DAY 18
Adopt, DON’T Shop
GOAL FOR THE DAY: To understand why and how to help solve our feline and canine overpopulation problem, and put a few emergency numbers on the fridge.
The United States Humane Society estimates that roughly 2.7 million healthy, adoptable cats and dogs, about one every 11 seconds, are killed in U.S. shelters each year. This is one reason why vegans don’t buy animals at “pet” stores, and instead rescue homeless animals that are either abandoned on the streets, or available for adoption at local shelters and rescue organizations. By the time you finish reading this paragraph, another healthy dog or cat will have been put to sleep. And just like that, they’re gone. What most folks don’t seem to realize is that when you let one dog or cat run around without being “fixed” it doesn’t trigger just one new batch of puppies or kittens, but potentially hundreds or thousands of them, as each newborn grows up and goes on to reproduce puppies or kittens of their own. The figures are shocking. According to the University of California Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, in seven years, just one unspayed female and one unneutered male cat—along with their offspring, and all who follow—can produce up to 781,250 kittens.1 Considering that there aren’t enough good homes for all of them, when you spay or neuter a dog or cat, you’re potentially saving thousands of lives just by that one small act. If your dog or cat goes outside, spaying or neutering also helps keep them close to home, as when mating season rolls around, they’ll be less likely to wander and get into fights or hit by cars.
1. Spay and neuter your companion animals.
Some people don’t think they can afford spaying or neutering animals, so they put it off until it’s too late, and then before you know it kittens or puppies are on the way. But guess what? It is affordable, and in many cases even free. Check out the map at aspca.org/pet-care/spayneuter and enter your location to find an affordable spay and neuter clinic, or call your local SPCA or humane society. If your income is very low, ask if they can provide you with a free voucher. They also generally have cruelty-free traps that you can borrow to capture any feral kitties in your neighborhood who need to be spayed or neutered. We have skunks where we live, so when I caught our feral kitty Alfalfa, using a trap wasn’t an option; I’m pretty sure Mr. Skunkie would have been upset with the contraption, and would have let me know just how much. Instead, I spent six long months coaxing Alfalfa into the house, and then shut the door. It wasn’t easy, but now he’s neutered, and with being FIV positive (aka kitty HIV), it’s nice to know he’s safe and sound, and not outside infecting any other kitties with the virus. He’s also protected from coyotes. Peace of mind rocks.
2. When you see or suspect animal abuse, report it.
While in law school, I had the pleasure of meeting Nicole Pallotta, the student programs coordinator at the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and Teagan, the beautiful German Shepherd she adopted. Teagan was a victim of severe abuse and neglect before being rescued by Rocky Ridge Refuge in Arkansas, and as Nicole explains, it may be too late to get justice for Teagan, but her story will hopefully inspire others to be alert for animals who need our help, and to take action.
“Teagan was shot at close range and left for dead in central Mississippi. The bullet destroyed her left eye along with several teeth. Her front leg was trapped in her collar, creating a gash that cut deeper into her flesh with every painful step. Her back legs were crooked and deformed from being in a cage that was too small for her. She was starving and upon rescue weighed only fifteen pounds. Teagan is now a healthy thirty-eight pounds, but she will always be a tiny Shepherd, her growth likely stunted by early malnutrition and neglect. It’s a wonder Teagan survived, and if a kind stranger had not discovered her, she would have died unknown and alone. Teagan’s abuser was never found and the crimes against her were never reported. Despite the cruelty she suffered, Teagan has an amazing spirit and is gentle, sweet, and trusting. In the 7 months she has been with me, I have watched her truly blossom. Although it’s too late to get justice for Teagan—she is one of the lucky ones, she was saved—I hope that Teagan’s story can raise awareness and somehow create a ripple of positive change for animals everywhere, all of whom deserve to live a life free of cruelty and neglect.”2
If you see an animal in immediate danger, always call 911.
Here are some other helpful references:
United States Humane Society Dog Fighting and Cockfighting Hotline: 1-877-TIP-HSUS
Washington D.C. Humane Society Animal Cruelty Hotline: 202-723-5730
Humane Society of the United States Puppy Mill Hotline: 1-877-645-5847
National Database for Lost and Found Animals: www.lostfoundpets.us
PETA’s Animal Abuse Hotline: 757-622-7382
You can also report abuse that you see by completing this form online: peta.org/about-peta/contact-peta/report-cruelty
And remember, if someone is abusing their companion animals, there’s a good chance they’re abusing people, too. Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer used to decorate his front lawn with impaled cat and dog heads on sticks before moving on to eating people. Folks who like to hurt others don’t always draw a line between species. In Wisconsin, a study revealed that 68 percent of battered women reported that abusive partners “had also been violent towards pets or livestock,”3 too, mostly done in their presence to intimidate and control them. And women who seek safety at shelters are almost 11 times more likely to report that their partner has hurt or killed their animals than women who have not experienced domestic abuse.4 So keep your eyes and ears open for the animals, and people, and if you suspect abuse, get help fast.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE TDD: 800-787-3224
National Child Abuse Hotline: 800-4-A-CHILD
National Center on Elder Abuse (Eldercare Locator): 800-677-1116
3. Adopting an animal has mutual benefits, too.
By adopting an animal, not only will your furry friend provide unconditional love, they often provide an incentive to get healthy, too. If you adopt a dog, you’ll have inspiration to go on more walks, companionship to keep you company, and if you’re alone, an extra reason to take good care of yourself; after all, there’s someone who’s depending on you to take care of them. You’ll always have someone to snuggle with at night, and someone who will be waiting anxiously for breakfast. Animals are the best!
If you adopt a dog in need from a shelter or rescue organization you’ll also feel good knowing you didn’t fall prey to the allure of an animal produced at a puppy mill. Female dogs are kept in cages, often cramped and dirty, where they’re bred over and over again to create seemingly “perfect” puppies. When the mother dogs are past their prime, they’re discarded, dumped, or auctioned off. Most puppies at “pet” stores are the product of puppy mills, and are known for having multiple physical and emotional problems, including genetic defects.
If you’d like a furry addition, consider adopting a dog like Lucy. While Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Vaughn Maurice was with the Red Cross on assignment in Korea, his wife was a volunteer at a vet clinic, which would take in homeless animals on the side. One of the rescued dogs had a litter of puppies, one of which was Lucy, and they adopted her. Vaughn explains, “That was fourteen years ago. She is vegan and eats V-Dog dog food. Lucy has traveled to thirty-four states and has visited more dog parks than she can count.” Vaughn proudly notes Lucy can bark in fluent Korean, too! Woof Woof!
On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can reach between 100 and 120 degrees in just minutes—even with the windows cracked.6 On a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 160 degrees in less than 10 minutes. So if it’s hot, leave your pup safely at home. If you see a dog in a car on a hot day, jot down the car’s make, model, and license-plate number, then quickly ask the managers of any nearby stores to make an announcement to find the car’s owner. If you can’t find the owner, call the police or local animal control immediately. And don’t forget: once the cold weather hits, be sure to keep your furry friends warm, too.
Checklist
□ Did you put a few important phone numbers on your fridge and in your wallet? Did you drink enough water today?
□ Did you eat an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables?
□ Did you wiggle your booty around for a little exercise?
Thought FOR THE Day
“People who say, ‘Money can’t buy happiness’ have never paid an adoption fee.”
—UNKNOWN