This is a series of diaries highlighting animal rescues around the country and noting and celebrating the work they do to help animals who have no voices but ours to speak for them. I have decided to make this a daily series because there are so many wonderful rescues out there who need human help and weekly just doesn't seem to be enough. I have long wanted to start a rescue but lack the resources or time available to do so right now so this is my attempt to do my part. I hope that these rescues will benefit from the kindness and benevolence of the community here at Daily Kos. They are amazing organizations and worthy of Kossack attention and care.
Ways You Can Help
Help Stop Animal Cruelty By Reporting It
While meeting the immediate needs of rescue and sanctuary for abused and neglected animals is our daily mission, fostering compassion and proper treatment for all animals is our ultimate goal. We know that with your help, the world will become a better place for our animal friends. Remember, they may be helpless, but you’re not. So if you see instances of animal cruelty please report it.
Be vigilant for signs of possible animal abuse.
The following warnings signs offered by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) may indicate animals who have been victims of abuse or neglect.
Extreme thinness or emaciation
Fur infested with fleas, ticks or other parasites
Patches of bumpy, scaly skin rashes or missing hair
Weakness, limping or the inability to stand or walk normally
Heavy discharge from eyes or nose
Visible signs of confusion or extreme drowsiness
An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal
Dogs repeatedly left alone without adequate food and water
Dogs often left tied or chained outside for long periods of time
Pets who have been hit by cars—or are showing any of the signs listed here—and
have not been taken to a veterinarian
Pets kept outside without shelter in extreme weather conditions
Animals who cower in fear or act aggressively when approached by their owners
Collar so tight that it has caused a neck wound
Open wounds, signs of multiple healed wounds or an ongoing injury or illness that
isn’t being treated
Inadequate grooming, such as extreme matting of fur, overgrown nails and dirty coat
Pets kept in an area littered with feces, garbage, broken glass or other objects that
could harm them
Animals housed in kennels or cages that are too small to allow them to stand, turn
around and make normal movements. Animals housed in crowded conditions with too
many other animals
Report suspected animal cruelty, abuse or neglect.
Animal cruelty is more than just wrong, it’s a crime. It not only affects the animals involved, but can endanger the health and safety of the community at large.
Beyond cases of obvious abuse, we find that job loss, foreclosure, and other economic hardship can put much loved pets in a precarious position. Owners may need help in caring for their pets, and they may not even realize that their animals are suffering needlessly. By reporting suspected abuse to the police or humane society in your area, you help ensure that animals receive the care they need at last chance animal rescues like ours. Reports can be made anonymously, if necessary.
How to file a Report
In most cases, the local animal control agency has jurisdiction over animal cruelty cases. In some areas, chapters of SPCA or Humane Societies have the ability to handle animal cruelty reports as well.
You may need to contact your local police department to file a report. Local law enforcement agencies are the primary agencies charged with investigating suspected animal cruelty in many states, but they may share these duties with local animal control agencies or humane societies.
In the Los Angeles area, reports can be filed with the following agencies:
SPCALA (for Southern California)
http://spcala.com/...
1-800-540-SPCA (7722)
Los Angeles City Animal Services
http://www.laanimalservices.com/...
Animal Cruelty Task Force (213) 486-0450
Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control
http://animalcare.lacounty.gov/...
When you contact your local police department or animal welfare officials, make sure you have all the pertinent details available to help them in their investigation.
Provide a written statement outlining your observations, including dates and times when possible.
Include your contact information and make sure the officer knows you are interested in the outcome of the investigation. Unless you are requesting anonymity, make it clear that you are available to provide answers to questions or testify, if needed. Although agencies are obligated to investigate anonymous reports, they are more likely to follow up on complaints when witnesses are available and willing to make a statement.
If you are aware of other individuals who have witnessed or have knowledge about the abuse, include names and contact information for these people.
If you have the opportunity to photograph the animals or location without trespassing, forwarding photos to law enforcement can be helpful.
When you call law enforcement, keep a written record of the date of contact, who you talk to, the subject of the discussion and the officer’s response.
Before you submit a report or photo, make sure to keep a copy for your files.
Ask for the name of the officer assigned to the case, and when you should expect a response. If you don’t receive a response after this date has passed, and you don’t believe any action has been taken, make a polite call to the officer assigned to the case regarding the progress of the investigation. Remember that most animal welfare and law enforcement agencies are doing their best to investigate reports promptly, with limited resources. Give the agency an opportunity to follow-up, but if you discover that no action has been taken on your complaint after a reasonable amount of time, you may wish to contact a supervising officer or government official to request action.
