From Devvy  www.devvy.com From the picture of her dog.
May 15, 2007

The picture you clicked on is my dog, William Wallace; we call him Willy. While I primarily write about constitutional issues, I am also a dog lover and have kept dogs my entire adult life. It just sickens me that MILLIONS of dogs and cats are euthanized each year; approximately 7.5 MILLION last year alone. Let me say/type that again: 7.5 MILLION dogs and cats were put to sleep last year in this country.

Eight to twelve MILLION dogs and cats end up at animal shelters each year. As you can see by the numbers, most don't make it.

If you've ever been to an animal shelter, you know how heart breaking it is. The "good" ones, meaning pure breeds, get picked up by animal rescue operations and bless their hearts because they work so hard to find families. The others, like my boys, wait for people like me to get the courage to walk those buildings with cage after over crowded cage of desperate faces.

I adopted Willy on September 28, 1998; the photo you clicked on was after I got him home and from the groomer. He was a mess when I picked him at the pound in a cage with four other huge dogs. Here's what his little face looks like today:

This is my other mugger, Dusty. I adoped him from the same animal shelter in Sacramento, California on April 15, 2000. He was a mess, just like Willy; stuck in a cage waiting for someone or death.

Have you seen the Sarah McLachlan, commercial on the tube? I generally don't watch TV commercials, but this one caught my eye. I can't watch it without crying. Yes, big, bad me, reduced to tears because your heart simply breaks to see these poor, defenseless animals who have been kicked, beated and abused by humans. You need to watch it, even though it's painful.

Click here for a good dose of reality.

Yes, there are children going hungry in this country and our republic is imploding and I've been doing my part for over 17 years now full time. However, I hope that we don't lose our humanity along the way and simply continue to ignore this massive problem here in America. The cost of animal shelters is enormous and it doesn't have to be that way. Yes, it does cost to get your dog or cat spayed or neutered, but there are free clinics all across this country or low cost spay/neuter days at places like PetsMart.

We have an animal problem because those oh so cool Americans with their IPods and important little lives are not taking responsibility for their obligations. As I was standing in line to pay the fee for adopting Dusty, a late 20s something female was standing in front of me. At her feet was a box of six cute little kittens crying. They were absolutely adorable. I asked if she was giving them up for adoption? Her response was yes, the mother "got out" and well, she doesn't know what to do with them. I noticed this female's hair was perfectly groomed, her fingernails were brightly painted as was her face. She can make sure she's buff and groomed, but too irresponsible to get her cat fixed so that box of adorable kittens doesn't end up on the euthanasia table, and they probably did. Sacramento County Animal Shelter is one of the worst run in this country, financial problems like many all the time and a massive euthanasia rate. All Little Miss Fashion Plate had to do was take one hour to get her cat to the vet or a low cost spay clinic (getting her cat fixed would cost less than that tint job on her hair) and help stop this problem.

Only the American people can reduce this unnecessary and terrible problem
by being responsible pet owners.

Most county "pounds" or animal shelters require an adopted dog or cat get fixed. Sacramento does; I paid the fee and then had to wait until the next day while my new friend for life was taken to a local vet and fixed up. It wasn't a problem for me, altho' I was excited to get my boys home.

Willy was a runner. He was picked up on the street, about six months old; someone didn't care enough to make sure he was secured. My little man is a treasure, such a gentleman. Dusty was about six months old also and starving to death. He was an over night drop off with no paperwork. My little meister was just laying in a cage, dirty and hungry. Eight days later I took his little face home. Both of my boys have been a joy each day they've been part of our family.

Many, many years ago I also got pet insurance for my muggers. It was the smartest thing I ever did as a pet owner. For as little as $9.99 per month, this insurance can make it possible for you to be able to get your friend for life the medical treatment they need and not kill your bank account. So many people have to put their dear friends down because they can't afford an operation or treatment. Pet insurance makes it possible. I do not receive any compensation whatsoever, but I do recommend my carrier: Veterinary Pet Insurance.

It sickens me that people in this country abuse dogs, cats, horses and other animals in the most heinous fashion. When I lived in Lakewood, Colorado (a suburb of Denver), every winter it was the same thing: news coverage of the animal shelter folks going to pick up a dog in a back yard frozen to death during a snow storm. The owners go skiing and leave their pets outside to die a horrible death. Crap for brains. Why not put them in a kennel for the day? The cost? Don't insult my intelligence. Those lift tickets out in Vail, Loveland and surrounding areas for one day cost five times as much as one day in a kennel. It's called being selfish and self centered. I despise people who abuse animals, drunk or sober. They are mean, small and heartless.

There are too many to save. That's a fact. When I was visiting the animal shelter both times to find Willy and Dusty, there were HUNDREDS of faces staring at me through the cages, bleeding with their eyes — please take me home. It hurts and I could barely stand to go down there, but it takes many visits to find just that right friend for life. I wish I could adopt more, but I can't. What I can do is help within my budget.

I give regularly to United Animal Nations. They are fabulous in their efforts rescusing and helping to reunite pets with their families during and after disasters like Katrina. Their web site is here.

I give the $18.00 per month gift each month to be an angel for those innocent dogs and cats you see at Myaspca.org in honor of my mommy. She can't afford the $18.00 per month, so I do it for her. I do it for all those little faces that are beaten, kicked, starved, stabbed, run over and treated like garbage when all they want is to be loved. Can you help out by becoming an Angel?

WILL YOU BE AN ANGEL?

http://www.stoppuppymills.org/pdfs/PuppyMillCrueltyFlyer.pdf

Family pets fall victim to subprime crisis

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080125/lf_afp/uspropertyfinanceanimals

https://community.hsus.org/humane/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=19720449