Here’s What Really Happens To Pets Dumped In The Country
I live outside of the city limits in Sulphur Springs Texas. Just barely, about ten miles out. Which means my area attracts people that no longer want their pets. I rescued the dog you see in photo on Sunday May 21st, 2023. He was standing near state highway 11 west and CR 4707 in Sulphur Springs. I pulled over to call him away from the highway. He trotted right up with his tail wagging with relief. My window was down he jumped up on my car to greet me. I opened my door; he jumped right up on my lap then bounced over to the passenger seat as if he’d done this a hundred times before. I thought Lord now what I got myself into again. We already have three dogs on our property, and four rescue cats. I’m sure others have taken in more than us. My husband and I can’t take on anymore dogs. We have feral cats that I cater for too, and we have our rescue cats that were dumped on our road.
When I arrived home with him, the first thing he did was chase our cats. All four cats took off and he tore out after them. This forced me to do the unthinkable. I put one of our dogs’ old collars on him and put him on a tie down temporarily so I could collect my thoughts. I called our local animal shelter and left a message to please call me back. I also got online and emailed them my plead for help. Unfortunately, they couldn’t help since we live outside of the city limits. So, I got online and posted pleads on all social media that I could find. The more I read others stories the angrier I became. Help me and others get the word out to cowardly, cruel, and selfish people that dump unwanted pets in the country. To those people, you may think or convince yourselves that you’re giving your pet a nice home in the country. Or you may not even care you’re just downright sick for doing so. How dare you to think there’s people going to always be here to take your unwanted pet! We don’t have city animal patrol out here to help us. We don’t need anymore dogs or cats that need rescued dumped at our homes.
When you abandon and dump a poor pet to fend for themselves, they don’t always find caring people. They depended on you, they got attached to you, and counted on you. Now you out of nowhere throw them out of your car and speed away. They probably chased after you for a long time. Or they sat there in shock and fear patiently waiting for you to come back. Now they are forced to wander through woods and pastures that aren’t always welcoming for them. Worst, they probably ended back up on main highway or busy road into traffic. This isn’t fair on innocent drivers either. I read an article written by Lisa Seger, in it she wrote “most folks out here know that the authorities can’t really help them. And so they practice what is colloquially called “SSS” They shoot, shovel, and shut up. It’s how predators are most often handled in the country.” So, if your pet that you dumped isn’t caught up in a SSS or ran over by a car, it will starve to death. I agree with Lisa and so many others like me that we, as a society, must be better than this. If you see someone dumping a pet or hear of someone that dumped a pet please report it to the police, sheriff’s dept. or animal patrol if you’re fortunate enough to have animal patrol. It’s against the law to abandon a unwanted pet.
The dog in the photo was one of the fortunate ones, but he probably doesn’t feel that way. He is tethered. My husband installed a 100-foot zip line to accommodate him better. We call him Buddy; he is a mature dog but still young. It appears his other owner was left-handed. On and off the leash he stays to my left. He follows commands well. Stay, Sit, lay down, and if cats aren’t getting his attention, he is mellow and just likes sitting on the porch. He hasn’t chased cars or tractors passing by. Not even the fed ex delivery person. He’s very sweet until he sees a cat. This is why now he must stay on a tie down, and on a leash while here. Please call if you would like to give him a good forever home. 903-348-8110 this is my work number, please leave a message if I’m unable to answer.
Contributor Writer- Lindee Arnold
