by Suzyn Barron, President of Warwick Valley Humane Society, Inc.
Did you know whenever we get a call about a possible animal abandonment situation, our hearts hurt, for the animal and for the efforts it will take to bring that pet to safety. All because some person decided they didn’t want to deal with the dog they CHOSE to take into their home any longer. Perhaps this person called the shelter to surrender the dog, but the shelter didn’t have room to take him in at that moment or the shelter requested that the dog be neutered and vaccinated before his surrender, and not liking either answer, decided to “dump it” in a remote location. Why else would a human being inflict this rejection onto an innocent animal? How is this animal expected to survive without food, water or shelter? Everyone knows that animal abandonment is a misdemeanor crime in New York State, yet some people without a conscience take the chance that they won’t get caught and drive away as if they discarded garbage which is also against the law.
Is it animal abandonment if you leave the pet on the shelter premises without notifying anyone? YES. Is it animal abandonment if you move and leave your animals behind for the landlord to deal with? YES. Is it animal abandonment if you leave your beloved pet with a friend and never come back for it? YES. Is it animal abandonment if you take your pet to a remote location and “set it free”? YES. Sadly we have experienced all of these scenarios.
A cat left in a carrier at the end of the shelter driveway; a dog left in crate at our front door at 5:30 am; a three legged puggle dropped off at a farm; six cats left in an apartment and the list goes on.
And what about the devastation the pet feels when they find themselves alone in a strange place, confused and frightened? Dogs wait at the abandonment location never straying too far. They loyally wait as long as it takes for their owner to return, who never does. No matter why someone chooses to abandon their pet, the animal is always the one that suffers most in this situation.
Just this week at twelve thirty in the morning Animal Control Officers were requested to a trail head for a possible abandoned husky. We were able to lure the dog with treats and deli meat (gifted to us by a concerned person) to barely within reach but he/she was too skittish and would run back to the trail at the slightest movement. After two long, wet hours of trying to coax him/her, it was decided to contact Buddha Dog Rescue to set and monitor a trap out of sight by camera. Twelve hours and two trips to and from Blairstown later and Buddha Dog Rescue finally prevailed at 2:30am! Our Animal Control Officers responded at that hour to load the trap and transport the dog for and intake to the shelter. Two sleepless exhaustive nights equals one saved dog. BTW, it’s a Boy!
“Your humanity died the moment you abandoned an animal”, unknown.
Pet of the Week:
