Dogging Questions
Bobby Thalhimer
Oct 05, 2009
My entire life, with the exception of my college years and a brief time living in an apartment, I have had a dog. I frankly cannot imagine life without Maddie, Kismet, Hershey, Snowbear or Bebe. They have provided daily joy, and in times of sadness, sickness or loneliness they have provided comfort.
What happens when a person wants a dog but can’t afford one? Or, what happens when a person who once could afford a dog no longer can? For some people the answer is simple. If you can’t afford a dog, then you can’t have one. But to others the answer is less straightforward.
Those people who cannot or can no longer afford a dog might benefit most from a dog’s companionship. Could there be new options to resolve this issue?
Today I welcome guest blogger, Robin Starr. Robin has spearheaded the development of the country’s finest SPCA facility, spoken passionately as an advocate for animals, and endured gracefully the controversy that comes with her role. Cynics try to frame animal issues by comparing spending on animals with spending on the human condition as an “either—or” question. Robin lends her voice to those of us who prioritize the symbiotic relationship between people and their pets.
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Late one evening, after an event at the Richmond SPCA, a man arrived at our building highly agitated about his young dog who was terribly ill. He begged for our help. We ran out to his car with him and saw a puppy of about six months old on the back seat. The puppy was in dreadful condition with the recognizable symptoms of parvo virus, an often fatal but preventable disease that primarily affects puppies. It seemed unlikely the little dog would live. We explained that we did not have a full service veterinary clinic and that our Director of Veterinary Services had gone for the day. We urged him to go to the nearby Veterinary Emergency Center (VEC). He then said, through his tears, that he could not afford veterinary care for his dog. He left saying that he would go to VEC anyway.
The horribly sick little dog and his distraught, loving owner haunted me for weeks afterward. This was far from the first time that someone had come to our doors wanting veterinary care for their beloved pet and saying that they could not afford to go to a private office. Our clinic staff was always deeply pained by having to send them away knowing that there was no good answer for them.
The easy response to this dilemma is to simply say that people who cannot afford the cost of caring for a pet should not have one. That is a popular theory even among people in the animal welfare field. But “easy” quite often does not mean “right.” Having a pet undeniably improves the quality of life for most people. Should people of modest means be prevented from having the unconditional love and companionship that pets bring to our lives? An even tougher question is raised for us when the pet owner acquired the pet when economic times were good but now is having trouble providing for that pet because of a job loss or other hardship related to the downturn in the economy. Is it fair or ethical to suggest that such a person should simply abandon the pet that they love and treasure?
My own answer to both of those questions is a definite no for several reasons. The joys that pets bring to our lives should not be denied to people of modest means. During these tough financial times, many people are struggling with threatened or actual job losses, diminished incomes and fears about their futures. More than ever, they need the haven of love and comfort that a beloved pet provides them. In addition, during hard times, we should help families to stay together and pets are family members too. Lastly, healthy and sweet pets are losing their lives all over this country for the lack of a home. It is crucial to saving their lives that we not eliminate all of the good and loving homes that folks of limited financial means could provide to them.
For these reasons, we are now providing wellness clinics for the pets of low income families at the Richmond SPCA. We began in February to hold monthly clinics at which we have provided basic exams and access to preventative care and medications at very low cost. The response of our community to this service has been overwhelming. We had more calls for appointments than we could come close to providing at the monthly clinics. So, in October, we will begin providing these low cost wellness clinics weekly for the pets of low income families. This service is a part of our Project Safety Net which provides an array of supportive programs to help pets stay in the loving homes they have.
Had that distraught man who came to us with his dying puppy been able to bring his dog to one of our wellness clinics, the puppy could have been inoculated against the parvo virus. If our weekly clinics can help to prevent other people from losing their best friends like he probably did, then we will have helped both pets and people to have a better quality of life during tough times.
Robin Starr ( )
I applaud Robin Starr for for implementing the spay/neuter and no charge vet exams. Robin Starr has done so much to enable otherwise “disgarded” animals a healthy, secure and loving environment. I also agree that breed/greed individuals/organizations should be heavily taxed and be subject to random inspections. The perfect outcome would be to do away with them altogether. Take a look in the paper at all the “adorable” pups and kittens for sale, for greed as a status accessory. Take a look in the eyes of any pet in any shelter or “animal adption and rescue”. The unwanted, homeless canines and felines who need care and love offer the same unconditional love and companionship. Note the difference in the costs of each. Those who are providing foster homes, just as the SPCA does, do it out of love of animals, not out of lust for money.
Oct. 8, 2009 at 02:23 PM
Thanks to Robin Starr for all she does at the Richmond SPCA. Because of her hard work, vision, and leadership, we have a phenomenal resource for local animals AND people! Having loved and lost a dog recently, my heart went out to her during her recent loss. It stirred controversy at the time, but at the end of the day—I know her heart must have been utterly broken. Robin, many of us share in your grief and wish you only the best.
