How do you say good-bye to an animal that is part of your family?

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   cheryloneposted 11 years ago

   How do you say good-bye to an animal that is part of your family?
   
   When you have an animal that has been with you for many years, how do you then 'get rid of the animal' because you have to move and the landlord doesn't allow pets?
   
   

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   enjoy lifeposted 11 years ago

   My first recommendation would be try to find a place that does allow animals. Personally, I would always look for a new place that allows pets. I would not consider getting a place that does not allow them. To me, this would be like moving somewhere that does not allow children, so having to get rid of my kids! No, I would simply not move somewhere that expected me to get rid of my kids.
   
   Animals give us unconditional love, we are their family. They get attached to us too, so why do we just walk away from them when we can no longer have them?
   
   Having said that, I do understand there are times we have no choice, but to get rid of them
   
   In this instance, I would do everything I could to make sure they had a good home. I would not give them away free unless I knew and trusted the person because freely given away animals are sought out by those who hurt and abuse animals. I would never, ever use certain online sites where people advertise animals as being give away free, because those sites have a history of being used by dog fighters and animal abusers.
   
   I would want to home check where they went to see the people they would be staying with and if I was comfortable with them having my pet. I would also make sure my animal was happy and comfortable with them.
   
   If possible I would see if a rescue organisation could help me rehome them, or maybe advise me on re homing them.
   
   I would never ever dump them at an animal shelter that I know kills animals. Owner surrendered animals get put down quicker than others and have little chance of being rehomed. This is so unfair to an animal that has given me their love for so long.
   
   When it came time to say good bye, I would make sure I spent some real quality time with them, showed them lots of love and take lots of pictures to remember them by.

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      cheryloneposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Sadly, we have tried every avenue to find acceptable alternatives, but nothing has come up.  I truly wish landlords would take into consideration the fact that most renters treat their animals like their family and allow them for their tenets!

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      enjoy lifeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That's sad, I'm sorry you have to get rid of your animal then. Try non kill rescue organisations, and some of my other suggestions above

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   Jackie Lynnleyposted 11 years ago

   Well the great thing is you are not saying goodbye because your pet has died which I had to do last Fall after almost 20 years to my cat Lily.  So at least you can have that going for you that your cat lives on. Maybe you could leave something with your cat with your smell to make it less lonesome for you (like something to go in its bed at night) until it becomes use to a new place and family (if that is possible). It is very hard but it does happen. I had to leave Lily more than once but she was with my mom and do you know that cat would meet me at the gate before I got out of the car? It sometimes would be close to a year but it was always the same, she never forgot me but she was not unhappy. They are tougher than you think but be sure it will always remember you.

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      cheryloneposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Have had to put down many, too.  They call me the crazy cat lady.  Sadly, my mother is dead and sister has 7 herself.  No other family interested.  Thanks for the idea though.

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      Jackie Lynnleyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I am really sorry. My mom is dead now too and I wouldn't trust my sister with an animal; so I hope it never happens to me. I will be getting a kitten in a couple weeks and starting over. Well I wish you good luck anyway.

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   CraftytotheCoreposted 11 years ago

   Find a cat rescue.  Go on Facebook or do a google search.  There are plenty of bleeding hearts for cats that need to be re-homed.
   
   If you take the cat to a shelter, it will most likely be put down depending on the shelter.  Our shelter here doesn't accept cats at all, and puts them down.
   
   I had to re-home a cat once when I moved.  I was in my early 20s.  I had rented one side of a duplex home.  After a couple of months, the landlord told me I had to move.  I had two cats and moved in to a place where no pets were allowed.  It broke my heart, but fortunately an aunt took them in for me.  I still regret that decision.  If I could have done things differently, I would have found a place that allowed pets.
   
   It looks like we are from the same state .......   do you still need help with your cat?   The Connecticut Humane Society is a no kill shelter.

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      cheryloneposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for all the ideas.  The Connecticut Humane Society is too far away for us to travel; but we are still looking.  Because the cats are older not many people want them.  Contact me via my e-mail & put cats in the subject line.  Thanks.

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   sheilamyersposted 11 years ago

   If you don't know anyone who you trust who can take him, go online and find a "no kill" shelter in your area. That way you can be almost sure he'll have a place at the shelter until someone does adopt him.

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      cheryloneposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Now that, believe it or not, never crossed my mind.  Thank you for the idea, I will try that one as soon as I can.

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