Tag Archive for shelter

A Special Day for Your Mutt

Call him a “mutt” or “half-breed” or “exotic mix,” he’s still our treasured family member.  And today is his day.  It’s National Mutt Day, also known as National Mixed Breed Day.  Well, one of the annual days, since it’s also celebrated on Dec. 2.  But,  hey, humans’ best friend deserves two days.

Animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige established this day in 2005 to counter the trend toward designer-dogs and pure breeds. plus over-breeding, especially by puppy-mills to supply pet stores with these dogs.  The result has been sick and extremely neglected dogs.

Meanwhile, 80% of dogs in shelters are mixed breeds just waiting to be adopted before they’re euthanized.  This day is intended to point out that mutts generally live longer, are healthier, naturally better behaved, and can just as easily be trained to be service dogs, bomb/drug-sniffers, search and rescue–you name it.  And they’ll wag “I-love-yous” even when you’re grouchy.

Think about it.

Take a Bite Out of Poverty

Think about it: over 37 million people of all ages in our country are suffering from the ravages of poverty.  These are men, women, and children off all ethnic backgrounds.  They are healthy or unhealthy, mentally unstable or perfectly stable, families or individuals, unable to work or have been “downsized” and can’t find work.  In short, poverty can strike anyone at any time–and it has.  We can’t fix our economy overnight, but those of us who are fortunate enough not to be part of the 37 million can help through our donations not just of money but of time. Everyone has a little time to give.  If serving at a soup kitchen takes more than you have, how about spending a few extra minutes while you grocery shop to shop for food items for those kitchens, or bake extra cookies for a shelter while you’re baking for your family.  If you don’t have time to help a local charity pack sack lunches for the homeless, you probably do have a minute to smile and say “Hi” to the homeless man outside the store, thus letting him know that he’s recognized as a human being rather than an objectionable object. After your daughter’s softball game, when you go with the team to pizza, you have a second to invite along as your family’s guest the girl who can’t afford to go.  In other words, poverty can be fought on the human level–one human being to another.  And you fight the battle in little ways.  As I always say, Small things really DO count!

Fully Packed Irish Proverb

Today’s Thursday Thought–an Irish proverb–is short but packed with meaning.

“People live in each other’s shelter.” – Irish proverb

This is a Win-Win-Wag Situation

Picture row after row of shy, anxious, unwanted dogs in their little shelter cubicles.  Enter a group of children bearing books. They scope out the most timid, frightened dogs and sit on the floor in front of them, open their books, and start reading to them. By the end of a single children’s book, the dogs are more relaxed and actually interacting with the children.

The dogs win: they become more open and trusting of humans, making them cuter and more adoptable.

The children win: they learn empathy while practicing their reading skills.

The dogs wag: they wag their way into adoption.

You have to watch this brief video.

Trader Joe’s, a Good Guy

I was delighted when I ran across this article online.   It’s encouraging to learn of a corporation that feels a responsibility toward people who aren’t even their customers.  And to learn that it’s actually their corporate policy.  (Article copied from this site.

Trader Joe’s Donates 35,000 Pounds Of Food After Refrigerator Malfunction

January 7, 2018

Getty Images

A Trader Joe’s store in Kalamazoo, Michigan, donated 35,000 pounds of food to a local shelter after their refrigeration system went down Wednesday morning.

The grocery chain delivered the food to Kalamazoo Gospel Mission which says the donation is the largest donation they’ve ever seen.

Trader Joe’s store captain Daniel Sorscher says donating food to local shelters is the company’s policy.

“Everything that we deem is able to be consumed safely we donate to our neighbors and we’re really happy to participate in helping the community in that way,” Sorscher told FOX17 News.

“They just really exemplified a culture of generosity and we’re just so thankful for them,” said Greg Weaver, the Director of Food Service at Kalamazoo Gospel Mission.

Mutt Day

Call him a “mutt” or “half-breed” or “exotic mix,” he’s still our treasured family member.  And today is his day.  It’s National Mutt Day, also known as National Mixed Breed Day.  Well, one of the annual days, since it’s also celebrated on Dec. 2.  But,  hey, humans’ best friend deserves two days.

Animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige established this day in 2005 to counter the trend toward designer-dogs and pure breeds. plus over-breeding, especially by puppy-mills to supply pet stores with these dogs.  The result has been sick and extremely neglected dogs.

Meanwhile, 80% of dogs in shelters are mixed breeds just waiting to be adopted before they’re euthanized.  This day is intended to point out that mutts generally live longer, are healthier, naturally better behaved, and can just as easily be trained to be service dogs, bomb/drug-sniffers, search and rescue–you name it.  And they’ll wag “I-love-yous” even when you’re grouchy.

Think about it.

Help Furry Orphans

You’ve already donated your old pillows, blankets, and towels to the orphaned furry ones.  Did you know that many animal shelters can also use pet food, cleaning supplies, plastic bags, and gloves?  Drop off these items to your local shelter, and take a peek at the orphans.  Be careful about looking into those little soulful eyes, though, or you may not go home alone–which isn’t a bad idea.

Leaf 6

[For more easy, money-saving, earth-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. Or download a free copy from your favorite e-book seller.]

Let ‘Em Camp Out

Landlords can raise rents.  No rent freeze in a city I saw on the news this morning.  They were debating a freeze as part of their plan to help their homeless population find shelter and get off the streets. Their final decision was to allow rents to continue on their spiral upwards.  As for the homeless, the city’s plan is to provide money for them to live, temporarily, in motels and campgrounds.

I have to admit, that’s getting some of them off the streets–and out of the good citizens’ sight–at least for awhile.  As far as a start toward a solution to the problem of people living inhumane lives on the streets, well, you be the judge.

 

 

Pit Bulls

My grand-dogs are pit bulls.  That’s probably what has led me to question inborn evil in the breed.  They get all the bad press.  Admittedly, many truly are vicious and unpredictable, thanks to humans who’ve trained previous generations to fight.  Yet, humans used to consider the pit a dog people admired, and they were often thought of as the perfect companion for children.

I found an interesting article  “10 Things You Never Knew About Pit Bulls.”  It tells some history of the breed (including serving in the military), interesting facts (like how likely it is you’ll be killed by one), and what happens to those who end up in shelters.  Go to www.care2.com/greenliving/10-things-you-never-knew-about-pit-bulls.html and read for yourself.

 

Photo

[One of my grand-dogs cuddling my grand-dog-to-be.]