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Pet owners: In your past, before you became the responsible caretaker you now are, did you ever ignorantly neglect an animal? If you did, what was the outcome? How did it affect your decisions to care for animals in the future? What helped you correct your negligence and how would you pass that learning experience on to others who may mean well but don't have a clue?

Here's my instance: Winning all the goldfish at the county fair by throwing a PingPong ball, and then dumping them all into one small tank with no real working filter and no clue how to care for them- of course they died quickly. My parents knew nothing about fish but forbid me to ever have more until I learned everything I could about them. Six years later, I was working in a pet store and specializing in fish and small animals. (And had 3 big fish tanks in my apartment!)

What have you learned the hard way? Share, please, I think it would be educational. Thanks!

2007-09-28 07:42:16 · 20 answers · asked by howldine 6 in Pets Dogs

20 answers

My father owned hunting dogs when I was a kid. Of course he put the feeding and care on me. One night I just didn't feel like doing it. So when asked if I fed the dogs I just said yes. Well, if I was smart I should have just fed the dogs. Instead now I lied and couldn't get caught doing it . I was up all night worrying about the dogs. I felt horrible, all I could think about was those poor dogs outside hungry because of me. Now I know an occasional day without food doesn't harm a dog but back then I didn't. I think my conscience suffered more than the dogs. So the next morning when I got up I stuffed my pockets with dog food so my parents couldn't see and fed the dogs handfuls of food before going to school. I never did that again. I was eager to feed them after that. I didn't ever want another night like that one.

2007-09-28 07:57:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 8 0

I've never done anything of the sort, but my sister has.

She got a kitten, and didn't know how to properly handle or care for her. The cat ended up running away.

She had 2 ferrets & a rabbit. Her room somehow became infested with fleas, but she was hardly home, so she didn't notice. The rabbit & 1 ferret died due to blood loss. The remaining ferret (albino), was almost black in color, due to the amounts of fleas. He survived though, after a vigorous flea bath and being moved to a different room until the flea situation was taken care of.

She had 2 hamsters, one of each gender. They had 1 litter, momma ate the babies. She didn't separate them, so again, the female got pregnant, but this time, died during pregnancy.

Oh, the family dog accidentally got pregnant, and she took one of the puppies. Unfortunately, she didn't know that Parvo was 'high' where she lived, so the pup got ill & died, despite vaccinations. (That one isn't completely her negligence though).

I believe that's all.....she now has a Beagle and a APBT mix, and she's taking great care of them.

2007-09-28 07:50:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

When I was a kid, all the dogs lived outside. The only one that was in the house was the English Bulldog. The rest of them were outside.

My parents loved the dogs and were always big on vet care and food. I remember my mom not buying grocery store food. She'd drive to a private dealer of Bench and Field food. It was super expensive at the time.

It's funny though. They lived outside. We had this back porch, like today's 3 season rooms. That's where they lived. Dad would buy straw for them. But if it got REALLY cold or we'd have a blizzard (I grew up in Ohio and it'd does get cold in the winter) they would sometimes let them in the kitchen. Mostly - outside.

2007-09-28 07:52:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

When I was a young teenager, I had a few fancy goldfish in a 10 gallon tank in my room. Sometimes they developed that condition called ICK and I was told, or read, that you should separate them from the rest of the tank and isolate them in a small bowl with warm salt water and it would cure the ICK. I did this and to make the water warm, I put my desk lamp real close to the small bowl opening and left my room. Several hours later, after forgetting all about it, I came back to a dead fish. The water was extremely hot from the lamp, so I know that's what killed him. I felt so guilty...all I kept saying was "I can't believe I boiled "Joey" I was very upset with myself....it's very clear in my memory...I've never forgotten how stupid I was for doing that.

