"Temporary pets"? Send them away!

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Here's my pet peeve (no pun intended)-WHY do people buy pets (especially young ones) when they are totally inappropriate for their life style? Sure, that puppy or kitten or whatever is totally cute and you cant wait to have one, or you think since you had a dog or whatever when you were your children's ages, then they should have one -- NO! No, lah, hiare, nix, nada, nein, non, etc! NO! They grow up! They're still good pets, but if you and yours had not the time to train them correctly as they grew - dont get blame the animal and dump it at the local shelter, in the streets or rural(forested, farms) areas or worse, have it killed! Todays society is so disposable. If you dont want it - chuck it. I was in a humane society looking at some kittens when a lady brought in this 7 year old, medium sized mutt dog on a leash with her son about age 16. It obviously looked like a yard dog since it was a little muddy and didnt have house manners since it lifed its leg against a nearby bench. The boy looked totally miserable and obviously didnt want to be there, so I deduced it was his pet. I wasnt alone. First she told the shelter people that it was a stray. The kid made a face and the staff lady noticed it. Then his mother nervously said that its name was Bob (ears up from Bob at the mention of his name, also noted by the staff) and they were going away for 2 weeks and if it was still there when they returned she wanted it back. The animal society agent came over and asked her if she wanted it, why is she giving it up? The lady stumbled at this (intimidated by the man's police-like uniform)and informed him that since he was a stray she didnt feel she should spend the money at a kennel to keep it for her. At this point the boy scowled and loudly plopped himself down on the bench and started scratching the dog, who sat obediently at his side. His mother gave him a warning look. The agent came around and looked at the kid and dog and then me sitting across the room in a chair and I shrugged my shoulders as if to say "It takes all kinds to make a world". He nodded at me. The other staff lady had enough and told the woman that the humane society was not a free kennel for people's pets while they go away and the dog was obviously this boy's pet. The kid brightened at her speech, but the mother insisted the shelter had to keep it, she didnt want it. The agent came over and took the leash and told the staff lady to do the paperwork, but since they had no room for another stray, he'll have to be put to sleep. The woman, shocked, said "Oh no!" and the kid jumped up and quickly took the leash from the man's hand, mumbling it was time to go home and started out the door with "Bob" trotting happily behind him, only stopping to water a floor plant near the door. The agent told the woman he hag her information and if Bob shows up in another shelter (next one was 200 miles away) or picked up abandoned they will arrest her on fraud charges. The kid honked the horn of their car at that point and she quickly left, red-faced. STOP abusing the shelters and filling them with your "rejects". Dont get a pet unless you keep it until it passes or you do! Its like a child, it is NOT "disposable". THINK before you get a pet! ANd if you do get one - get it spayed or neutered as soon as possible! The old tale that they need one litter before being fixed is totally FALSE!!!