Oct. 6, 2009 at 03:09 PM
Good point* Especially in these hard times. Our pets are definitely a healing force in all of the chaos.
Oct. 6, 2009 at 11:50 AM
I deeply believe that pets are a member of the family and that no one should feel like they have to give up a family member. Vet care can be incredibly expensive. That is why I am so happy that the Richmond SPCA is offering wellness clinics to help low income families. Like other family members, our pets often help us through times of distress by giving us the reassurance, comfort and confidence we need to find a way to make things work. In turn our pets should be treated just like any other family member. Abandoning them is not an option.
Oct. 6, 2009 at 09:59 AM
There are few things more distressing than having to part with a beloved pet, and I am so thankful to live in a city where resources exist (pet pantry, free behavior help, low-cost wellness clinics, pet-friendly housing guide, low-cost and free spay/neuter, etc.) to prevent that from happening. Thanks to the generosity of the Greater Richmond community, and the good stewardship of the Richmond SPCA, households of limited means are able to keep their pets healthy and well-fed.
In addition I would like to second Bobby’s comment - “Cynics try to frame animal issues by comparing spending on animals with spending on the human condition as an “either—or” question.“ Compassion for animals simply does not cancel out or negate compassion for humans. In fact, it has been my experience that people who choose to give charitably give to a variety of causes that enrich and improve the quality of our lives (the arts, animal welfare, health and human services…). We are lucky to live in a community where a wealth of options exist for both pets and people in need - options which are supported by strong nonprofit management, successful public private partnerships, and a populace committed to giving of themselves to make life better for others.
Oct. 6, 2009 at 09:55 AM
PS! Yes. Poor ppl luv animals too and animals ( unlike humans ) do not discriminate. They luv their ppl,regardless if they are rich,poor,skinny, fat or whatever.
Oct. 6, 2009 at 12:27 AM
I totally agree with Mr.Reinhart. Animals suffer because of humans.
Let me add that I think that SpayNeuter should be mandatory- From breeders to the humane,local groups. I know that the RSPCA does this and as a cat lover & strong supporter of TNR. I truly appreciaite it!
Friends & I can hardly keep up with the feral cat colonies and this does not include the countless emails & phone calls that I get from people telling me that they want to “get rid of” their cats. It’s a crisis out here for kitties.
Oct. 5, 2009 at 11:46 PM
And course is goes without saying that all animals sold, traded, or given free at any level..or leaving a shelter..would be required to be spayed/neutered.
The added taxes would go directly to help public animal shelters.
Oct. 5, 2009 at 02:03 PM
Perhaps the problem is not in who owns dogs (and cats),whether they are wealthy or of more modest means. This is only the symptom. And let’s quit blaming the economy for everything. People caused this!
The problem is the overwhelming number of animals to care for. We have bred-allowed to breed far too many. This is due to:
1.
Owners refusing to spay/neuter. Either they think it “hurts” the animal, or it destroys their inborn instincts. Many owners think it is cute abd beautiful to see puppies and kittens and show their children the cycle of birth and life. Some think is is the animal’s right to have at least one litter (havn’t seen that in the Constitution…have you?) Some cannot afford to spay/neuter ...or is more the case…unwilling to take the time or expense to do so. Again, refusing to acept accountibility/responsibility. Placing the wrong dog in the wrong place. Sheepdogs do not belong in a 900 SF apartment…no matter how much you love them.
2.
Puppy/Kitten Mills that for pure profit (read greed).....breed animals…supposedly purebreed. And our desire to own them and show them off.
3.
Cities/counties unwilling to enforce leash laws and other pet health matters. Also our unwillingness to teach it in school…apparently it offends some people. Well forgoten, abandoned, homeless animals offend me and majority of humanity.
Solutions: (and simple too)
1.
Puppy Mills…tax them…2500.00 per each live animal (or more).....records must be kept, falsification should be a stiff prison sentence (say what Mick Vick got) and fine. And no more dog breeding license. Hey you wanna play the purebreed game ...you gotta pay the purebred game. Also to operate a breeding facility a yearly fee of say 100,000. Plus a post of a suitable bond. A vet must supervise each litter and attest to it.
2.
Increase kennel licenses drastically.
3.
Puppy stores should have an added tax for the sale of each animal. A big tax!
4.
Tax surcharge on all pet products except food.
5.
Tax credit (small) for those willing to adopt an existing animal from a public shelter. Limit of 2 animals.
6.
Tax credit to vet’s who offer free/lowcost service for appropriate pet owners.
These are cold hard solutions for cold hard problems. They are also easy solutions. We must take responsibility. The animals did not create the problem…humans did. It is up to us to correct it.
Oct. 5, 2009 at 01:52 PM
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