I know I already sound like a broken tape-recorder. But there will always be new readers to the blog, so this is probably for them.
Or maybe it’s for you too, if you are interested.
Again and again, I will receive emails or messages from total strangers asking if they could surrender animals to our “shelter”. So I will have to reply that we don’t run a shelter but a neutering fund, so would they instead like to consider getting those animals neutered or rehomed, whichever fits the case.
There will be some back-and-forth communication after that. Actually, the more, the better, because it is an indication that the person seeking for help is actually interested in doing something to help said animals.
I always think that if the person were not interested, they would not have written to me in the first place. They might have just dumped the animals somewhere without a second thought or worse, called the council. So the fact that they have written means that at the very least, they are trying to find a kinder solution for the animals.
We cannot expect every human to like dogs and cats, tree shrews, or reptiles, for that matter. They are all animals; this earth belongs to them too. Each and every animal on earth has as much right to live here as you and me. We know this, but not everyone feels the same as we do. Some humans don’t like certain animals (for example, my mother doesn’t like cats, luckily the proverbial apple fell very far away from the mother-tree! I take after my father). Some humans are afraid of certain animals (I am afraid of certain reptiles, so I don’t blame others for being afraid of dogs, cats, lizards or cockroaches). Being afraid is not the same as hating.
So when I receive such requests, I will spend the whole day replying to the person who wishes to get rid of cats or dogs, hoping the best solution can be reached where the animals will still be safe.
It’s a lot of work, and it takes a lot of non-judgmental thinking. I learnt from a shelter operator a long time ago that when someone wants to get surrender their own pets, don’t bother asking why. They have already made up their mind. For me, when someone wants to get rid of dogs or cats and they write to me, I will give the person the benefit of the doubt that they don’t have any other options, so I would work towards finding the best solution for the animals. Because if you don’t, they might just end up dumping the animal somewhere and you would have missed the opportunity to at least help to find a kinder solution for those poor animals.
Of course I’ve also received requests where the reasons were: (a) Moving to a condo that does not allow pets, (b) a family member has an allergy to the pet, (c) no longer interested in looking after the pet, (d) pet too old and sickly, cannot look them after anymore, etc. These are people who simply do not and cannot treat their pet as a family member, and you can talk until the cows come home, they aren’t going to change their minds. So, don’t bother. Just concentrate on finding the best solution for the animals’ safety and wellbeing.
Yesterday, I received one such case. A mother-cat had given birth to two kittens in someone’s backyard. The mother-cat is present to nurse her kittens and I explained that with some luck, the she might move the whole family away as it’s their natural tendency to do so. So, if this person could just let them be, maybe they would move away on their own, and by then, the kittens would be bigger and can at least have a better chance of survival. I explained about neutering too, but the bottom line is that this person did not like cats, so they would prefer to have someone take the family away. Thereafter, I spent the whole day looking for fosterers and no-kill shelters that might be able to help. I haven’t found a solution, just a few contacts. So if you are able to help this case, please let me know. Please help me ask if anyone is willing to help catch this mother-cat and take her and her two babies. The family should not be separated. I know how hard this is because everyone I know already have their hands full. I rescued Minnie (pregnant) with Smurfy and we have Rey, Robin and Lynx. I rescued Samantha (pregnant) and we have Kai, Akira and Indra. As a vet jokingly said, when it comes to rescuing pregnant street animals, it’s “Buy one, free seven”. He’s not far from wrong!
So having encountered so many of such cases, each time, I come to the same conclusion, please, please get street animals neutered. Please get your pets neutered. Don’t let them breed anymore. A street dog will give birth to 8-12 puppies in one litter. A street cat, 3-7 kittens. If not neutered, they will continue to breed all their lives. Dogs and cats do not go through menopause.
Every being born on earth is born to suffer and eventually die. As pessimistic (or realistic) as that sounds, tell me if it isn’t the truth. When we fall sick, we suffer. When we age and grow old, we suffer. When we die, hopefully we die of a quick heart failure where death comes instantly and unexpectedly, but if we don’t, we also suffer. Even if we die “painlessly” and quickly (if there is such a thing), those who love us suffer.
So, please. Don’t let street animals breed anymore.
Neuter, neuter, neuter.
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