Pet Overpopulation

[fureverywhere]

I was just surfing PetFinder earlier. It's a pet adoption site. Sophie is still alive and well. But I just wondered for someday. My search was pretty simple...
American Bull Dog
Female
Medium to Large
Young to Adult
Good with other dogs, cats, young children. I don't have young children, but wouldn't want a kid aggressive dog.
Sixty six dogs in my area code...that's sad.

 

[Debby]

That is sad isn't it? Fingers crossed that those mutties don't have to wait too long.

 

[Don M.]

The animal shelters in our area are always filled with "discarded" pets. It's not unusual to see a stray dog or cat roaming our area when someone has taken it out into the countryside and pushed it out the car door. I have never understood people who get a pet than refuse to accept the responsibility of caring for it.

 

[Debby]

I once read an article that said that it is quite typical in France that animals are discarded at the pound just before holidays. New pet picked up when they return.

Well I couldt find anything about the French situation but in seeking a supporting link, I came across this article about a guy who moved to Puerto Rico in 2005 with his wife (fun in the sun, surfing til dark, etc., sounds like a great life doesn't it) but what he found instead was a horror story. The link is here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...erto-Rico-s-Dead-Dog-Beach-chilling-book.html and all I can say is, don't give your holiday dollars to that nightmare country if you care about dogs and horses!

I think I might post the story on my FB page so that my travelling friends will think twice about going there.

 

[SeaBreeze]

It's a shame that the people how take the worst care of their dogs, also don't neuter/spay them, so there's more poor dogs who'll get poor care, abuse or worse. It's wonderful when these dogs get loving homes, and I like that there are some places that have big sanctuaries for unwanted animals that are no-kill.

 

[fureverywhere]

That story was heartbreaking Debby. I was reading yesterday about them harvesting fur from cats and dogs in China. Then again China is a country with some of the worst human rights violations in the world as well. But like they treat food animals in the US, dogs and cats are smooshed into boxes and sent to be skinned. The best quote for any of it...

"The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated." - Mahatma Gandhi

 

[Debby]

What you were reading about fureverywhere (and much, much more equally horrific stuff) is why I switched from vegetarian to vegan and did it in a weekend. No easing into it at all, just changed overnight! Animals are treated so badly all over the world, some places a little worse than others, but generally speaking they are humanities victims in most instances. I think the love and care that people like you and most of us here lavish on our critters is kind of an anomaly when you consider the entire world. I just felt I couldn't be part of that anymore.

As for pet overpopulation, ours have always been neutered or spayed (even a bunny we had was neutered because he had a cage mate that was female) and neither of my horses ever had a foal. Our little dog that died in September (sick with a bad heart) was so cute as a puppy and a neighbour saw him and thought he was adorable and she promptly went out and bought a little chihuahua female and with the intention of breeding hers to our little fellow. She told me that and the day after she told me, I scheduled him for a visit to the vet (he was the right age) and made sure that our little Diesel never did his part in the overpopulation crisis.

 

[fureverywhere]

Where we are it's a combination of dunderheads who want to keep little Pookie "natural"...they probably don't vaccinate their kids either. When Pookie makes happy with another dog or ten... people are clueless. Around here are a bunch of backyard breeders. I reported one house down the block last year. A yard full of mixed age bullies and the fence ready to fall, I knew what they were up to. The ones who can't be sold or won't fight end up on the streets.