I speak with so many people who would like to have their pet spayed or neutered, but local prices at private vet have become cost prohibitive. An elderly friend on fixed income wants to spay a cat she took in from the street…$450. While some communities have low cost spay/neuter clinics, ours does not. My opinion is that this is such an important link to reducing the misery from uncontrolled reproduction, a free or low cost S/N clinic could be a great public service to have available for all.
I think this is fantastic! I knew about the fixing prisons side of this, but the animal program is such a cool one. I think the biggest issue we have is 1) we've gotten used to doing what's easy versus what's right, because its hard, 2) Dogs(and people) shouldn't be treated as something to throw away because their scary, insignificant, or a burden, but rather to invest and care for them as we would ourselves...but I'm sure this is pretty obvious. We just won't fess up to it.
Zackary, your point #1 is so true for literally every part of life. It's the same reason half of America is obese...because garbage food is "easy." Humans have become so complacent and if we're not taking care of ourselves why would we exert energy to take care of animals?
I'm very lucky....out of a sort of inferiority complex, I got into physical training and nutrition when I was a teenager. I've been adapted to it for a long time. I don't know what it's like to be overweight, let alone obese. But that doesn't dismiss the fact the very point you're making...and bad nutrition/sedentary lifestyle/dopaminergic exhaustion just bleed over into a lack of everything else.
One would venture to guess that some of the abuses suffered by the Dutch in WW II may have made them more socially conscious than other nations. Their social consciousness was also a central factor in their survival as a people.
Love that the Netherlands has a party for animals! I suppose PETA could have become that but it has somehow failed. I am not informed enough to suggest a reason but it is certainly an ethical stand to have a party speaking for the animals!
Yes well it’s clear how they deal with stray dog issues. #2 is heinous. Neuter, spay and vaccinate??? The ill health that results from these 3 practices alone will cause the suffering and cruel death of the entire dog population within 10-12 years. Hooray Netherlands! NOT!!!
Any method to save the lives of our dogs and kittens is worth the try. It’s difficult for me to understand how we as humans can be so desensitized and look past what’s not right. My heart aches for all the precious animals—they only ask for love and care! Lovingkindess spread the word.
Another country I find fascinating is Norway, which has made it illegal to spay or neuter a dog. And yet, they don't have a stray dog problem (or so I've heard). From what I've read, it comes down to what you and some of the other commenters are noting - dog owners taking responsibility for their pets in ways that prevent unwanted litters, and the government responding quickly and consistently to the people who fail to take that responsibility.
Because the cat populations continue to grow. None of them seem to become less. There continue to be scores of kittens born that need to be rescued and whatever. Too many for people to adopt & take care of, so they stay on the street.
Where I live in Kansas, kittens and cats and even small dogs are eaten by coyotes, so there’s that.
That happens a lot here as well. Hell, the other day I saw a bobcat the size of my dog wandering down the back alley! I can only imagine it grabbed at least a few rabbits on it’s walk, if not other small animals.
Having spent a couple years in The Netherlands I have to say that they are face the issue straight on folks, and there are many other efficiencies that other countries, could benefit from.
Nice. I wonder if they have a law on neutering. Too many pregnant strays. Also, here in the US, people were so bored during covid lockdowns they adopted pets only to later give them up as they didn't realize these creatures needed love and vet attention.
Same thing happened here after the pandemic. It was alarming how many 2-year-old dogs turned back up at shelters in 2022...when people started going back to work.
Common sense supported by operational implementation of a comprehensive approach but underlying and fueling this is respect for life and dignity - of all living beings. Compare this to the draconian law just passed in Turkey to round up the poor stray dogs — horribly looming in their future is euthanasia if not adopted.
The problem needs to be cut off at the root and round them up for spay and neuter projects so they CAN'T reproduce....first. That automatically controls the population going forward. And then we could look at adoption. It just seems common sense doesn't exist in their heads.
Us country property owners are used to having unwanted pets released to wander up to our property. Whenever someone doesn’t want a cat or dog, it seems like they just drive out to the countryside and dump it.
So with that, the problem seems to be of not having taught individuals to be responsible. How can we teach people to stop being so selfish? To own up to whatever responsibilities they take on? That’s the root cause of some poor kitty or puppy wandering up to my doorstep because some loser dumped it. The solution can’t be a government mandated fix-and-return unless we start registering every pet owned and muscle our way into every home to take a pet census, handing out dog passports.
Wow, I didn't know you regularly have strays landing on your doorstep. That's awful. What do you typically do with them?
I think people just need to grab a brain and either NOT get a pet in the first place or yes...get educated on how to drop it off at a proper shelter so it isn't in danger. I don't know how on earth a human can think it's better to abandon a dog than to drop it at a shelter or rescue agency. People can be so stupid and insensitive.
I speak with so many people who would like to have their pet spayed or neutered, but local prices at private vet have become cost prohibitive. An elderly friend on fixed income wants to spay a cat she took in from the street…$450. While some communities have low cost spay/neuter clinics, ours does not. My opinion is that this is such an important link to reducing the misery from uncontrolled reproduction, a free or low cost S/N clinic could be a great public service to have available for all.
I absolutely agree with you! I guess the bigger issue is finding vets willing to donate their time and resources to do low cost clinics.
