I have seen so many posts on here from people who claim that their pets are being mistreated or not being looked after to their ideal standards, only to go on and say that said pets 'live with their parents or siblings or friends etc'. And then in the comments a lot of people seem to offer advice on how to manage the lifestyle of these pets in someone elses home.
I'd like to open a discussion about responsible pet ownership in regards to this mindset and am interested in what you think counts as responsible pet ownership. Regarding these particular posts where people don't 'live with their pets', I personally think that:
- You are not a pet owner if your pet is not living with you.
- You are not a pet owner if it is a family pet and you are not the adult legal guardian.
- You are not a pet owner if you do not or cannot financially support your pet and pay for the pet's food, vet bills etc.
It is great when kids and young people take an interest in helping raise the household pet. But the 15-year-old cat you've had since you are seven, is NOT your cat, regardless of if it was a gift or not (pets can't be gifts, but that's a whole other issue). It may be your best buddy, it may sleep on your bed, it may be the best cat ever but it is not your cat. It is your parent's (or adult legal guardian's) cats. They are responsible for it.
Furthermore, advising people who say 'my dogs live with my parents' that they should tell their parents how to manage the lifestyle of said dogs is unfair. Telling them how to manage their house, what sacrifices to make or how you'd like the dog's lifestyle to look is extremely disrespectful, and probably not going to result in what you want. It's not your dog. It's their dog, and you don't get to tell them what to do. If someone's parents are truly 'bad' pet owners, they've probably got a bunch of other things going on that means they're not going to make the changes that are suggested anyway.
To everyone who comments on these posts saying things like 'well your parents should...or...can't you just take the pets with you...' I don't imagine are very helpful. At the end of the day, the actual owner of the pet is not reaching out for help, but rather, someone who does not have the means or authority to take the actions needed to help the pets. That's not to say that there aren't helpful comments, but I think advice should consider who the actual owner is, and the relationship between the owner and the poster.
If you are growing up and realise that your parents aren't the 'ideal' pet owner then you can: offer to help educate them on responsible pet ownership, or ask to adopt the pets yourself when you come of age (though I don't believe there are too many 18 - 21 year-olds who have the skills and means to look after a pet responsibly). Or, in circumstances of abuse or neglect, contact the authorities.
Responsible pet ownership looks different to everyone. Some people believe cats should live indoors for their entire lives because it keeps them and wildlife safe. Other people think cats should have freedom to stretch their legs and do kitty-cat things. Ideally, everyone would not only love their pet, but also care for it (this means financially, too), treat it as part of the family and give it all the attention that it deserves.
In my experience working in veterinary surgeries, most people are not the ideal pet owner. There are people who give their pets lots of attention, but can't afford veterinary care. And there are people who can afford veterinary care but never give their pets attention. In saying that, a lot of people are just trying their best and give their pets very happy, long lives full of love and care, even if we all do make mistakes along the way.
Bottom line is that responsible pet ownership encompasses a huge range of vital responsibilities that go along with taking on the role of keeping another living creature alive, healthy, safe, comfortable and (hopefully) happy. The very least of which requires you to put a roof over the pet's head. You are not a pet owner if you are not the adult primary carer that lives with the animal.
If you need help in adjusting the situation of a pet that may not be getting the care it needs, rather than claiming 'ownership', you can support the real owners by discussing the appropriate care pets need and helping educate them (I mean, google articles, youtube videos are so easy to pull up and share), or as stated above, in cases of abuse or neglect, go straight to your local authorities.
I'd be really interested to know what you guys think.
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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/hpt1p8/you_are_not_a_pet_owner_if_you_do_not_own_your_pet/
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