My Confession: I Protest For Pets

I have a confession to make.  I sometimes partake in peaceful protests for a cause.  To me and hundreds of others, being against animal abuse, which includes pet stores peddling puppies (that’s a mouthful) from mills to naïve adults, is a very worthy cause.

 Until everyone learns what puppy mills and backyard breeders are and how their operations may lead directly to the dumping of unwanted pets in public shelters, which for more than half is a death sentence, then an opportunity to educate is a worthy cause.  Occasionally, there will be a passer-by who might suggest that we should stop “wasting our time” advocating for the rights of animals while children are starving in the U.S.  

Contrary to popular myth, we protesters are educated, caring adults.  Staging peaceful protests is not intended to put proprietors out of business.  In addition, protesters who hope to encourage pet stores and individuals to “go humane” can also empathize with families who are enduring substandard living conditions.

Media coverage about the economy, lack of jobs, and housing is consistent.  There are many organizations the underprivileged can turn to for assistance.Unfortunately, the media seldom covers the often-intolerable conditions that defenseless animals experience and the thousands upon thousands of premature deaths in our shelters or at the hands of abusive individuals.  Until society in general, including our legislature, stops considering pets as products and possessions and recognizes that they breathe, have feelings, are trainable for services, etc., then we have a responsibility to be a voice for the voiceless!

 If you still question whether protesters can help to bring about positive changes, consider the ordinance that was recently passed by the City Council in neighboring Glendale.  The selling of commercially bred cats and dogs at pet stores has been banned and pet adoptions will be  promoted.(http://network.bestfriends.org/initiatives/puppymills/17574/news.aspx) 

  Pet Rush in Glendale went humane before the ordinance was passed and business is booming.  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB8TNd3s4Ek)  Other pet stores throughout the country have already transitioned from selling puppies to adopting out pets that have been rescued and acknowledge how successful they have been.  (http://www.retailsindy.org/latest/retails-announces-500th-pet-adoption-s...)  Backyard breeders, too, are finding out that the fine they will pay if caught selling litters on street corners or in alleys will be more than the profit they think they can make.

If you are not a protester at heart, perhaps you would consider being a "networker” or “cross-poster.”  These are people who, when notified of shelter pets in immediate danger of being put down; pets being abused; and those left behind with no food or water when their families move, will forward the information, by e-mail, to friends and family who then forward it on to others.  One never knows who might see a pet they would be willing to foster, adopt, and/or offer a donation for so a rescue organization might afford to get the animal out of the shelter, get it medically evaluated, and in a boarding facility where it will be save until a permanent home is found.

Finally, I want to leave you with a feel-good story, just one of hundreds, that was made possible because of the efforts of the networking community:

On August 22, an 8-month old male Chihuahua, named “Benetton,” was taken to the Baldwin Park shelter, discarded because his former owners did not like his color anymore and felt he clashed with their drapes!  Volunteers immediately started posting his story, asking if there was a color-blind family or individual who would be interested in adopting him.  The email reached a woman in Virginia.  When the woman’s young son, who, sadly, has an inoperable brain tumor, saw the photo of Benetton, he made a wish that he could adopt him.  The Mom found out whom to contact, and after a few phone calls back and forth, arrangements were being made to fly Benetton (now “Benny”) to Virginia. 

Unfortunately, hurricane Irene was about to make an appearance, so Benny’s flight was postponed. Thankfully, a local foster family offered to care for Benny until his family-to-be does some cleaning up before he is set to arrive.  The Mom is in constant contact, and can hardly wait to see her son’s face when he holds Benny for the first time.

It does take a village, aka a network community.  New members are always welcome.