esteban wrote on Jan 30, 2008 5:30 AM:Like I’ve always said before, they are just animals. When it comes down to it nobody really cares what happens to their animal. Animals are just good for entertainment and food. When you no longer need those animals, who cares just get rid of them. Shelters need to start putting all those sick and unhealthy pets to sleep and stop wasting all that money to heal them. What good is it if you have plenty of healthy ones ready for adoption and nobody seems to be adopting them anyways?

Yokozuna wrote on Jan 30, 2008 5:31 AM:It's a real shame that pets have become victims. At least some are being brought to shelters. The real crime going on? Many of those who are losing their homes are just leaving those pets in vacant houses to starve. There is no excuse for that whether the former owner was a victim of fraudulent loaning practices or a victim of his own greed and/or ignorance.

Me? wrote on Jan 30, 2008 8:05 AM:I would sleep in my car than dump my pets at a shelter. Would you dump your kids? Greed is a sorry excuse!

to esteban wrote on Jan 30, 2008 8:16 AM:do you have animals? people do care about them and in most families animals are like another child. you do not seem to have much of a heart, you might want to work on that...and please don't ever get an animal becuase they deserve someone better then you...

RobertM wrote on Jan 30, 2008 8:39 AM:Did the guy who gave up his border collie pet of nine years really sound greedy?

Pinky to esteban wrote on Jan 30, 2008 9:09 AM:As per your usual posts, your compassion and caring for others is once again absent. I can only pray that you come back as a pet in your next life, then you will see if you are important or not.

harold wrote on Jan 30, 2008 9:27 AM:The remarks spewed out by Esteban are beneath contempt. ... Animals add to quality of life. They nuture the soul in times of despair. What a horrible planet this would be without them. I echo "wrote on": please stay away from animals. ...

esteban wrote on Jan 30, 2008 9:37 AM:Yes I do have a dog. If it ever gets sick and the Vet wants to start charging me a couple hundred dollars, I'll just put the thing to sleep and get me another one. Theirs plenty of dogs out their, and no reason to spend a lot of money on just one of them! Becuase their just dogs.

Lisa wrote on Jan 30, 2008 10:07 AM:Estaban,
Get a ... and please don't get anymore pets!

greed wrote on Jan 30, 2008 10:31 AM:greed is good

Pet owners are not thinking enough wrote on Jan 30, 2008 11:17 AM:Pet owners are not thinking outside of the box in regards to apartments not allowing pets.

Just get your doctor to write a short letter on your behalf indicating that your pets are essential to your well being and health--- that they are medically neccessary.

The apartment owners HAVE to let you bring your pets once you submit a letter from your doctor, and without any deposit fees. If not, they can be sued.

Now that you pet owners have this information, will you act upon it? I don't think many will, because they are dead set on taking the easy way out, and dumping their pets at the pound.

Concerned-1 wrote on Jan 30, 2008 11:30 AM:I too would live in my car with my pets rather than put them in a shelter. Very sad.

venus wrote on Jan 30, 2008 11:31 AM:Esteban - you need to get in line and get a soul. Then - you need to learn how to write - no wonder you feel the way you do regarding this sad story - simple words like - there and their - sound the same but have different meanings.

venus wrote on Jan 30, 2008 11:42 AM:Esteban and Owners are not thinking enough - you need to read the sad story again. Families going through foreclosures are no joke. And, how kind of them to take their animals to shelters. Esteban - you should get in line and get your soul and learn how to write - there is a big difference with simple words like there and their. No wonderful you feel the way you do about this sad story.

Stephanie ... wrote on Jan 30, 2008 11:54 AM:Apartments should really adjust their pet policies. its bad for business and its horrible for the families/pets.

Doglover wrote on Jan 30, 2008 12:01 PM:To "Pet owners are not thinking enough," I agree people should look for creative solutions to keep their pets. But I really hope they don't follow your advice. The laws that allow people to keep assistance animals in "no pet" housing are meant for people with true disabilities - the blind person with the guide dog, the person with cerebral palsey who needs an assistance dog to open the door or pick up the phone for him, etc. Putting your doctor in the position of trying to write up a medical justification for you simply because you don't want to be separated from your dog, and then forcing a landlord to comply under threat of a lawsuit, is NOT a solution and only makes it more difficult for people with legitimate disabilities who truly need service dogs everyday. None of us want to be separated from our animals, and like others have said I would live in my car with my dogs before I would give them up, but don't abuse the system.

