Pet health and safety up to owners

The dog’s on the loose again.

This time it escaped under the fence. People and their pets can keep a “dogcatcher” busy day and night.

So your dog got out of the yard — how many times you say? Once or twice isn’t a big deal. In fact, a couple times my dog slithered out the front gate, staying close along the fence line on an easement road to visit the neighbors behind my home.

Resolving the problem was a simple matter of keeping a close eye on her and not leaving the gate open unless she was tucked in the separate fenced-off back yard

area.

I am conscious of the fact that she will try to do this again if allowed. One time she was accidentally locked out of the yard by my grandson when he went to school. I came home for lunch and the dog wasn’t anywhere in sight. So I went looking and found she had been busted by the county pet patrol. Fearing for the animal, I couldn’t get to the shelter fast enough. In fact, I beat the animal control truck there.

I learned then that it does hit the pocket book pretty hard to retrieve a pet that strays from home.

She was so happy to see me that she practically jumped from the truck into my arms.

Every day animals stray from their homes for one reason or the other. I was mortified when my dog wandered off. My place is dog-proof unless the gate is left open. I immediately made a new rule: The main driveway gate stays closed unless my dog is in the back yard.

Today, more than ever, too many people allow their dogs to roam at will. Somehow it doesn’t sink in that there are city and county codes that say you can’t allow them to do that.

Dogs stay in shelters all the time with nobody looking for them, nobody really missing them enough to do the right thing — retrieve them, pay the fine and don’t allow it to happen again.

Dogs especially need identification. At minimum, a dog license is required, even a microchip or a tag with phone number will also make it easier to locate their owners.

There are time that accidents happen. The mailman, utility meter reader, or other delivery service person could inadvertently let an animal out of a fenced, gated yard. But for a pet owner to ignore the missing pet is unthinkable.

It’s even more devastating to see people adopt or buy a pet and then have them treat that animal neglectfully or cruelly.

You watch television and see the national animal humane organizations graphically depict animals having been abandoned, neglected or worse. Animals don’t deserve a life if misery.

Pet ownership means you are obligated to the pet or other animal as they need your attention. Consider them part of your family. Too many people can’t take care of themselves or their families, but they still have one or more animals in tow counting on them.

The best thing a person can do to avoid finding themselves in a neglectful situation is to gather proper information about the animals they think they want to be responsible for and make sure they are willing to ensure that proper care is within their financial capability.

Vaccinations and licensing (if applicable) as well as spaying or neutering and health maintenance, is all part of the bargain when it comes to ownership of pets, livestock or exotic creatures.

Someone recently complained about a situation where the owner of some sheep failed to ever shear the critters. They had three or more years’ worth of wool that became so heavily bogged with rainwater some of these animals couldn’t get to their feet. Sheep must be sheared periodically.

It boggles my mind when a person take on such responsibility then fails to fulfill the animals’ needs. It’s beyond me. I understand ignorance, but there is no need for ignorance when you have help at your fingertips today — veterinarians, websites and stores that deal with animal health concerns.