Stray dogs suffer even more. Compared to cats, they cannot hunt so well. That means they usually eat scraps of food to survive. As they reproduce on the streets, their initial features are watered down and it’s not easy for mixed breeds to find a home. People in general prefer to buy dogs at pet shops. They think they look better and it’s easier to know their personality. Pure-bred dogs are also more popular on social media.
YouTube channels that show people rescuing animals are a great success. They present the problem in a way that is cheerful and easy to watch. The Dodo, for example, shows beautiful stories and it has 10 million subscribers. Sadly, even animal rescue clips can sometimes do more harm than good. “This kind of message does not always work the way we think,” Francinette Monttess, an animal rescuer, said. She has more than 50 cats and dogs in her shelter. “These videos are inspiring and show people how neglected animals can become amazing pets. But they are also too optimistic. Many people believe that abandoned pets will be all right because someone is going to rescue them. That is not true. Most of them die within a few months: alone and very confused.”
“We also need to remember,” she added, “that cute YouTube channels only show successful rescues. Nobody wants to see animals dying. Also, a lot happens behind the cameras that we don’t see. People might think that anybody can bring an abandoned animal home, but they need more than love to get better. Many of them need intensive care, and that costs money. Some need surgery. To make things worse, bringing a sick animal home can make all of your own pets sick. We need to be careful and know what we are doing,” she said.
We know this looks like a sad scenario, but there are many things that any person can do to help. “If you want to have a pet, your life is going to change for the next 15 years or so. You need to be OK with that. Go to a shelter and adopt, instead of giving money to puppy mills. If you have no energy for a puppy or a kitten, adopt a grown pet. That will also give you a better idea of the pet’s size and temperament,” Azevedo said. “You can help, even if you don’t want a pet, by volunteering or donating to a local shelter.”
Monttess pointed out that desexing animals is the only way to control the population of strays. “Sometimes, I take a cat to the vet just to be desexed and put it back on the street once it recovers. I know it sounds cruel, but my shelter is too full. At least that animal will not be procreating on the streets. There are times when you just have to do what you can.”
While there is nothing wrong with taking a break from our harsh reality and watching adorable animals online, it is important that we do not forget that they are not just fluffy things. They are complex beings that trust us and, thanks to our decision to domesticate them, depend on us.
*Francinette lives in northeast Brazil and depends on donations to continue her work. You can find her on Instagram: @abrigodafran.
