Be Responsible Pet Owners
To the Editor:
To the person and/or persons who continue dumping dogs, puppies, cats and kittens, I’m writing this not because you deserve to know what happens to the animals that you toss, but so that you know how angry and upsetting it is to the humans that are left to deal with your irresponsible and inhumane treatment of the animals you desert.
This past Saturday I was walking my dog when I heard meowing in the woods by the creek. I couldn’t see anything so wasn’t 100% sure that I was hearing what I thought I was hearing. I took my dog home and grabbed my husband for a “surprise walk.” When we reached the area where the meows were coming from, a tiny orange and white striped kitten with pretty blue-green eyes came running to us from out of the brush. It was scared and shaking, covered in fleas and its little belly was bloated. My husband walked back up the hill to fetch a box to put her in so that we could get her to the animal shelter when they opened.
The little kitty was so friendly and cute, I knew someone would snatch her up quickly. We got her home and with a little coaxing, I was able to get her to drink some water. But what happened next was horrible! She started running around in circles and making a terrible coughing noise. We figured she was horse from all the crying - but no, she was dying! She ran to the edge of the driveway, fell over onto her side and died.
What started out as a rescue, ended as a burial for a kitten that wasn’t ours and that we had only known for about 20 minutes. I’m thankful she didn’t die alone and at least was shown a little love and compassion before leaving this world. We didn’t abandon her to die in the woods and be eaten by coyotes like the deadbeat who won’t take care of their own responsibilities. I prayed for kitty to rest in peace as we put her in a shoebox and buried her in our pasture.
I truly hope that people who dump their animals will read this and realize how their actions affect others. Just because you don’t want to deal with it, do you really think this is ok? To leave defenseless animals to fend for themselves, where it’s obvious they are either going to get eaten by coyotes or run over by a car – what kind of person are you?
I just want people to stop dumping their unwanted animals. Get your pets spayed and/or neutered. If you can’t afford it, there are places that will help with the cost. Take your unwanted pets to the shelter where they can find a home for them. And if you can’t afford the vet bills, then it’s pretty simple, don’t get a pet.
Darlia Maxwell
La Grange