The number one reason people drop off their pets at the pound?

Question

I'm not talking about strays or nuisance animals. What is the biggest reason people leave their pets?

Answer 1

This was a list compiled by my fiance for a rescue where we volunteered. He posted it on their site. The comments in the parens are his... It's funny but then again, it's not. We heard every one of these:


The dog barks (Really?! You're kidding!)
The dog has fleas (Are you sure it's the dog who has fleas? If so, one flea treatment will solve the problem.)
Cries at night (This was a dog that was locked in a storage room.)
He was cute as a puppy, but now he's not (We could probably say the same about you!)
He chews (This was, of course, a 3-month-old puppy cutting teeth.)
She's pregnant (And whose fault is that?)
He sheds (Newsflash: so do you.)
Won't stay off the furniture (Two Words: obedience class)
My girlfriend hates dogs (And yet, your dog loves her. Can't you work out a compromise?!)
He digs (Because he is bored. Throw him a tennis ball once in awhile.)
We're having a baby (Congratulations! Your labrador will love your new child...child = food crumbs!)
We're moving (Excellent! Labradors love new places.)
Eats too much (Translation: you feed too much.)
He runs along the fence and now we can't get grass to grow (A bag of grass seed costs around $7.00, straw is free. Problem solved.)
We aren't home much (Then why did you get a dog?)
My girlfriend loves dogs, but she hates this one (Are you sure it's the dog she has a problem with?)
Sleeps too much (Probably because he/she is bored.)
She's gotten pregnant twice this year (Once again...whose fault is this?!)
Don't have time to walk him (You can't spare 20 minutes a day? Come on! It's good for you, too!)
Wants to sit in my husband's lap (So, you're saying your dog is TOO affectionate?!)
Demands too much attention (Probably because he/she is bored.)
His barking is irritating (I'm sure some folks say the same thing about your talking, and yet...)
Poops too much (What are you feeding it?!)
We didn't know that it would cost so much to have a pet (Surprise! Having a pet is like having a child, only more furry.)
Chases cars (Fence? Leash? Collar? Any of these ring a bell?)
We got new carpeting (And that is your dog's fault? Who was there first?)
Is now blind (And so you want to send it to a strange place?!)
Growls at my mother (No comment...)
Eats our neighbor's newspapers (Once again, sounds like your dog is bored.)
His ears are too long (So? You're @ss is too big...but we're not ready to give you up for adoption.)
Is a messy eater (Your lab can't help that he/she can't use cutlery. Paper towels cost about $6.99 in bulk.)
We're going on vacation (And your dog can't come with you? Can you board him/her for a few days?)
Neighbor doesn't like him (Is it because your dog eats his newspapers?)
We bought our dream house (Wonderful! Sounds like your dog will have more space, too!)
Having kids and a dog is too overwhelming! (Trust me - the dog will take less time and energy than the children.)
We got a new dog (What a great idea! Labradors love other dogs!)

Answer 2

Selfishness. That is the underlying reason behind all of the excuses that they give. Here are the things I hear most often at the shelter:
"I'm moving"-so find a place that allows dogs
"I'm pregnant"-dogs and kids have coexisted for centuries, it will be more work but it can be done
"Divorce"-the dog would rather live with one of you than neither of you
"I didn't know puppies were so much work"-then you should have done your homework before you took on the responsibility
"It got too big/hairy/slobbery"-didn't you research the breed and/or mix of breeds before you got the dog?

The only reasons I've heard that I understood:
"My newborn is allergic"-you couldn't have known that in advance, and the babies health is priority
"There's been a tragedy such as a medical emergency or natural disaster that has depleted our finances and we can no longer afford to care for the animal appropriately"-bad things can happen to anyone, again you could not have prepared for this or worked around it

Answer 3

Not being able to take care of them. Most people don't understand that animals are like children you need to give them time and care for them or they get sad and sometimes die. Strays are animals that some people just put out on the street because they are too ignorant to know that they can actually give the animal a second chance by taking him/or her to the Humane Society, they are a ni kill facility as opposed to the pound which gives them 7 days and kills them.
MP

Answer 4

Because they made an impulse decision to acquire the pet without properly researching or preparing for what would be involved in the future. They put no effort into training, housebreaking, grooming, or medical needs. When the 'cuteness' of the baby has gone and it's a rambunctious teenager tearing up the house, it then becomes an 'inconvenience' and it is treated like trash and thrown away.

Answer 5

Behavior issues. The vast majority of which could have been avoided with proper training and puppy rearing. Another reason why people should research ALL that is involved in having a dog BEFORE getting one.

http://www.showdog-magazine.com/Articles/relinguishpets.htm

"As a group, pet behavior problems accounted for the greatest reason for relinquishment, representing 12 percent of the total."

Answer 6

I even have lived out interior the country now for 12 years and over those years I even have had over 60 cats left here. between feeding them and the vet expenses it retains me broke. no person needs cats and each and all the shelters and rescues are consistently finished. a minimum of a rescue helped me get them fixed. So no i does not drop off an animal by way of fact i'm the sufferer of people like that.

Answer 7

Because they don't consider how HUGE the responsibility of owning a pet is. They just think it's cute and take it home. After a period of time they don't want to take care of them anymore and they just dump them. I volunteer for some local animal rescues and people do this every single day. It's sad. A pet is a responsibility! Poor babies =[

Answer 8

1) usually because the animal empties its bladder and/or bowels on the floor one too many times....who knows

It is hardly ever for one of the BS excuses given by people who drop off their unwanted pets.

I'd sure like to ask that of the person that dropped an 8-10 week old black kitten in our workplace parking lot on a blistering hot summer day a couple months ago.....That little kitty is now named Gypsy and is a loved pet in my house

Answer 9

I would think the the number one reason is people buy a pet on impulse without thinking how much work it takes to own a pet or they acwuire a pet unsuitable for their lifestyle.

Answer 10

Irresponsibility. They are too irresponsible to research the breed best for them, locate a responsible breeder, properly have the puppy vetted, and teach the puppy manners. Therefore, when they don't get along its personality, can't give it back to the breeder, gets some treatable illness, and jumps on people, soils the house, or bites, they dump it in the shelter. It's ALL irresponsibility. They give it various names, like 'moving', 'allergies', 'no time'...but it still boils down to irresponsibility.