Taking in a pet can feel like adding on another member of your family. There's another mouth to feed, another life to worry about. Sometimes they're cute, lovable. Other times they can come with baggage, and that baggage can be violent. With time and patience, though, you can break through and make that "unlovable" animal the family they were always meant to be.
Reddit user, u/CallMeRyann, wanted to know the most difficult start when they asked:
[Serious] Redditors that have adopted 'unadoptable' animals, what's their story, and yours?
Food, Water, And Patience
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He was a 10 year old black tomcat who had bounced around fosters and the shelter for two years and needed a special diet. In all that time he was available for adoption but nobody had even inquired, and he needed out of his current foster ASAP since an elderly cat owned by the people had suddenly taken a dislike to him.
We took him in and were warned that he was so terrified of people he'd likely hide under the furniture for two months before we'd see him. This seemed to be right on the money since the moment his crate was opened he zoomed under the bed and stayed there for the rest of the day and into the night. We left food and water under there and a litter tray in the corner, but there was no coaxing him out for love nor money, so we'd have to sleep with a terrified cat under us.
Then came 3am, when he decided to sit on my face and demand petting. The little guy would never have to go back to the shelter again.
It's A Package Deal
Our humane society had a "bonded pair" of beagles, who had to be adopted together. They were there for 7 months because no one wanted two at once. My husband volunteered at the shelter...I had finally convinced him we should get a dog, when he turned around and convinced me we should get two.
There's hardly any room for me in the bed at night now....
A Secret Call
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I adopted a senior triple rescue beagle.
3 homes had given up on this noise nugget before me.
One week of training, and he calmed down on the howling.
The only time he does it now is when we get pizza delivered.
The driver doesn't ring our bell, or knock on our door.
Instead, he walks up to our door and yells "WOOO!"
Our dog will run to the door and "WOOO!" back at him.
When we open the door, they both WOOO at each other, and we get a pizza.
My story?
I re-homed a rescue girlfriend from a far worse household, and I don't get nearly as much credit for her as I do our dog.
Love Built On A Lie
I got a German Shepard mix that had clearly had a rough time. The shelter lied to me and told me the wrong age, that she was a different breed bc of the stigma (she's clearly a Shepard), and she came with the kind of mange you get from living somewhere filthy. She did not know a single command, and barely knew her name.
She has never been aggressive, but she does have separation anxiety and a fear of strangers, especially men. When I first got her if I ever left and came back she would cling onto me and cry for several minutes. Also, if I ever raised my voice she would submissive pee and hide.
It took a lot of work to get her to trust me, to listen to me, and to teach her basic commands. It really made me be patient bc if I ever got frustrated teaching her sit she would hear it in my voice and run and hide in her crate.
I've almost had her for a year now and I can easily say she's bettered my life. We still have some things to get over, like the fear of guys, but we're working on it.
Sometimes, You Just Need The Right Fit
I love a--hole cats. Our orange fluff was at the shelter for 6 years and was adopted out and returned no less than 4 times. We've had him a full year plus now and he's just the most precious creature. An absolute hell cat, yes, but also sweet and super adorable. His most recent habit is sleeping under the covers with his head stuck out like a human. Freaking cute.
Partnered Up With Other Pets
I adopted my second rescue dog when he was 8 months. The shelter lady kept asking if I am sure I wanted to take him it turns out he was brought back once from a previous family because of his nervousness. He did start to get along with my first dog and my cat took him in as one of her own. It took him awhile to get used to people, he was very shy/scared for awhile but eventually he has become a very loving boy.
Just A Little Bit Of Work
I brought home a black and tan terribly abused Doberman. She was full grown and only 32 lbs. She was a bag of bones and heartworm positive on top of it. Truthfully I wasn't sure she would live. I hand fed her and worked with her until she was strong enough to be treated for the heartworms.
Today at 75 lbs she is the sweetest most intelligent dog I have ever met.
Called Out To A Dream
I have a deaf, albino cat named Ophelia that was found half-drowned at a local lake. We have a pretty large community into superstitions involving animal abuse... Amish, Santeria, stupid kids in gangs... Reading can kind of suck.
