Readers Respond: Be The Change - working together for the greater good

How have you used your talents and voice to help animals? Helping just one animal makes a world of difference for that one animal. One idea inspires another. Start small, watch things grow. I have lots of ideas to help get started.

How are you Being The Change? Please share your story

Helping the Helpless

In addition to my already full house of cats and dogs I adopted three feral cats from a colony near our local supermarket. The situation there was very bad. One has a missing paw, one has three legs and the other a damaged eye. I have had the first cat for 16 months. His name is Ian and he actually has a vocabulary of five or more words which he uses appropriately. The other two (like the rest of my cats) do not speak but they are a joy. Very sweet and seemingly grateful for the kindness shown to them. I, in turn am grateful for being rewarded with such wonderful creatures when my only goal was to help alleviate their suffering. I have many other cats and two dogs, all rescues! There are many emotional rewards but it can be difficult at times managing the expense. Especially the cat litter. I am retired and on a strict budget. One day at a time is how I manage!

—Guest Geraldine Petrone

New LIVING wildlife newspaper column

I write a new living wildlife column in Wisconsin every other Sunday online. It can be found by putting the name of the column, Madravenspeak, into a google search and all 23 columns will come up for self-education. Many of the hunting/trapping issues we face in Wisconsin - massive killing of our black bears, bobcats, and natural predators, are faced by other states across the country. People who love animals are just drowsily waking up to the fact that they have NEVER been involved in wildlife decisions in their state if they do not kill. We must organize quickly to have power in our legislatures to change funding of state wildlife agency from killing licenses to general public funding. There are no "Saving" licenses - so nature is treated like a big killing store and the only ticket in and out is killing more. Please link to my column every other Sunday online - new one out this Sunday on why beavers are being destroyed in the cruellest traps and for whom. Bears, bobcats, trap

—Guest Patricia Randolph

Changes

I like your term "blends", but I also like mixed breeds to be referred to as "All Americans". After all, what are most of us? I volunteer with LAPCATS, a group of volunteers who team with PetSmart in their adoption center. We've placed nearly 850 shelter cats in our 6 years of existence. People would not visit our old ugly shelter, so we took the animals where they could be seen. We have a new shelter now, but are still placing animals through PetSmart too. I wish more animal lovers would get involved in volunteering and fostering. Together we can save so many lives.

—Gretchiesmom

Great post!

Mike's speech was the greatest I have heard on this topic. What he said made SO much sense. I am still figuring out how best to help, but help I will. EDITOR'S NOTE: See http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/petadoption/a/Saving-Pets-Is-A-Business.htm

—Guest Dr V

rescue dogs perform

I have 10 rescue dogs that perform shows to promote adopting animals and building a strong relationship with them. We also promote responsible pet ownership, bite prevention, and the importance of positive training. We do 450 + shows a year including schools, nursing homes and animal charity events. Last year we helped raise $30,000 for our local run down shelter and this year our aim is much higher! $200,000 higher.. We are out to get enough money to build a new shelter since our is falling down in every sense of the word. My oldest dog is 17 and she even has a day named after her in town for all the work she has done to help animals. Everywhere we go we promote the bond you can have with your dog and the fact that you can indeed teach an old dog new tricks.

—Guest Dawn

DogTalk Chat on Twitter

I and two twitter friends, Mary Doane (@turtlelady81) and Hilary Lane (@FangShuiCanines), host a twitter chat each week that focuses on dog topics such as health, training, rescue/adoption, and other dog related issues. We work each week to provide information to dog owners that they can use to help improve the health and lives of their pets. Anyone with a suggestion for a topic can contact me via twitter at @lorieahuston. Dogtalk takes place each Monday at 9:15PM EST. All dog lovers are welcome to attend. Please join us!!

—LorieAHuston

Fostering

I just became a foster parent for a poodle rescue group. It is wonderful to know that I am giving this little girl a good start to her life. Like Hilary Swank said "Saving just one pet won't change the world, but surely the world will change for that one pet." Thank you for all the great information you give the readers. EDITOR'S NOTE - Thank you and congrats on fostering! Here is the URL for the Hilary Swank interview: http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/petadoption/a/HilarySwank.htm

—harbormaster47

I advocate for racing greyhounds

I adopted my first retired racing greyhound in February of 2003. We have volunteered in various capacities for three greyhound adoption groups in Florida and Georgia, and we have adopted six retired racers. While I still support greyhound adoption efforts, the majority of my greyhound advocacy work now is to end the cruel and inhumane sport of dog racing. I proudly joined the Board of Directors of GREY2K USA in 2009, and I look forward to the day greyhound racing ends in the U.S. I created a blog to keep people updated about what's happening in dog racing all over the world, share my efforts in support of GREY2K USA, and write about life with these amazing dogs. My blog's address is http://jenkrebs.blogspot.com/ - and if you'd like to learn more about dog racing and how you can help us end this cruel sport, please visit www.grey2kusa.org

—JenKrebs

I Board At My Local Shelter

I help my local shelter by boarding Maeve Dog there when I have to be out of town on business. The shelter accepts boarders and is reasonable. I supply my own food, which gives me a price break, but I also leave any uneaten " BTW, Maeve loves "Auntie" Marsha, the shelter owner.

—Packingpadre

R.O.A.R Squad: Rescue Owners Are Rockin'

I love all this positive energy going around- very inspiring! I launched a project on my blog (Fido & Wino) called R.O.A.R. Squad: Rescue Owners Are Rockin'. Learn more here: http://fidoandwino.com/roar_squad/ A recent post: http://fidoandwino.com/2010/04/21/r-o-a-r-squad-ashley-and-her-dog-oly/ The idea is to make adopting a rescue THE coolest thing around. For the next year I will be collecting pics of owners with their rescues- from all walks of life, all across the US & Canada. If you have a rescue WE NEED YOU! It's a pretty wicked squad! You should do it... all the cool kids are doing it... ;) Thank you!

—Guest Shauna (Fido Wino)