Kitten Saved, Dog Not So Lucky

This is Be Kind to Animals Week. Obviously not everyone is celebrating.


The following paragraph is from the League's staff newsletter

• A woman was driving up North Capitol Street when she saw two young men with a kitten. One of them had the kitten by the scruff of the neck and was swinging him as if to throw the kitten into traffic. The woman stopped and asked the young man what he was doing with the kitten and he said he planned to throw him into the street. The woman then convinced him to sell her the kitten for $20. She brought the kitten to the League, where he is being evaluated and will be made available for adoption in the next few days. He is now named Flynn.
  

The cruelty does not stop there. Early today NBCWashington.com's Nancy Norman and Pat Collins reported --

• Bear, a lovable 4-year-old lab mix, was shot and killed while playing inside his fenced yard Friday night. Sandra Benson, Bear's guardian, wasn't at her home in the 5300 block of B Street SE at the time. Her 17-year-old daughter let Bear outside. After she heard Bear barking, a shot rang out. She rushed out to the horror of her beloved Bear shot in the neck. Bear was rushed to the Friendship Hospital for Animals. Veterinarians tried everything, but they couldn't save Bear. Ms. Benson said Bear had never bitten or bothered anyone. He was good with children. He never left the the safety -- which turned out not to be so safe -- of the family yard. Perhaps adding to the crime of opportunity is the fact that the street light was burned out so the area was very dark. It's a felony in the District of Columbia. A $1,000 reward is being offered for help catching the shooter.

Thankfully, in Flynn's case, a passerby cared enough to intervene. The little guy is doing well at the League, and in a couple of weeks will be placed up for adoption. He'll have no trouble finding a forever home, he's adorable. Unfortunately, nothing can bring Bear back. The dog was killed for no apparent reason. His grieving guardians lost a faithful companion. Bear's life was brutally taken by a coward with a gun. Someone knows who the shooter was. Any witness should report that information immediately to the Washington Humane Society. People can report animal cruelty anonymously to the Washington Humane Society at 202 723-5730 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Celebrate Be Kind to Animals Week every day. If you live with animal companions, take good care of them. If you know someone who is not properly caring for his/her companion animal, offer assistance, tell an adult, or report any instances of neglect or abuse to the proper agency. Every community in the U.S. has at least one animal welfare or animal control agency. In many areas, animal crulety cases can be reported to the police. Remember animals cannot ask for help, they depend on each and every one of us.