In today’s world we have many situations that are heartbreaking. We can’t pick up a newspaper, turn on TV or log onto our computers without being overtaken by news of soldiers going off to war, children being abandoned (or worse), the elderly not being able to buy medication. The list goes on and on. We tend to blame someone or something, the president, the big drug companies, the department of child protection. The list of blame also goes on and on. It’s our nature to blame someone or something for every event that goes against the smooth operation of a humane and God-fearing society. For every person who may be at fault, there are also people who are not at fault. And more times than not, the innocent suffer for the actions of the guilty. There are religious populations who suffer for the actions of others. There are populations of race who suffer for the actions of others. The list of populations who suffer for the actions of others also goes on and on.
Although the animal population is not and should not take priority over the human population, it is a large part of our culture. Therefore we must recognize it. Gandhi once said, “The judgment of any great society shall be made in part by how they treat their animals.” I would like to ask that we do not blame or punish our animal population for our actions. If your significant other leaves you and you’re stuck with his or her animal, please do not punish it. The animal is not at fault. If your neighbor’s dog keeps you up at night, please do not punish it. The dog is not at fault. When you bring that fluffy pet home at Christmas and by January you have no more rugs, no more slippers, and your house now smells like a chicken ranch, do not punish the animal. It’s not their fault.
As an animal control officer it’s not my place to judge. It’s not my place to lecture anyone who cannot keep an animal. All one has to do is call me. “I have an animal I can’t keep. Can you find it a home?” is all you have to say. As we enter a new year, “the year of the dog”, I’m respectfully asking all guardians of the animal population. Please, please do not punish the innocent. Correctly placing your animal in a new home is not illegal or immoral. It is my duty and pleasure to help you do so. I truly find much more comfort in putting your animal in my van and giving you a handshake than I do in finding your animal tied to a tree or a guardrail. It also is better to see the taillights of my vehicle leaving your yard with your pet than to face me in court!
John L. Freitas
Standish animal control officer
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