Charges were filed last week against three individuals accused of abandoning their pets and leaving them to starve to death without food or water. This disturbing lack of care or understanding leads to a myriad of questions — especially for those whose pets play important parts in our families.

Why take on the responsibility of an animal if you’re not prepared to provide it with the love and care it deserves? In a nation where millions of pets are surrendered annually to animal shelters, did these five cats and three rabbits deserve to die alone and abandoned?

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, about 6.5 million animals enter U.S. shelters every year — and those statistics represent just dogs and cats. Of those, nearly half find homes with families excited to offer them a second lease on life.

Sadly, 1.5 million of those same animals never get a second chance and must be euthanized. In these two most recent cases of animal cruelty, this unfortunate option seems more humane compared to the cruel fate met by these eight helpless creatures.

Kudos to Butler County humane police officer Janice Lawniczak for bringing charges against a couple who allegedly abandoned six cats in carriers in the woods and the woman who allegedly left three rabbits to starve to death right under her nose. Shame on all three of them for their blasé attitudes about their actions.

When confronted, all three seemed to think there was nothing wrong with how they handled no longer wanting to be pet owners. Authorities said the couple willingly walked into the woods off Bear Creek Road in Winfield Township last fall, set down three carriers containing two cats each with no food and water, then walked away without looking back.

Really?

In the other case, authorities said a woman simply stopped caring for three rabbits housed in hutches outside her Clearfield Road home in February. Her excuse? She was too busy to care for the critters that belonged to her husband who was away.

Truly?

Butler County has multiple options for pet owners who find themselves overwhelmed and overburdened by the responsibility of caring for their animals. In a day and age where “Google it” is part of our common lexicon, these three people never thought to do a quick check on their smart phones exploring other options before taking such drastic measures?

Honestly?

Most people adopting pets — be it fish, birds, lizards, rabbits, horses, dogs, cats, you name it — open their hearts and homes to these animals who know nothing but how to love unconditionally and serve their masters faithfully. On the other hand, like most everything in our society, there will always exist that small population of people who lack the empathy and understanding needed to care for an animal, let alone surrender it when they grow bored with its existence.

It’s these people that Lawniczak plans to bring to justice, and for good reason. Domesticated animals are defenseless, voiceless. They depend on us humans for everything from food, water and shelter to patience and love.

What they don’t deserve is to be left alone, defenseless in the woods off a back road or voiceless in cages behind the house. We hope Lawniczak continues seeking justice for our four-legged friends who cannot speak up for themselves. We further hope her efforts are met with the public outcry and support they deserve.

Lastly, we hope these cases and the charges filed will serve as examples for others before they abandon an animal. We hope they decide instead to “Google it” and discover a viable option for an unwanted pet.

All of us need to remember that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Just ask any pet owner out there who ever adopted from a shelter.

— ALH