Listen to God’s whisper and become the animals’ Savior

November 28, 2009

Sometimes as I’m preparing to write my weekly article I come across items that are so powerful I am grateful I have the opportunity to share them with you. This is one of those times. I found this short poem called “The Animals’ Savior” Copyright Jim Willis – 1999:

I looked at all the caged animals in the shelter…the cast-offs of human society. I saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread, sadness and betrayal. And I was angry. “God,” I said, “this is terrible! Why don’t you do something?” God was silent for a moment and then He spoke softly. “I have done something,” He replied. “I created You.”

After reading it I wondered how many people have made the same angry prayer to God but are waiting for His divine intervention to make the world right rather than hearing His gentle reminder that the ability to heal the world is within our reach. If you are one of them don’t worry, you’re not alone. Most of us are so overwhelmed trying to get through the day unscathed we forget we have a responsibility to make this world a better place, starting with the least of them among us, the animals that have no one. And you can begin making a difference today by calling the shelter and asking them what they need because the list is long and their needs are many. With the holidays coming up do you ever get tired of giving gifts to folks that have everything, knowing when you make that purchase that it means nothing and you are doing it out of obligation not because you have found something they really need or want but only because they are giving you a gift? Rather than doing the same old thing just because that is what you have always done why not make a donation to the shelter in their name this year? If they are animal people they will appreciate the thoughtfulness of knowing they are making a difference. The same $20 that buys a throwaway gift can mean the difference between life and death to a shelter animal. 67% of dogs and 75% of cats that enter a shelter are euthanized. I have three dogs and four cats. Using those numbers I would have to look at them and pick one of each of the dogs and the cats to live and the rest to die because there would be no one that would want them, no one to love them, no one to care. I look at them and think of each of their personalities, their little quirks, their funny habits, how they make me laugh, and I know they each have wonderful qualities and they all deserve to live. They each love me in their own, unique way and I can’t bear the thought of living a day without each of them here by my side. And yet every day wonderful animals that have the same unique, individual loving qualities that my pets have are euthanized because there is no one to love them, no one to care for them. But today you can make a difference in a shelter animal’s life. Today you can decide that you’re not going to give that throw away gift but instead give the gift of life. Make a difference. Show others how to make a difference. Listen closely, you’ll hear God’s whisper. He created you to bring joy to others that would never know joy otherwise. Because you decided this would be the year when you stood to be counted when others missed the opportunity because they were too busy to listen, too busy to notice how much the least of them among us, the shelter animals, need and how little it takes to fulfill those needs. Listen closely to how little it takes to hear God’s whisper, and ultimately, become The Animals’ Savior.

And never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.

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Sacrifice is a way of life when you’re passionate about shelter animals.

November 21, 2009

Over this Thanksgiving please remember those that give their all to take care of the least of them among us, the shelter animals.  I found this article written on May 16, 2001by Joan C. Fremothat that details how a rescue manager feels and I felt she explained more eloquently than I ever could, but as you read her words remember that our President does all of this while undergoing round 4 of chemo for Leukemia.  I wonder how many of us would have the inner strength or wherewithal to withstand the cancer treatments much less the treatments with the stress of running a shelter while trying to save so many lives.  So please, join me in my prayer of thanksgiving for those that get up every morning and do the thankless job to save the least of them among us, the shelter animal:

I want to quit! My health is bad. There are days I feel so terrible that I can barely     move. My phone bills are outrageous, and I could have replaced my van with the funds I have spent these last 3 years—on animals that were not my own.

I want to quit! I spend hours and hours emailing about dogs. There may be 500 messages when I start—and at 4 AM, when I finally shut down the computer, there are still 500  emails to be read.

I want to quit!  Gosh, I haven’t the time left to email my friends. I can’t remember the last book I read, and I gave up my subscription to my local newspaper—I used to enjoy reading it, cover to cover, but now it often ends up in the bottom of the squirrel’s cage—unread.

