Published Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Rosy and Grace: 2 sick puppies

By Lawrence Humphries

I watched two young puppies fight to live last weekend. They were ravaged by a disease, and the only thing they did wrong was be born to a backyard breeder who didn't care enough about them to spend $5 on vaccinations. First one appeared near death and then would come back, then the other, then the first again. They both are fighting so hard, we keep hoping they might pull through. We have nursed other puppies through this disease before -- puppies who grew into beautiful dogs now surrounded by a loving family.

You may or may not think this is a big deal. They are only dogs, and black labs at that. They are "a dime a dozen," so to speak. People give them away when they are part of an unwanted litter or sell them at public parking lots or through the classifieds, or you can adopt one at the county shelter for $25. So they must not be worth much if there's such small value (or price) placed on them.

We always name the dogs we are helping, even the very sick ones. I can't tell you why. I guess it's just a human thing we impose on our animal companions. I was listening to Neil Diamond sing "Amazing Grace." So we named one Grace and the other Rosy ("Cracklin Rosy"). It fit because Rosy is the feistier of the two.

Nevertheless, I was angry about this needless suffering. All that's needed to stop it is a little knowledge and compassion. There are, of course, many big human problems that are probably more important and more difficult to solve. This problem, however, just needs a little understanding and a little compassion.

Almost two-thirds, yes, two-thirds, of U.S. households have dogs -- one-third have cats. Odds are good that you love or at least tolerate a dog in your household. For most of you, they are a part of your family. Depending on your resources you'll likely do whatever you can to be sure your companion is healthy and happy. But what's the real difference between your dog and Rosy or Grace? Nothing, other than Rosy and Grace do not have your protection. If your dog did not have your protection, how well would he or she be treated by the community? Odds are they would be dead within a week of being taken to the shelter. So the issue becomes clear: How do we as a community treat these loving, sentient animals?

How can we as a community show just a bit more compassion? First, spay or neuter your dog to prevent litters of puppies that wind up being killed in the shelters. Adopt from a humane organization rather than buy a puppy. There are hundreds of dogs and cats including pure breeds killed daily in the metro area. There are too many unwanted pets. We can hope for the day when there is a need for breeders. Third, and just as important ... encourage others to do these three simple things. This will have a greater impact than you know.

It's six hours since I wrote the first part of this. We have done all we can to keep Rosy and Grace hydrated and comfortable. There were promising signs. Rosy would get up a couple of times and walk around. Grace was not vomiting as much. Then three hours ago, Rosy started going downhill ... and she wasn't able to climb back up. We were with her when she died. She did not die alone, which is more of a blessing than most dogs and some people get. Grace is looking better, but it's too soon to tell. If she's strong enough to recover, we'll find Grace an extra special home. It's time we as a community give companion animals greater respect and care. Let others know about the three simple things everyone can do.

Tell them, for Rosy.

(Lawrence Humphries resides in the Sharpsburg area.)