A Flea Collar is Not Enough
By Betty Hendricks
Just last week I walked down our lane and found a chocolate lab puppy abandoned
along the road. He was about 4 months old and still had his puppy teeth.
He had long gangly legs with those large paws at the end that he could grow into
in a few more months. His green eyes pierced my soul as they ask for help.
The only indication that anyone ever cared just a bit was a too tight worn flea
collar around his neck, probably placed there a month or two before. Of course,
he was covered in fleas because flea collars only help the manufacturer and do almost
nothing to control fleas. He couldn’t walk two feet without lifting his leg
to scratch. Patches of hair were gone from scratching. I knew he didn’t
feel well, so we made a trip to our veterinarian the next morning. His fleas
were eradicated with the right medicine; he was found to have hookworms and roundworms
and given worm medicine. But my heart saddened when I heard he might have a
deadly virus called distemper and the prognosis was not very good. Still I
carried him home and stayed optimistic as he ate his dinner that evening. The
next morning did not start well when he would not eat and would barely awaken.
It took all his strength to drink a little water from his bowl. He continued
through the day to have times where he walked around and wagged his tail when we
talked to him, but these moments were followed by sagging times where he could barely
open his eyes. The very next morning he lost his battle with all the plagues
that his little body could not overcome. A three-dollar flea collar was just
not enough.
Puppies need so much more. This little dog could have lived a long happy
life if he had been given the right start. The deadly virus that took his life
could have been prevented with the right vaccinations and he could have started
these at 6-8 weeks old. He could have been taken to the veterinarian and had
a check-up and treated for the horrid hookworms that were draining his blood and
causing anemia. Puppies need lots of care, lots of love, and deserve the right
start.
Paw Pals would like to see only puppies born that have a loving home awaiting
them with people willing to invest in the health of the animal. If anyone breeds
their pets and cannot offer this start for the puppies from the litter, perhaps
they should reconsider. And anyone who takes a pet home needs to prepare for
the cost and time commitment involved in giving the pet a good life. Getting
a puppy or a kitten should never be an impulse decision. Dogs live between
10-20 years and domestic cats can live at least 20 years. The cost of early
vaccinations, medications, and veterinarian visits can cost between $200-$400 for
the first 6 months of a puppies life. Most dogs should be neutered or spayed
at least by one year old and sometimes sooner. This is a one-time fee that
can protect a beloved pet from developing many cancers that affect the reproductive
organs. The average monthly cost to feed and care for an average size dog is
$50/month.
As I held the stiff, cold body of this little puppy with the chocolate colored
coat, I felt so sad that the only kindness ever shown him in his short life was
a three-dollar flea collar. His legs would never grow into those big paws.
His puppy teeth would never be replaced by the strong canines of adult dogs.
He would never know the security of a loving home and people who would care for
him. I know he has to be in a better place where each day will not bring new
suffering, but a responsible caring pet owner could have made all the difference.
Please insure your animals are vaccinated against the many deadly viruses that
can end their life. To insure your dog or cat does not bring a litter into
the world where the puppies will be abandoned or neglected, have your pet spayed
or neutered. If you plan to breed your pets, do so responsibly and give careful
consideration to the cost and the possibility some of the offspring will be abandoned
at some time by irresponsible pet owners. Ensure all the litter is vaccinated.
Quality breeders provide veterinary care for the mother and offspring and guarantee
they will take animals back anytime the owner cannot care for them. How many
times does this occur with animals given away at the Wal Mart parking lot?
Hill County Paw Pals’ next low cost spay/neuter and vaccination clinic will be
held September 6th. To make an appointment call toll free 1-866-310-PETS (7387)
or contact Kathy Moore at 582-9374.
To join Paw Pals and help make a difference in the terrible pet overpopulation
problem in our county--call; 580-0679; write PO Box 1533, Hillsboro, Texas 76645;
or email; hcpawpals@yahoo.com.