Published Wednesday, December 2, 2009
http://www.thedadevillerecord.com/news/2009/dec/02/have-heart-homeless-pets/?print
What if you were cast aside like an old pair of shoes – out of sight and out of mind! I like to think that even in this busy, almost frantic-paced lifestyle in which we live, where people spend most of their time buried in their electronic gadgets and fast-food meals, there is still a genuine sense of caring for lost animals. But, caring for something often requires action – not just feelings of concern. Take my wife, for instance, she has real concern for “all” the homeless animals you read or hear about wandering aimlessly through life and she takes the initiative to do what she can to help. Most of these castaways are simply looking for a dry place to stay, a drink of cool water and something to eat. For most of us humans, these are things we take for granted. For many cats and dogs, this can mean the difference between life and death.
For more than a year, my wife has been taking care of two stray dogs that live in the woods. They live there because that is where someone left them to fend for themselves when they were mere pups. Although unable to catch them, she does her best to care for them daily. I found some scrap wood and built them a doghouse, she treated them for the mange with the assistance of Dr. Lisa Plaisance, DVM, Dadeville, and we have provided food and water to keep them healthy. The other day, when I went to pour some dry, dog food into one of their food bowls, surprisingly, I found two small kittens curled up inside the bowl trying to keep warm. It is almost as if they showed up in this “neck of the woods” because they knew we would help them. Happily, we took the, poor, tiny, heavily, flea-invested kittens home, gave them a bath, fed them and held them close – their quiet purring bringing tears to our eyes. (Incidentally, the bath water was bright red from the amount of blood released by the massive number of fleas covering every inch of their little bodies. Sadly, one of the kittens also had its tail traumatically severed.) After a few more days of nourishment and TLC, we will carry them to a “caring” animal shelter and pray they find them a good home. As for the dogs, we will catch them one day and give “them” the big sloppy kiss they deserve.
I share this story with every one of you because I know in my heart there are other people just like my wife doing the same generous deeds – day in and day out! Give yourself credit if you are one of the guardian angels traveling the byways with a bag of dry food and a container of water in the trunk of your car. You are the ones that stop for the friendly, wagging tail who looks like he has not eaten for long, long time.
In the meantime, everyone, please think twice about the responsibility of caring for an animal. Quite simply, they depend on you. Think about having your animal neutered or spayed to reduce the over-population in this country. Moreover, think twice about discarding that wagging tail or a four-legged fur ball on the side of the road. Just do me this favor. Take your unwanted pet to an animal shelter or try extremely hard to find them a home. Please, do not think they can survive on their own because, quite honestly, they cannot.
Carl Holcomb is a guest columnist for The Dadeville Record. He is from Jackson’s Gap.
Courtesy: http://www.thedadevillerecord.com/news/2009/dec/02/have-heart-homeless-pets/#comments