Support anti-cruelty laws.
Voice your opinions to help lawmakers make decisions that protect animals from cruelty. Join the ASPCA advocacy brigade to receive alerts regarding pending legislation and how you can help:
http://www.aspca.org/...
Join the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) online community for additional alerts regarding animal protection issues in your state:
https://secure.humanesociety.org/...
Teach others about compassionate treatment of animals.
Compassion begins at home. If you have children, teach them at an early age to respect and care for animals.
Read stories about animals to give them an understanding that these creatures
have feelings too.
If you have the time and resources to devote, a family pet can be an excellent way
to teach children and their friends how to treat animals.
Don’t have the space or time for a pet? Visit one. Visit pets of friends or neighbors
or make a trip to a local dog park or shelter. Foster compassion for animals while
helping your child learn to read by participating in a “Paws for Reading” or “Paws to
Read” program offered by libraries in many areas of the country.
When your child is old enough, consider volunteering as a family with a local animal
shelter or animal rescue organization. Or ask a neighbor if they need help caring for
pets. Research shows that caring for animals promotes feelings of empathy and
develops nurturing instincts.
Help spread the word about our mission:
“Like” us on Facebook and suggest that your Facebook friends do the same,
Follow us on Twitter and retweet our messages
Treat your animals kindly.
Animals respond to kindness with loyalty and trust. Sometimes even those of us with the best intentions become overwhelmed and too busy to notice our animals’ needs, but setting a good example is the best way to teach others about humane treatment. Responsible animal ownership requires that we give animals what they need to be happy and healthy:
Provide a constant source of clean, fresh water in every location where pets may
be restricted. If no one is home during the day, ask a neighbor or friend to check on
your pets to make sure they have water (and a little company as well!)
Feed pets a healthy diet on a regular schedule, but not too much. Over-feeding
can actually be abusive. Like people, pets who are overweight are more susceptible to a host of health problems. In the wild, animals hunt for their food and expend energy
constantly. In captivity, many animals will eat themselves sick if allowed to do so.
And they may attempt to eat anything that is left within the range of their noses. Make sure to keep people food and garbage out of your pets’ reach.
Make sure animals have the opportunity for plenty of exercise daily.
Make sure pets receive their vaccinations and regular vet visits if they have any health challenges. Check with your veterinarian for important tips on at home care such as cleaning your pets’ ears and other important grooming tips to keep them healthy and happy.
Dogs and other animals need to learn acceptable behaviors. They want to please us. But yelling or screaming at animals who don’t understand the rules only creates fear. Use praise, firm tones and consistent actions to breed cooperation. Enroll in an obedience class to learn how to best train your dog.
Don’t hold back on love and affection. If you’ve ever brought abandoned or abused animals home and treated them like a member of the family, you’ve probably seen a rewarding transformation in behavior and disposition. As you treat them with kindness and consistency, they learn to trust and respond with unending love and loyalty.
Support compassionate treatment of farm animals.
Whether vegan or omnivore, there are many ways you can help promote humane practices in livestock and dairy farming. Many large-scale industrial farming practices are not only inhumane, but may be hazardous to our health, so make sure you report any animal cruelty or mishandling you suspect.
Help animals by educating yourself and your friends about the conditions of farm animals. Documentaries such as Food, Inc. provide an enlightening view of industrialized farming, including the inhumane and unsanitary conditions plaguing these animals as well as our own health.
If you consume animal products, you can help by supporting farmers and ranchers who raise animals using humane methods. Look for cage-free eggs, pastured or free-range chicken and turkey, grass-fed and pasture-raised beef and pork. If your local market doesn’t offer these options, ask them to start.
Look for the Animal Welfare Approved label created to identify and promote family farms that raise their animals with the highest welfare standards.
Support organizations that promote humane treatment of farm animals:
Humane Society of the United States advocates for humane eating and an end to factory farming. http://www.humanesociety.org/...
A division of the Animal Welfare Institute, Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) was formed in response to growing consumer interest in how farm animals are raised and desire to know how their food is produced. http://www.animalwelfareapproved.org/
As part of their mission to promote food production that is “Good, Clean and Fair,” Slow Food, USA, argues for sustainable, cruelty-free agricultural practices. http://slowfoodusa.org/