Anyhow, I had a few dreams about a white cat named Ophelia- on my 35th birthday (years later) I typed the name Ophelia in the local shelter website.
My husband and I have a tiny animal sanctuary, so we were given the okay to adopt her- they had her listed as 'Special needs.
She is an absolute sweetheart- we nicknamed her "Little Biscuits" since kneading is her favorite hobby.
The Kitty Just Knows
Answered an email from an email group about a kitty who kept showing up at a neighbor's door. She wasn't wanted and seemed hungry.
Thought I'd go pick her up and atleast take her to the vet and then the shelter. She walked right into her kitty carrier and I carried her to my car, where I let her roam free on the drive home.
Once I got home she rolled down the window by standing on the button and let herself out. She went to roll around the grass and when I picked her up to bring her inside I knew immediately she was pregnant.
Come to find out she had a cold, was pregnant, and was only 8 months old! I got her fixed and she's the best kitty ever. She can high five, shake, double high five, and even comes to me when I whistle.
Time To Grow Together
Me and my family fostered dogs 9 times and the last one we ended up adopting after half a day. We suspect she was abused verbally and physically. She was so extremely scared of men for probably 2 years, i think we have had her for a little over 2 years and shes not that scared anymore.
Being around my dad and brother was bad, she eventually loved and adored my dad quickly tho but any quick sudden movements and noises scared the bejesus out of her. My dad has a friend who is 6'7 i think and she was scared out of her mind when she met him but she loves him now. Shes such a cutie and she is so playful and adorable
A Home For Splinter
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When I was a kid I took a pet rat from a friend who's mom didn't want it in their house anymore. A lot of people hate rats but he was an awesome pet. They're smart and friendly and surprisingly trainable. I was a weird lonely kid back then and he got me through a rough time. I still miss the little dude. RIP.
A Lifesaver Both Ways
this will 100% get buried, but means so much to me. in 2015 i was in the worst place of my life, but didn't realize it at the time. i was suicidal, commuting over an hour to work (one way), living at home with my parents. i had no friends. i missed a concert of my favorite musician in the world, just because i had nobody to go with.
so i started looking online at dogs. and as somebody who said they hated chihuahuas, and would never get one, i saw her. she was 10, code red at a shelter. has congestive heart failure, pancreatitis, partially blind and partially deaf. chihuahua, obviously.
she had been adopted once - and the woman ended up dying. returned. nobody wanted her. and she saved my life when i rescued her. i am in such a better place now, and when her pancreatitis flared up (didn't know what it was, legitimately thought she was dying) i really thought my world would end when i lost her.btw,
she's still alive, sassier than ever. only eats out of a bowl if you let her stand in your lap and hold it for her. doesn't walk well on anything but carpet. falls. a LOT. has about 2 teeth left. and i still adore her.
Best. Name. Ever.
I adopted a little calico cat from a high volume yes-kill LA shelter. They warned me that a family already adopted her and returned her to the shelter due to biting and scratching attacks. She was sweet and desperate for attention at first, once running up my back to my shoulder as I tried to leave her quarantine room. Normally she'd purr and rub you, but occasionally would launch into unrelenting hard attack mode.
Tough mechanic hands, patience, learning and avoiding her triggers, and building trust with her diminished them to almost nothing by about 2 weeks in her forever home with a cat buddy. Now she's a happy friendly house cat.
Just A Really Ugly Pup
A mangy, hideous old pup sitting in a cement shelter corner. We asked the shelter rep about the poor dude. Looked like he was at death's door. Shaking, not looking around much. Big bulgy eyes. Probably an old dog abandoned by sh-t owners, left to die sad and scared.
Well, turns out, he was just ugly as f-ck. Little man was only about a year old, probably much younger, and he was terrified of all the shelter noises.
We take him out to meet him, and he's an absolute soul. Wants to play, sits with us, totally the coolest guy. Everyone was fast friends with him.
Adoption papers done fast as light. Take him home and it's like he had missed the place, despite never having seen it. He was running all over, rolling around on the carpet. Made a happy mess for us, honestly. That night, when he calmed down, he slept on my bed and didn't make a peep. In the morning he nipped my ear and ran off to start his day.
