In response to my post below, Deb, who shares the same IP address as Chris T, and who I’m sure fancies herself the biggest animal lover in the world, left the following comment:
Okay, so what was the point of this little story? You are selfish? You are irresponsible? You have a dog for all the wrong reasons? Junebug is no longer your dog? Junebug decided to remain loyal to her family, the family you have dumped her with time and again?
If you have one ounce of humanity in your egomaniacal little soul, you will walk away, leave Junebug with her family, and not look back. You will, for perhaps the first time in your life, think of Junebug’s needs first.
Oh, and the next time you think about obtaining a living being to be your security blanket, the next time you want an animal so that you can play with her/his emotions in order to make yourself feel good, the next time you want to hurt a dog over and over again by dumping and reclaiming him/her, don’t. Just don’t.
Dissed? I think not. It’s not even payback. It’s just you getting called on your abominable behaviour.
Good luck, Junebug. I hope you and your family have a long, happy life together.
I love it. I’m trying to decide what the best situation for Junebug will be — coming home with me or staying in a situation that she seems to have settled into quite well, with people who love her and take excellent care of her — and somehow this constitutes not “think[ing] of Junebug’s needs first” or “obtaining a living being as a security blanket.”
Now, Deb can’t answer because I’ve banned her for this bullshit comment — since I don’t have to tolerate this kind of thumbsucking when I’m paying for the bandwidth — but I sure would like to know how Deb has decided that I’ve “dumped” Junebug “over and over” simply by asking friends to watch her for a weekend now and again, much less that I’ve “hurt” her by doing so.
It seems to me that Deb — and all of the people who engage in this kind of drive-by pet-mommying, and they are legion — cannot possibly be over 12 years of age. Because that kind of absolutist gobshite is what I’d expect from a particularly rigid child who hasn’t quite gotten to the stage where nuance is an easy concept, much less any sort of ability to adapt.
See, Deb, if you really think that dogs are going to fly apart if you leave and come back, that tells me that you have no experience with life, or with animals. And that if you do have experience with animals, that you treat them like baby dolls rather than as beings that have to deal with disappointment now and again just like the rest of us.
So fuck off, Deb. And all the rest of you drive-by pet mommies who might be tempted to try to comment here.
I dunno, Zuzu, the concern trolls seem to be EVERYWHERE these days. There is no issue (egomaniacal little soul! curse words!) that doesn’t seem to get someone in a lather.
You know, when I was a baby/toddler, my parents used to leave me (their actual human child) with my grandparents on a daily basis so that they could go to their jobs. Until now, I guess I didn’t realize that they were nothing but egomaniacal assholes.
Sheesh, some people.
I actually wound up leaving a cat (whom I loved dearly) behind when I moved to Florida. Almost broke my heart, but he was fine. And six months later when his new owner passed away, he was totally fine when I came back to get him.
And when I had to find him another new home? Totally fine, again.
None of which helps you make the decision, sorry. And good luck while you figure it out.
Oh, lordy, y’all should see my mod queue right now. I don’t deserve a dog because I’ve even CONSIDERED leaving her where she is. I’m an awful person.
And one subliterate berated me for my comment about the weather in the other thread; apparently the word “thunderstorm” is foreign to her. As is the concept that dogs pick up on storms way before we do.
It’s actually amusing, or would be if it weren’t such a pathetic display of broken people who have no idea how to interact with other human beings using their “love” for animals as a way to make themselves feel superior and special.
Oh, and Tricia, according to my email you’re a bad, bad person who undoubtedly caused your cat a skin condition from the stress.
Bwah! Considering that a few years ago he was still “running” the country store his owners had at the ripe old age of 12, I’ll take it under advisement.
I’ll also ask my two current furry roommates (16 & 10) what they think. I’ll probably get a more coherent answer from them than your correspondents. And definitely better weather forecasting — 16yo kitteh and I survived Andrew together — she disappears the minute the barometric pressure starts to drop.
