Too many pets

What I can't stand are irresponsible dog owners. Yapping dogs outside cafes in summer yap yap yap...Gordon Bennett ? and dogs fed scraps from the table and sleeping in beds and on furniture.
Imagine a visitor to your home, going to the toilet outside ( no bottom wipes) and walking outside in bare feet, then getting in your bed or sitting on your sofa. Sound good?
I think not. Ugh!

If people are paying all the expenses themselves then I think they should be allowed to have as many pets as they chose, as long as they are all well cared for and controlled. On the other hand, if they are living a lifestyle funded by others going out to work to pay for it, then I would think that their benefit payments were far too high if they could afford to keep a lot of pets. That applies, also, if they have a lot of children too, or can afford to smoke, drink, gamble, take drugs, have Sky tv, go on expensive holidays etc.

I live in a town centre, and my young cats have never been outside except on a large balcony. They've never known any different.
I used to live backing onto open land - lovely - but then moved to somewhere backing onto a main road (house was on-site for work) and cats were terrified. Moved again to house backing onto open land, one was bitten by a fox, and as they were now quite old, they became house cats.

My next-door neighbours have 2 female setters. Their lives (and most of their money, I think) revolve around their dogs. They also foster or adopt elderly dogs whose owners have died, or gone into care homes. They sometimes mind their friends' dogs, too, if they go on holiday.
A lot of their time is taken up with dog-walking, which happens several times a day. First the young energetic ones, then the elderly dodderers. We have common land across the road, which is perfect for exercising them all.
Apart from the occasional bark, when the postman comes, I rarely hear the dogs.
It's sad that so many people casually take on pets without thinking it through.

And what about the wider implications? The planet’s resources. All the pet food has to be grown and packaged, the pet toys, bedding and accessories the pet outlets all have these days. It all takes energy and resources.

I think a lot of people don't.
I can think of 3 people I know who have dogs but shouldn't, because they (the dogs) are not trained, not socialised, and one was bought regardless of the fact that it bore no resemblance to the pictured one in the advert.
It's a vicious little thing, so spends its life shut in the kitchen.

I have not lived a single day of my life without cats in the house. I cannot imagine what it would be like not to have a cat to cuddle. I have had dogs too -but not at the moment.
I have also had guinea pigs, rabbits, turtles- (not through choice but they needed a home) fish- both pond & Tropical & Marine, chickens & fostered a goat & donkey briefly while new homes were found for them.
Pets are wonderful - they make your life a joy .

I am just into week 3 of dog ownership. It took me two years to decide to take one on. He is a two year old rescue, a Bichon Frise crossed ( I think) with a West Highland Terrier. Foolishly I bought him online not realising that the people who sold him to me had actually mistreated him.

When I walk him we meet other dog owners. Most are friendly but yesterday I met one who totally ignored me and my dog but spoke to my friend and praised her dog. My dog is very curly and cute and looks just like the sort of handbag dog mentioned above. Nothing could be further from the truth.

If the unfriendly lady had looked under the curls she would have seen the wounds we are still working on, if she had inspected his paws she would see that they are recovering from severe damage.

I understand the comments about spoilt pooches but in my case he's not spoilt but he is loved and he has brought a lot to my life already.

I suppose you shouldn't judge a dog by its curls !

That is what I was querying. Do people factor in , when deciding on a dog, the doggy day care / dog walking costs on top of insurance, food, kennels etc. ? I don't know. We did not have a dog because we both worked f/t and lived in suburban London. We had cats though.

I'm sure some people's circumstances change after the event.
However, if I had a dog which had to spend increasing hours alone then I would consider rehoming it.

Heard a lady on the radio this morning who had a business walking dogs. Her team walked 140 dogs daily which obviously provides a good living. I appreciate the need to walk dogs daily, we have two, but why have one if you can't walk it yourself.

Interesting range of views. As I said I like cats and dogs, though do not have pets atm. My concern is both for the " over production " of animals as well as the attitude of a minority of irresponsible pet owners.
Some overly defensive comments too.. the " I pay for my pets you can't tell me what to do" brigade!! I was not suggesting pets should not be allowed just wondering if some pet owners actually think about the responsibility and compromises pet ownership requires!

I agree about indoor cats - I do think it's cruel. My cat-mad SiL does a lot of cat fostering - she once had one that had been cooped up in a high rise for 9 years, and was so frightened of the outdoors, it took SiL a lot of time and patience to get her used to the garden, and eventually to enjoy it.

I do realise that cats can provide a lot of companionship for people who have no choice but to live in a flat, but I still think it's unfair on the animals.

Having said that, I don't think it's as bad as the de-clawing of cats - on a visit to the US my appalled dd was told that it's very common there.
You do have to wonder what sort of vet would perform such an operation. Not the sort I'd ever want to use, that's for sure.

I have multiple dogs and a parrot and feel I owe no one an explanation as to why. They are loved, well cared for and well fed by me. I pay for them so other people's opinions are irrelevant. I have never bred any of them or ever will, and the reason I have several is because of other people not being able to keep them for one reason or another, here they have a forever home.

I don't think we need to worry about the responsible pet owners, but certainly the people who get a pet because it is fashionable and have no intention of making time in their busy lives for the animal are a concern.

