I just don't think I could do this..

5 years ago, I took on a dog named sally, she was around 9 years old at the time I got her and by the time she got to me, she had been through 4 other households within around the same number of weeks. Please bear in mind that I am actually more of a cat person, but I just couldn’t stand by and see this happen to her. I took her on knowing full well why her original owners had gotten rid of her, she had arthritis and constant abdominal problems (constipated one day, diohria the next), they basically didn’t want the hassle and the vet bills. I could never get rid of a pet on the pretence of not being able to afford them, if you feel that way about a valued member of your family (such as many pets are) then you should never have gotten a pet in the first place. Sally was put to sleep 2 years ago in October, her arthritis was causing her so much pain it was cruel to keep her going, but my point is, when you take any animal into your home to become a part of your family, you should see them right through to their dying day, not just dump them on a whim, just because you can’t afford it… you wouldn’t give your kids up if times were hard, so why give up beloved pets?

It wouldn't happen in my house.. Period.. My dogs are there to stay. I looked at the article.. they surrendered a Chihuahua because they couldnt afford to Feed her.. Tell me -how much food could a Chihuahua possibly eat? Come ON.. !!!

Before I would get rid of my animals I would seriously take into consider what I really spent on food and how much I could down size that it's cost first. I would try a cheaper food and maybe try to supplement some of the food with scraps and maybe ask those in the family who don't have pets if they would save you the scraps for the animals and for them to keep them in a place so they won't spoil. I would hate to get rid of my animals and would only do this as a very very very very last resort if I couldn't find family who would take them first.

I may go to the woods and hunt myself for food, but my pets are with me no matter what. They are happy to eat rice than be in the cage with strangers. Hope those dogs can find lovely homes....

Oh dear, that's really sad! I wouldn't give away my pets for anything. Even slum dwellers keep dogs here, and in spite of their poverty, they manage to give something to their dogs. So, I guess I would somehow manage...no, I won't give my dogs away. The emotional bond is too high. Cheers and happy mylotting

That would be tragic.. and hard to really believe. A dog doesn't really cost that much to feed each day, after all. What is it that I spend, $30.00 every month? Cut the cable out, that's what I say. Man's best friend will help you more than a blinking HBO channel if a burglar comes to your house!

In my house our rule is simple we have a pet we don't let it go,,, But if we r going to let it go then we would not get one to begin with,, I feel it's cruel & it's plane wrong, We would not do nething to one of our family member now wud we ???

We have two dogs. They were both free, just we had to pay for the vet bills. I would never let them go (although the puppy is driving me crazy). But the dogs have really helped my two middle boys (14 and 10 years old). They were both bullied at school, basically racist because they are both Japanese and English. The older boy went through hell the first year of junior high school and really believe that some days the only thing that stopped him from killing himself were the walks with his dog. He could get away from people for half an hour, just him and his dog, he could think and calm down. So these dogs aren't just pets they are really what has rescued my boys from depression and a lot better than doctors and meds!! We are very tight for money but the dogs eat scraps, sometimes they like that more!! I don't think I would ever get rid of our dogs!! Jacks

it would be a last esort but I think it would be better than letting them starve. I had to give up 4 cats after the flood of 2006 and I had no place to live so I had to stay with friends and I managed to find them all good homes but I still miss them all alot.

And another 455 strays picked up since September 1st. That is just insane. How can people just dump their pets out in the street like that. The ones who take them to the shelter are one thing, but to not even make sure they are going to survive by dumping them on the streets is just cruel.

The day I get rid of my cats... you can be sure the next day I'd be giving up my kids. My cats are just as much family as the kids I've carried in my womb. They've never actually gone hungry, but I know there are some months where they need their flea medicine and I just can't afford it. So we deal with the fleas, or I find other ways of reducing the fleas. I did once get rid of a cat because I couldn't afford the flea medicine, and it killed me to do it. I've regretted it everyday since. I can feed my 4 cats on $10 to $20 a month. They just get dry food, nothing special. They're also all outdoor cats, and the younger ones get their treats out there from some of the furry wildlife. Feeding cats doesn't have to be expensive. Vet visits and flea medicine is expensive!

I do not think that I could ever take my animal in if I am strapped for money. I have been in this situation before. I have kids and of course they will come first. We have a local food bank that you can get food from and they will also provide food for animals. So I think that I would definately go there first. My pets are apart of my family and I do not feel that I could give them up.

I have rescued cats for 25 years and lived in my former home for 29 years. I was injured in 2003 and through some unfortunate happenings I lost my home to forclosure this year. While I was going through the 7 weeks of packing 29 years of my life I was also trying to find some place that would take some of the rescued cats. Nothing was availagle because of this exact thing. People loosing their homes and either abandoning their animals, which is a misdamenor offence, or turning them over to the shelters or some other rescue organizations. I couldn't find anyplace to take them. Finally the humans society made appointments but you could only take in 2 animals a day. It was insane how many were just abandoned. I kept my babies and they are in cages on the back porch of the place I am staying at. I am finally able to look for a rental out of this area because it is to expensive here. I am sad to say that I did have to give up some of my babies and it still is killing me. I took them along with the farels to my friends in the mountains so it is possible that I could try to go find them. They have been free up there and my friend puts out food and water at several stations and builds little cubbies for them to sleep in. They really have it good up there. I just miss them so much. I borrowed large cages from a friend and most of them are doing very well, better than me with the stress of all this.

i would never give up a dog or cat no matter what! i just went and saved a dogs life, i adopted her today for 130$$, my last resort would be cell phone, i use it alot to stay in contact with my family and friends but i sould svae alot more by having a land line!