[Doody]

And obviously way off topic for the suicide forum but some of you know how much I love animals. I couldn't possibly love them more.

It's so hard for people who love pets to even think for a second about the mills out there. The puppy mills. Believe me, they are out there, and they are absolutely horrible. There's no excuse...no excuse on this earth for human beings to treat animals in such horrible ways.

The organization that's dear to my heart had an email update and it included their most recent puppy mill 'bust' which was in Arkansas. And these people have to be careful!!! Mostly the ways they rescue these poor animals is at auctions, which is how this one happened.

I'll only link you to the pictures of the puppies AFTER the rescue so you don't have to see where they lived. Their eyes. They tell so much. Windows to the soul. Maybe one of you would like one? (I'm personally in love with little Christel.) little animals needing homes and lottsa love

[Alffe]

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.

[Doody]

I'm getting stronger about hearing those stories ((Alffe)). Someone has to! People who devote their lives to these no-kill shelters are angels I'm sure. The one I donate to has grown and they only do so from mainly others who help. But initially they made the investments. They are good people. They even have a 'sanctuary' where they keep those pets that just aren't adoptable, and care for them themselves until they pass on.

The puppy mills, they keep their eyes on them everywhere. But for some reason, they have to go through a process of going to an auction when these puppymill owners clear out some of their inventory. So these people buy them and take them back with them.

Some of those from Arkansas they got for as little as $1 because they were in such poor shape. One was a dog who had had 23 litters of puppies.

But they also rescue animals from homes that are being abused, or homes where animals have been deserted when owners leave. Or animals people find roaming around.

This summer they just accomplished making an 'agility yard' with playground equipment for their animals!! (I wonder how many pooper scoopers these people have to have on hand, LOL!) playground for the sweeties

They even have a 'buddy' program where you can virtually adopt one of their pets and donate x amount of dollars each month or whatever. And the pet becomes your adopted buddy til they get adopted out.

I'm tellin ya, animals have souls too, feel hurt, and feel love.