July 10, 2009 7:13 AM
Posted By Ann
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The obvious solution to the problem of surplus to demand dogs and cats surely lies at the beginning, not the all too soon end of so many lives? Puppy (and kitten) mills churning out endless cute babies to supply the Pet shops are one of the problems, legislation to stop pet shops selling puppies and kittens would help considerably here, These shops rely on impulse buyers, who in a very short time can become impulse disposers. Why pay boarding fees when you go away on holiday – take it to the local Shelter and go to the pet shop for another when you get home is a much easier solution. ALL dogs and cats kept as pets should be de-sexed. Vets and animal societies can help here by making it cheaper. A much stricter policing of breeders would also help. Get rid of sentimental and woolly thinking, it is NOT cruel to stop a cat or dog breeding, It is irresponsible and cruel to bring puppies and kittens into a world that has no room for them. Those who do let their dog or cat have a litter and then take the results to the local Shelter in the misguided belief they will be found good homes should be told the truth, They are much more likely to be killed, Less than 40% get re-homed and the older they are the less likely it is. People want a playful puppy or a cute kitty and when it very quickly outgrows that stage then it may well find itself unwanted again. Many years ago I bred cats, my only excuse that in those days a pedigree and a high price tag gave a puppy or a kitten some sort of security. Not any more. Purebred dogs abound in Shelters and you will find cats and kittens of every shade and shape and length of coat, as beautiful as any coming from breeders’ catteries. I found Lily in Ingrid’s Haven, a no kill cat shelter, she was one of literally dozens of kittens rescued at the eleventh hour, to be de-sexed and taken to the Haven instead of killed. Lily was lucky, she found her way to a no-kill cat shelter where she would be safe for the rest of her life even if no-one adopted her. She could have just been a statistic, one of approximately 60,000 kittens killed each year in Australia. Lily is now the cover girl on my new book, which is quite a step from the throw away kitten a breath away from extinction. She has made me re-think all my ideas and pre-conceived notions about the way we deal with excess animals. Lily is now an exquisite young cat, extremely intelligent, loving and mischievous. Above all she relishes life and gets the maximum enjoyment out of it. I question our right to deprive her, and others like her, of this. We who love animals must do something collectively to stop the huge death toll of puppies, kittens, cats and dogs. The really appalling thing is that numbers are rising – not falling – proving that the current practice of killing those who fail to find new homes quickly is not working. A good start would be if we all adopted the slogan: DON’T BREED OR BUY WHILE HOMELESS PETS DIE |