Oh, and I’m being asked to CONDEMN your comment, because leaving it up just means I CONDONE REHOMING ANIMALS AND THAT’S BAD.
Snerk.
I don’t know where you moved from to Florida, but given that Sugarplum started throwing up blood after moving across Brooklyn, I can see that you would have had a choice in front of you in terms of what would be more stressful: having the cat get used to a new owner or dragging the cat cross-country, possibly over several days. You know, just so you could say that YOU DIDN’T REHOME YOUR ANIMAL!!!
I kind of like the idea of being a villain on your blog. The Cat Rehomer!! Eviliciousness personified.
And yes, 900 miles is a long-ass way with a U-haul trailer and a cat. It’s even longer with 2 cats. So I’ve done both — moving and re-homing — which is why I know that in reality both options have their pros and cons. I made my decisions based on the animals’ personalities and my ability to care for their particular needs at the time… which is all a sane person can do, really.
Again, best of luck to you and Junebug while you figure out what to do.
I’m so amused at these people who obviously think animals are more important than people, and who can’t deal with people and therefore advocate for animals, who have a very limited ability to express a view.
Re-homing animals is bad? What? Isn’t that what rescue orgs do all the time? Isn’t that a whole lot better than dumping them out in a parking lot to fend for themselves…?
(Lest your email be spammed, let me say I’ve never rehomed an animal, although I did leave a cat and a dog with my ex when we divorced, and took one cat with me, so I probably am an animal home-wrecker, instead).
I totally don’t understand the hate mail. Here I was thinking a true critter lover would want the best for an animal, even if that means having to rehome them to someone who can provide a better environment. And…that’s still my take. Zuzu, I can’t advise one way or the other, not knowing all the details. But an egomaniac would never worry about whether Junebug might be slightly happier w/ someone else.
Hoo boy. What crap. T and I just got home from puppy lessons with Buddy. The instructor (a very seasoned canine professional) told the story of how she had a med student in her class. They had a heart-to-heart talk and where she encouraged him to find another home for the dog. The owner’s life style had taken a turn where, with school commitments, he was gone too much.
The truly selfless thing to do in that case is to find another, more appropriate home.
Now, I’m sure you will come to the right decision about what to do with Junebug. And, I also know that I have left my children for longer periods of time then you have left your dog. Of course, I’m probably a bad mother (or not, since they aren’t dog, they are just children.) Dunno.
Geez. Louise. They set a standard that no pet owner can possibly sustain — that attitude will lead to a lot of people opting out of pet ownership altogether.
I liked this part the best: “You will, for perhaps the first time in your life, think of Junebug’s needs first.”
Damn.
Zuzu, I’m so sorry you had to deal with that jerk. She’s so full of crap her eyes are brown. Anyone who has read you knows how much you love Junebug, and how well you’ve cared for her.
Sam — the sad thing is, there are people who will say that your parents WERE egomaniacal assholes for “dumping” you in any kind of daycare.
Well, your mom was, at any rate. Because asking a dad to stay at home and do The Most Important Job In The World is just silly.
I mean, christ. How many times have I heard people spout off with “why bother to have a child if you aren’t going to raise it?”
… on topic …
Zuzu, don’t let this person have any control over your decision — not even in the “I’ll show you” sort of way. If the best decision is to re-home Junebug, that decision will be painful enough on its own without added baggage of anonymous dipshit disapproval on the Internet. Similarly, if you feel that the best thing for Junebug is to keep her with you and lessen upheaval in her life, don’t let yourself think spiteful thoughts towards this troll.
Not worth the time.
Not worth the emotional energy.
Definitely not worth the consideration in this personal decision.
Well, I now finally have internet at home, after multiple visits by the cable folks and a few trips to the roof, and I’m happy to report that Junebug is sitting behind me, giving me the stink-eye because I let not one, not two, but THREE strangers in here today — two cable guys and the gas guy.
Aaaaawwwwwwwwww!
Welcome home, Junebug! Hope the new place is good, Zuzu.