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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