One day while reading the newspaper, I came across comments from people who were outraged about an article about local animal shelters euthanizing healthy animals because of insufficient funding and too few families that were willing to adopt a rescue animal. They wondered “how could workers who “put animals to sleep” live with themselves?”
I was working as a local television correspondent at the time and had the opportunity to ask an animal shelter worker about this very touchy subject.
While most of her work was extremely gratifying, the worst aspect of her job she and her co-workers dreaded, was dealing with unwanted “holiday gift pets” in the New Year.
That is when holiday pets end up at the shelter. Their prognosis was seldom good.
In the early months of the New Year, parents – without their children in tow - would show up with a kitten or puppy and explain that “things didn’t work out” with the pet and that the family wanted to donate the pet for adoption.
The pet would be handed over, the parents would leave, pleased that they had solved their problem, and the future of the animal was left in the hands of the animal shelter workers.
People who work at shelters do so because they love animals, want to take care of them and find them new homes. The worker explained, “I did not get into this line of work to euthanize animals.” She then broke down crying, and several of her colleagues within earshot came over to comfort her.
I thought back to a childhood friend of mine whose parents bought a puppy for him over the holidays, and then, when they discovered he was uninterested and incapable of taking care of the pet, they brought it to the local shelter. When he later asked them where the dog was, they told him “Don’t worry. We took him to a nice farm where he will be happy.”
There was no farm. Only a cage, and more likely than not, a sad ending to the story.
I then asked the shelter worker if she and her colleagues would like to participate in a story about this for the evening news to raise public awareness about buying pets without giving it careful thought. Yes, they did.
Two weeks later, a cameraman and I took footage in the shelter of the heartbreaking faces of animals looking through the cage bars and a quote in the lobby to the effect that the quality of a society’s mercy can be judged by the way it treats its most vulnerable members.
Then, we set up the tripod for footage that was very difficult to watch: A beautiful, good-natured dog was lying on a table about to be euthanized because there was no room, nobody had adopted him and he’d been there “too long.”
The shelter’s workers decided to put the dog to sleep in a “humane” way for the camera – with an intravenous injection – not the typical way it is done.
I stood at the door and turned my head away as the dog’s breathing slowed and one of its paws twitched ever so slightly before it went to sleep forever.
We edited the story during what would have been our lunch period. Neither of us could eat.
Then came an important decision: do we show the animal being put down, and if so, how do we handle it?
I decided not to sugar-coat the issue. We showed the final 20 seconds of the procedure from the doorway of the room with the goal of letting parents see what often happens when an unwanted pet is brought to a shelter. No farm like they might have told their kids.
I never watched the story go to air. It wasn’t necessary.
I received two humane society journalism awards for the story, called “Don’t Blame the Caregivers.” I also received many angry letters – not from animal advocates, but from parents who were horrified that I’d expose children to that sort of imagery. This was back in the late 1980s when television was not as bold as it is now.
As unpleasant as it was, the message about holiday pets had been delivered.
If it saved the life of one animal, it was worth it. If it made one family think twice about buying a pet for the holidays without a serious discussion, then it was worth it. If this story you are reading raises awareness about the folly of buying a holiday pet, it is worth it.
If you do decide with your family to buy and take care of a pet, consider adopting one from a rescue shelter. It will make a happy ending to the story.
After that first mistake we did our research and studied which breeds are best with children. The answer was #1 the Dachshund and #2 the Shetland Sheepdog. This time we searched for an AKC registered kennel and found a purebred puppy. We showed her in an AKC puppy class show but didn't win any ribbons. We then trained he in obedience and here we were successful. She was trained never to cross the sidewalk on our homes corner property. Since she was not allowed to cross the sidewalk, she didn't permit our two children to do so either. We didn't train her to do this, it was just the herding instinct bred into her. Then we created an AKC Kennel for Shetland Sheepdogs and our dogs produce two litters. When our children became adults we took up sailing and ended up with a 52' yacht. But what dog should we get for life aboard a boat. This time it was an English Cocker Spaniel.. This time we bought a square yard of astro-turf and placed it on the bow deck (up foward) and taught the dog to do his thing on it. This area was called our Poop Deck. and contained a wash-down hose for cleanup. Its name was "Lord Nelson" as appropriate for an English sea dog.
