I am totally appalled by the report on Sunday Times, 21 June, ‘Dumped Like A Piece of Trash’.
I don't understand why dumping an animal in the middle of nowhere seems like a logical solution. Somewhere along the line, people have given up all responsibility for protecting our furry, four-legged friends, and that is a major problem we face today. It is incomprehensible how someone could have done such an atrocious act to dump an animal, whilst still alive into a rubbish bin as if it were trash. This is murder. I am sure like minded animal lovers like me would feel the same way. What I find shocking is the person responsible for this can even bring himself to do this to a helpless animal. Does he not have a conscience? What a cowardly act!
It seems that the economic downturn and housing crisis has precipitated an unprecedented rise in pet abandonment. Pets are left behind in abandoned homes or driven to rural areas and left for dead. Some are just set free to wander the streets, alone and confused. If you are in financial distress and can no longer even provide your pet with proper care, be responsible and find it a good home. Take your pet to an animal shelter only if you must, and check out the shelter first. Pet shelters euthanize pets if they can't find them a home. At least seek help and resources from the local animal shelters. If you can’t afford food for them, I believed that animal shelters would much rather give you the food to help you provide for your pet than to see you abandon the animal. People abandon animals for a variety of reasons, the most common of which is a lack of understanding about what it takes to care for an animal. People need to realize that when you add a pet to your family, you are taking on a responsibility for that pet's welfare for the rest of its life. You will need to include the pet in your vacation plans and any event that could displace your pet from its home. Don’t get a pet if you won't be able to spend the time necessary to give the pet the love and affection he or she craves and deserves. Animals have a full range of emotions and needs and can become depressed when they are deprived of their family's love and affection.
How do we create a climate where it becomes socially unacceptable to be an irresponsible pet owner? The same way that any other illegal activity is stopped by changing the laws or imposing harsher penalties so that it acts as a deterrent. At the end of the day, from spousal abuse to drug busts, deterrents don't stop everything. Remember that your pet is a member of your family and wants nothing more than to be cared for by you and to return to you unconditional love and affection. Animals experience fear, love, playfulness, boredom, anxiety, depression and joy, among other things. Please be a deserving pet parent. They are for life.
