Mistreating or Abandoning Animals is Inexcusable!

If you pay any attention at all to the news, or animal rescue posts on social media sites such as FaceBook and Twitter, you will see a barrage of stories about animals being abandoned or mistreated in some way. This is shocking, inexcusable and preventable.

As the holiday gift-giving season approaches, there are bound to be kids yammering for a dog or cat or Guinea Pig or some other animal for a gift. Beware. This tends to happen most at Christmas and Easter, with either dogs and cats, or in the latter case, baby chicks and bunnies being the preferred pets on the request list.

Giving in to such clammoring cannot be done without careful thought and planning. Adopting a pet is not something that should be taken on in a moment of weakness or on a whim. To be sure, puppies and kittens and baby chicks are irresistably cute. Keep in mind, however, that they will grow up. While they are sure to keep thier general physical characteristics, they will outgrow the "adorably cute" stage of their babyhood.

No matter how good their intentions, a child cannot reasonably be expected to accept the responsibility of caring for a pet. Ultimately, that is the parents' job, and if they don't feel up to the task, then a pet is not for that household. To be sure, a child can help with the chores related to the care of the family pet, but it is just that: a family pet , and not the child's alone. The younger the child, the less they can be expected to help.

Only much older children involved in such things as 4-H projects should be entrusted with the sole care of an animal and even then, supervision and expert advice are required. (And I offer this example reluctantly, as 4-H involves teaching children to raise animals as food, and as an ethical vegetarian, this disturbs me.)

The animal shelters are overfull of abandoned and surrendered pets that people bought or gave as gifts. While thier intentions may have been honorable and loving, the idea was not well thought-through.

And please, never, ever give a gift of a pet as a surprise! Never. You may be placing an untenable burden upon that family or person, and the animal will suffer in one way or another for it. A pet should be adopted into a family with the same thought and consideration that would go into adopting a human child.

Yes, I realize that is an incorrect statement. It got your attention, though, right? The point is, we are all animals, so the correct version is, "People are Animals, Too." We share a good many of the same traits and physical characteristics with our animal friends.

Do you doubt me? Just take a glance at the chart below. We share all of the top-level biological niches.

Sadly, there are too many people who do not care to acknowledge this commonality, thinking of animals as "just animals," and ranking them below us in intelligence and the ability to feel pain, whether physical or emotional.

That is an erroneous belief. I could point to hundreds of newspaper and internet articles almost daily reporting on the heroisom of pet dogs or cats. (Yes, cats can be heroes too!) 

You want feelings? Perhaps, these folks needed to see the poor little squirrel my husband saw. His partner (however you want to call an animal relationship) was dead in the road. The other squirrel was visibly upset, running back and forth, scolding the passing cars, and standing guard over his friend's body.

Folks--know this: if you take on a pet, it is for the duration of that animal's natural life . I can only hope that at least some of the people who truly need to see this message, do! Otherwise, I fear I'm but 'preaching to the choir.'

You don't throw a pet away because you tire of it or it becomes more work than you bargained on. You adopted that animal into your home; ergo, you've made a committment to that animal for the duration of its life, just as if you had adopted a child. In a sense, that animal is a child, and remains so throughout its lifetime. We humans saw fit to domesticate these animals centuries ago: they have become dependent upon us for their food, health, entertainment and exercise. Animals are simply not disposable any more than your children are!

(And if you do have children, and have ever 'disposed of' a pet by any means, then double-triple-whammy shame on you for setting such a horrible example!!)

If there is some legitimate reason (such as severe illness or death of the owner, or very severe economic hardship) why anyone might no longer be able to keep or care for a pet, they must make every effort to find it a new, loving home, not toss it out to fend for itself like so much trash! And, there are agencies that can and will help with donations in the case of financial woes. Check out this NY Times article for some references.

We ourseslves are in rather dire financial straits right now, but we refuse to give up our kitties.  We adopted them, therefore we owe them.  We may have to make a few sacrifices, but the cats stay!

Be very, very careful if it does become necessary, after much careful thought and soul-searching, to give up a pet. Research carefully any agency you are considering. Be aware that the majority of so-called "animal shelters" are far from being any such thing.

Even the ones that call themselves "Humane Societies" do not live up to the expectations implied in their names. Many of these agencies are "high-kill" locations. They move animals in and out rapidly, space and money being their only concern, and not the welfare of the animals entrusted to their care. If they get full, they start the killing.

There are far too many so-called animal shelters out there who routinely euthanize perfectly healthy animals--shame, shame on them! They are not worthy to have the word "shelter" in the name of their facility!! They need to call themselves what they really are: Agents of Senseless Death, for they are no better than Hitler's gas chambers!

Here are the definitions of shelter:


1. Something that provides cover or protection, as from the weather.
a. A refuge; a haven.
b. An establishment that provides temporary housing for homeless people (or animals!!!)
2. The state of being covered or protected.

(emphases and parenthetical statements in definitions are mine.)

Mistreating an animal is as bad or worse! Anyone who abuses an animal should receive a taste of their own medicine! Such people also probably have little or no conscience about harming or killing people, either!

As pointed out above, we share with our pet animals membership in the same top 4 segments of biology: kingdom, phylum, sub-phylum and class. Ergo, we are all animals! What we do to any animal, we may as well be doing to any other human!

Everyone can give a reasonable definition of abuse in the sense of physical harm or mistreatment, such as being hit repeatedly and for no reason with either the hands, or being kicked, and so forth.

Then there are the horrific stories of true cruelty, and I won't go into the graphic details here--we've all heard about these stories in the news.

However, make no mistake: neglect is abuse just as much as is outright physical cruelty! A dog left outdoors on a chain, unable to reach food or shelter; lonely, left to bark out of boredom and frustration. Even if not tied up, that dog is not being properly cared for--it is as if you locked your kid outside and ignored their cries of hunger and being cold, just because you couldn't be bothered. Don't you think CPS would be at your door right quick?

Unfortunately, the wheels of justice for animals turn much more slowly, but animals left outside with no attention are just as surely being abused as those who are being hit, kicked, or subjected to other horrors. There are laws against animal cruelty and abuse, and if you see it happening, you should report it.

Our pets give us so much unconditional love and companionship over the course of their lives: it is our cherished obligation to return in kind to them. It has been scientifically proven that pets add quality to our lives, and sharing the companionship of a pet reduces stress. Just the act of petting a dog or cat (or bunny or Guinea Pig...or whatever) is calming. Want to reduce your blood pressure? Pet your pet!! Maybe it will help you off those pills the docs like to push!


Spay and neuter your pets, and that will go a long way toward reducing the feral and abandoned/unwanted animals issue. In addition, there are sound medical reasons for so doing: namely, reduced risk of cancers of the reproductive organs which afflict many 'whole' animals.

Dogs and cats are becoming more and more familiar as visitors to senior citizens and nursing homes for the beneficial interaction they provide to dementia patients. Also, children in long-term care facilities have benefited from animal visitors. It brightens their mood and aids healing.

There are also the working class of dogs that help us in many ways each and every day. These include but are not limited to: guide dogs for the blind; hearing assist dogs; police dogs, rescue dogs and countless others.

Anyone who has ever had and loved a pet can attest to the value of that animal in their lives.  Pets reduce our stress levels, whether by purring to us, greeting us, allowing us the soothing sensation of petting them, and yes, laughter, the very best medicine, as we enjoy their often comical antics.