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As many of you may or may not know I am very involved with animal rescue. It is a fairly well known fact that in the US alone nearly 4 million cats and dogs are euthanized each year simply because there are not enough homes for all of the pets bred. Therefore I was surprised when the photographer was shocked that Jake, the dog pictured, was my latest death row dog. Jake and his brother were scheduled to be euthanized when they were rescued. They are typical death row dogs. They had the misfortune of being born black. Black dogs and cats are generally the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized. Many shelters euthanize black dogs and cats upon the owner's release. Young or old, purebred or mixed breed, if the shelter is full or if it is the shelter's policy they are killed simply because of their color. Most of these dogs come from people who can't be bothered to spay or neuter their pets or those who breed a litter because they think that Fido has nice markings or coud be passed off as a purebred and the pups might be sold for a few bucks. 76% of the pets listed in the paper this morning will be dead before they reach their first birthday according to the Humane Society of the United States. So if you are thinking of adding a dog or cat to your family please think of looking in your local shelter or rescue instead of lining the pockets of puppy mills and unscrupulous breeders. There are millions of wonderful loving diamonds in the rough waiting for good homes.
Chris