To add another pet or not

[originalwacky]

You have several pets currently. All are well-cared for, vetted, spayed/neutered, and so on. Four people live in your home - yourself, your SO, and two other adults. You and your SO are the sole providers for the home, and everything in it (say the adults are adult children living at home while they attend college). You provide all the care for the

Comments

[thexphial]

I guess it depends on why they don't want the other pet and why I'm not respecting their opinion.

[originalwacky]

Said adult thinks they are too much work.

[thexphial]

Assuming I wouldn't ask them to do any of the work, then I would explain to the shelter about it and assure them that the animal would be taken care of by myself and the other adults.

[originalwacky]

Yeah, if we do happen to find one that will fit, that's the plan. And no, this person does NONE of the work with the animals.

[originalwacky]

If we find a dog that will fit with us, that is the plan. It just made me think, what would other people do?

[breakableheart]

1. If I already have several pets I have too many, I'm not adding any more.

2. I'm not adding pets to a household if one of the adult household members doesn't want the pet. I think it's respectful to take into consideration other people's wishes. Until everyone agrees then no.

[originalwacky]

So, how many pets is too many?

I can see the respect thing being an issue, although in this house, it's a mutual thing, and not getting any respect means we (SO and I) aren't really giving any either.

[breakableheart]

More pets than all members of the household can tolerate is too many.

For me showing respect is more like a thing I do for myself. Like I wouldn't like myself if I regularly and willfully treated other people without regard.

[originalwacky]

Tolerate, or dislike?

Hmm, I think that your respect is similar to my idea of courtesy. I strive to be courteous to everybody, not for their sake, but because I feel it's right. But I feel respect is earned, by acting in a manner that deserves it.

[madra_liath]

My initial reaction is to channel my Granny and say "That'll end up bad."

[originalwacky]

Hee. I won't lie to a rescue we plan to adopt from, but I've seen people lie all the time. Hopefully we won't fall totally in love with another dog until after the adult in question moves out anyway.

[madra_liath]

I didn't mean lying to a rescue, I meant taking in another pet when someone in the house is vehemently opposed to it.

[originalwacky]

Ahhh, I see. And you're right, it could be a recipe for disaster in so many ways. It's why we're avoiding going to any pet adoption events and looking at rescue forums for now. Hopefully we'll have the house to ourselves before long, and can look for another addition then.

[oddityangel]

Eh, I'd probably hold off getting another pet unless it's some kind of emergency ('This adorable puppy needs to go home with you right this minute or it will explode!). An amiable and mutually respectful relationship with my human cohabitants is likely more important (at this particular time) than my desire to add another dog to the (already crowded sounding) household.

I certainly wouldn't lie about it to the adoption agency.

ETA: Somehow I missed that the other adult wasn't contributing to the household. In that case I'd be more inclined to gently remind the adult whose house it is. I still might hold off getting the dog until they've left, depending on the time frame involved.

[originalwacky]

Hah! Not a puppy as far as we're concerned, we're going to be looking for an adult. However, it's not going to happen just yet, and hopefully ( *crosses fingers* ) said adult will not be here when the time comes.

Personally, I would think lying to the adoption place would just be a recipe for disaster (but I've seen so many people do it). In our case, I can't even imagine lying, since we've already got a lot of pets, and being honest is the only way we'll be able to get a good match.