Animal abusers come in all shapes and sizes. It has been proven that many killers started off maiming or killing animals as young kids. I feel kids are getting younger and younger when it comes to what trouble they can get themselves into. Why do they do it? Is it the parent’s fault for trying to be the child’s friend- big mistake – or do these kids succumb to peer pressure? Whatever the reason, we need to do something.
A woman I know “Mary” (not her real name) had told me awhile ago about her dog, “Minnie” (also, not her real name), a small breed of dog that Mary and her husband simply love and adore. Little Minnie has suffered through a health problem, almost got hit twice by cars and is so scared to death by thunderstorms that her veterinarian has prescribed medicine to help calm her prior to a storm.
Last fall, Mary and her husband left for a camping trip. Minnie stayed at home with family members always there for her. Minnie was in her own home and was sitting on a chair by a small front window with a screen in it that was partially open. This was an activity Minnie enjoyed – to watch the outside world. That was until that fateful day.
Mary’s son stopped by at lunch to let Minnie outside and thought she was depressed because she seemed withdrawn. He also noticed how Minnie walked into the back door upon leaving her out. He didn’t think anything of it because Minnie exhibited no other symptoms or signs. She wasn’t crying, yelping out in pain…..nothing!
Sadly, something bad did happen to Minnie. She began to have problems with her eyes. Mary and her husband took her to the veterinarinan. Upon examination, the vet discovered Minnie had been sprayed in the eyes with a substance that has not been identified to this day. There was a police report and they have ruled out mace and pepper spray. Upon visual examination of the front window, a substance was discovered but not identified around the outside of the window.
It has been reported that teenagers came up on Mary’s porch, on her private property, and sprayed a substance directly into Minnie’s eyes. This innocent dog secured safely in her own home was the victim of a heinous cruel act by pieces of crap. Excuse my language, but I have had it with people abusing animals for the sheer pleasure of it. And now this poor dog has had to endure visits to the veterinarian on a regular basis because she lost her vision.
Minnie has regained partial eyesight in her left eye. She is able to see shadows. At least Mary has some comfort with that news. Unfortunately her right eye is not responding to any treatment. Drops are placed in her eyes every day. The drops in her right eye are to help to keep the pressure down. The vet doesn’t know how long this will work. The pressure has been building up in the right eye. Minnie is being watched every month for signs of too much pressure in that eye. Subsequently, if there is too much pressure, she will lose her eye.
I know how much Mary loves Minnie and I know the pain she is going through. Mary is relieved for the moment that Minnie’s eye will remain. If the eye can stay in intact remains to be seen.
Minnie’s has been so resilient through all of this. She is still happy. However, she refuses to sit in that chair by the window. Mary has tried to help to get over her fear but Minnie won’t budge. No one was there when it happened. Only Minnie knows the horrific act of animal cruelty that was perpetrated upon her that fateful day.
What would possess anyone to spray a substance in a dog’s eyes who was in her own home, relaxing and enthralled in an activity she so enjoyed, is so far beyond my comprehension. I can’t imagine what Mary is feeling; although I have a strong sense what I would feel if someone did this to my dogs.
I don’t want to say what I would want to do to these idiots. By the way, I’m being kind when I say that. These teenagers have never been found and must feel so happy to blind a dog! I do believe in karma. What goes around comes around.
Bottomline- how do we stop these punks from harming animals? What is the next step for them? Harming people, if they haven’t already? How can we stop them? Whose responsibility is it? Are the parents to lax in punishment or are they afraid to punish since kids will now call children services on their own parents and claim abuse?
What is the answer? What would you do if this happened to your dog?
This makes my blood boil to have an innocent dog in her own home not doing any harm to anyone and now is blind and may lose her eye because of these punks. If anyone ever attemped to hurt my dogs……….