On the side of the road.

Perfect days can be ruined so easily. Today was one of those. Everything was going wonderfully. I dropped by the SCNAVTA meeting and had a blast chatting with our president Tracy. I signed off on savings bonds so I don't have to worry anymore about my tires giving out and not having my books. I put a job at Walgreen's as a pharmacy tech. on the backburner because it would interfere with my schooling but then today got a call from Petland. I have an interview for becoming a part time kennel assistant. Its not as glamorous and probably not as high paying but it falls in line with my schooling much better and the atmosphere seems much more enjoyable. I filled up the Echo for only $19.15 and it was flashing on empty. I start more intensive VT stuff next week, learning how to restrain dogs and such. I also get to go see an officer and his K9 partner demonstrate for the school.

Everything is looking up. I leave Argosy feeling good.

Almost to the 41 turn off for Chaska laid a grey and white cat that had been hit by a car. It ruined everything. I always get a little sad when I see dead animals by the side of the road. I ery much support building 'natural' bridges over roads to allow native wildlife to cross over more safely. It wouldn't solve the whole issue but it would give traveling/migrating animals an option. But this is so much worse.

When you take in an animal it is under your care. Animals aren't like humans. They don't change from cute babies to functional adults that can take care of themselves. Animals are like owning a two year old. There may be greater levels of awareness as the pet ages but a pet is a pet. They are dependent on us for food, shelter, and affection. If you're not going to take care of animal don't get one. Plain and simple. If you don't have the time and dedication for an animal settle for looking. If its not the right time in your life, settle your cute and fuzzy fix by volunteering at a shelter, work at a pet supply store, or assist at a clinic. Its been said time and time again by people far better than I: Animals are not toys; they require care. They require your time and patience.

Focusing on the cat issue let this be known; the happiness of one's cat does not depend upon it being able to run freely. Cats are domesticated, though on a different level than dogs. A cat can better care for itself if outdoors than a dog can but that does not mean nothing will happen to them. Outside life is just as dangerous for cats. Cats are highly territorial (as anyone who has introduced a cat to an already cat occupied home knows) and fights between strays/ferals can be vicious with injuries being fatal if not attended to. They may be feisty but they are not at the top of the food chain. Dogs, foxes, coyotes, large hawks, alligators, raccoons, and cougars are all threats to cats that wander freely. As proven today by the sad body by the side of the road, humans are even more dangerous. Cars kill more animals than anything else. Cats may be clever but that doesn't mean they are masters at avoiding vehicles traveling at speeds over 65 m.p.h. Worse, there are plenty of people out there who have no trouble dealing with a stray cat by simply shooting, poisoning, or trapping it. There are people who don't have any moral compunctions about abusing a stray cat.

If you have no problem letting your pets wander when you know you live right next to a very dangerous highway, don't own a pet. Don't purchase a dog if you are going to let it roam about the countryside. Don't allow your farm cats to reproduce one after another simply because the kittens replace the older "mousers" that over the years have fallen prey to winter, predators, cars, and humans. Don't own a large snake if you're going to keep it in inadequate conditions simply for bragging rights. I'm not an animal rights person; in fact, they stand for just about everything I don't agree with. Animal rights activists will tell you that its perfectly alright to allow your pet outdoors to wander. Hardcore ones will tell you that this is preferable and to keep an animal inside is only torture. Any animal welfare supporter will tell you that this is not true. Outdoors is a great place for animals as long as certain conditions are met. Animals should be properly IDed through tags and microchipping, supervised, up to date on their vaccinations, and not only supervised but under some sort of restraint be it a leash or a secure outdoor pen.

I remember the first V.P. debate. Palin made a comment about Americans taking responsibility for the country and their lives. Its a fine sentiment but look at the nation we live in. We make advances every day and yet the average American is unable to properly take care of a 10 pound animal such as a cat. In a nation where people find it easier to deal with their pets being ran over than deal with the care taking of that pet, responsibility for one's self seems like a long shot. The "its only a dog/cat/ferret/snake/sugar glider/etc." argument gets old. Its nothing but an excuse used by people in order to make whatever has happened easy for them to move on from. Its easier to get over your cat being ran over or killed by a stray dog when you objectify it.

I wish it was different. I wish I knew who owned the cat so I could go punch them. More than anything, I wish I would have stopped and moved the body away from the road. It sounds creepy and I'm sure people would be freaked out but if the owners of that cat had simply taken care of he/she like they should have, it wouldn't have happened. That cat deserved a hell of a lot more than to just lay shattered by the side of the road.