Steve Kovacs

The Economy Has Gone to the Dogs . . . Literally



Posted: Saturday, March 14, 2009

by Steve Kovacs
The Kovacs Perspective

The economy is in the dumpster and it's a scary time for many. A time where it is difficult to make ends meet for some, and for others it's even harder; to the point of finding it difficult to put food on their table. This is where dogs come in to the mix.

Dogs are the most popular pets we have in America. Some folks who have problems paying for their own food are relinquishing their responsibilities when it comes to their dogs. Some have downgraded in the foods they're feeding them, which certainly sounds like an intelligent, reasonable option. Others are dropping them off at shelters, some with notes attached explaining that they could not feed their beloved pets.

However, some have resorted to just abandoning them. They scuttle them off and take them to a wooded or unfamiliar area let them loose and leave them. How do you do that to your pet? How do you just leave them, especially as in most cases, he or she had been your companion for years, relying on you for total survival? I suppose some think by letting them go they have some chance of survival. Not much of a chance.

Domesticated dogs that have not fended for themselves have an extremely difficult time of surviving. Have these people thought about giving maybe of their own daily food to their dogs? Sounds crazy, you may say? I don't think so. A dog will survive on of what a sustaining adult eats each day. And I know I can survive on a quarter less of my hamburger, omelet, sandwich or stew during each meal.

The bigger point here is that there are other options instead of people just abandoning their responsibilities to others. Some abandoned dogs join packs of other discarded dogs that as a group become dangerous to animals and humans. I've seen discarded, once domesticated dogs join wild packs and wreak havoc in communities. They'd attack and kill domestic dogs, cats, and pet rabbits and threaten joggers and children playing in their yards. The authorities had no choice but to try and capture them or destroy them on the spot. Some also contract dangerous diseases that can be transmitted to other animals and even humans.

So...what are some options for those who are ready to ditch their dogs?

  1. Contact friends and relatives and see if they could take your dog.
  2. Contact your local church, synagogue or mosque and talk to leaders or leave literature (picture, description and personality traits) for members to see.
  3. Consider less expensive or inexpensive generic dog food.
  4. Consider giving your pet a portion of your or your family member's daily meal portions; a small portion, but a portion nevertheless, day in and day out until you start getting back on your feet.
  5. As a last resort, take your dog to a shelter.
Never abandon your dog. Stand up and do whatever it takes to take care of that pet. The odds are they did not come knocking on your door to be your friend you picked them.  And for those of us who have a little extra and are doing fairly well monetarily, why not buy a bag of dog food and drop it off at a local shelter?

Steve is the author of Protect Yourself: The Simple Keys Women Need to be Safe and Secure. He is the host of the Internet Radio Talk Show, The Kovacs Perspective http://www.thekovacsperspective.com/ where he interviews experts in various fields, geared to help and inform. Steve also does on-line current events & political audio commentary.

Steve's background is in law enforcement, security, investigations, teaching and he is also the president of a small specialty investigation company: http://www.allsourcesecurity.com/investigations.htm. Contact Steve any time at:info@thekovacsperspective.com

This Article has been viewed 451 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)
» left by Anonymous
 3 years 46 days ago.
Steve I couldn't agree more but when do we do the same for humans?
» left by Laina K.
from geauga county 3 years 45 days ago.
I am seeing this with farm animals too.  Horses are being given up because owners cannot afford the feed for them.  I have also read about so many people who are losing their homes and dont know what to do with their animals.  How horrible!!!  During these terrible economic times we cannot forget about our furry friends.  I really liked the suggestion of buying food for a shelter.
» left by Anonymous 3 years 44 days ago.
Great article Steve!
 
Author Becky Due
» left by Steve Kovacs 3 years 44 days ago.
94 fans. Follow Steve Kovacs on twitter!
Thanks for the comment Becky!
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