Animals Never Dump People

/ crazytraintotinkytown

My heart broke a little this week when an acquaintance of ours from a family of supposed dog lovers informed me that his sister had decided to rehome her nine-year old beagle which she’d had from when he was a tiny puppy, whilst she was in hospital awaiting the birth of her first child.

I have long since realised that everyone’s interpretation of being an animal lover is different and this particular family have all shopped from dubious breeders, which frankly have been little more than puppy farms found through random adverts and then wondered why their dogs have developed behavioural issues and serious health problems.

I do appreciate that sometimes there are extenuating circumstances when no matter how distressing an alternative safe home is sometimes necessary for the welfare of the animal. However, when you have treated your dog like a substitute child with little or no socializing, discipline or exercise and discard without a backward glance because you now have the real thing demonstrates a total lack of conscience.

Furthermore to advertise your loyal friend on a website “free to a good home” and then abandon them to a complete stranger you know little or nothing about because further details would just “upset you” is just downright irresponsible and immoral.

So it’s no surprise that I enjoy Animalcouriers’s travels which detail the extreme lengths that some owners will take to avoid being separated from their four-legged companions and on really bad days when shocking animal cruelty floods both the media and social networking sites it warms my heart and reminds me that there remains kindness in this world. I love reading about their adventures transporting lots of different animals around the world although my favourite posts are about all the work they do with a Greek rescue called The Filozoikos Shelter and the special collars made with love in each stitch by one of the volunteers which are given to them when they depart for their new homes and new lives. Rest assured if I ever need to transport our brood Animalcouriers would be the only option for us because of the personal care they give to their passengers which is beyond priceless and who wouldn’t want their four-legged or even feathered family to travel with the very best. In fact, as they seem to travel to the nicest places and meet the kindest people I would probably want to ride shotgun as well.

Adopters, fosterers and donations are always needed by the shelter so if you are thinking of getting an addition for your family please adopt don’t shop and consider giving a home to one of the many treasured dogs from the Filozoikos Shelter enabling them to provide a home for another street and abused animal.

Enjoy your weekend my friends and here’s some delightful pictures of Animal Courier’s charming passengers (the Filozoikos Shelter dogs) with those adorable collars; bet they make you smile too!

65 thoughts on “Animals Never Dump People”

  2. I agree with you. That poor dog is going to be so confused, being separated from the only family he’s ever known. 😦

    My hubby and I have had an incredibly difficult year. About a month ago, an adorable puppy (about 4 to 5 months old) showed up on our property (we live in a rural area, where people just dump unwanted animals and leave them to their own devices). She’s part Jack Russell terrier and some other kind of terrier mix. She is ADORABLE. She has adopted us, and we her. Even our cat, Scraggles (so named because when she came to us — she, too, was a stray — she was the scraggliest looking cat we’d ever seen) has managed to become friends with her. Hubby and I aren’t typically small dog people, but little Maisie (we’ve named her Maisie Dobbs in honor of the Jacqueline Winspear literary character) has a big dog heart and has brought some brightness to what has otherwise been a sad year for us. (Year in a nutshell — hubby broke his T12 vertebrae in February, in April we had to put our 16 year old cat Ally down, and at the end of April my mom suffered a massive heart attack (she arrested 3 times) and is now in congestive heart failure….and all of this during a necessary reroofing of the house and a needed remodel of a functional room in our house.)

    I do hope that poor dog can find himself a truly loving home. And bless those folks with the heart and stamina to work with shelters and abandoned animals.

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    • What a truly rotten year you’ve had but it does go to prove that God gives us what we need not what we want and dogs do have a way of finding those that need them most. She sounds adorable and her story would make a fab post, if you write it come back and put the link up here as I want to see pics now!

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      • Well, my blog is about food, so I’m not quite sure how I could fit her into a post, but I bet if I think on it, I will find a way 😉 And she is ADORABLE. A friend of mine commented that she looks as though she were put together with spare parts, but in a cute way 🙂

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  3. I can’t imagine giving my furry beast away without hesitation. Even thou he drives me crazy, but he also lift my spirit with his antics. Today he brought a pair of shorts (he rarely touches my clothes) and started to growl until I got up and went to the other side of the house. He had no water, he made me laugh, he’s so clever.
    As for Animalcouriers, I’ve always admired the way they do business and networking. I really like the people behind the blog and the way they treat the beasts. I’d travel with them if they’d take me.

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    • I thinks lots of us would like to join them on their trips, when I was living in Turkey it comforted me knowing that they too were passing through that beautiful country and having similar experiences to myself. I absolutely love what they do and that they have a real passion for it

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  4. An unrelated question. I just read on your twitter feeds “Will Write for Dog Food 4 a donation to ur local NO KILL shelter I will write u a story pls RT”. Have you written a post about? I’d like to help/move it around.

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    • How kind of you to read that. I would absolutely write a story if a no kill shelter benefited. I’ve written a few on Tales From the Allotment but so far nobody’s taken me up but I can dream that a corporate company might be interested. I read every story about every animal on the Euth list and I wish that every Tweep just RT’d one animal a week because that simple action just might save a life

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      • I’ve been out too. I started blogging again a little over a month ago. Didn’t know your dad had stroke, hope he’s doing fine.
        It’s good to be back, I’m on this new blog, the other is still up but haven’t updated it in ages.
        Doggy is as usual, keeping me on my toes. He stinks and needs a bath ASAP but they have closed down all groomers around the city, gotta find a kind soul to drive outside the city so I can get Doggy cleaned.

        If you write a little note I’ll move this around on my blog tomorrow, I have this Wrap it! section where I link to other bloggers and suggest nice reads. I’ll be more than happy to promote your idea. And once I settled, we could arrange something, like you guest blogging in exchange of food for the animal shelter of your choice. It’s hard though, cuz it’d be like putting a price to your talent.

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      • Bless you Leo, I’m off to bed now as I’m up at 5am tomorrow to fight the good fight with the evil queen. I can’t think of a better place to benefit from any talent so will tomorrow be ok? Dad’s been left paralysed on the rhs so I’m a full time carer as well but we’re luckier than most and making slow progress talking of which would love to RT your Olympic progress; you’re an inspiration and if anyone deserves to get there its you! Big kiss for the handsome one x

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  7. My friend fosters dogs – she’s got 5 right now. What a star! When we get a dog (when we’re not travelling with work so much) we’ll head straight for the rescue centre. That poor little Beagle must be very confused 😦

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  8. Dallas, you’ve made the people at the Filozoikos shelter very proud! Thank you so much for the shout out for them. Conrad says “This is lovely and life inspiring! All credit goes to Kiki, Martha and all the wonderful Filozoikos team…”
    So sorry to hear about that dear Beagle. Rehoming is surely something you consider if all else fails – the baby hadn’t even been born yet! Here’s to him finding a family who loves him fully.

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  10. Such a sad an unneccesary way to treat a loyal family member..we saw this on Animal Couriers blog and just shook my head…family is family..is family..there are better ways to deal with a situation they clearly caused in the first place..i type this as I happily look over at my boys..an 11 year old lab sleeping in un undersized bed…because he can..and a 12 year old foxie who is sleeping in an oversized bed..because he can..my four cats spread around and my 8 year old sheep in a sheltered paddock due to some wind..and I wonder..thankyou for a great post..Hugs Fozziemum

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  11. I agree wholeheartedly with you. I have a friend who had two large dogs and a cat for 18 years where within those years she divorced, lost her house and had to relocate many times. There were places she lived that due to the affordability she had no choice to take despite they were what once included a studio apartment that did not allow pets. She never once considered rehoming her fur kids, and always worked to find a solution to keep them together. In the case of the studio, she made arrangements with a friend who had a house with a yard to ‘foster’ her dogs and cat for a few months until she found employment and a place animals were welcome. The friend lived nearby so she could come by daily to spend time with them, walk the dogs, etc and she provided all food and litter and in exchange for her friend’s kindness of giving a temporary home to her fur kids, would do tasks like mowing the lawn to premaking meals for the friend so she didn’t have to come home and cook for her kids after a busy work day. It was a situation beneficial to both: my friend could keep her babies together in a safe place, and her friend received much needed help with things in her busy single mom life, and the fur and human kids loved the company and fun of one another’s companionship.
    It was difficult for my friend to leave them in the evening, but it was a minuscule sacrifice compared to losing and traumatizing the fur kids by giving them away.

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  12. This breaks my heart. I cant wrap my head around all these people who have had dogs for years– even since they were puppies, and are now just dumping them into a craigslist ad. Some of my closest people are guilty of it and I think gah.. would give away you put your kids on craigslist if it were socially acceptable?! I think maybe they would haha. I keep scanning the shelter websites here, but sometimes I go on kijiji and I see these sweet older dogs with FREE written under them. I dont have enough time. They are too loud. Im too busy. Hes not good with our new cat.. GAH! Unfortunately they are always huge and I feel like if I took them in.. I would be too busy. Its a never ending circle. But atleast I am holding my intense need to fill my life with dogs at bay, because of ya know.. being a damn grown up!

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    • I’m with you on that, however, we do have two rescue cats & one dog of our own and two fosters but you know what there’s always more room at the inn. I shudder to think where most of these “free” animals on craigslist really end up. It breaks my heart to think of them used as bait for dog fighting rings

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  14. Pingback: Sharing: Animals Don’t Dump People | Living with Izzy

  15. My parents had to take care of a cat named Fluffy for about a year which belonged to my aunt and uncle. I think they were living in a place which did not allow cats. When my parents finally returned the cat to them, my aunt ended up giving the cat away when she was pregnant with her first child–something about how it recommended by her doctor. My mom was upset when she found out (not because she liked the cat–my parents are not cat people and probably only offered to do it since they are family, they have horror stories about that cat haha) because she had taken care of the cat for a year only to have my aunt end up giving it away.

    Could never have imagined giving away our little Milou. He stayed with us until he passed away in July. But there are always extenuating circumstances like you said–owner dies, owner becomes incapacitated and can no longer care for the pet, owner moves away to another country with strict quarantine laws, a family may be deathly allergic etc. But if you decide to get a pet, it should be considered a permanent decision. Dogs and cats and other animals are not disposable things.

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    • Many people think that animals are “until” pets; until I have a baby, until we start a new job, until we move house little thinking about the long-term welfare of the animal and the distress it will inevitably face when they simply don’t want it anymore. I remember you speaking of your darling pup often and I am sorry for your loss but Milou had better than many animals a loving home and devoted family which is what I wish for all animals

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      • LOL, thank you! They do both try to use my keyboard….hmmm. 😉

        Our late Ally — a calico we’d had for 16 years and had to put down in April — was really beautiful, too, and she had the softest fur…it was like cuddling with a living angora sweater or some such. Still miss her. Folks who aren’t “animal” people might think I’m nuts, but Ally and Scraggles grew closer near Ally’s end, and I swear that Ally shared all her secrets with Scraggles.

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      • I don’t think you’re nuts at all just a bit tapped like all us animal lovers. We have a large brood too and we would never turn away another in need although any more and I fear we may push my mother over the edge. I’m sure you’re old girl is still looking over you and probably did help in sending your new addition your way

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  17. 🙂 They enrich our lives in so many ways. As one of your other commenters said, I don’t think I could give up my fur babies any more than I could trade off a loved one.

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  19. I agree 100% with what you have written. I have ill feelings for people that dump their pets at the shelter or to the street or out in the country. All my dogs were abandoned or running loose as strays. They all are the best possible pets who were grateful to be rescued.

