On Dogs and Responsibility

Lately I’ve seen way too many stories about dogs who are abandoned or given up at shelters because of irresponsible and outright abusive pet owners.  I couldn’t help but think it is somehow related to the overall lack of responsibility too many people show in other areas of their lives (raising their children, saving money for their retirement, paying health care costs, etc.). 

I just got this email from radio producer Cameron Gray:

What IN THE H*** is it with awful people and dogs lately. Yesterday, we get this story: Photo of Rescued Pit Bull Warms the Hearts of the Web, and one of the most beautiful and heartwarming pictures ever stemming from a sick and heartbreaking story.  This Florida dog being rescued from its dog fighting Hell.

I loved it so much, I even made it my Twitter avi.  That sweet face could melt Mr. Burns.

Then today, Mary Climer sent me this story: Dog sentenced to death in Tennessee because he is ‘gay’.  That sent me into hyperspace.  So we have a-holes who get their kicks from betting on dogs fighting to their deaths, and also total rubes that think one dog dominating each other is gay (Paging “Big Gay Al’s Animal Sanctuary“).  I went online to get the contact info for the animal shelter in Jackson, TN so I could post it and help get the “gay” dog adopted.  I was so relieved that this was the first hit: ‘Gay’ dog in Tennessee shelter gets speedy adoption after story.

Forget licensing and testing gun owners, how about licensing and testing dog owners.  (Kidding, but come on).  

I’ve been hesitating to get another dog since my Buster died in 2008, but reading stories like this are pushing me to adopt again.  Always, always, always adopt from rescue groups.  You can find many of them by dog breed and zip code at PetFinder.com.