🚀 go-pugleaf

In <mandaDDIuv7.9yF@netcom.com> manda@netcom.com (cyberwench) writes: 

>
><story about extreme animal neglect deleted>
>
>I was living in oregon while this woman's trial was dragging on, and 
>distcinctly remember the news footage of her starving dogs in that 
>horrible little bus. it's unfortunate that pets are so easily obtained 
>(and in fact so overpopulous) that a nutcase like this can get her 
hands 
>on scores of them and torture them to death. I don't know what the 
>solution is; I wish I did. obviously longer prison sentences for 
>convicted animal abusers/neglecters would help. (here in california, a 
>man was just sentenced to life for stealing cigarettes under the new 3 
>strikes you're out law. surely the welfare of animals rates slightly 
>higher than 2 stolen packs of ciggies?) I'm actually surprised kittles 
>got such a short term, because she was notoriously hated by everybody 
>connected with the case. would think that the judge would hold more of 
a 
>grudge...
>it would be nice if there were some sort of national database for 
animal 
>owners/breeders that held all convicted animal abusers so before 
>selling/adopting out/whatever to a person you could check them out 
first 
>and make sure that 2 years ago they didn't starve a busload of 
animals... 
>sigh.
>manda
>-- 
>_____________________________________________________
>
>Once upon a time, there was a princess who magically
>turned into a frog
>
>and lived happily ever after with her
>competent lover.
>
>- Richard Grossman
>  "Frog"
>_____________________________________________________
>

There are a couple of ways to protect yourself (or rather the animal) if 
you are adopting out a companion animal.  First, charge a fee, no matter 
if it's just $10.00.  Second, take time to talk to the potential 
adopter.  Any good shelter has a list of questions they ask people who 
come to adopt.  For instance:  Do you have a fenced yard?  (for dogs).  
Have you owned pets before?  What happened to the last pet you owned?  
How much to you think it will cost to keep a pet for a year?  Are there 
small children in the house (eg under, say 5 years old and therefore 
rough on animals)?  Where will the animal sleep?  Will you spay or 
neuter the animal?  Ask what they know about shots, feeding, 
veterinarians, licensing, dog obedience training.

You can even go to visit the person's home to check it out.  I know 
people who are responsible for placing animals who do just that.