David Jenkins: Take care of your pets in all stages, seasons

Far too often I turn on the television or read news where an animal has been abused.

A week doesn’t go by where I don’t see a story about a dogs being dumped with tape around its nose, a dog being starved or cats being killed. The list is long and my stomach turns with every graphic photo I see and horrible story I hear.

But the abuse doesn’t stop there. All too often I hear over the police scanner of a dog being left outside without food or water in the steaming summer heat or the freezing cold of winter. That is abuse as is ignoring an animal that is sick or injured or hoarding a large number of animals that a person can’t properly care for.

It’s no secret I’m an animal lover. I have a dog and a cat and to me they are family. Last year I had to put to sleep two dogs that had been with me for 13 and 16 years. To say that was a hard thing to do was an understatement. They had been with me through so many highs and lows and were always loyal so when I see an animal abused, it gets under my skin.

Often times animal abuse is a sign of bigger issues. According to the Humane Society of the United States, 71 percent of domestic violence victims reported that their abuser also targeted pets. Also, in one study of families under investigation for suspected child abuse, researchers found that pet abuse had occurred in 88 percent of the families under supervision for physical abuse of their children.

Hoarding animals is often a sign of someone in need of social or mental health services.

While many states, including Missouri, have first offense felony provisions, many cases of animal abuse are never reported. Often times people see abuse, cringe, and then go ahead with their day, putting the animal in the back of their mind.

But I encourage everyone who sees an animal being abused to contact law enforcement or the local humane society. Not only will you be protecting the animal but the numbers show you may be helping to protect society as well.

I don’t think everyone needs to be an animal lover and dress their pets up, feeding them steak for every meal. Not everyone wants a pet and that is fine. I don’t think less of anyone if they don’t like animals, but I do think less of those who abuse animals.

Know what you are getting into before you get a pet and if you have a pet, take care of it and don’t abuse it. That dog, cat, rooster or whatever didn’t choose to be in your care. But in caring for the animal, you may just find another loyal member of the family.

David Jenkins is co-editor of the Standard Democrat.