Poor excuses

I just found this and had to post it. These are some excuses people have given for abandoning their pet at a shelter. Not sure if this has been posted before but thought I would post it either way.



1. When I was dog walking at the sanctuary where I met Brandy, I saw a lovely greyhound called Honey come back after 24 hours in a new home. When asked the reason for the return the couple said that she was very gentle and nice natured but they hadn't realised until they got her home how tall she was
Elaine Hardy Sept. 1999


2. Just wanted to add the saddest excuse I've ever heard. As we were leaving our shelter the other day, this guy (older man, actually) was at the counter turning an animal in. His reason was "it's just a miserable animal".... Ok, guess what kind of animal it was... Not a cat, not a dog, it was a little budgie bird in a cage...
Jane Guild Sept. 1999


3. She's aggressive. She didn't used to mind it when my son pulled her around by her lip, but now that she's bigger she's started snapping at him


4. I found him in the kitchen (not doing anything - he just walked in there)


5. My friend gave up his beagle because his fiancée said that when they had kids SOMEDAY the kids would have an increased chance of developing asthma if there was a dog in the house. They broke up several months later and my friend was broken hearted because he had given away the dog for nothing.


6. "He stares at me and "my girl" while we're on the couch"


7. I became bored with the dog when it grew up, I want a puppy now.


8. I have a family reunion this summer and I have to get my yard in shape for it and can't do it with a dog here


9. Dog is too stupid. No matter how much we hit him he never learns.


10. He stands in front of the TV too much.


11. I took in a rescue dog. Their reason of getting rid of it, it bit the kids. They pulled the dog's teeth out with pliers. I was so mad at them!!!! The dog is now in a very loving home, where she gets the love she deserves. Thankfully, those other people can no longer own a pet.


12. I have a 2 year old Siamese who insists on sleeping with my son...up by his head. When my son isn't home she steals his socks and curls up with them and uses them as her pillow. She is altogether too attached to my son and I won't stand for it!


13. When we let her out of her crate twice a day-she jumps on us and expects too much attention.


14. Because I got caught in between a cat and a dog and the cat was small and the dog was big so I gave away the dog page. And also it had to many words that I had no Idea what they said so thats why I gave it away. Oh! Did I mention a pro wrestler said that he would kick my butt in to the middle of the next generation if I didn't!


15. "She bleeds all over when she comes in heat." This dog was brought in to be euthanised!


16. Our fourth cousins who visit once every five years can't stand him.


17. Neighbors complaints about barking resulted in 30 day notice to get rid of dog. )


18. We had to get rid of the truck the dog was chained to. (Read on a rescue website).


19. This is a woman I know and her dogs she got rid of and the one she has now-- 1-a poodle--New husband won't let me have her--had 4 years. 2-Yorkie--no time to take care of it--had 5 years 3-Shar-pei-4 years old-still have him but trying to give him away because the neighbors are complaining about him hanging out on their porches.


20. a dog that was totally perfect: the excuse was it doesn't bark! dog has since been re-homed and is barking!!


21. Sheds too much


22. Barks


23. Digs


24. Chew


25. Moving (to Florida in 2 hours)


26. Going on Vacation


27. Retiring and want to travel


28. Allergies


29. Having a baby


30. Getting married


31. Getting divorced


32. Husband doesn't like the breed (didn't like the last three of that same breed she bought and subsequently dumped either)


33. My wife is jealous of the dog and the time I spend training her


34. Boyfriend/girlfriend doesn't like


35. Has fleas


36. Not housebroken


37. Didn't know it needed all that grooming


38. Didn't know it needed all that much attention/exercise


39. Didn't know it would get so big


40. Don't have time


41. Going to college


42. It's our son's pet but he's away at school now and we don't have the time; we'll just tell him it ran away.


43. Apartment/Town home/Condo/etc. doesn't allow pets (didn't allow them when we go it either)


44. Needs room to run/roam


45. We got it for the kids but they won't take care of it.


46. Keeps running off (unfenced yard, no leash)


47. Didn't know they got so big/eat so much


48. He was a cute puppy, but now he's too big


49. Doesn't get along with our new pet


50. I don't love it anymore


51. Bought new home and dog doesn't go with new colours


52. Pet clashes with new furniture


53. Just got new furniture/carpet


54. We only had it for the kids and they're all grown up now


55. He chases the new kitten


56. She doesn't like the new puppy


57. He tracks mud all over the new carpet


58. She got lost, and we got a new one by the time she showed up at the pound, so we left her there


59. He (a twelve week old puppy) refuses to be housebroken, and we hit him every time he goes in the house. I'm worried, 'cause you can only hit a dog so much before it turns vicious, and I'm afraid it will start biting the kids.


