The human factor.

What makes a person leave a dog by the roadside. What makes a person drop of a puppy to fend for itself in the bush. I can understand that the SPCA has limited resources here in South Africa. I can understand that there is no point for them to "rescue" a dog that doesn't trust humans, they wouldn't be able to get close enough to catch it, and if they were lucky enough to do so, they cannot rehabilitate the animal either. It would most probably be put down.

BUT......I am sure that would be better for the animal than leaving it where it is......sitting in the middle of the road, unaware of the heavy duty trucks that are speeding around the blind corner,already injured by a previous car. I do not blame the motorists, this road is very narrow, winding and, roadside bush makes it impossible to see far ahead. By the time you see the poor animal in front of your car, it will be too late......., and yes, you could swerve into a ditch to the left, or even into oncoming traffic to the right. But what risk is that to you, your spouse next to you and your children in the back seat of the car? What risk is that to the tour bus full of french tourists, coming towards you from the opposite side of the road?

What are your choices?
We chose to pull of the road, direct the traffic around the dog while trying to lure it with food. We struggled for about an hour.....to no avail. This dog was terrified of humans, hungry, injured and confused. I don't even think it saw any of the cars around it. Traffic officers soon arrived and asked us to stop obstructing traffic and go home. We had to leave it there.

I cried......not because I was sad, but because I was angry and felt helpless. I blame the human factor. That small factor of people that don't mind dumping puppies in the bush. That small factor of people that would hit a dog with a car without a care and continue driving as if nothing happened or even worse, speed away and try to hide what you have done after people identified you. That small factor of people that would own a dog just for the sake of OWNING it. That small factor of people that buy puppies and discard them when they are all grown up and not so cute anymore.

I guess that human factor is not as small as I would like to believe, perhaps the "good guys" are almost extinct. Is there any hope for the human nation?

There is hope as long as I believe that I as one person can make a difference. May this inspire others to feel the same. Do something good every day. You don't have to volunteer at an animal shelter, or donate money. Just treat every animal and person that comes across your path in life with the respect and kindness that you would deserve in the same situation. Perhaps then, there will be as chance for the human factor to triumph!