The Plight of Stray Dogs: A Call for Compassion

Back in those years, where I lived with my parents, there was one common issue that kept revisiting over again by landlords and those who owned pets like dogs, cats and goats. Some guys in the neighbourhood were fond of observing stray dogs or goats around the street and were always looking out to kill them or perhaps push them to moving cars or motorcycles so they could get hit and when they were knocked down, instead of pitying and taking care of them, they immediately surround such an animal to slaughter and share amongst themselves. Though it was always something fun to watch, it was a concern to me as I have this emotion of showing concern for animals that were treated unfairly.

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I see animals that need to be taken care of especially dogs that are tagged as human friends. The story of my grandpa's dog made me fall in love with them and even with this interest shown, I can't have them around me as pets because they are expensive to take care of. Their foods aren't just ordinary meals but quality ones that will keep them healthy. But I do love and admire those who take care of dogs and cats like a part of the family and nurture them as kids.

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My Grandfather's dog, being a local one was loved by him. The dog's responsibility was to go on errands which my grandpa would write the list of items to buy, wrapped in paper with a rope hung around its neck, and it would run across the road where such items are sold and would get them which the sellers would tie around its neck or most times on its back, and it will run back home.

There was a time when the dog went to the forest alone and killed a bush meat, being a heavy one and couldn't carry it, dug the ground and buried the meat while it ran home to call Grandpa. He went with the dog and saw the bush meat, he was excited because he trained a good dog. When it died by accident, he was sad and got depressed for weeks before he could forget about it, but the dog was loved by the family.

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I have seen lots of stray dogs roaming around everywhere and looking so skinny, one would know they are suffering and lack good treatment. The worst of it all is that you will see their owners who aren't doing their job or taking these animals as their responsibility to care for them. These are people who end up killing these animals for food or some would be nice to sell them off to those who are ready to take care of them.

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In some houses, some owners have built a cage for their dogs while some would host their cats indoors. Just like our goats in the village, they have their shelter, every morning, they go out to hunt food or go out to make friends and they return home late in the night since they are used to their homes. We give them food every morning, sometimes they eat yam peels, beans, maize shafts etc. Other times, Dad would go into the forest to pluck lots of leaves for the goats to eat and get filled. We take care of these goats every day so they don't go starving in a day.

When Grandma was alive, she made sure none of her goats starved as she treated them as part of the family. She believes that once we eat thrice daily as humans, the goats must not be starved too.

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For cats, we don't own one. The belief that cats are easily used for witchcraft and could be used for diabolical purposes is something they hold onto around here. So, we never thought of having them as pets but I admire those, especially the foreigners who keep cats like family and are seen in homes. They believe in caring for animals as they are fun to be with.

Animals like dogs, cats etc should be given shelter and well taken care of instead of leaving them to wander or stray away to hunt food by themselves. When these animals are found wandering around the streets, they are easily monitored for selfish purposes by killing and eating them when they could bring them home and give them good treatment. So also, they get tortured by people around by throwing sticks and stones at them and in the process, get hurt and sick. I hate to see these animals getting sick and being left alone outside. Owners who aren't ready to care for these animals as pets could give them away or sell them to those who are willing to take care of them and provide shelter for them.

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May Inleo Prompt