Pet Allergies - open invitation

picklepick

I think you may be being over-sensitive to this. Just because someone says that they have experienced a positive outcome following an allergy, that doesn't mean that they are somehow undermining the allergy that some people obviously suffer. Believe me, I am well aware of how difficult it is to suffer with allergies and be dismissed by people who don't, as I suffer with allergies myself. But can you not see that your comment earlier, was somewhat offensive to a poster who was just offering their own experience and in no way dismissing your own?

You cannot start a thread on an open forum and not expect views and experiences to be posted from people with differing experience than your own and then be annoyed when they post something that doesn't relate to you. I agree that you may be under-represented here, but I don't think that the poster above was in any way saying that 'allergies are no big deal' as you put it.

Toothfairy4

Ok, I get what your saying, I obviously cannot speak for everyone else but I just assumed the vast majority of people would know that it varies from itching/sneezing to full-blown anaphylactic shock.
I really sympathise with the people who cannot have animals at all due to allergy. I know, as an animal lover, that it would be awful to never get to have a pet or any contact with animals.

If anyone has said that allergies cannot be serious then that is wrong.

Person_one

I've become sensitive to this since becoming more active in this and a few other animal based forums and seeing the attitudes of otherwise sensible posters towards people who have to give up their pets due to allergies. It didn't even occur to me for years that anyone would think I was lying about my allergy.

Its just so unforgiving and completely lacking in compassion and understanding. People lie about all sorts of things, but I can't think of any other example where a particular statement is automatically assumed to be a lie or an exaggeration in the same way.

I've never had to give up a pet because of my allergy, as I've always known about it so never been in that awful position, but my heart breaks for people who do and it makes me so angry to know people are judging them for it. I keep asking what's so bad about giving them the benefit of the doubt and nobody has an answer for that...

Tiddlywinks

Person_one wrote: »

The problem with your argument is that you have no way of knowing who is genuine and who isn't, you might be able to have a good guess but you can't be 100% sure without a lie detector or a blood test!

I have no argument with you - why use such an emotive word? You obviously feel strongly about this issue but, really, do you have to batter the point to death?

Person_one wrote: »

I dont believe that people do mean to cause offence, but accidental offence is still offensive and after being informed maybe they should have a think about generalising in future.

Good grief, grow a thicker skin and move on.

Person_one

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

I have no argument with you - why use such an emotive word?

Look at 2, 3, 4 and 5:


ar·gu·ment   [ahr-gyuh-muhnt] noun

1.an oral disagreement; verbal opposition; contention; altercation: a violent argument.
2.a discussion involving differing points of view; debate: They were deeply involved in an argument about inflation.
3.a process of reasoning; series of reasons: I couldn't follow his argument.
4.a statement, reason, or fact for or against a point: This is a strong argument in favor of her theory.
5.an address or composition intended to convince or persuade; persuasive discourse.

Tiddlywinks

Person_one wrote: »

Look at 2, 3, 4 and 5:


ar·gu·ment   [ahr-gyuh-muhnt] noun

1.an oral disagreement; verbal opposition; contention; altercation: a violent argument.
2.a discussion involving differing points of view; debate: They were deeply involved in an argument about inflation.
3.a process of reasoning; series of reasons: I couldn't follow his argument.
4.a statement, reason, or fact for or against a point: This is a strong argument in favor of her theory.
5.an address or composition intended to convince or persuade; persuasive discourse.

You really do need to get some perspective and not take this all so personally.

Person_one

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

You really do need to get some perspective and not take this all so personally.

Right, thanks.

MrsAtobe

chocdonuty wrote: »

When we were younger, we decided to get 2 moggys as part of our family, we already had a couple of bunnies and had no problem with them.
However, after a few hours of having the cats in the house my sister developed an allergy, sneezing, itchy and runny eyes, the full works! our parents decided we couldn't keep them but after a lot of pester power we persuaded them to let us keep them
My sister had to take anti histamine tablets for a while (took them for hayfever anyway) and then after a while just became immune, problem solved :)the allergy did come back after she had been at uni a while when she returned in the hols but a quick tablet sorted that out and now she has 2 moggys of her own and went through a desensitising process again and no longer has any problem with moggys

I'm glad it worked out for your sister, unfortunately I'm not so lucky.

We cat (and house) sat for SIL2B last year, at the time she had two beautiful cats, one long haired and one short. Despite taking antihistamines all week, I developed the worst chest infection I have ever had. I now know there is no way that I can live in the same house as a cat.

Youdontseeme

I think the thing is that this appears to be a reasonably newish reason to rehome.

I dont know the figures but there seem to be a heck of a lot more people with allergies these days whether it be animals or peanuts or whatever....

I do think as an 'excuse' rather than a reason, people feel less guilty if they give a medical reason and wont be judged so harshly (obviously never been on this board then!).

The one that winds me up is "Oh he doesn't get on with our new puppy" Would you get rid of your eldest kid for a spat with your youngest???

YDSM

Person_one

Real, diagnosed allergies are actually on the increase, its a big cause for concern:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/health/newsid_7998000/7998112.stm