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Abandoned

What kind of defect in the personality must it take for a human to simply abandon an animal that has been a companion and has been dependent upon the human for its home, food, and care? I suspect that it might be the same kind of personality defect that we experience writ large on the national stage - a selfishness that only cares for one's own comfort and wishes. It's a defect that causes enormous suffering and thank goodness for those humans who do their best to alleviate such suffering.

Locally, some humans who are most devoted in their care are those who work with Abandoned Animal Rescue. They make our community better for their presence and I salute them today. They are one of my favorite charities and, if you feel so inclined, I invite you to also become one of their supporters or to support similar charities wherever you may be located. Let us never become a member of that selfish tribe that can so easily abandon a living creature who is dependent upon them. 

Here is the story of one abandoned animal who found a home and a family that cared.

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Comments

  1. David M. Gascoigne,February 25, 2026 at 6:08 AM

    The relationship between humans and animals has been stained with callousness and disregard for the lives of sentient beings. Years ago I owned a summer cottage. People (some, not all, of course) would routinely take a kitten to the cottage at that start of the season and then just turn the by then cat loose in the fall when they closed up for the year. The local dump had a whole colony of feral cats, living a miserable life, and wreaking havoc on native wildlife.

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    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 25, 2026 at 11:20 AM

      Callousness, disregard, and cruelty just about sums it up. It too often seems that those who feel the connection that exists between us and choose act responsibly are in the minority.

      Delete
  2. jabblogFebruary 25, 2026 at 6:36 AM

    I wonder if such people have a similar callous disregard for the members of their own families/communities? Life is cheap, for them.

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    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 25, 2026 at 11:25 AM

      I suspect the same attitude permeates all their relationships to a greater or lesser degree.

      Delete
  3. Captivated ReaderFebruary 25, 2026 at 2:44 PM

    It breaks my heart when people abandon their pets.

    My parents (mom and step-dad) rescued two paired bonded Pomeranian siblings from a local rescue group. These two rescue dogs are really sweet and very smart, but a lot of work as they have issues (ie excessive barking, anxiety over a few things, and some health issues as the female has seizures occasionally). The little my parents learned about their background makes it sound like they were both passed around from home to shelter to home to shelter to eventually come to live my parents.

    Both dogs have come a very long way since my parents adopted them 3.5 years ago, but their excessive barking and anxieties are still a problem/work in progress. I think my parents felt like if they worked with both dogs consistently over time and also with a dog trainer, the issues would eventually disappear completely. But so far this hasn't happened.

    I think my parents have resigned to love both dogs unconditionally and give them the best life they can give them regardless if they see no more improvement with them. Both dogs are deeply bonded to my parents now. It just make you wonder what happened to both dogs over the years (other than being passed around quite a few times) to make them the way they are.

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    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 25, 2026 at 3:02 PM

      Bless your parents for taking on these two! Animals that have been abandoned can indeed be hard work because their trust in humans has already been broken at least once or in some cases, like your parents' Poms, many times. But it is so rewarding to those of us who are committed to such animals to be able to rescue even one. We just need more willing adopters.

      Delete
  4. AlanaFebruary 25, 2026 at 5:20 PM

    There is a blogger I read who blogs a lot about her rescue dog, who was so mistreated that he or she (I forget which) suffers from various lack of trust issues. How can we mistreat animals who share our world? My father, when I was growing up, told me to run, not walk, from people who abuse any animal (not just a pet). He was right. There are several people at my job who do or have done animal rescue, but there is only so much they can do.

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    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 26, 2026 at 2:20 PM

      Your father was a wise man. And you are right; there is only so much any of us can do, but each of us is obligated, I think, to do whatever bit we can to ease the suffering of animals as well as humans.

      Delete
  5. Lark February 25, 2026 at 5:27 PM

    Cool new look for your blog. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 26, 2026 at 2:17 PM

      Thank you. I am tinkering with it. I was tired of the old look. I'm not sure I've completely settled on this new format. There may be further changes. Stay tuned!

      Delete
    2. Captivated ReaderFebruary 28, 2026 at 1:55 AM

      I like the new look too. At first, I thought I had been directed to the wrong blog.

      Delete

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