With regards to the article “SPCA AGM sparks fury” in the July 11 edition of the Benoni City Times, I would like to raise some concerns.
I volunteered at the SPCA for a few Saturdays last year when I had time between my studies and have recently euthanased one of my dogs there.
Of all those people standing outside the gates throwing tantrums, how many have volunteered? How many have been present for a euthanasia?
Not of their own pet, but of a stray?
People love to assume that the SPCA thrive off of putting dogs and cats to sleep. People love the idea of no kill shelters.
So it is here where I return to my question – how many of those people have volunteered on a Saturday?
Have you seen the euthanasia of a stray? A dog someone lost, and didn’t love enough to find?
Do you know that dogs and cats will only be euthanased when they have been in a cage for so long that they walk in circles for 24 hours straight, stop eating and give up on life?
Do you know that no kill shelters ignore that dog or cat’s agony.
Do you, you brave protester, ever stop by to hold an unknown dog’s paw? I’m not asking if you donate money from a safe distance.
I’m asking if you have the strength to stop by and hold a lost dogs paw while it has to be euthanased because nobody wants a dog that is 10 years old.
Do you have the strength to cry for him and thank the woman who has euthanased him?
Do you know what a rare occurrence euthanasia of strays is?
And finally do you know that the staff cry with each and every pup that doesn’t get adopted by you, and needs to be set free.
Volunteer on a Saturday, assist in an introduction and adoption.
Play with the dogs, clean out their cages, hold a dog’s paw on his way out of this world.
If you have done all this, then protest all you want and we will listen.
If not, then be the change you wish to see in the world, and stop filling my newspaper with negative accusations while you stand at an emotionally safe distance and point fingers.
