I'm really sad about something...

[Nomilynn]

and I would like some other opinions. I'm posting this here because I think it applies to all pet owners, even though I only have my cats as examples. I have a couple stories to share and then I will get to my point.

On my way to school yesterday morning I saw a dog wandering around on a road. People were stopping to let him cross but it was obvious that no one was with him; he must have gotten out of his yard. He was wearing a collar and had tags, but I couldn't stop to grab him because there was no spot that was safe for me to pull over my car.

This morning on my way to school I saw a dead animal laying on the side of the road, which isn't unusual. But this time it was a very young kitten, maybe 2-3 months old. It was silver and had blue eyes, which were still open. I nearly threw up right there but I couldn't because I was driving and I didn't want to cause an accident. Then when I got to school today I saw signs for a beautiful black and white long haired cat named Skippy that has been missing since August 2 (I think the sign has been there for a while).

Every day the paper comes with new ads about lost and missing pets. Some are dogs, most are cats, and some are missing birds like cockateils (spelling?) and parakeets.

I don't know how other people feel about this, but it makes me sick. Every time I think of that kitten I want to cry. S/he was so pretty and someone was careless enough to let it roam around at night when they live near a very busy highway (I know it was last night because I drive home the same way and it wasn't there yesterday). Why do people do this? I think that as pet owners people need to be really careful about letting their pets roam free. I live about six or seven blocks away from the highway and I would never let my cats outside unless they were in an inclosure, on leashes, or with me right by my side. I think it is totally irresponsible when pet owners let their pets roam around and don't watch them or don't have lots of property where the pets can't get hit by a passing vehicle. I know that some people think it is cruel to keep pets cooped up but what is worse? Leash training them or letting them die a really painful death when they get hit by a car? I got Bassett out of a cardboard box next to a grocery store, and Tilly from the pound because she was a stray. Both my girls like to go outside but I love them too much to put them in such a dangerous situation. I would hate myself if I was so careless to let them be outside and I came home one day to find their body on the side of the road.

I'm just so discouraged right now. Why aren't people more careful? Maybe I just needed a place to vent my frustrations because I don't really expect any definate answers. I just knew that I could count on the people here, who love their pets as much as I do, to listen (or read) with a kind heart.

One thing is for sure: When I get home tonight (I'm still at school right now) I will be giving my two babies lots of hugs and kisses and appreciating them with all my heart.

Thanks for letting me spew my frustrations everyone. I really appreciate all of you.

Naomi

[aly]

I feel the exact same way I cry every time I see a dead animal on the road. And this past Friday was REALLY hard for me. It was Friday the 13th and I saw THREE black cats dead on the road. I couldn't help but think that was not a coincidence. It really hurt my heart because my Shiloh is black and I found her in a parking lot with a busy highway nearby. I also saw what I assumed were her brothers/sisters dead on the side of that road

Shiloh wanted to go outside at first and she howled and yowled the first night but I told her that she would not be going outside ever ever ever again. I scared her of all the doors that lead out and have had no problems with her trying to dart a door.

Anyway, I know how sad you are. I always feel the same way. Its so, so, so, so heartbreaking

[moosmom]

Nomilyn,

I know exactly how you feel. I have gotten to the point where I don't even look anymore because I get so depressed.

My cats are all indoor cats. They have SO many conveniences, i.e. cat trees, cat window ledges, etc. When I do try to take them out on a harness, they want no part of it. Which is fine with me. The only one who loves going for rides in the car and walks in the park on a harness in MooShoo, my Sphynx.

Seeing a dead animal on the side of the road makes me ill. Not only for the animal, but for the family who lost the pet and the driver who hit the pet and kept on going. It's a sad fact but it's the way things are. That's why I'm glad my cats are all indoor cats. I know they'll be around for a long time.

[Soledad]

you have no way of knowing if those cats are there because they're strays or if they're owned. Dogs run away often, it doesn't mean their owners don't care. My cat is indoors/outdoors and he is very sensible and never goes past the garden.

[boscibo]

I understand - I always get upset whenever I see a dead animal along the road - it ruins my whole day, it doesn't matter how good a modd I was in before I see it.

I am super careful with my animals - one cat, Abby, I rescued from a guy who had put her outside because she was in heat and too loud. He lived behind a convenience store that was on the freeway frontage road and really close to the freeway entrance ramp - I was so lucky she was still hanging around (and not pregnant) when I went to pick her up. I still drive by that store and think how close a call that was.

My new kitten was also found very near the same freeway, under the overpass. It would have been difficult for her to actually get on the road, but not impossible. I shudder to think of that baby hit by a car.

I also have three dogs, and they have never (knock on wood) escaped since we built our new fence. I am always aware of where they are, even when they're out running in the yard. I put a big "KEEP OUT" sign on the gate because for some reason, the "beware of dog" sign wasn't enough. I have called the electric company and told them they need to let me know when they come to read the meter - because I don't want my dogs getting out. Otherwise, when they're out, they're leashed.

