after they have been indoor cats their whole life. They wouldn't understand why they were all of a sudden tossed outside with not as much attention and would make them feel abandoned IMO.

Sorry but people rehoming their animals when a baby comes is one of the things that makes me mad.

Large dogs do quite well in small apartments as long as the owner is responsible enough to exercise them. My two are 70 and 90lbs and were both with me (along with Tryon) in an apartment before we bought our house. With daily walks and weekends at the dog park, they did wonderfully. Everyone in the apartment complex had large dogs.

I also have to agree with StarryEyedTiGeR (well said! ) that pit bulls are wonderful and friendly dogs. I have known many of them in my life and all of them made fabulous family dogs - no matter how small the child. The media latches on to the ones who were mistreated or trained to fight in order to catch peoples' attentions. Why? Because sensationalism sells when it comes to news. You're not going to watch a news story called "Three pitbulls lay on floor so toddler can use them as pillows" No, you're going to watch the story called "Three pitbulls attack neighbor" and of course they don't mention until the end of the story that these dogs were trained to fight. The media attacks the wrong end of the leash - because that's what sells.

I also have to agree with ClaireBear (also well said ) because this is the same reason I didn't vote. Every day on here someone else is complaining because an animal wasn't properly taken care of.. or brought to the shelter for what we consider a silly reason. Yes, there are always exceptions to this rule... but when you adopt an animal you are making a commitment to this living, breathing being for the rest of it's life... and to ditch it because you are having a child of your own seems inherently irresponsible. Think me rude, and that's fine, but you knew what you were getting yourself into when you brought those furbabies home. You promised them a healthy happy life and now you want to ditch them because it became inconvenient for you. Honestly, I can't see why more people aren't upset about this.

Originally Posted by StarryEyedTiGeR

I disagree! Pit bulls are WONDERFUL dogs. (and yes i have quite a bit of experience with them- i work around them every single day at my job at the shelter as well as other breeds) It's the media and people who are not experienced with them that give them a bad name/reputation. A properly trained pit bull can be just as gentle around a child as a golden retriever. And a mistreated golden can be just as likely to attack someone as a pit can. Please do not criticize an entire breed like that. An entire breed does not deserve a bad name just because of what one dog may have done. (and believe me i've seen more bite/attack dogs come into our shelter that are NOT pits than i've seen pits come in for that.) I mean this in a kind way (not trying to be mean at all hon)- but please do not criticize an entire breed of dog simply because of their unfair reputation that the media and people who are uneducated on this breed have given them. APBT's have it hard enough- they do not need any more negative attention. It's not right - they can be just as wonderful and loving as any other animal out there. Now i will say as far as the breed itself goes- yes, it may not be the right breed for everyone. Everyone is different and has a different lifestyle- some breeds may be more well suited for a person than others- so that is correct. I know for me personally, although i think they're cute and nice- begals would not be a good match for me breed wise just for a number of reasons....yet i seem to do better with larger more "high risk" breeds - it just depends

That being said- i wish you had a chance to come down to our shelter and see some of our wonderful APBT's- i know you'd change your mind on them being "the worst breed"- they can be soo loving and wonderful. They just need a chance

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I work around them daily, too at the shelter where I volunteer and they are IMO the best breed out there. the humans need to do right by them. I hope to have a pit bull someday, rescued of course and I will do right by that dog just like I do right by all my animals. they just need to fall in the right hands is all. I wish you had a chance to come see the ones we have at the shelter where I volunteer, wesleysmom. Wesleysmom it would so change your mind on the breed! and like Nikki said, they do need a chance and are not the worst breed out there. they are so affectionate and willing to please and loyal, friendly, and the biggest clowns out of the canine world. they truly are wonderful, loyal, loving dogs and my favorite breed besides mutts, rotties, labs, and hounds

Originally Posted by Liza24

i agree that your post was a tad harsh. not everyone can just pull space or money for a bigger place out of thin air. And you can see how much this is hurting her, but you basically told her if she wanted to, she could make it work, and that she should just buck up and deal with it. Peoples circumstances change, and not everything can be helped. shes here asking for help cause she wants to do whats best for the cats.

