Hi everyone. We seem to be getting many cases of purebreds being rejected by their owners after several years. This is usually because of the following reasons:
1. The pet has an ailment which is too expensive to treat (but wasn’t it equally expensive to buy the purebred from the breeder many years ago?)
2. The owner is tired of the pet after so many years.
3. The owner is moving house.
4. The pet is no longer cute.
A rescuer tells me she has picked up quite a number of purebreds dumped in the rubbish dumper by their owners.
Here are my thoughts on this:
a. A dog is a dog. A cat is a cat. Why must we insist on choosing only certain breeds, unless of course we have a reason, ie. we need a small or medium-sized pet because our children are young, or we live in an apartment. Or we are blind/disabled and we need special service dogs.
b. Granted, we are allowed to choose, just as we choose our spouse and friends (we can’t choose our in-laws, relatives and children!). So, we choose the pet we like. That’s acceptable. You cannot live with someone you don’t like on first sight.
c. Now, since we have a choice, can we please find out as much as we can before buying/adopting the pet? Purebreds, as I know, usually have more health problems than mongrels. Mixed Breeds, being so “mixed up” in their genetic codes, are usually much stronger and resilient. They are also easier to take care of. At least, that’s what a vet told me. I stand corrected, of course. They are also friendlier, more humble and extremely loyal (especially if you have rescued them).
d. So, bearing this in mind, let’s be prepared to look after the pet for life, and not dump it after a few years because it has outgrown its “cuteness” and is no longer “adorable”.
e. A pet comes to us with the full trust that we will look after it for life. A pet is a lifelong responsibility and commitment. If in the event you simply cannot keep the pet anymore, please find a good home for it. Please do not send it to the vet to be euthanised or dump it on the street.
f. Finally, put yourself in place of the pet. How would we feel if our parents dump us or send us to be euthanised when we have outgrown our “cuteness”?
What is not right for humans is also not right for animals.