60. She (the pet) had a nervous breakdown


61. She's seven years old now and can't make puppies anymore.


62. Too friendly


63. He keeps jumping on the kids, and the kids are now afraid of him.


64. We have a handicapped child in a wheelchair


65. We're remodeling our kitchen and didn't have time to take her to puppy class, and now she's too rowdy


66. She has seizures (allergies/hypothyroid/etc.) and we don't want to spend another penny on medication


67. It makes me sad to have her around


68. Tried to kill a collie


69. Killed a neighbor's goat - afraid she will start attacking people


70. Received as a Christmas present - can't keep


71. Daughter's dog - she went to college


72. Breeder won't take him back because we neutered him


73. She got herself pregnant - we're keeping her puppy


74. She got herself pregnant - we're keeping her kittens


75. We can't afford the vet bills


76. Pulls on the lead


77. She's turned blind


78. Doesn't like my new husband


79. Keeps breaking the chain at her dog house


80. Tears up the house when we're at work/school


81. Noisy when we're at work/school


82. Apartment management doesn't allow dogs


83. Can't find house to rent that allows dogs


84. Didn't turn out to be show quality (of course we told the breeder we wanted to buy pet quality too save money)


85. He won't stay at home, no matter how much I yell at him


86. My elderly mother keeps letting him loose


87. He's too happy


88. Drools all the time (St Bernard, Bloodhound, Mastiff)


89. We're putting the house up for sale and it won't show well with a dog.


90. We bought him/her for conformation shows and he/she didn't win (eight month old puppy)


91. Her ears won't stand. (un-cropped Dobbie bitch 5 months old.)


92. Took him to Schuntzhund, now he is too aggressive


93. Had a friend, make him a guard dog, now all he wants to do is bite people.


94. I trained him myself to be a protection dog, now he's trying to kill me


95. He rides my leg


96. He always has an erection, when company comes over, it's too embarrassing


97. He peed on the baby


98. He won't defend me! My husband beat me and the kids, and the dog ran away! (8 month old abused Rottie)


99. He makes a mess in the bathroom, every time I give him a bath


100. He gets car sick. ( wanted the dog for protecting their car, while they're shopping in Florida)


101. It wants too much attention


102. Her teeth are crooked


103. She keeps having puppies


104. She got pregnant again


105. She's a slut


106. She got raped


107. The kids keep getting poison ivy. He gets it on his fur when he runs loose in the woods, and they get rashes from touching him, so the doctor says he has to go.


108. She hunts all the time (hound, retriever)


109. She won't hunt


110. Gun shy, only shot over her that once in the yard...


111. Hyperactive


112. Eats cats


113. Eats the house


114. Bit my husband when he hit her for getting on the sofa...


115. Steals the baby's toys


116. Follows me all the time, even to the bathroom


117. Always wants to be petted


118. Stares at me


119. Bumps into my legs


120. Steals food off the counters


121. Takes my things


122. My wife hates her

If the dog doesn't like your husband, get a new husband. (or don't marry that one)

That's just what I was thinking... :rolleyes:

83. Can't find house to rent that allows dogs

Personally i Dont think that is such a poor excuse.
Do you know how hard it is for renters with pets to find homes?
Almost impossible!!!

How about "Got her for a restaurant to keep the mice out and the food inspector caught us"

How about we are just getting her to have puppies and then we are sending her back.

83. Can't find house to rent that allows dogs

Personally i Dont think that is such a poor excuse.
Do you know how hard it is for renters with pets to find homes?
Almost impossible!!!

I think that's kind of the point though--if you're a renter, and not in a fairly permanent location--getting a pet (dog/cat) in the first place is not a great idea if you plan to give it a permanent home. I'm not saying it's not a legitimate concern for renters, but this is an excuse that is WAY TOO COMMONLY USED and I for one do NOT think it is okay. Just my opinion.

How about, he doesn't listen (thinks the dog was supposed to train itself)

He is sick and I don't want to pay a vet.

I brought him home (8 wk old puppy) and he whined all night.

#12349481059-He has to be walked every day! Even in the winter! EVERY DAY?!?!?!

How about: brought him home and he peed in the house (8 week old puppy)

It is sick and sad for people to give up their pets.

As for us, we are NOT holier than thou...however, we are taking our dogs from the streets of syria where I found them abused to everywhere in the world. Planes, kennels, rented houses and all.

