Animal abuse problem continues unabated

Actually, saying “I don’t understand” is far too timid. Animal abusers absolutely gross me out!

It is possible that my definition of animal abuse may differ from that of other animal lovers. Although I wouldn’t think of hunting and killing wild animals, hunters aren’t the animal abusers my rant is about. People hunting for food helps prevent wild animal overpopulation.

As for me, I would not shoot any animal. I don’t even watch nature shows on TV where scene after scene depicts predators running down helpless prey, tearing them apart and eating them on camera. Of course, dramas such as these are a part of nature. I just don’t want to watch it. These scenes aren’t the entertainment I want in my 1iving room.

Carelessly mistreating pets is behavior I don’t understand. Most of us know about cases of abuse by people who have more animals on their property than they can care for.

It is becoming far too common to see stories of authorities raiding homes where various pitiful animals are starving and living in their own filth. This ilk of abuser can be arrested, it is hoped convicted, and given the maximum sentence allowed by the law.

The pet abuse that really gets my dander up is by owners who may feed their pets, but otherwise mistreat them by ignoring them, leaving them tied up all day in the hot sun, or out on a cold winter’s night, not tending to health needs, punishing too harshly and failing to have them spayed or neutered.

Even the crass neglect described above pales in comparison to people who abandon pets. The abandonment may occur because of failure to spay or neuter. For whatever reason, throwing away helpless pets should be criminal. It is certainly repugnant.

The only acceptable way to contend with an unwanted dog, cat or whatever is to find it a good home or take it to an animal shelter.

It is hoped that a home can be found for those left at the shelter. If you have ever visited one, you know the pets can break your heart as they wag their tails and beg with their eyes for you to take them home and love them. In return, they offer unconditional love. Although pets caged up at animal shelters are a heart-wrenching sight, it is great compared to the fate of many pets who are taken out into the countryside where no one can see the dastardly deed of dumping them out and speeding away.

Of human behavior I do not understand, the act that defies imagination is driving away from one or more frightened dogs or cats, left to sink or swim in what will be a hostile, perhaps even deadly environment.

Rural property owners can tell scores of horror tales about pets left beside the road, some to be hit by cars, others ending up as prey for a larger and stronger predator. I have heard it said that “farmers don’t mind having another dog or cat around.” That amounts to the voice of stupidity in blind search of logic.

My wife and I own property in the country. We once ‘’received” a very sweet female dog whose owner dumped her beside the road because she committed the crime of getting pregnant. She sought safety under our porch to gave birth to nine fuzzy little puppies, a mixture of just about every breed known to the dog world.

It took some doing, but my wife and some friends found a home for them all. When we started taking care of the puppies, the mother disappeared. Her job was done.

In November of 2002, the Rusty Saber was about pet abandonment. The editor selected a truly brilliant headline: “Abandoned animals are black eye on society.” I’m sorry to say that nothing has rendered the headline obsolete. I don’t understand why.

Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury University.