Rebecca L. Blizzard
Life is in the journey.
Paws for thought
(Stories of locally rescued animals follow this article.)
This year more than 5,000 animals in Central Texas will abandoned. Smoke the cat, pictured on the right, is one of those animals. He was dropped off on the side of the road and left to fend for himself.
It is not known if he received the injury to his left eye due to cruelty or in the process of trying to survive. Either way, it is permanently disabled.
However, the injury to his emotional well being is even more severe. Many do not consider their pets as people. But, the fact is they are feeling beings and have emotions. It is in the wag of their tail, the excitement in their body language when they come to greet you, a purr and in the sorrow of their eyes as their family drives away. They know they are being abandoned. They just don't understand why.
The majority of these amazing animals will eventually end up at a local shelter. Some will be adopted and some won't. Those who are not are will be euthanized.
Temple, Texas spent more than $340,000 last year in tax payer money to round up, care for, kill and dispose of 2,437 animals. This does not include the money spent or the numbers put to death in the neighboring cities of Killeen and Harker Heights.
If you have an pet, be responsible. If you are looking for a new family member, check out your local shelters. But even more importantly, have your pet spayed or neutered. Doing so will help prevent future abandonments and cruelty. It will also allow your community to spend the needed money elsewhere.