People can be so ignorant.

I just have to take a second to vent. I am so incredibly frustrated that people can be so close minded.

As you know, I am a veterinary technician and care deeply for animals. Not only do I have two dogs, a cat, and a rabbit of my own, but I frequently rescue animals who are going to be euthanized at the local animal control and nurse them back to health until they can be placed in a forever home. All these animals need is time and love to become the perfect pets. Unfortunately, animal control doesn't have the time or capability to do this. I rescue those that I can, but sadly many are put to sleep every day. I can't save them all.

People are so ignorant when it comes to Animal Control and cats and dogs "from the pound". It makes me crazy when people tell me that they don't want to rescue an animal from the pound because it will have issues. Another thing I hear a lot is that people want a "pure bred" animal. I can't change these people's minds despite the fact that I try.

Another type of ignorant person is that person who breeds their animals for no reason other than to make money. There are so many breeders of pit bulls down here. It makes me so mad. If one of them could look at all the sad faces of pit bulls who will never be adopted down at animal control, I would hope they would stop breeding, but they won't ever know. They choose to stay ignorant while countless lives are being lost due to this overpopulation and mistreatment by humans. UGH!!! So MAD!!!

I wish I could scream it from the rooftops and make the world unserstand that the way some people treat and think about these animals as disposable is WRONG! One of my own dogs, Peach, a 1 1/2 year old Chihuahua was treated in this way. She was purchased by a woman for about $1200 and was taken care of until about her first birthday. Her owner decided to take her, her "outfits", and all her paperwork down to the local animal control. The reason she gave for giving her up was that she didn't have the time for her. What she didn't care to think about when she dropped her off was that owner surrenedered animals are typically brought straight to the back and euthanized due to lack of space. Luckily for Peach I was there to rescue her. She is truly the sweetest dog and I get emotional when I think about how someone could have ever given up this little angel. She makes my heart smile. How can you turn your back on that?

Ok. I'm done with my rant... I just needed to vent my frustration.

I will never understand killing helpless animals

A wriggling, writing ball of fur is licking at your face. You love and cherish his antics and think what a great addition to your family he has been. Then, a year or so down the road, you move or have a baby or simply are annoyed by your dog and you bring him down to animal control. You think, he's a sweet boy, he'll find a home for sure. Do you know that 90% of animals in Columbus, GA never see the outdoors again. They are euthanized in the masses here and I can't stand it!

One of my friends from work has started a project called Happy Homes. She has been working really hard to save those who are on puppy/kitty "death row" and place them in happy, loving homes. There are only so many animals that we can save though. What we really need is a no-kill shelter to take in all these sad, homeless fur babies. She has entered into the Pepsi Refresh Contest to receive a grant for $50,000 to build just such a place. Only problem is, we need people to vote.

So, I know that not many people are reading my ramblings, but I can't help but ask.... Please help us get this grant and save those sad, neglected dogs and cats.

You can vote daily on the following website, but even better is if you drink Pepsi. There are Pepsi bottles out there that have codes in the caps. If you enter the codes in those on the website, they count as a "Power Vote" (up to 100 votes for one code!). We're number 40 right now and could really use as much help as we can get. So, please vote!!! Help us save the animals.

http://www.refresheverything.com/happy-homes-no-kill-shelter