Until about 20 years ago nothing was ever much said when the neighbor's dog had its 2nd or third litter...  I may be wrong but it has only in the last 10 years or so that the public has slowly changed their opinions of letting dogs just bred because "it just happened."  Now as more and more of the public becomes aware and negative about horrors of over pollution, and the unnecessary breeding of dogs and cats, Spray and neuter programs have been springing up all over.  But we have a lot more to do in continuing to change the public's opinions.  In our rescue circles, we are many times baffled that not everyone has come to the same way of thinking. We have no comprehension that there could be those who still hold to the belief that it is OK to let their pets just breed.  Nor do we understand why they do not take precautions to prevent more unwanted puppies appearing on the scene.  

As our awareness has grown so has the numbers of avid pet owners come to realize we have major problems with over population.  Many of us are developing the opinion that breeding our pets is another form of animal abuse, because so many of these "cute" puppies and kitties  are dumped or abandoned into the laps of over crowded and underfunded public animal shelters.  We question "How in this age of social media and TV and radio campaigns everywhere, broadcasting the evils of breeding, could this still be happening."  As we continue to struggle with the health issues caused by over bred moms, we fume at the "jerk" that cared so little about the health of the mom as to allow her to get pregnant, and then dump her after she was in poor health.

We still have a lot of education still to do.

First we want to state we do not want people breeding dogs just because " I want to see some puppies", "I love puppies", " I want my kids to learn about life." or " We have these two purebred papered dogs, so we are going to make puppies to sell."  We know those are just some of the reasons given, as to why people bred dogs.

I am of the opinion that, we must continue to educate, and provide programs to help people understand, "There is no reason, that can justify breeding more pets, when there are thousands of pets put to sleep each day because they have no home." "When basic good breeding protocols are not followed."

We hope that the more people are seeing the value of  these Spray and Neuter programs, and the costs to animal health: That they will come to understand that with pet ownership, there is more responsibility than, throwing some food down and putting out a bowl of water. 

Our rescue organizations are at the forefront of mind changing ideas, and while we have come a long way. There is a long way to go. We must keep our bandwagon fired up and rolling.

We are the ones setting the examples, Sharing our stories, is one powerful way to keep that wagon rolling.  But it must be done in a positive way.  I cringe every time I hear of someone "verbally attacking" a non believer.  Honestly all that does is reinforce the negative that activists are all angry out of control and radical. 

While true, we are tired of seeing so many homeless, abandoned sick dogs, unending waves of living breathing animals, crammed into over filled shelters, or dumped on the side of a road. Most of us know our firm, positive, constant messages, are the building blocks of a stable message, that will allow many who would otherwise turn a deaf ear, listen and hopefully allow themselves to join us. At the sometime, as a force of good, we must not let ourselves be overcome by discouragement or anger that this bandwagon is moving so slowly, with so many lives are still being lost or damaged.  We have to remember, there are thousands perhaps millions of lives being saved (or in some cases prevented).

We are turning attitudes around, there are some amazing people who opened up this path before we came along.  Your efforts have saved countless numbers of dogs and cats. These brave people that came before us, whose actions provided us the path we now are building into a road, opened up the way.  Each day brings is joys of another group of pups who find safe homes. And the balloon pops with the news of another owner surrender of mom and 10 to 12 new born pups being abandoned.  or the raid on the home of a hoarder  who "loves dogs" and the scramble goes on to get them to safety and to vets... But my friends you have saved so many that without your consent push to do what you do so many would have died, so many unwanted would have been born... I salute those who have been pushing that band wagon for so many years.  I have only been doing the little bit I have or under 5 years and I know some of you have been at this from the beginning... I hope that I can follow your dogged determination to never give up never quit. and kept on building the path into a wider and wider road.  I wish I knew more about the struggles you have gone through what inspiration you would be to us who think it is bad now. 

Another factor is shaping in our favor and that is even law enforcement have come to realize a human that would intentionally harm a animal  has the capacity and probably will or has harmed a human...  Growing numbers of the law enforcement now are taking seriously our long standing concerns of animal abuse as a huge red flag.  Almost every week now I am reading about counties, cities, and states that are updating their laws concerning abuse of animals.  (About time, many would tell you). More and more stories are coming out in the news media. This helps give our little bandwagon a little more gas.   We can not stop now, we are on a roll.  We want to give thanks to you that started this, and continue to stand firm, and show us the long term way to end the inhuman abuse of over population, unwanted pets. 

If you have been one of those that have been around in rescue for over 20 years. I would just love to learn your story and perhaps share it with our readers so we have a better understanding of the past.