So dissapointed

A couple of days ago I was given a trend story assignment (I'm at the National High School Institute at Northwestern University and we write a lot of articles).Well my trend was the recent increase in abandoned pets due to the recession. Now I was suprised by this information. I always knew that some people had situations where they just could not afford a good life for their pet anymore. But then I thought " Would these people give up their child because they couldn't afford to take care of them?" I doubt it. I know that you cannot compare the connection a person has with their child with the connection of a owner and a pet. But basically it's the same thing. You chose to take a living creature in and take care of them and provide them a good home. People really need to learn to take resposibility for their pets. Don't just get a puppy because it's something to do. This is a life changing decision. A pet is not something that you can buy on a whim and then toss aside when you are tired of it. If you think for even a moment that something could happen that may make you consider giving up your pet before you buy it, then you need to leave. So many pets have been dropped off at shelters by the one person or people that they trust and love. Some people are cut out to care for a pet. Others just aren't. Just like some people are fit parents and some would have done better never having a child. And I cannot stand to hear people who say they were heartbroken when they had to abandon their pets and that they wish they could keep them. No one wants to hear it. If you really truly cares, you would have asked a friend or a relative to take your pet(s). You would have done the research and found a new home that allows you to keep your animals. People need to learn that a pet is a huge responsibility and not something that you just give up when the going gets tough.