imagine if you had to sell your dogs or cats just to make ends meet...

[Dancing Fire]

on the koi forums i frequent i notice there are more and more hobbyist selling their wet water pets b/c of this recession,really sad

koi is like part of the family to them. they even have name for each of the fish,so just imagine trying to decide on which one of your dog/cat you gonna to sell first.

 

[radiantquest]

That is awful. Gives me goose bumps. Luckily I have never been in that situation. I cannot imagine selling my pets.

 

[tlh]

wow, that is really sad. A lot of people are giving up their dogs/cats to shelters for free because they cannot afford to feed them. That is a huge problem where I live - and there isn''t space for these animals, so these beloved pets, are on death row. At least w/ the koi lover can get some $$ for their fish, even if it is like a part of the family... and at least rest knowing that they won''t be murdered because they couldn''t afford the upkeep.

it is just really sad. I wouldn''t get rid of any of my pets. I think I''d ditch my cell phone first if I had to save money in order to pay for them.

 

[cellososweet]

this is terrible. I could never give up my cats. They are family to me. If for some reason I ever ended up on the streets, I would let me parents take care of them, but besides that situation I couldn''t imagine it.

Heck, DH and I are about to move in with my parents due to some medical issues I''m having and the financial/emotional strain it''s causing us and guess who''s hopping aboard a plane from Boston to CA with us? All three kitties. And they came with us from CA to Boston when we moved here.

 

[ckrickett]

I couldn''t imagine it....
that''s so sad!

 

[Luckyeshe]

Date: 9/15/2009 12:00:44 PM
Author: tlh
wow, that is really sad. A lot of people are giving up their dogs/cats to shelters for free because they cannot afford to feed them. That is a huge problem where I live - and there isn''t space for these animals, so these beloved pets, are on death row. At least w/ the koi lover can get some $$ for their fish, even if it is like a part of the family... and at least rest knowing that they won''t be murdered because they couldn''t afford the upkeep.

it is just really sad. I wouldn''t get rid of any of my pets. I think I''d ditch my cell phone first if I had to save money in order to pay for them.

Ditto! I''d go and eat ramen noodles for months to be able to keep my pets...or worse yet, move back home to my parents before I''d give them up.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

Very sad.

Just curious about the motivation for selling the koi. The thing is, unlike other pets, the fish themselves don''t seem to be causing the economic strain (food, vet bills, heartguard It seems like the ponds are actually a bigger expense, is that the case? I know that koi can be very, very expensive to buy, so maybe the people who are selling actually see them as some sort of luxury item and are hoping ot sell the fish in order get back some of their "investment"...if that makes sense? Sort of like buying a car, then selling it even though you''re upside down in order to pay off other debts? So maybe it''s not even the cost of the koi or the ponds, it''s just people trying to get back some of the initial cost? I''m not sure, I''d be interested to know what you think, though, DF.

 

[Linda W]

Very sad, I could never give up a pet.

 

[LostSapphire]

My vet has commented that more and more people are skipping vaccinations, examinations, and pet care.

He is warning that a lot of animals out there could be carrying more infections/disease than usual, and asking that his patients take care with their own pets.

ETA: I'm not about to wade into the discussion about whether dogs/cats should or should not be vaccinated..that's a whole other thread. But basic health care is suffering. Especially, he says, for people who are getting puppies. They take the pup with 1 set of vaccinations, but don't follow up with the 2nd and 3rd + examinations. Scary.

LS

 

[Madam Bijoux]

I would peddle my boo-tay and sell my jewelry before I woud give up a pet.

 

[radiantquest]

It just occured to me, and maybe I am way off, but it seems odd to me that the people were online talking about selling their pets. I would sell my computer and drop internet service before I sold my pet, but thats me.

 

[MonkeyPie]

I would never sell my babies

It would be like selling my child!

 

[Irishgrrrl]

I''m sure the decision to part with a pet due to economic reasons is one that isn''t made lightly, and I feel awful for the families who find themselves in that position. Having said that, I know there''s no way I could do it. I would sell everything else I have before I''d give up one of the kids.

 

[Erin]

My neighbor had a dog and he neglected it outside. Evenutally he put an ad in the paper and gave her away for free. I noticed the couple that came to get her and they appeared to be the type that would give her a better home. Then his girlfriend and four kids move in with him and bring a wiener dog. Well at least she stayed indoors so I was less worried about her.

Then one day they have another dog. I asked her, Oh so you guys got another dog? She said, well a friend of mine owed me money and she couldn''t pay me so she gave me ''Peanut.''

Give away your pet to pay a debt.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

I''d give up everything before giving up my dogs. And I do mean everything. They are my furbabies, and they aren''t for sale.

 

[Circe]

Pets are commitments. I wouldn''t give mine up unless I was in truly desperate straits and I knew it was better *for them* to be with someone else.

