It's Never Too Late for an Old Dog (or Person) to Learn

During my years as a volunteer both inside the animal shelters and outside, I have seen, time and time again, neglected pets; unwanted litters from lack of spaying or neutering; and I have witnessed untold pets dumped by ignorant and uncaring so-called adults.

The best way to stem the wanton slaughter of unwanted animals is through education.  Only did I just find out that there is a code in our schools that is intended to promote kindness towards pets and the humane treatment of animals.  California Education Code section 233.5(a) states:

Each teacher shall endeavor to impress upon the minds of the pupils the principles of morality, truth, justice, patriotism, and a true comprehension of the rights, duties, and dignity of American citizenship, and the meaning of equality and human dignity, including the promotion of harmonious relations, kindness toward domestic pets and the humane treatment of living creatures, to teach them to avoid idleness, profanity, and falsehood, and to instruct them in manners and morals and the principles of a free government."

It is really so simple – teach our children what is required of them.  Children’s minds soak up information, and they will take that information home to their families who may have been brought up thinking pets are possessions.  It is a fact that teaching kids to be kind to animals at a young age will help them develop compassion towards human beings as they mature.*

Okay, so you and your children are well aware of the responsibilities of being a good pet guardian.  Are you aware that you and your friends and family may have neighbors who are clueless?  Allow me to share with you a few incidents of cruelty and neglect that happened recently, right in our neighborhoods:

(1)        A few weeks ago, on a day the temperature reached the upper 90’s, I was contacted by a homeless woman who wanted advice about four kitties she had found in a shoebox alongside a trash bin on the side of a store.  She happened upon them when she was looking for recyclables.  The jerk that dumped the days-old kittens did not even have the decency to put holes in the box so they could breathe.  Yes, they were alive, but barely.  The kittens were picked up by LA Animal Services and, most likely, euthanized.

(2)        Last week, a man rushed into the shelter asking for a vet to look at a small dog he found in a trash bin.  The little guy was obviously in excruciating pain and the shelter does not have the equipment needed to do an internal exam.  A rescuer who was at the shelter to save some other dogs, rushed the injured dog to her vet for emergency treatment.  The vet said it looked like he may have been hit by a car and, sadly, he died of his injuries.  If whoever hit this little dog had an ounce of decency and had taken the dog to a vet or even the shelter, perhaps he may have survived.  Instead, he was dumped like garbage.

(3)        The next day, while the same rescuer was back at the shelter, another person brought in an unconscious puppy, approximately 4-weeks old, that was left alongside a trash bin.  Luckily, the vet was able to revive the teeny, tiny dog and she is currently being looked after in a foster home.  Still, the pup, who fits in the palm of a hand, had been discarded like a piece of trash.

(4)        Two days ago, near downtown, a car hit a Rottweiler dog**, and though the driver pulled over and he and his passenger got, it only was to pick up the front license plate that had fallen off.  They did not bother to check whether the dog was injured or dead, and as they walked away, one of the guys suggested to those who were in the area that “Someone should put the dog down.”   And they drove away with a smirk on their faces.

These acts, despicable as they are, rank low in the severity of animal cruelty that appears to be more prevalent than ever.  Perhaps such inhumanity has come to light with phone cameras, videos, the Internet.  So why do I blog about such grimness, you might ask?  An apropos quote by Peter F. Drucker (writer, professor, management consultant) states:  “Today knowledge has power.  It controls access to opportunity and advancement.”  I will continue to make known the plight of our animals, and with that knowledge you will, hopefully, take every opportunity to bring further awareness so that in the not too distant future we will have advanced to a more humane society.

With Facebook, Twitter, email, etc. there can be no excuse for not sharing the knowledge.  And if you have questions about your pet or you need to find out where to report a case of abuse, the Internet provides a wealth of information.

No one is ever too old to learn.  Yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks.


* https://pawsandlearn.org/index_BDVJ.html   http://www.laanimalalliance.org/index.php


** http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-canine-hit-and-run,0,1023511.story The dog survived, but sustained severe injuries and a leg may have to be amputated.  The dog (named Taz) belongs to a homeless family who had left him at a friend’s home, which is where he escaped from.  Taz’s owners are very distraught and do not have the resources to care for him and get him rehabilitated.  Cage Free Canines has offered to see to the care of Taz.  It is anticipated that the stay in the hospital, the surgery, follow-up care, and rehabilitation could run in the thousands ($8,000-$10,000).  Donations in any amount would be welcome.  http://cagefreecanines.com​/dog-rescue-los-angeles.as​p

p.s.  Saturday is my birthday.  My wish is that you stop by a mobile pet adoption and/or go to the website of a reputable rescue organization and make a donation in any amount.  "All that isnecessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."