I want to quit! I’ve spent days emailing what seems like everyone—trying to find a foster home, help for a dog languishing in a shelter—but his time has run out, and the shelter has had to euthanize to make room for the next sad soul.

I want to quit! I swear, I walk away from my computer to stretch my legs—let the dogs out—and come back to find another dog in desperate need. There are times I really dread checking my email. How will I find the funds, the help, to save yet another dog?

I want to quit! I save one dog, and two more take its place. Now an owner who doesn’t want his dog—it won’t stay in his unfenced yard. An intact male wanders… This bitch    got pregnant by a stray… This 3-month-old pup killed baby chicks… The dog got too big… This person’s  moving and needs to give up his pet. I ask you,   friends—what town, what city, what state doesn’t allow you to own a pet?

I want to quit! I just received another picture, another sad soul with tormented eyes that peer out of a malnourished body. I hear whimpering in my sleep, have nightmares for days…

I want to quit! Many of the “Breed People” don’t seem to want to hear about these dogs. Breeders either don’t realize, or just don’t care, how many dogs of their breed are dying in shelters.

I want to quit! I just got off the phone. “Are you Pyr Rescue? We want to adopt a male to breed to our female.” How many times do I have to explain? I have tried to explain    about genetics, about health and pedigrees. I explain that rescue NEUTERS! I usually end up sobbing, as I explain about the vast numbers of animals dying in shelters across the country, as I describe the condition many of these animals are found in. I wonder if they really heard me…

I want to quit!  It is not like I don’t have enough rescues of my own to worry about—but others have placed dogs improperly and aren’t there to advise the new owners.

I want to quit! There ARE some unscrupulous rescues out there—hoarders, collectors, and folks who will short change the care of the animals to make a dollar. They save them all, regardless of temperament, putting fellow rescuer’s and adopters at risk but not being truthful.

I want to quit!  I have trusted the wrong people— had faith and heart broken…

I want to quit!  AND THEN… My dog, Magnus, lays his head in my lap, he comforts me with his gentle presence—and the thought of his cousins suffering stirs my heart.

I want to quit! AND THEN… One of those 500 emails is from an adopter. They are thanking me for the most wonderful dog on earth—they cannot imagine life with out their friend—their life is changed, and they are so grateful.

I want to quit! AND THEN… One of my adopted Rescues has visited a nursing home. A patient that has spent the last few years unable to communicate, not connecting—Lifts    his hand to pat the huge head in his lap, softly speaks his first words in ages— to this gentle furchild.

I want to quit! AND THEN… A Good Samaritan has found and vetted a lost baby, “I can’t keep him, but I’ll take care of him until you find his forever home.”

I want to quit!  AND THEN… “Jamie took his first steps holding on to our Pyr.” “Joan, you should see this dog nursing this hurt kitten!” “I was so sick, Joan, and he never left my side…”

I want to quit!  AND THEN… I get an email from a fellow rescuer,  “Haven’t heard from you in a while—you OK? You know I think of you…”

I want to quit!   AND THEN… A dozen rescuers step up to help, to transport, to pull, and to offer encouragement. I have friends I have never seen, but we share tears, joys,

and everything in between. I am not alone. I am blest with family of the heart, my fellow Rescuers. Just days ago it was a friend who shared her wit and wisdom, whose late night email lifted my heart.  Sometimes it is friends who only have time to forward you a smile. Often, it is my friends who forward me the notices of dogs in need.

There are Rescuers who see a failing transport and do everything they can to find folks to pull it together for you.

Rescuers who’ll overnight or foster your Dog while you seek transport.

There are Rescuers not used to or comfortable with your breed, but who put aside their discomfort to help.

There are Rescuers whose words play the music of our hearts.  Foster homes that love your Rescue, and help to make them whole again—body and spirit. Foster homes that

fit your baby in, though it may not be their breed.

Rescuers whose talents and determination give us tools to help us. Rescuers we call on for help in a thousand ways, who answer us, who hear our pleas.

Rescuers who are our family, our strength, our comrades in battle.