2007-09-28 12:47:19 · answer #4 · answered by ♥ Liz ♫ 6 · 2 0

I had a female Pomeranian named Akey for 10yr. she just passed away this past March. She slept with me everynight and went everywhere I went, until I got married and moved in with my husband. I started babysitting, and the little girl was mean to her, so I thought I'd be nice and let her run around in the back yard til 5 when the little girl was picked up, then one day I guess b/c she was getting old she started losing control of her bladder and was ruining our floors so we'd leave her and my Chihuahua out until time for bed. I didn't think at the time that it was b/c she was getting older if I would have thought of that I would have taken her to the vet... I just thought that she was mad at me for not having much to do with her so she'd pee or poop inside... She passed away in March and I blame myself and since then my 3dogs, are all INSIDE pets, and I learned a VERY hard lesson from her... It has changed how I view animals, and my dogs go with me everywhere, if they can't go I don't go... I always think if I had just one more day with her, I'd hold her all day long, and never put her down take her on car rides again, but I can't change the past all I can do it change the future of my other 3 dogs.

2007-09-28 07:59:06 · answer #5 · answered by Brecken's Mommy 3 · 0 0

tree frogs...I caught a bunch or tadpoles...and stuck them in a tank....they did have a filter though. but when they became frogs they started to die off one and 2 then more....why? i wasn't feeding the the right food.....i did release the ones that where left at least the could be back in the circle even they didn't live.

and betta in the early 90's kept them in little tiny cups...their water would get nasty and i'd let them go....poor things.

i do have a betta now but i find it WAY easier and healthier for them in one or more gallon tanks with filter. one left of the 6 tanks i had. he's 3 years old and the last one i bought...lived much longer then the others living in their own crap.
i'm done with fish when he's gone...atleast for now.

2007-09-28 08:18:28 · answer #6 · answered by dragonwolf 5 · 0 0

I wouldn't say I've neglected but I have made stupid mistakes which lead my dog to momentary pain.

1) Not stopping fast enough when bike riding and my dog ran into the wheel and was limping for about 30 seconds. I am now super attentive when we do it- and he is better trained.
2) Picking up a lid from a hot pot on the stove and letting the steaming hot water condensation on it drop down and burn him a little :( Now I make sure it stays on top of the oven.
3) Stepped on him, kicked him when putting on pants by mistake- I just keep trying to look all around and know exactly where my shadow-puppy is.

2007-09-28 07:58:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

When I was 9 I had a pet goldfish which I would neglect and the fish tank would get dirty that you couldnt even see the fish. But it had no filter! You had to clean the dang bowl almost everyday! But now that I have my chihuahua and that I am grown and understand more my chihuahua loves me just as much as I love her.

2007-09-28 07:58:39 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

When I was a kid,we didn't have our cats or dogs fixed,and one of our cats had many litters of kittens.Two of our dogs had pups as well.When we finally got the cat fixed,not long after,she got hit and killed by a car.Also,had an indoor cat develop a pyometra,but she was saved with emergency surgery.And,had the salamanders and frogs that died.I learned a lot from trial and error,and reading.Now,all of my animals are spayed/neutered before they ever come into heat,and have been for over 25 years,and the cats are indoor - only.If I want to acquire a new animal,I do research beforehand.But,everyone makes mistakes;it's how we learn.

2007-09-28 09:13:42 · answer #9 · answered by Dances With Woofs! 7 · 2 0

i think this is a good question and i cant wait to see some of the other answers. when i was young i used to catch toads all sizes. one time i caught a baby one it was super small. so i put it in a bowl and left i sit on the kitchen table. of course i had no clue then what to feed it and i never give it water. so a few days later it roasted!!! i left it on the table rite under the light and the sun was shining in on the plastic bowl the whole time!!! i felt so bad. from then on i made sure i took good care of my pets even if they were frogs or toads. i learned from that experience because i no that poor toad was so hot and hungry and i told myself what if i was in that bowl? i felt so bad. i even went outside and buried it. now i care for my pets like they are family. fresh food and water everyday and plenty of attention. that is my story.

2007-09-28 07:54:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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