I made a trip to a local shelter to make some donations for some items they need. I felt good going in knowing I was doing something to help the animals. My good feeling was short lived. As I went to the window there was a couple there with a sickly old dog on a leash. It was obvious he was both old and sick. He had an old gray face he swayed from side to side and was drooling. His eyes met mine. I crouched down to say hello and he could barely lift his head to greet me, but he used just enough energy to meet my eyes. I put my hand out and said, "Hey old boy whats wrong?" I overheard the conversation between the shelter worker and the gentleman. He said he wanted to leave his dog there. He knew he was old and sick and was soon going to die and did not want to have to take him to the pound.
I, being the shy person I am (sarcastically put), instantly exclaimed, "You are doing what?" I went on further, "You are going to leave your 9 year old dog who is dying of cancer at the shelter because you don't want to have to take the dog to the vet yourself?" He replied that it was cheaper at the pound. I explained to him that I understood that but at least be there with the dog when he gets put down. I went on further that his dog has been a family member for over nine years and now when the dog needed him the most he wanted to dump him. I was so upset.
I looked into his dog's eyes and my heart broke. I looked at my dog who went in with me to drop off the donation and she sensed that there was something not right with the shelter. We were only a few steps in the front door and her normal "perky" ears and wagging tail immediately changed. Her ears down, her back hunched and her tail between her legs. I went on and told him to look at Abbie, my dog, and look how fearful she was and she was going no further than where we had stopped. He did not respond.
I then told him to look in his dogs eyes and explain to him why he was dumping him. He got a bit "huffy" yet I again got no response again.
How could someone do that...How dare he?
I cannot understand how someone can take their dog who they claim to have loved to the one place a dog fears most...a shelter. I equate it to taking your mother to a run down old folks home and just leaving her there. It happens as it does with animals at a shelter. A shelter should be a last resort not a dumping ground for your beloved pet. I understand financial strain and I understand that if the shelter can euthanize a dog for less money than a vet , but for heaven sakes let you be the last person your dog sees. Every breathing moment he has loved you unconditionally. It is the least you owe your pet.
As I walked out of the shelter I stopped at the door and turned around and said "Hey...do humanity a favor and don't get another dog."
Some have said I was too harsh to this guy and others wholeheartedly understand and agree. I guess once you work hands on in rescue one learns there is a fallacy with the statement "I took my dog to the pound because he/she is a bad dog." The reality is the dog is not the one who is bad. It is the human.
Animal abuse comes in many different forms. Dumping your pet at a shelter for no apparent reason is cowardly and animal abuse as far as I am concerned. Imagine nine years of a wagging tail and a loyal companion who loved you unconditionally every day. His eyes were the first thing you saw in the morning and the last thing at night. Then after all that he gives... your thanks to him is a long walk down a long corridor with a complete stranger and a shot ending his life. No "thank you" for a great life, no nothing. The last eyes he sees are those of a complete stranger. Confused, scared and dazed he closes his eyes for the last time.
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I ask once again....Who is humanity's shame?
Amen.. There are also a LOT of vets that will come to your home when the time comes (due to sickness, old age) so that they can be with their loving family in the end. We just recently had a 13 year old dog dropped at our shelter due to 'being old' (seriously, nothing wrong with the dog physically!) Thankfully, after only 1 day of posting this beautiful girl 2 families stepped up to adopt her! Personally, I had to make that hard decision (to end my cat's suffering) only once in my life, all others either passed in their sleep or in my arms (naturally) and as hard as that was, I feel blessed because it was ME who sent them on their way, telling them it was ok, that I would be alright and would see them later. And in the very end, they knew they would always be loved.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree!!!!!!! Every pet I have had has passed in my arms.....my eyes being the last they saw and my voice being the last they hear...we owe them that much.
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