Am I crazy?

Question

I have enjoyed the pet section so much, but I must say, I am becomming so discouraged that I am ready to leave and never come back. I consider myself a responsble pet owner. I have a Lhasa Apso and a Shih Tzu. They get groomed every 4 weeks, they eat premium dog food, they are both spayed and they are considered members of our family. I have never in my life seen so many people that will let their dog or cat get pregnant and then they come screaming to this group "my dog is in labor, what do I do?" I have also seen questions when pets are in dire need of emergency vet care, and people come here and say "what can I do, besides take him to the vet". I do not consider myelf a perfect person at all, but what the heck is up with all these, and I won't say stupid, but ignorant people in this world? No wonder there are 8 million dogs and cats put to death each year, it is ignorant people. I am out or space. Sorry so long.

Answer 1

I agree with a lot of what you've said & some of the other comments. I read some of these questions & wonder where their common sense is. I am constantly being called to help with someones dog or being brought a dog found on the highway. Just tonight a lady & her daughter brought 2 dogs they found walking down the highway. I have been lucky enough to gain a lot of contacts & that's what I used. We were able to reunite them with their family as well as educate them on keeping their dogs safe. They also do not tag their dogs cause they're afraid they'll get caught on something & choke. As they've found out from me that their a quick release collars they can use & is safe. It's worked for me for years & all my dogs are tagged & microchipped so they'll always return home.
Some people see this cute pup or kitty & do not think about the cost of care. That's something I wish we could teach kids before they become the adult that's clueless & can't afford to care for them properly. I also wish we could shake some sense into folks. Folks just don't think an animal emergency is as serious as people emergencies. It's very frustrating.
Please continue sharing your knowledge. That's all any of us can do. If your answer can make 1 person smarter & the pet healthier, then you should be proud of yourself & keep on teaching.

Answer 2

No you aren't. I think 75% of these answers can be done with only 4 responses:
See A Vet
Crate Train
Spay and Neuter
Obedience Training

Then they get all huffy. Responsible breeders are not asking questions on YA. Breeding your dog is tricky even when you know what you're doing you can lose the whole litter. The truth is most of these breeders are going to find out the sad truth the hard way. I don't like people giving medical advice. I've seen some "Vet Techs" give very incorrect information. I doubt they're really Vet Techs.The best thing is just to say "see your vet". Something serious and then someone says feed the dog something. I don't like Cesar Milan. Most people would get hurt with his methods. Hang in there my dear. We need decent people like you to answer. I see this everyday and a lot more in rescue. Basically 99.9% of pet owners are just like you.

Answer 3

Great question - I feel the exact same way :/

I have a dog that has had some random health problems, which has cost me a lot more than I had hoped for, but with owning an animal, that's a risk you take going into it. If you can't realistically afford to take care of it, you shouldn't acquire a pet, plain and simple, in my opinion.

I do think that a lot of the really bad questions come from random oddballs who actually like to ask outrageous questions for kicks, which is unfortunate and plain stupid, as far as I'm concerned, but such is life.

And let's face it - people have very different perspectives on the value of a pet's life, which breaks my heart, but is true - I volunteer at a shelter, and seeing the same people coming in - with no shame at all - dropping off unwanted puppies every six to nine months makes me furious!!

I guess maybe some of the questions asked on here are from people who are less knowledgeable about the proper care of their pets that they should be, but at least they care enough to seek out information, and that's a great step - so, if we all just keep educating each other, we can't possible lose, right?
- c

Answer 4

Unfortunately, I totally agree. If you don't know how to take care of a pet, don't get one, because knowing information about your animal is one of the most important parts about being a responsible pet owner. If people aren't sure about what is happening to their pet, they shouldn't be on the computer writing about it. They should be at the veterinarian checking to make sure their pet is okay. As for the people who say,"what should I do...besides call the vet?" they are just being cheap! What is more important? Your pet, or a few dollars? And the people who don't spay or neuter their animals, as the Humane Society and other major pet associations HIGHLY reccomend, they are just being ignorant. I don't honestly know anyone who can responsibly take care of a mother and father pet PLUS their 5-7 babies! If you don't spay or neuter your animals, you are putting your pet's and your pet's young's life in danger. Thank you for asking this question! Good Luck!! :-)

Answer 5

I know your frustration, but we've got to remember that not all people were raised with the same sense of responsibility. They really may not know. They think nature is nature, etc. I grew up in a very small town and always thought the big cities which I visited often were so sophisticated and sharp. Then I married a guy from a very large metropolitan area and was blown away by the fact that a lot of people never even go to other parts of their own city, don't have cable tv, just the city channels and only socialize with the people they work with who may or may not be educated. I remember one time arguing with someone because they couldn't grasp the concept of vent on a fan versus the intake and which one you use to cool a room at night! And this was not a "stupid" woman, just what I would consider lacking common sense - and she has 3 kids in college to boot! I too am a responsible animal owner and sometimes I feel like I'm always rescuing animals or their owners from some sort of stupidity, but I try to look at it as education. EVerytime you answer on the board without being judgemental you are possibly educating a lot of people to something they may not know. So, have patience and think of yourself as a teacher. You have a lot of knowledge to share .......

