LETTER: So as the new year dawns and the leftover turkey goes into sandwiches for an unwelcome return to work, the Star and other papers report upon the same sorry tale that unfolds year in year out.
Dogs, bought by thoughtless halfwits (I’m sorry but that’s the best description for them) in the run up to Christmas, are discarded to rehoming centres once the novelty wears off and the reality of looking after and training them sinks into the owners’ thick skulls.
Dogs, and other animals no doubt, are cast off by our shallow consumer society as if they were an unwanted mobile phone or computer game, handed over to the re-homing centre without any hint of guilt or regret, often smothered by weak, fatuous excuses for the individual’s inability to keep it.
Am I being harsh? Yes perhaps, but I make no apology for it. It is far too easy in our throw-away society to obtain goods and later dispose of them if necessary and rehoming animals shortly after acquiring them amounts to just that.
It’s not as if there aren’t enough pleas and reminders to encourage people to think carefully before getting a pet, but as always it seems that there are those who will simply ignore any advice given, think that it doesn’t apply to them or arrogantly claim such advice is “nannying”.
I hope all rehomed pets find a new home soon, one where the owners have actually put some thought into taking them in.
J M Davis
Leegomery
38 Comments
Halfwits is not the best description for them but you couldnt print what they really are. These people should be left out in the cold for a week or more as punishment if they are caught or better thrown out onto the streets for ever to live in the gutter where they belong. I have a 40kg 10 month old puppy who is hard work but I would never throw him out I made the choice to have him after he was thrown out at 3 months old and 20kg cus he was no longer a little puppy. Think about what you are doing, the puppy you get will grow, your dog will get old and ill, you made the choice not the dog. People that just abondon their pets make me sick. I hope they have a very unhappy new year
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Is it the case that it is due to xmas??.Is it mainly dogs??.
I think this is just cheap publicity by the so called charities in order to drag in a few extra few quid over the xmas period.
People who have paid decent hard earned money for a pedigree dog from a breader will not dump it .That is a myth spread by the charities at this time of year . I for one am not fooled for one minute .
Cheap publicity stunt.
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As usual the full blame lands on those who have given up pets for re homing.
Justified in most cases but blame also lies with the breeders of the animals who are interested only in profit and who do not carry out sufficient checks on the buyers before handing over the animal.
I have been a dog breeder for many years and have in many instances refused to sell to those who do not meet my standards as a dog owner.
I have had only one case where an animal was disposed off in a short time, and this constantly reminds me that the checks are vital.
I restrict my breeding program to fit market demand and not for profit.
So lets remind those who sell animals that they too have a responsibility for the life they have created.
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40kg at 10 months?? What breed have you got, Fran.
Halfwits is a polite term, I would use scum…
Having had three rescue dogs in my life, (four if you include the one I got as a child and had to look after throughout my childhood), I was still astonished at the work involved in my first puppy, (now over two years old). I do look back at all the destruction and smile but most said I was mad to be putting up with it at the time…
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ANDREW FINCH You do talk some tripe at times.
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Andrew - I doubt that this is another cheap publicity stunt - there really are some moronic, half witted, scumbags out there who dont think long term about getting an animal - they want it as a status symbol until the next fad comes in and the poor animal gets dumped. I know of one wojman who thinks she is a dog breeder, until the new man comes along and the poor animals are left out to fend for themselves - she makes me physically sick and I cant say publicly what I would like to do to her.
I underwent a gruelling interview to adopt a cat from the RSPCA - it was an eye opener and I am a responsible cat owner (probably to the other extreme where my moggy is spoilt) - why cant this be the norm for anyone wanting to get an animal?
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I respond to Andrew Finch’s comments about charities using dumped animals as ‘a publicity stunt’. What a curious idea and one based very obviously on ignorance. With a member of my family working for the Dogs Trust and with friends working for the RSPCA, it is pitiful to say the least that he has not had the decency to qualify his ill advised remarks. Maybe a visit to either - preferably both- local centres will convince him that we do live in a ‘throw away’ society, that cruelty and neglect of even the most expensive pedigree animals are very apparent and that the staff of both societies spend an awful lot of their meagre wages (they work for charities after all!)on the animals brought into their care. Live dangerously Andrew - go and find out a few truths for yourself!
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Mike show me the evidence, and not direct from the charitie’s.
Every xmas charities are out and with cap out , IF ANIMAL CHARITIE’S SAID NOT AS BAD AS LAST YEAR which in some cases it is not no one would dish the dosh MIKE you can be a mug some times.
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Andrew Finch look at the facts before you try to sound clever and controversial. Look at the increase in animals, especially dogs pedigree or not, that are either dumped or brought into centres soon after Christmas and then you will learn that it is not a publicity stunt.
And even if it was what is so bad about increasing the profile of charities after Christmas? A time when people should come together and help each other? Even if we have all had to cut back and save this christmas we have still treated ourselves even if its just to a turkey for lunch on Christmas day or presents for loved ones. Surely this is the time of year that people should sit back and realise how lucky they really are and think about people/animals that are not.
Is it really alright for Mr Finch to sit on his computer in the warm trying to belittle and ridicule charities selfless efforts to make their charity have a greater profile? No. I think you need to rethink your principles Mr Finch.
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I like what concerned said and agree totally. I found one of my dogs 8 years ago when it was left on the road side as a puppy,their loss is my gain, but these pets do give genuine loyalty but all too often get let down.
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ANDREW FINCH said “I think this is just cheap publicity by the so called charities in order to drag in a few extra few quid over the xmas period.
I for one am not fooled for one minute”
Sent them a tenner yesterday, gona stop the cheque in the morning!
