Please, give them shelter!

The animals currently awaiting adoption at the Toronto Humane Society are in a desperate situation. The River Street location is only temporarily open and any animals who are not adopted by April 12 could be euthanized. That’s a nice word for KILLED.

http://www.torontohumanesociety.com/adopt/default.asp

I normally don’t like to spell anything in all capital letters. It just disgusts me when people spend hundreds (and possibly thousands) on “the perfect pet” when hundreds of healthy and wonderful animals rot away in shelters, only to be put to death when there is no more room. And the situation with the THS may be making headlines but it’s hardly unusual. The same thing happens in shelters everywhere.

They will blather on the virtues of certain breeds, pick apart colouring and pedigree (even though the average person has no idea what any of it means at all). It’s like they’re choosing a new sofa for the living room.

You can’t reason with these breed snobs. If they want a pure-bred animal, they will wave off all arguments of the numerous health problems of inbreeding and “euthanasia.” They may not be bluebloods themselves, their kids may be downright goofy looking, but dammit they want a dog or cat who will go with the furniture so that’s what they’re going to get.

And they don’t want to hear about the puppy and kitten mills most pet store animals come from and the filthy conditions their “show” dogs were born in. Oh, but we can go to a “reputable breeder,” they will tell you. However reputable they may be, they are still profiting off keeping dogs and cats pregnant in order to produce “designer” pets for profit while shelter dogs and cats are DYING NEEDLESSLY.

Some people are fanatical about certain breeds. Animals are as much individuals as humans are (and in most cases, I find, more so). Hell, I grew up with an amazing dog and never, ever thought I’d be a cat person. Yet here I am living with two cats (both adorable former street urchins and in perfect health). If I had the space and money I’d take in one of the dozens of THS cats desperately waiting to be loved.

Some folks just want a cute little puppy they can dress in sweaters and show off to their friends. Yeah, they’re cute but guess what, they don’t stay little very long, just like humans. Adopting an adult dog or cat usually requires less training, their personalities are fully developed (so you know who you’re bringing home) and they tend to be housebroken. And if you’re that hell-bent on having something cute, there are lots of adorable older animals. Hell, my dog Tiffany was cute to the very end.

You want something to brag about? Tell your friends you adopted a shelter baby and SAVED A LIFE!

UPDATE: The Toronto Star reported that any animals that remain un-adopted after Sunday will be relocated to the THS Victoria Park adoption outlet. However, they’ve also reportedly put a cat named Angel to death due to behavioral problems. Regardless, it does not change the fact that healthy animals are being euthanized simply because they cannot find homes. And as long as any dog, cat, rat or rabbit remains in a shelter I will continue to advocate adoption. I stand by my rant.

In a show of seasonal self-restraint

Today is Festivus, the holiday for the rest of us.  The time of year when we battle our heads-of-household in Feats of Strength, stare at an undecorated pole and participate in the Airing of Grievances where we let everyone know how much they have pissed us off this past year.

And many have pissed me off in various degrees. But I’m feeling sentimental so I will air but a single grievance this year.

As I write this, a little gray and black tiger striped kitten lays all tuckered out on my bed.  Or lies. I’m not sure which.

He has been hanging out in my room for the past few hours. My nine-year-old cat Maggie keeps looking at me as if to say “and when is his mummy coming to take him away?” No, she is not amused. But at least she’s stopped hissing at him for a while.

But even if Maggie will have nothing to do with him, at least he is stretched out all warm and safe indoors with good holistic kitten food and clean water.  About a week ago, this was not the case. My friend Becca found him shivering in the street by himself.

The grievance I need to air is with everyone who is responsible for him being there.

Everyone who has decided they cannot be bothered to spay or neuter their cats should kick their own arses for being so bloody ignorant. Everyone who has ever abandoned an animal in their care in the streets should spend the night freezing  in a dumpster fighting with countless other cats for a bit of garbage.

And those individuals (who for now shall remain nameless) at The Toronto Humane Society whose atrocities against those they were paid and entrusted to protect resulted in the whole operation shutting down and have resulted in the needless deaths of countless animals.  I hope you are shown the same compassion and mercy when your fates are decided, be it by the law or by karma.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/12/22/ths-warrant-search464.html

All right, grievances aired somewhat. Happy Festivus!