Animal Abuse is Never OK

There has been a lot of news about Dayna Bell Kennels lately. Many remember that Dayna was a dog groomer and lived here in Rosemount for years. In fact Dayna was my next door neighbor. Dayna has been accused of drowning puppies and other horrible abuse allegations. As an ardent animal lover I was horrified to read the things she is accused of. I am really hoping these things are not true for the sake of the animals and for Dayna Bell.

There is no excuse for ever killing an animal in any fashion other than taking the animal to the vet and having it humanely euthanized. I realize that many people in this economy don't have extra money lying around but we as pet owners made a commitment to our pets to care for them until the day they die. They are not sofas or cars that we discard to just get a new one later. Moving is not a decent excuse for giving up an animal. Take your animal with you.

If you don't have money for pet food then go to a food bank in town run out of a garage on 147th St W. With food and supplies for pets. Go to a store or a vet and ask for what you need. There are even multiple sights that offer grants for vet care to people in need including the ASPCA or the Humane Society.

It is much easier for a rescue to help an animal in need than to take the animal in and help it then put it in a foster home while they look for a new home for the animal. This does not mean you can always get free vet care but if you are truly in need and someone can help they will. It may mean quite a few phone calls but well worth it. Dayna Bell is accused of drowning dogs instead of taking them to the vet and having them put to sleep properly. The vet is the ONLY humane way for an animal to be euthanized.

Shooting or drowning an animal is not humane not is it legal. You can go to jail for putting down an animal of any type by yourself. I have never in my life met a vet who could watch an animal suffer and not help. But today asking a vet to put down an animal just because you no longer want it may not get the response you are looking for. Vets are much less likely to euthanize healthy and adoptable animals.

This means you need to find a rescue or humane society to take the animal you no longer want to keep. Most humane societies such as those in the twin cities take in millions of dollars in donations and grants every year and have the resources to help people.

The public should demand that they use those funds to help animals find homes or rescues. They also have vets they work with every day and offer low cost vet care to those in need. I can tell you after seeing thousands of animals that there is never a reason to hurt an animal, (unless your a vet caring for the animal.) Dogs and cats do not behave better by hitting them and often then display other behavior problems resulting from being hit.

If a person will hurt an animal they can cause irreversible harm and long term fear problems for the animal. ANY person who hurts an animal hurts them because they have a problem that includes a lack of animal education, not because the animal has a problem. In twenty years I have never seen an animal that only responds to being hurt. Animals can be trained and I believe people can be educated.