In 2022 alone, we rescued 13 dogs, most of which were owner surrender and surrendered in such unrecognizable condition that we questioned if the owners were even human. The number of rescue cases we took in rose twofold, from 6 in 2021.
How on earth could someone who call themselves a human being, treat or should we say, neglect a dog to such a deplorable state and many were long term neglect. How could they possibly turn a blind eye on a dog with open, bleeding wounds and in some instances, like Buddy and Kai Kai, the dog no longer looked like a dog.
Why does such gross animal neglect happen in a first world country where our citizens are such law fearing and law abiding and how can we move forward to improve the animal welfare laws to minimize the suffering, neglect and abuse of these sweet souls who have no voice and suffer in silence?
Our animal laws are rather lax and with seemingly many loopholes. We report abuse cases to the authorities, but what the outcomes are, if the owners were fined, jailed (highly unlikely), we don’t know, as the governing body is not obligated to update us. We guess, that more often than not, for the suffering, neglect and abuse the owners have caused to the sweet dogs, they probably just got a slap on the wrist and the same person that caused all the suffering, can go right out and buy another dog.
On the other hand, if these animal abusers are given stiffer punishments, they may decide not to surrender the dogs. What if they abandoned them somewhere? What if they kept the dogs at home and let them die a slow death, like Kai Kai?
Would it make a difference if we allowed people to surrender their dogs, no questions asked? Would this encourage more people to do the right thing or would this invite abuse to the system instead?
Let us hear your thoughts because we are quite sure, as we enter 2023, there will still be many wicked humans who will keep us very busy.
