Dallas, TX Needs to Get their Act Together Regarding Animal Welfare...

When it comes to animal welfare, Dallas feels more Third World than world-class

Sharon Grigsby Follow @SharonFGrigsby Email sgrigsby@dallasnews.com

Published: March 16, 2016 11:23 amTwitter

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The story of Khaleesi, found by Dallas firefighters in January with a slit throat, illustrates why we can’t “nip and tuck” our way to solving animal-related issues. (KXAS-TV, NBC5)

Two recent dog stories illustrate why I’m more determined than ever to keep a spotlight aimed on Dallas’ animal-related problems, longstanding challenges that seem so darn intractable that only the most stubborn of us keep up the fight.

And they remind me that while no city leader (or leaders) has emerged to make this a top priority, many capable people — individuals, animal rescue groups, Dallas Animal Services staff and business owners — are trying to stop the bleeding (sometimes literally).These two stories remind me of why we need a full-scale overhaul in the way we look at animal issues in Dallas — why nips and tucks aren’t enough.

But things won’t really improve until the Dallas City Council takes hold of this as a Priority One issue and refuses to let go.That leadership has to come from southern Dallas council members and/or Mayor Mike Rawlings, because the northern districts simply don’t experience the problem that the south does.

The kind of leader I’m talking about — or even better, a team of council members — may well not exist on the City Council at this time. It may take citizens coming together and running a candidate whose platform focuses on the kind of change that, say, Austin rallied around.

We need wholesale reform in southern Dallas and reform within how Dallas Animal Services is structured and how it works. This is bigger than what individuals and DAS can accomplish on their own; again, I believe both parties — sometimes in partnership — are doing what they can under the current system. (I am sick to death of the wasted energies devoted to the finger-pointing and fighting. If the people involved in the fight to help the dogs could be as kind to one another as they are to the creatures they rescue, leaders would likely listen more carefully.)

Meanwhile, it’s “out of sight, out of mind” among city leaders, who without doubt have other pressing issues that vie for their attention. I fear that in their mind, the dog chaos was last year’s problem; they’ve checked it off the list and are moving on. (We had some momentum here, but that was several months ago.) You don’t have to look much further than the fact that the council’s Quality of Life committee hasn’t heard an update on the situation in months to see that this has dropped off the radar. All that tough talk back in the fall seems to have been just that — talk.

Dallas simply cannot move on — we must get total council buy-in, starting with all of the southern Dallas members. Here are the two stories that illustrate why we’re more of a Third World outpost than a world-class city when it comes to animal-related issues:

Lori, Maggie and a weekend of dog chaos

Fido Oak Cliff Lost & Found is just one of the popular posting sites for stray, loose and neglected dogs in Oak Cliff, particularly the neighborhoods west of Interstate 35, from Kessler to Kiest-Polk. In the time span of Friday afternoon through yesterday, I counted more than 30 reports, most of them with photos, of roaming dogs – some pregnant and neglected, some clearly owned, some menacing and others friendly.

Chris Watts, who is co-owner of Petropolitan and the District 1 Animal Commission representative, is accustomed to the loose dogs that frequent his operation’s Oak Cliff location. I talked to him yesterday about a number of issues, including his weekend of herding dogs “astray” in Oak Cliff. Here are just two of them:

Maggie, a repeat offender when it comes to fence-jumping. (Chris Watts)

One small roamer (right) turned out to be chipped. A call was made and the grateful owner picked up little Maggie, who apparently jumps over her human’s short fence and walks the neighborhood frequently. Watts took the time to look over the owner’s backyard and offered some tips on how to keep Maggie from getting out again.

Street dog Lori, whose owners decided they really didn’t want her after all. (Chris Watts)

Next came a wonderful couple into Petropolitan hoping to identify a wandering dog (right) that had been skulking around scared among nearby houses for a week, seemingly waiting for someone to pick her back up. Watts checked for a chip and, sure enough, another owner was found. But this conversation didn’t go so well. At first, the owner expressed joy, saying the family had been looking for Lori since October and would be right over. When they didn’t show up, Watts called again and was told to find someone else who wanted Lori or take her to the animal shelter. This family actually didn’t want Lori back.