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How I agree with Andy No. 4.
I live in Canada and the Seal Hunt make me angry.
Many dogs are left outdoors at night and quite a number of them die of hyperthermia.
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Lucy W you really are sad.
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So much anger from some.
What is wrong with charities over egging it at xmas ?in order to get more money ?.
A lot it is not honest and is misleading the general public.
I am sure there are plenty of animals in rescue centres but not many that have been bought for hard earned money , may be some pedigrees bought off a back street breader or a heinze bought for a few quid out of the paper.
Some in rescue centres are there for other reasons owner dies / divorce etc etc they are not all dumped or abused they are taken in (do you want the idiot owner to have them put down ? it is there right).
Lets face it this xmas saw thousands of children in care homes and foster care(warm and cared for yes) some on here would rather give a home to a dog or a cat the uk is getting very odd .
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To be honest I would have to agree with Andrew Finch.
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Andrew, if you dont like giving animals your money then why not take them some pet food or a blanket.
Then you can see for yourself how many pets have been abandoned, I am sure the hardworking staff will be only to happy to tell you all about it.
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Lucy - W - I rerally do hope you are being flipant.
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wendy WHY? there are far more important issues to give your money to.
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Is anyone actually saying that you should not give to animal charities ?
If so then I think you should be ashamed,there is room in this world for people and animals and we have an obligation to care for all,not some.
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people who put animals over people via donations in my book need treatment.
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As for totaly shocked where was the care for the turkey on xmas day?. I doubt very much he wished to be eaten? and how many imported turkeys did the so called animal lovers on here eat on xmas day ??.what about them? “oh forgot we do not eat cats and dogs do we”
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Andrew Finch, nobody is forcing you to donate to animal charities - if you don’t want to, then don’t. Simple - to most people, obviously not to you. Nothing is stopping anybody from donating to human charities as well as animal ones.
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Andrew,
I take your point but you can give to more than one charity at a time, i do.
I cannot condem any charity for asking for help.
But i do despise any form of cruelty or neglect to animals or humans.
How about spending £1.00 on charity instead of that phone call to vote for a celebrity trying to dance or another x factor wannabe
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wendy makes a good point.What i do not like is any charity over egging it on our tv screens at xmas in order to get the public to hand over money .If the charities can not get there point across with out over the top statements and adds then they need a change at the top. Also the amount of donations being spent on Other things other than what the giver wants it too is obscene. Boss of cat protection salary?? ASK it is obscene.
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Andrew: you seem just to be trying to get a reaction and my answer is I enjoyed my turkey very much and so did my family and friends and my rescue dog. No one has said not to give to human charities, i for one have raised lots of money for all types of charities and believe that all charities are of importance.
I think what people disagree with is the way you belittle animal charities un-selfish efforts to try and raise money.
How can a charities ‘publicity stunt’ (even though the facts suggest ists not) be a bad thing?
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why over egg to make a point?? explain your case no need for anything over the top. ME? trying to get a reaction try charities at xmas with over the top adds . As for enjoying your turkey great. But all european animals suffer poor welfare standards in order for brits to get cheap meat .
Its called people with double standards
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Mine was from a free range farm locally actually, you seem to be very good at jumping to conclusions!
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And not all of us eat meat anyway.
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Never said you bought your turkey from europe but the majority do.Why does a dog deserve to be rescued over a turkey???.
There is plenty of free reange dogs out there .
THINK OF THE DRUM STICK.
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Andrew Finch - It is well known that a dog is the most intelligent animal next to humans. I would say dogs are more intelligent than human.
How many dogs are responsible for starting wars?
Andrew Finch I suggest you consider your views.
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Its all about culture we Brits are a Nation of dog, cat and horse lovers but look at the Chinese, Koreans and French between them they love them for a completely different reason!
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Mr Finch - dog’s trust charities are not ‘over-egging’ anything by reporting on the numbers of unwanted dogs, they are simply laying out the situation, one which occurs because of the stupidity of members of the public.
On the other hand, you are over-egging your own argument by making specious and contrived arguments involving turkeys which in the UK are farmed for food with the general consensus and acceptance of the public as a whole whereas dogs are kept as pets. Nothing like the same thing.
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Andrew Finch - It is well known that a dog is the most intelligent animal next to humans. I would say dogs are more intelligent than human.
Oh dear this is a very odd statement and i rest my case.
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JM DAVIES many of the very same dog lovers buy cheap imported meat from many of the supermarkets . double standards of the first order,
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Mr Finch - no, not double standards, merely another slightly different straw man argument on your part I’m afraid.
Where animals that are farmed for food come from is ultimately irrelevant, they were farmed for food with the geberal blessing of society as a whole. In the mind of the general public, there is no dichotomy between humans breeding and consuming certain animals for food and keeping others as pets. Where the latter ends up being prematurely destroyed because they became an umwanted fad of some thoughtless individuals then that is an unecessary waste, the cost of which is ultimately borne by the taxpayer, i.e you.
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Not at all. How can a so called animal lover care for one, and not for the animal wellfare of another?? whether born to be eaten or not.
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You can obfuscate all you like Mr Finch, but its not actually a question of caring or not caring about the welfare of farmed animals, its question of accepting certain social mores. Morally and ethically it is accepted in the UK that if humans are to live a full life then they will farms certain breeds of animal for food. If you don’t agree with that in priciple then lay out your concerns in a letter to the Star so we can unpick your reasoning.
Breeding other animals for pets but then having to discard some of them because they are unwanted is a different matter altogether because, as ‘concerned’ stated above, that life has been created and then simply wasted.
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Andrew Finch, shut up.
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