[opus]

Sorry, but I must warn you all in advance that I am about to rant.
As some of you know as well as Opus I own 3 cats, Bill The Cat (10) Binkley (3) and Diva (15). We are leaving Barcelona in August and returning to Ireland, naturally the animals are coming with us-they are after all our pets. My 15 year old daughter is coming too, what a surprise. Now, it had been quite a ordeal to organise, microchips, passports, flights, crates, import licence for each animal, rabies vaccinations, 6 month blood tests, you name it we've done it. But the reaction from a woman we spoke to tonight has really annoyed me. She sort of suggested that we were nuts, that because Opus is 10 and Diva 15, we were adding an awful lot of expense to our lives by bringing ' such elderly animals' home. I was astounded. I said, 'and what do you propose I do with them?' And she said, 'well if it was me, I'd certainly think was it worth it? I might look into, you know...' She stopped talking then becasue she could see my disgust. I said, 'madam, those animals are members of my family, I wouldn't leave my elderly mother behind due to 'cost' so why would I leave my perfectly healthy dog and equally healthy, but old cat behind or put them to sleep?' I may have said this with more venom that I meant because she recoiled immediately and said 'oh, I"m not trying to challange your views.'
But she was, she absolutely was. What the hell is it with folk? Do they honestly believe we pet owners are fly by nighters? That we only own animals when convenient? And if it isn't we just kill them off?
Grrrrrrrr! I wouldn't be so mad is she was the only one, but more than one person has questioned our decision, which really makes me understand why our pounds are so full of great animals. Stupid lazy unfeeling people. :evil:

 

[Guest]

What an idiot! May her children do the same to her some day.


Janet 'n Twinkie ("Where you go, I go, Mom!")

 

[copsmom]

I don't think people who are not animal people don't understand. Copper was having a lot of test afew months back and one vet was talking about an expensive surgery and I was discussing it with a friend and someone we both know said wouldn't it be easier to get another dog. Copper is my baby and I would never even consider that. I was angry but I also have to feel sorry for people like that. They have no idea how we love these animals and how much they love us and they are truely the loser to have never experieced that kind of love.

 

[Guest]

I just respond by asking them if they have pets - No? tell them -good, do everyone a favor and dont get any!

 

[Guest]

We're with you. "In this country, a dog (and cat) is a PERSON!" Jake says woof because he agrees.

 

[Moscoe]

How sad. I feel bad for such people as well. Obviously they have never opened their hearts to the wonderful love animals- dogs in particular - can give you.

I have heard people talk about their pets like they were large cumbersome sofas that just didn't fit into their lives anymore. When we had our last two dogs, someone suggested to us that we have one of them put down just b/c he was old. There wasn't anything wrong with him and we weren't moving, having kids, etc.. Of course we did not and he lived two healthy years after she said that - TWO YEARS! I would give anything just to have ONE DAY with our departed poochies much less two years.

They just don't get it. We should pity her and her kind.

 

[kittiesareus]

I had a similar, and very enlightening experience when my cat foofer (16) was ill and I was absolutely terrified, she had to have a blood transfusion and stay in the hospital. When I was talking to some people about it and very obviously upset, (crying) they were so heartless by saying "oh she's old, just put her down" grrr. This cat grew up with me I picked her from the litter and she was almost 17. She was my best friend, I would have sold everything and lived in my car to save her, unfortunatelly it was not to be. It took me a long time to pay off that vet bill.

 

[Mylilturbopup]

I agree, my pets are my family. I have no human children, but I do have 3 children. My pup, my cat and my bird. People who don't have pets don't understand. I get made fun of because when ever I take my pup with me anywhere I take a bag of her stuff. They say I act like its my baby. Well she is, and she has every right to have her stuff with her whenever she goes anywhere.

I can't believe that lady would even suggest putting them down because of their age and the inconvience it is causing you. People really sometimes just don't have a heart. Animals are all different and unique, they all have their own personalities so don't tell me they don't have feelings.

You are completely justified, because you are a good pet parent

Kudos to you for being an advocate for your animal family

 

[daisy8869]

How upsetting!!!! I really hope this person does not have any animals or else who is to say that she hasn't done the same thing she suggested to you :twisted:

Grrr...kudos to you for keeping your cool, I would have had some "choice" words to say to her. I don't know if the same laws exist over there but here in the USA, I would say that her comments border on cruelty to animals.

