I read in the local newspaper for my city (The Ottawa Citizen) that our Humane Society in this city puts down THOUSANDS of cats each year. THOUSANDS every year. Just in Ottawa. I find that many people in this city are terribly uncompassionate, and stats like that don't even register in their minds. In fact, a recent series of Letters to the Editors have involved people arguing in favour of BANNING pets in the city. Another bunch of letters is about the need to kill feral cats because they "cause so many problems." Nobody stops to think about who the actual cause of the problems are: the stupid ignorant owners.
A while back the federal government made what I thought was a great proposal-- tightening up laws relating to animal abuse; making harsher sentences etc. I can't stand our government, but that was a good idea! However, "the public" became angered because they felt such legislation was a "waste of time" and that the government should focus on our "ailing health care system" and tax cuts.
There just seems to be a general apathy among people here. Canada likes to boast about how wonderful it is, but it is totally people-centric here, and animal welfare is extremely low on people's priority lists. I am anxious to get through university, get a decent job (hard to come by up here) and eventually have my own no-kill cat shelter. Most people want wealth and possessions, but I want a building full of kitties!

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Personal servant for Pesto
http://www.angelfire.com/80s/pestoswitzer/main.html
http://www.angelfire.com/pq/coolcatclub/main.html