Man Shares An Honest View Of The Challenges That Dog Owners Face
Owning a pet is a significant responsibility. It's not all fun and games; you must ensure that it has everything it needs and do so consistently. Unfortunately, many people do not take this into consideration before getting a pet, often choosing animals that require more care than they can provide or that do not match their lifestyle—and then blame the pets for disrupting their lives.
Austin Conway, a professional baseball player, is trying to raise awareness about this issue and shared a post in which he explains what owning a dog is truly like.
"I had seen several posts a few days prior from people looking to [give up] their dogs," Conway told Bored Panda. "The reasons for re-homing included shedding, potty-training issues, hyperactivity, lack of space, and difficulty finding rental housing, among others. All of these, in my opinion, are foreseeable responsibilities and factors that should be taken into consideration before deciding to welcome an animal into your family. So, after seeing these posts, I felt compelled to create my own post about my German Shepherd mix, Stella, to spread the message that a pet is a lifetime commitment."
This article has already garnered over 435K reactions and 285K shares, and it should be mandatory reading for anyone considering getting a pet.
Austin’s concerns are well-founded. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) states that around 3.3 million dogs arrive at U.S. animal shelters each year. The most common reasons owners provide include problematic or aggressive behavior, the animal growing larger than anticipated, or health issues that became too complicated to manage. Of these, 620,000 dogs are reunited with their families, and 1.6 million are adopted by new owners, but the sad truth is that nearly 670,000 are euthanized.
Fortunately, Austin and Stella’s friendship has thrived since the moment they came together. "I actually wasn’t planning on adopting any dog the day I went to the shelter," he said. "I just happened to see a post on my Facebook about a German Shepherd mix litter that had been surrendered to a shelter near my college. So, being the German Shepherd lover that I am, I drove over just to look, for fun. That turned out to be a big ‘mistake.’"
"I immediately saw Stella and couldn’t put her down. She was the smallest and quietest one of the bunch and seemed to be the one receiving the least amount of attention. So, I went from not planning on getting a dog at all to having her claimed and the adoption deposit paid within one hour of being there. It was by far the best decision I’ve ever made."
Austin describes Stella as an ‘old soul’ and has felt this way since the moment he brought her home. "She loves walks, but if it’s too long, she makes sure to let me know she’s not up for it. She’s extremely vocal, which is one of her best and funniest qualities. She’s needy, but in a good way. She always wants to have her paw on someone and hates being alone. She’s as close to human as I’ve ever seen a dog be. She’s perfect," he explained.
In his post, Austin also discusses the challenges of renting an apartment with a dog, a common issue for many pet owners. Some landlords view larger pets as disruptive and prone to causing damage. "It’s difficult but doable. Many apartments have restrictions on ‘aggressive’ breeds. So, during the few times I’ve had to apartment-hunt, my list was always extremely small because I was limited to properties that accept German Shepherds."
He was aware of this challenge when he adopted Stella and was prepared for it. "I’ve always done my due diligence and made sure I found any and all apartments in the cities I’ve lived in that would accept her. From there, I began looking for the best fit after I was certain Stella was welcome."
Austin believes that renters with pets and landlords can improve their relationships, but it should start by dispelling the stereotypes associated with breeds such as German Shepherds, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and others. "Some of the sweetest dogs I’ve been around are those labeled as ‘aggressive’ breeds," he said.
"However, I also understand that rental properties need to protect themselves from potential liability involving incidents with tenants and their pets. So, it’s an issue that’s definitely not as simple as being black and white, and until the stereotypes surrounding these breeds are eliminated, I don’t see it changing anytime soon. I’m just thankful for the rental properties that do allow these breeds to accommodate pet owners like myself."
For those who want to learn more about the subject, The Humane Society of the United States provides a complete guide for renters with pets to find accommodations and resolve disputes with landlords.
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