No Difference

A young girl scout visited us recently to inquire what she could do to complete a project for her badge. As we spoke, she mentioned her two dogs at home and commented "I don't see the difference between my dogs at home and all the dogs in shelters. Don't they all deserve to be loved and treated kindly?"

Her face looked puzzled at the idea that anyone would treat animals in shelters as somehow less worthy, and she is so right. Homelessness is not the same as worthlessness, although sometimes our society forgets that fact.

An image that often comes to mind is that of a loved pet sitting on a windowsill looking outside. In the background, the pet's family is gathered for dinner or a night hanging out together. All looks so cozy. Have you ever wondered what stray animals must feel, when they are outside looking in? The strays are cold, hungry, scared, and alone....do they realize that those on the inside are so blessed with food, love, shelter? In a way, we hope the strays and unwanted pets do NOT realize they are on the outside, looking in on a life they will never have. It would be so cruel if they were aware of this disparity.

As this holiday season picks up momentum, everyone's mailbox is full of appeals for money accompanied by seemingly endless supplies of mailing labels and calendars and other such gifts created by mass marketers to guilt people into sending a few dollars. Just think of the tens of millions of dollars it takes to send all of that out. It must work, however, because they keep doing it.

Well, we at Animals in Distress will not be sending you any mailing labels or calendars, since every dollar we can get will be put to the rescue and rehabilitation work that we do, 365 days a year. Our "gift" to you is lives..many more than we could ever talk about in the brief pages of our mailings. Each of these saved pets is now on the inside, looking out. Each one of these pets has a home...and love...and hope...and a family...for as long as needed.

As you unwrap your gifts and join your loved ones for a meal and comfortable conversation, know that hundreds of cats and dogs and puppies and kittens are safe and warm and well fed, here at the Kennel of Hope. On the back of this letter is a collage of some of their faces, faces that show peace where once there were expressions of fear and pain. Those pets and many others will be here, at Animals in Distress, over the holidays. Our gift to you is the knowledge that your love and support have allowed these animals to have a holiday. For many, this is the first time they will actually have reason to celebrate the holiday season. They deserve to be loved just as are the beloved pets of caring owners. Here, our residents do have a home. Our orphans do have a family and a place to be.

Thank you for making all this possible. Nothing captures the holiday spirit more perfectly than pure acts of kindness and love, and that is what happens every time someone donates to us, or adopts one of our shelter pets, or volunteers to help us care for the animals or raise money to support our work.

May the blessings of the season come to you and those you love. May all creatures great and small know peace and love now and forever. May they all get a chance to come inside, instead of being on the outside looking in.

A Note from Spook

Hey, it's me Spook. Lois said there was no place for my column this time, but I just had to tell you all that Martin, the arthritic old dog featured in our last newsletter, got a home. His new family is so kind and loving...so many folks would have said Martin was unadoptable (whatever that means). All I can say is - believe in miracles. I know that I believe in them...I'd have been dead so many times, but your love has kept me and the rest of us alive and safe and cared for. We love you for loving us. Without you...well, I can't even finish that sentence. Know that we appreciate all you have done for us. Have a purrfect holiday and eat a catnip cookie for me!

   Love and Licks from All of Us,
        Your Friend Spook