to esteban wrote on Jan 30, 2008 12:35 PM:i feel sad for your dog, you need to get a soul and get a life...learn to love people and animals

Pinky wrote on Jan 30, 2008 12:39 PM:One thing you can do proactively is to never, ever buy pets from breeders who do not offer a lifetime return policy. This means Ethical Breeders and not backyard or puppy mill breeders. If you have room, you might consider adoption as there are many who need new homes right now - I do dog rescue and am trying very hard to find someone to take a dog for a marine leaving for Iraq in three weeks. And I guarantee you, estaban, that this fellow does not think his best friend is "just a dog".

JC wrote on Jan 30, 2008 1:40 PM:Shows what kind of losers lied to get into the places they can't afford. Too bad these bitter, miserable schmucks are taking it out on those who are probably the only ones left who are loyal to them. The animals aren't going to judge them when they're left packing their trash and unable to boast about being a "homeowner."

esteban wrote on Jan 30, 2008 1:46 PM:What? You think I'm the only one that thinks this way? Get a clue, why do you think the shelters are filling up? Some people will just complain about what others do. When it comes down to it though, they will do the same thing.

Eseteban's Dog wrote on Jan 30, 2008 1:48 PM:ruff-ruff, roof-roof, owwwwwwwwwww!

SEAN C. wrote on Jan 30, 2008 2:05 PM:Estaban is a fictional character. C`mon people nobody could be that cold unless their favorite pastime is dog fighting or they`re a serial killer.

Pinky wrote on Jan 30, 2008 2:28 PM:No esteban, I don't think you are the only one that feels this way, that animals are just possessions to have and get rid of at your whim. The woods are full of people like you, sadly that's why my job as an animal rescuer is so busy. Don't look for any support here. But if you ever decide to get rid of your dog, give me a call before you take him out back and shoot him. I feel for him.

Re Esteban wrote on Jan 30, 2008 2:29 PM:I hope he remembers his words when he's old, has health problems and an insurance company does not want to spend any money on him because of that.

Nanchi wrote on Jan 30, 2008 3:18 PM:Pinky - I have a pitbull right now whose owner tried to shoot him Sunday. Owner in jail, and no one wants the dog. He is 2, well-behaved, and deaf from being hit by a car. He hates cats, and I have one.

I recently visited the wrote on Jan 30, 2008 3:54 PM:Escondido animal shelter and what I saw was at least 70 percent of the dogs were pit bulls or pit bull mixes. I don't think these animals will get adopted. I certainly wouldn't want a pit bull. Make room at the inn for the good breeds or mixed breeds that don't have "Pit" in them. Sorry but I could never trust a pit bull especially not knowing the background. Yes, it is discrimination, but then I discriminate. You choose your friends and you choose your pets.

james wrote on Jan 30, 2008 4:18 PM:I would never give up my cat of 12 yrs.. he was there for me when no one else was.. i didnt take care of him.. he took care of me..I plan to leave country and it will cost 2500$ to ship and quarantine him.. but hes going with...

3:54 post is ignorant wrote on Jan 30, 2008 5:21 PM:3:54 Pit bulls, American Staffordshire terriers & Staffordshire "Staffys" terriers are some of the most friendly dogs on the planet in fact they are not the best guard dogs because they`re too nice although I wouldn`t hop the fence on any dog of that size. The humane society won`t adopt out any dog that is deemed to be vicious. So don`t make ignorant posts regarding subjects you are uneducated in.

Pieter wrote on Jan 30, 2008 5:38 PM:Well, at least the folks in Escondido are giving their pets a second chance. In Temecula/Winchester, most dogs appear to be dumped on the street. Our neighborhood (Morningstar Ranch, Winchester) has seen an avarge of 2-3 strays per day for the last few weeks. Also because Animal Control in Riverside is a total joke.

Rhetorical Question wrote on Jan 30, 2008 6:09 PM:Do we care more about homeless pets than homeless people?

James wrote on Jan 30, 2008 6:13 PM:A homeless dog has a good heart period! A homeless man might or might not have a good heart (I do care about the homeless, but that thought comes across my mind).

To 3:54 post is ignorant wrote on Jan 30, 2008 6:15 PM:maybe you're right, each dog has its own personality. But the fact remains that I've never heard about a golden retriever mauling a child or attacking someone unprovoked. The same can't be said for pits.

