SPCA

Undoubtedly it’s going to be controversial. Without fear of chicken counting, it will receive a lot of traffic. And without any element of doubt, it might cause ripples but it needs to be out there, for the public to know. We’ve decided to publicly name the five MOST dangerous dogs on the planet.
The Most “Dangerous” Dogs in the World

And in reverse order:
5. “Badly fed” dog.
Badly fed dog is the animal who’s been fuelled up with a diet fit for an Olympic weight lifter, but who only ever gets to expend about 20% of the calories he takes in. He’s got lots of energy and his mismatched diet can manifest in bouts of sudden energetic rampaging. Badly fed dog would ask you to consider; how you would feel spending your day in an office when every inch of your body is throbbing and twitching as you crave the opportunity to actually use up some of those excess calories. Badly fed dog would be happier and safer if his diet reflected his lifestyle.

4. “Never had any friends” dog.
Otherwise known as ‘totally under socialised dog’.
He was a little naughty when he was a puppy, so his owner decided he’d be better off being kept away from all other forms of animal life. He now spends his days obsessing over what it would be like to chase other dogs around and, by George, one of these days he’s gonna actually do it!
Never had any friends dog is going to present his owner with a lifetime of problems, he has no social skills and has never had a chance to learn natural interaction through the teachings of his own kind. He’ll meet new dogs and will be about as socially adept as a 45-year old virgin at a Playboy mansion party. He’s going to blow it. Big time.

3. “Shouty”.
Shouty is the dog who has spent most of his life shouting at folks or being shouted at himself. He sees people on his street, he shouts at them. In turn, his owner shouts at him. Shouty presumes being shouted at is a recognition of his excellent work. In fact, hearing his owner shouting in response to his own shouting encourages his assumption that they’re just as upset, anxious, nervous, angry as HE is about the audacity of other people/dogs/pigeons to walk past his window. Shouty is relentlessly encouraged and endorsed in his shouty behaviour and, a bit like no friends dog, shouty spends his days imaging how good it will be when he FINALLY gets his chance to get face to face with the objects of his ire.

2. “House proud”.
House proud dog is SO touchy about people coming to his digs unannounced, he’ll happily maim you for your insolence in trying to visit his abode without obtaining the correct visitation paperwork.
House proud dog does a line in dishing out injuries to posties, meter readers and delivery people. Fortunately for house proud dog, his owners absolutely REFUSE to believe he is capable of violence, so leave him completely unattended to dish out his own brand of justice to anyone brash enough to consider entering his domain.

1. “Spoiled” dog.
“That’s mine and these are mine, those are mine, I’m entitled to that, I believe that I saw that first, I lay claim to those, I own all of these, I’m the rightful proprietor of this…”
Welcome to the world of spoiled dog. Quite simply, he believes everything he wants, he can have. Woe betide anyone to tell him differently. His timid owners have never had the heart to let him know that in the human world, simply showing your teeth and growling doesn’t constitute a legal contract on the ownership of goods. They let him off and, worse, they let him keep his spoils, which he’ll gather up and place in his own corner of the world.
Sadly, spoiled dog is, one day, going to meet someone who is unaware that he has previously laid claim to every possession on earth. Unfortunately, unlike spoiled dog’s owners, this person is going to have to find out the hard way just how deep spoiled dog’s sense of entitlement runs. Really hard luck if it happens to be a youngster, blissfully ignorant to the fact that the shiny ball on the floor is spoiled dog’s most prized possession (at that VERY moment). A few stitches and a spell in hospital ought to serve as a permanent reminder though.
[What? You didn't think there is not such a thing as a list of 'dangerous dog breeds' did you? Pffft.]
“Breed Ban Legislation? Really? …. how about “Bad Dog Owner Ban Legislation”. You know it makes sense.

Statistics show that an animal is abused in America every ten seconds so Canadian animals are likely to experience similar rates of abuse. These reports show an alarming disregard for the pain and suffering that we as  supposed ‘humane’ beings, inflict on our mostly helpless fellow creatures.

The suffering ranges from:

Out-right deliberate cruelty – those who for unfathomable reasons derive pleasure from inflicting and/or watching animals suffer pain. Dog-fighting comes to mind, although there are also cock-fighting and even cockroach fighting rings through-out the world among many, many other less ‘enjoyed’ blood sport events. It sometimes seems man-‘kind’ is anything but kind.

General Insensitivity towards the raising, handling and slaughtering of domestic farm animals or the ongoing horrors of puppy mills.Think about chickens, pigs and cows stuffed into horribly over-crowded cages or pens and then shoved around by bull-dozers when they are too weak from illness or poor treatment  by their so-called caretakers. Consider chickens strung up in terror by their feet and moved along conveyor belts toward their torturous deaths or puppies crammed into wire cages with no protection against the cold wire cutting between their toes with little or no food and left to lay  in their own waste.

Neglect. In some ways this is the most insidious. This shows how disconnected people are from the feelings and very basic needs of animals. How many puppies are brought joyfully home, only to be ignored when the “cute” factor or worse, chained in a backyard left all alone because the puppy grew up? Or the beautiful “free” kitten that grew up and wasn’t so cute and playful anymore, left out on the streets to fend for itself? 

You’ve seen all the PSA’s on TV or in newspaper articles and animal protection ads.  It seems that we should not expect much from our species as we seem to have troubles looking after ourselves at many times. However, we can and should expect much more. At the core of our species is a generous and caring heart. We’ve seen it spark for brief moments in times of universal need, or even when the need of one individual – or animal – comes to our attention. A recent example would be the earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan. Or what about the one hundred sled dogs that were needlessly slaughtered in Whistler, British Columbia? Well,  that’s what National Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month is all about:  to reawaken that caring nature in each and everyone of us. As a group, or even as an individual, much can be done to assure that all living creatures experience best possible existence they each deserve.

Start with a pat of your own pet’s  head. Take him/her out for a walk or give your pet a good grooming.

Right now, as an individual you can:

* Become a member of your local SPCA.
* Report all acts of cruelty and neglect.
* Be a responsible pet owner and ensure your pets are  spayed and/or neutered.
* Adopt from a rescue or a shelter.
* Teach compassion and lead by example

Start talking to your fellow pet owners as you watch the joy on your pet’s face while he plays with his buddies or his favorite toy. Discuss what you as part of your community can do to improve the lives of  all animals, then actually so something about it by contacting and supporting animal protection groups who are already hard at work to improve the living conditions of the creatures with whom we share this planet.  There are many pro-animal events through-out this month and year. Attend one. Celebrate. Contribute, and do something personal  today  to bring awareness to all around you of the needs of all animals.

Many thanks to Associate Pet Hospital for coordinating this fun event. Join us at Riverside Park on Saturday June 18 for a dog walk along the pathway.Registration begins at 9:30 am and the walk starts at 10:30 am. To participate in the walk a $20 minimum pledge collection or donation is required. Pledge forms can be picked up at Associate Pet Hospital or Swift Current SPCA.
Activities prior to and following the walk include:  “Doggone Safe Bite Prevention” presentation, raffles, concession, agility course demonstrations with opportunities to try the course with your dogs.
**Please remember that animals should be fully vaccinated and leashed at all times.**

ALL PROCEEDS GO TO SWIFT CURRENT SPCA!  SEE YOU THERE!