I know I cannot save every Pyr in need. I know my efforts are a mere drop in a sea. I know that if I take on just one more—those I have will suffer.

I want to quit! But I won’t. When I feel overwhelmed, I’ll stroke my  Magnus’s head while reading my fellow Rescuers emails.  I’ll cry with them, I’ll laugh with them—and they will help me find the strength to go on.

I want to quit! But not today. There’s another email, another dog  needing Rescue.

Never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.  And from the entire Tail Talk family, have a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

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Posted by tailtalk

Educating our children is the first step to ending animal abuse.

November 15, 2009

Every day as I read the news I see story after story of animal abuse and cruelty.  Only the most severe forms of cruelty make it to the news, but it begins with the most basic beginnings so I visited the ASPCA.org website for information regarding animal abuse.  The most important thing we can do to stop the cycle is to educate our children.  The first part of Tail Talk regards what is animal cruelty and second is information on how to talk to your children on why people do this.  If your child sees an animal in your neighborhood that shows any of the signs of being abused and comes to you with this information, it is up to you to call your local animal control or humane society and tell them what they have seen.  According to the ASPCA here are the symptoms of abuse that you can be looking for:

“What constitutes animal cruelty?

Animal cruelty occurs when someone intentionally injures or harms an animal or when a person willfully deprives an animal of food, water or necessary medical care. Here are some signs that may indicate abuse or neglect:

  • Tick or flea infestations
  • Wounds on the body
  • Patches of missing hair
  • Extremely thin, starving animal
  • Limping
  • An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal
  • Dogs who are repeatedly left alone without food and water, and often chained in a yard
  • Dogs who have been hit by cars—or are showing any of the signs listed here—and have not been taken to a veterinarian
  • Dogs who are kept outside without shelter in extreme weather conditions
  • Animals who cower in fear or act aggressively when approached by their owners

Once they have seen signs of abuse animal lovers often ask, “Why do people abuse animals?” That’s a complicated question—and the ASPCA will try to explain the answer here.

There are three main reasons why people abuse animals.

First Reason
Most people who abuse animals don’t do it on purpose. They hurt animals because they don’t think about or realize what they are doing.

Many of these people don’t know that what they are doing is cruel. For example, some people don’t realize what kinds of shelter different animals need. They may keep a dog in their yard with a doghouse that is on the ground and gets flooded with water when it rains, or they keep their dog on a short chain all of the time.

Some people will try to keep their pet under control by using cruel types of discipline. They may think that punishment and intimidation are the best ways to solve a problems.

Other people are cruel because they don’t pay attention. For example, someone might forget to give their cat water for a few days or leave their dog in a car on a hot day with the windows rolled up. Often these people know better, but they either forget or don’t care enough to pay attention.

Finally, some people hurt animals even though they think they’re helping them. For example, some people have so many pets that they can’t care for them all. These people are called hoarders, and they take in so many animals because they love them. Unfortunately, they can’t care for all the animals they take in, and the animals end up living in a place that’s cramped , dirty and unhealthy.

Nearly all of these people can learn to understand that they are being cruel through education and increasing their awareness of the needs of our animal neighbors. Since most of the people who abuse animals make up this group, this means that most of the people who abuse animals can be helped with basic education.

Second Reason
The next biggest group of animal abusers do it on purpose, but don’t keep doing it for a long period of time. For example, a group of kids may decide to throw rocks at a nest of baby birds they happened to see, or they may hurt a stray cat in their neighborhood.

These people are usually young, and they hurt animals because they aren’t thinking, or because they can’t stand up to their friends and peer pressure. The ones who are aren’t really thinking might be mad at someone else (like their parents) and kick their pet dog because they can’t kick their parents. Or they may think it’s fun to watch an animal run away scared, without really thinking about how the animal feels.

The ones who are giving in to peer pressure might be trying to show off to their friends. Or they may be with a group of friends who are all trying to impress each other, and so they go along with what everyone else is doing.