That said, I do think koi are a little different, just because, a) it''s possible to have *so much* money wrapped up in them, and b) ... and this may sound callous ... but I think there''s a different kind of attachment to mammalian and non-mammalian pets. I''ve never owned fish, but I''ve had lizards and snakes, and while I still felt a pet-owner''s responsibility to them and a real joy in having such wonderful creatures in my home, I never felt as though it would make a significant difference in *their* lives if I found them new homes. I didn''t worry that they''d miss me the way I would with my cats, y''know? I hope that doesn''t cause offense.

 

[isaku5]

There''s no way I''d give up my kitty! He''d be where we are no matter what. Our pets are innocent bystanders who depend on us for their care and our Sammy''s an integral part of the family. It would be like giving away our kids or grandgirls - no way in h*ll!!

 

[tyty333]

I''ve been visiting our local pound looking for a new kitty and a lot of the comments on the cards for
animals say that the owner moved to a place where they can no longer have a pet. I wonder if
they are getting kicked out of their house and cant keep it at an apartment (or cant afford the
extra deposit). Its really sad that these cats are being sent to the animal shelter. I know they
wont all find homes either.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 9/15/2009 12:19:53 PM
Author: NewEnglandLady
Very sad.

Just curious about the motivation for selling the koi. The thing is, unlike other pets, the fish themselves don''t seem to be causing the economic strain (food, vet bills, heartguard It seems like the ponds are actually a bigger expense, is that the case? I know that koi can be very, very expensive to buy, so maybe the people who are selling actually see them as some sort of luxury item and are hoping ot sell the fish in order get back some of their ''investment''...if that makes sense? Sort of like buying a car, then selling it even though you''re upside down in order to pay off other debts? So maybe it''s not even the cost of the koi or the ponds, it''s just people trying to get back some of the initial cost? I''m not sure, I''d be interested to know what you think, though, DF.

investment ? noway !! you couldn''t get $400 for a $1000 fish as soon as you walk out the dealer''s door. some of the hobbyist are shutting down their pond to save on electric and water bills, but before doing that they must sell all the fishes.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 9/15/2009 2:06:27 PM
Author: Irishgrrrl
I''m sure the decision to part with a pet due to economic reasons is one that isn''t made lightly, and I feel awful for the families who find themselves in that position. Having said that, I know there''s no way I could do it. I would sell everything else I have before I''d give up one of the kids.

IG...including the husband?

lunchtime!!

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Date: 9/15/2009 3:47:56 PM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 9/15/2009 2:06:27 PM
Author: Irishgrrrl
I''m sure the decision to part with a pet due to economic reasons is one that isn''t made lightly, and I feel awful for the families who find themselves in that position. Having said that, I know there''s no way I could do it. I would sell everything else I have before I''d give up one of the kids.

IG...including the husband?

lunchtime!!

Wellllll . . . probably!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I''d sell my body before I''d sell my pets

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 9/15/2009 11:48:55 AM
Author:Dancing Fire
on the koi forums i frequent i notice there are more and more hobbyist selling their wet water pets b/c of this recession,really sad

koi is like part of the family to them. they even have name for each of the fish,so just imagine trying to decide on which one of your dog/cat you gonna to sell first.

I''ve been hunting for a used aquarium and it''s surprising how many are still filled with fish! Koi, of course, have higher price tags than angel fish and tiger danios, but still it''s sad when I see those ads posted because that is when it gets to the point where every dime matters for that person.

 

[zoebartlett]

Like Cello said, our cats are family to us. We''d move in with family if we had to, but we couldn''t imagine giving up our pets.

 

[zoebartlett]

Good point, Radiantquest. There are a LOT of things we''d give up before we''d even consider doing something like this. The only way I can see giving up a pet is if severe allergies develop for one or both of us. If that ever happened, we''d try very hard to find a family member or friend who would take great care of our cats.

 

[Haven]

Date: 9/15/2009 1:40:24 PM
Author: Madam Bijoux
I would peddle my boo-tay and sell my jewelry before I woud give up a pet.

Oh, so would I.

I''d sell my engagement ring and wedding band before I would give up one of our furbabies. I would sell everything, in fact, I would not give any of them up, ever.

 

[musey]

Date: 9/15/2009 11:48:55 AM
Author:Dancing Fire
koi is like part of the family to them.

If they really were like family, then selling wouldn't be an option.

No one would sell their child to make ends meet. (well, okay... but lets not go there.)

 

[loriken214]

Our furbabies ARE family and they receive the best of care no matter what! They are priority number 1 and I would give up everything else before they would suffer one bit...nuff said!

Lori

 

[Cind11]

My four cats are family members as far as I''m concerned. They aren''t going anywhere no matter what!

 

[MishB]

I would never part with either of my cats, no matter what. Although if by some awful turn of events I couldn''t keep them in the luxurious style to which they are accustomed, I would rehouse them (hopefully temporarily) if I could.

I would rather not be able to feed myself than have either of them go hungry, although we could all afford to skip a meal or two.

I don''t think of fish as pets though, they are just one step up from pot plants to me.