Trying to re-home your pet?

gratefulforhelp_2

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

But, we live in a fast moving society where instant gratification is king, and long term commitment and continuity seems to be be scarce - a pup or kitten which lives for 15-20 years is probably a longer term commitment than many contemporary marriages / partnerships - and people circumstances do change more dramatically and frequently now than they did in the era of traditional biographies (where everyone went into the same roles as their mum and dad) and jobs for life.. it is a complex problem influenced by a whole matrix of socio economic causal factors I think!

Hear hear, and as with marriage, if society fails to disapprove of the consumerist attitude, it will become more prevalent.

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Being dead is about the only genuine reason for giving up an animal that I can think of. Allergies are treated with antihistamines and cleaning, there are plenty of landlords that do accept pets, and anyone who can afford internet access and a computer to use it has money enough to pay for them.

Unfortunately it's not all about the money - as we are sadly being made to consider now. Due to previous financial problems we can't just find a new rental property (LL is selling) - in fact we are struggling massively to find anyone that'll home us (due to failing credit checks and having no gauruntours even though we have never even been late on a single rent payment in 6yrs of renting and OH has a decently paid job) let alone someone who'll also let us have our 2 dogs that have been part of our family for years. The council have told us that if all else fails they will put us on the housing list as homeless BUT will not consider the dogs as we'll most likely only get a flat which in this council area they do not allow dogs in flats.

So what is the option for us, please tell me JoJo because it is the absolute last thing i'll consider but it's looking increasingly like our only option as time goes by?

I too would go withought food to feed my dogs, just as i would to feed my kids, but i don't think i could put us on the street without a roof over our heads, i'd rather re-home them (so i know they are being kept well too) and hopefully get housed ourselves too.

That said I'd NEVER agree to air all of my issues on TV - far too personal!

Fire_Fox

CaroLondon wrote: »

I note the OP only says "Perhaps" because of costs and the recession.

And while you would all happily eat beans rather than give up your pets would you make your kids eat beans too.

There are plenty of other reasons owners have to give pets up.. illness, allergies, HAVING to go work full time (it is mentioned often enough on here about leaving dogs more than 4 hours is cruel) dogs not getting on with new babies etc.....

I have never given up a pet to be rehomed, although my dog went to live with my Mum when I got offered a chance of a lifetime job down south, I found it heart breaking leaving him, and I think if leaving him with her hadn't been an option, I probably wouldn't have taken the job but I don't know for sure. We "talk" on the phone and I go and see him (ok and the parents lol) as often as possible, I would love to have him live with me, but at the moment it’s just not possible.

Circumstances change, not all people who give up their pets are bad people and if a new home is best for the animal, rather than being left alone all day, people to ill to excersie etc. then aren't they doing the right thing?

Some very good points here, the thread generally is interesting and I have agreed with almost everyone!! Certainly I would not dispute it is responsible to sign your pet over to a rescue if you are genuinely unable to care for it due to health or working full time.

I don't have kids so this would be easy to say but .... I would not feed my children a repetitive diet to keep hold of any family pets BUT I don't believe that is necessary. There are numerous healthy (mainly vegetarian) meals that are dirt cheap to prepare: Weezl74's most recent thread is feeding a family of four a balanced diet on just £100 a month, she has previously achieved 50p per adult per day healthily. :T

As far as I can see the average family on benefits has more money coming into the household per head that the average single person on benefits! The problem is often not so much income as outgoings - families with a low income trying to keep up with debt repayments for example. The tragedy is that there are solutions such as a DMP but of course personal finance and budgeting are not taught in school, so many are unaware of this avenue.

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

Hi, fire fox - don't mean to sound thick but what does DMP stand for?

elsien

Debt Management Plan - preferably organised by one of the charities that genuinely want to help, as opposed to the companies that charge a small fortune for setting up an unworkable plan just to make money out of you.
http://www.cccs.co.uk/InfoCentre/EnglandandWales/Debtsolutions/Debtmanagementplan.aspx