Unwanted Pets: Should Euthansia Be The Answer?

That is terrible! She dumped the cats! We have 7 cats and we would never do anything like that to our pets. We love them a lot, and are devoted to them! I understand it is hard to keep up a shelter financially. I meant that I wish we could get more shelters up. Like the government could help pay for them, along with more people willing to donate money to them. I know that people who could afford to donate don't, and I just wish people like that would.

I wish more people thought the way you do, and keep their pets no matter what..you really do sound devoted to animals..so my hat is tipped to you--just wish more thought like you do!!

Thank you :) I wish more people did too X.X Maybe people (by some miracle) will start getting smarter and less selfish when it comes to homeless animals.

How could anyone ever do that? Whenever I think of all the dogs and cats I've been honored with having had through my lifetime my eyes still fill with tears for the ones that have passed on, in most cases after very long, happy and pampered lives. I also find trusting animals easier than trusting some people because they do always give their love unconditionally and they trust their owners - or their staffs, in the case of cats - with their lives. How can anyone let someone down who has place their very life in your hands? What do these people think, who decide they no longer want a pet and just drop it off or take it to a shelter, do they just stop loving it because it's no longer a playful puppy or kitten or because they've grown "bored" and have moved on to something else to entertain them? That just sickens and infuriates me! Pye, your story of the person who got rid of all those cats makes me as burning mad as it does you, and I didn't even see the discussion! That horrible and heartless. I agree that people who abandon their pets should be fined or some kind of penalty should be given; the hard part about that is catching them since many do it in the dark of night, sometimes on a deserted road like where my Sissy was found or they just move away and let their pregnant cat behind like the owners of my Squirt's mommy did! I can at least feel good about saying I personally have two rescued cats and my daughter has three rescues plus some of their offspring giving her a total of eight cats, not counting three kittens that are still nursing. Her adult male cats are now all sterilized and arrangements have already been made for the youngest boy for hopefully before he reaches puberty. The females will all be spayed as well but since they're all inside cats the males need to be done first if you know what I mean. I know it costs too much to run a shelter without a ton of help but maybe if we keep having discussions about these issues we'll at least open some people's eyes to the need for donations, no matter how small, and for people to maybe try to get more programs like Pa.Pets started in other states and countries. Annie

I just dont understand how people dont knnow in their minds what they are doing is wrong.. and maybe they do and they just dont care.. i think those puppy/kitten mill owners should have the same thing done to them.. or maybe put them in cages with the those (insert explicits) who exploit and molest children.. I dont care animal or person its a human being and if you have no regard or respect for it, then i have no regard or respect for you, and you should be placed somewhere where the rest of society doesn't have to suffer for your idiotic and inhumain behavoir. OHkay. thats all my ranting done for teh day. thanks !!!

I know the whole idea does seem wrong, but unfortunately there are just too many unwanted pets in shelters. Then of course are the puppy/kitten mills that breed pets for pet stores and are out of control.

I really feel for you Gaia! It is a dilemma there. I'm only allowed two cats myself, anymore and I could face eviction myself..Like you I'm on disability, am 51 years old. My rent is dirt cheap too, since my grandmohter, mother (both now deceased) and I have lived here since 1961...my rent like I said is really low, probably the lowest in the apartment building--I did have more cats..actually a lot more cats as my mother created a bit of a problem...I was very lucky that I found wonderful pet rescuers upstate NY that took the cats in...like you many were older...they are considered "lifers" there as the chance of them being adopted is zilch...Older animals are a lot harder to place at shelters...One of the shelters the "famous" North Shore Animal league told it to me like this...they have a really hard time even adopting out cats/dogs at two years of age...everyone wants cute kittens/puppies...when the woman, Joanne asked how old my cats were and I said in the 8 year and up range, she all but hung up the phone on me--Like I said, I was really lucky to find places for my cats, but it took a LOT of work to do so The only thing I can suggest and you want to try to find shelters..go to either petfinder.com or pet-ark.com...they should have listings of ALL shelters available in your state...However, none take in pets for free either--there's usually a fee involved...If you have an Animal Care and Control shelter...do not..repeat DO NOT take them there..they are a kill shelter...there are also Yahoo groups...many pet rescue groups that you could join...many are nation wide groups and they might be able to help you too--just trying to give you all the possibilities here Thing is, you need to start looking NOW--you said you have no idea when the landlords are going to sell the house..so you need to do some planning now and not at the last minute..It does take time! Believe me I know! If you need any help with this let me know..I might be able to give you some other leads of what to do

