Does the finger point to the owner? There are times when our pets both large and small have to go to a new home. Financial reasons are usually the top reason. Or maybe little Suzy doesn't want her horse anymore maybe because she is out of horses, or the horse she has isn't serving the purpose she had in mind anymore ( even though that same horse has given unconditional love and years of enjoyment), etc.... 
Does the finger point at the person who won't get their dog or cat fixed to prevent unwanted litters? The excuse of it's good to have a cat have at least one litter of kittens is a huge farce! That is plain ridiculous. Or he was born with them, and that is what makes him a male! Stupidity. These same people will say to themselves that they can find a home for the puppies and kittens. Really? Is that why there are so many unwanted dogs and cats at the animal shelters?
Is it the animal control officers fault he/she has to kill dogs and cats to make room for more surrenders and strays because there aren't enough homes for the unwanted ones?
Is it the auctions or kill buyers fault that horses and donkeys end up there to be hauled to Canada or Mexico to get slaughtered? Is it the person who is doing the actually killing to blame? Is it the truck drivers fault who haul the horses and donkeys to the slaughterhouse? 
Let's face it, there aren't enough people either able or wanting to bring in all the unwanted animals. And those that do, know their limits even though they want to save every animal and place it into a forever loving home.
I understand that animals sometimes have to be placed into another home. I understand that there are liars and crooks who will tell you that your animal is going to the perfect home, and they turn around and sell you horse or donkey at an auction not giving a rat's behind what happens after they get their money. Or they take your dog and use it as bait to train fighting dogs. It is not the Pit Bulls fault it fights! It is trained to fight. Which is another subject that gets me going. I'll save that for another day.
Another subject that really gets me fired up is our Mustangs being rounded up to go to holding pens and hopefully get adopted. And while they are being rounded up, some are dying from it. Yes, another subject for another day.
Back to what the original point of this blog is about. Where does the finger point? Or does it get pointed at all? What can be done about it?
What really got me riled up about responsibility is there is a beautiful gray mare who is pregnant at the kill lot back East and her chances of having someone bail her out before she is loaded up and headed to the slaughterhouse is pretty much zero! I have seen her face in my mind for two days now and it has bothered me a lot. Wondering how such a beautiful girl ended up at the kill lot. And all the other horses that end up there each and every week. They came from somewhere. They all had owners at one time in their lives. Maybe their owners really don't know. Who knows.
Anyway, I wish I had the solution to having every dog, cat, horse, donkey, etc... be in a loving home. It just tears me up knowing that so many are dying needlessly.
All of the pictures in this blog are animals I have rescued. The two horses after getting healthy have since been placed into other responsible, loving homes.
I apologize for probably not getting to one particular point. My mind has a tendency to get overwhelmed when I am passionate about something.
Until next time.............................................
Wow, great post and great questions to ponder about. Just wish more people would ponder about this. I think you addressed a few points quite adequately. Personally for me a pet has always been a family member, and I don't understand how people get rid of their family members. I think people just need to think a lot more before getting animals about what a big commitment it really is. You should be so proud of all you have done and the new homes you found for animals, the world needs more people like you. I have definitely pondered about these questions too and just really don't understand how people treat animals as a throw away item that is so easy to be put away when not wanted or needed anymore. Animals have feelings too, all you have to do is look into an animal's eye and you can see their soul and spirit. Keep up the good work you are doing. And if everybody would be repsonsible than we wouldn't have a need for slaughterhouses to get rid of donkeys and horses, or the SPCA to kill cats and dogs, or even the need for Sanctuaries.
ReplyDelete"Never doubt that a small group of concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the thing that ever has"-Margaret Mead
"Love animals: God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled. Do not trouble their joy, don't harass them, don't deprive them of their happiness, don't work against God's intent. Man, do not pride yourself on superiority to animals; they are without sin, and you, with your greatness, defile the earth by your appearance on it, and leave the traces of your foulness after you--alas, it is true of almost every one of us!"
ReplyDelete--Fyodor Dostoyevsky (novelist)
Wonderful Post. I completly agree on everything you have mentioned. Our Animal organisation the RSPCA is always overwhelmed with animals. And they are always trying to get the learning out there for everyone. But there are always the idiots who don't treat the animals right, usually on purpose.. Our goal is to eventually have an acerage, so i can too help our local community with this problem. I did some volunteer work at out RSPCA last year, they mainly get cats and dogs. But there is alot of them. It was sad to turn up again to see one of the animals hadn't been sold and was no longer in its pen. So many questions, so many idea's on how to help prevent it, but when the info is already out there, how do you get people to stop read and think about it properly.