The original sweet-hearted couple who found Lori are taking her to DAS today; she’ll likely be available for adoption.

That’s just the start of the weekend stories from the streets of Oak Cliff.  There’s the husky who stands outside the back door of a fast-food restaurant waiting for handouts.  An intact male pit bull walking among traffic at Tyler and Davis. A puppy lost at Kidd Springs.  A German shepherd that regularly hangs out at the corner of Zang and Illinois. Other stories too sad and complicated to tell quickly.

This is why we need wholesale reform.

 Video: Khaleesi and the need for an animal crimes unit

Watching null 

http://www.nbcdfw.com/templates/nbc_partner_player?cmsID=365493161&videoID=TMnl8p4o_1bF&origin=nbcdfw.com&sec=news&subsec=local&width=600&height=360&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com%2F2016%2F03%2Fwhen-it-comes-to-animal-welfare-dallas-feels-more-third-world-than-world-class.html%2F&ourl=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com&lp=1

I’ve focused most of my attention on loose dogs and the quality-of-life issues that they and neighbors endure in southern Dallas. But another area of need involves the city’s lack of an animal crimes unit. Of the 10 largest cities in the country, Dallas is one of four with no investigative unit within either the police department or sheriff’s operation. Austin and Houston have them; San Antonio, like Dallas, does not.

Let me explain why this matters. Remember Khaleesi, the sad-eyed tan and white dog rescued in January by Dallas firefighters who quickly discovered her throat had been slashed? (The video telling her story, from KXAS-TV/NBC, is posted above.)

The Station 46 firefighters were at a Red Bird neighborhood home trying to extinguish a blaze, which seemed to have been intentionally set. (Neighbors around this sketchy property saw someone pouring gasoline around the structure before the fire erupted.)

As DMN writer Julie Fancher reported, once the fire was out, a female pit bull approached the firefighters inside the house and laid down at their feet. The rescue workers quickly realized her throat had been cut.

Firefighter Joseph Nguyen said: “It was deep, fresh, very clean. We suspected whoever lit the house on fire did this to her.”

The story of Khaleesi, who received her name from firefighters, has a happy ending: She underwent emergency surgery and is recovering under the care of DFW Rescue Me, a nonprofit animal organization based in Denton. With Khaleesi is her puppy, who was found hiding in a dog house.

What the stories back in January didn’t point out was that no animal cruelty investigation took place on behalf of Khaleesi.

But now, just as those firefighters were her heroes, Khaleesi,  in turn, may be a hero for other dogs who suffer abuse. That’s because Khaleesi’s story puts a face on the need for the city of Dallas to create a strict protocol for how to handle animal cruelty investigations.

Because no such protocol is in place — because no one is in charge of these cases and we have no animal crimes unit  – there was no clear reporting procedure when Khaleesi was found. If there had been, a careful investigation — and possibly charges– could have followed.

Let me be very clear here: I don’t believe any one — and that goes double for the firefighters and rescue group that came to Khaleesi’s aid — is to blame for the fact that no cruelty case was filed on behalf of the dog.

Finger-pointing isn’t appropriate because, although Dallas firefighters or Dallas police, who were also on the scene of the fire, could have started an investigation, they are not officially charged with doing so.There is simply no structure or rules in place for animal cruelty investigations. And that means perpetrators of cruelty can slip between the cracks.

This lack of accountability is the same issue that Stephanie Timko and others have been raising regarding the dead dogs dumped in the Dowdy Ferry area of southeastern Dallas.

Fixing this system is important, not just for the vulnerable animals, but for human beings as well. We know that abuse of pets is often an indicator of child abuse or domestic violence. Ditto for those two crimes being markers for animal abuse as well. The same is true for drug users — they often turn out to also be animal abusers.