I believe that an outside enclosure is the best idea as well. that way, they are out of the house for the most part, and have toys and other things they can destory, and can have fun with it, and not terrorizing the house,lol.

Here are some links to enclosures that have kits....

http://www.thecatsden.net/enclosure.html

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/ca...nce_me_in.html

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some people do not think about how hard it is to come on an internet site, where they know no one, to ask for advice to ONLY be put down.
I hope that you are able to come to a decision that is best for all of you.You have my support in finding the best choice for ALL of you.

gailuvscats----I would rehome the dog and the two cats. The dog should be on a farm, or someplace where he can excercise. The cats need more room too. If you start now, perhaps you can find no-kill shelters that will assist you in finding them homes.
After you have your baby, you are not going to devote as much attention to these pets, as they apparantly require.
You will be happy, if you know they ahve good homes.

Later when you have a bigger place, you can return the favor by taking in amimals that need a home.

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I agree!

Oh boy, that's such a tough situation. I'm a firm believer in "adoption for life" but sometimes circumstances come up that you could never predict. I think that it would be terribly irresponsible to put the cats to sleep or drop them off outside somewhere to fend for themselves, and that I couldn't ever agree to. But Kittyprincess isn't doing that, instead she's looking for a solution that works for the pets and her growing family. And, as horribly sad as it is, if that means that she needs to give them up (to a caring family who will love them as much as she does), then I believe it's better that way. I think it would be more irresponsible for her to keep all the animals (because, after all she adopted them "for life") and find herself unable to care for herself/the new baby/the pets and end up with everyone being terribly unhappy and neglected. If she's looked at her situation, realized her limitations and knows that she cannot look after the cats and her new baby in the current circumstances, we should congratulate her for realizing this and being responsible and compassionate enough to deal with it before things get out of hand.

Originally Posted by Pekoe & Nigel

Oh boy, that's such a tough situation. I'm a firm believer in "adoption for life" but sometimes circumstances come up that you could never predict. I think that it would be terribly irresponsible to put the cats to sleep or drop them off outside somewhere to fend for themselves, and that I couldn't ever agree to. But Kittyprincess isn't doing that, instead she's looking for a solution that works for the pets and her growing family. And, as horribly sad as it is, if that means that she needs to give them up (to a caring family who will love them as much as she does), then I believe it's better that way. I think it would be more irresponsible for her to keep all the animals (because, after all she adopted them "for life") and find herself unable to care for herself/the new baby/the pets and end up with everyone being terribly unhappy and neglected. If she's looked at her situation, realized her limitations and knows that she cannot look after the cats and her new baby in the current circumstances, we should congratulate her for realizing this and being responsible and compassionate enough to deal with it before things get out of hand.

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I am sorry that you are faced with this decision, but atleast you figured it out now and not when it was to late.

It is absolutely true that pit bulls are fundamentally good dogs, and their bad reputation comes from the kind of people who often choose them for training to be vicious guard dogs or "drug lab protection" dogs.

HOWEVER... pit bulls are huge and very strong; a single snap from their jaws can be fatal. That's why the drug dealers like them. And like all animals, pit bulls sometimes surprise us with a sudden instinctive actions we could never have predicted. For these reasons, I think it's dangerous to have a pit bull, or any large dog, around a baby. The stakes are just too high to take the risk.

Having said that, let me add that I once saw a beautiful little boy about 18 months old in a store with his mother, and his face was covered with long red scars. I was too shocked to hide my reaction, so I just went ahead and asked her what had happened, and she said, "It was a cat."

So. These things do happen, and of course, your baby is your first priority. For what it's worth, here's my suggestion:

Option 3:

(a) Let the dog live in the back yard, with indoor visitation rights under the supervision of his "dad," so he isn't roaming the house and making the cats nervous. Once the baby comes, allow indoor visits only when both parents are present -- one to hold the baby at a safe distance and one to keep a very tight grip on the dog's collar.