Hey GaiaFireLynx being that your cats are so far up in age, they're not going to live much longer obviously, so they most likely don't move around much, right? So who's going to know you have three cats in your "new" apartment unless you tell them? Don't tell them and when you move, if you can, put two in one carrier and one in the other so no one will know. It's a suggestion in hopes to save you from having to separate you and the cats which are your babies. I'd hate to see that happen especially at their ages. That would be really tramatizing to them.

I actually have 8 cats! I would love to be able to sneak all of them in. However I don't think that's an option. I don't even think I could sneak one in. One of the places I looked at gave me a print out of their pet policy. It is several pages long. I am still trying to interpt it.

Then I suppose you think I should be euthanized?? I've had pets since I was five years old..I'm now 51--I have loved and taken care of each and every pet I've had...There are a lot of us pet owners who ARE responsible. And you're getting your terms wrong.. domesticated animals only became domesticated due to mankind

As a by the way...the list of "domesticated" animals isn't just cats and dogs, but horses, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, oxen, llamas, just to name a few. And what do you mean in my world anyway? I'm in America and of this world too just as you...or are you from another planet??

What kind of comment, is that supposed to be? Do you think pet owners should be put to sleep, just because they own pets, or because they do wrong with them? Your comment doesn't make any sense.

I don't like the idea of euthanasia of pets in general if they are healthy either...but you have to understand I KNOW a lot of rescuers who HAVE to put animals down cause there are just too many...Let me give you a ball park figure here...I was told that for every single pet, in every single shelter to be adopted, every single person in America would have to adopt a minimum of nine pets...I don't think you're average person is willing to do that..do you?

If there is more active restrictions on the point of purchase, there would not be such problems. The failure to stop the problem at its roots will see a constant influx of strays and abandoned. I strongly believe that Euthanasia should only be used to terminate the lives of severely illed pets, not to destroy them because they are too many. That's inhumane

Sad to say many people do treat their babies the same way as is witness to the fact how many times we hear of stories of women who dump their newborns in the garbage

As I've mentioned though...I personally KNOW a lot of pet rescuers and people who run animal shelters..I also happen to belong to a lot of Yahoo pet rescue groups...you haven't the slightest clue of how overwhelmingly crowded shelters are...There aren't enough homes for all these pets..not unless everyone is willing to take a minimum of nine pets..Believe me I do know what I'm talking about since as I've said I know what the situation is like My one pet rescuer friend is getting panicky cause she says she needs to raise money just to provide for the pets she has...She says her money will run out completely in about three years...it takes an average $1,000 just to buy enough food for them...And do you know how many shelters have to go out of business due to lack of funds? And you can bet those animals are put down..there is just no place to put them all

I'm so sorry to hear that the overpopulation of unwanted pets is just as bad where you are...I thought this was just an American thing, but I guess it's worldwide, right? I think a lot of us who love animals would love to open chains of rescue centers. One of the best system we have here is Best Friends in Utah..they actually will accept animals worldwide and aren't limited to cats and dogs but just about every animal imaginable--sure wish there were more places like that

I sure wish there were more programs like yours in PA for senior citizens elsewhere, and it would be great if they had programs to for inexpensive spaying/neutering for people with disabilities..two groups of people who could benefit the most by having a companion animal--It's been studied for instance, that people with depression problems often benefit by having a pet cause they have something to care for. Yes, it would be great if each of us who are pet lovers could open our own shelters, but as you'll see in my response to the first replier, its VERY expensive and has to be thoughtfully planned otherwise no one will benefit, especially the animals involved.