Do you even understand your point? Let's put it in terms that you can get mad about, ok? A CEO makes 20 mio a year. But pays 3 million in taxes, and is found to have underpaid by 20,000. .06% of his taxes. But someone like you, most likely will say " wow--a guy with all that money, cant even pay what he owes!! Scumbag." Here is what I say about Malloy: He has 20 bio to spend and needs to spend 20.45? Is it that tough to actually limit spending to only 20 bio? The budget in 2011 was 19.3 and in 2012 its 20.3 billion. Micheal, if you had any objectivity, maybe you could say " in a retracting economy, to hike 1 billion, and be 450 mill behind, is not good. Missing by 2.2 % is still missing by 450 million. These guys are blaming revenue shortfalls, but they increased spending by 1 billion . If you are the least bit smart --you should simpy say 'yeah, they are not properly representing the problem, and are being irresponsible. "
A state budget is made with a projection of revenues and expenditures. The revenue projections were obviously little too rosy and the expenditures were higher than expected. 2.2% over budgeted seems to be acceptable too me. If I were to criticize the state government (current or past) at all, it would be to say that there is seldom a surplus and often a deficit. Borrowing and cuts in services are usually the remedy - a balanced account is mandated by State constitution. As for your statement @Ryen, you are referring to Rell's prior year shortfall. And in the year prior to that, Rell had a $1 billion shortfall.
A 450 million shortfall, which was 3 weeks ago , a 60 milion dollar shortfall, which was 7 months ago 1.1 bio dollar surplus, now projects to be a 1.9 bio dollar 2 year shortfall. And growing. At what point do you get concerned? You need to understand the issue better. At this point it has flipped 3 bio dollars --requiring a 1.9 bio plan to get it back in order. After you raise taxes by 2.6 bio dollars , essentially this result, is saying you ended up needing to duplicate the raises already. And this all against the backdrop of your messiah telling us that the economy was improving. Hmm What happens when things get bad Mike? How about facing up to reality--higher taxes, in the Democrat world , means more money to spend to get reelected. Not an effort to balance anything.
I'm sorry that you disrespect those who worked and accumulated wealth. I thought that was the American way of life. As for myself, I was forced to spend my savings to protect my children and now live on my Social Security check. But this doesn't mean that I cannot contribute my time and labor to organizations that strive to make Milford a better place to live. Being retired (medical reasons) does not mean that I make no contribution as some who come home from work and lock themselves in until that time when they go to work again. Finally, This thread was about getting a pet during this holiday season and I would hope you would stick to that subject.
A lump of coal is all that you will get for the holiday. I've never read a positive thought from one of your postings. You complain if you read life experiences from others as if you don't have the ability to just delete it. But you read what I say and complain that you did. I'm sorry you live such a sad life. Mine is filled with nice events along with some of the sad. I only hope you can enjoy this holiday season in good health. P.S. Ronnie is the feminine form of Ronald, and I would hope you address me properly. Second I'm not an "esquire" but thank-you for thinking I am, it is still an honorable title.
Announced today. Wow So there you have it..the most bizarre thing ever in politics. After all the hoopla and anger that eminated from the left on these bailouts--the only company that has not paid the money back, and has not returned a profit to taxpayer is ========General Motors. That much hailed 'successful bailout" we heard so much about over the last 5 months. So we make on the banks and Aig-and lose on GM big time--and guess what? the msnbc watching democrats, crazily still are mad at the guys who paid the money back, and are hailing as champions -the guys who will cost taxpayers, when all is said and done 200 bio dollars. is this lunacy or what? just goes to show you how much it helps to have the media in your back pocket. At some point though, one would expect the media to get a little angry at where their money is going . is it really a great idea to just hand your hard earned money over to union thugs and their democrat buddies who pretend to be for the poor but in fact, are just for getting re-elected. hail oh-hail unions. where is obama? negotiating for the 'middle class' for the 98%? Nope he is in michigan trying to help unions retain their mafia like stronghold.
It says that the $80 billion auto bailout that is now touted by the anointed Obama was little more than a payout to Big Labor one that came at the expense of non union workers. (EXAMPLE DELPHI A GM SUBSIDIARY) That is the truth that should be told without another cover up. But the democrats just do what they do best lie and cover up the facts.
Howard Schwartz
Thinking about buying a holiday pet? The unspoken truth many parents don’t tell their children. Have the common decency to spare the readers your political hangups!
If you copy your post before deleting it, then you can repost under the screen name you intended, make edits or whatever. ;0
Valerie Juleson