The responsibility for the furrowed puppy brows and sad kitten eyes behind kennel bars or on the streets lay in the hands of people. Hundreds of former safe and warm pets are abandoned every year due to financial instability or lack of affection and being neglected.

Cats, dogs, rabbits, and fish I have owned have been in a similar boat to the animals in shelters today. All of them. Like many others I had a dream of having company whenever I wanted and used an animal to fill the void. Each one became neglected, sad, and a regret mostly due to personal financial struggles. I tried desperately to drag myself out of debt, but it was too late.

According to National Library of Medicine, as many a 25% of homeless persons have a pet they try to provide for. Many have said they feel less lonely and use the pet to facilitate socialization.

Among the other possibilities of abandonment lies one that isn’t about the comfort an animal can bring, but rather how attractive they can be to a child’s eyes. Some people obtain pets because they or their children think the creature is too adorable to pass by. These situations usually contribute to the 6.3 million abandoned pets each year because of the lack of attention to fine print on the adoption papers. For most people, pets aren’t easy to care for.

This number speaks for itself stating it is better to learn to provide for yourself than using an animal to compensate for loneliness or feeling the need for them. The animal will be at fault for trusting the person who vowed to care for it if people continue to take responsibility for something too much.