If you cant live with your dogs, atleast live with your conscience, people.

LOL some of these are so ridiculous...like #1.


86. My elderly mother keeps letting him loose
-get rid of the mother then!

28. Allergies
-get shots!

52. Pet clashes with new furniture
51. Bought new home and dog doesn't go with new colours
:eek:

34. Boyfriend/girlfriend doesn't like
-think someone needs to get dumped! lol


115. Steals the baby's toys
116. Follows me all the time, even to the bathroom
117. Always wants to be petted
118. Stares at me
-aren't those some of the things that make pet owning fun?? lol gosh if my cat or guinea pig didn't give me attention for one day i think i'd get very depressed. Now my parents could miss a call one day a week and i'd be fine lol. oh and my cat follows me to the bathroom and looks very comfused when i flush the toilet hahaha

Always wants to be pet- I can imagine the opposite too- "Never wants affection" :rolleyes:

69. Killed a neighbor's goat - afraid she will start attacking people.

Although the attacking people thing is a little much, killing livestock is a fairly major thing, imo (yes, I was raised on a farm). Any farmer is well within his/her rights (legally) to shoot any dog caught chasing/attacking livestock and many do.

And since killing the first goat was soo much fun, the dog is highly likely to do it again. Sooner or later it will get caught. Best to rehome it first.

Most of the other excuses, however, are ludicrous. Frankly, those people have no right owning a dog in the first place. But, unfortunatly, they are the same types that get a new one every 2 years.

A woman I know recently rehomed her collie (2 year old) because it was appreantly too much work taking care of it as well as her kids and husband (no. nothing wrong with them. why they couldn't care for the dog is beyond me). She acted heartbroken (and you couldn't mention a dog or she'd cry) and said it's better now since it can be taken care of properly, but I just couldn't understand giving up a family member 'cause it was too much work. Either make it work or don't get the dog (or a high energy/needy breed) in the first place.

A few days ago I was talking to a young woman in a store and she noticed my ACD and said she was planning on getting a dog similar, now that she has a yard. I found out she has never raised or owned a dog before and started telling her all the bad things about ACDs so she at least goes in with an open mind.

to add to the above post....

My friend decided to get a puppy a while back. He's got a huge property not fenced, but he was going to have electrical fencing put in so the dog can just go and roam around.

He was just going to get the dog, go out and maybe give it attention when he felt like it. He just liked the thought of owning a dog I guess.
So this friend of mine ended up getting a golden puppy. Coincidentally enough, he had to return it to the breeder because the dog was sick, I can't remember what it was but it was pretty major. But well I find it funny how that happened. Poor dog would've had it bad either way. He didn't end up getting anotehr dog because his otehr frin talked him out of it, telling him he can't just get a dog and not give it attention. best to not get it. SO he didn't, as far as i know.


Another example is my mom's friend. They had a great doberman puppy. Oh man he was such a darling. REALLY hyper. He was really attached to his family. He took to the husband and I think the wife ended up getting jealous because they got him in summer and he was allowed to stay in the house, but as time progressed they pushed him outside. Uhh yeah the dog was living outside in winter in Ontario....well they DID make him wear a parka. Yeah they bought a parka and adjusted it to his body.
But well he was even more hyper b/c he was trying to get attention and get inside.

The wife eventually gave him away, against other family members' will. I think that added to the strain of the marriage cos the husband was really atatched to the dog.
But well I guess he's with a better family now.

maybe in some cases dogs are better off getting relocated, a chance to have a better life. Thing is, if you know you're not willing to give it love then why buy it? Perhaps most people don't know..

I think a lot of it is how you're raised. If you grow up with your dad calling your dog "your brother", you're more likely to respect it than if the dog is tied up outside all day.

I think a lot of it is how you're raised. If you grow up with your dad calling your dog "your brother", you're more likely to respect it than if the dog is tied up outside all day.

Sure. Although our family dogs were never considered to be our siblings, people raise animals the ways they were taught to (ie how their parents did). Same as people raising their kids how they themselves were raised.

Then there are the ones that 'kill with kindness'. I can't remember how many dogs I'm seen/known that needed hip surgery or have other medical problems simply because it is given free choice food and a bucketful of treats every day.

OMG, some people are just stupid!!! That's all I can say.

Gee if I was like those people Tucker would have gone to the animal rescue about 99 times, oh may be a little less I guess he can't be a slut. That one just killed me, give me a break. May be a stud muffin.

