:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Another thing to add is a healthy loving dog is euthanized every 10 seconds/24 hours everyday. That to me is a sick statistic and one us humans need to change. Dont adopt, rescue or get a puppy if you cannot make the lifelong commitment to care and love it from beginning to end. Good words of advice Taylor.

I think it's common sense that if you cannot feed yourself you cannot look after an animal. Low income doesn't mean dirt poor and starving. We don't get shelters over loaded with too much where I live, I'm in a relatively small town but yes it does happen everywhere in the world. The main thing is making an informed decision, not to just not give a puppy as a gift altogether. I don't know how much the recession has affected N.I but if it's anywhere like here, why doesn't your son and girlfriend have job seekers, housing benefit and vouchers for a food bank, I find it really difficult that people can afford to go to the pub and smoke fags with all the benefit money handed out but can't afford to eat. You didnt 'learnt' anything. You gave a dog to someone that unexpectedly became ill with a brain tumor and couldn't look after the dog.

Oh and, your use of caps letters is mildly annoying. You are basically harassing me online because I think people should make an informed decision and weigh the pro's and cons instead of throw the idea of giving a puppy as a gift out the window. Maybe go back and re-read my post.

Anyways, thankyou lovetodream for clearing up what you ment. It just came across as a bit mean the way you said about the financial situation, I think most of us can agree that if someone can't take care of themselves and is in that deep of a hole that any animal * not just a dog * would be an inappropriate gift.

This is true! I do agree. I never thought it was a good idea to get kids animals, not until they are older because let's face it kids go outside and play with their friends, they have school, and other activities and the reality is the dog ends up ignored. I think the issue is people go out and ...er I forgot the saying, you know when you just buy the puppy on a whim because it's cute and loveable, without thinking about how you're going to feed, house, and care for it? My girl was a birthday present for me, but everyone knew I wanted a small dog. I couldn't decide on a yorkie, a shih-tzu or a papillion since I love them all, in the end I'm glad I ended up with the yorkie. It's been tough, having a puppy and a 1 year old but I'd never in a million years give her up for anything! It's just irresponsible people...

[QUOTE=Rainbows;4362502]I think it's common sense that if you cannot feed yourself you cannot look after an animal. Low income doesn't mean dirt poor and starving. We don't get shelters over loaded with too much where I live, I'm in a relatively small town but yes it does happen everywhere in the world. The main thing is making an informed decision, not to just not give a puppy as a gift altogether. I don't know how much the recession has affected N.I but if it's anywhere like here, why doesn't your son and girlfriend have job seekers, housing benefit and vouchers for a food bank, I find it really difficult that people can afford to go to the pub and smoke fags with all the benefit money handed out but can't afford to eat. You didnt 'learnt' anything. You gave a dog to someone that unexpectedly became ill with a brain tumor and couldn't look after the dog.

I think there is crossed wires here, ur reading into everything to much and obviously not hearing what I'm saying and the way I'm sayin it, when ii say they cannot afford to feed themselves, it's a saying in n.i. That they can just get by and no more,,, and what's fags and pubs got to do with me, what r u meaning:confused:yes I did learn , as I wasn't looking for another dog at that time, but it was my responsibility as I bought him. As for low income ,they can't afford a dog I never said that it means dirt poor , I don't like ur attitude either and yes it's all about common sense,which some people don't have when the shelters r full after Christmas .so think what u want , I'll put it down to different country's

Fags are cigarettes. :-P

Rainbows means cigarettes lol

ROFL I get what you mean, but as a Canadian with a bit of a passion for English wordage I knew what they meant, although I don't think the UK folks know what you meant. LOL LOL

I once was in England and a young lad, of course I was a young lass, told me he was "going to knock me up in the morning", I was stunned, and had no idea what he meant.

My hosts said er umm.... Gail what he means is he will call you in the morning. Paul that is quite a rude comment in Canada. ... LOL LOL

Here is what I think. First timing of receipt of puppy, is usually the worst time at XMAS season and New Years. Unless of course the puppy owners have a very quiet life, or are prepared to make it so, to receive a new planned puppy into their life.

We got Razzman on the day before New Years Eve, but we knew we would receive him then, and we made no plans for that New Years. And if we had we would have negotiated with his breeder to pick him up later.

I just really really resist the idea of a surprise puppy for your family or good friends. Those surprises are not like a new TV, stove, or car. You can't decide not to plug it in or to drive it. You are introducing a major life change into the future owners lives. One that they will need to drop all holiday plans for, and to care for the pup in question.

So a gift certificate is much better, from a breeder you trust and have researched, or a generic gift certificate for apuppy if you know your friends are dead set for a puppy.

If someone is buying a dog as a gift...they're already starting off in the wrong place, as reputable breeders won't sell puppies as presents.


My adult kids quickly learned that when they tried to buy me a yorkie puppy for Christmas three years ago, after both had left for college & I was an empty-nester ( and my last yorkie had died 3 years prior).


No breeder they encountered would sell a puppy as a gift. Sure, they could pay for the pup, but I had to be aware about the puppy, I had to talk to the breeder myself & I had to go pick up the puppy...hence my across-the-state trip almost 3 years ago, to get ZoE :)

I honestly didn't see anything mean.