Police reports show that the house where Khaleesi was rescued had a history of violence — accusations involving drugs, gunshots and aggravated assault. At least once, 311 was called — to pick up a dead puppy.

This is why we need wholesale reform. This is why we must keep calling on the Dallas City Council to make animal welfare a No. 1 priority. City staffers and leaders are beginning to build the next fiscal-year budget. Now is the time to make your voice heard on this issue.

Copyright The Dallas Morning News


                                         



Thanks for visiting my blog for the animals. It's always great to connect with another animal lover. If you and I don't speak up for them, who will?





Coins That Count:

Is your coin jar overflowing? Turn that loose change into cash that helps animals by donating to The HSUS at participating Coinstar machines nationwide. Where to go» Find a Kiosk near you...

     https://www.coinstar.com/kioskfinder?element=Charity&parmName=HumaneSocietyofUS

                                           
Until next time….hug your animals. Tell them you love them. If you don’t have a pet, adopt one. Make adoption your first option when seeking a pet. Adopt. Don’t shop. Can’t adopt. Please consider fostering one. The animal will have the taste of home and the shelter will cover the expenses. Can’t foster? Make a donation or volunteer at your local shelter. Please, don’t hunt. Unless you’re starving down in a ditch somewhere, there is no logical reason to do so. Whatever you do, however you do it, please be a voice for the animals large and small. All it takes is one to make a difference, good or bad. 
Together, you and I can make a difference in an animal's life.  I’m one for the animals. Are you? Thanks for visiting. Stay safe. Be strong. Be happy. Smile. Show compassion. Be nice to one another. Pass it onward. If you like what you see here, please consider signing up to become a follower. Please feel free to share this post with others.

    Regards,

    S.J. Francis

    In Shattered Lies: "Good and bad, it's All About Family."  Available now from Black Opal Books and for sale at on-line retailers and independent booksellers.

   “Some secrets should remain that way.” 

      My Black Opal Books Author Page:

            http://www.blackopalbooks.com/author-bios/bio-sj-francis 

                 My web page: http://www.sjfranciswriter.com  

                                     Twitter: https://twitter.com/sjfrancis419 

 Facebook fan page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/SJ-Francis/480058115420325 

                  My writing Blog: http://sjfranciswriter.blogspot.com 

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And now for some legal stuff: Copyright 2015 by S.J. Francis. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, S. J. Francis and are meant to entertain, inform and enlighten, and intend to offend no one.

     

Keep Your Pet Safe from Toxins And Free Animals from Red Tape...

Announcing the Top Pet Toxins of 2015:

                                 

March is National Animal Poison Prevention Month, and we’d like to kick it off by sharing our list of toxins most commonly ingested by pets—and reported to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC)—in 2015. The APCC has revealed that for the first time ever, over-the-counter medications and supplements surpassed prescription medications to take the top spot. Check out the full list below!

1. Over-the-counter medications: These medications, including herbal and other natural supplements, attracted the most concern this year for the first time in the APCC’s history, with more than 28,500 cases reported. This category is exceptionally large, encompassing nearly 7,000 products.
2. Human prescription medications: Prescribed human medications fell to the second spot on the list, representing nearly 16% of all cases. The types of medication to which animals were most often exposed correlate with the most popular medications prescribed to humans.
3. Insecticides: Insect poisons accounted for nearly 9% of the calls to APCC (more than 15,000 cases). If label directions are not followed, these products can be very dangerous to pets.
4. Human foods: Pets—especially dogs, who ingest human foods more often than cats—can get into serious trouble by ingesting onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, alcohol and xylitol. More than 14,600 APCC cases in 2015 involved human foods.
5. Household items: Products found around the home made up more than 14,000 cases in 2015. The most common items for this category include cleaning products, fire logs and paint.
6. Veterinary medications: Overdoses of medications prescribed by veterinarians represented more than 7% of total cases in 2015. Chewable medications are very appealing to pets, requiring extra caution.
7. Chocolate: Chocolate continues be very problematic for pets, accounting for more than 7% of all APCC cases in 2015—averaging more than 30 cases a day. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it can be.
8. Plants: Indoor and outdoor plants represented nearly 5% of the calls to the APCC in 2015. Most of these calls involve cats and houseplants. Be sure to understand the toxicity of plants before putting them in or around your house.
9. Rodenticides: Rodent poisons can be just as toxic to pets as they are to the mice and rats these products are designed to kill. Last year, APCC handled more than 8,100 cases involving rodenticides.
10. Lawn and garden products. These products, including herbicides and fungicides, round out the top ten, accounting for 3% of all APCC calls. It’s incredibly important to store lawn and garden products out of the reach of pets.

