I remember an Ink Out Loud column written by Mandy Feder called “What really grinds my gears,” she was venting. I loved that column, because I feel the same. I want to vent now. This is something that goes on all the time, everywhere. It”s animal cruelty.
I had never experienced witnessing it with my own eyes before until recently when my husband and I were driving down the street. On our way to the grocery store, just around the corner from where we live, I spotted a dog leaning against a tree with eyes that were pleading for help.
I said to my husband, “Oh my God, this dog has been left behind.” These people moved out weeks ago and I hadn”t seen the dog until this last Saturday.
We went on to do our shopping, came back, at that point we were going to stop and pick the dog up, when I saw him standing next to the house too weak from starvation to stand very long.
It was a big dog, part Lab and part Pit. It was a beautiful dog, but beyond starved. His ribs were sticking out, stomach so shrunk, that this poor dog would”ve been dead within a few days.
The owner of the house was there with a woman friend of his and when we stopped to ask about the dog, she said, “I”m taking this dog home with me.” She was crying. I was crying. I had never seen anything like this. We took her and the dog to her place.
My husband had to carry him to put into our truck. He was too weak to jump in on his own.
The woman and I exchanged phone numbers and she called me that night to tell me his new name and how grateful he is to be getting loved and fed, and being kept warm.
She said, “Come over any time,” which I did one day after work. This dog looks happy and in a lot better shape. He has food and water and she”s taking him to the veterinarian who we recommended to her.
This kind soul is living by herself, has another well loved and pampered pooch, and says, she has nothing but time on her hands. When I got to her house, this dog, who has the new name of Lucky, greeted me with a wagging tail and what appeared to be a huge smile on his face.
I was so thrilled to see this but so mad at these people who did this to him.
I would like to tell these people and whoever else has done something like this or people who are thinking about dumping their pets, or leaving them behind, to think about the consequences of their actions.
I want them to hopefully, maybe, feel horrible about their actions. People just don”t realize that dogs, for the most part have unconditional love for their owners and they won”t usually take off.
They will stay and wait for that person to come back and literally starve tell death. It is such a painful way to die.
I”ve contacted Clearlake Animal Control. I want these low-life people found and to have charges pressed against them for animal cruelty.
I look at my two dogs and two cats and how spoiled and loved they are. I think about this dog”s eyes and his expression well haunt me for the rest of my life, but knowing how happy he is now, I am trying to focus on that only.
I know it”s long and drawn out, but my husband and I are furious with these kind of people.
I”ve had animals all my life and have moved a lot in the past, not once have I ever left an animal behind. You know, it would”ve been kinder to have taken him to the animal shelter, or even to have shot him, but just to leave an animal to starve is beyond my imagination. Like I said, though, this goes on a lot.
The Animal Coalition and Animal Control deal with this a lot. It”s not written enough. There isn”t enough publicity. There are also too many people who don”t want to get involved. That really stinks. The neighbors knew who live right there on the same street. Be kind to your animals. If you see someone who isn”t being kind to theirs, get involved.
Linda Pannell-Bateman
Clearlake
