Those stray dogs

Everywhere we go in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, we encounter the so called “stray dogs”. The million dollar question is “Were they born in that situation?”{{more}}

The answer is no.

They were once cuddly little pooches that were loved and well cared for.

But for various reasons, the owners got fed up of them and threw them out to fend for themselves. This in my opinion is the worst punishment that you could inflict upon an animal.

Sometimes this is done by owners who think that they are giving the animal a second chance or to stifle their conscience by thinking that it will be better than euthanasia – having the animal put down by a veterinarian in a humane manner.

But if we take a careful look at the stray dogs in our streets and pastures, you would agree that they would be better off dead.

Puppies are always adorable. They are funny, playful and an excellent companion, especially for kids. But alas, they grow up, the fuzzy little fur-ball changes rapidly.

The puppy loses its soft puppy fur and cute looks. It also begins to make the lawn filthy with large loads of smelly stool. The young adult now barks at anything that passes. They dig large holes in our lawns. In the case of females, they become adolescents and come into heat; there are drops of blood everywhere. The young males succumb to the surges of testosterone and jump the fence to pursue bitches in heat. The owner is now at his or her wit’s end and realise that they did not bargain for all of this.

The owner now starts to plot to get rid of this disgusting animal. The owner calls the vet only to be informed that euthanasia comes with a price tag.

Now what? The owner remembers how Mr. X resolved his problem – taking his once prized companion to Argyle and letting him loose.

Great idea! The owner awakens early on Sunday morning – when the road is relatively empty, and takes Rover to a deserted spot far away from home.

Rover is happy. He thinks that he going on an early morning adventure. He also has his head out of the window and is excited by the occasional morning jogger. The cool breeze on his face makes him smile and he thinks how lucky he is to have such a considerate master.

The vehicle slows down, and a surge of adrenalin rushes through his veins, “I’m going for a run in the pasture!” he thinks. He hastily runs out of the vehicle only to have the door slammed unceremoniously behind him.

His trusted master drives off into the distance. He tries to catch up, but his efforts are futile. It is too late.

Could you imagine what Rover, a dog that has always been pampered, never had to worry about where next meal would come from, where his next lap of water would be found, where to seek shelter from the brutal midday sun or where to seek refuge from the next thunder storm.

Imagine being lost in No Man’s Land, where you have to fight to survive each day, not knowing what tomorrow will bring. Totally lost and helpless.

That is the life we are condemning our pooches to when we decide to turn them into strays.

If I were to qualify a sin, in my opinion this would be one the worst.

I always tell my clients, our pets never asked to come into our lives, it is we who choose to have them. The least we could do is treat them with dignity.

For further information, contact: Dr. Collin Boyle Unique Animal Care Co. Ltd. Tel: 456 4981

Website: www.uniqueanimalcare.com