An Animal Rescuer's Answering Machine

The U.S. slaughters 5 million healthy pets annually! Shelters are overburdened with pets needing homes. The majority of these unfortunate animals have been surrendered to shelters when owners become tired of caring for them, are bored with the novelty of owning a pet, or the pet no longer fits into the lifestyle of the owner. What I cannot ever get my head wrapped around is how often these pets no longer are considered family members, and how people think of them as "disposable" possessions. The other day I received an email containing a poignant and compelling dramatic fictional "rescuer's answering machine" from a friend who is personally deeply and passionately involved in rescue work; finding foster homes, locating forever loving families in which to place needy pets, while at the same time running a very busy real estate business. I want to acknowledge how in awe I am of her tireless commitment to help improve the lives of so many homeless animals. While this piece of course is not a true answering machine recording, it sums up all what I consider to be "lame" excuses for giving up a pet that was perhaps once treasured and taken into a home with the promise of responsibly caring and cherishing a living and feeling animal, "until death do us part." I have included the most compelling options offered. The author is unknown, but the work is deeply appreciated by rescuers all around the country. A RESCUER'S ANSWERING MACHINE Hello: You have reached ARK. Due to the high volume of calls we have been receiving, please listen closely to the following options and choose the one that best describes you or your situation: Press 1 if you have a 10-year-old dog and your 15-year-old son has suddenly become allergic and you need to find the dog a new home right away. Press 2 if you are moving today and need to immediately place your 150 pound, 8-year-old dog. Press 3 if you have three dogs, had a baby and want to get rid of your dogs because you are the only person in the world to have a baby and dogs at the same time. Press 4 if you just got a brand new puppy and your old dog is having problems adjusting so you want to get rid of the old one right away. Press 5 if your little puppy has grown up and is no longer small and cute and you want to trade it in for a new model. Press 6 if your dog is sick and needs a vet but you need the money for your vacation. Press 7 if your relative has died and you don't want to care for their elderly dog because it doesn't fit your lifestyle. Press 8 if you are going to threaten to take your ten year old dog to be euthanized because I won't take it. Press 9 if you want one of our PERFECTLY trained, housebroken, kid and cat-friendly purebred dogs that we have an abundance of. Press 10 if you have already called once and been told we don't take personal surrenders but thought you would get a different person this time with a different answer. Press 11 if you want us to use space that would go to a stray to board your personal dog while you are on vacation, free of charge, of course. Press 12 if you want us to take your female dog who has already had ten litters, but we can't spay her because she is pregnant again and it is against your religion. Press 13 if your cat is biting and not using the litter box because it is declawed, but you are not willing to accept the responsibility that the cat's behavior is altered because of your nice furniture. Press 14 if your two year old male dog is marking all over your house but you just haven't gotten around to having him neutered. Press 15 if you need a puppy immediately and cannot wait because today is your daughter's birthday and you forgot when she was born. Press 16 if your new love doesn't like your dog and you are too stupid to get rid of the new friend (who will dump you in the next month anyway) instead of the dog. Press 17 if you went through all these 'options' and didn't hear enough. This press will connect you to the sounds of tears being shed by one of our volunteers who is holding a discarded old dog while the vet mercifully frees him from the grief of missing his family. Visit ARK's Website for more information about them. http://arkfl.rescuegroups.org/ And Press 18 and leave a comment to share your reactions to this piece.