I am so against unleashed dogs - I totally blame the owners.

[Cookiebaker]

When we got our kitty, Marigold, I wanted her to be inside. We live quite near a semi-busy road, and I didn't want anything to ever happen to her. This worked for the first month or so...and then she quit eating, went into a slump, and started peeing all over the house (even with clean litter boxes). We took her to the vet, had her checked all over, over-night for a urine sample and she checked out perfectly. The vet suggested maybe she just wanted to be out, and with sadness I let her go. The first time she didn't come home at night, I was frantic & couldn't sleep. But she showed up the next day, and she is a much happier cat now. She comes & goes as she pleases, and doesn't pee in the house anymore when she is in. Yes, I am still scared that one day she will be hit or something, but in the meanwhile, I don't feel that it is fair to her to coop her up. I should say, too, that she was grown when we got her, and had likely been out her whole life. I think I would feel differently if she had been a kitten and content to stay indoors from the start.

[RockyRoad]

When my cat Snowball got out, I was devastated. Unfortunately, my parents and sister do not love animals as much as I do, and would not put up lost signs. It was sad, because I wanted my kitty, back, and they could care less. Big difference between me and the people around me. I'm a vegitarian. I do not eat meat or fish because I think it is wrong to kill an animal just for our sake. I do not disect, hurt, kill, or eat animals and never will. Also, I have animal pictures all over my walls. The people around me could care less about animals, and that makes me sad.

Now back onto the subject..
That must have been sad. If I saw that cat, I would inform the family looking for him/her that their cat had been hit by a car. My friend Johanna lets her cats go outside, and they always get into fights with other cats. You should see these poor things, they have almost all of their fur shaved off from operations they've had, and one of them got hit by a car!! They just got a kitten named Norbert, and they should have the sense to keep him inside, I don't want to see another cat from their family get sent to the hospital (I love to visit my vet after school!).

[Soledad]

I think declawing a cat so it's more indoors friendly is far worse than letting it go out occasionally.

[DoggiesAreTheBest]

Naomi, I know exactly what you mean. I have seen such horrible sights one my way to and from Alabama every other weekend when I go to visit my husband.

I just want to pull over and cry! I get so sick and upset. I wonder how the pup or kitty got run over and can't come up with an answer. I hope I am never in that situation. If I am ever about to hit an animal with my car, I would rather swerve and hit something trying to miss it that actually run over it. I don't think I could live with myself if I had that weighing me down.

[boscibo]

I keep my cats inside - I had 2 that got hit and killed by cars, and I lived on a private contry road. I know that some cats need to go out, my parents have cats that go out and they have lived long lives (none hit by cars - ever). But I get really upset, a total basket case, when anything happens to my animals - it's more of a Boscibo problem than a pet problem - so I choose to keep them in.

Dogs free to roam is my big pet peeve. I have an old dog that had some back problems a few years ago - he doesn't get around vey well. We go for short walks in the park across the street. I get really mad when an unleashed dog comes by - Bandit can't defend himself anymore, and is at a big disadvantage. I really wish some people were more responsible.

[Nomilynn]

Thanks for the replys. I have had cats in the past who were allowed to go outside, and I don't disagree with it if the cats are trained to stay in the yard or need that option or what have you. But it's sad when you see a new kitten that wouldn't know better (yet) dead on the road. The owners could have trained her to stay in the yard before allowing her to go out.

I don't think it matters if the pet that was killed was a stray or not. That doesn't make it less sad, and most likely the reason the cat is a stray is because someone somewhere down the line wasn't responsible enough to spay or neuter, or keep their pet inside.

Basically I'm saying that our pets rely on us to keep them safe, and everyone who owns a pet should really take that responsibility very seriously. Most people do, and for that I'm grateful. But for the people who don't, it's sad to see a wasted joy laying on the side of the road.

Naomi

[Soledad]

What I meant was, when you see a dead kitten on the road you can't automatically assume it's because someone just let it out. A dead cat is a dead cat, and it's sad no matter what. I'm just saying that you have very little way of knowing if it's a result of someone's negligence.

[Nomilynn]

Originally posted by Soledad
What I meant was, when you see a dead kitten on the road you can't automatically assume it's because someone just let it out. A dead cat is a dead cat, and it's sad no matter what. I'm just saying that you have very little way of knowing if it's a result of someone's negligence.

Very true, and sadly that is the first assumption I make. But I also know that ferals are killed too, and it's also sad, like you said.

Thanks for clearing it up

[Lirathal]

MY Tilly can't go outside with out parental supervision and a leash, right Nomi ?

Nate

[Soledad]

but I feel really sorry for cats on leashes. It just doesn't feel right. They always look so humiliated.