Happy weekend!
Dogs fall into my life like accidental blessings. These are their stories.
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Sunday, December 13, 2015
The homeless & their pets... And the organization that wants to help.
Every person, whether two- or four-legged, needs a home. But for four-legged ones, "home" is—quite literally—where the human is. And what if your human doesn't have a home of his/her own?
You see them often, everywhere. Homeless people with animals. What little they have, they share with that dog or cat (or bird, or...). Often they'll go without food themselves in order to feed their companion. It's not an ideal situation for either of them, but it still warms my heart to see it: these bonds of love between two homeless beings. How wonderful that hey've found each other. That generosity of spirit exists even in the most desperate of circumstances: in the human with nothing, in the animal who's been abandoned and mistreated and has no reason to trust a single human being ever again.
As generous as the homeless human may be, however—as willing as s/he may be to sacrifice him/herself in order to provide for the animal (who, by the way, is even more helpless than the human)—there are things that will be forever out of reach.
Affording a vet, for instance.
I can't imagine anything more desperate than seeing one of my dogs hurt or sick and not being able to take them to the vet. These dogs (and cats) of the homeless live on the streets; they're exposed not just to the elements but to human cruelty. They can be hit by a car. They can eat poisoned food. They can get kicked, or punched, or stabbed—and their human can do very little to protect them. Besides, they're not getting yearly vaccines. Or a balanced diet. Or tick- and flea-prevention tablets. Or deworming. Or HeartGard.
Look at this man. His face is full of love. He'd be heartbroken if something happened to his dog... Especially if it was something that could've been prevented with just a little bit of cash.
Pets of the Homeless is an organization that understands this and wants to help. They feed and provide emergency veterinary care for animals whose humans are homeless.
Yes, of course the ideal thing is to eliminate homelessness completely—for humans and animals. But that's not going to happen any time soon. Meanwhile, these pets need help that their humans—who love them as much as you love yours, if not even more—aren't, in spite of their most frantic efforts, able to provide.
Kudos, Pets of the Homeless. Every nation needs an organization like this.
P.S. — If you're as touched by this story as I was, maybe you want to help. You can donate ($50 will provide food and basic vet care for 20 days!), or find other ways to participate. In the year-end spirit of giving, this seems like a beautiful way to make a difference.
 |
| Photo source: Bark Post |
You see them often, everywhere. Homeless people with animals. What little they have, they share with that dog or cat (or bird, or...). Often they'll go without food themselves in order to feed their companion. It's not an ideal situation for either of them, but it still warms my heart to see it: these bonds of love between two homeless beings. How wonderful that hey've found each other. That generosity of spirit exists even in the most desperate of circumstances: in the human with nothing, in the animal who's been abandoned and mistreated and has no reason to trust a single human being ever again.
 |
| Photo source: Bark Post |
As generous as the homeless human may be, however—as willing as s/he may be to sacrifice him/herself in order to provide for the animal (who, by the way, is even more helpless than the human)—there are things that will be forever out of reach.
Affording a vet, for instance.
 |
| Photo source: Bark Post |
I can't imagine anything more desperate than seeing one of my dogs hurt or sick and not being able to take them to the vet. These dogs (and cats) of the homeless live on the streets; they're exposed not just to the elements but to human cruelty. They can be hit by a car. They can eat poisoned food. They can get kicked, or punched, or stabbed—and their human can do very little to protect them. Besides, they're not getting yearly vaccines. Or a balanced diet. Or tick- and flea-prevention tablets. Or deworming. Or HeartGard.
Look at this man. His face is full of love. He'd be heartbroken if something happened to his dog... Especially if it was something that could've been prevented with just a little bit of cash.
 |
| Photo source: Bark Post |
Pets of the Homeless is an organization that understands this and wants to help. They feed and provide emergency veterinary care for animals whose humans are homeless.
Yes, of course the ideal thing is to eliminate homelessness completely—for humans and animals. But that's not going to happen any time soon. Meanwhile, these pets need help that their humans—who love them as much as you love yours, if not even more—aren't, in spite of their most frantic efforts, able to provide.
 |
| Photo source: Bark Post |
Kudos, Pets of the Homeless. Every nation needs an organization like this.
P.S. — If you're as touched by this story as I was, maybe you want to help. You can donate ($50 will provide food and basic vet care for 20 days!), or find other ways to participate. In the year-end spirit of giving, this seems like a beautiful way to make a difference.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Work a miracle before the year ends
As an animal rescuer and volunteer with animal welfare organizations, I'm no stranger to the cruelty humans inflict. Like one of the Animals Asia staff says in the video, it's stuff you never get used to—you just learn to put your emotions on hold in order to get the job done.
But this one... This one made me cry. For the puppy's pain, first, and then for his amazing recovery. And, especially, for his capacity for joy.
Miracles do happen. But only if you make them happen. Please donate / foster / volunteer at your local shelter or rescue organization before the end of the year. Remember these homeless and abandoned, and often mistreated, little ones when you're doing your holiday shopping... A little goes a long way for them. And no one will be more grateful.
But this one... This one made me cry. For the puppy's pain, first, and then for his amazing recovery. And, especially, for his capacity for joy.
Miracles do happen. But only if you make them happen. Please donate / foster / volunteer at your local shelter or rescue organization before the end of the year. Remember these homeless and abandoned, and often mistreated, little ones when you're doing your holiday shopping... A little goes a long way for them. And no one will be more grateful.
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