Irresponsible pet owners burden society
A hound mix puppy, named Jimmy by volunteers with the Capital Area Animal Welfare Society in East Baton Rouge Parish, is thriving despite being thrown over a fence by his former owner this past weekend.
The man, Richard Hawn, 39, was charged with cruelty to animals. A witness to the situation alerted police to the incident Tuesday night.
It’s a common trend in society to see animals abused, neglected or abandoned. Just last Wednesday, the Animal Relief Foundation (ARF) in Jeff Davis Parish was alerted to two separate cases of abandoned puppies. In the first case, a box of six puppies, still too young to eat on their own, was discarded in the parking lot of Jennings Elementary School. Later that afternoon, six more puppies were discovered in a box on a rural road near Lake Arthur.
It is cruel and selfish for so many individuals to discard animals in this way. There were no guarantees that the animals abandoned in Jeff Davis Parish would be discovered or taken in by kind-hearted individuals.
Situations like these come down to one thing: irresponsibility. When a person agrees to take on a pet, no matter what type of animal it is, it is a given that the animal will need food, shelter and, most likely, medical attention. If the animal has not been spayed or neutered, chances are it will end up reproducing, especially if it is a dog or cat that lives outside. Pet owners know these needs but still some choose to ignore the rules of responsible ownership.
If you are not willing to have your pet spayed or neutered, then you must be willing to accept the responsibility that comes with pets reproducing. If you are still not willing to accept that task, then frankly, a pet is not the right choice for you.
Furthermore, irresponsible pet owners are a burden on society. Our local pounds and shelters are overflowing with animals, many that were dropped off in litters of three or more. While it is a good cause, our tax dollars have to pay to shelter and feed these animals and, unfortunately, end their lives if these animals are not adopted in a timely manner.
Animals are precious but they come with great responsibility. If you cannot be responsible, do the animal kingdom and society a favor: do not get a pet.
Short URL: http://www.jenningsdailynews.net/?p=13083
Posted by Graphic Designer 2
on Aug 9 2012. Filed under Editorial.
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