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Tips to make any week be kind to animals week |
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Wednesday, 14 May 2008 |
Molly Nemec
Guest Columnist
May 4-10th is National Be Kind to Animals Week. We should engage in compassion and show respect to animals every day. This week gives us time to appreciate the joy, energy and humor pets bring to our lives. The bond people share with companion animals enriches our human experience. This is the perfect time to share what we can do to make this world a better place for people and animals, alike.
When you’ve made an educated decision and your whole family is ready and excited for all the commitment of being a responsible pet owner, it’s time to think about where to get a pet. There are two good choices: a responsible, humane breeder or an animal shelter or humane society. One caveat: never buy a pet from a pet store that sells puppies or kittens. It is estimated that 99 percent of pet-store animals come from puppy mills.
Puppy mills are nothing but cruel, inhumane breeding factories and warehouses. The mother dogs and her litter after litter are basically “cash crops.” Sadly, Minnesota has one of the highest amounts of puppy mills in the country! No ethical breeder ever sells his or her puppies or kittens to a pet store.
The mother animals or “breeding stock” live in shockingly poor conditions and are caged and continually bred for years without human companionship or the chance to become part of a family. Most never even get outside to see green grass or play in the fresh air. When these breeding dogs outlive their usefulness, they are killed or abandoned.
Puppies usually end up with serious behavior and health problems. The vicious cycle continues when owners are unable to care for their pet-store pets with behavior or health problems. They are often surrendered to an animal shelter like Northwoods Humane Society.
What can you do as a caring person? Avoid pet stores that “sell” pets, with the exception of pet-supply stores like Petco and Petsmart. These stores have adoption areas or adoption days for humane societies and rescue groups. These stores also promote spaying and neutering and prevent pet overpopulation.
A reputable breeder breeds only one or two breeds of dogs and is very knowledgeable about the breed standard and genetic issues. They will welcome you into see the mother dog and puppies, and where they spend their time. It should be clear and comfortable for the dogs. The dogs appear healthy and well socialized. He or she should also give guidance on caring and training your puppy, and should be available to assist you after you’ve gone home. They will be happy to provide referrals for others who have purchased from them before. They want to determine if you’ll be able to care for the animal.
You have the option of adopting your new best friend from an animal shelter. Approximately 25 percent of pets at any shelter are purebred. The staff and volunteers at Northwoods Humane Society spend countless hours giving first-rate care to the scores of dogs, cats, puppies and kittens that come through our doors every month. It is a labor of love. The best part is seeing a happy dog or cuddly cat just adopted by a family giving them a forever home.
All dogs, cats, puppies and kittens at Northwoods Humane Society are spayed or neutered before adoption. If you adopt or buy a pet somewhere else, plan to have your pet sterilized as soon as you’re able. Pet overpopulation is a crisis in our country. There are millions of unwanted, homeless and neglected dogs and cats. The “lucky” ones end up in a humane society or animal shelter where they are cared for with food, shelter and medical care.
It is not uncommon for some people to abandon or dump pregnant pets or the litters of puppies or kittens when they don’t want them anymore.
Unfortunately, many myths surround spaying and neutering. Some believe that they’ll find homes for all the puppies and kittens, with good intentions. In fact, they may find homes for “their” pet’s litter, but technically each home you find means one less home for a desperate dog or cat in a shelter. Also, each of the pets’ offspring may have his or her own litter, adding exponentially to the problem of pet overpopulation. One female dog her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in six years!
Another myth surrounding altering your pet is that “it’s better to have one litter before spaying.” Medical evidence indicates that the opposite is true. Evidence shows that female dogs and cats who are spayed before their first heat cycle are healthier all around.
Some parents want their children to see the miracle of birth. The fact is that birth tends to occur at night and in seclusion. It can be devastating when some die; neonatal mortality rate of ten to thirty percent is normal. Children may get the sense that animals can be created and discarded at the leisure of adults. Please teach them, instead, the importance of humanity, kindness and responsible citizenship by saving the life of another less-fortunate, animal either stray or at a humane society.
One other common misconception is that breeding a pet and selling the litter of puppies or kittens will bring in extra cash or be another source of income. This is far from the truth if one does it the correct way! Breeding requires a serious commitment and plenty of free time and resources. Costs include: medical care for the mother, along with supplies, vaccines, dewormers and veterinary exams for the litter.
Thank you for being a good citizen and kind person by having your pets spayed or neutered, and by outfitting your dog with a collar and I.D. tag and/or microchip.
Teach children to value and respect companion animals. Help them learn responsibility and the proper way to care for a pet. Children who show compassion and kindness to animals also learn to respect and treat other people with dignity and care. Animals can help children develop great character. Animals have a lot to give us. Thanks for making a difference and your help in creating a better place for people and pets.
Molly Nemec is a volunteer with Northwoods Humane Society in Wyoming Township.
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