Editor, The Times
I am writing this letter in total disgust of what a pet owner has done in our Clearwater area. It’s just wrong!
On July 17, this past Sunday, on the back of Pumping Station Road, I came upon a sight that all animal owners prefer not to find. It was a small box on the side of the road. I thought to myself, “Great, someone has used our road to dispose of garbage again.”
As I approached the box on horseback I saw inside a white and black cat lying down. As I got closer I could see three kittens that were not very old. The box swarmed with mosquitoes and bugs. The cat and kittens were covered with them. The kittens were panting like dogs.
I was horrified that someone would do this to his or her pet. This cat was unreal. She never tried to get out of the box or run away. She lay there and let me swat the bugs away, put a shirt over her and her kittens, and carry them home.
When I offered her water and dried food, she drank and ate as if she hadn’t in awhile. I was amazed how this cat was able to feed her kittens in such poor shape.
Now a person has to ask, “What on earth was the owner thinking?”
If you have a pet, you know it is a living- breathing animal that gives unconditional love and cannot speak for itself. It relies on us humans to provide food and a dwelling. It is not a material object that is disposable or meant to be neglected.
If you own an animal, you are responsible for it. If you do not want kittens, puppies or whatever, have your animal neutered or spayed.
If you can no longer take care of the animal for whatever reason, find a new home for it, give it away, or take it to a shelter.
You do not leave them on the side of the road somewhere, like you just took out the garbage.
To whoever did this, did you not realize that by leaving your cat with her kittens on the side of the road, that a vehicle could have hit the box? Due to the area in which you decided to just abandon them only we who live in the area travel that road and not always that route. Also, the wildlife that live in this area would have loved them as a snack.
Instead of thinking of yourself and getting rid of a so-called problem, please use your mind. There are and was other ways of dealing with this. It could have all been avoided by having this poor female cat spayed in the first place!
Now, due to your wrongful act, I as a pet owner will take on the responsibility of doing the right thing for these animals. I truly hope that this makes you feel better. People like you are why most shelters are over-populated!
I have spoken to the SPCA and they have informed me that they are not able to accept them at this time. The lady did take my phone number and name and put me/them on the list for animals to be taken into their shelter. I did ask about how long this would take, and she informed me that it might be a while, as it depends on how many animals are adopted. So I guess I will be their foster person until then or unless someone is willing to take them all on, which is not likely. I will be putting a poster up around Clearwater, in order to get a point out to whoever could do such a thing.
Pam Bates
Blackpool, B.C.
