My daughters live in a apartment complex. When I go to visit, there are many cats wondering around the complex. Some of them have homes, but for the most part most of them are wild. I had taken two sets of mother and kittens to our local animal shelter, because they were among the wild bunch of the complex. I thought I was doing a good deed until I got there. The first set that we took to the shelter, were judged of how the kittens looked. They told use that they would wait until the kittens were weened to know the fate of the mother. They assured us that the kittens could be sold.
The second set that we took, they examined them just like the first set. There was a different tone this time because the kittens did not look the way the first set did. The mother, mated with several partners and this caused a bunch of "misfits." The woman sighed and said; "just take them to the back." Upon walking slowly to the back of the shelter, I felt like I was warden with prisoners going to the gas chamber. I knew their fate. We rang the bell and a man walked out. His face was not what I wanted to see. He was angry and stated; "another group?" He grabbed the cages and threw the mother and kittens into one cage. I knew they were going to be euthanize.
I blame irresponsible owners for not taking care of these animals. Maybe we should start putting the owners to sleep. There are many other options that could save an animals life. But we seem not to have the time for them. In our minds they are just an animal. The only way that an animal should be euthanize is when all other options have been exhausted. We seem to think that putting these animal to sleep is doing them a favor? It is not solving the problem. I watch on the streets, people who are driving intently hitting animals. People get tired of their animals and drop them off in parks, abounded them on freeways, and some torture and abuse them. So who is really at fault here?
I blame some of the shelters also. I had bought, two years ago a puppy because my lab died of a stroke. She was nine years old. She was a member of our family. It crushed us all. In buying the new puppy, the first twelve hours we knew something was wrong. Mind you he was neuter by the shelters vet. In bringing him home he would not eat, he was vomiting, his eyes were blood shot. But the vet from the shelter said he was fine. The next morning he just laid on my pillow and looked up at me. I knew I had to take him to my own vet. She told me that the puppy was very sick and that she would like to do a "Parvo" test. The test which usually takes about twenty to thirty minutes came back only in three. My puppy had parvo. She asked where I got the puppy and I told her what shelter. She shook her head and said that the shelter had many violations. (Which I did not know.)She had no choice to put my puppy to sleep. I held him in my arms and watched him go to sleep. I was angry, for the fact of loosing this puppy in less then twenty-four hours was not right.
The shelter was only concerned about making money. Since then, the shelter has been in the newspaper many of times. They claim they don't have enough money to maintain so many animals that come in each day. This is a County based shelter? But; "I forgot "they are just animals." I have not gotten another dog. I do want another dog. I sometimes wish that I had a ranch to where I could take these animals in these shelters, and give them a good home. They sit in the cages, many putting on their most convincing face just so they can have a home. Others sit way back in the corner of the cage, sad knowing their fate.
We need a voice to come up with a solution to a problem that can be addressed. The animals cannot speak for themselves. Do not go out and get a animal from a shelter because your kids think they are cute. That is why many of them are being put to sleep the "cuteness" wears of to some owners. It take great responsibly to raise a animal. I have a cat "Mr. Ham" who I found under my house three years ago. He is well taking care of. I have two parakeets also. I love animals. They can be your best friend when you need one.
The word "compassionate" does not mean to kill, unless their is no other option. We need to step back and find a solution to the problems, not find a temporary fix. "Euthanasia" is a temporary fix until the next animal walks through the door.