When uncaring pet owners dump animals

Living preferences are as plentiful as there are people with opinions.  My personal preference, having grown up on a farm, is to live out in the country. I know to each their own. That's fine until it comes time for someone who lives in town to get rid of their pet or someone is moving and can't keep their pet.

Or (and, from experience, this one is my personal favorite) you haven't properly trained your pet, and it has so few redeeming qualities that you can't even stand it yourself, and you have to get rid of it. But you don't want to take it to the pound, as they will kill him/her. So, you decide your pet would much rather take a late night ride into the country where you dump him out and drive off quickly whether you are teary-eyed about this matter or not.

On May 19, someone graced my family with a dropped-off dog in the middle of the night. This dog barked all the time, got into whichever vehicle me or my family members were getting into first and had to be literally dragged out. He chased walkers, bike riders, motorcycle riders and cars down the road. But, I was willing to put up with  this dog with less-than-wonderful traits because he needed a home - someone to love him, provide food, water and shelter for him, and try to train him out of his bad habits. 

We made sure he hadn't wandered to our house from a neighbor because we went to see the neighbors. We listed this dog with the local vet in case someone called, distraught over where their beloved pet had gone. No one wanted him. So, we continued to keep him.

During the three weeks we had this dog, my Rottweiler (who has arthritic knees and doesn't need the extra weight) has gained approximately 10 pounds because he couldn't go outside and play. Dear stray was in the yard and, because Red was not neutered but my Rottie is, there was a difference in severity of biting. Red could have hurt my Rottie but for the fact that the Rottie has about 55 pounds on him.

Keeping this dog, Red, also meant that we took him to the vet for a rabies shot, bought him a collar (because he arrived with a choke-chain around his neck and no I.D.), and made plans to have him neutered, tested for heartworms and hopefully put on preventative medication and basically, make him part of our family. I'm sure this is what the previous owner had intended.

One problem arose which was the deal breaker. Red doesn't like cats. We have two outside cats:  a 14-year-old spayed cat that I rescued 12 years ago and an approximately 5-year-old neutered cat, which had been a stray himself about two months prior to Red's arrival. Since Red has shown up, we have not seen our cats. We found them last night, emaciated, covered with ticks and fleas, and afraid of their own shadow. So, Red went for a ride again this morning to the Alamance County Animal Shelter where my daughter was assured he would be put down. (Thanks, fellas, for trying to talk her into keeping him.)

Be responsible pet owners. If you don't want the puppies/kittens/baby bunnies etc., what makes you think anyone else does? The Humane Society of Alamance County has a program whereby they will assist you in the spaying and/or neutering of your dog or cat. Their phone number is (336) 438-2023. They are great people and a great organization.

I'll leave you with this as I prepare to get vitamins and flea/tick preventative for my two cats now that we have found them. Think before you act.

Kimery Rudd Braxton lives in Graham.