These excuses just make me sick. I don't know how people in rescues do it. I think I would just lose it and possibly hit someone who gave me some of these excuses. Boy, am I glad that I have Misty, some others may have given her away a long time ago. Let's see, she is hyper, sheds, has medical problems, bark and howls. When she was a puppy, she didn't just steal baby toys, but their socks too, while they were wearing them!

I've known people who have given away their dogs because they rent and move to another place that doesn't allow them to take their dog. Our late pom was a dog that we eventually co-owned because her owner couldn't take her to her new apartment. Our cocker spaniel poodle x, Blacky, was a dog that we rescued at 6 months because his previous owner's husband didn't like his colour, so he beat him!

We've owned many dogs over the years and though they were not perfect, we never once thought of giving them up! I think too many people see pets as disposable possessions not family members who have feelings.

That's the worst- when it isn't even the dog's fault. Like Jemma. She went through 4 homes before us, and it was never her fault. Somebody had a baby and somebody else got divorced and on and on. Poor doggy. It took her so long to trust us because she didn't know why- if we're just going to spring it on her one day, how can she be prepared?

Its like why even get a dog when you don't even seem to like dogs? :confused: :confused:

Things like that make me realize I hate people sometimes.

My BF mom is moving to Victoria in two weeks. I just found out last night, that she can't take her dog and BF agreed that we would take care of it. I don't even want another dog. :( I would like to rehome it, but I feel uncomfortable with that. I really don't know what to do about it. The reason she says she can't take the dog, is her other son (who was given up for adoption, but recently reunited with) who she will be living with is allergic to dogs. This is a sensitive issue for me, because unlike the BF I know how to say no to my parents or tell them how it is. :mad:

What kind of dog?

She is a 6 year old min pin.

Min pin, eh? Weren't you looking for another high energy dog? Or was that Lissa?

Must of been Lissa. I don't have anymore room or money for pets at the moment (I felt I was over capacity before Salem came along, but he really needed someone to save him from certain death - what can I say I am a sucker). I will take her in though. See how it is going to work out. I am hoping that if I keep her until BF mom finds her own place, she will still want Chasse. She is only staying with her other son temporarily. I would just have to figure out how to ship dogs.

I was a little choked last night when BF told me. We really haven't discussed what will happen yet.

I will never turn her into a shelter, rescue or humane society, those people have got their hands full already.

Min pin, eh? Weren't you looking for another high energy dog? Or was that Lissa?


Actually I was looking for a high energy small dog, too bad you're all the way across the country. Good luck finding him a new home though! :fingerscr

"I think that's kind of the point though--if you're a renter, and not in a fairly permanent location--getting a pet (dog/cat) in the first place is not a great idea if you plan to give it a permanent home"

Keep in mind that some people come into the renting situation with pets already , be from divorces, long term relationships etc.
Also, some places renters rent allow pets, and they live there for a very long time, then for some reason, such as the owner decides to sell, they have a whole household of pets, and no place to find that will rent!

It took us a year to find a place that would rent to us with our pets.
We had pets before we started renting.
One places wouldnt rent to us because our 10lb dog might "scratch up the front door".
I think people who rent out houses/suites etc, need to calm down about pets. Lots of people have pets, and their pets do no damage to the place!
If they are concerned, why not charge a "pet damage deposit" on top of the regular dd.
Remember, not all " excuses" are greated equal, and to jump to conclusions that every renter is a poor animal owner, or shouldnt be allowed to own animals is ridiculous, and it sure cheeses my pizza alright.
Geez, go to buy a home these days and you can still run into self righteous "neighborhood committees" and "neighborhood rules" where they basically regulate the pets you have; same with mobile home parks not allowing pets. Its not just renters that get the short end of the stick sometimes.

Actually I was looking for a high energy small dog, too bad you're all the way across the country. Good luck finding him a new home though! :fingerscr
Sorry!! I knew it was somebody... :o :o

I just read through the list of excuses after being hospitalized for 10 days and feeling so bad for neglecting our sweet animals- Quick background we adopted a shelter pup in March when we already had a 13 yo chow mix, cat & guinea pigs. Never would have brought home the new puppy without the assumption that I would be healthy & home to exercise, train & socialize, although my kids & DH are capable, I`ve just made a commitment never to get an animal unless I`m prepared to take on all its care no matter what.

So I was feeling guilty about not being there for Lola, wondering if she might have done better in some other home in the first place. But looking at all the lame loser excuses....boy our animals are lucky, all of us here on this board. We make mistakes, some of us screw up more than once, but by golly we are all animal lovers & the ones we call family are so lucky. :grouphug: