I can't own a pet due my lease and the fact that I probably can't afford it.

[MrScorpio]

It's bad enough that I'd really love to be able to own a mutt and I can't…

But the truth is that those ASPCA commercials are breaking my heart.

I die a little every time I see them.

[hlthe2b]

1. I either can't wear mascara anymore or can't turn on the tv....

I cry every single time I see those. It is wrenching.

But there are things you can do, short of adopting... Volunteer to help walk the dogs a day or two a week. They'll love you for it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Those ads just kill me.

I have 3 shelter cats and donate regularly to a shelter - wish I could do more, but I'm afraid I'd turn into one of those animal hoarders.

[pnwmom]

3. We just had to pay more than $500 for our dog's vet bill. You're right --

even if you get a dog at the ASPCA (and they're not free, even there), there are so many ongoing expenses.

[WillowTree]

4. I know what you mean. I can't watch, or even listen to thosr ads.

I have to mute the sound and turn away or even leave the room until they're over.

For that matter, any time there's a thread here about someone's abuse or suffering of an animal I have to trash it without reading it. Any kind of abuse of a defenseless animal hurts my heart too much and makes me feel ill.

Human's are the only creatures who harm other creatures for "fun". Such is the stuff that turns my stomach and gives me nightmares.

[rurallib]

5. All our cats have been shelter cats

I can't watch those commercials.
What people do to those poor critters.

[BlueJazz]

6. Chinchillas make wonderful house pets. I love mine.

[Mimosa]

7. Try volunteering at a shelter, just a little bit.

Mr. Scorpio, since you care a lot, you might be able to help.

Those commercials for the Humane Society and ASPCA are heartbreaking. But I can watch, sometimes.

Cats are easier and less expensive to care for than dogs. My pets have always been rescued from shelters. The volunteers are wonderful. They are excellent at helping match pets to people.

Also, people might want to consider leaving legacies from their wills to shelters.

[HiPointDem]

8. They are meant to tear out your heart -- for money. Ignore them.

Director of Houston ASPCA makes $180K. I assume other big-city directors are paid similarly.

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.comments&orgid=5660&print=1

National ASPCA CEO gets $400K.

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.comments&orgid=3286

Humane Society Director Salary Raises Questions

A Target 8 investigation revealed the nonprofit Humane Society of Missouri's President Kathryn Warnick has been paid a total of almost $800,000 in compensation and benefits in the past two years--while the organization ran a deficit between $500,000 and $800,000.

The organization's most recently-filed tax return revealed that last year, Warnick was paid about $280,000 in compensation and all benefits. The year before, she was paid almost $500,000--including about $230,000 in deferred compensation owed to her because of what HSMO's Communications Director Jeane Jae deemed "an accounting error" that occurred in previous years.

http://www.komu.com/news/target-8-mo-humane-society-director-salary-raises-questions-30801/

If you're concerned about animals, donate your time locally or buy dogfood.

[Mimosa]

9. That's not 'big money'

Compared to what CEOs in 'business' make, those salaries are chicken feed! People of skill and dedication deserve fair compensation. $180,000 (before Fed, local and state taxes) is not exploitive or out of line.

You can find a few cases of 'questionable' salaries but they are not representative of animal welfare shelter managers as a whole.

I've got no skin in the game but for at least 20 years I had been involved with donating pro bono work to help humane societies and animal welfare groups. I know how difficult it is to manage ASPCAs, especially since most are financed by city council allocations. Every ASPCA or Humane Society CEO I ever met ( worked with animal welfare orgs in GA and for many years in New Orleans) was a selfless human being of high organizational skills who worked hard and unceasingly on behalf of the voiceless.

[HiPointDem]

11. Those are regional CEOs in big cities making ~$180K. The national head made $510K last year.

This is top 5% to top 1% territory.

I think they're overpaid. I don't care how selfless they are, I know plenty of selfless people who make a whole hell of a lot less.

And I don't appreciate their ads. I don't like being manipulated.

[Nevernose]

10. When our dogs look sad, we call it

"Willy Nelson eyes," because of those commercials. At this point, it's getting difficult to listen to "Always on my Mind".

[LuvNewcastle]

12. I'm in the same situation.

They don't allow pets at my apartment complex and I couldn't afford to take care of a pet any more than I could care for a baby. I see those commercials too, and I wish sometimes that I could have a pet, but then I think about how much I would need to spend on food, grooming, vet bills, etc. I wish more people would consider those things before getting a pet. If they did, we wouldn't have so many neglected pets that need to be adopted.

[a la izquierda]

13. We donate to the ASPCA and my husband says they should give us...

a special remote to blast those commercials.

We have three dogs that were street dogs. It is a royal pain to find housing in some places, and I'm facing a temporary foreign relocation. My husband will stay in the States with the dogs if I have to move to Africa or Europe (we've done this before when I moved to Mexico for a year). But I choose my dogs over children...