Why do so many people own pets who know nothing about them?

Question

Someone asked why people answer if they don't know the answer.
The question I ask is: Why do so many people own pets that know nothing about them. So many ask about breeding, and serious obvious problems that would require a Vet.
Why are they breeding, and why are they not going to a Vet and asking these questions later?
There is a huge problem in the United States with Puppy Mill, and Unwanted pets, and if we could help people to educate themselves better maybe we could stop all that.

Answer 1

Because people are selfish and impulsive. They see a pet and just have to have it and then start wondering about it's care afterwards, if the pet is lucky. In this society we have to have instant gratification. We feel the faint urge to own something and go and get it without thinking, well, not all of us, but a lot of people. Nobody thinks about consequences anymore. If the object of our desire is an inanimate object we are just out of a few bucks, but when the thing we fancy is an animal things get ugly. It pains me to see questions that start out "I just got a XYZ at the pet store last week and wonder what to feed it." or the ones that go "My puppy/kitten/rabbit/rat has been bleeding for the past 6 hours. Is there anything I can do?"
One cannot know everything there is to know about every pet out there, but if you decide to share your life with a living creature, do your homework and at least inform yourself of the basics. And make sure you have a vet available who knows about the kind of pet you're thinking about getting. Don't depend on the Internet to care for your animal.
PS: Another thing that bothers me are all these people on ego-trips that think they just HAVE to save every animal they come across. Realize it folks, not every critter you encounter NEEDS rescuing. Leave alone the tortoises, frogs, tad poles, fawns, racoons, bunnies and whatever else crosses your path. Natures has provided for them before you came along and it will long after you are gone. Let nature take it's course. In the majority of cases the critter will be better off for it.

Answer 2

I also wonder how so many people keep dogs and have no clue about basic pet care and less about vet care.
I can not understand getting a dog and not training with it or spending time with it and not knowing anything about what they were bred for.
I work in rescue and see far to many dogs who were bought because the person thought the dog was beautiful or someone they knew when they were growing up had one and it was such a great dog. They have no clue what the dog was bred for or why and they do not or are not willing to spend time training the dog to get a really good dog.
I feel no one should breed unless they have had the appropriate testing done on their dog and on the prospective stud. Their dog should also have at least one quality like an AKC title or Field Trial title or something beyond just "being a great pet" to be bred.
But people are going to be irresponsible and as a responsible person I will do what I can to pick up the pieces of the peoples actions. I work in rescue and do the best I can for those dogs.

Answer 3

The answer to your question is somewhat simple. There are MANY people who feel that this animal or that is so cute and they just cannot live without it. Then, after acquiring the pet, they find themselves in the predicament that they have no idea what to do with the cute little puppy, hamster, lizard, kitty, or whatever the case may be. These are the same people who have NO IDEA that there is such thing as RESEARCH in a library or online. As far as helping them educate themselves better, the only thing I can say is recommend that they do the research themselves, (as most people learn best by reading something themself,) and tell them about where they could find the answers they seek, (EX. the library or net.) People can answer questions until they are blue in the face, and these people are the same people who think that they are the ones who know best... Good luck to you, and thank you for the first intelligent post I have seen all morning!

Answer 4

Fabulous question and I wish to GOD I knew the answer. I've often thought the same thing! My guess is that society is so into instant gratification. They decide they want something on a whim, and BAM! They make it happen, without thinking it through and doing research. They will spend thousands on a dog in a pet shop, but then they won't go to the vet. It makes me CRAZY!

I feel like such a hag at times for being "stern" when I take the time to answer these types of questions. But I can't help it. LOL!

Answer 5

Totally

Answer 6

It really worries me how many people want to breed their dogs for no known reason. I am not opposed to maintaining purebred lines, but it should be done by experienced breeders who are educated in genetics and involved in their breed's association board for bettering the breed.

It is SCARY seeing how many people post things like "my lab wants to have puppies, can someone tell me how to breed her" AHHHH!!! People call themselves dog lovers and yet turn their backs on the hundreds of thousands of homeless dogs because they "want to have cute little puppies".

Answer 7

Because stupidity is bliss... and also the pet shops don't do what they need to do to keep owners informed... I just bought a ferret off of an owner last night that didn't have any toys for it... and the cage was way toooo small... and there wasn't any thing in there for him... my god poor little guy..

Answer 8

Another Amen, Sister, from me. Some of the questions in this pet section are quite disturbing.

Answer 9

Why do so many people have babies who know nothing about them?

Answer 10

AMEN!!!! I could not agree with you more. I could write pages and pages on this topic myself.