ARE YOU
CRUEL
TO YOUR
PET
WITHOUT
KNOWING
IT?
An animal lover's misguided
affection can harm
a pet as much as any bully
By RUTHERFORD
T. PHILLIPS
Executive Director, American Human Anociation
Many animal lovers are shocked to
learn that the most common cru
elty to animals is by those who love
them best.
We at the American Humane Association still
fight brutality, cruel animal shows, sadistic
hunting and slaughtering but find the most wide
spread cruelty is born of misguided affection.
Here are the most common ways in which ani
mal lovers unwittingly hurt their pets. Do you
know the right answers to these questions?
Should you give your pet the freedom to run?
Putting the cat or dog out at night is so com
mon most of us think it is right. The truth is,
millions of animals spend winter nights huddling
for warmth in frozen corners. They become
nuisances to neighbors. They are hurt in fights
or killed by autos. They catch diseases. They be
come lost.
Your pet deserves a place in your home. Fenc
ing him in is not cruel, but turning him loose,
away from your protection, is.
Do you give your pet what he likes to eat?
Pets do not know what is good for them. They
will eat spoiled food or poisoned food. They will
eat cold food (which upsets some). Dogs love
chicken, but any bone that splinters can choke
them. Kittens love milk and birds love crackers,
but their digestive systems do not take much.
Many pet owners unwittingly keep pets in a state
of digestive upset.
A serious cruelty is giving your pet the quanti-.
ty he wants to eat. Most will eat far too much.
Obesity damages an animal's health. A nice,
plump animal is usually one that faces a short
ened life.
Do you spoil your pet?
This is a great cruelty. Animals, like children,
become neurotic and unhappy without discipline.
Be consistent in discipline, or you will have a
nervous, confused pet headed for trouble.
To punish, don't hurt your pet. He won't un
derstand. Most trainers feel that a sharp com
mand or scolding tone of voice can do the job.
Act quickly and consistently, and soon a word
and u look will be enough.
Should you allow your pet to breed?
Many think it is cruel to deny breeding. As
a result, we now have 25 million stray cats in
America as testimony to our "kindness." We
have millions of other unwanted, hungry animals
because pet owners didn't want to be "cruel."
Unless you are prepared to give the young a
home, we urge that you have your pet painlessly
neutered just at maturity. It will live longer and
be easier to control. It will not be frustrated.
Should you give a child a pet as a gift?
Of course, if
the parents agree and will take responsibil
ity for its care.
the child will be taught to respect the animal
as a fellow, feeling creature. Many a child has
hurt or killed a small animal by careless play.
You must find out what the pet needs and teach
this to the child.
the animal is a suitable pet, not a holiday
toy doomed to early death.
Should you give an unwanted pet a "sporting
chance" for life?
Your circumstances may no longer allow for
a pet. But it is cruel to abandon him, as so many
do, thinking he will manage somehow.
He will live for a while, hungry, exhausted,
bewildered until accident, wild animals, or ex
posure end his torture. If you can't find a home
for him, take him to your animal shelter. Per
haps he will be adopted. If not, at least he can
be spared a cruel, losing fight.
Should you adopt a homeless animal?
But is he homeless?
Call your animal shelter. Check around your
community. An anxious owner may be waiting.
If not, you may adopt the pet in good conscience.
Never, never adopt young birds or wild ani
mals, however. Very knowing people may be able
to handle them properly, but for most people to
try is cruel.
Do you doctor your sick pets?
If so, are you a veterinarian? -
Experienced owners may tell distemper from
a cold, or stomach upset from feline enteritis.
But most can't. It is appalling how many pets
reach a veterinarian too late to be saved. It is
cruel to keep a pet from medical attention.
Should you shower a new pet with attention?
No. A new young pet should be given time
alone. Kittens and puppies are often exhausted or
terrified by too much play with children or too
many demands to perform. Give the pet hours
without strain.
Should you choose a house for your pet be
cause of its beauty?
This is one of the most common cruelties.
Don't assume a commercial manufacturer knows
what your particular animal needs.
- Typical is the spherical fish bowl. Fish tanks
need large surfaces exposed to air. A spherical
bowl can suffocate fish. Many lovely cages are
cruel. The smallest bird needs a cage at least
two feet square to exercise.
The real answer to loving cruelty? Find out
from experts what your pet really needs in
food, discipline, medicine, housing, and all the
rest. Don't guess or assume. And remember, real
kindness sometimes means denying things which
affection makes us want to give.
Free Facts About Pets
The American Humane Association has sev
eral useful pamphlets which cover the care of
animals and can help you guard against unin
tentional cruelty to your pet. Pamphlet titles
are "Dogs," "Cats," "Birds," "Small Animals,"
"Fish," and "Horses and Burros." To get your
free copy of any of these, write to: American
Humane Association, Dept. FW, P.O. Box 1266,
Denver 1, Colo.
COVER:
took the expertise of famed animal pho
tographer Walt Chandoha to get this
charming set of kittens to "hold it." For a
helpful story about pet care, see above.
JRamily
Weekly
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