Problem:

I write about this issue with a degree of expertise that is unmatched by any other topic. I had no pets growing up. Well, that’s if you don’t count the newt I had when I was ten that crawled out the tank and went missing, only to turn up two months later alive and well, swimming in our basement that was flooded with two feet of water. (“This is the happiest day of my life!” I yelled, as my mother wept for the destruction of all the furniture in the basement.)

Then I married a vet student; that was the end of that. Three rabbits, a parrot, two tortoises, two terrapins, a saltwater fish tank, a dog, and countless hours helping my wife study for exams later, to say that I know a thing or two about animals and pet ownership is like saying Wayne Gretzky was a good goal scorer. (Did I just compare myself to Wayne Gretzky? Oh well.)

Needless to say, or perhaps not so needless, our animals get great care. Having a live-in vet doesn’t hurt anything. But many pets get neglected, abused, abandoned, and thrown in shelters at the rate of 8 million per year. People are forced to put animals down because they lack the funds for proper veterinary care. They can�’t give their animals the lives they deserve. We can help change that.

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Make Progress:

Mahatma Gandhi once said: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

We’ve domesticated these animals; we have an obligation to provide the highest level of care possible. By Gandhi’s standards, it follows that we have an obligation to make our nation greater. Here’s how we can do that.

• Donate
• Contribute or Apply
• Visit
• Adopt
• Report

The problem is that it can seem rather feeble to donate some of your hard-earned bacon to an enormous organization that deals with seven or eight-digit figures everyday. I don't buy it, but I understand why people would be hesitant. This week we're going to narrow it down a little bit. We've asked you to do it several times before; we're asking you to donate just two dollars, one more time.

Louisiana is not exactly the most progressive state in our union, and its animal shelters are some of the most despicably under-funded. So rather than sending money to the Enormous International Association of Huge Organizations (EIAHO), or even the Humane Society of the United States, we are asking, no, pleading with you to send those measly two smackers to the Humane Society of Louisiana.

Before Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans animal shelters were grossly under-funded; now they're grossly under-funded and overbooked. According to the HSLA website:

Animal shelters in the parishes surrounding New Orleans area have seen dramatic increases in animal intakes of up to 30%, due to population shifts.

The Humane Society has reopened its headquarters in the New Orleans metropolitan area and started “Camp Katrina,– a grassroots operation to provide rescue and shelter for animals injured or abandoned after the hurricane. It is rebounding nicely, but it still needs our support. So instead of Super-Sizing that value meal (or instead of buying it altogether), send that extra money to the Humane Society of Louisiana, and let's make a tangible difference with our donations.

Oh, and I would be remiss if I failed to thank the countless foot soldiers and veterinarians who have donated their time and effort during and after the storm to save all of the Fidos and Snuggles in New Orleans. From the bottom of their parasite-free hearts, woof-woof. That means, “Thank you.–

Thanks to this Katrina rescuer for the top pic.

The Pet Emergency Fund is a non-profit organization in the Western New York area that takes contributions of any size from individuals in order to provide financial aid to those whose pets need emergency care but cannot afford it. Those who are truly in need of assistance with that unexpected vet bill just need to apply at their veterinarian’s office. If approved, a portion of those contributions goes to the animal in need. I say “animal” because it’s important to remember that it’s the animal that suffers most from improper health care, not their owners.

How many have they helped? Try 1,100 dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, and bunnies, almost two-thirds of those coming in the last year, and has written checks totaling over $137,000 dollars over the program�s seven year existence. Every penny of it has come from private contributions.

So, if you live in western New York, the next time you take Mrs. Whiskerson to the vet, drop a small contribution into the Pet Emergency Fund box. Or you can send it to this address. (Check the list below to participate with national organizations)

On the other side of the proverbial coin, if you have an opportunity to improve the quality of your pet’s life but don’t think you can afford it, consider applying for aid. Those who live outside the “snow belt” need not worry. There are many programs, both Great Dane-sized and Chihuahua-sized, that provide the same service in your area and around the country. Here is a list of many of those national organizations, put together by the good people at itchmo.com. Click the link or give them a ring.

• American Animal Hospital Association, (866) 4HELPETS
• Angels 4 Animals, (916) 941-9119
• Care Credit, (800) 859-9975
• Cats in Crisis
• Feline Outreach
• Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance
• Help-A-Pet, (630) 986-9504
• IMOM
• Shakespeare Animal Fund, (775) 342-7040
• The Pet Fund, (916) 443-6007
• United Animal Nations, (916) 429-2457

I’ll be more specific, and use a bullet list to do so:

Many studies have shown that having a pet…

• Reduces the fatality rate for heart attack sufferers by six fold.
• Seriously lowers blood pressure and stress, especially among the elderly.
• Lowers both cholesterol and triglycerides.
• Reduces the number of minor health issues and medical appointments needed.
• Decreases the severity of depression for those who suffer from it.
• Increases the exercise level of their owners who have to walk and care for them.

There are even the animals that can predict seizures and episodes of low blood sugar in diabetics, can �unfreeze� the feet of a Parkinson’s patient, and one can even smell malignant melanomas.

But there are many people who are unable to care for a pet full-time, including many elderly folks, and consequently are unable to enjoy the health benefits of pet ownership. Delta Society’s Pet Partners are working to bring those benefits to these people. Here it is in their own words:

Delta Society’s Pet Partners program trains volunteers and screens volunteers and their pets for visiting animal programs in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, schools and other facilities.

If you’ve got a sociable pet that is friendly around strangers, check out the Pet Partners’ website. Then join the 8,800 other people around the country who share their animals to help heal the sick and comfort the elderly. You’ll be provided with all the information you need so your animal can start to improve the quality of life for others.

Pet Partners is not the only group dedicated to this cause, though it is the only one who actually trains the animals and their handlers. Many local 4H groups will frequent nursing homes and hospitals to provide the same animal-assisted therapy. So get involved. You and our pet can make a big difference in someone else’s life.

Thanks for the pic to this “animal therapist”

• There are 6,000 to 8,000 animal shelters in the U.S.
• Between six and eight million dogs and cats are put in those shelters every year.
• More than 25% of sheltered dogs are purebred
• More than half of sheltered dogs and cats are euthanized. That’s three to four million animals every year.
• Less than 30% of sheltered dogs are reunited with their owners.
• Less than 5% of cats are reunited.

There are a lot of organizations out there, such as the Animal Friends Rescue Project, that are doing great things to lower those numbers, but it remains a huge problem. I won’t ask everyone who doesn’t have one to go out and adopt a dog tomorrow. In fact, I’m a firm believer that those who aren’t committed to owning a pet shouldn’t have one. That doesn’t work well for either party. But if you are considering getting a puppy, adopt a rescue dog. Don’t buy from puppy mills.

One might think that the puppy with the floppy ears and adorable head tilt that screams, “Take me home!” came from the pet store. But if you trace it back a bit further, you might be appalled at where that puppy came from. The Humane Society has provided these guidelines for buying a puppy, what to look for, and what to avoid.

After you’ve checked their guidelines, ask the Humane Society to hook you up with a local animal shelter. They are more than happy, eager, delighted even, to help you get adopt a dog that would otherwise be put down.

If purebred dogs are your cup of liver-flavored tea, find a local rescue group that deals with a specific breed, i.e. greyhounds. Most greyhounds are euthanized after their rather short two-year racing career. Most areas have a greyhound rescue program that you can contact. These aren’t just racing dogs: they also make wonderful pets. They’re smart, friendly, and have a great temperament. How do I know this? Like with so many other things, because my wife said so.

Photo courtesy of this greyhound rescuer