Help spread the word! Download this handy guide featuring our top pet toxins and share it on your social media networks.

Please visit our APCC section to find out more about items that could be poisonous to your furry friends. APCC is your best resource for any animal poison-related emergency—24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately.

And while you're visiting today, can you take a few moments to help extract animals from red tape:

    Animals are victims more than once because of those that commit crimes against/using them. Then there is the red tape that keeps harming them. 

     U.S. H.R. 4613—Help Extract Animals from Red Tape (HEART) Act

Sponsors:  Rep. John Katko (R-NY) and Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA)
ASPCA Position:  Support Action Needed:  Please use the form below to email your U.S. representative and urge him or her to cosponsor the HEART Act.

When animals fall victim to cruelty and are seized in federal animal fighting busts, they may endure months-long stays in shelters as the related criminal cases work their way through the court system.

Even with high-quality care, this extended period of legal limbo not only causes extreme stress and behavioral problems for the innocent animal victims involved, but also prevents them from being fully rehabilitated and adopted into new homes. What’s more, the astronomical expense of holding seized animals for long periods of time can cause financial and logistical obstacles for animal organizations and may prevent shelters from assisting in future investigations, which means fewer animals saved.

Fortunately, new legislation recently introduced in Congress will help cut through the red tape for federal victims of animal fighting. The HEART Actwill give judges the authority to require the owners of seized animals to be responsible for the costs of their care in federal animal fighting cases, and help animals find homes faster by expediting the court process which allows them to be re-homed and rehabilitated.

What You Can Do
Proceed to this website link: 

http://www.aspca.org/take-action/advocacy-center/usa-help-extract-animals-red-tape?ms=em_new_advocacy-animalfighting-20160304&initialms=em_new_advocacy-animalfighting-20160304&utm_source=newsalertemail_20160304&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsalert

Fill out the website form to contact your U.S. representative in D.C. and urge him or her to cosponsor the HEART Act. The form has two steps: After you submit your information, you will be able to view and edit our pre-drafted message before authorizing it to send.

On behalf of all animal fighting victims, thank you!     


Update: March 23, 2016

Top Four Easter Hazards for Pets

As many families prepare to celebrate Easter this weekend, it’s important to keep in mind that this spring holiday may pose potential hazards for our furry friends. Before you hide eggs in your yard and decorate your home, please read the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s (APCC) list of the top four most common Easter dangers:

1. Chocolate. The APCC received an average 37 calls a day regarding pets eating chocolate in 2015. Most of those exposures occurred around holidays: Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter. Chocolate can cause gastrointestinal upset, pancreatitis, stimulation to the nervous system (hyperactivity, tremors and seizures) and elevation in heart rate. Not all chocolate is created equally—the darker the chocolate, the less it takes to cause problems for pets. Other ingredients to keep out of your pet’s reach include raisins, macadamia nuts, xylitol and alcohol.

2. Plastic Easter Grass. While pets cannot absorb plastic Easter grass into their bodies, when consumed, this plastic material can become lodged in the gastrointestinal tract and wreak havoc. Signs for concern include vomiting, diarrhea, decrease in appetite, lethargy, and stomach pain.

