| Yes, your pet does have "inalienable rights" | |||||||
| by BUDDY AMATO | |||||||
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If a pet owner thinks they are being ‘nice’ because they are getting their pet proper medical treatment, giving them regular meals and shelter, I assure you that it is not being ‘nice,’ it is the law. Pets are not toys that can be arbitrarily treated however someone wants. They are living creatures that have rights. Pets have the absolute right to be safe from harm. They are entitled to proper shelter, food, water and medical attention under the law of this state and every state. This is not something new. As a matter of fact, the SPCA has one of the oldest law enforcement arms in this country. The mission of protecting animals is something that is as fundamentally American as the Red, White and Blue. When we are children, hopefully, each of us learns that we should treat other people the way we ourselves would like to be treated. The same goes for animals. Put yourself in the position of your pet. What would you want for yourself? If you do those things for your pet that you would want done if the positions were reversed, then the chances are that you are not far off from right. But, the law states categorically that adequate shelter must be provided. This means that, when it is winter, there should be an indoor area for your pet to be warm. During the summer, your pet must have an area that is cool, so the animal does not overheat. Your pet should always have access to clean drinking water. If you look in a water bowl and see particles floating around in the water, then it’s not clean drinking water. So, empty the bowl and refill it. If you have a dog or cat crated, then the dog or cat should have access to a water bottle to prevent dehydration. Dehydration kills. Given a particularly warm time of year, then dehydration can kill as quickly as a bullet. This is not to say that an animal cannot dehydrate during the winter. Adequate food is important. Remember that people food is not pet food. There is the whole ‘raw food’ trend going on now. I am not as up on the science behind this as I could be. But, when it comes to your pet’s diet, consulting with your family’s veterinarian is always a safe bet. Diets aren’t just something that people go on to try and maintain their health and appearance. Your dog or cat, most especially your dog, may eat practically anything that they see in front of them. Some dogs are more discriminating than others. Conversely, some cats are more prone to being overweight than others. Regular exercise routines for your pet, coupled with sensible eating, will add many productive years onto your pet’s life. Quality of a pet’s life is, in my book, just as important as the quantity of that life. Sensible life choices from the very beginning can be the difference between a dog living 10 years and 16 years. There are certain breeds of dogs that have relatively short life spans. One example is the Old English Bulldog, which has a life span that can range between eight and 12 years. However, through medical advances, concerned ownership and more information about how to keep that breed healthy, I regularly see Bullies that are much older than 12. Just as human life spans seem to be on the incline, so follows man’s best friend, his dog. But, this wonderful development in the life cycles of dogs doesn’t mean anything unless the basics are getting taken care of, and this begins at the owner level. I want to thank everyone for his or her interest not only in my column, but also for his or her interest in their four-legged friends. (Chief Victor "Buddy" Amato is the chief investigator for the Monmouth County SPCA, headquartered in Eatontown. For more information about this column, call (732) 671-9555.) (Chief Victor "Buddy" Amato is the chief investigator for the Monmouth County SPCA, headquartered in Eatontown. For more information about this column, call (732) 671-9555.) Buddy Amato is a Hazlet business owner, who operates Amato's Karate and Weapons Academy. For more information, call (732) 671-9555.
Copyright Buddy Amato Amato's Goju-ryu Karate, Nunchaku, Bo-staff, Aikido, Sword, Kendo, Sais, Kick-boxing, Tai-Chi and more 589 Palmer Ave, Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom, NJ 07734 (732) 671-9555 |
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