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 Don’t be silent – Speak out against animal abuse
By CHELSEA WILLIAMSON
Observer-Dispatch
Posted Dec 27, 2009 @ 10:43 PM

Animal cruelty is a silent but deadly issue and is a growing epidemic not only in our community, but all over the world.  Animal cruelty is a horrid act of violence in our society that most people are unaware of and don’t do anything about. I am not about to let this happen.

More than four million animals suffer daily from neglect, malnutrition, injury and abuse. Nearly one billion die premature deaths every year because of it.

I currently volunteer at both of the animal shelters in our area, the Steven-Swan Humane Society and Spring Farm CARES, and have witnessed this grotesque problem first-hand. But one doesn’t have to go to an animal shelter to see mistreated animals. Living in the city, there isn’t one person that can say they haven’t seen an injured, skinny or hurt stray cat or dog walking the streets. Or a neighbor, relative or even a stranger wrongly lay a hand on their pet.

Newspaper article after newspaper article have described extreme cases of animal abuse or mistreatment. These stories touch the heart of some people, but after the news dies down, it’s as if it never happened.  Still, we stand by and let these horrid acts of violence happen. The less extreme cases fly under the radar, giving the impression that animal cruelty doesn’t occur as often as it does.

This problem is very close to my heart and I am determined to stop it. Seeing the sad and hopeless animals lined up in cages, unhappy and on the verge of giving up is heart wrenching. Unlike us, they can’t help themselves, they are unable to change their life and they depend on us to do so. The victims of these terrible acts are speechless, they can’t cry for help; we must be their voice.

This holiday season, millions of animals will spend their Christmas in animal shelters, waiting for homes. Countless numbers of purebred puppies and kittens will be bought as Christmas presents, making thousands of dollars for breeders.

What makes dogs from breeders so much more superior than shelter dogs? Sixty percent of dogs that enter an animal shelter will never find forever homes. Those who chose to buy a dog from a breeder instead of adopting from a shelter are only feeding this problem.

The population of homeless animals is growing. People dump their animals on the sides of the roads, leave litters of kittens in cardboard boxes or just open the door and let them run free. Individuals don’t get their animals spayed or neutered, allowing them to breed without a thought to the puppies and kittens they will produce that will be homeless.

The capabilities that we have as a community are monstrous.  We could be the beginning of the change in animal cruelty. Stop being selfish and greedy, put yourself in their place. Isn’t that what the holidays are about?  They’re about helping others in need, others that are less fortunate than you, not only during the holidays but all year round is what we are supposed to do.  Let’s make it our New Year’s resolution to change the way animals are treated. And find homes for these homeless animals.

I know I’m not the only one who cares this deeply about this problem. We all have a voice, we can be heard, and it’s about time we speak up.

Chelsea Williamson is a senior at Thomas R. Proctor High School in Utica and plans to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.

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