We need your help!

You know that saying by St. Francis of Assisi, “For it is in the giving that we receive”.  Of course I know what that means on the surface, but I never really felt it in my heart until I saw an episode of “Undercover Boss”.  The premise of the show is the CEO of a big corporation goes undercover and takes a job with the everyday people working in the trenches.  While doing this, he gets to know them and what their dreams are and their ideas to make the company and their jobs better.

In the end, he reveals himself to the employees.  There was one man that had always wanted to go to a certain school (I can’t exactly remember the school), but was too financially strapped to ever imagine this could come true.  The CEO surprised him with a leave of absence and a full ride to that school.  Not only that, his job would be waiting for him when he returned.  The look of pure gratitude, happiness and relief brought me to tears in a wonderful, happy way.  It was as if he was drowning and was thrown a lifesaver.

In that moment, I really grasped what St. Francis was saying to us.  That awesome feeling of bringing so much joy to another human being felt so good that it’s almost like a selfish act.

Why am I telling you this story?  Because I want to encourage you to pay it forward to our animals in need.  Helping those that have no voice,  the beaten, the battered and the neglected.

My own dream for the future is to create a foundation to raise funds for animal shelters and rescues.  Right now a portion of the proceeds from Waggy’s online store will go to this effort.

If you feel deeply about animals, here’s how you can help:

Volunteer your time to an animal organization that you feel strongly about.  Get involved and help with fundraising efforts, walk dogs, clean out kennels – anything that helps out their cause.

Connect on Facebook and other social media outlets.  There are thousands of people working night and day to help out rescue animals.  Google for media sites that are specifically geared toward animals.

Get involved in animal advocacy or legislation. Get people to sign petitions offline and online, campaign for causes, make phone calls.  If you pick a cause that you really feel strong about, it will be easy to explain your side to people and get them to join your cause.

Start your own non-profit.  2 Hands 4 Paws (her website was hacked, so this URL is from Volunteer Match) was started by Maureen Gendron in Rhode Island to give temporary housing to pets that have been affected by the housing crisis.  She is looking for families to house these pets while their owners get back on their feet and find a permanent home.  In my pet sitting business, I get many calls asking for this very thing, but we’re not set up to do that and it would cost the owner too much.  However, I’d love to start something like 2 Hands 4 Paws.

Donate your money.  If times doesn’t allow you to volunteer for the organization of your choice or cause, I’m sure they will gladly accept your money.

Become a pet sitter.  Of course this isn’t like volunteering for a shelter, but you are helping pets feel safe, secure and loved while their owners are away.  You can’t imagine how much unconditional love you get sitting dogs and cats.  Basically, that’s my selfish pleasure.

If you’re looking for something more globally, check out Charity Navigator to find just the right cause that’s dear to your heart.

You’ll never get more as when you give of your heart.

Chris L Wagner

From One Pet Lover to Another

In my world, everyday is Be Kind to Animals week.  As a pet sitter it’s my job – that’s why I became a pet sitter.  I’ve always had a special relationship with dogs and feel that we need them as much as they need us.

Annie and Tommy

Be Kind to Animals Week was started in 1915 by American Humane to celebrate the relationship we have with our pets and to educated people on how to treat them with kindness and love.  I couldn’t image a world without pets. The joy and love they bring to our lives everyday can’t be measured.  It’s constant and so complete.  You can always count on a dog to lift your spirits and fill your heart with so much love that you think it’s going to burst!

It’s only right that we help other people who may not feel the same way to treat our furry friends with kindness.

As my part for this week, I devoted my ezine to adopting or getting a new dog.  If you want to do your part, here’s what American Humane suggests.  They also instruct you on how to accomplish these suggestions when you click on the learn more button.

Speak out for the animals:  This can be done through legislation, reporting animal abuse (see my prior post about animal abuse) or just speaking out on animal issues that you’re passionate about.  They have an Action Alert if your interested in knowing more about policies and legislation.

Respect wildlife in your own backyard: I know there are lots of pests that eat gardens and plants such as rabbits and deer, but there are humane ways to deter them from your door.  The American Humane has lots of suggestion how to humanely get rid of unwanted animals in your yard.  Or, how about starting a butterfly garden or have bird houses so they have a safe place to live.

Rescue of pet from a shelter: In my opinion, this should always be your first choice when getting a new pet.  Not only are you being kind, but in some cases, you’re saving their life.  All they want is someone to take them home and give them the love they deserve.  It’s a win-win situation. 

Taking care of your pet: Once you get your pet from the shelter, you have to give them the very best.  Number one on that list is nutritional pet food.  This is the foundation of their health and you can avoid costly vet bills if they are getting the proper nutrition.  Get a soft, warm pet bed, brush their teeth on a regular basis, give their coat a good brushing, bathe them, take them on daily walks, provide them with adequate shelter, shade and water, make sure they have their identification including getting them micro chipped and get them the vaccinations they need to keep them healthy and happy.

