A Letter from a Shelter Manager
Wednesday May 21, 2008
From the Forum: Kim writes: "I think our society needs a huge "wake-up" call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all... a view from the inside, if you will. First off, all of you breeders/sellers should be made to work in the "back" of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don’t even know.
Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes." Read more...
Comments
That was both heartbreaking and horrifying. I would add to Kim’s comments that spaying and neutering can help cut down on unwanted kittens and puppies. I’d never buy a cat from a breeder, when so many lovable moggies are available to be saved. Abby was dumped with her brothers and sisters in the parking lot at my job; we found homes for all five. I adopted Audrey from a foster rescue. Baby, one of my fiancee’s cats, is a rescued feral. Sebastian, his other cat, was tossed in the door of our apartment building last winter. We are considering adopting one of a litter of ferals rescued by our neighbor; she has found homes for the others, including one who will join her two already-adopted stray kittens. Most of my coworkers adopt strays and shelter cats and dogs when they want a pet; even one who wants nothing but purebred boxers can find them through a boxer resuce.
These animals are so loving and grateful; we couldn’t ask for better companions. Please, like Kim said, don’t get a pet unless you know what you’re getting into and can commit to it; then when you do, rescue one from the horrors she describes. You won’t regret it - I never have.
P.S. That story just decided me to adopt Sophie (the aforementioned feral kitten). I’m not taking a chance on her ending up like that!