Cats tortured to death in Helena. Puppies drowned in the Flathead River, or thrown out with the garbage. Horses left to starve to death in the Bitterroot National Forest. More horses, dead from dehydration, in Sanders County. Still more horses, as well as cats and goats, taken from a Ravalli County property after their owner was accused of neglect.
The sheer magnitude and extent of the injuries inflicted upon these helpless creatures have caught our hearts and left us reeling. Some people have even started talking about making the penalties harsher for those who abuse or neglect animals.
The sad fact is that times are tough for many of us right now, and when budgets shrink people sometimes find that there's no money left for feed hay, which has soared in price, or even cat food - let alone a visit to the veterinarian.
Consequently, we're seeing more people choosing to have elderly pets euthanized, and more people dropping their animals off at local shelters and sanctuaries. We also hear tales of people dropping off their pets just outside of town, apparently hoping they'll survive long enough to find new owners.
While these stories are not nearly as high-profile as the recent examples of abuse and neglect, they also deserve our attention - because there is much we can do to help. In fact, if there's a silver lining to this cloud, it's that many people who read about these outrageous acts of animal cruelty have been spurred to action. They have donated money and supplies, and volunteered their time to help care for unwanted pets.
Local shelters and sanctuaries can certainly use the help - and all of us can help, even if we aren't in a position to make a donation. We can help by watching closely for signs of animal abuse or neglect, and if we suspect an animal isn't being cared for properly, we can gently extend an offer to help out - or call Animal Control.
And if we find ourselves unable to care for our own pets, and cannot find a trusted friend or family member to care for them, we can bring them to the Humane Society of Western Montana, where donations are always appreciated but never required. That means you can drop animals off at the Humane Society shelter for free. And if you find a stray within Missoula County, you can take it to the Animal Control shelter for free as well.
There's no need to abandon an animal you can no longer take care of. There are resources available. In fact, the staff at the Humane Society can sometimes connect pet owners to the resources they need to keep their pets at home.
So far this year, 1,265 animals have come through the shelter run by Animal Control, and a comparable amount come through the Humane Society of Western Montana each year. Both organizations accept donations of money and supplies, and right now they need everything from dog and cat food to paper towels and bleach.
Other local organizations, like Animeals, gladly accept donations of pet food and distribute it to local shelters and sanctuaries, as well as feral cat colonies and fixed-income pet owners. AniMeals also helps organize a network of foster owners who can temporarily care for homeless animals.
It's not easy giving up a beloved pet - but there's certainly no shame in it, either. The only shame is in standing by while helpless creatures suffer needlessly, and doing nothing.
Where to find, offer help
AniMeals is located at 1700 Rankin St. The phone number for Animeals is 721-4710, and the Web site is www.animeals.com.
The Missoula Animal Control shelter is located at 6700 Butler Creek Road, and is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Call 541-7387 or go to www.co.missoula.mt.us/
animcontrol for more information.
The Humane Society of Western Montana is located at 5930 Highway 93 South, and is open from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Call 549-3934 or visit www.myhswm.com for more information.
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Kyle wrote on Oct 19, 2008 11:20 AM: