Should be mentioned

By isak, December 9, 2008

Within a few days, a couple stories crossed the pages of the news around the country. Each registered a “Geez” in my mind. Both are pet-related stories: In Tulsa, a four-month old lab puppy is confiscated from a home for mauling a baby to death. The baby was in one of those baby swings and the parents were in the next room. All this per the parents. Within hours of confiscating the pup, it was euthanized. WHAT???!!! I can still see this docile black pup being carried out in the arms of an officer.

Somewhere up north – I can’t remember where anymore – 28 cats were confiscated from a home. There wasn’t enough room at the shelter for the confiscated cats, so 19 of them were euthanized. Again, am I the only one who sees the complete ridiculousness of this?

In rural America – and even beyond those borders to homes within town and city limits, there are good-hearted souls who take in needy animals. They feed and spay/neuter, they love, they shelter these little souls. While there ARE places where the conditions are deplorable, there are many places where the animals are given their life — as is their right.

Ellen DeGeneres loves animals and wants to help them. Oprah loves animal and wants to help them, Lisa Ling has gone undercover to expose the ugliness of puppy mills. Why won’t they join resources to develop a program of support for the people who have stepped up to do something for the unwanted and dumped animals?

Been to the vet recently? $50 to walk in the door and vaccinations for $18. If you are not squeamish, the vaccine and the syringe can be purchased for $4-6. Does not include rabies shots. In some states, you can buy rabies vaccine and administer it yourself.

Can’t we develop a program with house calls and train “techicians” to do a basic checkup and administer vaccinations at a reasonable rate? We could help with dog houses and fencing (I am damn near an expert on that stuff by now with all the fencing I have put up and all the houses I have built.). We could enlist Lowe’s and Home Depot for building supplies. We could tap the pet food makers for discounted food.

Once someone’s home is busted for deplorable conditions, we judge them as horrible people. We don’t even think about when they had one dog or just six cats. We lose sight of their well-intentioned motives. They must “deserve” the humiliation their acts have brought to them. So we confiscate their animals and destroy many of them.

Where are the people who can help? Where are the deep pockets who can provide some cash to make this idea come true? It can be done. I know it. Those people who have so many more dogs and cats than the average household are providing a service. They are providing life to the less fortunate animals. And it is hard work… it is 24/7, it is mental, physical and financial, it is emotional.

Perhaps you need to live the life to see the view from the inside and understand what I am saying. I am happy to share that view with you. I live that life. I share a few acres with several cats and dogs.