Watch out for the animals

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Another problem is that many times the dropped cat is not spayed or neutered. This will most certainly result in a litter or litters of unwanted kittens that will grow up to live with hunger and disease. When I adopted a cat (who had been abandoned in an apartment and left to starve) from the Little Guild in Cornwall about five years ago, they gave me these statistics in the adoption packet:

One female cat and her offspring can produce 42,000 cats in seven years.

More than 12 million dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters each year. Millions more are abandoned in rural and urban areas.

Approximately 61 percent of all dogs entering shelters are killed.

Approximately 75 percent of all cats entering shelters are killed.

To me, these statistics are shocking and very sad. It doesn't need to happen if more people would take a responsible attitude and spay and neuter their pets. I know, some people say it is too expensive. In my years of helping with rescuing animals (in a small way), I have learned that this doesn't have to be so expensive. Call around to the area vets and compare prices.

Some people may feel they are robbing their animals of the chance for parenthood. Middle-aged animals do not sit around pining about a lost chance for parenthood, as do many humans. In fact, it makes their lives easier. If anyone has ever had a cat or dog in heat in your house, you will know what I mean. Male cats and dogs will wander less and be less aggressive and less likely to mark territory if they are neutered. Rabbits also benefit from spaying and neutering for some of the same reasons.

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If you disagree with the above reason for spaying and neutering, consider the statistics I gave for the number of animals killed each year just as a result of the animal overpopulation. These are healthy animals, and many are kittens and puppies. Those figures haunt me. I have six cats and four dogs (all from area shelters or strays) and I cannot bear to think of them being in that situation. The only way this will stop is through responsible spaying and neutering.

Please be a responsible pet owner. Pet ownership is for life. Do not dump animals. You will be giving them a short and unhappy life. Spay and neuter your dogs, cats and rabbits.

Some resources: There is a spay-and-neuter van which does cats and comes to the area periodically. The number for that is 1-888-FOR-TEAM. The cost is about $55 to $65 and includes a rabies vaccine. The Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA in Hudson, N.Y., has a low-cost spay and neuter for cats for $55, including rabies and distemper vaccines. Their number is 518-828-6044.

Look up Friends of Animals on the Internet. They offer low-cost spay and neuter certificates for dogs as well as cats. Another resource is just to call the area animal shelters, which will gladly give advice on where to go for low-cost spay and neuter operations. There are many resources out there if you look for them.

Also, contribute money to your local animal shelters so they can take in and spay and neuter unwanted animals. In our area, we are lucky to have the Little Guild in Cornwall and Last Post in Falls Village. In Hudson, N.Y., there is Animalkind. There are many more great rescues. Look on Petfinder.com for more.

And please drive slowly by Pine Hill Farm on Millerton-Sharon Road.