how do you deal with horrible things you read about pet cruelty...

[moosmom]

I see so much animal abuse that when I see something posted here, I try to avoid it. Oh, it's out there and I know it. But sometimes I have to step back and say "nope, not today."

[lizbud]

But sometimes I have to step back and say "nope, not today."

Me too. I also stop and say a little silent prayer if I should remember
a mistreated animal that I'd read or heard about.

[carole]

Thanks, i too avoid anything on PT, because i cannot handle it, i know all these terrible things go on in our world, but reading it is not going to help is it? especially when i know i cannot deal with it, as someone said, some can handle it better than other's, i remember reading recently where one of our SPCA officers had a nervous breakdown, because of his job, and what he had seen, i sure can understand that.

Oh believe me the first thing i did was hug every one of my cats and bawl my eyes out,i still feel sick, and i guess starting this thread kind of keeps it in my mind, i know in time i will forget, but it will only be temporarily, as i will never forget what i read,and never forget that poor kitty, it was just so un-expected, as i was just not prepared for it.

I still cannot believe it happened, you know it is real and that is what makes it so hard, to a believe someone could do something so evil, and i mean pure evil, i have to say i wish those people dead,i don't know if i should feel that way, but i do,they don't deserve to live in our world.

Thanks everyone, i know i am not alone in how i feel here, and it helps to know others share my feelings and can understand how hard it is to forget.

[snowbelle15]

I am the same way. I try advoiding it. But if I do hear or see something about animal abuse, I go right to Snowbelle and give her lots of love and be thankful that she ended up in the right hands and is treated with care, instead of being with someone cruel.

[Medusa]

Carole, I think that the best way to handle it is to keep saying to yourself that now the animal is at peace. Our minds keep returning to the unspeakable act itself and to the suffering of the animal. We can't help it sometimes. It's like poking your tongue in the spot where a tooth used to be after you just had it pulled. It's sensitive and we keep going back to it, hurting ourselves. So I say "St. Francis of Assisi, please take care of this animal." And I keep reminding myself that the animal is at peace. Hope this helps.

[Karen]

I know bad things, and bad people, are out there. I do everything I can in my daily interactions with other people to foster kindness to animals. I also advise just clicking through past cats of the day, for example, and realize how many cats have been rescued, loved and treasured for long, happy lives. Surely they outnumber the bad stories out there.

Sending you hugs, Carole. And realize that you have raised two children who will be animal lovers and will spread that knowledge to all their friends and any future generations.

To give you a smile - when my eldest niece first started dating the young man to whom she is now engaged, she told him that her priorities were: Family, Friends, then him, then other people. When he asked if he was at least ahead of Nilla (the family dog) in priority, she said "Are you kidding? Nilla is Family!"

And still, the young man in question stuck around long enough to move up the list. And now knows that non-humans in our clan are just as much family as the humans.

[Marigold2]

I try and take action whenever possible. There is a famous quote and I know I don't have it correct but it goes something like this.


"All evil needs to florish is for good men to do nothing"

I try to not sit down and let evil run me over. If I don't speak for the animals who will?? If I leave it up to the next person they will leave it up to the next and the next and then NO one will do anything and my soul will not allow that.

Out of my anger I will do good. Because of their pain and suffering I will take action. I can not sleep at night knowing I did nothing.
It is never enough and that can be very sad and depressing for sure, BUT I will not let that stop me, I can't save them all but I can save some.
Sometimes it means just leaving out bird food or water. Seems like a small thing but to a thirsty bird it's a life saver.