I LOVE ANIMALS!!!

I love animals!  Not just domestic animals like cats and dogs, but I am intrigued by the wild kingdom as well like ducks, horses, elephants, lions and other such creatures.   

I wanted to share some sentiments today.  Please know it is not my intent to pass judgment, but rather to share a few things that hurt my heart. And while I may not understand the “why” behind everything, I believe we can do better…together, we can be better!

I cry when I read stories of animals being mistreated, starved or left out in the cold…horses that are transported, butchered and potentially used for food.  On my phone, almost daily, I receive notifications of a lost dog wandering the neighborhood.  I understand this will happen from time to time when a pet gets out or wanders off.  I remember growing up, one of my siblings had a dog that would get out on a regular basis, wander the neighborhood, and come back home again.  In fact, one day to our surprise, a neighbor showed up at our door because he followed the dog home to see where he lived…I don’t think our dog wandered the neighborhood again after that day 😊. 

Honestly, at the time, I did not understand the repercussions, but I have seen the sad outcomes of this where many animals can’t find their way home, are unable to find food or may get hit by a car or worse.  I am always appreciative of the good Samaritans I hear about who take in a lost animal, care for it and take actions to unite the pet with their rightful owner.

Why are we adopting pets? Are we doing it out of LOVE or with the understanding they become a forever part of our home?   Or are we planning to keep them until they are no longer convenient?  Please know it is not my intent to pass judgment, but rather with the hope that once we know better, perhaps together we will do better.

I was watching “Oceans” on National Geographic recently…admiring the beauty of our oceans and the creatures who live there.  I found myself in tears, however, midway through it when I saw the devastation caused by a regular practice of bulldozing the ocean bottom…it was literally a plowing up of the ocean floor, killing most things in its path in search of a few scallops. 

Then, I went over to the segment on “Secrets of Elephants.”  They are powerful yet gentle, sociable, and caring creatures.  I cried to hear that 60% of Savanna elephants have been lost and on average 55 elephants are killed illegally everyday by ivory poachers for their tusks.  I laughed, however, at one part in the series to see one elephant, with the need to fit in after losing her own family, adopted a herd of buffalo…and became the “matriarch of the herd.” 

I could not imagine a world without elephants.  I can, however, imagine a world where we LOVE and respect not only ourselves, but we LOVE one another and the world entrusted in our care.

While I donate to several charities, animals remain a priority. While I make a commitment to be and do better…my prayer is others will join me and make the choice to be better also!