Question for the pet owners?

How many of you have a dog and just leave him chained up in the yard all day? or leave him in the house and go to work for 8 hours a day leaving him all alone? How many of you never play with your dog and basically ignore him? I know there are a lot of people out there who say they are animal lovers but really treat their dogs like slaves that are only their for there entertainment. How can people do that?Question for the pet owners?
I do not understand the rationale of people who say:

';Its not abuse or slavery if I HAVE to treat my pet like crap, because I have to work to feed it (and me)';



I wonder how happy THEY would be if someone chained them or locked them in a (well ventilated) closet for 8+ hours a day, 5 days a week.



It is totally irresponsible to get a pet if you do not have the resources (or the inclination) to give it a full and rewarding life. My kids did not have dogs for years (they begged), because we usually had a tiny yard (or none), and no real place for them to have much freedom.



About a year ago, my wife and I decided that our third daughter NEEDED a dog to help with emotional problems. We now had a small yard and my wife and I would both be home during school, so we got a not-huge dog that could be a house dog. (A border collie from the local rescue shelter, healthy and housebroken) It helped our daughter tremendously. Things went well, but although the dog had run of the house and yard, and my wife and I played with it *some* during the day, it still spent a lot of time lonely and just waiting for someone to play with. Later, a neighbor had to get rid of a 'new' dog that did not get along with her other two. We let it have a few 'sleepovers' and the two dogs got along really well, so we took in THAT dog to help the first dog with ITS emotional problems.



Now its often a madhouse around here, and the back lawn is half gone (female dogs are HARD on grass), and the dogs still do not get enough of OUR time and attention to satisfy them. However, they get a LOT of attention, and go to a local stadium several times a week for all-out runs, and are seldom left locked up (about 3 hours a week). And we all entertain each other.



I still worry whether we are giving our dogs the lives they deserve and would never have brought them home if I did not know we could do at least this much. Finally, I hope that this has set a good example of responsibility and empathy for my children.Question for the pet owners?
I think this is more of a rhetorical question, than something for a forum called ';answers.';
well i sure don't!!!!!
I've never done that to my dog but know of people who have. Most of the time the people decide they love dogs and want one of their own but never think of what will happen after they get one..where it will be if they have to work.or if they have time to play with it, i think that they should give the dog to a home that will care for him/her and give the dog affection,but alot still think they love the dog enough even though they keep it chained up all day. Hope that helps.
Well, I am thinking that no one is going to step up here and tell you that they treat their dogs like that.

People do things to animals because they can't talk....
I leave my pit bull,great Dane and toy fox terrier in the house while I go to work for 9 hours but that doesn't mean I never play with my dogs they are always happy to see me when I come home(you try keeping a 109 pound great Dane from jumping on you)
I have a few dogs.. I have never ever in my life chained a dog out.. I do not leave for 8 hours a day and leave my dogs crated.. I am home most of them time, dogs are out and with me.. Dogs are only crated when I have to leave and I only leave for most 3 hours at a time.. I do something with my dogs ever single day, never ignore my dogs.. If you have ever met a Doberman you would know that you cannot ignore them, they won't allow it..



I do however take great joy in watching the dogs and playing games w/ them.. They are a great source of entertainment for me.. I don't watch much tv, I spend alot of my time w/ the dogs.. Why would it be bad that they are a great source of entertainment?
I don't chain my puppy. (Never, I don't think they should be chained) But, when the owner is not around, for those outdoor big dog, for the safty of other people , maybe, it is necessary. (I only say maybe)



How many of you have a baby/kid and just leave him/her in day care all day, playpen? or leave them in the house with nanny and go to work for 8 hours a day?



This does not qualify, these people do not love their child.





People have to work to make money. But after work, they spend as many time with their pets as possible.



Those people who don't have work or have someone home help with their pet have no right to criticize other people (they have to do what they have or can do.)
did you know its against the law the leave a dog chained up for more than three hours?



please dont hurt dogs like this

there are already enough unwanted abandoned and abused dogs out there,

how would you like to have something tied to your neck for eight hours?

and be left alone
I know your frustration. A lot of people claim to be animal lovers, but I know the difference between an animal admirer and a true animal lover.



I can tell you this - I don't ignore any of my critters. I have daily training sessions with my dog (even though she's 12, she is still learning new tricks and commands), walk her twice a day minimum of 2 miles a day, comb her out daily. I have daily cuddle sessions with my cats, comb them out every other day, trim their nails every 7-10 days, play with them,supervise a 30 minute yard excursion daily, and conduct daily training sessions. This is of course on top of feeding them all twice a day and giving them fresh water 4-8 times daily, and on top of vet visits twice a year (for all of them). I like to consider myself a very conscientious pet owner. I am just as much worried about their physical health as their psychological well being and do everything I can to ensure they have a happy, balanced, well fulfilled life.
I leave my dog in the house (in her crate) when I go to work. She is fine by herself while I'm at work. She goes to dog day care 1-2 times a week while I'm at work.



I don't never play with her or ignore her though. I am home before work, in the evenings, and on the weekends. I make sure I get up early enough in the mornings that she has at least an hour with me before I leave for work. I play with her, walk her, and work on a bit of training with her every day. She is also well-groomed and kept up.



Sure I work full time, but I can also afford to take care of myself and my dog that way! You won't see me on here saying things like ';my dog is dying and I can't afford to go to a vet';.
Someone in the family is always home with my toy poodle. He is never crated. We play fetch with him every day.



But seriously, people need to work so I don't understand the problem with leaving the dog alone for 8 hours... as long as the dog gets proper excercise then that's just the reality for many people. I can definitely understand how people could do that.
I have two dogs. During the school year, they are left alone with my mom, who works night shift and is sleeping during the day. They normally sleep throughout the day too. They're alone with her from 7:30am to 3pm: when we're at school. I take them on long walks every day after school, and they hang out with me the rest of the day.



Even though they are essentially alone during the day, I don't feel bad about it because they have a great time with me the rest of the day. Sometimes we have stuff to do, and my dogs keep each other company (our cats entertain them too). I just make sure that the rest of their day is fun and happy.
Ilove Jacks, I'm not sure if you think that where you live is the whole world, but there are only a few places in the states where chaining your dog out for more then 3 hours is illegal.



As for the question asker, who are you to judge those of us who work to survive? Who are you to call us slave owners because we leave our dogs at home for 8 hours while we go out and make money to make sure they and us can eat?



Your lucky you have a job that lets you work every other day, there are many people who must work 40 hours a week, 8 hours day, 5 days a week to make sure the bills are paid and their pets eat.



Not everyone has the luxury you do!



oldguy, so tell me, what did people do 25-20 years ago?



They worked! My mom was a single parent and we had a dog, he suffered no ill fate because she worked and I went to school. My own dogs are the same way. They have suffered no ill fate because we needed to work.



Want to know what my dogs do during the day and I know this because I have been home during the week for vacation days and such... they sleep most of the day.



Dogs adapt to your schedule. They do not need to be by your side 24/7.



So once again, who are you to say that someone is irresponsible and shouldn't own dogs because they have to work a 40 hour week and leave the dog at home for 8 hours.



Last I heard, people need to work to support themselves, that is unless we should all go on welfare so that we don't have to work and stay home with our dogs.



Get off your high horse once in a while and understand that your way is not the only way!



Edit: Someone said a few days ago and I whole heartedly agree with this statement... the world would be a better place if all the do gooders would just mind their own business!