2008 Woodie Awards
Help put a stop to littering
Jenny Wilkins
Staff Writer
Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: Opinion
Local shelters are at capacity and are running out of room for all the homeless animals in our world. What are we going to do with them all? Unfortunately, many of them will be euthanized only because there is nowhere to keep them. We can make a difference for these poor cats and dogs; we simply need to have them spayed or neutered.
I recently picked up a golden Labrador mix puppy I found on my way to class. He was lying in the middle of the road, and I thought he had been run over. Then I passed him and saw his head pop up. The poor little puppy was skin and bones and barely had any hair.
After rescuing him I tried to get him into any shelter I could, but the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Animal Rescue Foundation in Mobile were at capacity. After seeing the pain in his big green eyes, I took it upon myself to give the puppy the life he deserved. He stayed with me for three weeks until I found him a new family.
The Mobile area SPCA often gives out vouchers for discounts for having your pet spayed or neutered, if you qualify. Those with Medicaid insurance can have an animal "fixed" for as little as $10. These animals can't run out and decide they want go have this procedure done, although there probably wouldn't be a population problem among these animals if this were the case.
On Feb. 26, according to the International SPCA, the city of Los Angeles approved the bill that you must have your cat or dog spayed or neutered by the time he or she is 4 months old. The Healthy Pets Act will go into effect in October 2008. A ticket of $100 will be given to those who do not obey the law. Over $2 million was spent on euthanatizing over 15,000 animals last year, which is the reason for the new law. How sad is that? Mobile County should also make this a law; there is obviously a problem here that needs our attention.
We just have to think about these animals. I can't bring home and rescue every stray animal I see walking down the road. Just to know these dogs don't have a loving home, a regular food source and someone to throw them a tennis ball saddens me.
I recently picked up a golden Labrador mix puppy I found on my way to class. He was lying in the middle of the road, and I thought he had been run over. Then I passed him and saw his head pop up. The poor little puppy was skin and bones and barely had any hair.
After rescuing him I tried to get him into any shelter I could, but the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Animal Rescue Foundation in Mobile were at capacity. After seeing the pain in his big green eyes, I took it upon myself to give the puppy the life he deserved. He stayed with me for three weeks until I found him a new family.
The Mobile area SPCA often gives out vouchers for discounts for having your pet spayed or neutered, if you qualify. Those with Medicaid insurance can have an animal "fixed" for as little as $10. These animals can't run out and decide they want go have this procedure done, although there probably wouldn't be a population problem among these animals if this were the case.
On Feb. 26, according to the International SPCA, the city of Los Angeles approved the bill that you must have your cat or dog spayed or neutered by the time he or she is 4 months old. The Healthy Pets Act will go into effect in October 2008. A ticket of $100 will be given to those who do not obey the law. Over $2 million was spent on euthanatizing over 15,000 animals last year, which is the reason for the new law. How sad is that? Mobile County should also make this a law; there is obviously a problem here that needs our attention.
We just have to think about these animals. I can't bring home and rescue every stray animal I see walking down the road. Just to know these dogs don't have a loving home, a regular food source and someone to throw them a tennis ball saddens me.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Brian
posted 4/19/08 @ 10:57 PM CST
I 'adopted' a pet that showed up on my doorstep. Maybe I should say he adopted me. That has been almost four years ago and he has not been neutered because I do not want to have him neutered. (Continued…)
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