HOORAY! Yes, you can see it all over the Internet with many of the posts reflecting some great incident where an animal is rescued and ends up finding his or her forever home. But, approximately 7.6 million companion animals are given to animal shelters nationwide every year, according to PangoVet. Did you know that only one out of 10 dogs born finds a permanent home? And, 75% of the animals euthanized in California shelters are cats. These are two dismal statistics that point out the plight of animal advocates. More bad news...
In the U.S., 20 percent of cats and dogs are homeless; there are 5.9 million dogs living in the streets, 2.3 million dogs in shelters, 35 million cats living on the street, and 2.1 million cats in shelters.A National Pet Owners Survey reports that about 86.9 million U.S. households, or 66% of households, own a pet. This is an increase from 56% in 1988. I'm not saying it should be 100%, but my guess is there are several million homes out there that could take in a new family member from their local animal rescue and give it the forever home it deserves. My wife and I have saved eleven rescues (cats) since we got married. We are convinced, a home without an animal is a home that is not complete.
Now here's the good news of some successful rescues, compliments of PETA...
PETA fieldworkers found Henrietta and six other chickens imprisoned in a cluttered pen belonging to a woman who was moving away but hadn’t made plans for placing them in new homes. PETA took the chickens to a sanctuary, where they enjoy roaming a large meadow and taking dust baths.PETA volunteers found Blue locked inside a crate outdoors along with the remains of another dog named Dynasty, who had a shattered pelvis and had been starved to death. Blue was malnourished, and his white paws were stained yellow from having to stand in his own urine. He was adopted into a loving home, and his former owner was sentenced to one year in prison for cruelty to animals and was prohibited from owning animals for three years.
Valediction was a horse who had been run on bad legs and was injured during a race. PETA supporter Sam Simon purchased Valediction, and PETA arranged for him to be sent to a beautiful farm in Virginia owned by other PETA supporters. Valediction is now enjoying retirement, and he will never be forced to race for his life again.
Bubbles, Brandi, and Marshall were among about 30 special-needs cats and nearly 50 dogs who were evacuated from severely crowded Gulf-area shelters in the wake of the BP oil spill. Brandi, who had recently given birth to a litter of kittens, was nearly bald from stress and flea allergies. Marshall was missing most of a hind leg and half of his tail. Bubbles was neurotic and jumped at every noise. The three felines are now beloved residents of PETA’s Norfolk, Virginia, headquarters.
After a long and hard-fought battle by PETA, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and concerned citizens, Ben [a bear] was rescued from Jambbas Ranch Tours, an abysmal North Carolina roadside zoo, where he spent six long years locked away in a cage similar to a dog kennel, deprived of even the most basic necessities. Today, Ben is living out his days at the Performing Animal Welfare Society.
Despite the cruelties that prevail, leading up to some of these rescues, we like to hope the outcomes usually result in a forever home for the animal. The term 'good samaritan' is seen regularly in the rescue of animals these days and is the basis for my headline, 'People are much kinder to animals lately. They often come out of nowhere, and provide the help needed to save an animal's life. Right on, folks! We thank you for your efforts and please keep up the good work.
I urge you to look at the PETA site with 35 inspiring rescue stories, including the above,
