I am working on arranging an animal rescue transport for this weekend that has particularly disturbed me. Actually, I'm arranging three transports for this weekend, but one has me thinking (and that is always a dangerous proposition). A mama dog (retriever/chow mix) and her five puppies were brought into the dog pound a few weeks ago. I won't mention which pound because I would like to maintain a working relationship with them. Anyway...the mama was allowed to nurse her puppies for the state-mandated six weeks and then the pups were all adopted out. The mama was left in the shelter and was scheduled to be put to sleep when a wonderful rescue saw her story and decided that she deserved better.

I am startled that this pound, overrun with dogs and cats, would adopt out the puppies without requiring that they be spayed or neutered. I am saddened that this mama is left to be put to sleep because she isn't a cute and cuddly puppy anymore. But more than that, I'm terribly afraid that at least one of these five puppies will find themselves in the exact same situation as their mama in just a year or two. There is no incentive for people to do the right thing anymore. Our country is filled with millions of unwanted pets...over four million are put to sleep each year. This mama and her puppies ALL deserve better from us, as responsible adults. Pardon me while I channel Bob Barker for a moment...PLEASE have your pet spayed or neutered.

OH...here is her picture...she's beautiful, don't you think?