Small Things Make a Big Difference to Help Animals in Need

By Barbara Fairbanks, HSNTX Vice-President

Many friends and acquaintances through the years have remarked to me that they have a soft spot for animals but cannot bring themselves to get involved with animal causes. I used to be one of those people, occasionally writing a check or donating supplies but quickly returning to my comfortable life and letting "someone else" deal with the sad realities of animal welfare work.  

Through my close involvement with the Humane Society of Northeast Texas and the Humane Society of the United States over the last several years, I have done plenty of hands-on work to help animals.  However, I have also realized how many things can be done to make a difference without requiring extra time or money.

What can an everyday citizen do to make our community more progressive towards animals? I have a few ideas.  

Decline to participate in telling jokes and stories that make light of animal suffering.  Even laughing at such stories to fit into the crowd makes the inevitable de-sensitization towards animals worse. With the widespread sharing of humorous video clips over the Internet, I have seen images of animals obviously in distress that evoke laughter from a large percentage of people that view them. I cannot prevent a story or video from tickling someone else's funny bone, but I can prevent my own reaction from being taken as agreement.

Resist the urge to feed stray animals unless you are willing to become involved at a higher level. Although feeding strays seems the compassionate thing to do, it is actually worsening the problem of animal over-population if these strays become healthy enough to procreate.  Instead of helping one hungry animal, your actions may now have resulted in creating many more that may not get assistance.  Kinder options include adopting the stray as your own pet, fostering the animal until you can find a home for it, or placing the animal with animal fostering or sheltering groups. If you keep the stray or foster it, of course, it is imperative that you have it neutered or spayed.

If you feel strongly about animal neglect or cruelty, please do not wait for a high profile story like the Michael Vick case to ensure that others, particularly your lawmakers and local officials, know where you stand.  Animals suffer just as much out of the spot light as they do when their abuser is a celebrity.

In short, animal advocacy can be practiced without a lot of time or money. I hope readers will consider the small things they can do to help animals on an every day basis.

October is National Adopt a Dog Month.  The Humane Society of Northeast Texas is literally full of dogs and cats that need only your commitment to prove themselves as loving companions. If you are ready to take the plunge, visit the HSNTX at 303 Enterprise Street in Longview or the website at www.hsntx.org.