Outside Perception
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Are Pets Good Holiday Gifts? I think not!
Every Christmas season thousands of you Humans think it’s a great idea to give a Dog or Cat as a pet. It’s not! Just after the Christmas season every year thousands of pets are left abandoned to fend for themselves once people realize the enormity of what they are getting themselves into. From the age of the cute little lady below it seems she was one of them.
This is one of my Dogs, her name was Waverly when we adopted her in front of the local Petco through the Last Chance Rescue. My children renamed her Rory shortly after her arrival at our home. She was found on the streets in South Carolina. She had never been in a home as far as we could tell. Rory had BB’s under her skin, we guess from local kids having a little “fun”. Rory had scars on her face from other dogs biting her over food. She was terrified of everything and everyone. No one loved her. She didn’t know how to play, she was scared of her food bowls, because she saw her reflection in them. She would growl to warn people away from here. It took a long time for her to become comfortable. Fortunately we have another dog here named Loki. Rory was, and still is more comfortable if he is nearby.
Rory has been with us for just over a year now and the changes in her are astounding, but she still has trouble with things. She can be easily startled and will run to Loki as if to say “Come make sure this is ok.”. She does not like other dogs on what she considers “her” property, out on a leash she is fine though. Plastic bags terrify her for some reason, and we try not to keep them in the house anymore, I don’t even want to consider why that might be. Rory has gone from a practically feral dog to a loving and happy part of our family. She talks to us, little grunts and growls similar to Tim Taylor from Home Improvement. She waves her paw in the air for attention and will tap you with it as if to say “Excuse me, I would like to be petted now.” She chases tennis balls, plays tug of war, races around the yard with the kids and doesn’t cower anymore. When anyone comes home she wags her tail so fast you think she might start to fly from the draft it causes. We love her and she loves us.
I say all of this because not all abandoned animals are as lucky as our Rory was. The ASPCA estimates Approximately 5 million to 7 million enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and approximately 3 million to 4 million are euthanized. Lets not add to it this holiday season. The best gift a dog or cat can get is a loving and well prepared home, both financially, and mentally. If you want to get your loved one a pet buy a fish. Offer to take your loved one out and help them out to find a pet. Do research find out about the breeds, how big they get, average veterinary bills, temperament. Be prepared, dogs are a big commitment My 1st dog lived to be sixteen. The second lived to be only seven because of cancer. Loki should live to be around 12 and Rory… well she’s a mystery but Ill be here for however long she is. Make sure you can do the same before getting a new family member, thats what they are, family.
Related articles
- Pets as Presents Not a Good Idea (allentownanimalclinic.wordpress.com)
- ASPCA “No Pet Store Puppies” Campaign Urges Consumers Not to Buy into Puppy Mill Cruelty this Holiday Season (thehotspotorlando.com)
Spread the Word!!!
Outside Perception 