But surely it is better they get a pet and later discard it, than having children whom they neglect?

Agnurse: given the choice all cats will prefer being allowed out to living all their lives indoors. They are predators by nature. If you can't accept that, please don't get a cat.

Certainly some cats, mostly the young or the elderly, do come to grief on roads. But we do all have to die sometime, somehow, don't we?

My first border collie was a rescue, he was 3 months old & the best dog ever. Our next we bought a year later from a farm. Almost 4 years ago the 1st had a stroke (he was 12) & had to be pts. We decided to get a rescue, but our DD was only 7 & the rescue centres would only rehome BCs to families with children over 12. So we ended up buying from a farm again. We only have Daisy now, after Ollie died from cancer. DD10 & Daisy are best friends. We also have 2 guinea pigs.
My mam is nearly 82 & has 3 cats, all were rescued & were quite young when she got them. Dad is still there too. The cats are very good company for them.
My grown up daughter gas cats, which are not spayed & keep having kittens. I have had huge arguments with her about this. All the cats & dogs I have had have always been done as soon as they were old enough to stop any accidental breeding.

sarahhellen but, much as some people want, we are not islands!
One person's choice does affect others. I find that attitude of "I can do what I want, it's my choice" sadly part of the cause of various social issues our country faces oday. Every action has a consequence.

I have 2 dogs which are great company for me and OH. Ours get the best dog food, regular treatment for worms and fleas and run in fields every day. I'm at home and OH works part time so they get lots of company. Sickens me when I see abused starved sick animals. Penalties should be much higher for animal cruelty and neglect.

My pet a Bearded Collie now 12 years of age was the dog from hell for two years but I didn't ever give up on him, you must not break their spirit but they must learn simple commands. Overnight (literally) he decided to obey all commands. People now say he is a placid, kind, gentle fellow and he never had a hand raised to him over the first two years so patience paid. I would add that he wasn't the first Bearded Collie we had from 3 months of age.

All my cats have been previously rejected.
First one was kitten from a farm, mum rejected it. It was the lucky one as other 2 were drowned by farmer! It stayed with mother when I got married as loved freedom in the country.
Second cat arrived at door in terrible condition, so much so we thought it was an old cat as it could hardly walk. Tried to find out if it had owner, and only fed at back door, didn’t let it in. Eventually took to vet as had nasty abscess. Old cat was only 18 months old! It did recover, although left with arthritis, which was probably caused by being kicked. Became family pet and ruled roost for 17 years.
Next 2 were rescued from a bin at only a few days old. It was hard work trying to feed them and keep them alive. Now are very happy, healthy cats living with daughter after she moved into her own home.
Decided not to have any more cats after our old boy died, but relative asked us to keep her 2 whilst on holiday and on return said she was taking to Cats Protection as they were messing in her house, being sick and chewing cables etc. One also had skin problems, probably caused by anxiety. She also used to leave them in utility room all day, with nothing to amuse them. We hadn’t had an issue, apart from cats being nervous, so (as I think she had hoped) we ended up keeping them. Now, 3 years later, are barely recognisable. They have run of house, cat tree, toys etc. Also no problem with messing in house or chewing cables. Skin problem has disappeared. Now very loving cats who love to be petted, sleep on our bed and love to curl up on our laps.
Have had sveral more arrive at door (don’t know why they always chose our door) but unfortunately were too ill to survive, despite being taken to vets.
Please note I do not feed cats at back door unless they appear to be very poorly and I do ask around, put on Facebook, take to vets to check for micro chip etc., to see if I can find owner.

Heather51 Its choice and who are we to say what others should have /not have. If you commit to more pets then care for them in a responsible manner.
You could say the same about people who want more children.Their choice.

What I can't understand is the need to have a dog or dogs then pay a dog walker to take them out! My mother would never have any kind of pet but when my father passed away my son bought her a dog. It was her life , she walked miles every day with the dog. Of course people made a fuss of the dog and they also chatted to her.

Is a dog becoming a 'status' symbol? Is this why they pay dog walkers to take them out. A friend's daughter(H works abroad, children at school all day and then to nan) has a dog which wrecked the house as it was alone all day. They gave the dog away and got another dog. Her dad used to let it out in a morning,call in his lunch hour and take it round the block, let it out on his way home from work then go up later and take it out. last year her Dad had major surgery so now she takes the dog with and drops the dog off at a dog'minders!' Just what is the point !

I have always had at least one pet, and can't imagine life without them. Why? Simply because I like animals and enjoy having them in my life. However, the whole pet industry needs an overhaul. It is too easy to walk into a pet shop and buy a little life. A licensing system should be introduced, whereby a person has to prove they will be responsible pet-owners and provide an animal with its basic needs.

I love dogs but after the death of my last dog I knew I didn't want to feel that way again, so I know look after friends pets when they go on holiday , I am glad of the time I spend with these dog it gets me out of the house I meet other dog walkers so it's more beneficial to me than the dog.

What bugs me mainly is when people get a dog and then leave it alone for 8 hours a day while they're all at work. Most dogs find this a negative experience - and so do the neighbors who have to listen to them whining on and off all day