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    • Don’t you think though that the type of people that do this are fairly self-centred and thick-skinned and has probably not given her dog another thought since she let him go. I hope that she never re-homes another dog

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      • Or has another dog, or cat, or anything breathing… And I don’t know, I think that sometimes when people are called out publicly that the shame is a different sort of punch in the face. But that’s probably wishful thinking. 😦

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  21. Great blog topic! Sad that people treat their 4 leggeds like they are disposable items. I can’t wrap my head around this mentality at all. My presnet cat Nylablue came to me via that way. Nylablue was in a home with a couple & another cat & dog. When the woman was 6 months pregnant she decided to ‘get rid’ of the cats (notice she kept the dog). I was encouraged to take Nylablue even tho she had multiple health problems & no I was NOT told about them.
    The other cat went to an acquaintance of mine. That cat (a Siamese) had been the pregnant woman’s constant companion for 7+ years & she did not do well being rehomed & had behavioural issues that became so unbearable she was humanely put to sleep.
    At least both cats were given a chance & thankfully both of us were responsible & loving cat owners; it could have turned out far worse. Oh & the irony of this: the woman now has 2 children & after the 1st child was born she started breeding Spyhnx cats…go figure??????
    Sincerely Sherri-Ellen & Nylablue

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    • I love the name Nylablue. Ironic isn’t it that some people think that animals are “until” pets. I don’t think I could rehome any of ours and then decide later on to get some more, it shows a lack of conscience. And even though she’s now a breeder I bet she’s not a responsible one. All I can say is lucky, lucky Nylablue

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  23. Nylablue was a breeding Queen til she was 4+ yrs old & thrown out. Found on the streets & taken to Shelter. The Operator’s sister took Nylablue home that night. Nylablue was already sick with Chronic Cystitis & Peridontel Disease. The sister BRED Nylablue again so she could ‘afford’ to have her vaccinated & spayed. Made her sicker so Nylablue wnet back to Vet who told her he suspected Chronic Cystitis…Nylablue was not treated for either illness & the Shelter Operator called me to do a ‘rescue’…
    Boy did I get a shock when I took Nylablue to my Vet!!! Took 3 yrs to cure Cystitis plus surgery to remove rest of rotted teeth. Shelter Operator & i remained friends but i will not speak to the Sister. And yes there is no conscience if a person could give away 2 ‘beloved’ pets & then start breeding ….Nylablue has known love for 8 1/2 yrs now despite her health issues. I will keep her til her dying day & even then her ashes will come home to me afterwards. That is devotion & love.
    Thanks for reading Nylablue’s story. I appreciate your comments.
    Sherri-Ellen & Nylablue x0x0

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    • This brought a tear to my eye some people don’t deserve the joy of animals – can you post the link to her story on here as I have a lot of animal lovin’ blogging friends and I’m sure that they’d like to read about her too

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  24. Thank you for the offer to post our link here! Your invitation motivated me to update our ABOUT page & so TA-Da: here is the link~~
    http://nylabluesmum.wordpress.com/about/
    I tried to watch the video above but could not get to the first minute without crying…it seems there are 2 kinds of people: Loving devoted ones or ones withour conscience…
    I am so glad to meet the former type of people here!
    Sincerely, Sherri-Ellen & Nylablue

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  25. Thank you; I feel the same way! It is lovely to make new friends here. Please browse thru our blog & enjoy your stay at The Purrfect Pad. If you have any questions feel free to ask.
    When i first starting blogging here it was going to be me blogging about our life together & my stuff. Well that plan got thrown out a few months into joining WP & Nylablue ‘took over’ & we have not looked back. She ‘found her voice’ & shares life from “HER purrspecktive”. She does allow me some blog space…sometimes…once in awhile…
    When I first adopted her I did it out of her need to be rescued. Something magical happened: LOVE! I am so blessed to share my life with this amazing wonderful feline ❤
    Sherri-Ellen & Nylablue x0x0x

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  26. This is the second time that I read your post. You have an amazing way of discussing a difficult subject in a way that readers are inspired to make a difference. Humanity has been blessed with creatures that give meaning and elegance to our lives. I thought you would appreciate this quote:

    “The assumption that animals are without rights and the illusion that our treatment of them has no moral significance is a positively outrageous example of Western crudity and barbarity. Universal compassion is the only guarantee of morality.” Arthur Schopenhauer, The Basis of Morality

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