| If there is anything in this world that really gets me angry it is animal abuse, and that is saying a lot for me since I rarely let my temper show. I myself am an animal lover; my pets are my family, and to tell the truth, I prefer animals to people. They're calmer, quieter, and they don't spend ninety percent of their time insulting you. And that's coming from someone who owns 1 dog, two cats, two rabbits, a parakeet, a cockatiel, and a tankful of fish. Not to mention the strays I feed. But that's beside the point. Why do people abuse animals? That's a question I'd like to know the answer to. Some say they do it out of boredom, others for sport. But are those really reasons? Heck no! Those are some of the stupidest excuses I've ever heard. There are even some places who maim animals because they think it makes them look beautiful. It's disgusting really. I myself would prefer a normal, healthy kitten to one who had been sealed into a bottle for part of its life like a bonsai cat has been. But do you want to know what's worse? Really? Well, I'm more than happy to tell ya! Most people who are arrested for animal abuse are given hardly more than a slap on the wrist or a day or two in jail. And do you know why??? Because, according to the judges, animals are not as important as humans!!!! Now, really, is that some kind of sick joke?! Animals have been humanity's friends, companions, and beasts of burden for thousands of years. And the death of an animal is less important than the death of a human. That's just sad. And yes, I know that I am ranting, but it makes me feel better. Anyway, back onto the topic. There are ways and ways to stop animal abuse and help control it, and one way to do that is to make sure that the abusers are justly punished. Higher fines and longer jail time would help. But for the most part, the animal's owner is responsible for making sure that their pet is well cared for and kept off the streets and away from dangerous, bored individuals who simply cannot come up with a better way to spend their time. In fact, just to help you get started I'll include a list of suggestions and links to animal related sites at the bottom of this page and on the next one just for you people who love your pets and want to make sure that they do not have to face horrible torture at the hands of bored teenagers and disgusting individuals. |
| Suggestions Keep large dogs in fences or tied up; this will keep them off of the streets and away from people who will mistreat them. It will also keep the dogs away from small animals or people that the dog might hurt; sure, your pet may be nice to you, but how does it act around strangers? A dog that attacks someone is likely to get you in trouble or be hurt by someone else. Our old mailman used to pepperspray dogs that came after him because they were not properly secured. Keep all pets indoors on Samhain/Halloween night! Especially black cats!! Teenagers and other....individuals....will more than likely have their fun dissecting your pet and hanging its remains over someone's fence. I'm being blunt, I know, but I'm not one for sugar-coating the facts. It has happened before, and it will happen again. Sad, I know. Humans make me sick sometimes.... Make sure your animals are well fed and watered. A lot of times, pets that don't have enough food will get into the neighbor's trash and get run over. Someone who used to live by us actually put poison in her trash bags so that any animals that got into it ended up dying. Let's just say that our neighborhood suddenly became short of cats, and there were many distraught pet owners down the street for a while. If you absolutely have to let your cat or dog wander, make sure that it has been spayed or neutered. I know a lot of people believe these procedures are cruel, but a litter of unexpected kittens or puppies often gets tossed out on the street or sent to an animal shelter where they are usually euthanized. If you're going to get a pet for the first time, why not go to an animal shelter and adopt one? Sure, the puppies and kitties that come from the pet store are nice, and most of them have papers, but they cost a lot more than an adopted pet, and as far as I know pet shops are not in the practice of euthanizing their animals when they have too many of them for the space provided. And a lot of SPCA shelters have a spay/neuter program available. My dog was adopted, and the vet spayed her for free. We also got her first set of shots free. Nice deal, huh? Declawed cats might seem better for you, and a lot more convient on your carpets and furniture, but how does the cat feel about the process? Have someone pull your fingernails out and let me know how it feels. Not fun, I can assure you. It hurts. It hurts a lot. Back to the Castle Next Page |
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