EVERY YEAR PEOPLE LEAVE THEIR UNWANTED ANIMALS ON THE STREET

The problem of overcrowded shelters is sadly unsurprising. The debates over shelter issues such as kill vs. no-kill, adoption requirements, and the care of the animals are all well documented, and have been heavily discussed.

What is often overlooked is the why. Why do so many animals end up in shelters? Around 7 million dogs and cats enter shelters each year, about half of which are believed to be abandoned, and according to a study conducted by the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2% of cats and only 15 to 20% of dogs are returned to their owners after arriving in shelters. These poor animals are at a higher risk of euthanasia, and often suffer from separation anxiety and other, similar issues. It’s hard to imagine what type of monsters would simply cast aside their animals, but sadly, it happens.

What makes the issue of animal abandonment so tough to process is the “why” of it. What makes someone leave someone they are meant to protect and love in the street? Some are abandoned for becoming too “difficult” to care for, some because they aren’t allowed to stay in a new apartment or city, and various other “reasons” that they feel justify leaving their animals in the cold. 2.7 million of these animals end up being euthanized in shelters, essentially condemning your pet to death.

While the majority of abandonment stories end badly (a sad but true reality), the capacity for love that many animal lovers show can also save the day. Sometimes a kind heart can overcome the most disgusting abuse.

The Animal Rescue Site has written about a number of pet abandonments over the years, not all of them up lifting. Take the story of Butterbean. The German Shepherd mix was caught on camera at a Louisiana gas station, chasing after the truck that unceremoniously dumped him at the scene.

Butterbean’s “owners” where tracked down, but they claimed he was a “neighborhood” dog, and only came to them occasionally for food. Police are investigating charges on those that care for Butterbean, but that is still outstanding.

This is one of the most gut wrenching images of abandonment. It is obvious that Butterbean is confused and anxious to get back to his humans. Imagine how many dogs and cats have looked on in confusion as their owners drove away, stranding them in a strange place.

Ninja was lucky. Someone I know is leaving the country soon and his dog became a problem. In this case I took the dog to my flat to find him a good home and, thanks to Mrs. Laetitia Cabrol from Beziers Sport Canin

(IS THE EDUCATION CLUB OF BEZIERS, authorized by the CCS and affiliated to the ACTLR.)

that we can find on Facebook was very helpful and in two days she find a good family to look after Ninja.

 Even if you can’t take home any more shelter animals, you can always help contribute to shelters so we can protect as many pets as possible. Just because some pet owners can’t be responsible for the animals they claimed to care for doesn’t mean that the rest of us can’t step up to help.

SAISI