Question:
A Calgary family is upset they've been branded cruel to animals. They owned a hamster that got sick. They brought it to the Humane Society to be put down, but were then charged with cruelty for animals, for not seeking treatment sooner. (Watch for the full story tonight on the News Hour at 6). What do you think of this situation? Are the Humane Society's actions justified, or are they being heavy-handed? © Global News
I just seen the preview for this on tv, I guess the mom is a single mother of 4, could not afford treatment for her sick hamster and rather then letting it just die she took it the humane society, now the Calgary Humane Society are being what I think asses about it. It may be seen as cruelty to the hamster, but nobody really thinks there pet hamster will die from an illness, most die of old age. I feel sorry for this woman, there were even talks about taking her family dog away and banning her from owning any other pets. It makes me sick because there are people out there who purposely kill innocent animals and never get reprimanded for it. What do you all think about this?


Answer:
I don't know the entire story so can't comment on it, but I do have to make two points, and ask a question.

The question first - what was wrong with the hamster and how long had it been ill before they took it to be euthanized? If the hamster had been allowed to suffer unnecessarily, untreated, for any length of time, then yes, that is animal cruelty. Had they approached vets to inquire as to payment plans for treatment?

When a person adopts a pet they should always keep in mind the possibility of it getting sick and possibly dying from an illness. To assume a pet will eventually just die of old age is not being a responsible caregiver.

Also, I would worry about the dog because clearly if she can't afford medical treatment for her hamster, she cannot afford medical treatment should her dog fall ill. What will she do if her dog gets ill? Just have him euthanized for something that could be resolved relatively quickly and easily by the vet? If a person can't afford basic vet care for their pet it's my opinion that they should not have the pet.


Answer:
I think it depends on the circumstances.. How long did the family wait before taking action? If they made the hamster suffer for weeks in pain then yes, they are justified in charging her. It doesn't matter if it's a hamster, a cat or dog.. you cannot let an animal suffer without treatment and if you cannot afford said treatment then they should have surrendered the animal immediately.
I imagine there is more to the story..


Answer:
I missed it on the news, I'm sure it'll be in the paper tomorrow, I don't personally like the Humane Society in Calgary because for one they are very rude and not helpful at all, when we went to adopt a guinea pig a few years ago nobody helped us, they just let us go open a cage and take the animal out and when we did finally decide to get the piggy, they threw it in a box with a towel covered in pee. Yeah in some ways they are helpful but personally if I were to ever surrender an animal whether it be because I can no longer take care of it, or if I find it I will refuse to give them my personal information. That's why they are what they are is to take in unwanted or found pets, turning around and charging someone for animal cruelty because their pet hamster was sick and they thought the best thing to do was surrender them to the shelter is just rude. It costs $100 to euthanize a hamster, I could understand with 4 kids that $100 is like a weeks worth of groceries, the mom did wht she felt was right, the Humane Society never said anything to her when she dropped the hamster off, so why would they turn around and treat her like crap?


Answer:
I don't think anyone can really comment or should comment on this without learning the details of the story...we don't really know what happened, what shape the hamster was in, or what shape her dog is in for that matter!

I used to live in Calgary...it has an excellent humane society and they do an amazing job...calgary has the least number of homeless animals in all of Canada, the least number of dog bites and attacks in all of Canada, and an excellent adoption rate with minimal returned adoptions...this is according to stats I read up about two years back....

they have great legislation and work effectively....I would say I trust their decision to ban this woman from owning animals...they don't just do that right off the bat without a good reason...

If you have four kids and can't afford to feed them, what on earth are you doing with extra mouths of pets to feed in the house anyways?