Here in Denver, Colorado, there is at least one shelter who allow Senior Citizens to adopt a pet already spayed or neutered for FREE. It is a great program and allows lonely senior to have a friend. So many seniors on fixed income can't afford adoption fees or alteration fees. They also provide FREE shots for those who are seniors for the life of the pet if they come from the that shelter. They placed many of the pets that came from Katrina, but they also have many who have become shelter pets because they just aren't adopted and have problems to complicated for adoption. The really great part about this program, it helps reduce the overcrowded facility. It seems to me, if the cost of spaying or neutering, or shots is the issue that keeps people from taking an animal into their lives, than providing a FREE service might be the answer when the dollars to do all that is the question. I know the cost of shots, spay and neuter can be over $200 for many animal shelters, and out here in the public where vets like to make money, even more costly. I just think more programs that offer less expensive ways to give the animal protection would encourage people to keep a pet. I've had to search our city to find a vet that doesn't cost an arm and leg, and these insurance policies on pets can be just as costly for the individual. I don't think Pets for Wealthy only is the answer to the problem.

I'm glad you answered this as I know you're a rescuer yourself and I don't envy the hard job that it is--since I do know other rescuers I know how expensive it is to probably take care of pets...not only the food costs involved but the vet bills as well--my one pet rescuer said it averages about $1,000 per month for her...yeesh!!..She's the one who asked me to design those flyers for her up-coming fundraiser to raise money for her rescue place.

Yes, it is very expensive, but it is worth every penny to me. I only wish that I were able to do more. I love each and every animal out there, and would love to be able to give them all homes.

As far as I'm aware there are actually a lot of dedicated pet rescuers who do exactly this all over the country, that is trap the ferals, have them spayed/neutered then release them and usually all out of there own pocket money--yes by trapping them then spaying/neutering them it does solve the problem of more ferals being born.

Thank you there...I have to admit I was puzzled by your response. It's not just animals when you think of it...Look how often we hear of women who just gave birth to their baby, and just throw it in the trash!

To you that might sound like an ideal situation, but since I know so many pet rescuers and people who own shelters, they are so swamped and overloaded with unwanted pets they have to euthanize pets on a regular basis. Did you read my statistics? For EVERY single pet in a shelter situation, EVERY single person in this country would have to adopt at least NINE pets. Do you think the average person wants nine pets? Don't think so. Would you be willing to adopt nine pets? And as for to "just let them wander outside for the hope of someone might pick them up.." Nope.. Many people might pick them up but sell them to labs to be experimented on and have that animal live a life of pain and torture..do you think that is right? People just don't understand the serious issue of over pet population and sorry to say I don't think you do either--I DO KNOW, I know pet rescuers personally and the grim realities that exist

I think the main problem too is that this society in general is becoming a "disposable" one...what we no longer want we toss away like so much garbage..hell, women throw out their newborns in trash! My one pet rescuer friend, and I know quite a lot, does carefully screen people who adopt...she says so many times people are all fired up to adopt a particular dog, but don't have a clue the temperament of the breed-she expects people to fully know the personality of the type of dog they want..if they don't she refuses to give them that particular breed of dog

Yup--my fire gear is on and my fire hoses...LOL

I would wonder though if a person would be willing to pay for a pets' lodging at an animal organization though...boarding pets can be very expensive too, unfortunately a lot more expensive than putting it down...I'm not sure of the exact expense but it might be about $25 a day on average...I'm so glad to hear though that you got your 3 pets and saved them...that's three less that are unwanted but now are instead loved and taken care of

I see my two cats as my babies too and I love them like they were my children..and needless to say they are spoiled rotten..but who cares?