Sick and tired of people thinking that pets are disposable

I just have to vent and complain a bit. It never seizes to amaze me how people think it's perfectly okay to get rid of your pets whenever they are not convenient to have. I'm with a rescue and handle adoptions and yesterday I got an email and an application from a woman who wants to adopt one of our cats. She gave me a bunch of info about how nice her house was, what a good home she'd provide and that she really wanted to adopt our cat. SHe even said that the cat could not ask for a better home. She ended her email with asking me to contact her when her application was approved (not if it was approved). She also told me that she could come on Friday and take the kitty home if they were a match. Apparently she thought it was a slam dunk that she would be able to adopt the cat.

When I asked her about her previous pets she told me that she used to have four cats but when she had to move four hours away she had to give them up. She said that she had contacted several shelters but none could take the cats so she gave three of them to her neighbor and one to her mom.
Having given up a pet for such a trivial reason is a dealbreaker for me. If she could stick her beloved cats in a shelter, in a little cage where they may sit for months and months and may even be euthanized, rather than finding a pet friendly home in the new town and bring the cats along how do I know that she won't do the same with Holly some time in the future? We want our adoptive homes to be forever homes. I have to know that the adopter is willing to sacrifice and go out of her way to make sure that her pets can continue to stay with her. With this woman I don't believe that she will do that at all.

What really baffles me though that this woman sees nothing wrong with having given up a pet. She clearly thinks that she is a great cat owner and is convinced that she will be approved. Apparently she didn't think that I would have an issue with her having given up four cats. She think she's a good pet owner even though she's willing to dump her cats in a shelter. A caring, loving pet owner would never do something so cruel for such a manageable problem such as moving.

It's so sad and frustrating how selfish and ignorant people are when it comes to caring for their pets.

Oh you are preaching to the choir!

I could no more give up my guys as I could my kids. I am just as disgusted as you are.

It sounds like you are going to decline her application. Good. People lately make me sick!

THANK YOU for sticking to your convictions!! These type of people have no business being pet owners. I cannot imagine "dumping" my Bella off with someone else. Yes, the thing that is more disgusting than abandoning the cats is thinking that it was okay to do so.

Just don't tell her why she was not approved, because if you do, she'll know exactly what not to reveal on the next application she fills out.

Unfortunately she's going to get a cat somewhere from somebody. Because eventually she will figure out what she needs to lie about to make it happen.

I am so glad to be reading this post this morning. Yesterday, I was having these same thoughts going around in my head and I am glad to see them here. I do not understand how someone can just decide to toss out their pets. Whenever we take an animal, it is a commitment to the end, no excuses. It would be a final choice to give them up and it would mean something terrible is going on here in my household. I can't even think of an example. When I moved seven years ago, the three cats we had moved too.
They are my family. I guess everyone just doesn't feel that way. Thanks for posting this though because I needed this rant.

Oh I couldn't possibly agree with you more! I get so frustrated reading ads online from people giving up their pets for the most pathetic reasons and they have no CLUE. I send them nasty replies all the time, and have gotten into many a confrontation over this with numerous people in my time. I have people trying to pawn their cats off on me ALL the time because they know I do rescue work! It seriously makes me so bitter towards people.

I can. not. imagine. ever, ever giving away my cats. There is not a single circumstance that I can think of. I don't know how anyone can do it.

I was discussing this with my sister once and she said maybe it's not as devastating for the cats of some of these people, because if they can give up their pets, they must not be as bonded to them as our pets are to us.

I've thought about that a lot ever since. Maybe..but I still just can't get my mind around how anyone can do it. And yet they do, all the time.

I'm glad you won't give Holly to her.

I'd definitely deny her. Giving up a pet because you have to move is one of the lamest excuses out there, IMO. I adopted my oldest, Katie, as a tiny kitten when I was serving in the Army in Belgium. When I was discharged a year later, there was no question that Katie would come home with me. I figure if I can move from Europe back home to Ohio with my cat, pretty much anyone should be able to relocate with their pets.

Yes I am exactly the same I couldnt dream of giving up any of my pets, as someone else said they are my family. I do think that there is something very wrong with people who think that its ok to do so, and sadly there are a lot of them out there.

I would deny her, but like Nial mentioned, she will get a cat somewhere.

I turned down a couple who live in my building for a puppy, they both work full time, our lease states no dogs, although some residents do have them, one complaint and you get a letter saying your dog goes, or so do you. The next day, I see them with a 5 week old black lab puppy they got from a pet store that they later tried to surrender because it had parvo and they couldn't afford a vet visit.

