【文稿】人们抛弃宠物的“理由”

Heyang: For many people, leaving your pet behind is a heart-breaking thing. But, there are still millions of animals abandoned by their owners every year in China. Why do people do this? Are these so-called reasons just excuses for leaving their animal partners? 对很多人来说，抛弃动物伴侣是一件非常让人心碎的事情。但是每年还是有数百万的动物沦落到收容所，其中许多是被他们的家庭故意地抛弃的。那么，人们到底是用一些什么不靠谱的借口来做这件事情，为什么这件事情会发生呢？ I know this is a terrible topic and I know Mark you’ll have a lot to say. But first of all, can we just set the picture - what are these reasons and do you think there’s a degree of truth in it? Laiming: Well, the excuses maybe meaning there’s only one reason: people are not responsible. Heyang: OK. That’s a very good point. Mark: Yes, it’s very true and to be slightly kinder to people, people might have good intentions but they are just overwhelmed by the amount of care that a dog, for example, requires. I mean it’s a big deal having a dog. I would advise everyone not to have one. Because then only the people that are really, really keen would even think about it. It’s enormous amount of work to have a dog, especially you live in a society which consists of apartments for dwelling places. It’s not like in countries where you have a garden and you can just open the door in the morning, the animal, the dog can run out into the garden to have a pee and a poo. Here, regardless the weather, you need to go out in the morning, maybe at least for half an hour, and then in the evening, maybe an hour and half walking the dog. And you must do it. Laiming: How long do you have to spend taking care of the dog every day? One hour? Two hours? Mark: The truth is every minute you are in the apartment you have to be taking care of the dog. Cause the dog, like, I suspect a small child - I’m not a parent - but you have to give the dog attention. You cannot just leave it to… yes it would sleep on the floor sometime, but then it will come over and nudge your leg when you are doing some work on your laptop, and you have to play with the dog. Don’t get a dog unless you are prepared to play with it, walk it, keep it clean, check its health, be prepared to spend money when you go to the vet. So it is a big responsibility. A cat I think it’s slightly easier. They look after themselves a bit more. And then you get down to other sorts of animals like a goldfish, I would always get more than one. Can you imagine the lonely life of a goldfish on its own in a bowl? If you got a few fish in a bowl… Laiming: But it’s got you there, taking care of it, keeping it company… Heyang: Looking at it outside the fish bowl, yeah, that’s great company, so close. Laiming: A huge face. Heyang: Miles away actually. Mark: So I think you should always get more than one fish. I mean, if people aren’t so sure about wanting a pet, maybe start with some gold fish. See if you remember to feed it regularly, keep the tank clean. Use that as a practice before you think of getting a dog. Heyang: And I’m just looking at this list, at these so called reasons. Number one is I’m moving. So the owner’s living condition has changed and sometimes having a pet becomes burdensome. Laiming: For example, the landlord doesn’t allow it. Heyang: Oh yeah, that’s another thing. Yeah, and there’s also when the pet is growing too big or just growing up and it’s not what you expected. And also if it costs too much money, if the pet is no longer cute, oh that is so terrible. And there’s like you know the pet is growing old, or you know it’s time consuming, and you don’t have a lot of time or money to look after it. These are such terrible reasons so to speak. But it just reminds me of raising a child, because it’s growing up, it might not look cute, oh - he or she might be spending a lot of money as you are raising the child. All those kind of things I think are similar reasons. But people don’t abandon a child. That’s a terrible thing to do. Mark: Well actually they do, but they abandon it within the family. See what I mean? They neglect it. They neglect it. They can’t get rid of it like could do with a pet. Some people just abandon their dog in the street. But you know, they can abandon their child within the family. It’s called child abuse, isn’t it? And psychological trauma and neglect. But I know what you mean, yeah. Heyang: Yeah, you know what I mean, which is usually with the child, you have to put up with it, and then you make the effort. And I think that is maybe the crux of this problem that we’re seeing today with pets… Laiming: We’re not seeing them as important as human beings. Heyang: Exactly! And when you go into raising a pet, a lot of people don’t have in mind that this is actually a lifetime thing… Mark: It’s a member of the family as well. You wouldn’t abandon a member of the family, as you just said. So I think you’re absolutely right. If you have any doubt whatsoever, then don’t do it, I would say, especially with dogs. When I walk my own dog at nights in the cold air now, I hear the howls of wild abandoned dogs in the parks in west Beijing, in the woods. There are packs of stray dogs there. Those poor dogs out on cold freezing nights to come, I feel so sorry for them. Once they were much loved family pets. Laiming: Keke is lucky to have you. Heyang: Yes, Keke is very lucky I think, and your pet needs your love and your lifetime attention for that pet.