I totally agree! My family was far from one that would ever have a pet, better yet dog. That was until about 11 years ago when my mom, three sisters and myself decided to browse throuhg a pet store, where we found a yorky puppy who would soo after be our "nappy". This was way before my family or I was even thinking of animal rights. Anyways between my mom and three sisters, we convinced my dad that we needed nappy. Nappy was a very unique dog, that would smile everytime someone came home. He formed a very close bond with my mother and they knew each other inside out. Unfortunately this past summer nappy was diagnosed with lymphoma. One day my mom could sense that it was nearing his time, and brought him out in the backyard while she put the clothes on the line, all the while thinking where she would want to burry him in the backyard. Once she finished she couldnt find him, yet when you finally did, he was sitting right where she was planning to burry him, she knew it was time. That night nappy passed in his sleep and my parents burried him that night in the backyard. My family was in serious morning for a good month. That was until we decided to go to the animal shelter to find a dog, now knowing that we would never buy from a pet store again. We ended up rescuing Hanna, our new love. Hanna is no nappy, but hanna was a gift, the other day my mom told me that hanna saved her from the sorrow of her loss. She was rescued from a puppy mill and is on of the sweetest most playfull dogs ive ever met. Knowing that we rescued her makes me feel as though our bond with her stronger than I could ever imagine. You can just sense how grateful she is to be with us and im sure she senses grateful we are to have her.

SPAY and NEUTER cats and dogs! ( http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/spayneuter/ ).  Help your friends and neighbors to get their pets spayed and neutered.  For example, they may need a ride to the vet.  EDUCATE

When you adopt an animal (FROM A SHELTER - http://www.petfinder.com/index.html ), patience is a must.  The animal will need you to help it adjust to living with you.  And, it could take a long time.  Patience should also be exercised while going through the adoption process.  Shelters are often run by very few volunteers with no time on their hands, and they are trying to find good homes for the animals.  PATIENCE and UNDERSTANDING

For anyone who thinks that spaying/neutering is not necessary or that breeding cats and dogs is fine, go volunteer at a local shelter... even for just one day.

Last, for the individual with the "no neutering" post - Yes, I would like to be neutered (spayed).  Sterilization is expensive surgery, or I would go through with it.  If the time is right, I want to adopt.  Just like animals, there are many humans who need homes.

Whilst I absolutely encourage adopting from shelters, I have had friends with great loving homes, turned away because they didn’t have a fenced yard even though they were interested in adopting small inside dogs, needless to say when they’ve been turned away once they tend never to go back down that track again either. Boycotting breeders & pet shops is all very well, however what then becomes of these animals? They’re already born and still require homes, they are all precious lives and just as deserving as the next, after all it isn’t their fault some selfish human bred them! The changes need to be made by local governments regulating the whole pet breeding industry, forcing puppy mills out of business and accredited breeders should have their litters pre-sold with homes to go to before breeding them. There should also be heavy fines for unspayed/unneutered pets. I cannot believe how many people I hear say they’re going to let their cat or dog have a litter before getting them spayed/neutered. People just don’t get it or don’t care..it’s tragic!

I concur! Rescued kitties are the only kind I've ever had, and I've always encouraged others to adopt a rescued pet rather than purchase one. Beyond that, I think puppy mills and selling cats and dogs in pet stores should be outlawed--unless they're rescues and only nominal fees are charged; and if smaller animals are sold it should be tightly regulated. As for breeders, I think that since there will always be people who might need or insist on a pure bred pet, such as a hypo-allergenic cat or dog;  there should be much more stringent laws in place for the practice of breeding. They should be licensed, regulated and inspected.  Not just any fool should be allowed to breed and sell living creatures. And everyone who keeps animals should be held more accountable for the welfare of the animals in their care. I live in an urban area and it's appalling how many people abandon pets when they move--just dumping them on the street to fend for themselves or leaving them behind in a vacant apartment! That should be a crime punishable by law.  I'd also like to see some kind of registry with spaying / neutering and vaccines made mandatory. There are too many people who have no business keeping animals and more needs to be done to protect these innocent beings who can't advocate for themselves.

I think the other end of this is that if you don't think you'll be able to adequately take care of a pet, you are not rescuing them by providing a half life for them. I would not be a good pet owner. I have no desire to be one. Therefore, I don't go there. Pets need owners who are willing to go all out for them. That's just not my thing.

Good for you, Esperanza!  I am so glad you recognize that in yourself.  I wish more people followed your example.  Pets are hard work and can be very expensive.  You have to be very committed to taking one on.  I'm glad that you know yourself well enough to know that that's just something you're not interested in doing.  Well done!

i rescued my cat 'gisele' when she was only 3 weeks old from the street, she had a skin disease and it cleared up within a month. she is now 5 years old and healthy and i honestly cant imagine my life without her, she's amazing!! but i never feel like she's my pet. i take care of her like i would a child, i make sure she eats right, that her environment is completely healthy and clean. cuz to me rescuing an animal is only the first step, u have to take the time to make sure they're living their life to the fullest.

i live in kuwait and i cry at least twice a week from all the animal abuse that happens here, kids torture street cats on a daily bases. i try and do as much as i can, i've spoken out about the problem at my university many times, i've spoken to the kids in my neighbourhood, i tried talking to pet shop owners about the way they treat the animals. there's a friday market that has dogs coloured using bright dyes, monkeys dressed in costumes and makeup. its such a terrible thing and i honestly dont know how to approach it in the best possible way. especially since i get soo emotional about it people end up not taking me seriously. any suggestions??

i've also spoken to the 2 animal rescue centers we have here but they cant do much either since there is no actual law against animal abuse. and sadly one of the centers burnt down this year. its such a tragedy!! =(

Zaineb, oh my goodness, Gisele is so lucky to have you!!!!  I wish I had suggestions but changing the situation in a whole country is so overwhelming!!!  My only thought is to partner with other animals lovers near by to you.  Even if that is only three or four people, your voice will be so much stronger than if it was just one person.

Are there any other kind, compassionate people like you at your university?  Perhaps you could start a poster campaign to get people thinking about what it means to be "cruel".

I know that that getting people to think differently about animals will take not just years, but centuries of time, but we can have the joy of knowing that maybe students studying history in the future will wonder who those brave, compassionate people who spoke up for animals all of those years ago actually were!  Maybe you will be known as "the founder of the anti-cruelty movement in Kuwait"!!!