by Donna Park

Created on: October 24, 2008

Animal Control Officers should most certainly be prevented by law enforcement from selling strays to research facilities. There are many reasons that I believe this way and I would hope that after reading this, every pet owner would agree.

First of all, while most animal control officers choose this job because they love animals, there are some who only do it for the paycheck. This is where a problem comes in. If the ac officer is only there for the money, he/she would be trying to find animals just for this purpose. Could you imagine your pet accidentally getting out of the yard and some such person finding it? What would stop this person from removing the collar and tags and selling your dog? Perhaps before you even realize it's missing. Also, it may even lead to animals being stolen from there homes by ac officers in need of some extra cash. I know that most ac officers would never consider doing this but we all know that there are many who would, especially now when the economy is at it's worst.

Another reason for not allowing this practice is that it may cause some shelters to shorten the length of time they keep their strays. This would result in less time for the stray to find that happy, loving home that it so desperately wants and needs. The fact that a dog/cat sits in a shelter for a few days and isn't chosen doesn't mean that it will not be chosen. Perhaps the right person had to work that week and was planning on coming in later in the week to chose a dog/cat. This would result in the animal losing out on a forever home and the person losing out on their new best friend, all because the shelter was in a hurry to make some extra cash. It would just be a lose lose situation for everyone involved except the shelter.

Last but not least, my last reason for believing this way is purely opinion on my part. I personally believe that testing on animals is cruel and inhumane. It is bad enough that the dog/cat was abandoned in the first place and doesn't have a family to love and care for it, but to be sent to a facilitly to live in a cramped cage and be poked and proded and given medicines that make it sick each day would be a fate worse than the simple shot they would receive if they were to be euthanized. Animals, like humans have feelings. Animals should not be put into this situation at all in my opinion.

So in conclusion, I feel that there are many reasons that law enforcement should not allow ac officers to sell strays to research facilities. To sum it up, it would result in animals being practically stolen from their homes, shorter times for the animals to find new homes and cruel treatment for something that was beyond the control of the animal. If you have read this and you were on the "no" side of the argument, I hope that I have been able to change your mind. Thank you for reading.

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