Andrea Rosebrock 
I found this letter in the Billings Gazette and it just hit home, really hard! The abuses that people inflict upon innocent animals never ceases to stun me and make me angry. It’s bad enough that too many people think that dogs and pets are disposable and dump them off at shelters without a thought, but to just dump them along the side of a road to a completely unknown and often beyond cruel fate is just something I cannot fathom!
I’ve heard stories about people “dumping” their dogs out in the country, which have always made me sad. Yet I quickly moved on because I couldn’t visualize such cruelty. There was no face. And, after all, it was just a story.
Today I actually saw someone dump their dog. They let their white shaggy dog out of their car and drove away. By the time I arrived at the “crime scene,” the car was gone and the dog was running east along the railroad tracks. Terrified, he wouldn’t stop as I yelled at him to come. I jumped in the car to try and head him off, but he disappeared. I spent an hour looking for him, but I never saw him again.
I don’t understand how anyone can just load their dog into their car and drop it off at a shelter, much less dump it out in the country. Dogs are our best friends, our loyal companions. They give us unconditional love. In return, we owe them their health, happiness and safety. Yet today, you put your dog in a situation where he may die a painful, lonely death. For some incomprehensible reason, you are incapable of caring about a living, breathing creature who adored you, even though you never deserved his adoration.
I saw what you did today. Unfortunately, I will never forget. Today there was a face. I just hope that someday you are held accountable for your deplorable act of cruelty.
I applaud the efforts that this person expended, so many people wouldn’t even do that. I lament the fate the poor dog may have in store. When will people ever understand that it’s not ‘just a dog,’ it’s a living, breathing, feeling creature. It is our duty or protect and care for the innocent and defenseless and this dog most assuredly falls under that category!
I grew up in the central valley of California on a 10 acre farm. EVERY pet we have/had in the 14 years I lived there before moving is a stray or dumped dog/cat that landed up on our property. I swear we were the dumping grounds for the area. But, we loved on those animals as much as we could and some turned out to be the best pets ever- Including our half chow who is now 15 years old. The old matriarch.
I could never dump my dog. Hell, I can even understand people who get rid of teir dogs because they are having a child or moving and cant have them at the new house. WELL THEN FIND A PLACE YOU CAN KEEP YOUR PET. Even if I was offered the job of the lifetime and had to move and not to my dog, I would turn it down. And I have only had my dog 2 and a half weeks. But, I made a decision after waiting five years, to get a dog and make the long commitment.
I meant ‘Not take my dog’… typos. Im in class trying to be inconspicuous.. hah.
Jason, I couldn’t agree more and only wish more people understood and felt the same way. Where I go, my dogs go… and so do my cats and my bird… LOL
I just get so tired of this throw away, disposable society we live in!
Good luck with your new baby. Glad to hear you took the decision so seriously and waited until it was the right time for you to get a dog and I have no doubt doubt your dog will have a good long and spoiled time with you!