Weekly Story: During the Coronavirus Outbreak Tons of Animals Are Forced to the Streets

Puppies left abandoned on streets in Wuhan, China

Most people are aware that the coronavirus outbreak is a fast-moving virus with growing numbers by the hour. Over 8,700 people are infected and over 160 are dead in the U.S alone. While we are stocking up on toilet paper and canned food, we don’t realize that there are other lives at stake.

All over China, there are pet lovers. With the largest dog and cat population of 188 million, they have more pets than the U.S does. Like any other city home to animals, there are abandoned cats and dogs roaming the streets. While this issue usually is partly under control in China, since the outbreak, it’s not been the same.

With so many people in China with pets, when an owner falls sick from coronavirus, they go into quarantine with no choice but to leave their pets behind. This creates a massive problem for volunteers because while abandoned animals before the outbreak were hard to control and feed, adding more animals to the situation leaves many starving to death. Overall, by adopting or fostering, you can give these animals a second chance. If unable to foster or adopt, you can donate money to provide these animals food and shelter, which can be critical to the line of life and death. Remember to always look into adopting before going to a breeder. You’ll always have a good feeling knowingly you saved a life. If there were fewer breeders in the world, we wouldn’t have a pet overpopulation, which is a big part of this problem. Don’t get a dog if you aren’t ready, because we can’t afford to have more pets ending up on the streets. I will soon be making a quiz to see if you are ready for a pet.

Adopt a Pet, don’t Shop for One

 Adopt Don’t Shop

 

           Each year 2.7 million innocent cats and dogs are euthanized, simply, because too little people consider adoption rather than buying from a breeder. Shelters are constantly facing overcrowding because too many pets are being abandoned and found in terrible conditions roaming the streets. It is crucial that you get a shelter pet rather than a breeded pet.

In the first place, you aren’t just saving one, but two animals when you adopt. One pet freed to a new home, and the other to take its place while the money goes towards a good cause, saving more animal’s lives by giving them a place to stay in a good environment until they are adopted and brought home. On the other hand, buying from a breeder is supporting cruel puppy mills. According to the ASPCA, “Most shelter pets wound up abandoned or in shelters because of a human’s problem, not because the animal did anything wrong.” Additionally, when you adopt you are giving an animal a second chance, also helping it forget whatever trauma it went through when they were young. According to Lisa Fontaine of the Humane Society, “Shelter animals aren’t any more likely to be flawed in some way than pets obtained from breeders.”

\After all, adopting saves lives, and they are just as good as any other pet.

Secondly, you are saving tons of money and getting a good deal when you adopt. For instance, shelters charge adoptions fees, but considering legit pet veterinary costs, adoption can often save pet owners some serious money. To bring to light, there are more shelters than breeders for a reason. Even though 10,000 cruel puppy mills still stand, we can make a change with a single act. In another case, shelters often include vaccinations, microchipping, spay and neutering in the adoption fee, still costing less than breeders charge. Also, shelters have plenty of workers and assistants that can help you with any of your questions or concerns. Therefore, adopting should be your first choice for multiple reasons.

Although adoption should be your first choice, many argue about behavioral issues because of trauma when they were young. All things considered, a pet you adopt is more likely to be grateful than aggressive. Initially, many argue that pets at shelters aren’t purebred or “good enough”. Also, many people assume most of the pets at shelters are seniors or adults with health problems. Even though people say this is a reason not to adopt. Although, what they don’t realize is that 75% of animals in shelters are purebred and a selection of age and size.

To sum it up, even if you can’t get a pet, encourage others to adopt. You can also volunteer, foster, and attend local fundraisers. Donate money, food, toys as it all helps. We can’t let this huge problem keep going. Consider that 6.5 million dogs and cats enter shelters, 2.7 being killed in the U.S each year. Animals depend on us to take care of them, not to just abandon them. We can make a change. So at any chance you get, adopt, don’t buy from a breeder for many strong reasons that prove this point.

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Works Cited

“Eight Reasons to Adopt-Not Buy”2019.peta.org.Web.March 2019

“Ten Reasons You Must Adopt from Shelters”2017.thisisinsider.com.March 2019

“Thirteen Signs to Think Twice About Adoption”2015.rd.com.Web.March 2019

“To Not Adopt-Is a Step in the Right path”  2018.blog.allpointsmarketing.com.Web.March 2019

“Top Reasons to Adopt”2018.www.humanesociety.org.Web.March 2019

“Why to Adopt Your Next Pet”2016.petsforpatriots.org.Web.March 2019

 

Margay Cat

  Margaykat_Leopardus_wiedii

 

Habitat

Margay cats live in Northern Mexico to Uruguay. They also live in northern Argentina. They spend most of their time in trees and hardly ever come down to the ground.

Appearance

The Margay’s eyes are very large and shine brightly at night. The Margay cats coat is brownish-yellow with black spots, stripes and blotches. The belly, chest, throat, chin and the insides of the legs are snowy white. An average Margay cat weighs 9 to 11 pounds.

Diet

They mimic the sounds of monkeys. They eat climbing rats, squirrels, opossums, small monkeys and sloths. They also eat tree frogs, lizards and birds. Occasionally they will eat insects, grasses and sometimes even fruit.

Birth and Growth

Mostly there is only one kitten but very rarely there could be two. The kitten weighs 85 to 170 grams at birth.

 

Cheetah Facts

Cheetah1_2063838i

Habitat

Cheetahs live where it’s hot. They live mostly in Africa and Asia. Very few of the cheetahs live in Iran. Cheetahs sleep in high trees so that no predators try to hurt them. Cheetahs are nocturnal, “nocturnal” means sometimes they sleep in the day and they hunt at night. So only sometimes they sleep in trees.

Diet

Cheetahs feed mostly on Antelope, Springbok, Steenbok, and Gazelle. When cheetahs hunt, they put their belly to the ground, they walk slow and then pounce.They bite the throat first causing the animal to suffocate.

Appearance

Cheetahs are tan colored with black spots. Cheetahs nostrils are bigger so after running they can breathe easier. They have a slender slick body to help them do fast sharp turns. Cheetahs are the fastest land animal in world.

Birth and Growth

Females have three to five babies at a time. When having babies, the female cheetah stays alone somewhere where there are no predators. The babies are called “cubs”the cubs have some extra fur on their neck called a “patch”. A patch has many uses. First, when the cheetah carries the cub they hold it by the neck, and that extra fur protects the cub from hurting it. Second, it helps the cubs blend into the wild so no predators try to kill them.