An update on yesterday’s puppy arrival. He has been taken home to live (temporarily) with Isa and her family, where he has been named Logo and is busy settling down with their three dogs. Perhaps seeing the wonderful photos of their recent foster puppy, Jess, playing on the beach in Scotland (as recounted in Moira’s blog of Monday) was just what was needed to get Isa’s family over their sadness at saying goodbye to Jess and put them back on the foster train!
There was not much news from the SPA. Two dogs arrived but one was identified and was reclaimed. The other is a light brown elderly female beauceron who is a bit overweight. She is not identified and was found in Limoux. This town, so close to Carcassonne, really is the bane of our lives. They bring in way more than their fair share of dogs and the animals are hardly ever identified.
In my opinion (which admittedly no one listens to), this town would be ripe for some kind of outreach programme about animal care. Specifically the wisdom of identification and above all castration and sterilisation of both cats and dogs. As more and more people refuse to accept their responsibilities towards their animals, a spiral effect is created, with the population of unwanted dogs and cats increasing all the time.
Of course the townspeople do not like having stray animals wandering around, so the easy solution is to phone the mairie, who brings them to the SPA. Thus the problem is “dealt with”. Except it hasn’t been dealt with! It is ongoing. And it is left up to us, the SPA to find a new home for all the animals who arrive.
It would be all well and good if our walls were made of elastic. But they are not. Wake up people, of Limoux and elsewhere; it is YOUR fault that we are getting ever fuller.
If you care about animals please help us by talking to your friends or neighbours, especially if you know their animal to not be identified or, as importantly, neutered. It is only this way that the cycle can be broken. And if you have a good idea for an outreach or education programme or a way of encouraging responsible ownership, we will be happy to hear from you. We cannot do this alone!