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.

[Duppers]

1. I hate people.

1. Vets should be subsidized and neuter pets free of charge.

2. There should be requirements for adopting and owning any pet, like the ones I had to pass in order to keep the baby rescued girl we just adopted.

That'd solve many of these problems.

Thanks for posting this OS.

[shenmue]

2. Yes

[hollysmom]

3. well, except vets are not necessarily the richest people

they need to be able to afford a life.

[drmeow]

4. If they are subsidized

they are still getting paid for the work. It is just that the person who is caring for the pet is not the one paying them.

[Duppers]

5. Exactly.

I suppose it'd mean socialized medicine for animals. In a perfect world. Sigh.

[hollysmom]

6. ok, first get them subsidized.

[drmeow]

7. Unfortunately,

given that we can't even get subsidized medicine for humans in this country, the odds of getting it for pets is pretty low - although people can get pretty crazy about animals when they don't seem to care at all about humans. From a public health/city quality perspective it probably isn't a crazy idea - public funding of spaying and neutering pets would certainly reduce strays and feral colonies and probably save cities money on animal control.