No, it's cool, Nemo likes freshwater!

[Squeaksmyalias]

*hug Marmalady * I'm glad to hear that. I gave the note because some people get offended. I didn't want to hurt feelings, but after seeing it so often I feel it's worth mentioning.

[Kristev]

I've read many stories about people, mostly children, who are given kittens as Christmas & birthday presents, and immediately reject them. Or almost immediately.

It's cruel and heartless to the animal, who very quickly has to find another home or condemnation to a shelter.

Only one story turned out happy: One young girl didn't want the kitten that was given to her, and openly stated so. But her kinder, more responsible sister did, and so she got the kitten, which saved the poor little kitten from a horrible fate.

[Lala]

[QUOTE=Marmalady;878557]I think that pet shops all over must cringe whenever a new 'animal' film goes on release.

After '101 Dalmatians' came out, of course EVERYONE wanted 'one of those cute spotty puppies'. Needless to say, a few months later the animal shelters were swamped with Dalmatians when people found out that they pooped, chewed things and needed walkies and vet care just like all dogs. Also, I'm not an expert on this breed but I understand they are dotty by nature as well as complexion, and take a lot of training (stands to be corrected).QUOTE]

I remember when that movie came out & one of the news shows did a piece on people buying dalamtions because "OMG they so cute!" & not realizing they do require alot of training. Also, about 10 % are deaf, making it even more of a challenge.

[Becks]

Also, about 10 % are deaf

And how much of that is because of inbreeding to cash in on fads?

[Squeaksmyalias]

And how much of that is because of inbreeding to cash in on fads?

I'm not an expert on the breed but it may have always been a problem with them, but yes it became a bigger problem not just because of breeding because of fads but just breeding in general. You will find in every breed that there is inbreeding. Either because that was the way the breed was developed or because some breeders are VERY specific on what standards they want in the dog and decided that was a route to go, not the best way. It is strongly discouraged now but you will still find it in bad breeders. It's is also strongly discouraged to give away or sell deaf dalmatian puppies, due to fear that at some point that dog might end up being bred and creating more deaf dogs, abused because of it's lack of hearing or it accidentally hurting another animal or a human. Good breeders strive to breed healthy dogs, yes there is always that bad one out there. Which is why you research before you buy.

I feel the need to do another note, mostly since I like to help educate people about breeds. Please do not read if you get upset easily.

*Please consider the fact that the international Dalmatian clubs strongly discourage deaf puppies being bought and sold because of experience. Yes it means that they are put to sleep but it is better then the poor dog growing up hurt, shuffled from home to home or bred to create more sick animals. There are ALWAYS exceptions to this but those are few and far between and they are doing this out of love for the dogs, not to be cruel, not everyone can care for a deaf dog, it can be dangerous and even with the most gentle dog there is always the risk of being bitten. For every nice owner I've met with a deaf or blind animal, I've seen two who have yelled at or kicked their deaf or blind pet who they have claimed to love. I've cared for one dog who was thrown out of a car because he was deaf and the owner didn't want him anymore, that dog had a hard life, now he has a harder one. These organizations have had the experience of having deaf puppies returned to them, finding out that an owner cruelly disposed of them or found one of their babies is now mentally unstable due to growing attached to an owner then abandoned and sent to the next. As much as it saddens me to hear that is what happens I understand why they do it. At 26 I've seen far more cruelty to innocent sick animals then I should ever see in my entire life. I also want to mention, good breeders of any type hate having to put one of their babies to sleep, the breeders I know all cry and it breaks there hearts, they do it because they want whats best and if they could they would do they had to to make them better or keep them but that isn't always possible.

[wolfie]

Also, since deafness in Dalmatians is a (recessive) hereditary trait, really good breeders will, on finding that one of their puppies is deaf, not breed either of the parents again (since both are obviously carriers of the trait).

Even without the deafness issue, Dalmatians are not good pets, since they're a very high energy dog, needing lots of exercise (originally bred as "coach dogs", to run alongside the horses of a rich person's coach and deter neighbourhood dogs from attacking them).

[Setsunaela]

When I was little (about five) we had a dalmatian. She was a present from my uncle, who had promised me a puppy for my birthday (my mom actually wanted the dog, and apparently my uncle had thoroughly discussed this with her before ever promising me this) and he was at the shelter to pick a puppy, and saw them pull the dalmatian out to walk to the back, and he asked why and they said she'd been there too long and no one wanted her, so he asked if he could adopt her, and they let him.
My mom went to classes to learn how to train her, and I helped walk her while she was still small. She had brown spots, and was named "Mocha" she was very sweet, hardly barked, and well-trained by my mom so she listened very well. Her crate was her safe zone, and we never shut her up in it as punishment, so she was always really good in it for trips to the vet and such. It makes me sad when big dogs aren't cared for so well, so I'm SO glad I can look back and feel happy that we took good care of our dog.

