Abandonment is not just a dog and cat issue

By Cadie Pruss, Humanitarian and animal lover

See how people are! When the behaviors become intolerable, just give the beast to a shelter (or the Hospital). No, I am not talking about dogs- I am talking about CHILDREN.

THANK YOU NEBRASKA. You have clearly demonstrated that if it is made legal, people will even give up THEIR OWN KIDS. On July 18, 2008 legislation was passed in the State of Nebraska (Bill 158) "For an Act relating to children; to prohibit prosecution for leaving a child at the hospital; .....
Section 1. No person shall be prosecuted for any crime based solely upon the act of leaving a child in the custody of an employee on duty at a hospital licensed by the State of Nebraska. The hospital shall promptly contact appropriate authorities to take custody of the child." Well there you have it.

Nebraska Lawmakers had NO IDEA that people would ABANDON "children"- they were thinking BABIES! "Safe Haven" laws have been enacted in 47 states and Puerto Rico. The focus is on Newborns, but poor Nebraska- their well-intentioned lawmakers didn't want to appear to be protecting 2 day old babies, but not 3 day old babies, so they made their law a little vaguer than other States.

From July 24 (when the law was enacted) to October 31, 24 children- NONE of them Newborns- were abandoned in Nebraska hospitals. Parents from three other states have traveled great distances to abandon their children without prosecution. One of those abandon children was 17 YEARS old!! Don't worry- it will soon be illegal in Nebraska too. Lawmakers will be meeting November 14 to revise the law and set an age limit (tired of your children?, moving?, can't pay for college?- better abandon them quickly- time is running out!)

Answer quick now: Wayne Parcel is to shelter dogs as ______________ is to children in the welfare program?
Don't know? Yeah- me either.

Seriously- MILLIONS of dollars are donated to support HSUS. THOUSANDS of people give small amounts of money at a time to "help homeless dogs and cats". What are those same people doing for unwanted children? I am not talking about the $5 you gave to "feed the starving child in Africa"- I am talking about the children right here in our country who are doomed to poverty, jail, drugs, crime, and other social problems because they were not wanted or cared for.

You want to make a difference for People AND animals- lets talk about RESPONSIBILITY! Abandonment is NOT responsible. We don't talk about "having babies" as irresponsible (unless you are an Animal Rights activist talking about people who breed animals). The act of bringing new life is not what is irresponsible. The act of no longer caring for that life is what is irresponsible. Abandonment of all kinds is Irresponsible- animals or people. That is the TRUE and ONLY issue.

Caring for people makes for a "Humane Society".


Sources:
http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/safehaven.cfm
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/triage/2008/09/father-leaves-n.html
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2008/10/31/abandon.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/22/nebrasks-safe-haven-law-a_n_120757.html
http://www.slate.com/id/2203780/entry/0/