I know exactly how you feel. I found out how disposable cats were to people when I started volonteering at my sheleter...as a receptionist. I would get call from people wanting to get rid of their cats for the dumbest reasons. I had to stop being a receptionist because I couldn't sleep at night thinking of how selfish people were. Here are a few of the reasons people told me:
-I am allergic to cats (didn't she know BEFORE she adopted the cat?)
-My new boyfriend doesn't like cats (well, dump him!)
-We're having as baby (So what? Beside, the cat is 1 year old, if you KNEW you would have to get rid of him when you would have a baby, why did you get a cat in the first place?)
-My cat destroys my furniture
-My (of course not neutered) cat pees outside the litterbox
-My cat doesn't get along with our new puppy (hum...who was there in the first place? why get rid of the cat and nt the puppy? And how did you introduce them to each other? Right, you let the puppy run eveyrwhere in the hous as soon as he got there, scaring the hell out of kitty)
And the worse: -I am leaving in vacation for a month and I don't know what to do with it while I am gone.

And the reasons why I would never let one of my foster being adopted by someone:
-Anybody who previously had a pet and got rid of it for no valuable reason (note: I can't find on top of my head a valuable reason, unless the cat is really old and sick and he tells you it's time to let him go)
-When asking about their opinion on declawing (in a subtle way), anybody that seems in favor
-Someone that thinks cats can be let outside
-Someone not willing to spend money on their cat if a health problem occurs
-Couple with young children (unless they show that they really care for the cat and that the kids would never play unsupervised with him) or buying the pet as a present for Christmas or birthday.
-Of course, anybody owning another pet that is not spayed/neutered

Anybody wants to add something?

Id be really mad too. BF and I are in the process of finding a building garage/home all in one. One of the buildings we are looking into getting is 'technically' a 2 bedroom but its TINY! My rule for any move is that I WILL NOT rehome ANY pets at all and if its somewhere smaller than we need to make it a priority to find a place for the litter boxes and food to be a dog free zone like we have here. I can not imagine giving up one of my babies because of moving its just not right!

If I were in your shoes not only would I deny her Id keep her application on file for future referance in case sometime down the road she tries to apply again and omit details off her next application and if at all possible warn other places about her.

Wait wait wait...a FOUR HOUR move was her problem? That's ridiculous, that's nothing...I've moved twice that ended up being multi-day events (20 drive hours) where we had to pick pet-friendly accommodations for the overnight stops. I felt bad about leaving Chilsa behind, and he was buried, so, the alternative would've been creepy.

As for good reasons to give a cat away (other than obvious rescue-and-rehome situations)...hypothetically, if I had a roommate, and a cat that had a very strong bond with that roommate, and the roommate and I went our separate ways on good terms and I knew they'd be responsible, I could see letting the roommate have the cat. It's never happened to me that way but I can see how it could happen to someone.

Originally Posted by ebrillblaiddes

As for good reasons to give a cat away (other than obvious rescue-and-rehome situations)...hypothetically, if I had a roommate, and a cat that had a very strong bond with that roommate, and the roommate and I went our separate ways on good terms and I knew they'd be responsible, I could see letting the roommate have the cat. It's never happened to me that way but I can see how it could happen to someone.

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That's a good point. I had a cat I left behind when I moved cross country. I guess she was technically mine - my roommate and i went to the pound and got two cats one day. The male bonded with him closely and the female with me. The two cats were inseparable and he loved them both (just as I loved them both). With my unknown living situation, air travel, and how attached the cat was to the rest of her family I chose to leave her in CA - knowing she would be well cared for. I was looking out for her more than me in this decision. We each left the cats to each other in our wills and told our family so I believed even in event of death she'd be taken care of.

CDubbie, that was a very selfless thing to do, and I am sure it was a difficult decision. I have a bonded pair now that just could not be separated.
My dear old Fred moved 17 times with me, several times halfway across the country. Our situation was a little different in that sometimes we had friends to stay with along the way that did not mind having our cats, but sometimes we had to find pet friendly accommodations. 4 hours is nothing.
I hope if that woman does get another cat, she is planning on staying where she is for the cat's lifetime.

I don't count leaving cats with a roommate where they are already happy or bonded with another cat as the same as rehoming them, its no different for me than when there is a marital breakup and one person gets the animal - its for the best interests of the cat.

There have been some cases where I have okayed adoptions when the person gave up their cat before, including one woman who gave her cat to a shelter so she could get out of an abusive situation without worrying about her ex taking it out on the cat, a woman who was diagnosed with cancer and her kids were flaking out on the pets care when she was in for treatment, when she came back, she came with a friend who agreed to care for the animal if she was to have any further problems. I am willing to accept that sometimes, it is for the better good of the people and pets involved.

But moving and just not wanting to bother, I do not accept. It is provincially mandated here that landlords can not refuse you based on pets, you can waive that right, and many condo associations have their own pet laws, but its fairly easy to find pet friendly accommodation so I especially don't buy it when people call saying they have to give up their pet because they are moving

Personally I am very committed to my pets - have moved them when I move. I was even homeless (briefly) once and boarded my pets for 2 months...

I have many years experience working at humane societies and have come to believe that receiving is the second most stressful job at a shelter. People often don't fully disclose why they are relinquishing their pets. There is usually a reason under "moving". Once the owner has decided the bond is broken or never really formed what are their choices? I would rather have someone relinquish a pet to a good organization that just leave them out to become strays.

