Pet owners must be more responsible

The points raised in the letter to the editor titled “There are no bad dogs, only bad owners” are relevant and applicable to other pets as well such as cats and birds. As the writer said, people should be taught how to choose a dog, how to care for it and know when to call in a professional when pets exhibit problems. The same can be said about those who want to have cats.

Quite often we tolerate cats in this country because the majority of us are more acceptable to them due to our religious beliefs. Nevertheless cats that are let loose to do their business in neighbours' compounds are one of the consequences having owners who could not care less about their pets. These owners love their cats but when it comes to the nitty-gritty, they do not want to take responsibility over the mess that their cats has made in others' backyards.

Living in high rises has its own side effects if your neighbours have cats. The smell permeates to your area and most often than not, the owners do not realise that our noses have been subject to the unpleasant aroma. The owners do not realise the effect it has on others. They persist on having those cats even though high rises are not the most suitable habitat for them. Pets such as dogs and cats need their space. Some people just do not want to accept the fact that keeping a pet enclosed in a small area is a sure sign of potential danger. The pet longs for walks and romps but have to repress that desire. Once given a window of opportunity, they will of course roam free and savour that moment as much as possible.

Man, the supposedly intelligent species on this planet is stubborn and think they know what is best for their pets. The pets are a different species, not homo sapiens and follow a different path towards their happiness. Once upon a time they were wild animals and men tamed them. We tend to forget, however tame they are, that animal instinct is still intact. They are unique in their own way and should be respected as such. The pet owners must realise they must be responsible for whatever their pets outside their homes. This means the pet owners should also respect their neighbours rights to have a peaceful and safe environment to live.

Always remember, the pets are dependent on the owners for guidance. Pets highlighted in the news in a bad light reflect the fact that they have bad owners, not the other way round.

Image from rachicks