What the kids learn

Watching a family give up a pet when no other option is available to them can be a gut- wretching experience. I have seen many who are very unconcerned and drag their children out screaming and crying for leaving the child's pet behind. I often wonder what kind of example we are setting for the children. Do they worry they may be the next left on the doorstep? Do they think the pet will eventually come back to them? Are they so emotionally traumatized they never get another one or perhaps they grow up and do the opposite and begin taking in so many animals they become collectors?

I browse Craigslist just to see how many people are selling dogs under the pretense of "rehoming" but truly believe it can do more harm than good. I may be wrong, but free advertising for live animals sometimes does more harm than good.

This morning I read a touching entry on the Sarasota Craigslist from a young woman who was forced to give up their family pets when she was 17. She was old enough to realize the dire straits her family was in financially and has now reached an age where she would like to know what happened to her cherished pets. She doesn't want to take them away from their family, but simply wants to make sure they are happy, if they are still alive. She feels guilty for abandoning them, even though at 17, she had no say in the matter.

There is a good chance they made it to a new home and she realizes they would both be around 10 years old now so may have crossed the Rainbow Bridge; she just wants to know.

They were dropped off at the HSSC about 6 years ago, as best she remembers in January of 2004. They were brothers, Sparky and Happy and were about 4 years old. If you adopted one of these dogs and know what happened to them, please contact (941) 524-2196.

If you are thinking about giving up an animal, for whatever reason, please be aware of the other members of the family. Kids and animals can develop special relationships that will create lifelong bonds like no other. The trauma which affects the dogs given up can be just as hard on the children. If they think the family is relinquishing their beloved dog or cat for no good reason, they may believe this is an okay thing to do. We all know kids learn from their parents. Teach them how to be a pet parent. If a pet must be given up, don't traumatize your kids by making them come with you and then drag them screaming and crying as their cherished pet gets led away.