I was jogging in my neighbourhood yesterday when I came across a few roadkills. As a cat owner, it saddens me that there have been so many animals getting run over by cars, especially in relatively large residential areas, such as where I live.
I know this letter isn’t offering anything new; but the issue of responsible pet ownership is one that we as a populace cannot seem to get a handle on. A cat or a dog isn’t just a thing that one can own for a while and discard, nor is it a responsibility that is based on what’s convenient to the owner at the time. The moment one decides to bring home an animal, the level of responsibility as a pet owner must be well-understood.
Instead, everywhere we go, there are hordes of stray animals scavenging for food. Some of mild-mannered, while others, posing real threats to people around them. One has to wonder what has led to the problem that we are currently facing.
Animal advocacy groups have been vocal about spaying, and often, their message seems to fall on deaf ears. Perhaps therein lies the problem.
Some of them have every intention to do right by the animals, but at some point, things get so out of control that the only solution is to throw them away. As a result, we see them everywhere, starving, diseased and despised.
Most importantly, we need to stop buying into this whole pedigree-is-better idea. Animals have their own unique personalities, much like us humans. There are not some prized objects for the mantel. Pure-bred or not, if the animal is under our charge, we need to take care of it like we do with family.
Until we reach that level of understanding what pet ownership really means, the vision of a country with no stray animal issue will remain a pipe dream.
Angry Cat Mum