ReplyDeleteWell said! I wonder many time about the same thing. Atm we got 6 cats (one died recently) of which we only bought 2, others all al give aways. 3 dogs retired from showring or stud, rescue goat, and a few unwanted chooks. Here they may live out there last few years.
ReplyDeleteIs that the mare on AC4H? She is lovely, and looks, from the video, to be pretty sound, also. The very fact that she is pregnant is probably working against her. It is very sad.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with those of us who do this is that we can get focused on the bad, and overlook all of the good that is being done. Many of the horses on the AC4H broker listings have found new homes.
Do you know the story of the starfish? There was a little boy on a beach where thousands of starfish had washed up and were dying. He was patiently picking them up and throwing them back in the water. An old man came along and ask him why he bothered, because, in the long run, it didn't matter for all of the starfish on all of the beaches who would die. The little boy showed him the one he held and said "it matters for this one."
Work on the starfish principle. You're saving animals, and, it matters to them. Do what you can, and feel good about what you do. I don't know if there is any over all solution. Certainly all of the protection laws in effect for dogs and cats have not stopped the problem for them. I think that we all have to just keep doing what we can, and just keep throwing those starfish back into the sea.
Thank you for caring enough to do so.
I very much understand what you are saying. I try not to dwell on it, because it breaks my heart. I do as much as I can to help the needy animals, and open my home to many of them. But it's like a leaky dam that we are trying to plug with our finger. The answers are always going to lie in individual responsibility, but many people will deny that responsibility. It's not the fault of the kill buyers, slaughter houses, pounds etc. that animals die. It is the fault of the negilent owners. However---it is each individual's duty to treat all animals with respect and kindness and always humanely and that certainly is not happening in many of the above situations (kill buyers etc...) Please don't let little Susie poo have a litter of puppies because she is cute. Or Barn kitty numerous litters because it cost too much to have her fixed. Please don't breed your inferior (unbroken) mare to the also inferior stallion down the road 'just because you can'. AND if you do do any of these things, then PLEASE take repsonsibilty for them. Have the kittens and puppies spayed and nuetered, worm them, vaccinate them. Have the foal trained and worked with and please worm them too and keep their feet trimmed. Anyway, I'll stop now. I really don't know what the answer is, because many people blindly refuse to see there is a problem.
ReplyDeleteAnd kudos to you for all those you have helped--you are angel to them.
Tammy
Passion is a Wonderful Virtue! So glad you have an extra dose of it...frankly...I do too! :)
ReplyDeleteMe (Tina)-- There are so many furry family members here. You are also stepping up to the plate when you volunteeer with those beautiful longears. Thank you. And hugs to you! :)
ReplyDeleteJoanna--Love your comment. I hadn't heard it before. Thank you for sharing with us. Hugs.
Cass- I agree with you. Education, education, education. Some people are just plain ignorant and you can't change their point of view for anything. Hugs.
Rina--Thank you for also stepping up to the plate and opening your home. Every animal who finds a home is lucky. Hugs.
Louise--Yes, yes it is that beautiful mare on FB. I have been keeping up with what is going on with her and it looks like she has been saved at the very last minute! There is something about that mare that has gotten into my heart and mind and can't stop thinking about her. Are we friends on FB? If not, we should be! I love the starfish story. My motto has always been, one at a time does make a differance. Sometimes I just get caught up in the whole thing. Every morning when I get up and see the cats and the dogs, horses, donkeys, goats and chickens, I smile. They are all happy and healthy. Hugs.
Tammy--Well said! Backyard breeders aggravate me as well. Hugs to you for opening your home. :)
Deb-- You have so much compassion it over flows! Hugs.
So true. We often find ourselves saying that we wished we could help every animal in need, but we know that we can't. We do what we can. But, it still makes us feel guilty that we can't take them all in. We have 3 house dogs, all of them rescued from the "street" because someone else wouldn't take responsibility for them. They've shared our home and lives for years. What was wrong with those people? We've also taken in countless kitties (have 2 in the house now). Same story. We've recently "adopted" 5 barn cats, all of whom have been placed with us by a wonderful organization, Barn Cats International, they've all been neutered. Hopefully they'll stay with us. One of our LGD's is a rescue. As is a rescue bunny we saved from a bad situation. We weep copious tears when we see the injustices done to our fellow creatures. Thanks for your posting and righteous anger. Ken and Mary Berry of Fancy Fibers Farms
ReplyDelete