Pet Owners Should Beware of Thieves

There is a scourge loose in the Valley. Uncaring and selfish thieves are stealing our pets. They come at night in vans. To get around legalities, so-called breeders hire these people to trap pets, and then the breeders sell the animals to laboratories for experimentation. It matters not that the animals are much loved.

To say, “After all, it’s only an animal,” is not only to demean the roles of the Earth’s lesser creatures, it is also a denial of how enriched our lives can be by a beloved pet. I am confident that those who are truly civilized assign to all God’s creation a rightful, generous place in the scheme of all things.

To the thief: You took our Smoke who gave us so much pleasure and demanded far less than many of our species do. You care not for the anguish you caused. You diminished the light in a 92-year-old man’s eyes when you took his beautiful pet and companion. Fortunately, some animal lovers in this Valley are cognizant of your treachery, and one day you will be caught.

This is a warning to all pet owners: beware.

FRAN CLEVELAND

Northridge