It seems that people do not understand that adopting a dog is in no way like buying a fish. People do not realize that getting a fish is not like having a pet rock or a neopet or some stuffed animal. Dogs require a considerable commitment as do other pets. There is a cost that comes with owning a dog and it is the people's responsibility to know and understand that cost. A dog costs money, time, patience, and attention. No dog is for free.
I live in a college dorm far away from my parents. I went to stay with my parents over the President's Day weekend and I came back to find that a friend of mine (who does not live in the dormitories) got a golden retriever puppy over the weekend. My initial reaction was the same as most people's. "Really? That's wonderful! Can I see it?" As the seconds went by, however, the reality of the situation began to set in.
I realized that my friend was living in an apartment that did not allow pets. Also, I remembered her complaining to me just a few weeks ago that she hardly had enough money to pay the rent and buy food. I also happen to know that she and all three of her roommates have classes in the mornings, do homework in the afternoons, and go out with friends at night. Then she told me that it was her roommates who had gotten the dog when they saw that a family was giving away free golden retriever puppies in the front of Walmart. After considering all of those factors, I realized how stupid she and her roommates are.
If a place does not allow pets, then there should be no pets. Having pets in an apartment that does not allow pets is not acceptable and can even be against the law if the contract signed by the renter clearly states that pets are not allowed. Even if the contract did not make such a statement, the landlord still owns the apartment and may raise the rent payment, give an eviction notice, or use some other form of punishment. Remember, the landlord controls wether or not you have a roof over your head, so it's best to follow the rules.
Dogs cost money, not make money. They are like children except that they do not take care of the parents when the parents get old. Dogs require quality food. The cheapest brand in the store probably does not have the amount of nutrients a dog requires. The saying, "you get what you pay for," does not apply to every product, however, it usually does apply to dog food. Dogs also require annual check-ups and shots which can cost anywhere from $60 to $500 a year depending on the location and the veterinarian. Food bowls, a collar, a leash, and a crate are also expenses which need to be taken into account. Don't forget that some dogs may have medical problems and may require extra vet visits as well as medication.
Dogs, and especially puppies, require time and attention. Puppies need to be house trained and taught basic commands such as "sit" and especially "come," not to mention that they need to be taught their name. All of this training requires time. Training sessions for puppies should only last about 2-5 minutes but should be repeated throughout the day. Puppies also have small bladders and need to be taken out to go to the bathroom every 2-3 hours. A good rule to follow is that however many months old the puppy is, is how long it can hold before it has to go. Since most puppies are given to families at 8 weeks (2 months), it will need to go out ever 2 hours. At 3 months old, it will need to go out every 3 hours and so on. This means that someone has to be home every 2 hours in order to take the puppy out.
Thousands of animals die every year in animal shelters who do not have enough room for the amount of animals that come in. In an effort to reduce the amount of stray and unwanted animals, animal shelters, vets, and other animal lovers have been trying to convince the public to spay and neuter their pets. Not everyone does this and many people become "backyard breeders." Backyard breeding is irresponsible and only creates more unwanted pets. Becoming a professional breeder is possible and requires research and experience. Backyard breeders breed their dogs for the wrong reasons, these reasons being money, to allow their children to experience the miracle of birth, or because every dog should be allowed to breed. The only reason why anyone should breed a dog is for the betterment of the species. Only healthy and well tempered dogs should be bred and many backyard breeders do not take this into account. Many dog diseases, such as hip dysplasia, are genetic and can be passed from parents to pups even if the parents do not have the disease. This is because the parents may be carriers of the gene, but not actually have the disease. There are plenty of unwanted puppies and dogs in animal shelters as well as many professional breeders who breed healthy, purebred or mixed breed dogs. There is no need to breed pets because there are already plenty. The puppies found for free in the front of a Walmart are most likely (if not definitely) from a backyard breeder. The parents may be carriers or even have certain diseases and the puppies will most likely have more health problems in the future. Even mixed breed dogs are only healthy when bred responsibly.
Dogs are not stuffed animals. They are living breathing beings that require money, time, attention and owner responsibility. Bringing a dog into the family should be like adopting a child. I'm not saying to treat dogs like humans in all respects of life, because dogs are not humans and treating a dog like a human can create serious problems in the dog's life. But we should be more responsible and smart when it comes to adopting a dog. I am sad to say that my friend and her roommates will have to get rid of the dog because they suddenly realized that they couldn't take care of it (and the landlord found out). I almost cried when I heard one say that they would sell it so they could make money off of it. Anyone who has that mentality should not be allowed to own pets. Animals depend on us to be responsible and treat them well and with respect, not like a stuffed animal. People need to wake up and realize that no dog is for free.
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