Animal Welfare Issues
Would you like to do something to stop the death of shelter animals and to see every animal out of a cage and into a home? You can. There are practical steps that every individual who loves and lives with animals can take to resolve the problem.
The tragedy of masses of animals being euthanized in shelters across the United States is a deeply disturbing and challenging problem, emotionally and morally, for all of us who love animals. It is a complex problem in which the symptoms are often erroneously labeled the problem, and one in which the caregivers are often mislabeled the culprits. Even as a lifelong animal lover, for many years I was not aware that the United States has a companion animal overpopulation epidemic and that millions of unwanted animals die in shelters every year. And I was not at all aware that some of my own actions, such as buying a cat from a breeder, were inadvertently contributing to the problem. The purpose of this portion of the web site is to raise consciousness about the facts of overpopulation and shelter euthanasia, and to explore the symptoms, root causes and potential solutions to the problem, especially how every single one of us as individuals has the power to make a huge difference to save animals' lives.
Resources & Links
To learn more about issues close to your heart, find an organization (or two or three!) than resonate with your values, and sign up for their newsletters and action alerts and make donations to
participate in healing for animals and the planet
COMPANION ANIMALS
The most important groups we can support are our local animal shelters and rescue groups--for they take care of the animals in our community--and to take responsibility for our own animals and the overpopulation crisis by: 1) Adopting, not buying; 2) Spaying and neutering; and 3) Making a commitment to keep our animals for their entire lives, in times of ease and in times of stress.
- SPCA of Monterey County
- How to Stop Euthanasia in Shelters
- Rural Area Veterinary Services
Provides high quality direct-care veterinary field clinics to improve the health and welfare of animals in remote rural communities who would likely not otherwise have health care. An exemplary program that helps an enormous number of animals, operating with a small but deeply devoted and committed staff.
WHALES AND OTHER MARINE ANIMALS
- Sea Shepherd
Non violent, direct action to save lives and the eco-system
You can volunteer on shore, at sea and donate - Whale Dolphin Conservation Society (WDC)
- The Blackfish Brigade--Unity in Action
An effective Facebook group working hard to end cetacean captivity
Prayer & Energy Healing
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The day will come when after harnessing space, the winds, the tides, and gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of Love. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world we shall have discovered fire. Teilhard De Chardin |
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The power of love, prayer and positive thought to heal is infinite. By keeping the animals in our personal rituals of prayer, meditation, or healing we are contributing to their emotional and spiritual well being and their physical health and safety.
With every television news or on line report received about an animal or species in peril, we can send a prayer and send love to the those in harms way. It takes only a moment to say a prayer, to send them love, to see them filled and surrounded by sparkling love. Love is the most powerful force in the universe. It is bigger than any pain, it diffuses suffering, and can be received by those on the earth and those on the other side.
If you are upset when you hear of animal suffering, be careful to pray first for your own calm and centeredness. It doesn't help the animals when we even inadvertently send them our own fear, anxiety or anger. One of the greatest gifts we can give animals in peril is to unselfishly put our own upsetness temporarily aside as we send them calm, love and healing energy. For more help on how to do this, please read this article: The Whales Lessons on Death and Helping Those Who Suffer. Rather than allowing ourselves to become lost in fear or anger when we see or are triggered to think of a traumatic situation for animals, we can send the energy of calm and love to all involved. And we can visualize positive outcomes, adding to the positive consciousness of the situation. Some years ago, in talking to a whale about whether they received love and prayers sent to them by a group of people on a whale swim trip, I heard this response:
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Keep sending us the light of love. |
This was enormously helpful to me. It helped me in working with my own anger toward those who hurt animals and inspired me to include the following in my own prayer and healing work, which you may want to also consider:
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Picture leaders around the world—from small town leaders, regional government representatives and legislators to leaders of countries— supporting the compassionate treatment and welfare of animals all over the earth.
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Send love to those who directly harm animals, and those who participate indirectly in the suffering of animals. Send love to all human beings whose hearts are not yet open to treating animals with compassion and respect. It is only in receiving love and compassion that they can learn more about giving it.
By praying, by sending calm, by sending love, by sending healing energy, we are participating in raising the vibration of energy for the animals and the earth.
Please consider including the animals in your prayers and spiritual practices, as well as in the meditation, prayer or healing groups in which you may participate.
Love is the most powerful energy in the universe. When harnessed, it has the power to change anything.
Books to read more about the power of love, prayer and positive thought to heal:
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Healing Words: The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine |
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The Hidden Messages in Water |
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When Compassion Hurts: links to resources for support |
by Larry Dossey
by Dr. Masaru Emoto (including inspiring photographs of the transformation of polluted water molecules after receiving the energy of love and prayer)