Animal Zoo from Hell by Special Guest Blogger Roberta Striga
Local authorities at West Haverstraw, NY were greeted with a ghastly sight (and smell) last week.
Robert Everle had what authorities estimate were more then 300 animals in a fenced 1 acre property.
There were puppies, kittens, chickens, bunnies, rams, sheep and pigeons (to name a few) either roaming around free or shut in crates. A good number of them could not move in crates and they were sitting in their own feces.
Everle stated he collected the droppings from the crates and used it as fertilizer.
Hudson Valley Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals took away 18 of the animals deemed the sickest while Robert Everle has been charged with a misdemeanor and 2 counts of failing to provide sustenance to the animals.
West Haverstaw Mayor John Ramundo stated that the case was referred from the building inspector to the Rockland’s Health Department. And even though Everle’s property is grandfathered to allow animals, Ramundo stated that did not mean Everle could have a Catskills Game Farm.
Everle claims all of the animals were his pets.
I am no mental health professional but it seems to me this man has hoarding issues. And while other might hoard clutter and junk, he hoarded animals.
But it brings me to the distinction between a pet lover and responsible pet owner. Because one does not necessarily equal the other.
A great number of us will say we think of love when we think of our pets. How could we not? They love us unconditionally.
But to me at least when I read stories like these the word that comes to mind is responsibility.
Pets are a responsibility. Lets face it – the easiest thing in the world is to bring an animal home and give her something to eat once a day. But it goes much further then that and even much further then love and cuddles.
To me it means to educate myself and find the food that will give my dog the nutrition she needs and will not poison her.
It means bottle-feeding kittens every 3 hours and heating them under a lamp so they do not get hypothermia because their mom does not want to do it.
It means to find a good and competent vet who I trust.
It means annual check-ups and anti-flea treatments.
It means checking them for ticks (even though I abhor ticks).
It means picking up poop and cleaning the litter box.
It means taking the dog for a walk after a 10-hour work day when it is the last thing you feel like doing or have energy for.
It means taking your dog or a cat on a holiday with you. And if you cannot take them with you, it means recruiting family members or a pet sitter or finding a good kennel where you know your pet will be provided for.
It does not mean letting your dog or a cat into the wild because you cannot bring them with you.
It means to think even before you bring an animal home whether or not you are ready for such a commitment – time commitment, emotional commitment and financial commitment.
It means sitting with your dog and watching his last breath because even though it is the hardest thing you have ever done, you do not want him to feel scared.
And that is why I get angry and upset when I ready stories like these. Because if more people thought what it actually means to be a responsible pet owner there would not be so many abandoned and neglected animals to begin with.
So tell me dear readers, what does being a responsible pet owner mean to you? Write to us at stories@petside.com or leave a comment in the box below.
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Comments (4)
AmyV August 4, 2008 12:33 PM
Excellent advice. Too many people buy pets without giving any thought as to the responsibility it brings with it. Wish more people thought things through like this.
RPO August 4, 2008 12:36 PM
Being a responsible pet owner means owning only the number of pets you can take care of
Eileen August 5, 2008 5:10 PM
Robert Everle should have to undergo the same horrible treatment he put all those animals through! What angers me is that every person that abuses animals keeps getting away with it, what is wrong with our justice system anyway, animal abuse is wrong, people who hurt animals most certainly do not hold life dear to them. If they abuse animals you can darn well bet they do the same to humans.
robertas August 6, 2008 11:11 AM
Thank you all for your comments and insights.
Eileen I think you are on to something, my dad told me time and time again when I was younger that you can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat their animals and pets. And you know what?
I think he might have been right.
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