He did this every night and morning until I moved out. He still does when I come home.
Eight years on, he's as playful and ugly and perfect as ever. I'm not home often, but I visit, and he's always peeking out through the blinds when I park.
He's got a little wit to him, too. He's probably part terrier. Gets into anything, and he'll steal your socks if you don't pay him heed when he's being cute. We called him Watson.
edit PIC: the day we got him (after a bath and a cursory groom), before he was named
Do you have an adopted pet that came from a bad upbringing? Tell us all about it!
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When we're intoxicated, or even the slightest bit tipsy from having a little too much to drink, our immediate perspective on things is hazy.
But there's nothing like a bit of alarming news or a jarring incident to snap us out of the fog and focus on the moment.
Sometimes alcohol isn't always to blame for our impairment.
It can be a state of mind, like a perpetual numbness from being complacent in life, and all it takes is one shocking moment to rattle us back to our senses.
Curious to hear from strangers online about this type of scenario, Redditor Known_Challenge_7150 asked:
"What’s one thing that sobered you up real quick?"
These individuals were witness to shocking events that sobered them up right quick.
Bleeding Out
"Got out of a taxi and found a naked man profusely bleeding from his head crawling up the driveway in my condo. Called him an ambulance completely forgot I was absolutely wasted until 45 minutes later when I'd helped him translate and in to an amublance and stepped in my front door."
"Later a few days later learned he'd slipped in the tub and literally crawled out for help. Poor dude. He was fine but I genuinely thought he was going to die there."
– DongLaiCha
Tragic News
"At a bachelor party and we got a phone call that the groom’s father had suddenly passed."
– accountnameredacted
Bottom Of The Barrel
"I went to visit my parents back in July. I was homeless and deep into fentanyl addiction so I lost a lot of weight. My folks could see it. They knew something was up. Anyway, I spent the night and I was getting ready to leave in the morning and I looked at myself in the mirror for a good long time. I finally had enough and told them everything. They took me to detox, from there I went to rehab. Graduated in August and been living with them ever since then. I have 160 days clean and sober."
– Crotch-Monster
A reality check can be enough for some people to snap out of it.
Like Father, Like Son
"Was driving a drunk friend home, he had been on a bender again and was smart enough to call me for a lift rather than try and drive. As I helped in to his house his mother came down the stairs and said 'your as drunk as your father' and went back upstairs. I haven't seen him drunk since then, he still drinks but the thought of turning into his dad scared him out of hard drinking."
– psycospaz
Busted
"Flashing blue lights."
– FiddleOfGold
"This sobered me up just thinking about it."
– redmaple_syrup
Losing Sight
"Woke up to no sight in one eye. I had cataract surgery so just thought one of the lenses had slipped and it was an easy fix. Eye doc says nope, you had a stroke. I loved soy sauce, teriyaki sauce and salty food, which caused high blood pressure, which caused retina damage. Over six months was able to get most of my eyesight back with medication, and all back within a year. Trying to navigate life with one eye was very sobering. Started taking HBP much more seriously."
– MissHibernia
Quitting The Bottle
"Looked up someone I went to highschool with who was an awesome guy. Found out he had been dead for 3 years from alcoholism, at age 33. I made an overnight change. I hadn't started drinking that night yet, 10 months ago. Haven't touched it again since."
– omgtater
These disturbing moments were enough for Redditors to immediately come to their senses.
Unplanned House Guests
"Me and a buddy Woke up in someone’s living room, realized neither one of us knew the people, they were just nice and let 2 drunk guys sleep on their living room floor. We didn’t even say goodbye."
– Oneinsevenbillion75
Serious Health Warning
"Elevated liver enzymes."
"And the knowledge that this sh** was gonna kill me and I just couldn't orphan my family over it."
"So I opted for recovery, instead."
"Clean and sober since June 5, 2009."