3. Plants. Many plants can cause issues for pets, but during this time of year, the APCC sees an uptick in calls about Lilies and bulbs that bloom in spring. Lilies (Lilium sp and Hemerocallis sp) can cause serious concerns for our feline friends. Exposure to any parts of the plant can result in kidney injury and gastrointestinal upset.

4. Fertilizers and Herbicides. Warmer weather brings gardening and yardwork. Many pet parents will use fertilizers and herbicides in their yards, and while these don’t often cause serious problems, it is best to keep pets indoors while applying the products, follow label instructions and wait to let your pet out again until the product has been watered in or the ground is dry.

 © 2016 American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. All rights reserved.

The ASPCA is a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit organization.

Until next time….hug your animals. Tell them you love them. If you don’t have a pet, adopt one. Make adoption your first option when seeking a pet. Adopt. Don’t shop. Can’t adopt. Please consider fostering one. The animal will have the taste of home and the shelter will cover the expenses. Can’t foster? Make a donation or volunteer at your local shelter. Please, don’t hunt. Unless you’re starving down in a ditch somewhere, there is no logical reason to do so. Whatever you do, however you do it, please be a voice for the animals large and small. All it takes is one to make a difference, good or bad. I’m one for the animals. Are you? Thanks for visiting. Stay safe. Be strong. Be happy. Smile. Show compassion. Be nice to one another. Pass it onward. 

Reminder: This time of year is cold.

    Regards,

    S.J. Francis

    In Shattered Lies: "It's All About Family."  Available now from Black Opal Books and for sale at on-line retailers and independent booksellers.

                          “Some secrets should remain that way.” 

      My Black Opal Books Author Page:

            http://www.blackopalbooks.com/author-bios/bio-sj-francis 

View My Shout Out:  http://bit.ly/1r3oynM 

                 My web page: http://www.sjfranciswriter.com  

                                     Twitter: https://twitter.com/sjfrancis419 

 Facebook fan page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/SJ-Francis/480058115420325 

                  My writing Blog: http://sjfranciswriter.blogspot.com 

          A Book Review 4 U: http://abookreview4u.blogspot.com  

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Good Reads:       https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/33550975-s-j 

And now for some legal stuff: Copyright 2015 by S.J. Francis. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, S. J. Francis and are meant to entertain, inform and enlighten, and intend to offend no one.

Ever Wonder What It's Like to Care for Animals? Here's An Interview with a Veterinarian.....

I love animals. Anyone and everyone that knows me knows that. I can’t stand those that harm or want to harm animals, or anyone that stands by and lets someone harm an animal. I couldn’t imagine my home without a pet in it or wildlife outside.

     Along that vein, allow me to take the time today to welcome my guest, a veterinarian named Doctor Corey Jones.  Doctor Jones is an animal doctor that I feel I can trust to take care of my animals. He cares and loves animals. What he doesn’t know, he tries to find out and has no problem discussing diagnosis, tests, treatment, etc. with me my about my pets.

Dr. Corey Jones

     SJ: First off, please feel free to give me a brief biography about yourself. Background, education, etc.

Jones: My name is Dr Corey Jones and I am originally from Louisiana.  I attended college at Louisiana Tech where I got a bachelor degree in animal science pre-vet with a minor in chemistry.  I then continued my education at Louisiana State University College of Veterinary Medicine from 1999-2003.  After graduating I started practicing veterinary medicine at Royston Animal Hospital in Georgia. Practicing with eight other veterinarians in that hospital taught me how to become a practical veterinarian.  With their guiding hand they helped me become a better veterinarian. I worked in Georgia for 2 years, Huntsville, Alabama for 5-6 years, and now I call Yazoo City Animal hospital in Yazoo city Mississippi my home where I will stay till I retire.

     Now for the questions:

SJ: Let’s start with the obvious question, why did you become a veterinarian?

Jones: I have always loved animals and seemed to have a strong bond with all animals.  I tried several different fields of education while in college but working with animals seemed to make me the happiest.  

SJ: What is the most satisfying thing about being an animal doctor? Helping those that suffer in silence.

