The Change.org Pack is Growing

It’s an interesting time to be a dog. Or any animal, for that matter.

Nearly two-thirds of American homes have pets and, for many of us, our animals are part of the family. Together, it’s estimated that we’ll spend over $45 billion on our pets next year. Amazing things are now possible in specialty vet care, from radiation treatment to gene therapy. People are also more conscious of what they eat and where it comes from. I don’t know about you, but where I live it’s lot easier to find tofu on the menu than it was a decade ago.

Yet millions of homeless pets die in shelters each year. Abuse and neglect make the headlines on a regular basis; dog fighting is a well-known issue instead of an urban legend. Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) -- a.k.a. Factory Farms -- continue to treat animals like crops, causing unnecessary suffering and threatening human health and the environment.

Like Dickens says: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

I say: Pull up a chair. The animals need us, and we can only help them if we work together.

I have so much respect for the vegans of the world. In over a decade of working with animal rescue, I’ve also learned a lot from people who love their pets and love meat, too. It’s made me a big believer in change through the power of compassion and education.

Don’t get me wrong: seeing the mistreatment of animals firsthand has also sharpened my cynical side. But I’ve found that meeting people where they are, raising awareness and understanding about what animals need from us and the difference each of us can make, can be a very effective way to start changing minds. Suddenly people are looking out for the animals in their community; adoption seems like a better idea than breeding; and they start eating a little less meat and seeking humanely raised sources. It rarely happens all at once, and I'm okay with baby steps. It's better than standing still.

I'm bound to say something along the way that you won't like. We may not agree on everything, but since you’re here, there’s obviously something we do agree on. There’s a lot we can learn from each other in the Change.org community, and from the history of excellent posts on the animal rights blog. There’s a lot we can accomplish together, too.

We need all the help we can get. The animals are counting on us.

P.S. I’m excited to meet you all … and let me introduce you to my pack in the photo: That’s Turtle trying to hide in the background, Juno at the top of the pack where she belongs, Sierra in the middle, and Moby in the bottom corner. None of them would be here if it weren't for the dedication of animal welfare activists!

Photo credit: Decisive Moment Photojournalism