You should be ashamed

EDITOR:Recently, I read an announcement for a “lost” or “abandoned” dog. He is so cute in the picture and the words written about him, touched my heart, deeply. The Spring Lake Animal Shelter had housed him briefly.

Why is it, that people always want a puppy, kitten, or other animals when they’re so little, cute, cuddly, and “oh, so much fun to play with,” but as soon as they’re an adult or too old to play with, love and take care of, it’s so easy to “lose” them.

Many of us adults aren’t as much fun as we once were and have gotten older, but you wouldn’t let your mom or dad just “wander off” or “lose” them in the woods or not care where they went, especially in the cold weather.

It makes me sick, that animals are left in a snowbank, or hot car in summer, or a dirty stinky trash can or dumpster because we don’t care about them. They are supposed to be loved unconditionally, just as they love you.

Anyone who has ever done this to an animal, you should be ashamed of yourself. Treat your animals as you would your child or family member.

If you do lose one truly accidentally, then my heart and prayers are with you.

We had our family member a dog, for 10 years until he grew old and not much fun anymore but we loved him until the very end.

When he peacefully left us, we lost a family member and we mourned, hurt, cried, and when the time was right in our hearts we went to the Spring Lake Animal Shelter and found our new puppy waiting for us there.

Diane, Joan and all the others there are the most caring and wonderful “foster parents” the animals there could ever find. They provide shelter, meals, affection and attention these lost souls deserve.

They all deserve our respect, thanks, praise, help and donations for serving our community as they do, and giving a loving environment to the lost and forgotten animals.

Animals need our attention and guidance just as a child or an elder does, to survive. Many people think they can just let their pet take complete care of themselves. They do get sick and grow old, many cannot see or hear, so take care of them, don’t just open the door and let them outside to go potty unsupervised.

They too, can forget their way back to the house or become confused or not be able to hear you call them, or a car horn just before they get run over.

Don’t believe the old wives tale, “They’ll never leave our yard.” They do and some not by choice.

So if you ever feel that you don’t want your animal anymore, because they’re old, ill, or not much fun anymore, take a visit to the Spring Lake Animal Shelter, play with an animal there and when you leave, think how much it breaks their hearts to see you go and they’re left alone, again.

Margo Wisniewski

Aurora, Wis.