Where is the "Leave DK Forever" Button

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Guys - I'm outta here - where is that button - I saw it once and now can't find it.  Rooney and I have made some wonderful friends here but this issue over cats - I don't want to be a part of anything that places a lesser value on cats than dogs and DON'T even go their - re-read your posts and oh yes you did.  We have two doodles trying to kill a kitty and NOT a one of you is calling the owner to task.  Oh my it would be too hard to close the dog door, too hard to train your animals.  A bunch of hypocites - "don't BYB, don't just give your dog away" blah blah -  but I guess when it comes to cats - tough poo.  Well, as a dog lover and a cat lover, DK is no longer the place for me to spend my time.  Where is that button?*************Clarification*************

I am going to try to clarify a few things in regards to this post and the the post about the cat.

1.  The poster had 2 doodles that have unlimited access through a dog door to the yard where 2 cats live outdoors.  The dogs had tried to kill the youngest & smallest cat. 

2.  The majority of responders thought she should "re-home" the cat.  I tried to say that this was a training issue - not a "re-homing" issue.  That a cat (even an outdoor cat) is NOT a disposable item.  Cats like dogs have attachments to their family and that to just assume that getting rid of the cat would solve the problem didn't make sense.

3.  I did not have any comment about the cat living outdoors other than to say in response to another poster that I would not have it living outdoors myself.  I, having lived on a farm am used to outdoor animals and the cat living outdoors wasn't even an issue to me.

4. I wasn't attacking anyone - but I became the attacked for pointing out that this cat has value as a family member too and that why do these dogs deserve un-limited access to the yard if they are not trained/supervised.  Then I feel that my honesty was being called into question by one poster.

Once again I will say - that if this person doesn't train their dogs that cats are not prey - and I'm setting in the Vet's office waiting room with my cat, harnessed and leashed setting on my lap when those 2 dogs come through the front door - what then?

The fact of the matter is - the owner doesn't want to put the time and engery into supervising these dogs outdoors, starting with the obvious - shutting the dog door - and no one wanted to be honest and point that out, the simple way is to just re-home a cat.  Which by the way - might not even be possible, there isn't exactly a shortage of cats around.  It is very sad that we hold ourselves to a high standard here on DK in regards to our doodles but are other animals not worthy?  And yes I have a cat, that was a rescue and I'm not even a cat lover, I'm allergic.  But I believe the moment that I kept that kitten from being hit by a car - I had a responsability to it, like this owner has to her cat.  Hate to let some of you down - I'm no longer looking for that button, but a break is called for and my friend list is going to be shorter.

[Leigh & Allie]

The discussion about cats just disappeared. You brought attention to something and change was made. You can feel good about that at least.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Actually, I think the person who posted that discussion left DK forever.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Oh Noo.. Now I am going to be worried about the kitten!!! I sincerely hope that kitten stays safe and feels loved and secure.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Loved and secure? Living outdoors? I don't think there was any possibility of that, even without dogs.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I hope she does something to make sure that kitten is properly cared for, I don't understand a cat or a dog living outside at all, but I don't want to judge, it isn't something I would ever do and I honestly think Jack D would die of a broken heart if he became an outside dog.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

OMD.... that is very unfortunate...  are you sure??

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Pretty sure.

[Donna K & Quincy]

I think you may be right Karen and I think that's sad, I am sure she felt like she was being attacked. She was only looking for help not judgement.  I wanted to send her a message but I can't find her.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

I agree Donna... if you find her can you let me know?  I don't know if there is anyway to send her a message now.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I am not diminishing the life of that cat, but I live in farm country and many people keep barn cats around here. We have no real idea why Linnea had an outside cat, but many cats on farms are outside cats. I also inherited a cat when we bought our house, because the previous owner just threw her out. It took us three years before we could even get near her and get her to come in the house. She is such a damaged cat, that she wants no part of Fudge and Vern and they think when she runs it is a game. We have given her a safe area in our house and they are not allowed access to that area. They are never going to be best friends, but we all found a way to co-exist. I am not sure how you train dogs to leave a cat alone that runs and hides whenever they are in the vicinity. I don't want to force her to stay there when she is clearly terrified and yes, sometimes I will admit I think she would be happier living somewhere else, but we took her in and I don't want to damage her anymore than she already is. Again, the previous owner of our house just left her cats when she moved.

Do I agree with outside pets...no way, but sometimes there is more to the story. Donna is right about her looking for help. I certainly don't think her dogs should be allowed to attack that cat and maybe she would have hired a trainer and closed the doggie door after all the responses she received, but now we will never know.

Jane, Only you can make that decision about DK, but it is your decision.  We all have disagreed at one time or the other.

[Chelsea and Bailey]

I agree it is very sad... I have been on DK everyday almost for the past 5 months (I dont post all that much), and have noticed that posts are increasingly getting over-emotional, and "clicky" like as time goes on... which is the main reason as to why I dont post and sit and read.  I would hate to be the one attacked by everyone.. Even if we do not know eachother personally, things can be taken on a very personal level as this is a place where people share many things that may not necessarily be said to friends or family (good or bad).  I would like to say it is a "safe" place to have joy in our love for our dogs.. and often times it is, but sometimes things get way out of hand.

 

I have a love for cats as well as many others on this site, my first animal was a cat named whiskey- he was the meanest cat ever, hates most people and all animals, but I loved him- shedding and all.  So when someone expresses their distaste to cats, or treats them different then I would, I put in my two cents, but dont push the issue.  I also totally disagree with CATS and dogs being left to be outdoors, but again that is my opinion.. and to think about it there is the whole debate of animals living outdoors mainly hundreds of years ago, but then again you can counteract that by saying that people have domesticated animals too much and they would no longer survive on their own. Butttt I think im getting away from the point here... What I REALLY wanted to say was that YES, the cat post upset me, and I was genuinely worried about the cat, and also disagreed with the cat being outdoors, but I come from a prairie province, where there is only 1 million people- TOTAL, half of my good friends are farmers, or have grown up on a farm- where their animals are ONLY outside- cats and dogs... the animals are not treated as kings, but they are still loved in their own way, again I dont agree with it, but it is how it is done, so... (reaching the end of my point here) If I reacted the way some have reacted on this site to the post (remember I am against outside cats and am a cat lover) I would have zero friends...

 

I dont know if anyone even cares what I have to say or even understands it, but basically what I wanted to get across is that everyone is different, we all have our own values and beliefs, and I think that we forget this when someone has one differing from ours as many times there are "attacking" posts made, which really defeats the purpose of this site. We need to value eachothers opinion and remember that they might not think the same as us either, so if someone posts something we disagree with we, like camilla said "agree to disagree"... Instead, we now have someone who has left the site completely, and if they are anything like me, they are most likely besides themselves with emotions. To me that is just very sad and nothing we should be proud of on this site.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Well said Chelsea.