
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 15, 1990                   TAG: 9007160188
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ANIMAL-RIGHTS CHARITY SHOULD START AT HOME

I HAVE DONATED to many animal-rights groups through the years: IFAW, African Wildlife, "Save the Whales," "Save the Dolphins," "Save the Apes," "Save the Seals," etc., etc. They are all worthwhile. My main wish is that somehow they would combine so that more money could go directly to the animals' benefit and less to administrative costs.

Like all charities, this one should begin at home. There is a great need for more widespread education on caring for domestic pets. This needs to begin at an early age.

It is not enough just to say, "Susie, you can have a pet only if you will feed, water and clean up after it." All pet owners need to be aware that having a dog or cat involves more than giving it food or water.

Pets need shots to keep them and humans from getting ill. They need to be neutered or spayed so they don't reproduce themselves time after time, with the progeny usually ending up at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Then a lot have to be put to sleep. They need shelter from the elements and veterinarian care when they are sick or injured.

Lastly, they need to be loved, talked to, stroked. Children need to be imbued with a sense of respect, not fear.

All of this, except for the love, is expensive. This is the greatest lesson to be learned: Those who cannot afford all of the above should not obtain pets. Our local Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals provides individuals who give instruction on the care of pets. I wish that more groups would avail themselves of this service.

I also wish that in addition to donating to the more exotic animal causes, people would remember the SPCA more often. Until a larger facility is constructed, a lot of loving animals will be "put down."

Coincidentally, after I started writing this, a neighbor's dog was picked up from my property and taken to the pound because someone reported that she had "bitten someone." Before you print this, she will have been put to sleep because her owner did not have the money to pay all of the costs. This was actually a sweet, gentle animal that was accused, arrested, denied a trial or appeal and was executed. Talk about animal rights!

I appreciate the newspaper's providing a free lost-and-found service in its classified ads. I only think it needs to be publicized more. Also, maybe the paper could go a step further and run a weekly list of the animals at the pound and those that are up for adoption. Other papers in the state do this. SANDRA L. MOORE ROANOKE

by CNB