(b) Equip the cats with SoftClaws, install a couple of Feliway "Comfort Zone" diffusers in the apartment, apply catnip to their scratching posts, and try to give them more interactive playtime with you -- not a long session, but several short ones during the day. By the time the baby arrives, you may see a significant improvement in the kitties's behavior.

(I know you said the cats were wacky even before the dog arrived, but without the dog's influence, they might have settled down by now.)

(c) As a last resort, if things still aren't working out... find good, loving homes for some or all of them, and don't adopt any more animals until you're sure it's "furever."

I wish you a healthy baby and a happy resolution to these issues!

There is all this talk of Pit Bull negative, Pit Bull positive....this really isn't the focus. Obviously your pup/dog is a great, friendly dog, otherwise it would be the topic of re homing. IMO a one bedroom apartment for 1 dog and 3 cats is already tight, this could be a reason for the 2 you say are always causing trouble, doing so. Something to think about is dog or cat/s, which will except your new member of the family easier.

Originally Posted by ClaireBear

I didn't vote, because I don't think either are responsible decisions. I'm a firm believer that once you adopt a pet it is yours for life. Just like a child, you wouldn't get rid of it just because of a difficult time. I'm sure if you really wanted to there's a way to make keeping the kitties work. Where there's a will there's always a way.

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I didn't vote either, and I do like your post.

a single snap from their jaws can be fatal.

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that's a myth. ANY bite from a dog could be fatal. they do not "lock" their jaws at all nor does any breed of dog. just because they are strong and powerful, they don't "lock" their jaws. IMO they are really gentle and love bugs. but you're right druggies do like them because they want to look tough by owning a pit bull.

I would rather be bit by a pit bull or a rottie than any small dog.

Urban myths

There are many urban legends surrounding the pit bull, mostly based on the idea that the dogs are somehow physiologically different from other breeds of dog.


A Pit Bull's jaw. Many sources propagate the myth that pit bulls have a "locking jaw" mechanism, and that the dog cannot let go once it has bitten. This is untrue. Dr. I. Brisbin (University of Georgia) states:

The few studies which have been conducted of the structure of the skulls, mandibles and teeth of pit bulls show that, in proportion to their size, their jaw structure and thus its inferred functional morphology, is no different from that of any breed of dog.

There is absolutely no evidence for the existence of any kind of 'locking mechanism' unique to the structure of the jaw and/or teeth of the American Pit Bull Terrier.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pit_Bull#Urban_myths

I'm sorry I took this off topic I just wanted to make sure that you knew pit bulls jaws do not lock.

one of the number one excuses for rehoming pets is because you are having a baby, and i think its a horrible excuse. Neither choise your boyfriend is giving is a good one. Suck it up, and keep your cats.

Originally Posted by CarolPetunia

For these reasons, I think it's dangerous to have a pit bull, or any large dog, around a baby. The stakes are just too high to take the risk.

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I know this is off topic, and I apologize, but I had to respond to this. When my parents brought me home, they had a german shepard/collie mix named Sabre. He was 3 yr old at the time, and my grandparents tried to convince them to get rid of him because of me. He became my best friend, my protector and my brother. He got between me and my mom when she was mad and saved me from many spankings (just spankings on my butt, not beatings..this was back in the day when that was allowed). The only time he ever bit anyone was when a neighborhood boy tried to smack me (we were in grade school) and he did jump up and bit his ear. I could do anything to that sweetie and he would just lick my face. We had to have him put to sleep when he was 16 yrs old. So, it doesn't matter how big the dog is, it depends on how it's trained. The only dog on the block I was scared of growing up was a Chiluaua (sp?). That one was just plain mean!

Originally Posted by gailuvscats

I would rehome the dog and the two cats. The dog should be on a farm, or someplace where he can excercise. The cats need more room too. If you start now, perhaps you can find no-kill shelters that will assist you in finding them homes.
After you have your baby, you are not going to devote as much attention to these pets, as they apparantly require.
You will be happy, if you know they ahve good homes.

