Being an animal welfare advocate is a great opportunity to help those who can’t speak for themselves. I have seen up close and personal what sadistic cruelties have been perpetrated against all types of animals. Since I began my crusade to help animals over eight years ago, my goals were to educate the public about such issues and to save animals’ lives. It has been rewarding especially when I placed an animal on tv or talked about him/her on the radio and the end result is a forever home. I felt like I was making a contribution.
The new dog law in PA was particularly near and dear to my heart for a long time. I talked about this issue on my BCTV show, Comcast Tonite, WEEU, an article I wrote for a newspaper and this blog. I was also asked to be a guest on Comcast Newsmakers to discuss this subject. Newsmakers is seen in several states. When I received phone calls from private citizens and politicians from other states wanting to know what they can do, I knew the message was being heard by the viewers. And that is precisely why I do what I do! Are there people who don’t see eye to eye with me- of course, but that is to be expected.
This sounds great but I said I wanted to vent…. so here we go. It feels good to help make an impact for the animals. Being an animal welfare advocate, I receive many emails about all types of issues from individuals, organizations, rescue groups, etc… Sometimes the images or videos are so unbearable to watch. Just when you think you have seen it all, there’s always more. This past weekend, I opened up a message that contained photos of a dog in Turkey. I feel they are too disturbing to share here. The dog lay in the street for three days because his legs were broken. Their solution to the problem was not to get him veterinary care but to get rid of him- via a trash truck. The images showed him with two men dragging him with a rope, being scooped up with a shovel and dumped into the back of a trash truck.
You would think I never saw that before. But you would be wrong. I watched a video of a living,old, skinny,stray dog in the states who could barely walk and couldn’t cause anyone trouble. I can’t imagine the last time he had anyone caring about him. Perhaps he thought the men who came over to him were reaching out to him to help him. These men took that dog and placed him in the back of the trash truck. I watched as the truck began to its job to compact the trash including that dog that was alive. I was distraught for a long time over this. I feel so helpless sometimes. I have never forgotten that image. It haunts me to this day. My investigation to find out where this happened was not successful.
I also found out this weekend of a rabies outbreak in Turkey where 5,000 dogs were dumped in mass graves. Some were buried alive amongst 20 graves. I saw the images and once again I feel they are too disturbing to share.
Also in Baghdad this weekend 200 dogs were killed by gun or poisoned meat. It has been reported that packs of dogs have killed 13 people. Because there are no animal shelters, dogs run loose. I can’t comment on the story since I don’t have all of the facts. What I don’t need to see is a man pointing a rifle prepared to kill a dog in the street who is laying there not appearing vicious or aggressive. I saw the photos of a man trying to give a piece of poisoned meat to an unsuspecting dog who also did not appear to be aggressive. I know some countries don’t feel the same way about animals the way we do, but let’s be honest, the same cruelties happen here.
Michael Vick, the former NFL player, who is serving a 23 month sentence stemming from the dog fighting ring he established, will be at a hearing in Sussex County, Virginia, on Tuesday to answer other charges. Through a deal, Vick is hoping to get his sentence reduced and spend the last six months of it in a halfway house and hopes to return to the NFL. Over this past weekend, word came out that Vick had used family pets to fight against his pitbulls who were trained to fight to the death. Those dogs stood no chance. Vick thought it was funny. He also helped to hang six to eight dogs because they underperformed. It has also been reported that on at least one occasion Vick and another man slammed a dog repeatedly to the ground until he died. And this sick wacko wants to get back into the NFL! You watch, he will get his early release. Where is the justice????? How could anyone allow him to get out of jail early? I truly was going to go to the hearing tomorrow. I’m tempted but don’t know how I would look that monster in his face without spitting in it.
