One of my peeves....

I live in the Southwest. They call it the "high" desert here. It's still desert here whether or not we're high is debatable. However, living in the desert has dangers to pets and the mountains can add to those dangers. Add in ignorant and angry drivers and it's just downright dangerous for any pet or animal to be loose and running around. Oh, and then there's young people who are bored and will torment an animal that is outdoors or running loose.

My peeve is this, PLEASE if you are a caring and responsible pet owner, DO NOT allow your cats to run loose, or your dogs. Everyday I see animals running loose, or dead by the side of the road, it's plain heartbreaking.

Cats can not only be hit by cars, shot by an irate neighbor or a neighbor who just doesn't like cats, they are snacks and yummy to coyotes and dog packs, they are shot with blow darts by bored kids, they are used as bait animals for training fighting dogs, and the list goes on. Dogs, if running loose will pack with other dogs, kill livestock, get shot at, hit by cars, eaten by cougars and even coyotes, tormented by kids if left in a yard that isn't protected, and this list goes on also.

Nothing, I repeat, NOTHING breaks my heart more than to have seen a beloved pet, dead on the road, and leave me hoping that it was quick and they didn't suffer. I cry for every one of them I see. It is far, far crueler to let them run loose than to keep them safely confined. Personally I don't believe cats that are pets shouldn't be allowed outside. They truly are much happier inside. And believe me, nothing is more shocking or heartbreaking than seeing a coyote chase and grab a cat and eat them alive. And don't for a minute be fooled that coyotes are only out in the countryside, they come right into towns, we even have cougars and bears downtown quite often.

Dogs should be either kept safely indoors or in a safe yard, or run. Where kids cannot torment them, where they cannot be hit and left to die slowly, or even stolen and sold to animal research facilities, or medical schools, like a story in South America this week. And if they aren't loose and in a pack, they are not a menace to other pets or small children. Dog packs and the pack mentality is dangerous.

Don't assume that everyone on the planet is a pet lover or animal lover. I have seen people driving aim for a animal to run it over. Or how about someone who deliberately poisons an animal and lets it suffer a long agonizing death.

And please spay and neuter, because roaming pets that are not altered create more unwanted pets that usually end up being euthanized. Spaying or neutering will not take anything away from your pet. He'll still be a male, and won't become a wuss, your girl will be just fine without having to have a litter.  And you'll be increasing their life overall.

Ok, gripe over for now. Please be responsible for your pet. Even the Humane Society, and ASPCA will all tell you that pets are happier when inside and in safe surroundings.