Deserted pets need lifeline, loving homes
by Cindy Moorhead, reporter

    With Christmas right around the corner, many parents may begin thinking of yielding to their children’s requests for a new pet.

Before they do so, they should probably think about the impending responsibilities of pet ownership.

Then they should consider a trip to a local animal shelter.
According to a Fort Worth Public Health Department report, of the 19,000 animals impounded by Fort Worth Animal Control more than 14,000 were euthanized last fiscal year.

To the animal lovers of the world, that number is too high and seems to be a disturbing trend.

Many people seem to regard cats and dogs as items to be discarded when the owner grows tired of them.

Puppies and kittens are hard to resist; however, once the cuteness wears off, some owners grow tired of caring for their pets and get rid of them.

At times, an animal that is not suited to a person’s needs is adopted, and the owner cannot take care of the pet.

For example, a high-energy dog is not well-suited to a low-energy person. A little research on breeds can provide helpful information and assist someone in picking the proper animal to adopt.

Another problem occurs when people don’t provide basic care needed by their animals. These needs include fresh food and water, shelter and medical care.

Medical care is very important and should include shots to prevent illness as well as spaying and neutering to prevent unwanted animals.

In addition, pets should have adequate room to exercise or should be taken for frequent walks.

Owners who allow their pets to run loose endanger them. Anything can happen to animals while they are on streets by themselves. For instance, they could be run over by a vehicle or attacked by another animal.

Animals that are not spayed or neutered also contribute to unwanted litters and higher euthanasia rates.

An additional problem is people who dump animals on the side of the road hoping they will find a new home.

I find it disturbing to drive by an animal that has been abandoned. Often, the pet is waiting on the side of the road for its owner to return.

Instead of finding a new home as the previous owners thought would occur, the animal often faces starvation, injury and/or death.
An animal adoption should be regarded as a commitment and taken seriously.

Perhaps with more responsible owners, the number of animals taken to the animal shelter and euthanized will be lower next fiscal year.