 

[Marcia]

People who think that way must have cold, hard little hearts. I experienced this attitude when I spent $5000.00 on my 16 year old cat, Bonkers. He had a curable condition, and of course I found a way. He lived, healthy & happy, for 4 years after his illness. He was 20 when he passed. By the time he would have been 21 I paid off the vet bill. I wouldn't trade those last years with him for anything.

 

[Guest]

:evil: ditto with all the above posters. THAT WOMEN IS AN IDIOT :!: :!: . Tummy Boy's Mom.

 

[Beverly Anne]

People can be pretty darned thoughtless. I had the same trouble last year when I started crying in class because Franny had just lost his eyesight. (Shoot, almost a year later I still tear up and he's doing fabulously!!!) One of my fellow students (We were studying to be nurses, mind you) said if it were up to her she'd put the dog down. I made a note of what hospital she'd be working in so noone I liked went there.

 

[Nonnie]

I had the same experience when we were treating our Rosie for lymphoma. We spent a lot of money - a bunch of money - for chemo and some surgery for her. Unfortunately, she didn't make it and died June 7th. We did get 6 months more of love and happiness. She wasn't sick from the chemo at all and enjoyed her life as before.

Knowing what I do now I would absolutely do the same thing for her again. She was my child, too. She went on vacations with us, to the store with us and did almost everything we did.

We had someone to say "you're spending that much on a dog" and I countered with "you're spending that much on your grown children. (I refrained from telling him to tell his kids to go out and get a job.) Rosie has never told me she hated me nor slammed the door as she went out of the house and, most of the time, did what I told her." (After all, she was a Basset.) Well, he didn't too much to say after that.

I feel sorry for people that have never had the love of an animal. There is no other love like it.

 

[Kaira]

I wouldn't be so hard on all of them. Some of the people that say that they would rather get rid of their dog than experienceing large vet bills or other inconveniences...... does not really have the heart to do it if it comes to their own pets. It's easy to only look at the practical/economical side of it when one is not in the situation.

 

[TeufelsMOM]

Yes that woman is an idiot and lets hope when it is time for her kids to watch over her they give her the "We can't do it attitude".

Before I was given Teufel, I was big into catching ferel kittens, getting them medicated, and socializing them, then would take them to a no kill shelter for adoption. My goal for the last 2 years was to catch the mother.. still no luck. I always here your a cat person .... Now that we have (or she has me) I am a Basset person too. I dislike closed minded people.

and yes I spend money to take her to doggy Daycare too!! and she loves it. I even pack her a goodie bag to share with her classmates too.

Teufels says howl/whine

 

[Lina]

Yup, you will be surprised that there are so many people don't appreciate animals. Sometimes I wonder, what was their childhood like? and what is their life look like now?
Sad.

 

[Guest]

Our lab was scheduled to have cruciate replacement surgery 2 years ago. She ended up not needing it. but, at the time, she was only 3 years old, the surgery was going to cost around $900. Our neighbor who keeps his dog in an outside kennel all the time and rarely lets him out (we have all called to report the neglect numerous times), told me we should put her down and not spend the money...
Makes you wonder about people doesn't it?!?!?!!??

 

[yayasmom06]

I have to feel sorry for ppl like that cause you know that dont know the love that we do and have never had that love given to them . And to me i thank there must be a reason for that animals just know about ppl. So dont get mad at tham and bring your great self down to there leavel feel sorry for them cause they will never know the love that you do....And just to let you know I have found that for some one like that if you just tell them " well lets let the animal make that disi. and see were you end up at it shuts them up every time.! :wink: :wink:

 

[Scully]

Oh, I totally understand your rant!! We had some similar reactions when we moved with Scully to New Zealand, knowingly only for a year. There were a few people (even dog owners) who thought it was a waste of money to take Scully with us.....it was very expensive indeed, but I wouldn't have had it any other way!

Good luck with the move, BTW!! I hope all goes smoothly!

 

[Guest]

I wouldn't care if Byron were old, deaf, blind, and missing all his legs, I would never leave him behind for anything.

One of my coworkers recently adopted a 13 year old basset named Max. She literally gota call from a rescue who needed a home for Max right away. His people were moving to a place where pets were not allowed. They planned on abandoning him at the rescue on their way to their new home. They had the dog for years, but I guess they never saw him as anyhing more than "some animal." I just don't understand some people.