|
| |
 |
Who will save the Pound Dog?
The Pound Dog is on DEATH ROW in one of the council pounds. He was thoughtlessly given as a Christmas present to a child who didn't want him. The child's mother and father couldn't be bothered feeding him properly and nobody really loved him, even though he was a friendly, happy little dog.
One day, he escaped from his terrible 'home' and ran down the road, looking for a FOREVER HOME. He searched all day. But by nightfall, the home he was so desperately looking for hadn't been found. He was now very hungry and thirsty and it was growing cold.
In the terrible 'home' he had just escaped from, he'd only had a cold floor and an old rug to sleep on. But now, there was no shelter at all. He cried all night because he was hungry and cold, but there was no one to help him.
Next day, he ran further and further away from his 'home', until he could not take another step. His little paws were bleeding and he was faint from hunger. Then a car with a wire cage pulled up and out jumped a man who grabbed him by the collar and put him in the back. He was a dog-catcher.
When they arrived at the pound, the tired little dog was taken to a cage and locked up. He was given food and water and the pound people placed a number on his cage. The pound dog was happy to eat and drink, but then he started wondering what was going to happen to him? What was this place?
As the days went by, he saw that some of the other dogs' human families came and took them home. But no one came for him. Then he noticed that other dogs were being taken out of the cage by the pound people and they never came back. Others became sick with a dangerous disease called Parvo, these too never returned. He knew that these dogs were very frightened of something, but he didn't know quite what.
Then, nearly a week later, another person came up to his cage. She had a gentle voice and leant down and hugged him and told him he was wonderful little pup. She then took his photo.
The person who spoke to him was from a RESCUE SHELTER.
The little Pound Dog could not really know that he was on DEATH ROW in a council pound, and that his time was running out. The person who took his photo and those of other little puppies and dogs went home that day and put his photo up on a webpage. The title on his photo read: URGENT: Small black & tan cross breed. Due tomorrow at the Pound.
Many people looked at his photo and understood that he was due to be killed in the morning, as no one had offered him a FOREVER HOME.
The people who read the notice felt upset, yet the rescue shelters were full of little dogs just like him and it seemed no one could offer him either a FOREVER HOME or even a FOSTER HOME.
On Sunday night, he was given his last meal. But he couldn't eat it. There was something in the pit of his tiny tummy. As the night progressed, the fear grew, but he didn't know why. It was just that he was a dog, and could feel and sense things that people couldn't.
As the little Pound Dog shivered in his cage, there was activity on the Dog Rescue site. A person who lived far away from where the Pound Dog was being held, emailed someone in another part of Australia. The messages were brief and urgent. There must be help somewhere for the little Pound Dog.
Next day the sun rose and the cold light lit the cages, where the little Pound Dog sat in the corner, shaking.Then the Pound people came in and someone opened his cage. A person picked him up with some comforting words, then carried him towards the door from where no dogs ever returned. He was being taken to a vet. clinic to be killed.
When he arrived at the clinic with several other dogs, he was put into a room to await his 'turn'.
From here - one of two things can happen:
To the rescue
Just then the door opened. Someone said, 'Oh! He is still here. That one's been rescued. One of the RESCUE SHELTERS rang earlier. Didn't you get the message?'
It was all a blur from then on. Some one took him out of pre-euthanasia room, back along the corridor and to another room where a RESCUE person was waiting for him. The RESCUE person had also saved several other dogs that day, but the Pound Dog felt a sudden shudder as he thought of the ones that hadn't been saved.
Then he was in the back of the RESCUE car, driving along the freeway. The RESCUE person said to him, 'You are a lucky little dog! People from all across Australia have been arranging your rescue. You're going to stay a night in my RESCUE SHELTER and then, a very kind person has offered you a FOSTER HOME. You can stay there, safe and happy, until you find a FOREVER HOME.'
The Pound Dog yelped in delight, wagging his tail. From the back seat, he tried to lick the face of his rescuer, for soon he would have a forever home, and become a Freedom dog.
But all too often, it is the second option that takes place.
The deep green sleep
The phone call never comes.
Can you help the Pound Dog?
You can help by not buying dogs on impulse, by recognizing that dogs are part of your family and not toys to be just thrown away.
You can also help the rescue shelters with donations of dog food and money or by fostering a pound dog. Talk to your friends, family and teachers. Discuss how you can help prevent these dogs from being killed.
|
|
 |
Teachers, after reading the Pound Dog story to the age group you consider it most suited, please go on to discuss the follow issues with them:
In Australia, about 200,000 dogs are "euthanized" EACH year.
* Why are so many pound dogs "euthanized" each year?
* Should dogs be given as presents? Many of the pounds receive their largest numbers of dogs after Christmas. Discuss.
* Should just anyone be allowed to breed dogs? If not, why?
* Should a licensing system be put into place to prevent back-yard breeding?
* Should retail outlets be banned from selling dogs? If so, why?
* Should it be compulsory to de-sex all dogs except those owned by licenced breeders?
* Should it be compulsory for all dogs to be vaccinated against contagious diseases such as Parvo?
* Should potential owners be assessed and licensed to own pets by councils? (Many shelters will not release animals until the intending owners are assessed for suitability).
* Euthanasia (from the Greek meaning "good death") refers to the practice of killing to alleviate pain and suffering. Discuss: Is this word accurate when it applies to the killing of sound, health dogs?
* Many people in the community are deeply distressed to learn that their council rates are being used to "euthanize" dogs. What about their rights?
* Australians claim to love dogs and consider Australia a compassionate society. Discuss.
* Find the names of all Rescue Shelters in your area.
* Discuss how you can help the Rescue Shelters |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
