Why Do We Continue To Ignore This Problem?
Have we somehow forgotten that it exists?
Animals give us love, but have no voice to demand it from us. This is exactly what makes it so important that we consciously and passionately stand up for them.
All animals deserve our love and compassion, our kindness and consideration.
As many of us know, we have a serious problem with stray, unwanted, neglected, and abused animals. It’s disheartening to see that this problem is often ignored without getting the attention it deserves.
As a society, we have reached a point where our irresponsibility, complacency, and cruelty have led to a severe problem of stray animals. We can no longer afford to turn a blind eye to this issue. Instead of complaining about the overabundance of stray animals in our neighborhoods, it’s time to take action and work towards finding a solution. It’s frustrating to hear people complaining without offering any solutions. The truth is, this problem won’t solve itself, and we all need to be proactive in addressing it. It is up to us to fix the problem where it starts – conception. We need to spay and neither.
For many of us it may seem easy to understand. However there are others who for lack of exposure to this problem or for other unknown reasons, they are not aware of how serious the problem is. It will never go away without educating the public.
If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat.
It’s frustrating to witness the suffering of the many strays that result from people’s failure to spay and neuter. I understand that due to costs, time, schedules, and, previously, COVID, we cannot expect perfection. We are all human, and we make mistakes. Believe me, I have made many mistakes of my own with my pets. However, I firmly believe that if someone cannot take this responsibility, they should keep their pets inside, no matter how badly their pet wants a mate.
The second issue is with people who, for some inexplicable reason, believe that domestic animals enjoy standing out in the rain with a dilapidated dog house or their dog enjoys being at the end of a lead, sometimes no longer than 4–5 feet. What’s even worse is that their dog is often tethered 24/7. It’s disheartening. When confronted about their actions, they often respond, “They’re just a dog!” or “They can handle it.” Hearing such responses ignites a fire in me like nothing else.
Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened”.
I took my dogs out this morning.…and it was just starting to rain. They hesitated and quickly wanted back inside. When I first adopted my pets, little did they know that until they learned to use our toilets, I would make them go potty outside. If necessary, I will stand there until I see it and they have learned how serious I am about that. I have been known to come inside drenched. While I am waiting, they usually learn to pee quickly. I can see them sometimes shivering while they stand at the door. That does not sound like dogs that love the rain. However, there will be no unnecessary messes in my house, and they know that, too. But they are not perfect either, and it does happen.
Animal protection is education to humanity.” (Albert Schweitzer)
Approximately 45 years ago, when I was at work and pregnant with my son, a woman at work was smoking a cigarette. Her smoke was floating over to me. Another concerned co-worker mentioned to her that her cigarette smoke was not good for my unborn child. In retaliation for what was said, that smoker took a mouth full of cigarette smoke and blew it directly in my face. Again, that was 45 years ago when indoor smoking was allowed. Although it was rude behavior, no matter when it was, I think the cigarette smoker would have suffered serious repercussions if it were to happen now. As it was, the concerned co-worker was extremely angry, creating an argument that was not pretty.
Due to crucial education, revised laws, and the elimination of a harmful cartoon promoting smoking to children, significant changes have been implemented. The use of cigarette machines has been eradicated, smoking in public is strictly prohibited, and even jails no longer allow smoking. This practice was once permitted during my time employed there. The penalties for violating smoking laws have become more severe, and various other changes have been enforced to promote a healthier environment.
What do cigarettes have to do with animals? The way we see animals is another necessary change. It has become a problem that is often ignored, just as cigarettes were.
Let’s start with cats…..
We complain about feral colonies of cats, but nothing is done. There is a park near Modesto, Califormia (pictured) that is used as a dumping ground for cats, and there are many, many more. This is just one example. The fact that nothing is being done to address this issue is outrageous. I recently rescued a very friendly cat from that park (pictured…tuxedo cat) , which was probably dumped there. The cat is so tame, I can’t believe someone didn’t own it, but no one has claimed it. Unfortunately, many more cats are still left there. There appears to be a kind woman who feeds them daily, but it is not her responsibility to deal with this problem.
Now, About dogs….?
OMG, this is often even more heart-wrenching due to the usually very dependent nature of dogs. We complain about stray dogs or stray dog bites, but nothing is done. Some dog owners train their dogs to be vicious, which leads to misunderstood animal breeds and dangerous situations, but nothing is done about that either. We have dog fighting rings, such as when Michael Vick was in the spotlight. Although there was a ton of publicity about Vick, nothing has been done to stop it from continuing with others. As I read once, Michael Vick apologized for his actions with a statement that he was not raised around animals and was uneducated about them. It sounds to me as though he considered dog fighting a sport. I am not condoning his behavior because it took a long time for me to erase the hatred I had for him, but it is a fact that some of us may not understand.
Why do we not listen to those who were the direct offenders? I can guarantee if there was more education on this problem, it would be reduced significantly.
Dogs will give you unconditional love until the day they die. Cats will make you pay for every mistake you’ve ever made since the day you were born.
We need to start shaping a better future for our society. In my opinion, it all begins with our children. Unfortunately, we seem to be missing the mark in this regard. We are exposing our kids to inappropriate topics at young ages, such as discussing their gender identity prematurely and other crazy educational ideas. It’s time we stop this madness and focus on what truly matters.
We have some age-old problems that still need addressing, including the lack of education about animals. Domesticated animals simply cannot survive on their own. It is high time that we start taking this issue seriously and find a solution. Why can’t we have a mandatory class that teaches children about animal care, different breeds, and sterilization? After all, everyone will experience being around animals at some point in their lives, whether it be a friend or their own pet. Such a class could be pivotal in shaping a more compassionate, responsible, and animal-friendly society.
I know I might sound like I’m venting, but this is a serious issue that demands our attention. We need to prioritize animal education in our schools and empower our children with knowledge that will help them make better decisions in their lives. As they say, knowledge is power, and it’s about time we put that power in the hands of our children.
If you take in a starving dog and make sure it thrives, it will not bite you – This is the fundamental difference between dogs and humans.” (Mark Twain)
I have written to Congress, but I won’t stop there. I am determined to do whatever it takes to get something done. It’s unacceptable that my letter to our congressman was ignored. The rescues are struggling to keep up with demand, the shelters are at full capacity, and we need to take action to protect both humans and animals. I firmly believe education is the key to shaping a better future, and I am committed to making a difference. Let’s stop talking and start taking action.
The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him, and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself, too”.
