Animals are often healthy when euthanized

It is so sad that animals are often healthy when euthanized. ( http://www.paws.org/about/mag/issues/issue51/livessaved.php) Animals give so much to so many people. They add such joy and have such unconditional love. Please consider all the healthy animals that are killed everyday due to overpopulation. We can put men on the moon. Why can we not prevent overpopulation of animals ? Is it such a dilemma that humans cannot figure out? Is it negligence as a human race? Are there too few who really care?

How many are destroyed?

The following article is from AC- Associated Content. It gives us an idea of how many animals are euthanized. It is very disturbing.

April 27, 2006

Why it is so Important to Consider Adopting Your Next Pet from a Shelter

It is widely accepted that 9.6 million animals are euthanized annually in the United States.

Accurate record keeping is impossible at this time, due to the sheer number of animals handled and emergency shelters opening and closing daily. However, based on the only known statistics that the American Humane Society has recognized to date, the 1997

National Counsel On Pet Population And Study, of the 1,000 shelters that replied to the National Council's survey, 4.3 million animals were handled. In 1997 roughly 64% of the total number of animals that entered shelters were euthanized - approximately 2.7 million animals in just these 1,000 shelters. These animals may have been put down due to overcrowding, but may have been sick, aggressive, injured, or suffered something else. A staggering 56% of dogs and 71% of cats that enter animal shelters are euthanized. More cats are euthanized than dogs because they are more likely to enter a shelter without any owner identification. Only 15% of dogs and 2% of cats that enter animal shelters are reunited with their owners. Only 25% of dogs and 24% of cats that enter animal shelters are adopted.

Pause (PAWS) and take the pledge!

Take a minute and visit the ASPCA website so you add your name to the list in order to support prevention of animal cruelty. Take the pledge . The site has lots of information about all the different ways that cruelty continues. It is good to be aware and learn about ways to prevent cruelty.
http://www.aspca.org/

Pets and the 4th of July

Just a quick note on this Independence Day to remember pets are not really celebrating as humans are. They definitely are not as excited or impressed with the fireworks or other unexpected ear piercing noises that sound like someone is trying to shoot at them or kill them. Pets get confused, frightened, irritated, and possibly terrified about what is going on around them.

Responsible pet owners please remember to take any precautions possible so that your pets cannot get in harms way. Inside if possible is better than outside. If home with your pet be calm and comforting. Do you like to be stressed and scared? It is not funny to see animals distressed and scared. We know they are safe but they do not. If animals are outside or have access to the outside, they often will run frantically and can easily be injured when startled by the noises. Remember they are and will react as if they are in a combat zone. Imagine if we didn't know what was happening?

Please lets prevent injury, distress, and harm any way we can! Have a happy and safe 4th!

Empathy...

Just a heads up to parents and caretakers of children that if a child does not develop empathy, they are usually able to harm animals without any remorse. These children often do not have the ability to develop a conscience.
Empathy is both genetic and learned. It is a gradual and slow process and is different for each individual. By around the age of four a child should be demonstrating signs of empathy for other living things. Please read more about normal development especially if you have reasons for concern. click here
They can learn what to do or not do to prevent getting in trouble but they do have intrinsic empathy. There are several problems here. One is that these children will learn to avoid getting into trouble by doing things secretively so they do not get caught but they will continue to do things to hurt animals unknowing to the parents.
Another serious concern is that this type of behavior as a result of the lack of proper development can indicate other possible mental illness, such as psychosis. Please be aware and address this problem if your child or any child is injuring animals or seems to not have compassion, a conscience, or empathy toward animals.

A new dog place in town

As much as think it is important to talk about the topics that most people do not want to know about much less think about or discuss.
I also think it is equally important to mention good events, products, and places for pets and animals. I am hopeful one day this blog is only about positive animal facts and stories!

There is a new place here in Locust Point Baltimore MD. It is a day care and spa for pets so please if in the area support a wonderful options for pets when owners are in need of good quality care in their absence and for other products and services.

www. SoBodogcare.com
443-539-7626 (sobo...for those unknowing that stands for South Baltimore)

Pets in cages

I sometimes cannot bare to think about all the animals in cages. There are so many stuck in little cooped up spaces just waiting for someone to touch them,
talk to them, take them out of the cages. Some probably do not consider this

suffering or cruelty because they are safe. Well I just would like to say I wonder
how anyone would like to be placed in a cage to live endlessly... never knowing
when or if it will end. I wonder if anyone who thinks this is can think for a
minute while walking around freely what it might be like to be caged.

How long must the days, hours, minutes be ? And so many
finally get out but not for a walk or for freedom but only to be euthanized. Nice thought! Please spay and neuter and ask others to do so as well.