From: nvonstein@memstvx1.memst.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: When will people learn???
Date: 29 Dec 92 13:02:24 -0600
Organization: Memphis State University

In article <BzrE2I.CqI@news.iastate.edu>, bron@iastate.edu (bronwyn) writes:
> In article <d8n237h@rpi.edu> petitc@nuge112.its.rpi.edu (Christopher Jon Petit) writes:
>>In article <berthiau.724658547@iros1> berthiau@iro.umontreal.ca Reply-To: bunny@gnu.ai.mit.edu (Eva Chan) writes:
>>>Well, need I say more?  An acquaintance has decided to take the 
>>>kitten he and his girlfriend got at a pet store to the SPCA. *SIGH*
> 
> AAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH.  
> 
>> What also happens and is even MORE tragic happens to both cats and dogs---
>>the owners get them as kittens/puppies, and when they mature, and aren't as
>>'cute' anymore, the owners either get rid of them or just don't give them as
>>much attention.
> 
> Worse:  an acquaintance of mine got a dog.  Not because she particularly
> wanted a dog, simply because someone had mentioned to her that there was
> a cute dog up for adoption at the pound.  The dog was given *to* the
> pound for several reasons: 1) it's a large dog. 2) it is *very* *very*
> hyper. 3) it had *no* housetraining knowledge at all.  Basically, this
> dog *screamed* "high maintenance".
> 
> This friend of mine has a 5 year old daughter who is terrified of dogs.
> She's always been terrified of dogs.  This is not a new thing.  A hyper
> dog was probably *not* a wise decision in this set of circumstances. This
> friend of mine also never wanted to actually *train* a dog.  Like it'll
> one day wake up and stop jumping on people and pooping on the carpet?
> Not.
> 
> Now she's going to give it *back* to the pound because it's "too much
> work to keep it in its cage all day."
> 
> *scream*
> 
> When I got my cats, I realized that come hell or high water, *I* am 
> *mom* for a lot of years.  I went to live with my parents for a while
> because I couldn't find a landlord I could bribe into allowing pets. Now I
> have enough money together to buy my own place, so they can be with me.
> THEY came FIRST.  They still do.  I can't expect kids to be convenient 
> all the time. I can't expect cats to be either.  But I made the commitment.  
> And I love my cats. Even when they try to suffocate me by sleeping on my 
> face..
> 
> How far have you guys gone to keep your pets?
> 
Here's one for ya.  I have seven cats, and I love each one dearly.  All of my
cats (except for Shorty who was picked up by my daughter by the side of a busy
street) are related.  The reason we have so many is that everytime Shop Kitty
had a litter, we had to keep at least one kitten.  Well, my daughter has moved
into her own place, but the kittums remain (which is fine with me).  But my
mother waltzes in one day and on parting makes this announcement, "Well, don't
you think you can start putting some of these cats down now that Jena's gone?" 
My mouth fell open in disbelief.  And I said, "Why?  Everyone's healthy and
happy and still young?"  And she says, "Well, you don't need them."  I told her
that my vet (Dr. Ruth) would not even consider putting down an animal like
that.  My blood began to boil and finally I told her that we did not even need
to discuss it.  I wanted to remind her of the times my pets were there to
console me when she was too busy.  But a horrible argument would have happened
and that would have hurt me much more than it would her (being a bit
insensitive) so I let it drop.  In short, I will always defend my animals.

Nancy

> -
> Bronwyn J Scrutton                                          bron@iastate.edu
> Project Vincent                                               (515) 294-4994
>                     If it's not one thing, it's Bronwyn.