Now, if I were living in New York City, or the surrounding areas, which is where I hail from, I could easily call the ASPCA and feel secure that on officer would come and rescue this animal.

But because I live in a tiny town in Alabama, that's not an option.

Thus, this puppy will likely die tonight. As I watch him struggling to breathe, an awful mix of emotions overwhelms me. I'm angry, frustrated, sad, and feeling incredibly helpless. I know I cannot save this puppy.

If even one agency like the ASPCA existed in each county in our country, many more pets could and would be saved.

Here in the South, animals are often looked upon as property. That's one reason we don't have access to such agencies. Animals simply are not a priority here and are not often viewed as pets.

It's very common to drive down any street, country road, even a neighborhood and see dogs chained forever to their doghouses, with little, if any room to exercise.

Another problem we have in Alabama is that it's one of the poorest states in the country. People simply cannot afford to spay or neuter their "property", and feel it's not their responsibility, especially if their pet is male.

The result is litter upon litter of unwanted, abused and neglected animals who otherwise could have made some wonderful pets.

We rescued such a cat a few months back. He was an outdoor kitten, and when his house burned to the ground, his owner threw him and a sibling into a sack and headed for the lake. Somehow, this boy managed to escape not only the sack, but the car as well.