Korean Job Discussion Forums

[laogaiguk]

This happens a lot down in the Buy/Sell/Trade forum. Do you think that if you get a pet, you should be responsible for it for it's life. While there are obviously some times things are impossible, do you think people should take them home with them? Or is it alright to leave it with someone else?

[storysinger81]

Depends on the temprament of the pet, the quarantine restrictions in place, and the assurance of responsible pet ownership you feel from the party you leave the animal with.

I brought my rescue kitty with me to South Korea because the quarantine both coming here and returning to the US were nada with proper preparations. She is an easygoing animal who recovered from the flight quickly, but she also has a hard time bonding to new people. I went on a two week vacation back in the states and my brother lived in my apartment to take care of her, but she never warmed up to him--and that was in her own domain! I will take her back to the US with me when I depart SK.

[Draz]

I am hoping to get a pet from someone who is just leaving when I arrive. Whether I try to pass it on to someone else when I leave or take it home would depend on a couple different things. The individual animal's temperament, age, and species will all make a difference. I have a cat in Canada and because of her age and personality, she is staying in Canada.

Edit: With my mom, who can definitely be trusted to take proper care of her.

[Atavistic]

Sometimes leaving a pet IS the best choice. When I went to college my cat was old (we'd had her 8 years at that point, and when we got her, she wasn't a kitten) and finicky. I was also moving in with someone who already had three cats, all litter mater. My cat was happy at home and ultimately that's where she spent her whole life.

Having said that, since I don't know how long I'll be in Korea, I won't get a pet here. I have, however, dragged a plant around with me.

[Demophobe]

Before taking responsibility for a pet, which is a long-term decision, one should examine all of the aforementioned questions first. If you are adopting a sick, crazed or otherwise infirmed animal, be prepared for a long road to get it home. However, taking it with you is the only way.

Getting a pet, besides a goldfish or something that won't live long, isn't a disposable contract. It doesn't expire like your visa. If you have a pet and aren't staying in Korea for the possible life of it, you have to be responsible and take action early enough so you can take it home with you.

People leave things until the last minute and find that taking Rover isn't just as easy as packing a suitcase. Then, they try to give it away or give it up to a shelter.

People who get a pet and then don't want to take it home should be forced to kill it themselves. They may think twice before making a irresponsible, rash decision. Pretty extreme, but death is what abandoning a pet at a shelter or on the street adds up to. Go to the shelter and they hand you a needle full of stuff that will finish the animal. You watch it die and they give you a box to put the corpse in and off with that you go, or they will throw it in the fire for you.

Some people adopt...they find a pet on the street and justify their returning it to the street this way. So, what...that is some kind of limited ride? Life extension? Don't bring something into your home you aren't prepared to go the distance for.

Sanctimonious? Sure, but that doesn't mean I'm not right.

[Draz]

[Demophobe]

[laogaiguk]