Animal Abuse

Yesterday I posted an article that was passed on through Lakeshore Welsh Corgi Rescue - about an overweight dog frozen to the ground. A portion of a follow-up email concerning the dog can be read below:

If I remember the story correctly the poor guy went outside on one of those days when it was raining/wet and above freezing and the temp was falling like a rock. The owner, an older woman could not get him up or even move the poor guy and he was outside until very late at night or I think it was the next morning. The vet on the news said the fat probably saved the guy as the overnight temps were in something like the single digits.

As you are probably aware, as an animal lover I have posted about animal abuse before, be it the hens in the chicken battery confines or the Raccoon Dogs being raised in China for fur. In the USA, we may be guilty of treating our animals TOO well sometimes, and unthinkingly causing their health issues, such as the Border Collie mix reported on by the news article.

We don't really know why the dog was removed from the home. Perhaps the owner was elderly, wheel chair bound or otherwise impaired, and may have needed care taking herself. I feel badly that the dog had to be removed, but there are so many possible circumstances that are not mentioned. We can only guess, and hope the owner has handled the situation with grace and that she is doing well herself.
Each culture in our world has its own views and perceptions in care-taking of the animal kingdom. Some value all living creatures and treat them with the dignity they deserve. Others follow religious culture, such as the Sacred Cows that are held in such high esteem that even though families are starving, they refuse to slaughter a cow for food. I do not pretend to understand what drives people to do what they do as far as treatment of animals is concerned.

Last January a young fella living in our great state of Michigan was caught for animal abuse when a woman heard noises coming from a woods behind her house - she walked out and discovered a black lab, hanging by its neck from a tree, beaten badly about the body and head. She released the dog and followed the owner, reported him to the police, and he was given a 'slap on the wrist'. The owner said his dog had incurable cancer and putting the dog to sleep cost more than he could afford at the time. A bald faced lie! The public was outraged, and emails went flying! The news media was alerted and the story was well publicized. The slap on the wrist turned to a felony, and the public still believes that owners punishment should have been much stronger.

You can read about it by clicking HERE - but know that Chance survived beating, hanging, and antifreeze poisoning, and now has a loving home.

When we choose to be a caretaker, it is our job to do the best we can for the creatures we own by first becoming informed about their breed and type, their health needs and requirements, and to love them within limits set by the knowledge we have acquired. If they become too much of a burdeon to our budget, our lifestyle and way of life, then the animal should be re-homed to someone who will be a better owner and provide it with what it needs to finish its life story in dignity.