In the last month, we have taken in three severely injured or sick animals that came in as strays. Mick is an older declawed cat who has lived outside for quite some time. He is one of the sweetest and most loving cats I've ever had. He has a bad ear infection. His ears are swollen and constantly leaking pus and blood. His mouth is full of sores, his teeth are rotting as they grow out of his gums, and he has scars all over his body. Since he could not eat, he had to be fed with a syringe. Once he was someone's pet. He had no such qualifications. He is currently receiving veterinary care and is being placed in a foster home.
Sally, a Yorkie mix, came to the hospital with a broken leg, four broken and cracked ribs, and a neck injury. She was found as a stray dog. She is being treated by a veterinarian and placed in her foster home. It's entirely possible that she sustained these injuries from being punched or kicked by a dog. Sally is very sweet and she loves to cuddle.
Fox is a shepherd mix brought in by animal control. He was emaciated, his hind legs were broken and dangling, and he was hiding under a bush. It seemed like he had been out for quite some time. He has had his leg amputated and is being placed in a nursing home. He is very sweet and loves attention.
All of these animals were owned by someone at some point…yet, the Animal Rescue League is the organization providing all the veterinary care, and the cost for the three animals is well over $6,000. . No one ever calls or comes to check on these animals. There are no reports of loss. How is that possible?
What is so shocking to me is that all the other animals in this community that we don't know about are suffering in isolation and dying horrible deaths. What happens to the dogs who are chained up in backyards across the city, living miserable lives and being killed by their owners to earn money? What happens to all the cats who, if they are lucky, live in abandoned buildings, give birth to cat after cat, and then die of disease? Wounded, starved, and often abused. More and more animals are coming to us battered, mutilated, emaciated, neglected and abused. What happens to pets who are released and abandoned just because their owners no longer need them? That seems to be the standard.
What must happen to stop this? This is happening not only in our community, but across the country. Animal abuse has always existed, but it seems to have gotten worse since the pandemic.
This is not just a question of money and rising veterinary costs. This is about compassion and humanity. This says a lot about who we are as a society. It questions our humanity. Let's be honest: The world as we knew it has changed, but not for the better. People don't have to love animals like many of us do, but they also don't have the right to hurt them.
Marea Stringer He is executive director of the Animal Protection League, 613 Dewey St., Anderson. Contact her at 765-356-0900 or her Maleahstringer@aol.com.