Later when you have a bigger place, you can return the favor by taking in amimals that need a home.

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I don't understand why everyone is saying that the dog should be rehomed, and this post especially befuddles me. Why a farm?? I have 3 dogs, 2 who are 65 lbs and 1 who is 25 lbs, plus 6 cats, and myself and my boyfriend living in this house. Granted, it is not a 1 bedroom, but with the amount of animals here compared to the amount of animals at the OP's apartment, it equals out. I also do not live on a farm, or anything close to it. I live in a 3 bedroom, average size house on a average size city lot.
Having a baby does not equal getting rid of your pets. A friend of mine has 3 cats and a 9 month old daughter in a trailer...they are all doing fine. Maybe I'm just not getting it, but why do any of the animals have to go? One of her cats is still a kitten! Of course it's hyper...the OP should have thought about her future plans before she adopted the animals.

I am sorry everyone is trying to educate you about your dog, and may I add misleading....... You ultimately know the temperament of your pets!

Originally Posted by Wesley's Mom

I like the enclosed idea for the yard. Now, the pitbull is another story though. They are known not to be the best of dogs, ecspecially for young children. I do not own any dogs but I have before in my life, and having such a small place and soon to have a baby around, having the dog probabally isn't the best idea in my opinion. A pitbull is number one on the list of worst dogs to have. We always had cats ever since I was born and never had a problem growing up that made us have to get rid of the cats.

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Please do not spout off things that you obviously know nothing about. Pit bulls are people dogs. Pit bulls are notoriously dog/dog aggressive, this istrue. Pit bulls are not for certain people. They are not for me because I could never live in a one dog household. BUT, pit bulls are wonderful family companions, more so than a lot of the breeds that you would think would be...labs, cocker spaniels, etc. We hear about pit bull attacks so often in the news because that's what the media portrays them as...vicious killers. But there are many attacks by other breeds that we never hear about. So please don't come to a public forum and give biased opinions that other people may actually listen to and believe.

Off topic here,
our loved male Cocker Spaniel is the one that bit my son in the face.A breed I was told was wonderful with kids.
We use to have a female Rottie that was wonderful with my kids--go figure another dog that is linked to being aggressive and turned out to be wonderful.

Ok I don't care if I get knocked for this but there is no statistic saying pitbulls are the best breed, all breeds have good qualities (I know it was just a mere opinion)! I used to work with a girl that was pitbull obsessed (she had 6 at one time, eventually it was less) she used to take them to obedience school, take all of them for walks at night (seperately), play with them, care for them, and treat them right (she was involved in many associations, you name it).... Then one day one of her pits turned on her for no reason (maybe it was due to his previous unknown background, because he was adopted) and he messed her arm up bad (all she did was try to latch his leash to go for a walk), then he was taken to the human society for obidence classes and to be evaluated (whether to be put down or not)... What do you know he bit the trainer! About a week later he killed one of her other dogs (that is her own fault the dog should have been put down by then for having attacked two people)! All dogs no matter what breed have capabilities of turning on you, just as any animal could (usually due to feeling threatend, or because they have been through abuse, or at your own fault, etc)! So I don't think it is fair to classify pitbulls as the nicest breed (nor the worst)... I honestly don't think it is fair to classify any breed as the nicest! Sure it is mere opinion and everyone has their taste... I've known many people who were victims of being bit by pitbulls and other dogs of all classes and all sizes (hell I was bit in the face by what was suppose to be a "domestic wolf" and then on the other hand bit by my little cocker spaniel)! I love pitbulls, I don't want one (not because of their rep, but because I have smaller breeds im interested in), and I do think that they get a bad rep! I don't think that the pitbull needs to leave this girls house hold simply because its a pit, but I also don't think it's fair that the cats automatically have to leave because the bf prefers the dog! Oh btw I forgot to mention I have met some dearly sweet pits in my life as well... Little (well) big lovers... So no Im not against them... I see good and bad situations that happen with all dogs/cats/any animal!