Jones:  It is so rewarding to see patients leaving my hospital happy and healthy knowing that just a few days ago they were so sick and we got them better and back on their feet.

 

SJ:What is the most frustrating thing about being a veterinarian?

Jones: The most frustrating thing is when I have patient come in that I just cannot figure out what is going on and why are they so sick or when help is not within our reach.

SJ:If you had one piece of advice to give to a pet owner in order to provide their pet the best care possible, what would it be?

Jones: That would be to keep current on vaccination, and see your veterinarian at least twice a year.    Also maintain heart-worm, flea and tick prevention and remember to spay and neuter your pets.

 

SJ: What do you feel is the most pressing issue facing veterinarians today?  

Jones: The most pressing issue is the student loan debt to income ratio that new graduates are facing.   There are a lot of veterinarians graduating school that can’t find jobs because the market is flooded with new graduates and only about 20% of the graduates are going to be career veterinarians.  Misleading information that is supplied to pet owners via the internet and false advertising.  There also has been a heavy push by large pharmacy and other business to take the pharmacy business away from all veterinary hospitals.  We need our meds on hand to treat animals in hospital.  Would you want to go to a hospital that has no medicine and have to wait for the doctor to go down the street to pick up your meds?

 

SJ: If you had one piece of advice to give to someone interested in becoming an animal doctor, what would it be?

Jones: I is a very rewarding field but the field is changing and I am not sure if the changes are for the good or bad.   You need to get some true hands on experience and make sure that is what you want because the road is long and hard and expensive.

SJ: Anything else you’d like to add, what is a typical day like for you?

Jones: I usually start off the day checking all the hospitalized patients or post op patients. Then I start working on drop off patients and appointments then I start working in surgeries.   Evening usually is appointments and finishing surgeries. Last hours is making sure all animals are all settled in for the night.    

 SJ: What do you consider a good day for you?

Jones: A good day is when I all surgeries go will and the sick get better quickly and all owners are happy.

 

SJ:  What do you consider a bad day?

Jones: A bad day is when staff does not show up or out sick and we are shorthanded.  Animals’ lives are lot shorter than ours so it's tough seeing clients loose the best friend.  What is the worst is when you try everything to save a patient and it just does not work to you favor.  We try hard to make sure all patients get the best care possible and keep owners happy, but sometimes it's impossible to please everyone.

     Thank you, Doctor Jones for taking time out of your busy schedule to spend time enlightening us about what it is like being a veterinarian.

    Until next time….hug your animals. Tell them you love them. If you don’t have a pet, adopt one. Make adoption your first option when seeking a pet. Adopt. Don’t shop. Can’t adopt. Please consider fostering one. The animal will have the taste of home and the shelter will cover the expenses. Can’t foster? Make a donation or volunteer at your local shelter. Please, don’t hunt. Unless you’re starving down in a ditch somewhere, there is no logical reason to do so. Whatever you do, however you do it, please be a voice for the animals large and small. All it takes is one to make a difference, good or bad. I’m one for the animals. Are you? Thanks for visiting. Stay safe. Be strong. Be happy. Smile. Show compassion. Be nice to one another. Pass it onward.

Reminder: This time of year is cold.

    Regards,

    S.J. Francis

    In Shattered Lies: "It's All About Family."  Available now from Black Opal Books and for sale at on-line retailers and independent booksellers.

                          “Some secrets should remain that way.” 

      My Black Opal Books Author Page:

            http://www.blackopalbooks.com/author-bios/bio-sj-francis 

View My Shout Out:  http://bit.ly/1r3oynM 

                 My web page: http://www.sjfranciswriter.com  

                                     Twitter: https://twitter.com/sjfrancis419 

 Facebook fan page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/SJ-Francis/480058115420325 

                  My writing Blog: http://sjfranciswriter.blogspot.com 

          A Book Review 4 U: http://abookreview4u.blogspot.com  

                  A Consumer's View: http://aconsumersview.blogspot.com 

Pinterest:   http://www.pinterest.com/sjfrancis419/  

                 Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/104831238907682620486/about 

Good Reads:       https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/33550975-s-j 

And now for some legal stuff: Copyright 2015 by S.J. Francis. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, S. J. Francis and are meant to entertain, inform and enlighten, and intend to offend no one.

