Stabbed.

It is so hard to understand why anyone would abuse a dog or a cat. But we see it much too often at the Animal Defense League. The most recent victim of violence as a Golden Retriever we named Foster.

He was found by a Good Samaritan lying in a street in Northeast San Antonio. He'd been stabbed multiple times.

Deep, penetrating wounds that were infected and ugly.

Our veterinary staff did everything they could to save his life. But in the end it was too much for him to survive. Foster died in his sleep just days after arriving at ADL. Had he been brought to us sooner, had someone seen the assault, why did it happen? How could this happen?

We have a million questions but no answers. What was done to Foster is a felony, punishable by serious fines and jail time. But unless someone comes forward to identify the perpetrator there will be no justice for Foster.

Odds are the person who did this to him is a teenage boy or a male in their early twenties. Sad to say animal abuse is most often committed by males. We also know whoever did this to Foster has bragged about it with his friends. That's par for the course.

So, someone knows the name of the perpetrator. But rarely if ever will they come forward. And that is so sad and disappointing.

We are seeing an increase in animal abuse. Dogs burned with acid. Animals left to die in the street. Cats tortured. And more. It has to stop. But it won't until society makes clear we will not tolerate these acts of violence. Not now. Not ever.

(c) Ron Aaron. 2008