– Far_Meal8674
The Joyride
"Grew up in a rural area. The little town hosted dances at the hockey arena, everyone (adults and kids) went and they overserved everyone, regardless of age. I was maybe 16 or 17 and was absolutely sh*tfaced, and jumped in the back of someone's truck with about 8 other people to go back to someone's cottage for after dance drinking. The driver (still don't know who it was) started racing one of his buddies and we whipped around small dirt roads, flying around blind corners on the wrong side of the road, going god knows how fast. It was basically a disaster waiting to happen. It was crazy scary and I was sober and thankful to be alive when we finally arrived."
– foxfood9116
The human psyche is a fascinating thing, isn't it?
How we can automatically focus on something urgent at a crucial time, even after getting buzzed from drinking too much alcohol.
But as we're in the thick of the holidays, it's a good reminder to drink responsibly and stay off the roads if you drive to your celebratory destination.
Cheers. Stay safe. And happy holidays.
We've all complained or vented about something in our lives which, in the grand scheme of things, wasn't exactly a problem, or is very easily solved.
Then there are those who complain about things that others almost hope will happen to them at some point in their lives.
These are known as "first world problems", as they are problems that pretty much only the world's one percent faces.
From having to fly business class instead of first class, or being served Roederer instead of Dom Pérignon, these complaints are often met with amusement, bewilderment, or even anger.
Redditor jennimackenzie was curious to hear the most absurd "first world problems" anyone ever complained about, leading them to ask:
"What’s the most ridiculous 'first world problem' you’ve seen people get worked up over?"
"Tale As Old As Time..."
"I once knew a mom who was legitimately devastated, to the point of tears/grief, because a doctor predicted her 8 year old daughter's final height to be around 5'2","
"Which wasn't tall enough to get cast as Belle at Disney World."
"That was the child's (and her mother's) only dream in life, apparently."
"Didn't appreciate my suggestion that she could be Minnie or Mickey."
"Lol!"
"Only a face character would do!"- TravelLovingMom
"Must Be Funny, In A Rich Man's World..."
"My boss from about a decade ago was this insanely rich dude who always went to the bank to get fresh and crisp currency."
"He'd call the bank in advance to make sure they had some on hand."
"I think he was a germaphobe."
"He had a trash can that he'd throw $1 and $5 bills in that he thought was 'dirty' and regularly just donated it vs spending it."
"I asked him why he did this and he said it was too much trouble and asked if I wanted it."
"I said f*ck yeah dumped it into my bag and when I got home it was close to $400 in singles and fives.
"Another time, he wanted to upgrade all the computers in his studio, so we went to a store and bought 10 PCs."
"They all had $150 mail in rebates and he wasn't bothered to go through the trouble of mailing them in."
"3 weeks later I received $1500 after spending a whole afternoon filling out all those goddamn forms."- azninvasion2000
Money Burn GIF by nog
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Who Wore It Better?
"When I was about 19 years old, I was at my boyfriends family BBQ."
"I was wearing this pretty floral sundress."
"His cousins girlfriend showed up in the same dress and she was SO mad that she went and changed."
"I will never understand being upset when someone is wearing the same thing as you.'
"Did you really think that your shirt you bought off the rack is going to be unique to you?"
"No."- mertsey627
Seeing Red! Or Blue In This Case...
"The blue of the balloons wasn't quite the same as the bridesmaid's sashes."
"Years ago my wife and I attended a wedding."
"It was very low key."
"The dinner was in the dining hall at the university where the couple met, cinder block walls and all."
"It was a Baptist wedding - no booze and very serious."
"The dark blue balloons attempting to liven up the hall were a slightly darker shade of blue than the sashes on the bridesmaid's dresses."
"The bride lost here sh*t and absolutely raved for nearly an hour."
"I can't remember how they finally managed to talk her down."- mechant_papa
south park wedding GIF
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See You In Court!
"Rich neighbors who end up in expensive court battles because they disagree about where a tree can be planted or whether the color of a fence fits in with the street’s 'amenity'."
'These disputes get really heated and rack up huge lawyers’ bills."
"The most pathetic part is after the judgement when they are arguing about who should pay the other party’s costs."
"Lots of affidavits filed citing the 'emotional distress' they had to endure, or painting themselves as brave warriors who were forced to take a stand to fight for 'justice'."
"Also lots of pompous litigants insisting that the judge refer to them by their 'Dr' title."
