Jackson Free Press

This issue of the Jackson Free Press, owned and operated by animal lovers, is dedicated to the idea that Jackson, and Mississippi as a whole, can quickly become a whole lot smarter when it comes to taking care of animals. Even though the state has long had a bit of a laissez-faire culture—choosing to put certain things off or justify not taking action altogether—the issue of animal care must be high on our priority list.

Even if you do not love animals and care about what happens to them, the city itself suffers if too many animals are running loose—creating dangers for walkers, runners, cyclists, children and other animals. The quality of life here—and ultimately our economic well-being—is affected by irresponsible care of animals.

The first step is looking at your own actions. Do you allow pets outside that have not been spayed or neutered? Do you allow large dogs to roam free to threaten pedestrians, attack smaller animals and run the risk of being hit by cars? Do you refrain from scooping your animal's poop, or allow them to defecate on sidewalks, in the streets or in other people's yards? Do you have animals that have not been tested for disease or received the appropriate preventive care? Do you run or ride bicycles pulling a dog alongside you, supposedly so they can get "their" exercise? Do you treat animals as mere entertainment, even putting them in harm's way in order to amuse your friends? Do you have cats de-clawed, thus causing them intense pain and endangering their lives should they get outside?

As Adam Lynch discusses in his cover story this issue, the state of Mississippi lags behind many other states in its overall culture of animal care. It can seem as if even many urban pet owners think they live on the end of a dirt road in the sticks where no cars ever drive by, and the closest neighbor is 30 miles away.

This is just not the case for most Mississippians. We live among others, and just as we should probably lock our doors nowadays, we should also examine the attitudes about pet care that we grew up with. It is easy enough to look at a case of pit-bull fighting and see the abject horror, but we must also see the cruelty we are inflicting if we do not take the time and initiative to spay or neuter our animals, or decide not to have an animal if we're more worried about the furniture than we are their well-being.

It is time to grow up when it comes to pet care, Mississippians. And if you are already caring for animals wisely, do what you can to help educate others and contribute time and resources to the needs of stray and abused animals.

Previous Comments

ID

76599

Comment

"Do you run or ride bicycles pulling a dog alongside you, supposedly so they can get “their” exercise?" -editorial Huh? It seems exercising with your dog or exercising your dog is in their with mistreating them??? A dog, especially larger or active breeds, need a level of exercise that jogging/biking can provide. It's healthy for the animal, forms a strong bond with the owner, socializes the dog with "foreign" scents and scenes, and helps clear nervous energy/anxiety that builds in too many "bored" dogs. It also naturally files their nails, speeds along shedding, and gives the dog focus for 20-30mns which does wonders for its personality and energy levels. Work and hunting dogs really need this level of focused "work" or they'll easily become aggressive and/or destructive. If more large/active-breed dog owners would take their dogs jogging or walking, the pups would be less destructive, anxiety-prone, and aggressive. Many dogs enjoy and almost crave what we perceive as work (read: focused activities with purpose) and those traits are bred right into their DNA. If you don't nurture and cater to those traits, they'll come back and bite you (pun intended).

Author

kaust

Date

2008-04-11T13:56:54-06:00

ID

76600

Comment

I read that sentence too, Knol, and I assumed they were trying to say that some people exercise their dogs too vigorously or something. Hopefully someone will come along and clarify.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-04-11T14:41:34-06:00