Same Dog, Different Owner

[SheilaT]

32. I am absolutely appalled at how people can

neglect or mistreat animals.

While I am myself a cat person, the issue is absolutely the same here, cats or dogs.

A while back I had three cats. The first came from the local animal shelter, the second from the vet, and the third showed up on our front lawn one day, apparently having decided we were her last hope for a home. All three were wonderful, but the third was the most precious of all, because she was only about two days from dying of starvation and dehydration when we took her in.

If you've taken on a cat or dog you can no longer maintain, take it to a shelter. If it doesn't find a new home, at least it will have an easy death.

Some years ago I was a volunteer at the local animal shelter, and they had a printout about the number of excess cats and dogs. I honestly forget the actual numbers (someone here may be able to correct me) but each and every family would have to take in something like three dogs and seven cats, or maybe five dogs and four cats, to take in all the unwanted cats and dogs out there. Whatever the exact numbers, it was well beyond what most families could possibly handle, even if they were willing to do so.

Currently I have no cats. Someday I will again. Someday I will be a crazy cat lady, but that will still only serve to rescue the very small number I can take in.

These creatures are totally dependent on us. We should never let them down.