Skinny Ted

Ted was listed as a "cruelty impound", which means he was removed from his owner due to the poor treatment he received there. He went up for rescue at the county pound almost two weeks ago. He was too skinny and sick to go up for adoption. He has been on medication for over a week, but has not gained weight and still doesn't feel well. I'm worried he may have tick fever, or maybe valley fever. We'll be bringing him back to the vet soon.

What infuriates me about poor Ted is that the county pound neutered him before putting him up for rescue. They have recently begun "pre-altering" not just healthy, adoptable dogs but even the sick ones that are unadoptable. One of the primary reasons the county pound partnered with rescue groups originally was to give the unadoptable animals a safe place to recover BEFORE they underwent major surgery for sterilization. No ethical veterinarian would consider putting a sick, emaciated animal through elective surgery. Rescue groups provided the animal's foster home for the county, until the animal was healthy enough to undergo surgery. Once the animal was sterilized, it became the property of the rescue group. A few careless rescuers have neglected to keep good records and/or ensure that all of their county rescue animals have been altered before going to permanent homes, and as a result, the county has made this decision to "pre-alter" even the sick rescue animals. It's wrong to make animals suffer because of the failures of a few irresponsible people. Controlling pet overpopulation is extremely important, but not important enough to justify such inhumanity.

Just because an animal is on the rescue list does not mean that a rescue will be able to take it. Some of these animals will undergo sterlization surgery while sick, and then a day or two later, be put to death. It turns my stomach. I am dedicated to getting this horrible practice abolished.