Creature Comfort

HOME Mission
Donate 		Table of Contents Message Board Cat Health Dog Health The Remember Ninja Project Wealth of Resources

Dedicated to Pro-Active Animal Education and Well-Being

Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.
A Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization
All donations are tax deductible
Copyright © 1997 - 2010


Excuses Why Pets
Are Taken To Shelters

"One half of the nation is mad - and the other half is not very sound." ~ Tobias Smollett, Scottish Poet
     The following is a list from our veterinarian's office which are actual excuses for pet relinquishment given to his office, our local shelter and our humane society. Amazing, isn't it???


DOGS:
  • He was so cute as a puppy, but he's gotten ugly and big (pure-bred Basset Hound)

  • Barks

  • Has fleas

  • Whimpers at night (locked in storage room at night)

  • Chews

  • Won't stay off the furniture

  • Pregnant

  • Pees when he is excited (four years old, not neutered)

  • Girl friend hates dogs

  • Digs

  • Slobbers too much

  • Sheds

  • New baby on the way

  • Moving

  • Eats too much

  • Spouse hates dogs

  • Runs along the fence and now no grass grows there

  • Wants to sit in my husband's lap and he can't stand the dog

  • Barks during the day (German Shepherd chained outdoors on a 6' chain leash)

  • We don't stay home much

  • Bites young son (after stating son pulls ears and tail)

  • Boy friend loves dogs, but hates this one

  • Growls and bites (trained as a guard dog)

  • Grandmother won't visit us because she's scared of him

  • Sleeps too much (12 years old)

  • Don't have time to walk her because we both work during the day

  • She's gotten pregnant twice in one year

  • Mean

  • He's constantly embarrassing us by humping (two years old, not neutered)

  • Vet says she needs more surgery

  • Demands too much attention

  • Eats too much since he turned nine months old (Great Dane)

  • His ears are too long - have to clean them every time he eats (poodle in dire need of grooming and defleaing)

  • His bark is irritating

  • She has too many puppies at each birth (four years old, six litters)

  • Neighbors complain because he digs in their yard

  • They poop too much (two medium sized dogs)

  • Moving into our dream house we had built

  • Our house is too small

  • Last vet said we need to bring him in more often; had no idea it costs so much

  • Runs away from home too much - outside dog

  • Eats the newspapers of our neighbors

  • Chases cars

  • Is a messy eater

  • Installed new carpeting

  • Can't afford the food

  • Has become blind

  • Growls at my mother

  • Won't walk any more (severe case of arthritis)

  • Barks outside our window at night trying to get our attention at bedtime

  • Neighbor doesn't like her

  • We take a lot of vacations

CATS:
  • He is disrepectful - a once before shelter cat

  • Her eyes are runny and she throws up; her first vet bill was $82 (six weeks old - she and three littermates originally rescued from abusive first owner who didn't feed mother cat and refused to provide shelter for kittens born outside during winter - second owner knew kitten's full history before adoption)

  • Like kittens, but she is now a cat

  • Pregnant

  • Meows

  • Flea-ridden

  • Sheds too much

  • We are allergic to them (five year old cat, only owner since birth)

  • He's too fat

  • Hair mats all the time

  • They scare the kids (they - four 18 week old kittens)

  • Scratches furniture

  • Have to put him outside now, but he's declawed

  • Moving into a no-pet apartment

  • Has worms

  • Keeps getting into fights (not spayed/neutered)

  • Spouse doesn't like cats

  • I'm due with a child any day

  • Hisses

  • Vomits hairballs

  • Sprays in my rose beds (outside cat and not neutered)

  • Wants too much attention

  • Pregnant again

  • Kicks out too much litter around litter box

  • Sick too much

  • Don't like the smell of cat urine

  • Shreds drapes

  • Wants to sleep on the bed

  • Picks fights with my children

  • Can't afford to take to the vet

  • Doesn't match my new decor

  • Sleeps on my new car's hood

  • Won't come when I call her

  • Not fun any more (six years old)

  • Has huge litters

  • Wife hates cats

  • Moving

  • Boy friend won't live with me if I keep the cat

  • Going to Europe for six weeks

  • These kittens are wormy (also had ear mites and tested FIV+)

  • Used to play, but now sleeps all the time

  • Tears up our Christmas tree

  • Doesn't like to go outside

  • My husband doesn't like cat hair

  • Yowls

  • His vet bills are too high

  • My mother doesn't like cats

  • Shreds toilet paper and facial tissue

  • Doesn't like new kitten we bought

  • Turned mean

  • Gets hair on the beds and upholstery

  • Getting old

  • Have a new puppy

  • Thought cats were cheap to keep

  • Scratches new flooring

  • Wants to sleep with us

  • Demands too much attention when I watch TV


Please consider making a donation that helps to pay for our feral cat colony and foster cats' and dogs' food, upkeep, and medical care. 100% of all donations go to the animals; we're all volunteers - there're no salaries or administrative fees. Thank you for your support!
Support Us
Stop Abuse! Don't Litter - Spay and Neuter


Visit our message board for serious information gathering and decimination regarding animal health, advocacy, and rescue - cats, dogs, wildlife, and so much more. You will have to register, but it's FREE. We hope you will join us.
FF&F