People who surrender their pets because of "looks" are superficial and obviously have no idea of what is important in life. Every animal deserves to be respected and loved. Just because an animals has a deformity does not make it any different on the inside. However people are just as bad when it comes to how they perceive other people who are not "normal" in their eyes.

I had a friend who was rescueing kittens and cats, as I was. At her house one time I fell in love with a long haired yellow kitten with white spots and ask if I could adopt it. She said no, why don't you adopt an ugly kitten and I TOLD HER THERE ARE NO UGLY KITTENS AND YOU AREN'T SOMEONE i WANT TO BE FRIENDS WITH. hAVEN'T SPOKEN TO HER SINCE, AND THIS IS HOW i FEEL, ALL KITTENS AND CATS ARE BEAUTIFUL.

I find this videao so sad. When we had to get rid of my dogs because we were moving to an apt that didnt allow dogs I was devastated. Thank God a friend of mine who loved all animals gave them a home and kept them till they died. Those same people took 3 of my cats when my husband and I divorced. I did however get one back after the wife passed away and my sons cat passed away also because I was living with him at the time. That cat was my beloved Lia, a Bengal mix that I had since he was born. Now we are moving into a bigger house (so our 5 cats can have more space!) We were talking today about fostering a cat or dog that is homeless. We always wanted a siberian husky and there is a siberian rescue in our area. (Its sad the way the human race has developed into a cruel and uncaring race. Wanting to control everything on this planet. And see animals as disposable objects with no feelings.

I find this videao so sad. When we had to get rid of my dogs because we were moving to an apt that didnt allow dogs I was devastated. Thank God a friend of mine who loved all animals gave them a home and kept them till they died. Those same people took 3 of my cats when my husband and I divorced. I did however get one back after the wife passed away and my sons cat passed away also because I was living with him at the time. That cat was my beloved Lia, a Bengal mix that I had since he was born. Now we are moving into a bigger house (so our 5 cats can have more space!) We were talking today about fostering a cat or dog that is homeless. We always wanted a siberian husky and there is a siberian rescue in our area. (Its sad the way the human race has developed into a cruel and uncaring race. Wanting to control everything on this planet. And see animals as disposable objects with no feelings.

I find this videao so sad. When we had to get rid of my dogs because we were moving to an apt that didnt allow dogs I was devastated. Thank God a friend of mine who loved all animals gave them a home and kept them till they died. Those same people took 3 of my cats when my husband and I divorced. I did however get one back after the wife passed away and my sons cat passed away also because I was living with him at the time. That cat was my beloved Lia, a Bengal mix that I had since he was born. Now we are moving into a bigger house (so our 5 cats can have more space!) We were talking today about fostering a cat or dog that is homeless. We always wanted a siberian husky and there is a siberian rescue in our area. (Its sad the way the human race has developed into a cruel and uncaring race. Wanting to control everything on this planet. And see animals as disposable objects with no feelings.

Pets, according to the law and most people, are just that: property. It makes you wonder if these same people would provide education, healthcare, food, and shelter for their kids were they not required by law to do so. Would you give up your child because it developed an illness and you didn't have insurance? Would you put them up for adoption because they got older and became ugly or weren't "cute" anymore? Would you turn in your child because they made a mess or destroyed something in the house and wouldn't listen to you? Let me think, NO, NO, and NO, you wouldn't!!! Why?! Because you love them UNconditionally! And they are your responsibility as a permanent fixture in your home. So what do you do? You Potty train them (housebreaking), you take them to the doctor (pet insurance), you correct their bad behavior (training), you put up baby gates (dig/jump guards). It seems these lazy people are only NOT when they HAVE to be. Everyone wants the overnight, instant fix.
I tried to help a woman keep her dog she was trying to re-home recently because they had moved and it was an outside dog, and they didn't have a fence at their new property yet b/c her husband was building one. I offered her a group of volunteers to help knock it out in one weekend, and she said yes but you have to provide the rest of the materials b/c we don't have the money for it yet. When I said I couldn't do that (it was a wooden privacy fence) I offered to build a temporary welded wire fence till theirs could be completed, she said thanks, but no thanks, and if I wanted to come look at the dog to let her know. Ugh. I wanted to write her back so bad that its a good thing she's finding it another home b/c she obviously doesn't love it that much or she would find a way. Like letting me help her, or finding someone to keep it till it is done. Which btw she said won't be till March. So your not willing to inconvenience yourself for 3 months to keep your dog? Feel bad for the other two you DO keep inside.
Like I said, that's the problem, these people view pets as property, or something other than family. If I had it my way, only shelter adoptions would be legal and everyone would have to go through an approval process.

I agree with Ruth too. Giving love must be unconditional to receive back.

When I say it is almost selfish I mean that in giving love we create a better world for us all. It is a way to live, as Ruth says.

We have to give out love to receive love back but we need to be unselfish about giving that love and not expect any in return as our right.
Only then, when/if we do get love in return can we appreciate the wonder of it.
A bit off topic but as an example, my dear sister Babz has just unexpectedly been given a huge bouquet of flowers for something she does out of love, never expecting even a thank you, so this means the world to her.
Giving love to animals is very special because when they look back at you with love and trust, that feeling is truly incredible.

Ummm..I found Ruth's (Monty's Mom) argument very persuasive and true. In my earlier comment I said that I find the least desirable cats (from a conventional standpoint) the most attractive.

Using Ruth's comment, I understand why. They need our care more. In giving more you receive more. It is almost a selfish thing.

This is also why rescue cats make the best. We want to give to them and receive pleasure in that.

I also agree wholeheartedly in the idea of love being demonstrated in actions. It is a true test. It is very easy to say we love our cat. But what are we doing to show it? Only through our actions can be show true love.

