I am probably preaching to the choir here because I suspect that most of you already know what I am going to discuss tonight, but I feel like it still needs to be said. I suspect that for the most part none of this will reach the people who really should be reading it, and many of them probably wouldn’t read it even if given the chance, but if it even reaches one or two people then maybe it will help. As a shelter veterinarian, I am continuously amazed by how many people call or come to our office looking to turn in their own pets. There are a variety of reasons that they give, but 99.9% of the time, those reasons are ridiculous. One of my personal favorites is “I’m moving and I can’t take my pet(s) with me”. If you care at all about your pets, why would you ever move to a place where they are not allowed?!? I’m well aware of the fact that it is more difficult to find rentals that allow pets, but they are out there. Some rentals don’t allow children, either, but if you have children, do you move into one of those places and give up your children? Of course you don’t!

Summer is always a busy time at shelters. It is kitten season, which if you aren’t familiar with that term, is the time of year that cats are breeding (cats breed during the longest days of the year and stop as the days become shorter, unlike dogs that breed year long). This always results in a big influx of found and unwanted kittens. Summer is also the time of year when people take vacations. That is yet another excuse that people give for giving up their pets. Rather than boarding them or hiring a pet sitter (we can’t afford that, is the excuse. My answer, then you also can’t really afford to travel), they simply give them away. Sometimes, they will even tell us that they intend to get new pets come fall when they are done traveling!!! What?!? Our shelter doesn’t allow people to adopt from us if they have owner released before, but there are plenty of other places where they can get their new animals if they want them. It actually amazes me how many of them do try to adopt later, and how many of them get angry when we turn them away.

Being the end of summer, our shelter is very full right now. When we get full, it is our policy to turn away owner releases. Many shelters don’t take them in at all. People frequently get very angry when we turn them away, but people need to realize two things. First, municipal shelters were never intended to take in and rehome owned pets. They were established to try to house, care for, and rehome strays and nuisance animals. Second, if you decide to get a pet, that animal becomes your responsibility. It is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly. People need to realize that the cute puppy or kitten that you decided to get will need you for the next 10-20 years. As it ages, it will need more and more care, and some of that care will cost money! If you are unwilling or unable to provide that care for that length of time, don’t get a pet! Having pets is a privilege, it is not a right. If for some reason, good or bad, you decide that you no longer want that pet, part of the responsibility you took on when you took it in, is finding it a new home. That responsibility is not the burden of the shelter or the tax payers of your community. And yes, frequently finding a new home for your now unwanted pet is not easy. It requires a lot of work, and may cost you some money and take some time. That is especially true if your pet is not well behaved or unsocalized. Keep all of this in mind before you decide to get that animal.

To summarize, getting a pet is a long term time and monetary commitment. Consider that commitment very seriously before deciding to take it on. If you are unsure you can do it, then don’t get a pet. If you do decide to take on a pet, the responsibility for it is yours and yours alone. It’s not the responsibility of the local shelter, it’s not the responsibility of your neighbors, it’s not the responsibility of your veterinarian. And for goodness sake, if you can’t take care of yourself or the pet(s) you already have, don’t get more! Also keep in mind, if you decide to feed feral or community cats, you are taking responsibility for them. You become responsible for finding homes for any kittens produced (so please get them fixed!!!) and any damages that they may cause to your property or to that of your neighbors.

If you enjoy beautiful nature photography and artwork and great animal/nature related content, please subscribe to our blog!