I think this is fantastic! I knew about the fixing prisons side of this, but the animal program is such a cool one. I think the biggest issue we have is 1) we've gotten used to doing what's easy versus what's right, because its hard, 2) Dogs(and people) shouldn't be treated as something to throw away because their scary, insignificant, or a burden, but rather to invest and care for them as we would ourselves...but I'm sure this is pretty obvious. We just won't fess up to it.
Zackary, your point #1 is so true for literally every part of life. It's the same reason half of America is obese...because garbage food is "easy." Humans have become so complacent and if we're not taking care of ourselves why would we exert energy to take care of animals?
I'm very lucky....out of a sort of inferiority complex, I got into physical training and nutrition when I was a teenager. I've been adapted to it for a long time. I don't know what it's like to be overweight, let alone obese. But that doesn't dismiss the fact the very point you're making...and bad nutrition/sedentary lifestyle/dopaminergic exhaustion just bleed over into a lack of everything else.
One would venture to guess that some of the abuses suffered by the Dutch in WW II may have made them more socially conscious than other nations. Their social consciousness was also a central factor in their survival as a people.
Love that the Netherlands has a party for animals! I suppose PETA could have become that but it has somehow failed. I am not informed enough to suggest a reason but it is certainly an ethical stand to have a party speaking for the animals!
I love it too! I wish we had one!
Great!
Yes well it’s clear how they deal with stray dog issues. #2 is heinous. Neuter, spay and vaccinate??? The ill health that results from these 3 practices alone will cause the suffering and cruel death of the entire dog population within 10-12 years. Hooray Netherlands! NOT!!!
Every internet post needs an unpopular OPINION. Thanks for leaving yours here!
I think it’s wonderful!! Our critters are all
CA kill shelter rescues….
Amazing. Your critters thank you for it 😊
Any method to save the lives of our dogs and kittens is worth the try. It’s difficult for me to understand how we as humans can be so desensitized and look past what’s not right. My heart aches for all the precious animals—they only ask for love and care! Lovingkindess spread the word.
It's a sad truth about everything in life. How often have you walked past a homeless person and not given it a second thought?
(Not YOU specifically, but we as a community)
Another country I find fascinating is Norway, which has made it illegal to spay or neuter a dog. And yet, they don't have a stray dog problem (or so I've heard). From what I've read, it comes down to what you and some of the other commenters are noting - dog owners taking responsibility for their pets in ways that prevent unwanted litters, and the government responding quickly and consistently to the people who fail to take that responsibility.
Wow….illegal, hey? That’s a ballsy move but if it works it just means their people are more responsible than ours. That’s so interesting to learn!
What an interesting and inspiring article! Thank you. ✨
But “Trap, Neuter, Release” doesn’t work for stray cats. How does it work for dogs?
I don't know what you mean. How does neutering not work?
Because the cat populations continue to grow. None of them seem to become less. There continue to be scores of kittens born that need to be rescued and whatever. Too many for people to adopt & take care of, so they stay on the street.
Where I live in Kansas, kittens and cats and even small dogs are eaten by coyotes, so there’s that.
That happens a lot here as well. Hell, the other day I saw a bobcat the size of my dog wandering down the back alley! I can only imagine it grabbed at least a few rabbits on it’s walk, if not other small animals.
Having spent a couple years in The Netherlands I have to say that they are face the issue straight on folks, and there are many other efficiencies that other countries, could benefit from.
I have heard this time and time again about the Netherlands. Sounds like such a dream the way they conduct themselves.
True Story - over and over again!
Nice. I wonder if they have a law on neutering. Too many pregnant strays. Also, here in the US, people were so bored during covid lockdowns they adopted pets only to later give them up as they didn't realize these creatures needed love and vet attention.
Same thing happened here after the pandemic. It was alarming how many 2-year-old dogs turned back up at shelters in 2022...when people started going back to work.
Common sense supported by operational implementation of a comprehensive approach but underlying and fueling this is respect for life and dignity - of all living beings. Compare this to the draconian law just passed in Turkey to round up the poor stray dogs — horribly looming in their future is euthanasia if not adopted.
The problem needs to be cut off at the root and round them up for spay and neuter projects so they CAN'T reproduce....first. That automatically controls the population going forward. And then we could look at adoption. It just seems common sense doesn't exist in their heads.
And lack of compassion for the suffering they are causing😿
Us country property owners are used to having unwanted pets released to wander up to our property. Whenever someone doesn’t want a cat or dog, it seems like they just drive out to the countryside and dump it.
So with that, the problem seems to be of not having taught individuals to be responsible. How can we teach people to stop being so selfish? To own up to whatever responsibilities they take on? That’s the root cause of some poor kitty or puppy wandering up to my doorstep because some loser dumped it. The solution can’t be a government mandated fix-and-return unless we start registering every pet owned and muscle our way into every home to take a pet census, handing out dog passports.
Wow, I didn't know you regularly have strays landing on your doorstep. That's awful. What do you typically do with them?
I think people just need to grab a brain and either NOT get a pet in the first place or yes...get educated on how to drop it off at a proper shelter so it isn't in danger. I don't know how on earth a human can think it's better to abandon a dog than to drop it at a shelter or rescue agency. People can be so stupid and insensitive.
Lately, we have usually just gotten cats in, we live trapped them and then take them to a friend’s place in town, where she fosters them.
I'm glad somebody is doing this. Sorry it has to be you and even sorrier that it's happening in the first place.
There are still some people in the world who actually care about making it a better place.
I think MANY of us do but don't know where to start or how!
Exactly !