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I know this is a HUGE can of worms..
While I agree with all of your sentiments, the bottom line for me when I see posts about giving up a pet is do I REALLY want someone who doesn't want an animal to keep it? Yes, they should have never gotten it in the first place (though I also don't agree with "shoulding" on people when you don't know their true stories), but the fact that they clearly don't WANT the animal would NEVER EVER make me think they should keep it. No matter what we read or what these owners post, we just don't know all the details and again, I don't want someone to keep a pet if they genuinely don't want it. To me, that could create a FAR worse situation for that animal than the owners making a great effort to find it a new home. Regardless of their poor choices to begin with.
Sorry...been holding on to that one for years on this board!!
ETA: Didn't see Pesky's post below. Sorry for being one of "those nesties" 
. Really, I just need to visit more often.
Re: I know this is a HUGE can of worms..
Nothing in this world is black and white. And that includes pet ownership. In a perfect world everyone who adopted an animal would have the resources, marriage, home, time and love to keep that pet forever. But that isn't realistic.
I think it is very reasonable to say that if you have had to give up a pet, you shouldn't have pets again unless much has changed. But there are times when the best thing for everyone is to move on.
I totally get what you're saying. And I bet this moron is dying to procreate some time soon.(I believe there was mention of saving $$ to have children in the Pets post) ..so even if she keeps the dog for the time being you know as soon as she gets preggo the dog is outta there anyways. I just hope she can find a person to take her dog instead of a shelter or Craigslist type situation. I feel like she and her H are quite young, and this is the first real responsibility they've had caring for another life, and epic FAIL. But hey, not everyone should have a pet, or a kid...and hopefully they have learned they are those very people.
Ok, I'm done. lol.
I agree with what you said, and a lot of me feels the same way...
But ultimately she's going to do what she wants- she's not going to listen to anyone on the internet... She wasn't coming here for advice, she was coming here for an easy out. It's probably the only place she'll get the truth.
So therefore, I'm all about grabbing my pitch fork.
<a href="http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/melindacromwell/?action=view
great minds -- see the s/o doxie post. I totally agree. I think gently guiding her to local rescue groups is a better option as she seems keen to get the pup off her hands and advocating pet ownership celibacy in the future until she is in a place and frame of mind to make a 100% commitment.
I can't throw stones for rehoming, as I had to do it with a cat once. Granted, I went through a litany of attempting to cure him attacking my old guy -- animal behaviorist visits, traditional meds, homeopathic meds, you name it -- but like Rox said, it is rarely black and white.
DD -- 5YO
DS -- 3YO
Too bad we can't better screen potential parents (of any being), right? We just adopted a pup from BVHS and I honestly was kind of shocked at how little we were asked and we took our 3 crazy kids in there! I am sure most of the employees and volunteers were scared to death for him and what he was about to experience. But I promise even after the 10th time he has peed or pooped on the floor, or started to chew up a shoe or toy, he is still the best loved pup in the world! We've been through it before....Kind of like how our 3rd kid has it a little easier than the first 2!
From what I've read on here, the OP probably should never have gotten a dog/cat/anything - especially if she's ready to call it quits over 3 months of school and the inconvenience of training it to pee outside. That's ridiculous IMO.
I love animals, and grew up with pets of all kinds. I know that they're often expensive to take care of and sometimes it's a hassle (but isn't everything?). I've never gotten rid of a pet for not being housebroken, sick, or some of the 'usual' reasons, but I have lost 2 dogs in my life.
I've debated posting about this for a long time, especially knowing I'll probably get flamed. Still, in an effort to explain why I don't think having pets is a black & white issue, I'll share anyway.
One was an American Bulldog that XH brought home one day (surprise!) when I was pregnant with DS3. No matter that we lived in a small place, marriage on the rocks, and that we hadn't even discussed it. DS1 (4 yo then) thought it looked like Chance from Homeward Bound, so his dad got the dog. Problem was, the dog only responded to men, and he was never around. She was so terrified of 2 little kids that she would shake & pee whenever they ran around or yelled.
