July 2010

Keep it Positive!

Learning about animal welfare issues can be interesting and insightful, but unfortunately it can also cause one to become frustrated and discouraged. Visiting an animal welfare organization website, watching a television show on animal police, or seeing posters that the circus is coming to town can put a damper on those who care about animal welfare.

This is where we as animal advocates must stop and realize how far we’ve advanced in the field of animal welfare. Yes, there are a lot of animal welfare problems waiting to be solved, but look how far we’ve come!

We now have websites like www.Petfinder.com that list animals in shelters across the country. Many U.S. greyhound racing facilities now work with animal rescues to adopt out dogs instead of euthanizing them when they are past their prime. Testing cosmetics on animals is illegal in the United Kingdom, and more dogs and cats are being spayed and neutered than ever before. We as animal advocates must first celebrate these advances before we get angry about the current issues facing animals today. 

Many people find it easier to ignore animal issues, saying they “don’t want to hear about it” or “can’t bear to watch,” because they love animals and it would upset them. Those of you who have written your government officials or told a friend about an animal welfare issue should be proud because you had the courage to watch some gruesome footage or listen to a sad news report and do something about it. You are the ones making a difference. Stop and think about the changes you’ve inspired before moving on to the next issue to get fired up about. 

The founder of the National Humane Education Society, Anna Briggs, often says that you “catch more flies with honey.” Now, we really don’t catch flies here at NHES, but this phrase is instilled in all of us as we educate the public about the situations that animals face today. As we write articles, go into schools, and talk to our friends, we strive to keep it positive. We try our best to always recommend positive actions for every negative story that we report.

So, keep it positive and don’t stop working for the animals— Mrs. Briggs never stopped and we hope you don’t either.