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Action
can reduce cruelty tomorrow
July 31,
2008
If you're reading this column, chances are you're already a devoted
pet owner. You're one of those folks who are as amazed by your
four-legged companions today as you were the day you brought them
home, and you provide them with large doses of compassion, in
addition to their basic needs.
If you're reading this, you've also probably experienced
frustration, anger, sadness and hopelessness when you witness an
animal being neglected or in poor care.
Animal cruelty is often a symptom of other problems, such as abuse
in the home or even a home environment where everything is always in
chaos and crisis.
Animal cruelty falls into two categories: that of intentional
cruelty or unintentional cruelty. Unintentional cruelty is
the most common form because it simply comes from a pet owner not
having learned as early as childhood that animals feel, require
socialization and need us to provide fully for their care.
So what can we do to help alleviate the problem of animal
suffering, especially in the day-to-day instances that we come upon,
and how can we hopefully prevent future generations from continuing
the same practice?
Not unlike those whose everyday life is in the animal care field,
one can easily become frustrated that you can't save each and every
one.
But there are things you can do that can have a long-term impact.
Always adopt an animal from an animal shelter, and encourage friends
to do so, because chances are you are the final step in saving them
from a previous life of being a stray or neglected animal. And when
you adopt from a shelter, you are not adopting a castoff or a pound
animal.
When you visit an animal shelter, you'll be surprised by the
amazingly wonderful pets you'll find there. Likewise, do not
adopt from breeders. When they can't find a buyer, those animals
will likely end up in a shelter, and the cycle of pet overpopulation
will only continue.
Practice
spaying and neutering your own pet and make the topic of spaying
and neutering dinner table conversation. Share the news that there
are millions of animals that cannot find a home because there are an
overburdening number of animals entering shelters each time one
person decides not to spay or neuter their pet.
Volunteer at your local animal shelter, because you will help at
least one animal every time you walk through that door. Also
consider volunteering in
programs
that help young children or at local schools and share your
knowledge of humane care and compassion for animals. Exposing the
next generation to humane education is the most effective way of
preventing future acts of cruelty.
-
Gloria Dauphin
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