Just had a conversation with a little girl who lives near me,
I was asking if they still had their dog, as I never see any one take it for a walk, (being nosey realy wanting to know why no one ever takes it for a walk)

Anyway she told me they dont take it walks, just let it in the garden,
than she very matter of fact told me,her mum says when it dies she can have a hamster, oh thats ok then.

Glad to see her mums teaching her responsible pet owneship,(not)

:o Wow, thats ridiculous! They're the same kind of people who give hamsters and rabbits for xmas :(

Don't agree with the lack of walking the dog but i'd be careful reading too much into what the little girl said. My daughter has said something similar before. She wanted a hamster whilst she had a guniea pig and I told her no because she had the guinea to look after. She thought I meant that I didn't think she would look after them both and I said no, if she hadn't got the guinea pig then we would have thought about it. She said that meant her guniea pig would have to be dead and so she didn't want a hamster because she loved her Guinea pig. Didn't stop her telling her nan that when her guinea pig dies she might get a hamster :rolleyes: It could easily have been a mis-understand, or as with my daughter, what they say isn't always what they mean. Her guinea pig did die and a while after she got a hamster but not until asking me at least 50 times if the guinea pig in heaven would mind :)

i always remember when my mum and dad split up, all my sister wanted was a new dog, it was basically get shut of dad to get a new dog :hihi: this reminded me off it!!

Yes I'd be inclined to give the family the benefit of the doubt & put that down to those mixed up silly things that kids say!

It's bad that they don't take it for a walk though... what sort of dog is it?

It's only bad that they don't walk the dog if the dog is mobile enough to be able to walk though!!

If the dog is elderly and not up to walking as far as round the block, why should the poor thing be tortured with being dragged further than it's legs will carry it? When our Jack Russell was on his last legs (so to speak) I would occasionally carry him round the block to allow him the stimulation of some new smells and a change of scenery, and a stand on the ground for a min or two to feel he was 'out' (how soft am I? :P ), but a walk would possibly have finished him off.

The conversation at this house could have been 'will we get a new dog when *Rover* dies?' 'No, I don't think so dear, would you like a hamster instead?'

Having said that, if you are genuinely concerned - contact the RSPCA MaryPoppins :thumbsup: