Every Year People Throw Their Unwanted Animals On The Street! But Not All Stories End Badly!

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.theanimalrescuesite.com/abandoned-pets/?

The problem of overcrowded shelters is sadly unsurprising. The debates over shelter issues such as kill vs. no-kill, adoption requirements, and the care of the animals are all well documented, and have been heavily discussed. What is often overlooked is the why. Why do so many animals end up in shelters? Around 7 million dogs and cats enter shelters each year, about half of which are believed to be abandoned, and according to a study conducted by the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2% of cats and only 15 to 20% of dogs are returned to their owners after arriving in shelters. These poor animals are at a higher risk of euthanasia, and often suffer from separation anxiety and other, similar issues. It’s hard to imagine what type of monsters would simply cast aside their animals, but sadly, it happens. This video is a heartbreaking look at what abandonment really is.

What makes the issue of animal abandonment so tough to process is the “why” of it. What makes someone leave someone they are meant to protect and love in the street? Some are abandoned for becoming too “difficult” to care for, some because they aren’t allowed to stay in a new apartment or city, and various other “reasons” that they feel justify leaving their animals in the cold. 2.7 million of these animals end up being euthanized in shelters, essentially condemning your pet to death.

While the majority of abandonment stories end badly (a sad but true reality), the capacity for love that many animal lovers show can also save the day. Sometimes a kind heart can overcome the most disgusting abuse.

The Animal Rescue Site has written about a number of pet abandonments over the years, not all of them up lifting. Take the story of Butterbean. The German Shepherd mix was caught on camera at a Louisiana gas station, chasing after the truck that unceremoniously dumped him at the scene.



photo courtesy of Laurie Hollis

FULL story at link.

[davsand]

1. We just adopted an owner surrender kitty from the vet clinic.

We've named him Tesla.

His prior owner took him to the vet clinic covered in bleeding sores and in a serious state of malnutrition demanding he be "put down" because he was, "too much trouble." The poor cat is around a year old, and the woman had been warned by vets months before (when he was de-clawed to save her furniture) that he has food allergies and would require specific foods for his lifetime. She ignored that and allowed the cat to suffer for months while he suffered constant diarrhea to the point of malnutrition, his hair fell out, and open bleeding sores developed on his little body.

The vet refused to kill the cat and threatened to file an animal cruelty report with the authorities unless the owner surrendered the cat and left the clinic immediately. He lived at the clinic for a few months before the vets determined he was physically sound enough to go to a forever home. He's still on anti anxiety meds--may well be for his lifetime--but he's the sweetest tempered cat I've seen, and some asshole let him SUFFER then tried to have him killed. He's our new baby.

Abandoned animals don't always end up with vets who save them. I think about that every time he purrs for me.


Laura

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. bless that vet

[davsand]

4. They treated him and let him live in the clinic for all that time. They never charged me.

When we agreed to adopt him I went in and talked to a couple of the vets. I had to giggle when they asked me about "special food" and was I willing to sign up for the additional cost. Tesla's food is less per month than I've been paying for Chaucer (our 14 year old cat) and his "Fat Kitty" food for the last few years. I have never fed my cats anything other than a premium food anyhow--so I didn't think the prescription stuff was that expensive. When he came home with us, they sent a bag of food, several cans of food, and a month's supply of his anxiety meds. Again--at no charge.

I will admit, we have a relationship with this clinic since our daughter worked there while in high school, but I really thought they went above and beyond to save our kitty. They do this sometimes, and usually staff just absorbs the cat or dog into their own homes, however, everybody was full up right now. When we travel, we hire the kennel folks to come and feed our household so we don't have to board anybody. They ALL know Chaucer, and now they all know Tesla... We came VERY close to a pit bull sweetie last winter after his owners neglected him. I'd been in to meet him and was leaning toward bringing him home, but somebody else took him in before I got there. I hear he's doing quite well.

I am trying to figure out how to put up Tesla's picture on DU--I have never done that before.


Laura

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. the pic of the dog running after the truck....

[GGJohn]

5. That video broke my heart.

I just can't imagine someone with that much of a cold heart to abandon a pet like that.