We cannot imagine how any human being could let a dog – or any animal for that matter – get to the state of being a walking skeleton.
But it happened on Grand Cayman recently.
A 14-year-old male dog was found in Spotts weighing half of his normal body weight, covered with parasites, sores and slowly dying with heartworm.
He was one of five dogs – three puppies and a female dog – found in the same area in similar condition, except two of the puppies were dead.
There are laws in the Cayman Islands that make animal abuse and neglect illegal.
But until someone comes forward to identify these animals and their previous owners, nothing will be done to the humans who allowed these animals to get into this state.
Did these owners just get tired of the dogs?
From the looks of them they had suffered from the hand of neglect for a long time.
Animal abuse and neglect is still all too common in the Cayman Islands.
And a link has been established between those who abuse animals and human abuse.
Some of America’s best-known killers abused animals, including Patrick Sherrill, who killed 14 co-workers at an Oklahoma post office before killing himself; Carroll Edward Cole, accused of 35 murders and executed for five of them; mass murderer and cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer; school killers Kip Kinkel of Oregon and Luke Woodham of Mississippi; Columbine High School killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold – all reportedly abused animals before preying on humans.
Do all animal abusers turn on human targets? No, but many torment humans in other ways.
A New Jersey study found that animal abuse occurred in 88 per cent of families referred for child abuse treatment. Another study found that 57 per cent of battered women said their pets also had been harmed or killed.
Childhood animal abuse now is widely accepted among treatment professionals as an accurate predictor of later adult psychological disturbances.
Those who cannot keep animals for whatever reason should not even attempt it.
Pets require much love and attention. If you can’t give it, don’t get one.
Pet owners and their neighbours need to become aware of the signs of animal abuse and neglect.
Those who have adult cats and dogs should make sure they are spayed and neutered.
There are still too many unwanted animals roaming Grand Cayman and the Humane Society is already overflowing with abandoned animals.
The Humane Society offers financial assistance with spaying and neutering and also offers educational classes.
Animal abuse and neglect must cease in the Cayman Islands.
BREAKOUT
Pets require much love and attention. If you can’t give it, don’t get one.
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