She really didn't like me at all (growled every.single.time I approached in any manner), wouldn't listen to me, and I couldn't take the chance that she might bite one of the boys out of fear. XH was supposed to arrange for her to live with a single CW but I found out later he took her to a shelter. I felt horrible when I found out (from the CW 2 days later) but was relieved when the lady said a single man in his 50s who lost his bulldog a few weeks earlier saw Lucky & was happy to take her home.
The second dog was also a surprise to me, but I loved him dearly. About a month after I found a new home for Lucky (thinking we were done with pets), XH brought home a gorgeous 5yo male Chesapeake Retriever. Bodie was a fantastic boy - amazing with kids, other dogs, and after my initial anger at being surprised with a pet, I was really glad to have him. He was so sweet.
When XH left soon after, I was in an apartment with 3 kids - a new 5yo, a 2yo and a newborn, a negative cash flow of $800-1000 monthly, and I made $12 per hour. Poor Bodie ended up being locked in our crappy apartment during my entire workday/school day, plus commute time -- 13+ hours. I could deal with the messes (not his fault) but he was miserable.
A friend of my XFIL watched him a few times up at his place in Evergreen and after a little while it seemed like the best option for him. 40 acres to run on, living with a loving family, and my boys visited with him about 4 days a month (XH lived there for a while). The boys asked once if he could come live with us (later, more stable time) but I couldn't remove him from where he was happy.
It was 9 years ago, and Bodie has passed away, but I think he's the deeper reason I'm still gun-shy about getting another dog, even now that DH & I have been in our house 4 years. While I am hesitant about more chores, time involved, cost, etc, I don't know that I'd ever find a dog like him.
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I don't know what this is pertaining too, but I can't help but throw my 2 cents out there.
I think people should be aware of what the consequences of their actions are. Irresponsibly rehoming to the first person they see and/or dropping their animal off at the shelter is a death sentence to that animal. Even responsible rehoming is, sometimes.
Also, I don't think a lot of people consider just how much psychological trauma they are inflicting on their pets, either, when they're rehomed.
If someone has weighed all the consequences and is rehoming through a rescue, then sure, they probably should rehome that animal.
Spur of the moment dumpers should have to watch as that animal is put to sleep and know that it's because of their selfish deeds that a loving animal lost it's life.
I THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING 2 BE ABOUT THEBIG BAD.
YOU WERE WRONG.
Well, to be fair, the Big Bad Wolf was homeless.
She's going to do whatever she wants to do with the dog. We aren't going to change her mind. That doesn't mean we can't tell her she sucks at life.
I will be honest, I posted a post about four years ago that was similar. Our Boston terrier had me at my breaking point. Angelika (remember her?) talked me down from the dog rehoming ledge and gave me some words of wisdom. We stuck with the training and now I am so thankful we put in the effort because he is such a good dog. When I think back to the days when I wanted to get rid of him I am disgusted with my laziness and lack of dedication and am so glad to have had nestie support at that time.
Maybe he wasn't big, bad or a wolf but a poor dog abandoned by an irresponsible owner?
whatevs, from what I heard he was always huffing and puffing and generally blowing the house in. Even Cesear couldn't burn all the energy out of that dang wolf. Seriously, all that heavy breathing and running off chasing every time he caught a sniff of bacon or ham. I mean, who has time to build everything out of brick? :cp
Spirit of Power
Eat, Drink, and be Keri
Maybe he was huffing & puffing because they were high rises and no one let him use the elevator? The stories never specifically say that the pigs built one story ranch houses.
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I would say pigs would definitely need elevators considering their lifestyle. Hardly the set who likes to take the stairs for their health, KWIM? And they'd be served by brick, providing a sturdy structure to their homes which I hear they tend to tear up if they're really hungry.
Hell, that's probably wear restricted entryways came from - don't you be ringing up those bad wolves in sheepskins!
Katie Talks About...
LOL...
"Wheee wheee wheee - Don't you love zipline-hijacking posts?"
Are you united with the CCOKCs?
I will say that when the elevator goes down in our highrise, by the time I get from the sub-basement to the 6th floor I am huffing and puffing and ready to blow some serious _shit down. You may be right.
Spirit of Power
Eat, Drink, and be Keri