What you say rings true for me. Yes, I think there is a definite lack of animal abuse and welfare education in the U.S.. I think we are in denial still, as a society; I know I have been over the years.
I was wondering if there is an event or time you can pinpoint that brought you to the realization about the plight of animals? I would like to hear your stories if you would like to share them. You can email me personally if it is something best addressed off the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
I am interested in what things I can do on a larger scale. I joined an online site called Care2 and have been signing petitions and sending letters to my representatives, and forwarding the emails to my friends and family. I would like to do more. I have a website, I can do more there too.
Here's my story: my education in animal welfare first began in the early 1980's when I wrote a college research paper on vivisection. I picked the subject because I had had an emotionally difficult time dissecting animals in my high school anatomy course. It upset me greatly and no one seemed to understand or care. Later, when I was taking college courses, I picked the topic of vivisection for my paper. I learned so much from doing that research.
I had a course in biology at college and I struck up a friendship with the administrator of the research lab. I saw the conditions the research animals (mostly rats) lived under, being experimented upon, living in cramped cages, no love and affection, etc. He told me they were dismantling the lab and that the rats would be euthanized (which was better in my opinion than the life they were leading.)
I took two of the rats home (I wanted to take them all home) and I named them Flora and Fauna. At first, the poor girls could not even stand up on their back legs in the roomy cage I had bought for them. They did not have the strength from living in small horizontal cages for so long.
I told some fellow classmates about the fate of the rats, and they looked at me as if I was nuts! Maybe I was, but I could not stand to see them suffering. Flora and Fauna both developed cancer and did not live long (as most rodents do not) but I gave them a lot of love and attention in the short time I had them.
After the education on vivisection, I decided to focus on stopping the use of all cosmetics (make-up) in my personal life and to educate as many of my friends and family as I could. Some were receptive, most were not. I never went back to wearing cosmetics, even after the cruelty-free versions became more available. I use mostly cruelty-free products and cleaners, and I talk about it where I can.
Just the other day I convinced a co-worker not to declaw her kittens. I explained that it was mutilation. I did not mince words. I showed her on my own hand how it would be to cut off the end of my digits. She is not having her cats declawed.
I have lapsed into complacency somewhat in past years, like giving up my vegetarianism after nine years. It was easier to rationalize it, living with a non-vegetarian husband. I am going to revisit that decision. At any rate, having Pippin in my life has already brought me many blessings, beyond her mere presence. It brought me to this list. Thank you for getting up on the soap box Phaewryn.
Gina
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
(climbing up onto big bargain size soapbox)I think a harsh mental picture is what more people need to have. If more people cringed, we might live in a world that was more apt to protect animals. The fact that anyone on this list wasn't aware of any of those issues in itself speaks for the lack of animal abuse education in our society. Cringe away... have nightmares... cry... then go out and MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Lobby for harsher animal cruelty laws, lobby to have the states that require shelters give unadopted animals to research facilities change those laws (the term is called "pound seizure, I believe), Lobby to end animal experimentation or to at least stop allowing class B dealers (also known as "bunchers"). Picket, get out and hold a sign. We live in a wonderful democracy (those of us here in the USA) but it doesn't work if you don't use it, so WRITE your representatives and urge them to sponsor bills to tighten animal cruelty laws and change the ones that effect animals in a bad way. Visit your local high school, and colleges, and see if they dissect cats or use animals in any of their labs, and if they do, urge them to stop, picket them, hand out flyers to all the students about all of the alternatives available these days. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Just make a difference. Until now, some of you may have been unaware, NOW, you are not. Before, you didn't know, so things happened around you without your knowledge, NOW you know, and you have the power to try to effect changes. That's what activism is, you see a wrong, and you set out to make it right. It's that simple. Now you just simply have to start caring enough to take action. I'm not saying you don't care when I say that, I'm saying, from my own experience, it takes a LOT of willpower to take the time out of your busy life to actually DO anything to make the world a better place. No, it doesn't just happen, and no, others wont do it for you. So when I say you have to care ENOUGH to take action, I mean that you have to PUSH yourself to DO what needs to be done, because it's really easy to take a neutral stance in life, and let everyone else run the show, but it takes time, energy, and determination to go out and do it for yourself. WE, you and I, are the voice and protectors of the animals we rule over in our society, to give them voices, we have to put aside our own, and make room for their message in our lives, then, we have to go out and spread the message, because what good is a message that no one hears?Every tear I shed, though they may be many, is far outnumbered by the numbers of animals that suffer in our world, and my tears, though they may fall, will never make a difference in anyone's life but my own, and that just isn't enough. If only I could collect a dollar for every tear I cry, and give it to the cause that made them fall, then, perhaps, my sadness would be justified in itself. Actions speak louder than tears.(off my soapbox now)
PhaewrynPlease adopt a cat from Little Cheetah Cat Rescue!!! http://ucat.us/adopt.htmlNo virus found in this outgoing message.
Low cost Spay&Neuter services in VT, and Emergency Financial Assistance for cat owners:
http://ucat.us/VermontLowCost.html
Special Needs Cat Resources: http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html
The Sofa Poem: http://ucat.us/sofapoem.html
Please shop online through i-give and support the Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program:
http://www.igive.com/FVEAP
Shop at GREAT stores, like Drs. Foster & Smith, Pet Food Direct, Musician's Friend, and LOTS more!
It doesn't cost you a single penny more, and it makes so much difference to a sick cat in need!
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Please visit my Tigger Tales site!
On the fundraising page are my merchant affiliate banners. If anyone uses my links to make a purchase, I will receive a percentage of all final sales. I am going to donate 100% of the proceeds to animal welfare organizations. This is a great way to shop your favorite online pet stores and give something to a worthy cause. Thank you in advance!
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