Intentionally hurting animals for any reason is serious. In most states, those caught doing this will face harsher punishment than those who hurt animals unintentionally. However, these people usually don’t hurt animals more than a few times. They learn to think about how others feel, and they learn to stand up for themselves. This group can be helped through education and support, too.

Third Reason
The last group of people who hurt animals are the worst. These are people who intentionally hurt animals because they enjoy hurting things, or because it makes them feel powerful. Many of these people would hurt other people if they could get away with it. They just choose to hurt animals because animals are more helpless than people.

Why do these people hurt animals? There are different reasons. A lot of these people want to have control over others. They will hurt an animal because they think this means they control the animal. Or they may hurt the animal to control another person. For example, a husband might hurt the family’s pet to show his wife what he could do to her if she doesn’t obey his commands. Someone else might make his dog kill other dogs because he thinks that makes him powerful.

Others simply enjoy pain and violence. Those who enjoy violence might also destroy inanimate objects as well as animals and people.

All of the people in this last group suffer from serious, psychological problems that will probably not go away on their own. They often need the help of licensed professionals—like a psychologist. We are not 100% sure why people become like this—most are probably born with their problems, but others can get their problems from brain damage, poisonous environments, or by being treated badly themselves. Without help, the psychological problems these people have can haunt them for their whole lives.

If you know anyone who you think may be like this, don’t approach them yourself. Talk to a trusted adult, and let the adult find someone to help these people. “

Talk with your children today and help break this cycle of abuse.  Let’s stand together and let the world know we demand it be a better place, a place of love even for the least of them among us.  And never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.

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Posted by tailtalk

7 Out of Every 10 Cats in Shelters are Put Down. Why???????

November 7, 2009

We have adopted four cats from the Randolph County Humane Society along with numerous feral cats that have come our way because we live in the country, and I wondered about animal statistics after having three male cats neutered this past month (and for anyone wondering, they were as spunky and loving the day after as they were the day before).  The ASPCA.org states that seven out of ten cats in shelters are put down simply because there is no one to adopt them (not in RCHS, but in high kill shelters), so read these statistics provided by The National Council on Pet Population, Study and Policy, and take them to heart:

Number of cats and dogs entering shelters each year:
6-8 million (HSUS estimate)

Number of cats and dogs euthanized by shelters each year:
3-4 million (HSUS estimate)

Number of cats and dogs adopted from shelters each year:
3-4 million (HSUS estimate)

Number of cats and dogs reclaimed by owners from shelters each year:
Between 600,000 and 750,000—30 percent of dogs and 2-5 percent of cats entering shelters (HSUS estimate)

Number of animal shelters in the United States:
Between 4,000 and 6,000 (HSUS estimate)

Percentage of dogs in shelters who are purebred:
25 percent (HSUS estimate)

Average number of litters a fertile cat can produce in one year: 3

Average number of kittens in a feline litter: 4-6

Average number of litters a fertile dog can produce in one year: 2

Average number of puppies in a canine litter: 6-10

These statistics were updated as of July 7, 2008, so with the economy being as bad as it has been over the past year I wouldn’t be surprised if the numbers are higher.  I know in Randolph County alone the number of animals brought into the shelter by Animal Control has increased 70% in 2009 over 2008.  We, the people, are the only ones that can make a difference.  It is up to us to spay and neuter our pets.  The ultimate goal of the Randolph County Humane Society is to find a corporate sponsor that will help them fulfill their dream of building a clean room that will allow low to no cost spays and neuters in the hope of creating an environment where we become the first county in the country where the shelter outlives its need.  What a glorious day that would be when there would be no more unwanted and unloved animals in our midst.  It can happen if we have the continued support of the good people of Randolph County.  But never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.

November 15 is the final day to have your picture taken with Santa.  You can have a family picture or a pet picture, it’s up to you, it’s just our way of giving back to the community.  We have the real St. Nick waiting for you this year, so don’t miss out.  It’s at the AFSCME Union Hall in Chester from 1-4.  It’s a great deal for you and you help the animals at the shelter at the same time.  It’s a win-win situation for everyone.  We hope to see you there!

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Posted by tailtalk

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