Osider wrote on Jan 30, 2008 7:27 PM:So how long does it take before they are put down for good? Has anyone addressed this issue?

Don't feed into the BS wrote on Jan 30, 2008 7:32 PM:"esteban" clearly gets off on watching people get all worked up by making ridiculous comments. Don't respond to it and he/she/it won't stick around long.

As for the plight of these people and their pets, I've been there, and just as it's better in some cases for a parent to give up a child for adoption, it's better for a pet's parent to find a good and loving home for them. Taking them to a shelter or finding another home is the most loving thing a person can do if they're not in a position to provide it themselves. And rest assured there's no guarantee any of you won't find yourselves in a bad position in your lifetime, no matter what you make or how solid you think your life is. Several years ago I found myself living in my car with my best buddy - my cat. After two weeks of this and then only finding a tiny bedroom to stay in, I felt it was cruel to drag him from tiny space to tiny space just because I didn't want to part with him. I found a cat rescue home for him and he eventually found a great family to live and play with. Did it hurt me? You bet it did, but it was best for HIM. Now I'm in good shape financially and last year was fortunate to rescue a kitty that someone had abandoned, and here we are, another set of best buddies. What goes around comes around. You have to think of your pet first, and your own feelings later.

JA to esteban wrote on Jan 30, 2008 8:33 PM:You can only hope that your relatives have more of a heart than you when your time comes to get sick. Maybe they will just "put you to sleep" and get someone else. Compassionate people don't treat pets that way.

Keith wrote on Jan 30, 2008 8:42 PM:I can't believe that so many people posted comments on this ridiculous article. These people must have nothing better in the world to do but post a mindless comment about animals loosing thir home. What a joke and what a sad statement about animal people.

Keith? I mean, esteban... wrote on Jan 30, 2008 9:02 PM:is that you?

To 3:54 again wrote on Jan 30, 2008 9:47 PM:The french woman who lost part of her face. You guessed it a pet labrador. So should we euthanize all the labrador`s. Apparently you don`t read much girl. If you take a little time out each day & read the whole news paper for an hour your knowledge & vocabulary will increase by leaps & bounds. Goldens raised by the wrong people are just as aggressive as any dog.

DIANNE wrote on Jan 30, 2008 11:54 PM:MY PETS ARE JUST LIKE MY CHILDREN, I LOVE THEM, FEED THEM CARE FOR THEM IN EVERY WAY. I WOULD NEVER, COULD NEVER JUST PUT THEM OUT, NEVER! THEY DEPEND ON ME FOR THERE EVERY NEED. AND I TO DEPEND ON THEM FOR THERE LOVE THEY SO LOVINGLY AND FREELY GIVE.
PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT GIVE UP ON THEM,THINGS WILL WORK OUT.

MOLLY wrote on Jan 31, 2008 12:09 AM:THE LADY WHO WORKS AT THE HUMANE SOCIETY, MRS. CHAVEZ MUST HAVE A BIG HEART. HER JOB MUST BE VERY HARD. I JUST DO NOT KNOW WERE ALL THE LITTLE LOST, HUNGRY AND VERY AFRAID ANIMALS WOULD BE BUT FOR PEOPLE LIKE HER. THREE CHEERS TO YOU AND ALL YOUR TEAM.

to 3:54 again wrote on Jan 31, 2008 7:05 PM:My vocabulary is just fine. You're the one that doesn't know how to use an apostrophe.

jsc wrote on Feb 3, 2008 3:50 PM:I care more about homeless pets than homeless people because most homeless persons choose how to live their lives. Dumped former pets don't fare that well. I also regularly see homeless persons living in the bushes or in cars with their pets. I normally don't give money to the homeless but I give them and their pets food. I volunteered several years ago to foster military personnel pets while they were abroad but was never contacted( I have 1/2 acre and a "rescue" Aussie.) All my dogs have been rescues--30 years worth. I would like to see a $500 license fee for unspayed/unneutered pets as well as surprise visits to backyard breeders. I would also like to see a $500 fee for the 1st year license for a pet bought from a breeder, backyard breeder, pet store, etc. Animals from rescues, humane societies, animal control would be exempt. Previously licensed animals/private adoptions would also be exempt since it would only be a 1st year fee. That would give people the incentive to adopt.