Friday, August 6, 2010

Not so cute...

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while (okay, make that a long while) but I came across something that grabbed me entirely. I have always been an animal lover, particularly of dogs. I am a proud mommy of a little *furry* girl named Dakota. One day I decided to search for a friend for Dakota, and unearthed a world of horror... In my search for a new furry friend, I realized that thousands of animals are being killed every day because there is simply not room for them in shelters, and they cant find a new home fast enough. The problem is this: our pets are over populating. People refuse to spay/neuter their pets, because they are convinced their pet is 'special', and that they should have babies. The truth is, they are all special. But none of them need to have babies. However, people keep breeding, sometimes out of carelessness, sometimes to make money, but always with the same end result: pets dying at an alarming rate.

The only answer is to spay, neuter, and adopt any future pets. You can also get involved by volunteering at a shelter, or fostering animals. When you foster, you get that animal out of a shelter and make room for a new one. Not only that, but in socializing with the animal you are fostering, you make him so much more likely to get adopted because he is happy, healthy, and well balanced. I feel like I am lecturing here, and that is not my intention, but the truth is, my heart is broken. I immediately began fostering several young puppies who had almost been eaten by raccoons in a trailer park, but luckily for them were saved by a rescue organization. That is ultimately what kept me away from this for so long: I couldn't come on here and play with a clear conscience, when I knew their little lives depended on me. They have since found "forever homes" and are so fortunate. I will continue to foster for the time being, but am looking into how I can become more proactive in helping the animals. These are two of the boys Ive had, Tiger and Jules.

Snuggle Puppies
Animals love us unconditionally, more than we deserve to, and even when we may not deserve it all. They are helpless to abuse, starvation, abandon, and neglect. If you feel compelled to help, there are so many ways to get involved. You can donate food/items/money/time to any shelter or rescue. You can foster animals. Adopt your next pet. And always, always, spay or neuter. If nothing else, the amount of love the animals you help will fill your heart with should be rewarding in itself.

Obey is also running an "Adopt" campaign. I got myself one of these shirts on amazon. It was the easiest way to help a cause I couldn't believe in more.