 

 

Animal Cruelty Has to Stop and I Aim To Do My Part To Do So. How About You?

Animals at peace with one another. Why can't we be nice to them?

I love animals. Anyone and everyone that knows me knows that. I can’t stand those that harm or want to harm animals, or anyone that stands by and lets someone harm an animal. Why is there so much animal cruelty? There’s no need for it. Is there something missing in a person’s life, or were they bullied when they were a child that someone feels a need to inflict harm upon an animal? Every week I must sign at least fifty petitions to get justice for an animal, rescue an animal from a shelter, rescue an animal from being euthanized for no good reason, et al. I could go on with petitions, but you get the idea. Every day I read stories from around the globe about animal cruelty. The stories are endless and just when I thought I heard the worst story possible, another one comes along that is even worse.

 

 

     Why would anyone want to bury a senior, arthritic dog alive? Good question. There was no reason for it, yet someone did just that in a Paris park. Fortunately, someone came along and rescued the loving dog. Why would someone steal a wheelchair from a disabled, stray dog in Peru? Good question. Now, the poor dog is shown on the video dragging itself around because his back legs don’t work. Who took the video of this helpless dog and didn’t give it a home? The heartless person that stole its wheelchair? I remember the dog named Excalibur from Spain. Remember the big Ebola scare we had a year or so ago? The Spanish nurse came down with Ebola from tending to a Spanish priest and the government decided her dog was a threat and put it down. Murdered it out of fear without even testing the poor animal. How about the millions of animals that are euthanized every day simply because there are too many of them. Or how about the other thousands of animals that are bred for nor reason except for chemical testing and cruel experiments? They never experience love or kindness. They’ll never see the sun or feel the grass beneath their feet. 

I'll never forget Ugly.

       There are so many stories and they all touch me, yet the worst one I’ve heard to date was about a disabled cat that lived near an apartment complex and was nicknamed “Ugly” by the people that lived in the complex. The people hated this “ugly” little cat that had a front deformed paw from people slamming doors on him. Children threw rocks at him and other adults sprayed it with a hose, but “Ugly” never gave up. This little homeless cat just wanted love, but no one in that building would give him any. He’d walk up to children and push his head into their hands but he was ignored or had rocks thrown at him. He was desperate for love. One day, Ugly wandered into a neighbor’s yard and was mauled by two dogs. An apartment dweller heard the screams and went down to rescue Ugly, but it was too late. Too much damage had been done, but the dweller picked up Ugly anyway and held him. Even in his last moments of life, obviously in sheer pain and misery, Ugly tried to suckle on this human’s ear. He even purred before dying in this human’s arms. All Ugly ever wanted was love, yet all he ever met was hate. What caused the people in this apartment to hate an innocent, harmless and homeless animal so much that they would purposefully inflict harm upon him? He obviously had once lived there or he wouldn’t have hanged around. Why hang around a place where everyone hates you and hurts you? Why didn’t anyone take this cat in? I would have. If I was there, I would have adopted this cat. I’ve adopted fourteen animals to date with five of them being homeless stray cats from off the streets. This story still makes me cry. There was no need for this cat to endure so much hate.

 

     Animal cruelty is rampant from the large metropolitan cities to the small rural towns. Where I live in Mississippi, it is all too common for people to toss animals at dumpsters, which sadly isn’t just a Mississippi thing. That is how I acquired my last two kittens. Myra and Pepper were just three weeks old when some rotten women dumped them and a sibling at a dumpster when they were just three weeks old. Another woman came by and took one of the kittens and left the others behind. A colleague witnessed this and not wanting to leave the two helpless girls outside, took them in. She couldn’t keep them and that is when I stepped in and adopted them. At eleven months old now, they’re thriving. Myra, the black kitten sits next to my laptop as I write this post. Now they are safe with their older dog brother, older dog sister and older cat sister. All are rescues.

