By the Sun-News Editorial Board
Wednesday, February 21st, 2018
The article about a beloved family pet who was run over and killed by a trespasser in a black sportscar has certainly struck a nerve.
More readers have clicked on that story and video online than any we’ve posted in the past year. People are angry and frustrated, which is completely understandable.
The story of how Jude, an Australian shepherd, first came into the life of Kellie Etz (now Curry), and how he and Finn, another shepherd, have become protectors and beloved family members for Kellie and husband Jared Curry and their two daughters was completely relatable.
And, the video footage shot from surveillance cameras showing a black Camaro running over the dog is hard to watch. It is impossible to know what was going through the mind of the driver at that instant, and whether this was carelessness of cruelty. But it is hard to believe they weren’t aware of having run over something.
The driver could be facing animal cruelty charges if identified, sheriff’s spokesperson Kelly Jameson said. The sheriff’s office has received more than two dozen tips about the black Camaro, including photos, she said, and will follow up on all tips.
The outpouring of support for the Curry family has been phenomenal. They have established a GoFundMe page, Justiceforjude, with the goal of raising $2,500 for the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley.
We think that is entirely appropriate. Because, as heartbreaking as the death of this one dog was, we can’t forget the hundreds of dogs put to death each month, not because of cruelty but indifference.
Stray dogs and cats are brought into the shelter each day. Most of them are the result of indifferent per owners who failed to have their animals spayed or neutered.
According to the most recent report available (2016) for the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley, they took in nearly 10,000 pets that year. The euthanasia rate for the year was 28.3 percent. We expect those numbers have improved some since then, but there are still far too many unwanted dogs and cats born every year because of a lack of spay and neuter.
A bill passed this session would provide greater access to low-cost spay and neuter services through an increased fee on pet food manufacturers. We understand Gov. Susana Martinez’s firm position against any new taxes, but urge her to consider the good that could be gained by this increase to an existing fee.
Until the tragic end, Jude had been lucky. He spent his days being loved and cared by a family that treated him as one of their own. So many of the unwanted pets brought to the shelter as puppies and kittens will never have that experience.
We should be sad and angry about what happened to Jude, and we should try to do something about it if we can. But, we should also feel that way about the dogs and cats who die more humane deaths, but live such lesser lives. We should do something about them as well.
