Animal Shelters In Need of Help
Throughout our country there are numerous animal shelters overflowing with rescued cats and dogs. I’m a huge animal lover, and have a dog of my own, so it saddens me to see so many animals in need.
The Oprah show aired yesterday a program about puppy-mills and the efforts of rescue organizations to stop animal cruelty. I made a point to watch, even though I knew it would be tough to see these dogs being mistreated by the owners of puppy-mills. These dogs are kept in cages their entire lives, and their only task is to breed puppies. Their health is poor since they receive no medical treatment, so many of these animals are blind, have heartworm disease, and eventually can’t even walk from being unable to walk outside and run around. Their nails are overgrown, and their teeth falls off due to the overgrowth of tartar eventually leading to gum disease. Their coats are matted to the point one can’t even tell the breed of the dog, and this also hinders the dog’s ability to move their limbs. They are beaten by rods on their throats, the vocal cords are severed in order to keep them silenced and unable to bark. Collars end up embedded in the animal’s neck from lack of space as it grows, also hindering breathing. The animals also develop Mange, an unsightly skin disease that is contagious where mites burrow themselves into the flesh, causing painful skin irritations, and the hair to fall off. I was in tears.
Puppy-mill kennels are kept in horrifying conditions. It smells of urine and feces, and have improper air circulation or heat/air conditioning for a comfortable temperature. Water and food are scarcely given so these animals are skin and bones. Once the puppies are born, they are removed from their mothers, and sold to PET STORES.
I admit I used to be ignorant about puppy-mills and purchased my first and only dog to date from a pet store in New York City. It wasn’t until I began falling in love with my dog, and realized how much she gives back to me, that I became a proponent in the well being of animals. Sure I never wanted to see an animal being beaten or mistreated but I had no idea the extent of the cruelty they endure. I joined the ASPCA, a rescue organization in the city, and began donating money to them whenever I could. Then I joined the Humane Society of the United States, and later Stray From The Heart. But there are so many more wonderful organizations, like the Lange Foundation out in Los Angeles, featured yesterday on the show.
There is however so much people can do to help. First, NEVER purchase an animal from a pet store, as you would only be aiding to the demand for more cruel breeding from puppy-mills. Instead, adopt a dog or cat from a local shelter. If you want a full bred animal, there are hundreds upon hundreds of breed-specific shelters across the country. You can find them at petfinder.com. There are animals from all ages, even puppies, however consider adopting an older animal who is house broken, and just wants a happy home. Believe me the love you will get back is tremendous. In addition, you can search for true and legitimate animal breeders in your area, and visit the facility so you can see first hand that the animals are well treated. Not only you will feel good that you’re not adding to the problem, but dogs that come from true breeders have great prospective health, and are a fraction of the price you would pay at the pet shop. Please note that legitimate breeders will question you and, because they truly love their animals, will want to make sure their pet is going to a great home. Stricter guidelines are followed for shelter adoption. Shelters want to ensure the animal will suffer no further abuse, and they have every right to do so.
Second, please spay and neuter your animal. If for no other reason than population control, if you love your pet and want it to have an amazing and healthy life, spaying and neutering hinders future disease such as breast and testicular cancer. I know some people, specially the men, feel that is unfair to neuter your male dog or cat, but truth is, they don’t care. The only thing they want is to be loved by you and given a good life. Another thing with spaying and neutering is that if your pet can no longer be in heat, he/she won’t try to escape in order to breed, thus less chance of you losing your dog or having it get killed by a car crossing streets.
Third, if you are able, donate. Even if it’s $ 10 a year to a favorite rescue organization. Perhaps even donate your time and volunteer. I have been meaning to do this and will once I can physically get to the local shelter.
As if yesterday wasn’t enough, to my horror, today I opened The Miami Herald only to find a story about the Miami-Dade Animal Shelter, who is in desperate need of funding to be able to continue to run properly and efficiently. Like many in this country, this shelter is also overcrowded and needs to expand its facility site in order to be able to accommodate all the animals in need. The article states,
“Some department revenue comes from dog-licensing fees, but that only 180,000 of the county’s 500,000 dogs are licensed†and that, “adoptions have dropped over the past two quartersâ€.
If you have a pet, just registering your animal with the county and paying the small fee will increase funding to the county’s shelters. The cost for a dog tag is $ 35 for unspayed/unneutered, and $ 25 for spayed/neutered animals. And fees are much lower $ 2/$ 1 respectively if you can prove you are of low income status. So I ask you.. Would you PLEASE consider tagging you dog or cat today?
In the interest of growing as human beings, please consider adopting a dog or cat if you really want a pet. Inform yourself of what it takes to own and care for a pet, read a book on the temperament of the breed and how it will mesh with your lifestyle. If everyone could be educated when making the lifelong decision of pet ownership, we wouldn’t end up with so many owner-surrender animals and strays at our shelters, thus exacerbating the current tragic situation occurring all over the country.
Lastly, this is a very sore but important subject for me. I couldn’t imagine my life without my pug as this little furry animal brings so much joy and laughter to my life. Caring for her and ensuring her needs are met are more important to me than almost anything else. I may have ignorantly purchased her from a pet store, but I vowed to give her the best life possible and to never let happen to her what happened to her mom and dad.
Thank you so much for reading.
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