I work for the Vancouver SPCA. As a receptionist I get to hear a lot of stories, and see a lot of awful things right before my very eyes...

If it's not the unneutered male cat with the huge, gaping abscess on his neck from fighting...

It's the 8 week old kitten with a broken leg who's owner threw her against the wall for scratching a poster...

Or it's the puppy with Parvo virus because his owners never bothered to get his puppy shots until it is too late..

Then there are the folks who don't want to spare the expense of having thier pets spayed or neutered because it's too much money ($45 at our shelter's hospital) or it's "mean and against nature" then who dump the cat and her newly born litter of kittens off at the shelter because the "%$##%!@" thing got knocked up again.

If anyone is tempted to buy that little puppy or that fuzzy kitten from a store or a friend.. please ask yourself these questions?

• Do I have enough money to pay for all the care that this animal needs?

• Will I be able to afford a medical bill if this pet does become sick?

• Will I be responsible enough to choose homes that allow pets rather than just bringing one home and finding out then?

• Will my pet have proper ID (tattoo, microchip) so that it can be traced back to me if it does get lost?

• Will I still love it even when it's no longer small and sweet, and it has just finished devouring my $150 pair of Nikes, or shredding my new furniture.

• Will I have the patience to train it NOT to do these things, or will I just dump it off at the shelter and hope someone else will?

• Am I ready to be responsible for a little life that, God willing, should live up to 20 years?

• Will I research the breed I am interested to find out if it:
  a> fits in my lifestyle
  b> will adapt to children if I should have them
  c> needs excessive exercise, obedience training, attention.

• Should I find out if there is a chance that I may have allergies BEFORE I take an animal home.

• Will I have my pet spayed/neutered to prevent them from overbreeding, and thier babies to wind up in a shelter, or on the streets?

A pet isn't something that can be brought out when you feel like it to show off to friends, or compliment your decor. They are living, breathing creatures who depend on us to give them a safe, secure home and the right to a healthy, happy life..

email me at jusan@intergate.bc.ca!