Before you had breakfast this morning over 100 beautiful, healthy, lovable pets breathed their last breath in various kill shelters in El Paso, including Animal Control which is operated by the city of El Paso, and Ft. Bliss military base. Some organizations with cozy sounding names put down animals for as little as having ticks or being pregnant. Indeed, El Paso, Texas and the United States abound with too many adorable but ultimately unwanted pets. While the want advertisements of newspapers and web sites over flow with where and how to buy pets, more pets will be destroyed that very day by shelters and veterinarians all across America.

In our culture, children are now taught that it is okay to get rid of a pet just because the family is moving, or the pet doesn’t play as much any more and is boring. It is not uncommon for children to participate in discarding their old pet in a park and expecting a new puppy from Santa which will go the same way within a year or two. People think little of breeding their female dog, and then keeping one puppy, selling the rest, and discarding the female. What type of message does this send to our children and the world? The way a nation treats their weak gives the image of what is in their hearts. Only people can change this. People must teach their children to cherish animals, life etc.

One child you teach to treasure a pet today will go forward and teach many people equally as well. Until then we do what we can to reinforce good examples and high standards in caring for pets. No organization can expand or flourish without funding. We appreciate donations which are used wisely in the work we do for pets. Officers draw no salaries or have no expense accounts. We also appreciate work by professionals and grant writers when donated.

-Martha Williams.