Rant ensuing: Ok I was listening to the radio during the ride into work. I listen to this morning show every morning and some days I wonder why. The lead male DJ is so completely clueless and ignorant! They relayed a story that more and more people are having to give up their pets to shelters due to the poor economy. I was fine with the story, sad, but fine UNTIL he sarcastically said "I'm sorry, but how much does it really cost you for pet food anyway?" Both me & my DH's mouth just dropped. The female DJ was quick to defend saying how medical bills could add up or if a person had a lot of medication themselves..... Male DJ- "I would never give up my chihuahua. If I'm homeless, then so is my dog, right with me."
My DH said that he believes that this guy must have never had to struggle and is just completely speaking out of ignorance. This just pissed me off so bad. Any good pet owner knows that your pet IS part of your family and if you have actually come to the heart wrenching decision that you HAVE to give him/her up, you don't need some jackass telling you that you were wrong! It was hard enough for me to give up my ferrets for the reason that i knew they weren't able to get the exercise they needed where I was living and they deserved better. That broke my heart but I knew it was the right thing to do! These people are struggling to pay bills and buy food. Isn't it better to give them to someone who can care for them better? Better than more animals being left outside to friggin' starve!
Sorry, I will shut up now.
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"Am I speaking in a language you're not getting here?"
I think it depends on the situation. There's two types of people, ones who see their pets as family, and ones who see their pets as accessories. In this college town, I see a lot of the latter, kids who will get a pet then give it up when they move. Or people who get an apartment that doesn't allow pets, so their give their pet up. Personally, I look for an apartment that lets me have my cats and don't even consider ones that don't. So, there's a lot of people who give up their pets in favor of beer money, and that's probably the type of people the DJ was thinking of.
And also, I think instead of giving away a pet that I couldn't take care of to a shelter, I'd find someone else to take care of it. That way I know my pet is going to someone who can take care of it and be loved. I'd only give it to a shelter if I absolutely couldn't take care of it anymore and couldn't find anyone to take it.
I can see that point (2 different kinds) but I guess knowing the other things that come out of this man's mouth, I really don't think he was meaning like that. He also always thinks HE is right even when proven wrong. I swear if it wasn't for the other male DJ I would listen to something else.
Maybe if he had presented it like you just did, I wouldn't be so upset. But thinking of those that did give their pets up for the right reasons maybe listening to this crud , well that's just crap
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"Am I speaking in a language you're not getting here?"
Ah, I can see that. Very true. If Howard Stern or Rush Limbaugh for example had said that, instead of me just reading it here, I'm sure I would've taken it the same way you did.
