Warning: Undefined array key 0 in /home3/wvdispat/public_html/wp-content/plugins/seo-optimized-images/seo-optimized-images.php on line 154
Deprecated: pathinfo(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($path) of type string is deprecated in /home3/wvdispat/public_html/wp-content/plugins/seo-optimized-images/seo-optimized-images.php on line 154
by Suzyn Barron, President of Warwick Valley Humane Society, Inc.
Did you know I am actually a slow to anger person. It takes a lot to raise my blood pressure and fury. But it has happened twice in the last two weeks due to animals being abandoned.
Kane, his real name, was left in a crate at 5:30am. The only information we have been able to gather is that he is a neutered, brown and white male Pitbull and only about a year old. No veterinarians in the area have a client matching his description. We have no way of finding out his vaccination history, food and toy preferences, whether he gets along with other dogs or cats, if he has been around children, is housetrained or has any behavioral issues. All of which could have and should have been provided by his family who had the pleasure of raising him from a little puppy they chose to adopt or buy! Instead of calling the shelter with their reason to surrender, whatever that might be, they decided to leave him in a crate as the sun rose on the shelter grounds, without a pat on the head. They just turned away, climbed into the vehicle and left. I know that sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures. But what emergency was unfolding that gave them enough time to drive to the shelter, set up the crate, pick him up and put him into it, then leave? There was certainly no emotional goodbyes on their end. It would tear me apart to have to leave my dog behind and so I wouldn’t. 
Next is the phone call from a hiker on the Appalachian Trail. As he was hiking he noticed the beam of sunlight through the trees landing on a shiny object. A bird cage with the door open and four parakeets huddled inside. Really?? Fortunately the hiker was kind enough to bring these little birds to the shelter. We have no idea how many parakeets were originally inside the cage and if any took the opportunity to take flight. A death sentence for sure. Domestic animals cannot survive in the wild. They are easy prey and near impossible to find the food they were used to eating. So they either starve to death or are killed by another animal. This infuriates me! How heartless can a person be? Or ignorant? How hard is it to pick up the phone and ask for help? If we are unable to admit a pet whether from outside of our jurisdiction or for lack of space, we will always try to give other resources or offer a waitlist if that works. There is absolutely no excuse for abandoning a pet or pets. It is a misdemeanor crime in New York State and INHUMANE. Companion animals may be considered property in this State, but are not to be discarded as tired of, used or broken “stuff”. I do not like feeling angry. Whatever your situation, please give us a chance to help.
Pet of the Week:
Adoption applications are available at wvhumane.org or call 845-986-2473 for more information.
