Happy Father’s Day, but we need fewer animal dads

It’s Father’s Day! I love this holiday because we get to spend time with our wonderful dads. Or, if our dads have already gone to heaven, we get to spend time remembering them and cherishing treasured memories.

Dads are so important in our lives. They show us strength and gentleness, love and patience. Sometimes they show us gentle correction, but sometimes, even when we deserve correction, they show us hugs and affection instead. And there is just nothing that compares to a genuine, warm bear hug from your dad, especially when you really thought you were in trouble.

And dads do fun stuff with us, too, like put us on a leash and take us to the dog park to romp and play and splash in the water. Well, maybe your dad didn’t put a leash on you but took you to a ball game instead, but I’m sure it was fun all the same.

While we’ll be having fun spending time with our dads I would like for you to think about something else. I would ask you to think about dads in the animal world and the notion that we need fewer of them. In fact, we don’t need any more animal dads. We have way too many now.

You see, my nonprofit animal group, Central Georgia CARES, is working hard to see that there are fewer animal dads around. If you were involved in the work we do you’d understand why we don’t want any more animal dads. It really breaks our hearts to see a gazillion animal babies that nobody wants.

Not only are our city shelters filled to capacity with dogs and cats who have a slim chance of finding homes, most of our rescue groups are filled as well. The situation with the rescue groups even further lessens the chances adoptable pets will make it out of the shelter.

CARES is actively working in areas of our community where the homeless animal population is enormous. In fact, we’re currently in an area where we can’t even count the number of homeless cats that are multiplying as I write. And because there are so many with limited food supply, not all are healthy.

In addition to promoting neutering all animal dads, CARES is working to implement a Trap Neuter and Release program where feral cats are humanely trapped, neutered and released back in their habitat unable to breed any longer. Food will be supplied to them to prevent future suffering.

So while you celebrate Father’s Day tomorrow with your dad chat about spaying and neutering you pets. And if you feel so moved, help us out with the TNR program to get the cat explosion under control. Happy Fathers Day!

This story was originally published June 16, 2017 at 1:53 PM with the headline "Happy Father’s Day, but we need fewer animal dads."