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"Sheltering an Animal’s Perspective"
by Gregory M. Simpson
I’ve been writing Sheltering an Animal’s Perspective since 2002 and now is as good a time as ever to share my own version of David Letterman’s Top Ten List. Working with the animals themselves for the past 25+ years has always been a pure joy. I share humanitarian Albert Schweitzer’s view that cats are one of the refuges from the miseries of life. I’m sure that dog lovers feel the same about their beloved dogs. Taking literary license with Will Rogers’ quote – I’ve never met a cat I didn’t like.
Through the years, I’ve met many wonderful animal people. They have been the inspiration for a column on the difference between "people who like animals" and "animal people." Then there are those individuals whose behavior falls into the list of my Top Ten Pet Peeves.
Pet Peeve #10
People who say that dogs are masculine and cats are feminine. As anyone who has known a feisty tomcat can attest, cats can be as masculine as dogs. The myth that they’re not probably started from the fact that domesticated cats originated from the Egypt of pharaohs which deified the feline through Bastet, the cat goddess.
Pet Peeve #9
When donations meant to help animals end up instead in the pockets of telemarketers, some highly paid animal welfare organization executives or worse yet, with pro-hunting or pro-trapping groups. Don’t judge a group’s mission by its name. Do your research!
Pet Peeve #8
People who think that cloning pets is a good idea. As the French writer, Theophile Gautier, penned, "Who can believe that there is no soul behind those luminous eyes!" A companion animal’s soul cannot be replicated. The best tribute to one’s beloved animal is to provide haven for another homeless cat or dog.
Pet Peeve #7
People who operate puppy mills, as breeding stock animals are frequently housed in horrendous conditions, without human companionship or a loving family, most often producing sick and traumatized puppies.
Pet Peeve #6
People who let cats roam free outdoors, as by law, dogs and young children aren’t allowed to roam solo. Yet many think that cats can fend for themselves, although sadly they cannot. Outdoor perils lead to a lifespan one-third the length of an indoor cat.
Pet Peeve #5
People who leave animals alone in cars. It is illegal in Connecticut to leave children or animals unsupervised in a car at malls, casinos, and the like. If you see it, call the police. In warm weather, an animal’s life could be saved by your call.
Pet Peeve #4
People who say that kill shelters are necessary. We should never accept that premise in a country where federal taxes are allocated 28.5% to the military and 1.4% for environmental protection. More could be done for homeless animals if there was the public will to do so.
Pet Peeve #3
People who declaw cats, as this atrocity is tantamount to torture and needs to be made illegal as it has been in the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand and many other countries. People who declaw care more about their furniture than they care about their cats. A true ailurophile would never declaw.
Pet Peeve #2
Breeders. There is no justification for breeding cats and dogs (or buying from a breeder) when there are so many homeless animals. Cat and dog lovers need to put their egos aside about owning a purebred and recognize that breeding only condemns to death an equal number of animals at a pound or shelter.
Pet Peeve #1
People who abandon animals, for these are often the same individuals who do not spay or neuter, thus creating many more homeless animals. Animal abandonment is illegal and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Please spay or neuter your animals!
So now you have it, a list of my Top Ten Pet Peeves. I encourage you to become involved with animal welfare. Volunteer. Be an animal advocate.
For the animals,
Gregory M. Simpson
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