Comments on: The Economy’s Helpless Victim: The Family Pet http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-economys-helpless-victim-the-family-pet/ Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:01:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: StephJ http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-economys-helpless-victim-the-family-pet/#comment-492675 StephJ Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:09:59 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=71325#comment-492675 It's ridiculous that people should have to give up their pets when times get tough. I don't buy that they have trouble buying enough food for themselves and their pets. America is a developed country, for God's sake. If you've simply lost your job or your home it doesn't mean you'll go without food. I can't believe that in America when things get a little difficult pets are simply abandoned like that. It's shameful! Guess what? Pet-keeping is not a luxury that's only available to the rich, but some extremely poor people keep pets too. Some people who live in slums in Kenya, Ethiopia and India keep pets, even as they are really struggling to feed themselves and eat nothing but millet soup every day. Homeless people keep pets, even though they often do without food. People have been keeping pets for thousands of years, even when poverty was rampant. Despite all the hardships people could still spare a little for their animals. I don't think the people who give up their pets have a proper excuse for giving them up. If they suddenly have thinner wallets, they should simply cut back on some expenses, like buying cheaper dog food or feeding the animals leftovers like in the olden days. It’s ridiculous that people should have to give up their pets when times get tough. I don’t buy that they have trouble buying enough food for themselves and their pets. America is a developed country, for God’s sake. If you’ve simply lost your job or your home it doesn’t mean you’ll go without food. I can’t believe that in America when things get a little difficult pets are simply abandoned like that. It’s shameful! Guess what? Pet-keeping is not a luxury that’s only available to the rich, but some extremely poor people keep pets too. Some people who live in slums in Kenya, Ethiopia and India keep pets, even as they are really struggling to feed themselves and eat nothing but millet soup every day. Homeless people keep pets, even though they often do without food. People have been keeping pets for thousands of years, even when poverty was rampant. Despite all the hardships people could still spare a little for their animals. I don’t think the people who give up their pets have a proper excuse for giving them up. If they suddenly have thinner wallets, they should simply cut back on some expenses, like buying cheaper dog food or feeding the animals leftovers like in the olden days.

]]> By: jackson http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-economys-helpless-victim-the-family-pet/#comment-490051 jackson Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:16:06 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=71325#comment-490051 The simple fact is there ARE TOO MANY DOGS AND CATS TO BE CARED FOR BY ANYONE! Puppy mills, unspayed tom cats, doofus families that buy too many dogs and do NOT want to care for them when the going gets tough. I can't understand why we allow thousands upon thousands of dogs and cats to be bred without limit. YES they will ultimately have to be euthenized if there are no laws limiting stupid people. The simple fact is there ARE TOO MANY DOGS AND CATS TO BE CARED FOR BY ANYONE! Puppy mills, unspayed tom cats, doofus families that buy too many dogs and do NOT want to care for them when the going gets tough. I can’t understand why we allow thousands upon thousands of dogs and cats to be bred without limit. YES they will ultimately have to be euthenized if there are no laws limiting stupid people.

]]> By: Suzy http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-economys-helpless-victim-the-family-pet/#comment-451628 Suzy Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:06:00 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=71325#comment-451628 Enough with the Obama bashing! Why can't people focus on the positive and find ways to help our local animals instead of whining about the negative? All that complaining gets us nowhere! Be the change you wish to see.....what you focus on expands! Enough with the Obama bashing! Why can’t people focus on the positive and find ways to help our local animals instead of whining about the negative? All that complaining gets us nowhere! Be the change you wish to see…..what you focus on expands!

]]> By: Dawn Elliott http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-economys-helpless-victim-the-family-pet/#comment-451475 Dawn Elliott Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:37:55 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=71325#comment-451475 Thank you Julia for your article. Elkhart the highest unemployment in the nation at one time is still seeing stains on the community. Especially hard hit are the pets. I also lend a hand at the HSEC when I can. I have been there early in the morning during opening hours to witness dogs tied up to door handles and trees, litters of kitten running around only because all the night deposit boxes are full. HSEC private donations have dwindled with people out of work and assisting people with food to keep their animals at home. I know they can use donations of food, cleaning supplies, money or just quality time spent with the animals. With that being said, please do not forget about your local shelters! Thank you Julia for your article. Elkhart the highest unemployment in the nation at one time is still seeing stains on the community. Especially hard hit are the pets. I also lend a hand at the HSEC when I can. I have been there early in the morning during opening hours to witness dogs tied up to door handles and trees, litters of kitten running around only because all the night deposit boxes are full. HSEC private donations have dwindled with people out of work and assisting people with food to keep their animals at home. I know they can use donations of food, cleaning supplies, money or just quality time spent with the animals. With that being said, please do not forget about your local shelters!

]]> By: Paula Turk http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-economys-helpless-victim-the-family-pet/#comment-450223 Paula Turk Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:30:18 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=71325#comment-450223 Thanks so much for writing this article. It is difficult for many to imagine not being able to afford to feed a pet. But talk to the people at the Shelter and they will tell you the heartbreaking stories. If the food issue could be solved, it would free up donation money and resources to work on other care and adoption problems. It would also give some relief to the volunteer staff on the front lines. Thanks so much for writing this article. It is difficult for many to imagine not being able to afford to feed a pet. But talk to the people at the Shelter and they will tell you the heartbreaking stories. If the food issue could be solved, it would free up donation money and resources to work on other care and adoption problems. It would also give some relief to the volunteer staff on the front lines.

