Today, I visited the local county animal shelter. I went in search of two cats I'd been feeding in hopes of rescuing, but whom I haven't seen for awhile. Betty, the kitty to the left needed attention and stole my heart. Unfortunately, I have as many cats as I can handle now, and I could not offer Betty a home. It is quite literally heartbreaking.Statistics vary, but millions of unwanted dogs and cats, and other animals are euthanized each year in the United States alone. That's thousands of animals killed each day. Most of these animals just need a loving home and would give unconditional love in return.
Some of these pets become lost. Others are abandoned. You may wonder how people could be heartless enough to abandon these pets. I wonder as well, though I know some reasons. Apartment dwellers abandon a lot of pets, I suppose because they can't find a new place that allows pets. Many of the people facing home foreclosures abandon pets, the most vile act is when the pets are left locked inside with no food or water in an effort to ruin the house for the bank foreclosing on the property. Some animals get in stores or businesses and animal control is called to get them. With cats, many are born feral since irresponsible owners don't spay or neuter their cats and let them breed in the wild. A beautiful tortoiseshell cat was being left at the shelter when I was leaving, by a man who's dogs had kept chasing the cat around the yard, and who was unable to find the owner among his neighbors. There are more reasons than reasonable.
Please don't support pet mills and specialty breeders when so many lives depend on people giving shelter animals a chance. These cages are filled with many loving animals who just need a chance to make your life better, just for giving them a loving home.
Your local shelter is full. You can help either by adopting, or by advertising them by word of mouth to your friends, neighbors and relatives. Special breeds are often available. Around 25% of dogs in shelters are purebred. Please give these sweet animals a chance. Adopt a family member today.
Betty's profile can be viewed along with many others at http://www.co.santa-rosa.fl.us/animals/straylostpets.html.
