This past Friday, July 17th, a woman wrote a post in a Facebook group about an emergency situation regarding her dog who was lying on her side unable to get to her feet. The dog’s abdomen was distended and this pit bull terrier was crying. She asked for help. It was late at night reaching the midnight hour. People gave her information relating to two emergency situations- bloat and pyometra- that could possibly be the cause of her dog’s health crisis.
‘ Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is also known as “bloat,” “stomach torsion,” or “twisted stomach.” Bloat is an extremely serious condition, and should be considered a life-threatening emergency when it occurs. There are no home remedies for bloat, therefore dog owners must contact their veterinarians immediately if they suspect that their dog has bloat. Dogs can die of bloat within several hours. Even with treatment, as many as 25-33% of dogs with GDV die.”
Pyomtera is the abnormal thickening (pyometra) of the uters’ lining and can occur in dogs at any age, although it is more common in dogs that are six years of age or older. Prognosis is often positive for both conditions; however, if the dog’s cervix is closed, it can be a life threatening condition requiring immediate medical attention.
Intact older female dogs that have never given birth are at a higher risk of developing pyometra or cystic endometrial hyperplasia.
The anxious woman needed an emergency animal hospital who would accept payments since she didn’t have the ready cash that late Friday night. Many phone calls later she knew none would accept payments.
Someone stepped in and paid for her dog to be seen at an animal ER. Her dog, Halo, was diagnosed with pymoetra. It was an emergency situation that required immediate surgery and payment of $2300. This woman and her husband did not have the funds to pay for the operation.
Sadly, this couple was left with no choice but to have Halo humanely euthanized.
A number of people on the original post asked this woman if Halo was spayed. She was not. Instead of attempting to help the dog, several people took it upon themselves to lecture, bash and attack the woman while she was seeking help for her dying dog.
After it was known that Halo was no longer alive, people still commented how this was the woman’s fault.
Instead of reaching out to her and her family which included her children who were close to Halo, I feel a number of these “animal people” demonized this woman for not spaying her dog.
I wrote on that post (which has subsequently been removed) that this was not the time and place to bash someone who was forced to euthanize a family member.
Oh, but it was the right time, I was told! It was about creating awareness about the disease that took Halo’s life.
I’m all for creating awareness but not at the expense of bashing and attacking others in the process.
Yesterday, someone wrote something similar to what I had written. She was astonished at the lack of compassion by some of the commenters aka “animal advocates.”
This started the attacks to begin again. This time I took a very strong stand against those who would dare to bash someone who was sincerely seeking help for her dying and now deceased dog.
I told them that I found their behavior to be reprehensible and lacked compassion for a fellow human-being. I told them to start another post creating awareness but do NOT bash/attack anyone in the process!!!
I also stated that I hoped they never find themselves in the same predicament when any of their pets are dying and they are being villified by others by what they did or didn’t do to help their pets.
Lastly, I told them people come to me and call “animal rights” people whack jobs and they did NOTHING to dissuade this to anyone with their unrelenting behavior toward this woman.
If we, as animal activists, want to make changes, we must act as leaders who know how to LISTEN to others. Clearly, this wasn’t the case here.
Then again, I can’t begin to tell you how vicious and cruel so-called animal advocates have become on social media. I understand the anger they have when they see the photos or videos of animals being hurt, tortured or killed. I get it!
However, people are becoming cruel to the person who wrote a comment to which they didn’t agree. Activists wish people dead. Yes, you read that correctly.
I am so ashamed how some advocates handle themselves via social media. It’s not a pretty picture and it’s only getting worse.
If we don’t change the direction of the dialogue, we will continue to lose ground to educate others about important animal issues. These people are acting like children and need to grow up.
Meanwhile, I have offered my sympathies to this woman which is what I suggested the others should do.
RIP Halo. I’m so sorry you weren’t able to be helped.
Are you saying I shouldn’t get mad at what I read on fb? I do get angry and I do tell people off for abusing animals. I can’t stand idly by and keep my mouth shut when I read such garbage. I’m outspoken and don’t plan to temper my attitude. Do you want me to keep quiet when I read about someone doing something wrong toward animals?
No, I’m not saying you shouldn’t speak up. My article is about those who bashed a woman while her dog was extremely ill and eventually had to be humanely euthanized with no ounce of compassion from other commenters. There is a time and place to speak up. This post on Facebook was not the right time or place to attack someone while dealing with an emergency situation. For it to continue after the dog was deceased and while the family was grieving is reprehensible and shows a total lack of compassion.
We do need to speak up but we must also be diplomatic about it if we are to create awareness of important issues. Having said that, I also understand why you would and do get angry. I’m not against speaking up against animal abuse, etc. I don’t think stooping to a level of name-calling or bashing is effective for change.
Thank you for your comments
It’s disturbing the viciousness, as you say, that people are communicating to each other on social media. It makes them look like crazies. It hurts to say that because I love animals. I know a lot of people who work so hard to help animals. Those who choose to behave in a less than stellar fashion only make themselves look like fools. these fools also represent some animals looking for homes. There are also so many good people who help animals and hopefully they outnumber the bad ones.
I agree wholeheartedly. It is such a turn off to read how disrespectful people write. I belong to a number of animal groups on facebook. Every day I read rude comments to one another. How does this help the cause? It doesn’t. Their comments make them look less credible and not more. This also goes for a few rescues who don’t handle the public very well either. It is ultimately hurting the animals and their integrity or should I say lack of integrity.
Some of them are good while others create more unnecessary problems for themselves and animals. I wanted to adopt but reading what they write, I refuse to deal with them. Telling me they can take back my pet if they see fit will never sit well with me. Who the blank do they think they are? Some are hoarders or lack the credentials to be telling anyone this.
While I respect those who help animals, I get sick of their holier than thou attitudes on facebook. No one is good enough to adopt dogs or cats from rescues. They get them from shelters but we’re not good enough. Some are just plain nuts!
I won’ t deal with them people. Too wacky. I dropped out of most animal groups on fb.
Good luck with that.