Rescue Tabitha

Putting animals first means not letting them suffer. Many animals are turned over to shelters and rescue organizations when owners need or want to give them up. Due to overpopulation and not enough homes for all of them - euthanasia is often a decision county shelter have to make. Although euthanasia is sad and very unfortunate - we need to remember one thing - worse than death is suffering.

Animal Abuse Prevention Agency helps pet owners with adoptions but we also help those animals that are forgotten - the ones suffering on our local streets everyday.

"Tabitha", a petite tabby cat was living in an abandoned house in Watts. Some gang members saw her and for fun, threw acid in her face. It took us 3 days to capture her. We rushed her to the vet for a diagnosis. If the vet tells us an animal can be saved without a tremendous amount of suffering, that is our first choice. However, we do believe in humane euthanasia over suffering.

Many "animal welfare/rights" people become outraged when you mention the word euthanasia. It is easy to talk about "no kill" when you are not doing this kind of work and seeing what we see everyday. It would bring a grown man to his knees.

Tabitha was fortunate, and with minimal treatment was brought back to good health. She has been adopted by a family of one of our volunteers.

To be a quality and good rescue person or organization you need to always put the animal first. Although we have had to make life and death decisions, it is never easy. We have cried many tears and felt our hearts break. But we always remember one thing - we would rather take the pain than let an animal suffer in any way. In memory of those we had to say good-bye to - and miss dearly - a partial verse from a song I heard many years ago comes to mind… "you were too beautiful for this world".

Without friends like you, our work would simply not be possible. Your gift today, large or small, is so very important. Please help us to continue our work, especially with young people, so that we may have a positive impact on them by teaching them to have compassion for all living creatures.

 E-Mail sabyers@ix.netcom.com

Copyright © 1999 Animal Abuse Prevention Agency, Inc.

Last modified on Saturday, September 22, 2001