I could post this as simply a picture of me and kittens being cute, but in reality this shows a sad truth about Colombia that I'm realizing. Here, animals (even pets) are not neutered. What's happened because of that sad fact is that there are a lot of street animals - dogs and cats that are literally starving to death on the street and living by eating trash or hunting. It's rare to see a street dog that isn't limping from being hit by a car or who doesn't look like he has worms or is covered in ticks.
There's no way to solve the problem. The mayor of Santa Marta has police periodically round up dogs and then electrocute them.
I guess this makes me want to start screaming "NEUTER YOUR PETS" from the rooftops.
The kittens I'm holding are from inside our compound. Their mother is so thin that she's just skin and bone. I would love to start feeding her, but then what will she do when I move?
Katie, we in this country have learned to love and appreciate animals, but that is not always true in the rest of the world. I know it breaks your heart to see how they treat these animals: it breaks mine also to just hear about it.
ReplyDeleteYou are right about what the mama cat would do when you leave. She would be more comfortable and healthy if you fed her. She would also produce more kittens, more kittens to go through the same life experience.
Just remind yourself that we live in a different world here, and thank God that we do.
Thanks, Grandma Jo! I'm so glad you're reading and that you also understand my conundrum! Love you!
ReplyDeleteI know what you're saying, Katie. Whenever I go to any place out of the US that doesn't care for their animals like we do, it BREAKS my heart. :(
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