FRUSTRATION

[Red931]

When I awoke this morning and logged in, I went to my Watch List and noticed something that has had me a bit frustrated the last week or so.

People come to the forum to ask advice for their dogs whether it be for something simple or something serious. It seems that more times than not lately people don't post back to let us all know how their dog is doing especially if the situation was serious.

While I know we can't expect everyone to post back all the time, I feel if you had the time to ask the question you should have the time to show us all some coutesy and let us know how your dog is doing after advice is shared. We all care very much about our dogs and yours too or we wouldn't be here answering dog owner's questions and sharing our own experiences to help.

I was just feeling a little frustrated about this and thought I put down on paper so to speak. It leaves some heaviness on the heart to think that one of these great companions could still be suffering in some way when you personally get involved to help.

[Sandra_G]

YOU ARE SO RIGHT!  I too often think of the sick dogs in here & how they are doing.
I do what Ginger said to do...thats put them in your watch list & go in there daily too see if that person posted. If not, send them a message.
Also, how about the THREADS that we add to our postings. Use keywords & you may
find the certain persons you are curious about,
Than again, some people may not post for awhile,,,until thier dogs condition changes,,for better or for worse,
Come on folks,,,let us know how your dogs are doing,  We care,

[Red931]

That is why a check the little box and put them on my "Watch List". Every morning when I login I just click on that icon and I can review all of them no matter where they are in the posting order.

I realize all of the things that both of you have pointed out but just thought I would do some public venting. Maybe a few people will see it and think about our feelings the next time they post.

[ginger899]

I have to admit that sometimes I get a little worried about some sick dog, or some owner who sounded terribly upset, that I wake up in the morning with that as my first thought!
Mother Hen syndrome.......Can't help it...

Yes Ghilly has a point. Sometimes a post can get moved down the line pretty quickly if it's a busy day. I like to go and round them up, and even if I don't know anything about what might be wrong, I just 'bump up' the post to make it more visible, in the hope someone who does know will see it.

The internet, and the world of googling answers to problems can be a pretty cold world. But we are a warm-hearted lot here! We like to know if dogs plus owners have a solution to their problems.

[Ghilly]

I understand how you feel, Red.  It's good when we get follow-up posts from people letting us know how they resolved their problems, IF they resolved their problems, etc.  I think what many people don't realize is that when you are an animal lover, even if it's not your animal, you worry about it anyway.  So when people come here describing the sometimes horrible things their pets are going through, and ask for advice, it's not just a case of giving them advice and then moving on.  Of course, I would probably be less stressed if I did that, but I can't.  Part of me sits and wonders and worries about that pet, are they OK?  Did everything turn out well?  Did the owner get them to the vet on time?  things like that.

Of course, there are people who come here looking for advice who end up becoming valued members of our community.  We've gotten quite a few members that way.  I think that a few of the people who come here asking questions, do so because they're looking for a veterinary alternative, which we are not.  They don't want to spend the money to go to the vet, so they come here hoping we can tell them something that will cure their dog of something that only major surgery can help.  Then I think there are those who maybe don't realize what type of community this is, that there are actual "regulars" who "hang out" here, they come here asking their questions, and when we suggest to them that it could be "A", "B" or "C", but they need to call their vet and have him or her examine the dog to reach an actual diagnosis they do just that and then don't think to come back.  It's not that they're ignoring us, or that they're rude, they just don't realize that we're always here.  

Then too, our community has been so busy at times that threads from any given day might have been pushed to the next page by the next day, or, if a week has elapsed since the person last posted, the thread could be a couple of pages away.  Perhaps it's a "can't find my thread" problem in some cases?  I don't know.  I'm just tossing out suggestions here.

But I understand exactly what you're saying, i just think that a lot of it might have to do with the idea that many people don't understand that there ARE people who worry about other peoples' dogs almost as much as they worry about their own, so they don't think to post back.

Ghilly

[ginger899]

Well I feel the same. But I can understand if life gets in the way (especially if there is something serious happening, and the poster isn't a frequent visitor, or if they have only posted once) Though I think most people who are 'a part' of our community would post back to let us know.

I think what may happen with some people is thay google "sick dog" (whatever) then they stumble on this community, then they get an answer, then they rush off again, doing whatever they have to do. I think sometimes they don't realize we are human, and would like to know what happens. As far as they are concerned they are doing some 'hasty internet research'.

But I know....it all comes down to courtesy in the end. And a little imagination. When I first came on this site, I posted about my dog (who was having an off-day) After sitting up with her most of the night, and seeing she was better in the morning, it did feel instinctive to post an update, because I could imagine people helping here might like to know.

[Red931]

I misspelled "Courtesy". Making typo's is not a good way to get your point across to someone. LOL!

Which brings me to another frustrating thing on my mind. We need an "Edit" icon on here.