Homeless Animals Are A People Problem

Animal overpopulation is a PEOPLE problem, and that needs to be a focus of conversations about more effective solutions.

Every roaming, homeless cat or dog originated from an irresponsible human.

The homeless animals are the victims who pay the price (often with their lives) for the actions of irresponsible people.

Good Samaritan individuals, rescues, shelters, and adopters taking in these animals are far outnumbered by ignorant people and irresponsible people spawning homeless animals.

Ignorant people who just do not know things that they could be taught, and which might make a difference in their decisions when they learn about responsible animal stewardship.

Education “might” help change human behavior that is creating the epidemic of homeless animals.

Other counties and even countries are employing this tactic.

Decades of kill shelters killing as many innocent animals as possible for the convenience of humans has not addressed the root cause nor has it reduced the homeless animal population.

Those responsible for all the homeless animals killed and the millions of taxpayer dollars spent doing it have suffered no consequences.

Building larger shelters, adding capacity, killing more animals, raising more money to help the animal victims will NEVER solve the PEOPLE problem.

Unfortunately, the more animals we help, the more we also enable irresponsible people to continue creating more of them without consequence.

Meanwhile, those who do care about the well-being of animals are using their paychecks and their time and energy helping animals failed by other humans, while the irresponsible parties suffer no consequence.

THIS is a problem.

Yes, it is almost impossible to catch some dumpers and abandoners.

However, every person who moves and leaves animals behind at their former rental house or apartment (rural or city) are known and can be identified for prosecution. Such cases are self-proving, and consequences are already specified in Texas law.

How many of those kind of dumpers, abandoners have ever been prosecuted in your county?

Does anyone know?

Even if officers respond and investigate animal abandonment, neglect or cruelty cases, unless a DISTRICT ATTORNEY is willing to prosecute, the criminal suffers no consequence because the investigated case is not pursued.

How many investigated animal cases have ever been prosecuted by a District Attorney in your county?

Does anyone know?

Texas has better animal protection laws than most states, but we lack enforcement of those laws.

We cannot rescue, adopt, or kill our way out of the homeless animal epidemic.

We need to seriously explore how to help animals BEFORE they are dumped or abandoned by addressing the PEOPLE problems that result in homeless animals.

“Might” reduce ignorance and encourage more spaying and neutering of pets.

Dumpers and abandoners who are known need to be VISIBLY prosecuted for their illegal actions.

For example, a task force focusing only on animal welfare and abandonment would be a good start.

Such an initiative and subsequent prosecutions would VISIBLY demonstrate seriousness by the city and county about animal treatment and compliance with Texas and Federal laws.

In the absence of those two things, all the kind-hearted, generous animal lovers and rescues will continue chasing our tails and plugging holes in the dyke with our fingers; however, we cannot solve the root PEOPLE problem that EDUCATION and LAW ENFORCEMENT can address.

I invite ANY Rusk County officials to be the heroes who lead such initiatives.

I dare say you would probably find support and votes from all who are swimming in the tsunami of homeless animals and seeking to help them, plus all those who are having animals dumped on them.