Answer 6

I have two Maltese and they are groomed every 4 weeks. They get their monthly meds for Heartworm & flea/ticks. They are not and never have been crated. They are trained to go potty on the pee pee pads. I didn't want them to be trained to go outside to potty because they are so small. They can get on furniture and they sleep in our beds. They are fed "some" dog food, but mostly people food. They have 2 toy boxes full of toys.

I told all that for a reason. My dogs are treated like family and that is how all dogs should be treated. They have emotions and feelings just like humans do. They have the same organs humans have. They are very much like us in every way except they must communicate in other ways rather than talking. Or at least talking in English..........

Then there are IDIOTS out there that kick a dog when he/she has a potty accident in the house. They shove them outside and leave them out. They shove them in a cage for punishment. The dogs are not allowed on the furniture or in the beds. They put them in outside kennels with concrete floors because "that is where a dog belongs". They put shock collars on them as a training tool. Or they install the electric fence so it shocks the dog. You never take a dog to the Vet. It is a waste of money. If the dog is that sick, shoot it.........

BUT, You know what I have discovered? The type of people I just described usually treat their children and family members the same way they treat their dogs. It is a miserable excuse of a person and a sincere waste of human flesh, but it is true.

EDIT NOTE: To all of you that think dogs should be tied to a tree in the back yard and food thrown on the ground for them:

One of my boys had a potty accident off his pad today. I ran and cleaned it up and then I put his little green sweater on him. He looks great in green or yellow because he is all white. Anyway, I rushed him to the Vet because when he went potty, I thought he looked a bit pale. My Vet looked him over and ran some tests. Thank goodness, he is fine. Nothing wrong. It only cost me $178.00. Small cost to pay as long as there is nothing wrong with one of my boys.

How does that sit with you??

Answer 7

definite! The universe (and its properties) is fairly wonderful. I wager in case you repost your question on the Physics talk board, you may get solutions that positioned your questions greater into attitude. i think of the physicists have unquestionably theories to respond to questions including "whilst the dirt and planets and all that ends does the universe? or does the blackness basically save goin on and on?" As for, "Why is there a Universe?" you will could desire to alter this question somewhat; in any different case, the physics human beings will clarify the "huge Bang concept," which, i'm assuming (undesirable undesirable undesirable), isn't the respond you want. So, you may ask, "Is there shrink to the universe? And if it extends infinitely, is there a element the place atomic count/capability ceases to exist? or something to that result. As for G/god, there is not any necessity for G/god to exist and for there to be a Universe. G/god, in accordance to 3, created the universe. yet this perception is basically adequate for the respond 'Why is there a Universe?'--no longer needed; yet, no person, as of present day, has given a needed answer to the question 'Why is there a Universe?' in line with probability sooner or later you will supply us this answer.

Answer 8

I work for an emergency clinic. You would not believe how many phone calls we get from people asking the exact same question. It is really really hard, especially after several years of it, to not lose our temper with these people. My favorite answer they give us....how far along is your dog? The answer...huh, I don't know.
And I especially love how they blame us when they don't have any money to treat. Some how, we become the bad guys of their irresponsibility.
You just want to say to them "At some point over the last 65 days, you couldn't find at least 30 minutes to spend time researching the most basic information?"
Oh, don't get me started...I could go on forever on this subject.

Answer 9

Wow! You hit the nail on the head. I volunteer for a no kill animal rescue and it is mind boggling to see people so irresponsible with their animals. It is heartbreaking to see so many adoptable dogs being euthanized while ignorant people recklessly allow their animals to get pregnant. Then have no clue what to do about it or do not care and try to get out of going to a veterinarian. It costs approx. $14,000 to raise a dog though its life. They should not get a dog if they cannot take responsability for it.

Answer 10

I know. It's very frustrating. I've thought about quitting, too, but I keep telling myself if I get through to one person, it's worth the aggravation.