I could never leave my boys behind. Yes, my boys. Doug and I have done a alot of talking and we are keeping SIX of the fosters I took in. Cat #7 -Casper - is afraid of the other kitties and while he is bonded to me, I know he would be happier and more free in a home as an "only" with people to dote on him.

And when I look around ... I just don't TRUST too many people to care for these cats like I do. I would rehome one or more of them to one of YOU guys, for instance.

Here is how it fell into place. I ADORE Ghost! Simply adore him. From the first night in my home I kinda knew. The brothers- Jakie and Prowler - have really, really grown on me. They took a few weeks to adjust and I fell in love with them. Prowler has become quite the mama's boy!

Rex was a challenge; he took a very long time to adjust. He was missing someone ... a whole bunch. So if anyone thinks - oh, the cat will be fine - is crazy. They mourn; they pine. They miss their homes, their hoomins and any critters that they bonded with. It took a while, but Rex has bonded quite a bit with J and P. I now hate to separate them.

Archie and Tex. My boyfriend adores them. I do, too, but he REALLY adores them. Tex has come a long way - not the crazy spaz he was before. You can even pick him up and cuddle him. I think he kinda likes it! He has come to enjoy home life I think. Archie- weeellllll... he's da bomb!! Mr. Personality-plus.

Doug and I were talking recently about what-ifs. He said, man - trying to move with six cats? Hmmm..... we would have to rent a van!

In other words, they would never get left behind!!!!! I promised these guys - all of them rescued from a high kill shelter - that they would NEVER EVER see the inside of one of those places again. PERIOD. Not if I had anything to do with it.

I have found a new lawyer and I need to revise my will anyway. I am going to draw up documents about what to do in case I am incapacitated or if I pass away. Doug said he would be guardian. And I will have to find a successor guardian for any companion animal(s) in my possession should something happen. And I will set aside money. A trust of some sort - whatever the lawyer says is a good idea.

Sorry to go on about this... .but I agree... moving is a terribly lame excuse and doesn't hold any water with me. There is some sort of DNA (do no adopt) site out there. I can find the URL and post it if you guys would like.

Oh, BTW - my family thinks I am crazy. I almost slugged my sister when she suggested I take the fosters to the Humane Society so I wouldn't have to run back and forth (Moms and my place) to take care of them.

Originally Posted by AddieBee

And when I look around ... I just don't TRUST too many people to care for these cats like I do. I would rehome one or more of them to one of YOU guys, for instance.

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That's my biggest problem, too - and why I have so many cats. I don't trust "average joe" with "my" kitties. Someone from TCS I'd be more likely to have faith in, but even then I'm nit picky.

Originally Posted by AddieBee

Doug and I were talking recently about what-ifs. He said, man - trying to move with six cats? Hmmm..... we would have to rent a van!

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I'm looking into moving & finding somewhere to rent is nearly impossible (apparently these places freak when you have 10 cats ).....but they aren't all my cats, many of them are family cats. But still - I'm in the same boat as AddieBee - trying to find a rental with 5 cats & 1 small dog is hard. But I wouldn't dream to getting rid of any of them because they have now gotten "inconvenient" & hampered my ability to find somewhere to live.

I can't say I'd keep Ophelia Rose if a home experienced with former ferals that didn't have any pets or kids came along & wanted her. It wouldn't be fair of me to keep her when she'd finally have a chance to be happy.....even if it would break my heart. I highly doubt I'll ever have to make that choice - as I can't imagine anyone wanting her. I love her anyways, even if she is a cactus.

Originally Posted by white cat lover

That's my biggest problem, too - and why I have so many cats.

I don't trust "average joe" with "my" kitties. Someone from TCS I'd be more likely to have faith in, but even then I'm nit picky.



I'm looking into moving & finding somewhere to rent is nearly impossible (apparently these places freak when you have 10 cats

).....but they aren't all my cats, many of them are family cats. But still - I'm in the same boat as AddieBee - trying to find a rental with 5 cats & 1 small dog is hard. But I wouldn't dream to getting rid of any of them because they have now gotten "inconvenient" & hampered my ability to find somewhere to live.

I can't say I'd keep Ophelia Rose if a home experienced with former ferals that didn't have any pets or kids came along & wanted her. It wouldn't be fair of me to keep her when she'd finally have a chance to be happy.....even if it would break my heart. I highly doubt I'll ever have to make that choice - as I can't imagine anyone wanting her.

I love her anyways, even if she is a cactus.

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Oh, yes. It complicates things immeasurably. But you deal with it. With a passle o' cats, we would have to own the property and live in a place where the ordinances don't limit the number of cats or total animals. Between us, we have three properties to deal with...it would be nice to only have one.

And the trust thing - yeah - I'd like to put potential adopters under a microscope! We have friends with two cats - a "failed" Maine Coon show cat and a moggie kitten that the wife couldn't resist. The husband came by my house the other day to drop off Doug, who doesn't drive (eyesight). Tex took to him right away! OMG. It was soooo cute. If THEY wanted one of these kitties, done deal. They are loved and well cared for.