Sometimes I wonder how much more I can take when I hear about all of the animal abuse. Look at Molly, that poor Lab who was buried up to her neck and bludgeoned with a hammer. The only question I have is why- what makes these people tick? Even if you aren’t smart, commonsense should rear its head but it doesn’t for these people. I don’t get it. And just when I think I don’t know how much more I can take, I also feel I am not doing enough in my crusade. It is said you must choose your battles wisely. I try to deal with issues that are near and dear to my heart. Unfortunately there are too many to choose. How does anyone balance this journey? I’m still trying to figure it out.
I know there are people who are reading this and saying, why don’t you care this much about people. I do. I care about people who can’t speak for themselves. Those typically include children and the elderly. I had a job with a children and youth service agency and I worked for one week. That’s right – one week. I was hired in the child abuse dep’t. They said I could handle it. THEY were wrong. After viewing photos of babies that had been burnt, I knew I didn’t have the courage to face the monsters who were the perpetrators of such horrific child abuse. I was so angry and in pain over those images. I had to leave the building because I couldn’t contain my tears. I couldn’t fathom how a “loving” guardian could do that to innocent little beings. There is a strong connection between animal abuse and child abuse. Abusing animals is how many killers began their sick downward spiral in life. I was also involved with a nursing home after visiting a man my husband and I knew. I took my dog Lady one day. Lady was a hit with the residents and she became their therpay dog. She was able to comfort many residents. She had a very special quality to reach these people. And I have always enjoyed speaking to the elderly. Here in America, we do not give enough credit to the elderly. Many are discarded and forgotten, just like animals. Some adults place their parents in nursing homes and ask the home to call them when the parent has died. How despicable is that???
I care very much about animals. When you see so much abuse and not enough justice, it’s enough to make me want to scream. And I do! We have laws but are they enough. PA has a new dog law and it’s a great start to help the dogs in puppymills. But if the laws aren’t enforced, what good will it do??? It’s been proven with former dog warden and dog warden supervisor, Rick Martrich. He didn’t enforce the law. In fact, the man allowed abuse to happen. How on this earth could this man look at himself in the mirror knowing what he was doing??
If the laws aren’t enforced and the abusers are given a slap on the wrist what good does any of this do? The laws have to be better and stricter fines and sentences need to be imposed so people know they can’t get away with this. There are so-called leaders in animal welfare who have no business to be in their positions. They lie to raise money. Be careful to whom you give your money. How do I know this? I’ve been in this business long enough and have met many, many people and have learned so much. So much, it makes me sick!
On the other hand, I have met amazing, wonderful people and organizations who care very deeply about the animals. They do fantastic work. They are dedicated, hard-working people who are trying to save animals’ lives. I try to let you know about them through this blog or on tv and the radio. Each of us can do our part by being a responsible pet owner by not buying from a pet store, reporting animal cruelty and help to change the laws. We can make a difference. And we did. Our voices were heard this fall when PA passed the new dog law. We can accomplish so much if we work together. Unfortunately some egos get in the way of what is right for the animals. But please don’t stop from letting your voices be heard!!! The animals need you!!
So how much more can I take? Am I doing enough? Don’t know but I know I can’t walk away. Perhaps I need to learn how to take a break from it except I don’t know how. Maybe someone has a solution for my dilemna. The images will always be with me. I did a show on the dog and cat fur industry in China. That is another topic that has haunted me for years. I wanted to do something about it eight years ago but was told there was nothing I could do. That show was one of the most difficult shows I ever did. I couldn’t bear to watch the video of this horrible industry. I have seen pictures but I had to stop myself from watching the video. I have the dvd that was given to me by my one guest. I know what is on there and I know what it will do to me. All of it pulls at my heart. I think about animals all over the world who have to suffer at the hands of such horrible people.
My dream was to save each and every animal. That reality will not be realized no matter how much I want it to be. But the dream to save animals’ lives is still alive and I will continue to fight for those who can’t speak for themselves. But I need justice to be served too!!
Thank you for allowing me to vent……..now we will wait to hear what happens with Vick in Tuesday’s hearing………..