First, I like to do what I can within my limits to help animals or pet owners. And I give where I can or help homeless pets find homes when I can or when I feel strongly that maybe that pet is destined to be in a particular place. So I follow quite a few non-profit animal rescue organizations, shelters, and pet adoption agencies on Facebook. One group I like to follow, because I really admire the guys and what they do and stand for. I actually very much admire anyone who goes out to help shelter, rescue and take care of animals needing the care and love. Believe me if I could, or had the means I would be helping as many as I could.
However, daily I watch so many other "fans" who will post these "Must save now" or "on Death Row, please save" links with pictures of animals in shelters to these guys' pages. And each and every person who posts these things seems to expect these celebrities to rescue each and every animal in each and every shelter. Sorry, it gets my goat (no pun intended). If that person is so concerned about the care or welfare of the animals, then find a way to help them on their own. And the harsh truth is that there simply is not enough homes out there for every animal needing a home, not safe and caring homes that is. And we cannot save every soul, and this thought simply breaks my heart.
One of the best things we can do to slow this trend and help animals is to help educate others, keep abreast of when your local shelters are having spay and neuter clinics and spread the word. Help dispel the myths about why it's wrong to spay or neuter. Help educate owners to see why it is in the best interest of the animals that they do alter their animals and not allow them to breed indiscriminately. Don't buy puppies and kittens, because for each animal you buy, you are ensuring another animal somewhere goes homeless or is euthanized.
And as far as purebreds being superior, that too is a myth, it's what is inside any given animal, their soul, their intelligence that counts, not that "Oh I have a dog that cost me 2 thousand dollars and he is so blue blooded..." That is just a status symbol, sorry, but it is, it's like saying a Lamborghini is superior to a Volkswagen, or Chevy, you know what it isn't. People think because it costs more it's got to be far superior to anything else. A mutt is just as valuable and is most likely to be just as loyal as the purbred.
Do remember though that through selective inbreeding and such, many purebreds are not the same healthy and happy dogs that they were 20 yrs ago even. So many have horrible genetic problems it truly is heartbreaking. So by propagating animal breeding by buying is propagating true suffering and illness and premature death on these animals.
Now please understand here I am mostly referring to dogs and cats which are probably the largest population of animals needing rescue or care.
So back to my original rant, I am not sure why these guys don't ask these people to please stop doing this and making all of us feel helpless and sad that we cannot rescue two or three dogs 3,000 miles away when we have so many right here in our own backyards that need our compassion and help. We simply cannot save each and every one of them. And now instead of being sad about them all, they've made me angry that they are playing on people's emotions and such. Because quite often these posts will have a "scheduled for euthanasia" date that was 2 or 3 days prior to the posting, so if those dates and such are true and correct then we are all to late anyway. Which in turn makes me angrier.
My second smaller rant or button pusher is those who tend to be very militant, and in your face types about any animal of any species that is allowed to breed or be bred, including horses, goats, etc. And they can get very very hurtful and mean in their approaches to the owners of those animals. Sorry, while indiscriminate breeding must stop, I also realize the mentality of livestock breeders and how that works (outside of Premarin Mares). And being militant or abusive is only going to alienate people and make them more determined to keep on doing what they are doing.
Personally sometimes it is better to discuss it with an open mind to hear why they may not wish to change, and be prepared to back up your reasoning why it's in the best interest of the animal and progeny to change their thinking and approach. But do so with care and compassion, not pushy and rude and mean.
I apologize if I have angered anyone, but this is how I feel about these issues. And sometimes I simply have to let it out and have my say of what I see or perceive. My husband is always telling me it's how you're perceived, which I take to be the whole package, the choice of words, the body language, etc.
Thank you...... and remember this poster before you buy a pet, and always vow to adopt first.
