09-07-2011, 08:20 PM
Sorry, I wasn't implying you were naive. I have just seen different faces of the HS depending on the situation. They had helped me a few times before I found out their policies; that's why I was shocked.
The point about the tags and chips is, the policy is if they can ID the found pet with a chip or a tag, they contact the owner. If they cannot, they euthanize quite soon after arrival. They definitely euthanize cats here over other pets, because feral cats are a "problem" whereas dogs are valued.
There is a different standard between cats and dogs that is part of the local culture; it is not the same as the mainland where they are somewhat equal. Like when my neighbors moved recently: they took their dogs, of course, but they refused to even consider dealing with their cats. The cats were left like refuse, and they were adamant that they would not take any responsibility for them ... then the hungry cats went looking for a new food source, started fighting with neighboring pets over their food, it has not been pretty. They would never have left a dog to scavenge.
"let the music keep our spirits high
And let the buildings keep our children dry
Let creation reveal its secrets by and by ~ Before the Deluge, Jackson Browne
The point about the tags and chips is, the policy is if they can ID the found pet with a chip or a tag, they contact the owner. If they cannot, they euthanize quite soon after arrival. They definitely euthanize cats here over other pets, because feral cats are a "problem" whereas dogs are valued.
There is a different standard between cats and dogs that is part of the local culture; it is not the same as the mainland where they are somewhat equal. Like when my neighbors moved recently: they took their dogs, of course, but they refused to even consider dealing with their cats. The cats were left like refuse, and they were adamant that they would not take any responsibility for them ... then the hungry cats went looking for a new food source, started fighting with neighboring pets over their food, it has not been pretty. They would never have left a dog to scavenge.
"let the music keep our spirits high
And let the buildings keep our children dry
Let creation reveal its secrets by and by ~ Before the Deluge, Jackson Browne