Oh Doody, this will break your heart and tick you off. It was in this mornings paper...a local story.

Pet Ownership is a responsibility
by Patricia J. Barber

On Sept 4, there was a pathetic dog sitting along the roadside. My friend Tammy picked him up and took him home. He was just a brindle-colored mutt, maybe a year old. He should have weighed around 50 pounds but weighed less than 20 pounds. His eyes were sunken and sad.

Tammy bathed him and the bathwater ran blood-red from the hundreds of fleas that he was covered in. His gums were white from the fleas literally eating him alive.

Tammy and her mother, Sandy, did what they could to help him. But in the end the severe anemia from fleas, dehydration and starvation were too much for this poor dog.

Was he your dog? Did you dump him in the country to fend for himself when he could not? Did you know there are several area rescue agencies?

If a rescue agency can't take the pet, there is also the Humane Society.

Though many pets are put to death at these shelters, at least it is in a humane manner rather than being eaten alive and feeling the pangs of starvation and dehydration, or being hit by a car or devoured by a coyote.

How long was he along the roadside waiting for help? How many people drove past him?

Not everyone can pick up a dog but it doesn't take that much time or effort to give him some food and water and call the Humane society.

The week before, there were two mastiffs sitting along Rose Road, two females that recently had puppies. Both dogs were underweight, hungry and thirsty. These two dogs got help and are being placed in new homes. They were lucky.

Please, when getting a pet, do so wisely. You should be in a position to care for it for its whole life - around a 16 yr. commitment. Pick your pet wisely so that it fits in with your lifestyle. If you are never home, you do not need a pet. Never get a pet on a whim.

Do not dump your pet along a roadside. It isn't right. It is abuse.