It may not be the catchiest or most appealing of titles, and yes we all have them – even our pets – but this post is not about your moody moggy or your bad bunny or even your naughty newt! This is about our species, the human species, and our bad attitudes towards animals generally and their welfare.

A lot of people, a lot of the time, think about what they can get from their animals; not how enriching animals can be and how we can care for them. Animals are not given enough credit, and are often underestimated in their abilities. However, this is not my gripe; my gripe is how with certain species – we want them for our own reasons (not nice fluffy reasons).
Dogs for instance are used for fighting, for bait, as status symbols, as active guard dogs by people who cannot and do not attempt to control them, they have behavioural issues caused by us because we want them for selfish reasons.
Many wild species have been hunted to or near extinction because selfish humans thought their head would look better mounted on a wall than attached to their body, or that their tusks/horns/antlers would make a better walking stick or ornament than provide an actual function for the animal.

Then, when we’re done, we just dump them in a shelter (and that’s the lucky ones). Some are given free to a “good home”; how do you know that animal is going to a pleasant place where it’ll be cared for? Do you care?
Others are tied up, or “set free” in an unfamiliar place and left to fend for themselves, or die. Why do we do this? What did our pets ever do to us except love us and want love in return?
Others are put to sleep or left to die after we have taken what we want.
If you cannot take on the responsibility of a particular animal species or breed, then either choose a pet you can manage, or wait until you can take on the responsibility.
Wildlife needs just as much protecting from the bad attitudes of our species too.

Unwanted dog, in an animal shelter
Unwanted dog, in an animal shelter

Yesterday, in Southport (England – where I currently live) a beautiful German Shepherd male dog was tied to a fence and left. Skinny, but otherwise in good health. If he hadn’t been rescued he may have died; unless he had the strength to break loose of the metal check (choke) chain that was around his neck.

Dogs are not the only species to be mistreated or abandoned. But just think, this person won’t be punished for leaving this beautiful ‘bear’ to die at the side of a road, tied up to a fence. I wonder if they will even feel guilt for this? I hope so.

What of other animals that are abandoned and not found? What happens to them? They do not deserve to be mistreated or abandoned; we ought to care for them. Thankfully this German Shepherd was rescued by a friend of mine and he’s doing well – relaxed enough to snooze with a new roof over his head…

Snoozing Rescued GSD
Snoozing Rescued GSD

He’s one of the lucky ones. But he shouldn’t have to be deemed “lucky” it shouldn’t be a common thing this cruelty, lack of care, this selfishness towards these beautiful creatures. All animals deserve our care and respect. I think as a species, humans, we can do better for our furry, feathery, scaly (all our animal) friends!

What shocks me most is that animals suffer like this, and worse on a daily basis all over the world. The UK has the some best animal welfare and animal protection laws in the world! But even these are so shocking that we cannot keep our animals safe. That’s scarier than anything you’ll see this Halloween…

Love the animals in your life, your own or not. Keep them safe, and protect them and love them – this is our duty towards all animals, to love and not abuse.

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