Just when you think.......
A fact that many animal people like to tell you over and over again is how much better things are now for the animals. 20 years ago even more animals were dying in shelters or rural areas, puppies and kittens were in abundance because no one spayed or neutered their pet, and animal shelters were dark, dungeon like places where the animals were destroyed in record numbers and people just looked the other way. If you ignore the problem, it doesn't exist.
With the more modern movement of "no kill" and the popularity of adopting a shelter pet instead of a puppy store animal, the euthanasia numbers were significantly reduced. Not eliminated, just reduced which is better than nothing.
The unfortunate part of the story is the problems still exist. In every community, in every city and in every state in the union, the homeless animal population continues to be a problem. When I go online each morning, I see the stories of animal abuse and neglect and it makes me sad. Then it makes me angry because it still happens in such record numbers and no one says anything. This morning there were two stories, one of a hoarder, who was living in filth with cats. The cats who were living had to be euthanized due to medical reasons and many were running loose, ferals if you will, which they were going to attempt to catch. These will be destroyed also, no matter what they say. The reason is the sheer numbers of cats who have no issues and need homes. Simple: too many animals, not enough homes, not enough space in shelters, too expensive to treat, just euthanizes.
The second story was from Polk County. It was heartbreaking because this couple were renting out guard dogs. These pictures told the story. The dogs were emaciated and sickly, many were aggressive (the buzz word so when they are euthanized the public doesn't scream too loudly) and this couple said it was their business. Sickening. It just makes me ill.
Just when you think it is getting better. Just when you think people are getting it. Just when you think you are accomplishing so much, you read stories like this, and you realize just how far you still have to go.
With the more modern movement of "no kill" and the popularity of adopting a shelter pet instead of a puppy store animal, the euthanasia numbers were significantly reduced. Not eliminated, just reduced which is better than nothing.
The unfortunate part of the story is the problems still exist. In every community, in every city and in every state in the union, the homeless animal population continues to be a problem. When I go online each morning, I see the stories of animal abuse and neglect and it makes me sad. Then it makes me angry because it still happens in such record numbers and no one says anything. This morning there were two stories, one of a hoarder, who was living in filth with cats. The cats who were living had to be euthanized due to medical reasons and many were running loose, ferals if you will, which they were going to attempt to catch. These will be destroyed also, no matter what they say. The reason is the sheer numbers of cats who have no issues and need homes. Simple: too many animals, not enough homes, not enough space in shelters, too expensive to treat, just euthanizes.
The second story was from Polk County. It was heartbreaking because this couple were renting out guard dogs. These pictures told the story. The dogs were emaciated and sickly, many were aggressive (the buzz word so when they are euthanized the public doesn't scream too loudly) and this couple said it was their business. Sickening. It just makes me ill.
Just when you think it is getting better. Just when you think people are getting it. Just when you think you are accomplishing so much, you read stories like this, and you realize just how far you still have to go.
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