Two Kittens Dead on the Road
Does Anyone Care?
by
Theresa Chaze
Two kittens killed on the road what a terrible shame.
But who is really to blame?
Was it the person who drove too fast
or the person who tossed them out like trash?
Three more kittens remain,
will their fate be the same?
Will the woman who tossed them in the ditch
be faced with a legal hitch?
Or will she get by
by telling a lie?
In her green car she did hide
as she tossed them aside.
Yet she was seen
being cruel and mean.
And there is one who is willing to tell all
to the officers of the law.
Abandoning animals at the side of the road is considered cruelty; it is just as punishable by law as starvation or physical abuse. There is no excuse for the behavior. Taking an animal into your life means you are responsible for its care. Yet there are some that find it acceptable behavior to arbitrarily dump animals by the side of the road, because someone will take them in. They believe no one cares enough to report it to the police. This is not true. Many people do care and they do report.
The legal ramifications are no longer a quiet slap on the wrist but includes jail time and fines. It is no longer done in a private way but frequently makes the news as in the case of the local man who received jail time, fines and the loss of his horses because he refused to care for them properly or when a man and his friends tossed a seven-week-old kitten on a barbeque and watched it burn; the latter made national news. Dumping animals is no less cruel and is just as punishable. Every state has their own statues. In Michigan the punishment for animal cruelty is dependent on the specifics: it can be a misdemeanor or felony. The owner must provide adequate care, which is defined as the providing of sufficient food, water, shelter, sanitary conditions, exercise, and veterinary medical attention in order to maintain an animal in a state of good health. Chapter § 750.50 of the Michigan Penal Law section 2a defines abandonment as an act of cruelty: The statute further states the punishment is to be:
4) A person who violates subsection (2) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine of not more than $1,000.00 or community service for not more than 200 hours, or any combination of these penalties and the cost of prosecution. A person who violates subsection (2) on a second occasion is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 2 years or a fine of not more than $2,000.00 or community service for not more than 300 hours, or any combination of these penalties and the cost of prosecution. A person who violates subsection (2) on a third or subsequent occasion is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 4 years or a fine of not more than $5,000.00 or community service for not more than 500 hours, or any combination of these penalties and the cost of prosecution.

So why I am I wasting your time with this rant of legal information? I’m one of the loving people who care. I’m one of the few who feeds them and finds them good homes. Last week, at least five eleven-week-old kittens were dumped off in Ramblewood subdivision by a woman in a green car. There were two darker tigers, two yellow tigers and a dark calico. She didn’t care what happened to them. But I did. I adopted one; the other three are in the pet care system. The last tiger appeared on Sunday and is now living in my bathroom: he needs a home. Four weeks ago, someone else dumped off three six-eight month old kittens. They are long haired and terribly matted little souls who are cuddly and loving. Who did it? I don’t know. But I pray they receive the same care and consideration as they gave.
Spaying or neutering are very easily and medically sound ways of preventing unwanted litters. There is no reason for a female cat or dog to have an unwanted pregnancy. Allowing the cat or dog to have one litter so they are a better pet is an old wives tale and is totally false. Preventing the female from having her first menses or heat by spaying, it makes the procedure less complicated and aids in healing. Removing the uterus before it has been fully activated lessens the blood loss and prevents reproductive cancer. The animal is still a loving and good pet if they are treated with love and compassion. Dogs will still be protective if they don’t reproduce, because it’s their nature to be so. Male cats benefit from neutering by spraying less and being less aggressive. They are more likely to stay on their home turf, instead of wandering looking for potential mates.
There are animal organizations that are willing to help pet owners find homes for animals they can no longer care for. Traverse City has the Humane Society, Pet Safe, and AC Paws. However, currently the latter two have their limit of animals in their system. They are in despite need of foster care homes. A foster home cares for the animal, while the organization looks for a permanent home. The Humane Society sometimes will help owners spay or neuter to prevent unwanted litters. In addition, some vets in the area are willing to give discounts for their services. Unfortunately the local Humane Society isn’t a no kill. When they are full, they put to death the ones who have been there the longest. The best way to prevent unwanted litters is take responsibility for your animal.
If you have knowledge or see someone dumping animals, please get their license plate number and report them to the police. By forcing people to take responsibility for their actions we can cut down on the number of strays.