We gave her to a neighbor who had some other dogs she played with, when we moved to a smaller home with no yard and felt she'd be unfairly cooped up, because as dalmatians do, she got HUGE!

[BookstoreEscapee]

After '101 Dalmatians' came out, of course EVERYONE wanted 'one of those cute spotty puppies'. Needless to say, a few months later the animal shelters were swamped with Dalmatians when people found out that they pooped, chewed things and needed walkies and vet care just like all dogs. Also, I'm not an expert on this breed but I understand they are dotty by nature as well as complexion, and take a lot of training (stands to be corrected).

They also get pretty big, and the one I knew personally was quite hyper. A neighbor on the next street had one when I was a kid, and whenever we knocked on the door the dog jumped up barking. She was just saying hi, but she was taller than me (luckily they were responsible owners and always got her away before opening the door).

I'm used to little dogs (grew up with miniature Schnauzers, and had partial custody of a Chihuahua for a while). Now have two cats that live with my parents (where I'm housesitting, and the girl is currently stalking something behind the piano. She better not bring me any half-dead baby mice this time...).

[Micer]

I don't blame you. Poor cat, being owned by an idiot. Poor you, having to put things right and getting everything dumped on you. Just a bad thing all around...except for SIL who got off scot-free. (Did you take her to task for the crap she put you through?)

:sigh: I feel sorry for any animal unfortunate enough to be owned by an idiot. I really wish people would do the research before getting a pet; "it's sooooo cute!" is not a good enough reason.

I wish, but no, SIL has temper problems... as in, well, an example, I was taking care of her infant daughter while she was out all the time with her friends, and the one time I made a complaint (as in, I have things I need to get done today and can't watch your child for you, I'm sorry) and she proceeded to say that the baby would be better off with a dog-dish of water compared to the apparent level of care I was giving her (because apparently, feeding/changing/playing from morning to evening is substandard care) And after my hubby tried to defend me, put her foot through the glass portion of the front door before storming out of the house. Leaving her daughter with us yet again.

So confronting her about the cat and her behavior just would have lead to a 'I'm the victim' rant and something else being broken. She's gotten better through the years, but she still does things like that - as in make bad choices on animals.

Hubby sets up a fish tank for her, she kills everything in it by buying the 'pretty' aka. vicious fish. Her BF gets a dog, a very large and sweet american bulldog, they don't do anything with it, and it proceeds to destroy the back porch (of MIL's house) in it's boredom and would get extremely hyperactive and bite-y when finally played with, couldn't help itself, it'd get so caught up in the moment of 'OMG ATTENTION!!!!'. But it got to the point where our niece (six by than) was never allowed to be left alone with said dog.

Dog was taken to a shelter because they were 'tired' of taking care of her, and I suspect because it snapped at one of them, I don't want to think of what happened to the poor pup since she never received spaying/shots/vaccination/training.

Hubby gets MIL (who lets SIL and family live with her currently) a love bird, love bird gets set loose after SIL in one of her 'tantrums' destroys the bird cage containing said love bird. I'm just going to continue to hope that the bird flew away as she claims it did.

I finally put my foot down on refusing to let her claim the orange tabby we got his MIL recently, we couldn't keep him due to apartment pet limits, and his mother fell in love with the little guy (I think he loves her back, considering he refuses to eat unless she's in the kitchen and having a meal as well)

But letting SIL take that cat with her to NC? Hell no, and same here, it's amazing what a little research can do in the long run. Though it has backfired... hubby's researching on Newfoundland dogs has only led to him wanting one even more once we have a house and large space of our own.

[Mytical]

It's not going to get any better until somebody finally stands up to her, and firmly puts their foot down. Staging an intervention, and not letting the person get away with a tantrum. Just my

[Solumina]

In all honesty it sounds like she needs some professional help, though something tells me it would be hard to get her to actually get any.

[XCashier]

It's not going to get any better until somebody finally stands up to her, and firmly puts their foot down. Staging an intervention, and not letting the person get away with a tantrum. Just my

Unfortunately, yes. Someone'll have to shout her down, and be ready, willing and able to physically defend themselves when necessary. She severely needs what Recovering Kinkoid calls a "Come To Jesus Meeting".

[Geek King]

Unfortunately, yes. Someone'll have to shout her down, and be ready, willing and able to physically defend themselves when necessary. She severely needs what Recovering Kinkoid calls a "Come To Jesus Meeting".

And if she starts breaking things, call the cops and stick the vandalism charges. A lot of times family will act worse towards you than strangers, because they know family won't press charges.

[Primer]

I'm happy top say that ALL of my animals (and a LOT of my people!) always have been, and always will be, rescues.

We intend on acquiring one more dog eventually, but (s)he will come to us when it's the right time.

[Cat]

My hermit crabs died (I thinking during the witness, but there wad no death smell... I checked on them this past weekend and they were gone)

So now I have a nice 10g tank, which I will use when I decide to get fish...but I'm gonna research which would be best, easy to care for, and get something to keep the lid down because of the cats

No nemos for me!