"An absolutely insane dumpster fire of entitled rich people problems."- ElectrocRaisin
It's Always People With Money Who Don't Want To Pay!
"I work in a public library."
"People will get so so mad if they have to be put on a wait list for a book."
"A popular book that just came out."
"Ok our services are not only free but so are the books."
"You’re welcome, a**holes."- Switchbladekitten
A Warm Butt Is A Happy Butt!
"My own."
"We have a bidet toilet seat (Fabulous! Everyone should have one!) and not only does it wash your bum and blow dry it, but the seat's heated!"
"It's shocking how much a heated toilet seat makes the whole process more agreeable."
"Except: We had a power outage and I went to use the toilet and the seat was cold!"
"Unacceptable!"
"This shall not stand!"
"I was really upset because it didn't feel good."
"Then I stopped and thought: This is the most first-world problem anyone's ever had."
"I was really pissed because my heiny was tepid."
"I got over it."- DeathGrover
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Holy Matrimony!
"Weddings are a gold mine for this question."
"People get so hyped up over their 'most important day of their life'."
"They'll destroy friendships, go into debt, and have crazy expectations."
"It's not always the couple who go crazy, either."
"Sometimes, it's the parents or another family member who feels entitled to control the wedding."
"It's just a party."
"Be considerate of guests, have plenty of food and drinks, and enjoy it."- magicrowantree
When Fast Food Isn't Fast Enough...
"Having to pull off to the side to wait for a drive-thru order to be brought out to you because your food isn't ready and there's a line building up behind you."- demanbmore
In Case You Don't Think Customer Service Employees Are Undervalued...
"I was working the return desk at a Target next to a military base so I have so many stories."
"One of my favorites was a lady who had her baby shower before revealing the gender and was livid that she had received floral newborn diapers when she’s having a boy."
"It was a huge box of super expensive, all organic diapers, that we didn’t carry and therefore could not return."
"I cannot accurately express her fury and disgust."
"How dare either suggest her boy could wear feminine diapers."
"I suggested she donate them if she didn’t want to use them and she instead threw away the entire box."
"When she left we pulled it out and threw it in our donate bin."
"There have also been multiple times where mom’s order massive toys and when we bring them out to the car they get furious that they aren’t wrapped."
"We don’t offer wrapping services."
"Here’s the thing, if you don’t want your kids to see the toys you got them for Christmas or their bit to day DON'T BRING THE CHILD WHEN YOU PICK IT UP."
'I’ve had multiple women scream and curse me out that I had ruined their kids Christmas by bringing the toys they ordered out to the car like they requested."- clever-mermaid-mae
Customer Service Waiting GIF by Juno Calypso
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Happiest Place On Earth!
"I used to work for Disney."
"That in itself should tell you everything."
"However for fun I'll give you two specific stories one form our tech department and one from my wife who worked bookings."
"I specifically worked for their call center to help with technical issues with magic band and the website."
"Suddenly got worse huh?"
"A right of passage call everyone has at least one story of is the 'Dome call'."
"Basically there is a subset of Disney Guest (TM) that believes if it rains at Walt Disney world there is someone that will push a button to encapsulate the whole of Disney property in a dome to keep out the rain."
"I'm not kidding."
"If this button is not pushed they call our tech department to angrily ask why."
"My wife worked booking."
"Pretty much everything including Bibbidi Bobbidi boutique and Pirate's league."
"These two things did roughly the same thing difference being price and theme."
"BBB was expensive did more and was focused on princesses, pirates league did a bit less and focused on mermaids and pirates."
"Lady called up my wife, and got pissed about BBB being booked up (It goes FAAAAST)."
"Karen: 'Im going to give the phone to my daughter and I want you to tell her how you are ruining her vacation by not letting her do BBB'."
"Wife proceeds to explain how pirate's league is so much cooler and how she can be a mermaid or pirate and basically gets the kid to start demanding to their parents about how they want to be a mermaid instead of a princess."- trollsong
Disney World GIF
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The horror!
Being booked into a junior suite at Disney World instead of an executive suite!
It's almost as bad as having no money for groceries, or no food to feed you children...
Said absolutely no one.