In the wake of Pope Benedict's controversy-igniting comment that condom use may be acceptable under certain circumstances to reduce the risk of HIV infection, PETA has started some controversy of its own. We're seizing the opportunity to draw attention to dogs' and cats' inability to control their burgeoning overpopulation problem, one that means millions of them go homeless every year and end up being destroyed -- even some by PETA, so you know it's serious. Beginning at the Vatican last week and soon moving on to cathedrals and churches across the U.S., PETA members are going to be handing out leaflets featuring an image of the Pope holding a condom and the message "Dogs & Cats Can't Use Condoms. We Are in the Midst of an Unholy Animal Overpopulation Crisis. Spay or Neuter Today." Some Roman Catholics who can't conceive of the idea that religion can be the subject of humor are in an uproar over this too, while others find nothing offensive about the ad given that the Pope has advocated kindness to animals numerous times. The pontiff has a lot on his plate and hasn't got around to this issue yet, but he might, given that saving the lives of homeless dogs and cats is inarguably kind.
The result of dogs and cats having unprotected sex -- a massive overpopulation crisis -- is as deadly for them as HIV is for humans. Every year, up to 8 million animals end up in shelters across the U.S., and about half of these animals end up at the incinerator or city dump because there aren't enough good homes for them all. Death by painless injection actually looks good when millions of other dogs and cats are abandoned on the streets, where they starve, die of untreated injuries or illnesses, succumb to freezing temperatures, get run over, or are tortured and killed by people who enjoy sadist acts.
It's hard to come to grips with the fact that every new puppy or kitten bred by a pet shop pimp, breeder or unthinking family, steals the chances of a homeless animal filling that slot, but they do. And there are no instant, just-add-water homes to be had no matter how hard you look for them. I mean, maybe you can place one, or even two, animals with your friends and family, but most of us ran out of those vacancies at the inn long ago. With so many animals and so few decent homes, real shelters -- ones that don't up their donations by declaring themselves "no kill" and thereby slamming the door on all but the few animals they can cope with -- have no choice but to get out the needle for unadopted animals so as to make room for the never-ending stream of unwanted at the door.
Which brings me to breeders and pet stores again: They rarely require that the animals they sell be sterilized, meaning that the puppies and kittens can soon go on to have litters of their own, producing thousands more animals over the course of a few rapidly sexually maturing generations, and so further exacerbating the overpopulation crisis. Meaning, please seek a rescue group if you want a particular breed, look in your local shelter for a surprise find, or, better yet, get over the "purebred" fetish and find out how stable, loyal and companionable the all-American mutt can be.
If animals could wear condoms, it would prevent so much suffering, but since they can't, it's up to our species to take responsibility for not only our own reproduction, but that of the dogs and cats in our homes. By having our dogs and cats "fixed," and by encouraging and helping everyone else to do the same, we can help create the "no-birth" nation that might one day make a "no-kill nation" more than words on the wind and wishful thinking. Sterilizations are among the most routine and safest surgeries veterinarians perform, and spayed females have no risk of uterine or ovarian cancer, and are far less likely to develop breast cancer. Neutered males have no risk of testicular cancer and are less prone to prostate disease. Sterilization can also help decrease animals' aggression (making sterilized dogs less likely to bite) and reduce unwanted behaviors, such as urine marking which sometimes sees them ending up homeless.
The Pope may not have talked about animal birth control yet, but dogs and cats and PETA can't wait. All I know is that, whatever our religion, or if we've none at all, as long as millions of healthy, loving, perfectly adoptable dogs and cats are being destroyed every year for no other reason than a lack of homes, bringing more animals into the world is downright sinful.
The outdated fertility replacement rate of 2.1 is also clarified.
Am I misreading the article?
My sister got an adorable little black puppy from the local shelter that turned out, despite a loving and safe enviroment, grown up to be a high strung greyhound mix a potential biter. She's working very hard with him to help him get over his problems but it's hard to say if he'll make it.
Genetics really do matter and a REPUTABLE breeder will let you meet the parents. You can't do that at the shelter.
A shelter dog is always a bit of a gamble and unfortunately there's a lot of pit bull blood in the shelters now. Even a good natured pit has a powerful mouth and an incredibly physically strong body, not the best match for a lot of people.
Don't get a dog from a pet store. Use a rescue, Petfinder or a shelter if you can, but don't let anybody guilt you out of getting a dog from a breeder, a friend or a neighbor.
We and domesticated animals are responsible for, to, and with each other. It doesn't mean we have to live in Naugahide and moralize darkly about being somewhat carnivorous ourselves, but *particularly* regarding those animals we count *companions,* it's on us to be in a responsible relationship. Despite what some cats may let on, we're the brains of the outfit, here. This isn't something needing commandments, it's self-evident.
I say this as someone to whom 'animals' aren't 'souless objects' as most Catholic dogma claims.
Not the same, though, Not better worse, inferior, just not the same. Not in the ways that trying to try to inject the animal overpopulation crisis into what Catholics and Christians call a 'Sexual morality of condoms' 'issue' etc.
There's substance to both problems: PETA sensationalism does *not* help.
It's not the freakin Vatican's freakin deal about condoms and gay people deserving disease or it being better some girls get HPV from public toilets (Which, unlike a lot of other things actually can happen) rather than them not be that much more afraid of 'sexual immorality,' ... and their other mad things.
Yes, Gods know there are serious issues about various abandoned domestic populations, but...
You make it sound like you're asking for a papal edict in favor of cat condoms.
Also, with kitties, don't turn up your nose at black cats, either, Some of my best friends have been black... kitties. (As Pagan clergy, I do note that it's a self-fulfilling stereotype when I say this, but really. People still go out of their way to breed more cats for profit while a lot of black cats are put down and begrudge the expense of some population control methods that aren't gas chambers. Why.)
No doubt this will land me in hot water, but my observation has been the pet owners producing these unwanted pets are usually those not able to take care of their children, yard, car, self, etc either. Just as with human birth control, it boils down to being responsible on a personal level.
Aim you campaign at those people who dump animals, allow them to breed or actually get them bred on purpose and have no market for them. It is questionable if that will work I realize, since few of them care. Don't demonize responsible pet owners just because they want a certain kind of dog and are willing to pay for it.
This is such an obviously false statement that it's shocking to see it.
Anyway, I've spent the last three weeks checking out shelters and rescue organizations, hoping to find my next dog. What I've found so far are lots of mutts and pit bulls because most of the dogs that end up in shelters aren't expensive purebreds. And while I'll continue to look for a German sheperd among the various shelters and rescue organizations, I do know a wonderful breeder and may decide to go to her if I'm still looking in another two or three months.
Nonetheless, shelters do often have a lot of working canine breeds, especially, it seems, in these times.