At 10:39 PM 2/26/02 -0500, you wrote:
Because as a guy at work told me, "not everyone thinks animals are as
important as you do." He also said they don't belong in the house. Scary
thing is he said he grew up w/ pets and he and his fiance will probably get
an "outside only" dog when they get a house. So I asked him WHY he wants a
dog and he couldn't give me an answer. I said that was just great. Another
dog to be left in the backyard alone 24/7 and if he had the audacity to take
his boredom out in the form of destroying the yard, then he'd end up at the
shelter. Sad thing is, this really is a nice guy! We pretty much stopped
this conversation at that point.
Frankly, the whole thing started while I was working in Florida w/ him and 2
other people. There are 3 stray/feral cats who hang out around the client's
office which is really a house. One lady there does feed them and means
well. While I was there I persuaded her to get a humane trap (the local vet
had one and offered to lend it to her) and get them fixed, you know, spaded.
It amazes me that people don't think of this on their own. Funny thing is
this woman is not well paid and has 2 little kids. Not ONCE did she mention
the cost of any of this. Anyway, she emailed me today and said she caught
the male and he was at the vet getting "snipped" as she put it :) She told
me the Siamese looking female almost let her pet her, but I told her that if
they were to remain where they were it was in their best interest to remain
fearful of people. She agreed. Anyway, this guy thinks I'm a nut b/c I went
to these lengths and even missed lunch one day to go to the vet w/ her and
ask about the trap!
So it is normal everyday people who are irresponsible/unfeeling with their
pets. I think that's what those not involved in rescue don't get. It's not
the uneducated poor people that dump their pets at shelters. It's the PTA
"soccer mom" next door to you. We live in a materialistic, selfish, society
of people who want instant gratification. You get married and have pets
until you decide to have kids. Then you get rid of the pets when you have
kids b/c it's too much trouble. Next, you get another pet when your kid is
about 5 or 6, then dump THAT pet b/c the child will not take care of it like
he promised. Man, don't even get me started on that! Oops. Too late! :)
Jamie
