Re: Feeling Broken-hearted
 

true enough, but some people love their pets and feel attached to them beyond just feeding and watering them, there's the whole companionship aspect.

The OP describes herself as "Broken Hearted" -- so clearly for her this is a very upsetting matter, and she doesn't feel that her pet is just an animal to feed and water. I would feel the same way...I raised my dog from a tiny puppy, it's not easy to just think of ditching him in a "I'm off to another country and you'll have to fend for yourself" kind of way. Not saying that he would influence such a life decision, but he is part of my life wherever it may be and whatever country I might be in, so it's not easy...

Re: Feeling Broken-hearted
 

Well said.

Re: Feeling Broken-hearted
 

Isn't it time people took the view that a dog is for life, not just until you want to bugger off somewhere else, where it might cause a few problems to take your pet?

People should give much more thought about whether to have one in the first place, then there would be much less need for rescue centres, puppy farms would die out, dogs wouldn't be left to fend for themselves when they're booted out and animals would have a happier life.

And come to that, maybe people should give the same degree of thought about whether they should have kids or not. Then the world might be a better place to live in. :(

Re: Feeling Broken-hearted
 

I have a dog. I love my dog. We got her here, now we are certain we are settled. If for any reason we had to go back and couldn't take her, I would be gutted but it wouldn't stop me. It's a dog. We would rehouse her and she would be as happy as Larry. This is in no way cruel, just realistic and sensible. People seem to talk as if dogs had human emotions. They don't. I have great sympathy for the OP but you can't put your life on hold for a dog.

Re: Feeling Broken-hearted
 

There aren't usually many reasons these days where you can't take your pet with you when you move around the world. I don't think I was suggesting that it is always cruel to leave them behind, although often it is. I just think more people should give more thought to the whole idea of getting pets. They're not toys. Too many people get them just as a 5 minute wonder is all I'm saying.

I had two dogs. One lived to 19 years, the other 18 years. I chose to give them the commitment that I felt they deserved, having made the decision to have them in the first place.

Re: Feeling Broken-hearted
 

Totally agree. I have wanted another dog for years but have held off until I feel I can provide a steady home. This is another issue to the OP's situation though.

Re: Feeling Broken-hearted
 

I'm afraid I'm not brave enough to have another pet. I just act as a sitter now and then when asked.
It also begs the question, if it doesn't work out for the OP when they emigrate, what happens to any acquired pets then? Do they get "rehomed" as well?

Re: Feeling Broken-hearted
 

Did exactly the same. Came on a 457 so never had any real certainty about staying.. once that converted to PR we adopted our dog, as I had promised my son we would.

Re: Feeling Broken-hearted
 

What are you doing Wednesday - Tuesday? We are off to Bali.....

Re: Feeling Broken-hearted
 

Send me the ticket, and I'm there! :thumbsup:

Re: Feeling Broken-hearted
 

We had to make the decision to leave our dog behind. It was very short notice to come over here and in rented property. So taking a dog was not an option.

I was very upset but I knew in the long run the family would be better off in Australia. I did cry a lot, but my kids had to come first and we had been dreaming of this chance for years..

Luckily we knew our dog would have a good home with friends.

At the end of the day your family has to come first.

Gems

Re: Feeling Broken-hearted
 

Having animals certainly does make life harder. I guess most of us will rent at first and one of the reasons that my husband and I may come separately is so that one of us finds a pet friendly home first and the cats don't have to sit in kennels whilst we do so.

I took the cats on and made a commitment and I will just have to cope with the inconvenience now. A cat is for life and all that...

I don't really get the "your family has to come first" argument. Nobody is saying that the pet dog is more important or even as important as the children and if you can only save one from a burning house then there is no competition. But I would still maintain that there are too many people willing to throw their animals out because it entails a bit more planning and inconvenience that they would like. They are not "putting their family first", sorry.

Re: Feeling Broken-hearted
 

Agree with this totally. It's not about putting family first, or treating them like humans. It's about being more responsible before taking on the commitment of a pet in the first place.

Most of us agree that they are not human, but if you cut them they bleed, if you kick them they hurt, and if you abandon them to somebody else they pine for the familiarity of what they're used to. You also cannot be sure that the new owner that you find for them won't also abandon them when the circumstances become difficult, or the mood dictates, or a life change is necessary.

Re: Feeling Broken-hearted
 

Well based on my own personal experience of recently taking on, a well loved dog, that couldn't stay with his owners because their circumstances changed (new baby, small flat) I would have to say that that wasn't the case at all.
I adopted what is thought of as amongst the most intelligent and 'attaching' breeds of dog, a Vizsla, and I would have to say that he didn't seem bothered in the slightest by the move.

Re: Feeling Broken-hearted
 

I bought 2 pussies in OZ and dragged them all the way back to UK...i love my pussies:wub: