Adopted pets

[ryan256]

Ok... I got the idea from this thread. But I'm curious so I though I'd post this one. How many of us have pets that were strays before they were ours?
I do. At the university I used to work at a stray cat had gotten into the ceiling of one of the buildings and had a litter of kittens. It was a very old building that had been renovated so there was ample crawl space up there for her. I found the 4 kittens after hearing them crawling around on the ceiling tiles. One of the professors got one, the local vet took 2 of them and I got the 4th. I probably traumatized the poor guy like crazy bringing him home though. See I had a 35 mile commute. But that wasn't what made it bad for him. What made it bad for him was... I didn't have my truck with me that day. I was on my bike! So there I was riding down the interstate 1 handed most of the way, the other hand holding this 4 week old kitten tucked into the inside pocket of my jacket.
But that was 3 years ago.... little guy is doing just fine.

Edited poll: Vote whichever you feel more closely fits your situation

 

[ViviTheMage]

Got my husky from a breeder.

 

[swanysto]

Does it count if I got my pets from a rescue? I have typically gotten my pets from a pet rescue.

 

[lxskllr]

My 2 cats now, as well as my previous cat were strays.

 

[OCGuy]

Adopted this little girl who was abandoned in the desert a few months back. I actually got her from the author Joseph Wambaugh:

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/5791/puppy2.png



However, I also have 2 pure breds, and am strongly against the assholes who try and make people who want a pure bred feel bad.

 

[FoBoT]

we adopted our dog from a dog foster family, this lady takes dogs from shelters and trains them and checks their personality and stuff and then adopts them out to people

i liked it because i felt i was getting a true picture of the dog as far as being house broken and all that from an expert

which poll option do i vote?

 

[ViviTheMage]

wait, wtf, my vote disappeared, and I cannot vote again!

silly fusetalk

 

[maziwanka]

my mom adopted our current dog

 

[mcurphy]

My wife and I adopted two cats from the animal shelter ~10 years ago, they are still alive and kicking, although a little on the chubby side.

We adopted pitbull from the humane society 2 1/2 years ago, and this past March we adopted black lab mix.

If and when any of these animals ever pass away, I don't think I would ever consider buying from a store or breeder. I have been very happy with the animals we have rescued.

 

[brtspears2]

Just got a dog from a rescue. The dog is very sick and and the rescue refuses to help me.

As much as I hate destroying animals in shelters or rescues, I wish I spent the cash on a new dog instead of a pre-owned dog.

 

[waffleironhead]

3 cats and 2 dogs all from humane society. 1 horse, basically for free as a retirement home to avoid slaughter.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Dog: Shelter
Cat: Was on her way to a shelter (and may be on her way through the digestive tract of a coyote at present)

 

[JHoNNy1OoO]

Got my doggy from a shelter 10 years ago. Wonderful dog.

 

[Krynj]

Both of our cats are.

My girlfriend adopted her cat from the shelter, and our other cat was given to us by an ex-housemate of ours. He had the cat when he moved in, but once him and our other ex-housemate broke up, he moved out and didn't want the cat. And since my girlfriend and I were the only ones to pay him any attention at all, we gladly offered to keep him.

And I'm so far beyond happy that we did. I love this kid so much.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I adopted my cat from a co-worker. She wasn't abusive, she just didn't get along with their other pets.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Cats:
1 kid-on-a-corner: 14 years old now
2 shelter rescues: 5 and 4 years old
1 private breeder: ~7 months

 

[MedicBob]

8 to 10 year old German Shepherd adopted from local humane society

 

[Krynj]

Originally posted by: MedicBob
8 to 10 year old German Shepherd adopted from local humane society

I applaud your adopting of older dogs, especially German Shepards. Most people go for the younger animals, leaving the older ones at the shelter. Good to see, IMHO.

 

[phoenix79]

Cat: inherited when I got married. Wife got her from the local animal shelter

2 Basset Hounds: local Basset rescue organization

 

[Redfraggle]

This cat I got from the Humane Society. Other cats I've had were ones that were stray or suddenly chose to live with me/us, and my first was given to me by my aunt who had a litter of kittens (again). (my aunt is not crazy, but has enough cats to qualify for crazy cat lady, maybe being married with kids staved off the crazy).

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: OCguy
However, I also have 2 pure breds, and am strongly against the assholes who try and make people who want a pure bred feel bad.

No lie. Nothing wrong with wanting pure bred dogs. I have two, a female Boxer and a male Redbone my excellent compatriot Hound. I am not against taking in shelter dogs or strays as I have had them in the past but I really like having Boxers and that is what I will always have. I may get my next one from one of the Boxer rescues and I may not. It all depends upon what is available when my current girl passes on.

 

[TheVrolok]

Good to hear a lot of positive stories. I'm thinking of picking up a cat as a new friend and am looking into the nearby shelters. Gotta finish my research first!

 

[So]

Originally posted by: TheVrolok
Good to hear a lot of positive stories. I'm thinking of picking up a cat as a new friend and am looking into the nearby shelters. Gotta finish my research first!

My only advice: Have as little as humanly possible in mind when you go shopping. Pick a cat based on a personality that fits you, not on appearance -- remember, you're picking a roommate for the next ten to fifteen years, not a new car or a date for the night. You'll know when you see an animal that you want to keep (this applies to dogs too)!

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: OCguy
Adopted this little girl who was abandoned in the desert a few months back. I actually got her from the author Joseph Wambaugh:

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/5791/puppy2.png



However, I also have 2 pure breds, and am strongly against the assholes who try and make people who want a pure bred feel bad.

WHAAAA...sounds like you're a little defensive there. Got some guilt going on?

 

[Perknose]

All my animals -- four dogs and three cats over time -- have come to me "second-hand."

I got my magnificent, akc registered, then ten month old Great Dane when a guy stopped and asked me directions to the SPCA while I was standing in a Gulf station parking lot waiting for my car to be inspected.

Two of my dogs were strays I rescued, and the fourth I bought for $50 off an asshole who had gotten her from the SPCA and was trying to sell her.

My first cat was given to me by my then gf after my Dane had died of cancer and I had turned down no less than three sincere offers from friends to buy me a new one, and the last two cats, brothers, came to me serially from a friend who couldn't care for them.

Plus, my first cat had a litter of five boys, all different, before I could get her fixed. I found homes for all of them eventually, but most spent serious time with me.

Oh! And I also found (well, my dogs did) five kittens abandone by the Phila. Art Museum one month before I was moving out of Philly -- found homes for all them as well.