]]> By: Emily http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-economys-helpless-victim-the-family-pet/#comment-448667 Emily Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:54:00 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=71325#comment-448667 I have a great amount of respect for individuals like Julia Szabo and Stephanie Krol who volunteer their efforts take help animals in need. I think the idea of the night drop boxes is great way to prevent animals from being left without food, shelter, and safety. I applaud the efforts of the Elkhart Humane Society and I wish the best for the staff and the animals there. I have a great amount of respect for individuals like Julia Szabo and Stephanie Krol who volunteer their efforts take help animals in need. I think the idea of the night drop boxes is great way to prevent animals from being left without food, shelter, and safety. I applaud the efforts of the Elkhart Humane Society and I wish the best for the staff and the animals there.

]]> By: Amy Fitz http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-economys-helpless-victim-the-family-pet/#comment-448651 Amy Fitz Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:37:21 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=71325#comment-448651 Thank you to Stephanie, Susan and the countless others who are giving a voice to these animals in need. I too hope this article and all the Humane Society’s efforts raise awareness of people not taking responsibility for their own actions. Too many get a pet without really thinking through the commitment. While I'm heartbroken for the abandoned pets, I also think of those children who have been forced to give them up. Those emotional scars will last a lifetime. Thank you to Stephanie, Susan and the countless others who are giving a voice to these animals in need. I too hope this article and all the Humane Society’s efforts raise awareness of people not taking responsibility for their own actions. Too many get a pet without really thinking through the commitment. While I’m heartbroken for the abandoned pets, I also think of those children who have been forced to give them up. Those emotional scars will last a lifetime.

]]> By: Carol Boker http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-economys-helpless-victim-the-family-pet/#comment-448647 Carol Boker Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:33:38 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=71325#comment-448647 Great article. Adopted our last two Labs .. so many pets out there needing homes. Organizations like the Elkhart Humane Society deserve everyone's support. Great article. Adopted our last two Labs .. so many pets out there needing homes. Organizations like the Elkhart Humane Society deserve everyone’s support.

]]> By: Jennifer King http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-economys-helpless-victim-the-family-pet/#comment-448579 Jennifer King Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:31:41 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=71325#comment-448579 Thank you to Julie for sharing the challenges that the Elkhart Humane Society faces. As a county with one of the nation's highest unemployment rates, on top of the the overwhelming intake numbers, donations fall when times are tough. The shelter is faced to do so much, with so little. The folks who work at the shelter are underpaid, and underappreciated. Their work, saving the cast-offs of a throw away society, is made more difficult by the lack of compassion, and consideration of some. Too often, people consider these animals a disposable burden, instead of a lifelong commitment. Too often, people in the community would rather drive to Amish country and buy a cute puppy, from an indiscrimate, profiteering puppy-mill, further perpetuating the problem. The solution to the problems of Elkhart, and every other animal control shelter, is education and outreach to the public. Low cost spay and neuter is critical to reducing the reproduction rate. Outreach to the legitimate, reputable rescue groups can lift burden, and space for the shelters. Education about the realities of the intake, and death numbers will help the public rally around the need. Adopt, don't buy. Sterilize, don't breed. Educate everyone you know about the wonderful animals dying in America's shelters every day. We are the caretakers of companion animals. And they deserve better than dying homeless in America's shelters. Thank you to Julie for sharing the challenges that the Elkhart Humane Society faces. As a county with one of the nation’s highest unemployment rates, on top of the the overwhelming intake numbers, donations fall when times are tough. The shelter is faced to do so much, with so little.

The folks who work at the shelter are underpaid, and underappreciated. Their work, saving the cast-offs of a throw away society, is made more difficult by the lack of compassion, and consideration of some.

Too often, people consider these animals a disposable burden, instead of a lifelong commitment. Too often, people in the community would rather drive to Amish country and buy a cute puppy, from an indiscrimate, profiteering puppy-mill, further perpetuating the problem.

The solution to the problems of Elkhart, and every other animal control shelter, is education and outreach to the public. Low cost spay and neuter is critical to reducing the reproduction rate. Outreach to the legitimate, reputable rescue groups can lift burden, and space for the shelters. Education about the realities of the intake, and death numbers will help the public rally around the need.

Adopt, don’t buy. Sterilize, don’t breed. Educate everyone you know about the wonderful animals dying in America’s shelters every day.

We are the caretakers of companion animals. And they deserve better than dying homeless in America’s shelters.

]]> By: Elaine Bays http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-economys-helpless-victim-the-family-pet/#comment-448482 Elaine Bays Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:21:45 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=71325#comment-448482 Thanks to Julie for shedding light on a desparate situation that so many animal shelters are currently facing. As a volunteer for the Humane Society of Elkhart County, we see the increase of animals and feel the pain that some owners experience when they have no alternative but to surrender their pets due to loss of their home, etc. Our volunteers are dedicated to raising funds, awareness and promoting adopt-a-pet events throughout the community to introduce the public to the wonderful animals the Elkhart Shelter has who are waiting for their forever home. As the holiday season approaches, please consider a gift to your local shelter. They are always in need of cleaning supplies, office supplies, food, towels and blankets. Cash is always welcome and volunteers are always needed. And take a moment to thank the dedicated and overworked shelter staff for all they do. It can be a rewarding, but also heartbreaking job. The community support means a lot to them! Thanks to Julie for shedding light on a desparate situation that so many animal shelters are currently facing. As a volunteer for the Humane Society of Elkhart County, we see the increase of animals and feel the pain that some owners experience when they have no alternative but to surrender their pets due to loss of their home, etc.

Our volunteers are dedicated to raising funds, awareness and promoting adopt-a-pet events throughout the community to introduce the public to the wonderful animals the Elkhart Shelter has who are waiting for their forever home.

As the holiday season approaches, please consider a gift to your local shelter. They are always in need of cleaning supplies, office supplies, food, towels and blankets. Cash is always welcome and volunteers are always needed. And take a moment to thank the dedicated and overworked shelter staff for all they do. It can be a rewarding, but also heartbreaking job. The community support means a lot to them!

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