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They are the cute, fluffy members of our family. Or at least that's how pets should be considered. But an experience I had one night last week suggests not everyone thinks of their animals in this way.
I was on my way home and wasn't paying much attention to my surroundings, since there were few pedestrians around at that hour. So I was startled when two figures jumped into the lane ahead of me, blocking my way.
I was surprised to see what it was that had startled me — two puppies had come out of nowhere! With long ears dangling down by their wide black eyes, the pair of heedless puppies sniffed around and begged for food.
Having seen no trace of their owner after accompanying the puppies for a while, I persuaded myself to give the little ones temporary shelter, at least for the night. The poor dears deserved a proper owner and a warm home, I thought. Though I still don't have the capacity to raise a pet, I was on a mission to find them someone who does.
The next couple of days confirmed the painful reality that the puppies had been discarded. The good news is that my neighbors were willing to offer a helping hand.
Food, a sleeping mat and feeding bowls were collected for the puppies, and we even set up a WeChat group to coordinate their care. But the question still remained: Was there a responsible owner willing to adopt them?
As the search for the puppies' new home continued, our annoyance with their cruel previous owner only grew: Why abandon two living things like dumping so much garbage?
One can think of a million excuses they might have made: someone with a severe allergy to animals joined the household; a family member became pregnant; behavioral problems enraged the owner; or more simply, they just got bored of taking care of the animals.
Commitment and compassion from a responsible owner can overcome these difficulties. Dog allergies can be treated and regular health checks and efficient sanitation can ensure a safe pregnancy, even in a household where there are pets.
Yet an irresponsible decision can put innocent animals' lives in danger. Millions of dogs are discarded every year. Living in fear and uncertainty, they are often hit by cars or motorbikes, or run over while fast asleep under parked vehicles. There are many sad stories like these.
Unclaimed dogs are also a burden on public security and city management, as they have the potential to spread diseases such as rabies, threatening the lives of citizens.
Seriously, think twice for this!
Before bringing a pet into your home, please ask yourself: Do I really love it? You don't want to end up adding to the countless number of abandoned animals in future.
Luckily enough, the puppies that showed up near my neighborhood were finally adopted by a kind new owner in the Dongcheng district of Beijing. "I'm glad to welcome two new members into my family," said the owner, surnamed Gao. "I will keep them safe and sound."
What do you usually do with the stray dogs on the street?
(CHINA DAILY)
