I will not watch or support in any way the Winter Olympics because of the slaughter of the stray dogs of Sochi. Dogs are not the problem. It’s people who create these situations, and humane solutions, while difficult and expensive, perhaps, are needed, not bullets or poison.
As a responsible pet owner, as someone who earlier rescued two cats and who periodically makes donations of cat food to the local animal shelter, I can not watch these games without feeling I’m betraying my need to promote responsible care of pets.
America, for that matter, can do better with regards strays and pets, too.
Contribute time, money, food, whatever you can to local shelters and encourage them to become no-kill facilities if they aren’t already. If you want a cat or dog, adopt from the local pound instead buying one at the pet store. Shelter pets are in great need of love and a good home.
Learn as much as you can about the type of animal you adopt into your home before you adopt them because you are responsible for the quality of life of that pet until it dies. Even little details like knowing you need to have one litter box per cat plus one can make a big difference to the cat and to you in how well they adapt to life with you or other cats in the household. Knowing that a Jack Russell terrier is a high energy dog before you get one prepares you to spend lots of time with it playing doggy games and taking it on walks to wear off that energy. Know these sorts of details before you adopt!
Responsible pet ownership involves more than tying up your pet in the backyard and forgetting about it. They need your love and attention. They are social animals. They need food and water, shelter from the elements, grooming, current vaccinations for all diseases your veterinarian recommends vaccinations for. Always spay or neuter your pets, especially if they are outside animals.
Provide care appropriate for each stage of their lives. Kittens and puppies are a delight. They quickly grow into adults, however, and suffer many of the same illnesses and disabilities geriatric humans do when they reach the later years of life. Know what diseases and disabilities your pet is likely to suffer, especially pedigree animals that have more genetic issues than mixed breed animals, and prepare to deal with the needs brought on by those issues.
Sometimes they have severe medical needs because of disease or when injured by other animals, bad people, or they are in street accidents with trucks and cars. Those are more reasons to keep them inside or in a place where they can run free in the yard but be fenced in. Veterinarian bills can run into the hundreds and thousands of dollars. Don’t kid yourself about that possibility!
Sochi didn’t just happen. People in their ignorance and indifference to the needs and eventual suffering of their dogs failed to prevent the circumstances that lead to it, but the dogs pay the final price.
This is heartbeaking, I can’t handle this type of news. Heartless actions in the spirit of making money!
So much for all those Olympic ideals, eh?!
All pomp and circumstance?
It would seem so…
Sorry for just scanning your post today as the heading alone already makes me sick. I am wondering how such awful people can live with themselves. Thanks for increasing people’s awareness.
Me, too. One of my neighbors actually collects stray cats in out neighborhood and drives to the next town where she has an arrangement with the veterinarian there to spay or neuter these cats for less than the veterinarians four blocks down the street!
Though I like the idea in principle, there always is a chance the cats actually belong to someone, and they may or may not be happy to have their pet altered. On the other hand, people who let their pets wander unattended take the risks involved.
I agree, if you let your cat wander then you should not be surprised if somebody else steps in. Besides it is really not a good idea to let cats loose outside by themselves as they prey on birds.
Exactly! Andy and Dougy are inside cats for that reason, among others related to their health and safety.
It always astonishes me that in areas of the most poverty and need, the simple expedient of spay/neuter programs is the last thing to be considered. It would certainly cost less money overall, but that doesn’t seem to be understood. Even here in the US there are many areas where people refuse to “fix” their animals and strays or ferals suffer needlessly. Thank you for posting this.
This break sky heart also and makes me totally angry.
People who cannot, or will not, spay and neuter have right to own animals.
I’ve often felt it would make more sense to license people to have animals instead of licensing animals. Along with the fees generated to support humane no-kill shelters, potential pet owners would take classes on the proper care of whichever animal they wanted to have in the home.
This breaks my heart! 🙁
But, thank you for sharing this and making people aware.
(((HUGS)))
Many people are posting this video on Facebook and elsewhere. It is a tragic “solution” to a problem that might have been handled with more finesse by Putin and his pals.
Well said, weggieboy!
People forget they are responsible for animals they take in, so the animals suffer. Stinks!