Foreclosures Lead to Abandoned Animals

That subject line above comes from an AP report today. I shouldn't have read it because it was so upsetting, but I did. And now I feel compelled the misery with you, my loyal reader(s). I wish to point out how scummy humankind is. Though against the death penalty, I will make exceptions for anyone leaving a domesticated animal to die alone.

This article is contraindicated for those who have a strong sense of empathy.

What's in brown is excerpted from the article. What's in regular colour has been added by me.

The house was ravaged - its floors ripped, walls busted, and lights smashed by owners who trashed their home before a bank foreclosed on it. Hidden in the wreckage was an abandoned member of the family: a starving pit bull. The dog found by workers was too far gone to save. Pets "are getting dumped all over," said Traci Jennings, president of the Humane Society of Stanislaus County. "Farmers are finding dogs dumped on their grazing grounds, while house cats are showing up in wild cat colonies."

In one such colony in Modesto, two obviously tame cats watched alone from a distance as a group of feral cats devoured a pile of dry food Jennings offered. "These are obviously abandoned cats," Jennings said. "They're not afraid of people, and they stay away from the feral cats because they're ostracized by them." The abandoned pets are overwhelming animal shelters, drawing fury as photos of emaciated animals circulate on the Internet.

The first people to enter an abandoned house have discovered dogs tied to trees in backyards, cats in garages, and turtles, rabbits, and lizards in children's bedrooms. What kind of person does this? You love an animal and then abandon it. Better to abandon your teenager who can fend for him/herself than a poor little critter. Absolute scum these people are. Savages who deserve to be put down in a cruel, inhumane way.

The situation has become so widespread that the Humane Society urged home owners faced with foreclosure to take their animals to a shelter. The San Joaquin Animal Shelter is fielding more desperate calls from animal owners about to be evicted. Many call as a last resort after being turned down by various rescue groups with no room for more animals. "They're usually breaking down on the phone," said Kathy Potter, a shelter dispatcher. "I'm quite direct with them that there's a 50-50 chance the animals might be put down."

Great, I mean you were stupid enough to buy a house that was $500,000 and think the payments are $500 a month forever and the rate won't change. And now you're going to kill a creature that loved you because of your stupidty. Most people losing their homes in this fiasco are doing so because they're idiots. My sympathy level is low for them because they forgot the simple saying: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Who's suffering? The critter. Don't say the homeowner because most of them deserve what they're getting.

Some critics say the pet owners have already proved they are irresponsible by buying houses they could not afford or mortgages they did not bother to understand. "They see a pet as property, no different than a worn sofa tossed into the alley when the springs pop," says a posting about foreclosure pets. Yep. That sums it up nicely.

"Their best shot is for the owners to plan ahead some," Jennings said. "But they didn't plan when they bought their house. I don't see that happening anytime soon." Right. In short, it's still their fault for being idiots. Suffer eternal damnation you assholes.

The cutest polar bear cub in the universe, Knut

The cutest polar bear cub in the universe, Knut, is sick today, but more on that after I share his story. First here's a short 1 minute flash video on the Berlin Zoo's website (english). What's shocking is that animal rights activists wanted him killed. Even star photographer Annie Leibovitz has photographed this adorable baby bear. But, as I said, not everyone loves the cute little polar bear.

Animal rights activists want him put to sleep because he has been raised on a bottle. "Raising him by hand is not appropriate to the species but rather a blatant violation of animal welfare laws," animal rights activist Frank Albrecht told the German mass circulation newspaper Bild. The idea isn't as outlandish as it may at first seem. Baby zoo animals have been killed for the same reason in the past. When it comes to Knut, it is likely that clearer heads will prevail. Wolfgang Apel, head of the German Animal Protection League, called for Knut to be saved. "Making bears into humans has to stop as soon as possible, but we cannot put him to sleep. He has a right to live."

The zoo reports that adorable little Knut is starting to become a bit of a handful as he gets bigger -- suggesting that the bear is maybe not as human as people fear. "The many bruises that his keeper has show that Knut has discovered he is a bear," said Heiner Klös, the zoo's manager. Keeper Thomas Dörflein has raised Knut, on a bottle since the cub was rejected by his mother at birth.

The Berlin zoo on Monday said Knut, the cuddly polar bear cub that has become a media superstar, had fallen ill and was being treated with antibiotics, and as a result, the four-month-old bear's first public appearance of the day was cut short because he was not feeling well. Klös said the ailment was not serious, adding that Knut had taken a nap after the drugs were administered.

You may also view Knut's photo gallery. Here's a Reuter's video of Knut. I'd kidnap him and take him home, but Florida's too hot for a bear and Scooter would probably object anyway. Lastly, Knut has a blog in German but you'll be able to figure it out, so surf over anyway.