Elisa shows it.

Humans are abandoned by kith and kin for various reasons in both the developed and developing World."Child abortions" or "Child abandonment" is very common amongst humans. Cats and most of human pets are animals ,living on the compassion and love of their human care-takers, hence totally disposable by their human owners. Ultimately akin to "Human abandonement","Pet abandonment" calls for responsible human pet ownership."Pet Ownership" is a life-time commitment for responsible "Pet owners".

People say they love their pets, then they toss them away. People say their love their spouse, but the divorce rate has never been higher. People say they love their children, but child abuse and neglect are on the rise. These people don't understand that love isn't a feeling. Feelings come and go, but love is real forever.
Love is what we do, not what we feel. Love is objective, not subjective, because you know love when you see it and don't have to be told about it. People relinquishing a pet will gush at the same time about how they just love him, yet they are still giving him up. Love isn't the words, it's the deeds.
The amazing thing is that when you do the loving actions, you feel love more. When you take care of another living being, even when you don't feel like it, even when it isn't convenient, even when it is messy and hard, you gain love for them. I sometimes ask Monty why I love him so much. He just blinks at me, but I know it's because I rescued him. The more you help someone, the more you will love them. I see this also at the skilled nursing facility where I work. The more I do to help out residents, the more I notice their humanity, their specialness, instead of just their diagnosis.
But if people wait to feel love before they act, they will never act. So as soon as people don't feel like they love their pet, child or spouse, they stop behaving in a loving way-- as if the feeling must come first.
Behave in a loving way even when you don't feel like it and you will always have the greatest spouse in the world, the best children possible and pets who are beloved members of your family through all their short lives.
Wait to feel love before acting and you will find a million excuses not to love. This article shows how stupid and shallow these excuses can be.
As a Christian I was taught that Christ didn't wait until He felt like it to go to the cross for us, He just did it. I try to follow that example. How much must our God love us because of all He does for us? I hate it when people throw away God's good gifts, like their beautiful pets. They and the pets are hurt by this, and the world becomes less than it was created to be.

Well, of course, people will come up with anything and any reason to avoid responsibility and to continue making their own egos the center of the Universe. I can't imagine being so heartless..so empty inside. Shame BIG TIME on anyone who does this to living, loving animals. I could NEVER in my life do this. Even if I'm away overnight, I am so aware that my fur babies are wondering where I am and are anxious for my return. They need us, depend upon us and give, unconditionally (Well, except for my "LITTLE ONE" who thinks no other cat should get my attention except her...!).

I stopped at a home recently which had a sign "free kitten." When I knocked on the door, the woman opened it (with screaming kids in the background). I asked about the kitten and she said, "oh, I got rid of it yesterday."

GOT RID OF IT!!!

I corrected her attitude and left after learning than an older woman adopted the kitten (thank GOD).

Bless you Elisa...you've got a heart of gold and a loving soul.

Sad sad commentary on the (in)human race.

This makes me very sad.
What is sad too is the excuses people make for relinquishing declawed cats to Shelters because those people are the ones who caused the very problems they are complaining about.
Every month as part of a study by a few of us volunteers I look at over 100 cats case histories.
We are noting the age groups,this is one of last times list of declawed cats in the Shelters we are studying:
Young (1 – 7) 4
Mature (7 - 10) 39
Senior (over 10) 8
Look at the number of problems developed by the cat is mature, they were probably declawed as kittens.
How could they part with a cat of that age !
Some of the excuses in the video are given. 'Doesn't like kids' 'Doesn't like dogs' Who can blame them when they are defenceless against the abuse from them ! One that made my blood boil was 'Got a new dog which gets on with dog we already had but doesn't like the cat' No thought that the new dog should go, not the poor disabled cat.
Allergies in the family is a frequently used excuse. Moved without taking cat makes me really angry. Sheds fur, have they not heard of grooming?
Not many admit to litter box avoidance or biting but then again those cats come under special needs so the fact the declawing caused it is hidden.
To me cats are family and we wouldn't get rid of a child if he/she wasn't perfect, but to some people animals are only possessions, not living feeling beings with family rights.
When vet nursing I heard every excuse under the sun for having a healthy pet killed.
Any excuse at all is heart breaking to those of us who truly love animals.
I concluded long ago that some people have neither compassion nor a conscience.

That video brought tears to my eyes. How much crueler can humankind be? The only possible excuse would be death of owner, especially if it was sudden. Otherwise, the rest is nonsense.

Ill health/death of owner is how Abby came into my life. That's the beauty of our shelter - if circumstance change the shelter wants the animal returned, as they will rehome the animal immediately.

The one about the black cat with deformities really hit home! Poor thing. Glad to hear they all found homes.

We had a discussion elsewhere about this and I am so with you on this - like the animal in question is an extension of their 'gear'.

I think I brought up the matter of pseudo children elsewhere as well. Well my mother. in her 80s, having lost her two long lived beloved burmese cats Khan and Tikka (Cat in the Box)....phew... was persuaded to adopt two older cats from a refuge. Two sisters, six years old, given up because their previous owners are going to have a baby.....
Good on yer Mum

Thanks Elisa for a really useful post. This really is an important article because it confirms what I and all the regulars to this site say (or would say if asked), namely that people who adopt a companion animal really must get their mentality and approach to companion animal caretaking correct before embarking on the long journey of caring for an animal.

It seems to me that a good number of people simply do not have the necessary commitment or correct expectations.

I explore the concept of expectation and mindset in this article: !5 Ways To Avoid Cat Behavior Problems

Personally I prefer cats that are more vulnerable and needy because they are deaf or have some other "defect". This to me makes them more attractive.

It is the connection between cat and human that gives the real pleasure to both animals not appearance.