In the past I’ve had hundreds of calls from people requesting, sometimes even demanding, that I find homes for their dogs because they are ‘relocating’ and leaving their best friend behind. Often, these cold hearted individuals actually have the gall to threaten me with the likes of, “If you can’t find a home for Sasha, I’m putting her to sleep!” Being intolerant of heartless people who so easily leave their pets, I have often inquired whether they intend putting their kids down as well, only to have the phone slammed in my ear.
I really despise that word ‘relocating’ because some people believe it actually makes leaving or dumping your best friend okay! Well it doesn’t, because it’s only a band aid for, “We’ve bought a house and don’t want it contaminated with dog hair” or “We’re down-sizing, up-sizing, divorcing, marrying, moving, staying put, having a baby or not having a baby, getting a cat or canary or whatever … and we don’t want the responsibility of the damn dog anymore”!
The trouble is, it is our responsibility. And here’s a little story which may just make a difference one day.
Heaven is where your best friend is
A man was walking down a road, enjoying the outing when it suddenly occurred to him he was dead … and the dog by his side had been dead for many years! Then, reaching the top of a long hill, he saw a great marble arch with gates of pearl and streets of gold which glittered in the warm sunshine - the gatekeeper, resplendent in white robes, advised him he had arrived at heaven’s gates and promised him paradise beyond should he enter… “Oh, sorry”, he said seeing the little mutt, “No dogs are allowed here.”
The traveller was tired and thirsty, but he turned away and wearily continued his journey till at last he saw an old man leaning on a farm gate.
“Come in, come in”, said the man, “I’ve been waiting for you!”
“Thank you,” said the traveller, “But I have my dog with me …”
“Oh, he’s very welcome here.” said the old man.
Then the traveller asked where he was.
“Oh, this is Heaven.”
“Now I’m confused, because the man down the road said his place was heaven.”
“You mean the place with gold streets and pearly gates - nope, that’s hell!”
“Wow, doesn’t it make you mad, using your name like that?!”
“No, not at all,” replied the old man, “We’re just happy they screen out the folks who leave their best friends behind.”
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9 Responses to “Leaving your best friend behind”
February 11th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Hi Glynne
Although I agree with you in principal, but things are not always that black & white. I recently received a very lucrative offer for a position in London. Now, although I would like nothing more than to take my best friend along, it will be very unfair to him: he’s a big boy and will definitely not be happy to live in a flat, and we all know what house prices are like in London. So, I do have a bit of a dilemma…
February 18th, 2008 at 10:49 am
There is no excuse to leave your dog behind. Would you leave your child behind? When you get a pet you take responsibility of that pet for life. My dogs have free run of the house, the have the same rights as the children, they are my children too. My theory is, if you can’t take them with you, then don’t go! Your dog loves you unconditionally, people should do the same.
February 18th, 2008 at 10:49 am
What a wonderful article, I dunno how people can leave their pets behind. I am relocating to Cape Town, when me fiance spoke to be about his job offer, my only condition was that the dogs come with.
So it is costing us a small fortune and we have to pay more rent for a place with a garden but that’s sacrifices I am willing to make to have my beloved dogs with me.
February 18th, 2008 at 11:54 am
I agree with you a hundred percent but what would you do in the case where the pet would have to stay in quarantine for a number of months, I know my boys would be miserable. One night at the vet leaves us both upset & in tears. If we ever had to leave the country I would most definitely want them to come with us as I could never imagine my life let alone our home without them, they are a huge part of our family, but would it be fair to them being in a confined space for so long?
February 18th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
i am leaving for London in April i have 2 great danes that are aged 3 / 4 very mommy fuss - it has been the toughest choice to make and thats to leave them with friends who will love them as much as i have - the thought of putting them down or having them in quarantine for x amount of months is just being cruel - Cape town and other local areas are very different to London ect you can drive them down or fly them . I love and adore animals, i will miss mine very much and they are also a huge part of my life but i have made sure that they will be very well looked after. I can not put my dogs through that stress of x months of misery and if it does not work over in London i must put them through that again.. i dont think it is fair to put them through that stress
February 18th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
This a topic that makes me really angry. Most people pretty much know if they might one day have to/want to leave the country for whatever reason. I have one dog and two cats that I adopted individually because of selfish, short sighted people “suddenly” having to leave. If you are one of those people, do not get a pet - think ahead and make your decision.
February 18th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I never wanted to leave this country ever it is my home, i am an animal lover, part of every animal fund raising i am a Vegetarian ect … i am LEAVING THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE I WAS FIRSTLY ATTACKED BY 8 BLACK MEN IN MY HOME I AM A SINGLE WHITE WOMEN . . than 2 months later they poisoned my dogs ( the same ones i have now) they survived i moved from a plot to a house than ended up in a complex - they are going to a gorgeous protected home in cape town - i have been there to check it all out because my dogs protection is just as important to mine - i will be living in a tiny flat in London - i have two great danes Male 75kgs female 55kgs it is not fair for me to keep them in all day long plus all these silly rules about quarantine ( this means +-6 months in a kennel they do not leave that kennel for 6 months not even for a walk on a lead ) .i wish with all my heart that i could take them with me i really do but i cant and i think ERICA your comment should be pointed at the people that do suddenly dash from here leaving thier pets to rot or just have them put out …. i am not one of those people - it has taken me 2 yrs along with lots of bad experiences to make this decision, a lot of investigating and loads of heart break - i have found the perfect home for my dogs and i know that they will be happier there than 6 months in a kennel and x amount of time in a tiny flat..
February 25th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Hi Glynne
To leave or not to leave the country is probably not a debate for these pages. But to leave one’s furry friends behind certainly is and I thank you for talking about it. My heart and soul is here but I’m beginning to look at where to go. And YES if it comes to it, our 3 furry kiddies WILL go with - its not negotiable. The dreaded quarantine period is a huge concern though. Perhaps you can do an article on what to do to make the journey and the quarantine as ok as possible. DO you know which countries are better than others when it comes to animal immigration?
February 25th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Evening to you all . I went to London on Holiday being a year as i am retired i took all 3 of my dogs as i could not bare to leave them at home - i was absoluty devastated when i got to see my babies in quarantine thinking i was doing the correct thing by bringing them with i realised that it was one of the most heart breaking sights, this is what i saw - i arrived to the “kennels” my dogs one includes a German Shep they were so excited to see me when i asked the chap there if i could take them for a walk he said “NO” I then asked how often they go for walks he answered ” NEVER” i could only touch them with a finger i nearly died. six months in that tiny little space.. a few months later My German Shep died in that Kennel. I agree that people should take the pets with but on the other hand having first hand experience i would never ever put my pets through that - so as MJ nicely states this is not an issue that you should rather find out information about quarantine and give them advise on how to go about it.This is a PET artical, Please the the answers are directed in the incorrect manner.. Love your work