Most of all love them with all your heart and the love they give back to you is nothing short of miraculous.

Chris L Wagner

If you’re reading this blog, you are most likely an animal lover, and as an animal lover, you find the idea of animal abuse absolutely abhorrent.    My Mother used to watch the Animal Cop shows where they would rescue an abused animal from situations that you wouldn’t put your worst enemy in.  I asked her how she can watch those shows, and she said that there was always a happy ending and the animal got the help it needed.

Unfortunately, there isn’t always a happy ending for some precious animals.  They are beaten, shot, starved and even hung with no savior to rescue them from these monsters.

Abused Dog

I have to say that when I was looking for pictures to illustrate animal abuse for this post, I saw things that I wish I never did.  It literally turned my stomach to see the cruelty that humans have inflicted upon the most precious things on Earth.  The pictures I chose to show you very mild compared to what is really going on.

When I speak to people about abuse the first thing everyone says is Why?  Why do they do it?  How can anyone hurt a poor defenseless animal?

Actually there are 9 reasons why people intentionally abuse animals that keep coming up in the databases over and over again.

1. to control an animal
2. to retaliate against an animal
3. to retaliate against another person
4. to satisfy a prejudice against a species or breed
5. to express anger through an animal
6. to enhance one’s own aggressiveness
7. to shock people for amusement
8. to displace hostility from a person to an animal
9. to perform non-specific sadism
   

   Abused Cat

These 9 reasons are broken down into two different categories:

1. Passive Cruelty or Acts of Omission which is defined as not what the abuser is doing to the animal, but what they are not doing.  This includes neglect, abandonment, not providing adequate water and food, never taking them to the vet when there is clearly something wrong with the animal or giving them the proper shelter they need from extreme weather.  Just because this term is called Passive doesn’t mean they aren’t inflicting severe harm to the animal.
2. Active Cruelty or Acts of Commission is when an abuser intentionally inflicts harm to an animal such as fighting, bestiality, poisoning and the like.  This form of cruelty is the most serious and usually associated with serious signs of psychological problems.

In researching for this post, I found out about some forms of abuse that I never thought a human was capable of.

The most prevalent types of animal abuse are:

1. Neglect or abandonment – As we discussed above, is not providing the adequate care for an animal.  Sometimes this is caused by simple ignorance in how to care for a pet.

2. Fighting – Everyone knows about Pit bull fights as Michael Vick was rightly prosecuted with, but there are other forms of fighting such as:
-          Trunking is when they put two dogs into the trunk of a car, close it and let the dogs fight it out to the death.
-          Hog-Dog Fighting is when they have a dog and a hog fight it out.  This is most prevalent in the Southern United States.
-          Badger Baiting (hold on to your hats) is when they pit a dog against a badger.  Since a badger is very fierce, they first have to beat it over the head, break it’s jaw or chain it’s leg just to give the dog a level playing field.  Then they put the badger in a pit or arena and they let several dogs loose and encourage them to kill the badger.  This kind of abuse is mostly seen in the UK, and over 10,000 badgers are killed every year.  All of these forms of fighting are usually done with Pit bulls.

3. Other forms of animal abuse are hoarding, poisoning, shooting, bestiality , beating, hanging and something called “Crush Videos“.  Crush Videos are when people get sexual gratification from young women crushing or killing a small animal by stomping on them.  It’s even better if the woman has on sexy shoes for those that have a foot fetish.   How sick is that!

What do you do if you suspect someone is abusing an animal?

1. Tread lightly.  If someone is actively abusing an animal, they are probably the type of person that is also abusing family members.  Maybe by saving an animal, you might be saving a child or spouse from abuse.  However, not all cases are clear cut, and you may not know all the facts.

1. Take notes with times, events and dates and if possible, take pictures or videos.  Do not trespass on someone else’s property to obtain these pictures – it won’t be admissible in court if done illegally and they can throw out the case.

1. It’s different in different counties, but you can call your local animal control or law enforcement, but don’t confront the person yourself as they may be dangerous.

1. If your dog was killed and you suspect someone, have a necropsy performed to find out exactly how the animal died if it’s not evident.

It’s our duty to keep these evil (in my humble opinion) people off the streets and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  Volunteering at an animal shelter or other animal organization is one way to help.  The ASPCA and Pet-Abuse.com has lots of information – Even if you help one animal from being abused, it’s worth it.

We have to do it for the animals that have no voice of their own.

Chris L Wagner

From One Pet Lover to Another

Waggy’s Eco Pet Products

Waggy’s Pet Sitting Service

Waggy’s Pet Tips and Tales Blog