 

     Animal cruelty doesn’t have to happen. You and I can stop it. All we have to do is speak up. Don’t turn your head when you see a homeless animal. Don’t turn away when you see someone harming an animal. Animal cruelty must stop, but it is up to you and me to do it. When you see cruelty, call the police, the sheriff, the state trooper, the Humane Society, whatever, but please be a voice for the animals. They can’t speak but we humans can and must. We certainly speak up when we’re offended. How about speaking up for a cause that really matters. I’m one for the animals. Are you?

    

For more information on ways to help animals or to read more about some sad and happy animal stories, please check out these links: 

 

Report cases of animal abuse and dogfighting to your local law enforcement, but don't be afraid to go higher if need be: 

      www.humanesociety.org

      www.aspca.org

 

 

A click a day at this site helps rescue and feed shelter animals. They also sell some cool animal clothes and gear:  

http://theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/ars/home?utm_source=ars-reminder&utm_medium=email&utm_term=10032015&utm_content=reminder-m&utm_campaign=ars-home&origin=ERA_100315_ARS_m&oidp=0x32fe56608415fe16c0a80a50

 

This is the story of Ugly the abused stray cat that no one took in. Read only if you have a strong constitution:

Everyone Was Warned Not To Touch This Cat, But This Guy Did. This Is Heartbreaking: http://beingcreativ.com/everyone-was-warned-not-to-touch-this-cat-but-this-guy-did-this-is-heartbreaking/ 

Woman Turns House Into Retirement Home for Elderly Dogs and Cats: https://www.yahoo.com/makers/woman-turns-house-into-retirement-c1243224128716854/photo-since-opening-its-doors-in-1440595731735.html 

This Pit Bull Went From Likely Euthanasia To Napping With Her Best Cat Friend:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-one-little-pit-bull-went-from-likely-euthanasia-to-napping-with-a-best-cat-friend_55d5d4a7e4b055a6dab2ff59?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592&ref=yfp&kvcommref=mostpopular

 

Pit Bull Recovering From Horrific Acid Injuries Awaits Happy Home: https://gma.yahoo.com/pit-bull-recovering-horrific-acid-injuries-awaits-happy-181819558--abc-news-pets.html 

Mother Dog too Hurt to take care of puppies. Animal agency steps in to help:

https://screen.yahoo.com/mother-dog-too-hurt-care-122857042.html 

Prosecutors: Woman fatally beat family dog, bragged about it:

http://news.yahoo.com/prosecutors-woman-fatally-beat-family-dog-bragged-152905050.html?soc_src=mediacontentstory&soc_trk=ma

Some of my favorite animal blogs:

      www.thedodo.com 

      www.pawmygosh.com 

      http://barkpost.com

 

        Until next time….hug your animals. Tell them you love them. If you don’t have a pet, adopt one. Make adoption your first option when seeking a pet. Adopt. Don’t shop. Can’t adopt. Please consider fostering one. The animal will have the taste of home and the shelter will cover the expenses. Can’t foster? Make a donation or volunteer at your local shelter. Please, don’t hunt. Unless you’re starving down in a ditch somewhere, there is no logical reason to do so. Whatever you do, however you do it, please be a voice for the animals large and small. All it takes is one to make a difference, good or bad. I’m one for the animals. Are you? Thanks for visiting. Stay safe. Be strong. Be happy. Smile. Show compassion. Be nice to one another. Pass it onward.

    Regards,

    S.J. Francis

    In Shattered Lies: "It's All About Family."  Coming Oct 24^th from Black Opal Books.

                          “Some secrets should remain that way.”

 

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 Remember, your pet, dog or cat just wants to be with you.

And now for some legal stuff: Copyright 2015 by S.J. Francis. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, S. J. Francis and are meant to entertain, inform and enlighten, and intend to offend no one.