Interesting and sad trend reported here in the Austin American-Statesman.
As the economy worsens and people are having to cut back on expenses, one of the things people are giving up is … their dogs.
“People are dealing with the economic crunch, and they’re getting rid of what they absolutely don’t have to have, and pets fall into that category, unfortunately,” said Anne Burkett , president of Austin German Shepherd Rescue .
Within the past year, the number of dogs being dumped at the German shepherd group has increased about 65 percent , she said.
“I can label all of that to economic reason,” Burkett said. “It all boils down to money.”
Caring for a dog is no small expense. Food, toys and typical medical costs for a healthy dog can run between $250 and $500 a year, said Chris Holm, treasurer of Central Texas Dachshund Rescue.
Which to me is unbelievable. Fucking unbelievable.
My wife would give up electricity and running water in our home before she’d give up the dogs.
Because when we adopted those dogs and brought them into our home we made a pact with them — we promised to always take care of, feed, shelter, and love them.
You wouldn’t give up your child just because times get hard. Would you?
The sad thing is, I’ll bet a bunch of the people who gave up their dogs still have cable TV. Or smoke cigarettes. Or eat out at McDonald’s or Sonic or Taco Bell several times per week. Or have a poker account at Party Poker.com. Or have an Xbox or Play Station and all the latest games that they play on their 60″ HD flat screen television.
In other words, the type of people who just give up their dog (especially a little mutt like the dachshunds in the story) — somehow I get the feeling that they are not the type of people who have started making the hardest personal sacrifices yet.
You know, like buying lottery tickets instead of dog food.
Those kind of people.
Followed you over from Rachel’s place, Robbie.
Oy. I completely agree with you. We’d have to be pretty much out on the streets before the dogs go. Or, basically, I’d have to become convinced that there was someone else that could better care for them.
Man. That is just a heartbreaking story. What a betrayal. I wouldn’t want to answer to God for that one.
“You wouldn’t give up your child just because times get hard. Would you?”
Well, considering that Nebraska had to alter their “child drop-off law” (originally intended to prevent desperate new teenaged mothers from smothering their babies) to include an upper age cut-off because people were doing just that, I’m not so sure about some people.
But yeah, there’s a special place in Hell for people who dump dogs because it gets “inconvenient.” It’s a LIVING THING, folks. You have an OBLIGATION to care for it.
It happens all over the world – when something happens, or times get tough… Be thankful that at least in the United States there are places where people can take their dogs.
Here? They are just let out to fend for themselves. We had a little scare a few years ago – one of the compounds, here, got taken over by “terrorists” [it wasn't covered by the AP or MSM quite like that, but no matter]
It resulted in a mass exodus of people from Saudi Arabia back to the “West.” The local vet sent a notice saying, “Please do not release your dog/cat/rabbit into the wild, for 40SR [about $12.00] we will humanely euthanize [sp?] your pet.” Did some people pay the $12.00?!!? NO!!! They just let their pet go – like it can fend for itself in the desert. Assholes! [If I'm not allowed to say that word here, you can delete this comment.]
There are a lot of sick people out there. And whoever said, that they are not giving up cigarettes or lottery tickets… Bingo! Hit the nail on the head with that one.
Sorry about the link carrying over above. If I knew how to use the “quicktags” above, I would have used them.
link
Testing. Did that work better?
[Editor --- Yep. That worked. I fixed it in your original post, too.]
It’s pathetic. We would live out of our truck before we got rid of our dogs. They are our children! Our companions. And we’ve made commitments to take care of them. People are irresponsible and stupid. *sigh* It makes me ill to think about the wonderful animals being abandoned.
[...] Urban Ground mentions and I agree … I’m sure the same people abandoning their pets are still eating [...]
Your pets are not your children. And they don’t have to be in order for you to have your priorities straight about your obligations the living things you own.
I, too, would be interested to see the expenses of the people who give up their animals. I have a cherished picture of a woman living in a portable after the Hurricane Katrina complaining about the low quality of the handouts she got. Money quote: “I may be poor, but I don’t like to live poor.” On the wall opposite her Barcalounger was an enormous flat screen TV.
A number of videos have been circulating about the things that The Great Obama will do for the common man, the downtrodden. He’ll buy them cars and put gas in them, he’ll pay the mortgages and the electric bills. Funny how none of those people said, “He’ll make sure Trixie gets the kibble she’s entitled to.”
Ironic, no? Even as the Obamas are mulling over getting a dog, they’ll have more than enough to choose from. Maybe some of these folks who have the correct “hypoallergenic” dog whose maintenance conflicts with the cable bill can offer one to the First Family.
I cannot begin to count the number of foreclosed homes that I have appraised where the previous owners have left their animals /remains behind . It’s pathetic. Even more pathetic is that probably 80-90% have left damn near all of their childrens things behind as well-clothes, toys, books, pictures,medicine, etc. They do however manage to remove most if not ALL of their belongings.
After Katrina, the feds opened a hugh majority of fannie mae held foreclosed homes for occupancy for those effected by the storm. After years (almost 3) , they too left behind the before mentioned items , as well as completely TRASHED properties. I guess keeping up their rent/property tax free homes was just too much.
I’m all for helping out my fellow man in times of need, but wtf.
I think maybe the economy is an excuse for the lowlifes to dump their animals. I believe every town on the I-35 corridor is a doing pretty well right now, life is good for us that work, pay our bills and take care of our obligations. Obligations like our animals. (I have a house full of abandoned cats and dogs)
When I lived in Dallas, just under 2 years ago, the hubby and I went to the St. Pats event at the fairground. We came across 3 dog rescue societies there- the irish wolfhound, the great pyrenees, and the great dane. These are not common breeds and I know that when my folks lived in Philly and bought their irish wolfhound, they had to scour several states to find a dog. These are expensive breeds (when you find them) . Shithead owners who didn’t do their research into breed needs. Every animal I’ve ever owned has lived with me till the day they died. My current girl is a cat that adopted me, after some POS abused her, broke most of her ribs, pelvis and right hind leg and dumped on the dirt road I lived on in the country. I’ve spent a fortune in vet bills on her, not to mention the $20 bags of prescription food, in the 9 years I’ve been blessed to have her sit on my lap. I’d give up eating meat and drinking beer before my princess ever went without.
We call them pets.
But the attachments most of us make with our animal friends is more akin to the attachment we make to a family member.
I’ve had my heart ripped out of my chest, stomped on, and tossed into a trash can, many times. When I have lost a beloved relative, and when I have lost my animal friends.
To abandon them, abuse them, or neglect them, is indicative of the poor quality character that person has.
Thank God for the many caring people who operate rescue centers, for the many animals who have had the misfortune of being taken in by some one who doesn’t love them.