Wednesday, 7 August 2013

Baark!On. Misguided reasons for adopting a pet #1




All the wrong reasons: a series of common misguided reasons why people want a pet.

 

So you are thinking about welcoming a pet into your home! Congratulations. We want your adoption to go as smoothly as possible so we have created a series over the next few weeks based on some of the misguided reasons why people adopt a pet. We are not trying to discourage you; we would love every home to have a pet that is loved, respected and part of a family. The purpose of this series is simply to get you to stop and think seriously before you make a decision. Why does Baark! care? We constantly come across discarded, neglected and homeless animals that began their life as pets. It breaks our hearts and goes against our mandate of creating a more humane Bahamas.

 

Misguided Reason Number One

 
My kids will not stop asking for a pet.. I give in.

 

Let’s be honest, put your hand up right now if you know of a family who got a pet for their child because they promised to take care of it and now the parents of the family are the primary care giver of that animal? I would guess about 100% of you just put up your hands. This is what happens, you get the dog on the promise that your child will tend to its every need, then their interest in the dog fizzles as soon as the care for it becomes a chore. But the story does not end her, who do you think will be caring for the dog now that the child is no longer interested and no longer following through with its care?  You. That is right, you.

If this happens you have two not so great scenarios. The first being you stick to the prearranged consequence and remove the animal from the house, believing and rightly so that this will teach the child a lesson. You feel proud for following through on your prearranged consequence, but in reality it is the animal in this scenario that is the most punished, first it is not fair that a life can be used as a teaching lesson, second it is not the animal who failed, it was the people, but it is the animal that suffers the most.

The second scenario, you (the adult) are stuck taking care of an animal you never really wanted, and become bitter and resentful therefore not doing your best for the animal. Once again, it is the animal that pays the highest price, often of neglect or indifference. The animal was clear, it came with basic needs that it cannot do for itself; there really should have been no surprise with this one.

Bottom line in this misguided reason: If your kids want and animal please make sure you want one too. Getting any type of pet is NOT a way to teach your child responsibilities.  The pet suffers, and your child fails to learn a lesson.  It is your parenting skills that will teach your child by modeling how to be responsible. If you do consider bringing home a pet, be realistic with the delegation the work load and the responsibility required of the various people in your family. Make it a family decision, not just one that a child makes for you.

 

 

Please spay and neuter your animals.

By ensuring your animal cannot produce more litters you are saving lives and decreasing the suffering of unwanted animals.  Please consider donating or helping with Baark!’s efforts to improve animal welfare in the Bahamas.

For more information find us on the web at www.baarkbahamas.com or call us (427-SPAY)

 

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