Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending a festival celebrating the native tribes of North America. Out of respect for the dancers alcohol was banned from the event. I was captivated by the pageantry, elegance and skills of the hoop dancers and fancy dancers but I was also impressed by the attendants. As I strolled through large groups of people I realized no one was on a cell phone. Young and old as well as people of every race and color stood in small circles having real conversations. As I walked from one fascinating event to another, I repeatedly heard the words, “excuse me”. When the musicians played or the dancers performed, the vast majority of the audience remained in their seat until the show was finished. My body instinctively relaxed and I felt a sense of peace and connection.

I’ve often wondered what causes some people to have so much concern for others, including animals, and why other people are indifferent or worse yet, cruel.  I’ve also wondered how someone who loves animals can think bow hunting or steel trap hunting is ok.
Do people who receive cruelty as children inflict it on others?  If all people were equally compassionate, could we end the suffering of animals, children and the elderly?  Why is it that 5 children raised in the same home by the same abusive parents with the same genetic make-up react differently to life’s challenges?  Some of these children will be extremely empathetic and may use their compassion to serve others, while their siblings may lack compassion or become cruel themselves.  Is compassion something we can teach or is compassion imprinted within our genes?
Several major universities are participating in on-going studies of compassion or studies related to compassion.  Some researchers believe we have more compassion if a person or animal looks like us.  In other words, if you’re a petite blond, you’d have more compassion for petite blonds.  Personally, I disagree with theory.  Many people don’t like sharks, crocodiles or grizzly bears, but are appalled when they see these animals hunted for sport, killed for no reason, or forced to live their life in an unnatural environment. 
There are a few things we know for certain.  Early childhood is the best time to set life patterns that will include compassion.  This is why it is so important for animal advocates and volunteers to spend time at local elementary and junior high schools teaching humane education.  For more information on the topic of compassion and how it links to society please visit the University of California, Berkley, University of Washington (state), and the ASPCA websites.  If you need assistance starting a humane education center in your area contact your local animal organization rescue groups.  The Humane Association of Michigan has an interesting website that discusses their humane education outreach. 

Thanks to the Wisconsin State Journal for publishing my in-depth article, “True Cost of Dog Fighting.”  If you want to help this breed and you live in Wisconsin, you can contact Ellen Market at the Dane County Humane Association.  She heads up the legislative committee and they need volunteers.  If you live outside of Wisconsin, please help this breed by dispelling myths.  The truth-pit bulls if properly socialized are great with people and other dogs, they have a low aggression level, they are lousy watch dogs because they love people.  They are also extremely intellegent, loyal to their guardian, and highly trainable.  For more information please read Pit Bulls for Dummies and/or visit www.outofthepits.org. 

Last weekend I took a hike near my home.  As I entered a well worn path known as “Military Ridge,” a red wing black bird fearlessly made a couple of attempts to attack me.  He swooped with claws extended and nearly grabbed my hair.  Fortunately, my reflexes are quick and I just ducked and ran. 

I’m always amazed at how fearless animals can be when they are protecting their young.  This particular bird is about ½ the size of my hand.  And yet, he didn’t think.  He was willing to sacrifice himself unto death to protect his baby. 

As I walked further down the trail I began think about other bird species.  Some species of birds will literally force their young to leave the nest.  At the right time, the chick is forced to fly.  If the parents don’t force the chick to fly, the chick will die. 

Parenthood can be extremely complicated in our world, but I think there’s a lesson in this for all of us.  When we have little ones, it’s important that we be willing to protect them with every ounce of our being.  We must be on guard and stay close to the nest.  As children grow, we need to allow them to flap their wings, and parents need to start tending to their own needs a bit more.  Then when a child is ready, parents may need to give them a slight nudge (or an occasional boot) to get them out of the nest.   Yes, it’s frightening.  You often wonder if your child will be ok once he or she leaves the nest.  But, children who stay in the nest too long never learn how to use their wings and soar to their highest destiny. 
 
 

This weekend I sat on my new hammock reading from one of my favorite meditation books, “Why Buffalo Dance”, by Suan Chernak McElroy.  One of the stories is about her reaction when she finds a baby Magpie.  She questions her decision and what difference it with make in the world–this one human and this one bird.  In our media, celebrity drenched world we often overlook the power of one.  We crave grand events and recognition with the motto that more is better.  But many great things are done through the power of one. 

In the animal rescue world one stray rescued, one more animal spayed or neutered, one more anti-cruelty bill that passes, one more child educated through humane education or one hour at a shelter can make a huge difference.  One of the stories that inspire me is the story of a boy walking the beach.  Millions of starfish are stranded on the shore and dying.  A man walks by and says to the boy, “Why bother?  You’ll never save them all.  What difference do your efforts make when so many will die?”  The boy smiles, placed the starfish in his hand back in the ocean and says, “It makes a difference to this one”. 
Never underestimate the power of one.

Since globalization, China is quickly moving to the forefront as the manufacturing capitol of the world.  For decades, China’s government has violated human rights.  I am not political, but it’s a well known fact.  As many people lost their beloved pets to needless contamination, few of us thought beyond the current crisis. 
A few weeks after the pet food recall, children’s toys (also manufactured in China) were being recalled for lead poisoning.  According to the report I watched, there was nothing we could do.  Pollution controls and manufacturing standards in China and many other countries are typically lower than ours.  Last year, I read an environmental report that said the mercury poisoning of fish in northern Minnesota was primarily caused by Chinese pollutants. 

We’ve stood by too long and watched jobs go overseas because the playing field is unequal.  With the loss of manufacturing and call center jobs, we’ve seen a disappearance of the middle class and experienced a frustrating loss of service and accountability.  Sure, the price of retail goods is lower, but do we really need more shirts or shoes?  Of course businesses can produce products cheaper in other countries and create larger stock portfolios.  But in exchange, we as a world are allowing more pollution, less regulation, and less safety for workers.  Is this the legacy we wish to leave behind?  

Since we cannot regulate other countries, we need to urge our Congressmen and Senators regulate imports.  Any country we buy from should be held to the same standards of safety, quality and pollution controls as our country.  By doing this we will not only help America and equal the playing field, but it will help workers in other countries who are being exploited, and it will help protect wildlife and the environment. 

And here in American, we can continue to look for and support reduction of oil dependency by using several systems already in place; urban bike trails, mass transit, wind and solar power.

Whenever I see a little boy throwing rocks at ducks, I wonder whether it was something he learned from another person or is it an instinctual act.  In the animal kingdom most animals will fight for turf, and carnivores will kill for food, but most animals do not commit senseless murder.  However, there are exceptions.  One of the nature shows I watched featured a program on wild mustangs.  It showed a horrible scene where a stallion swiftly and violently killed an injured foal that was not his offspring.  In primates the “common” chimpanzees commit homicide and rape, while their closest (DNA) cousin, Bonobos, are extremely peaceful. 
When I was a kid, I started rescuing animals before I could comprehend what I was doing.  Was it something I just picked up by watching my mom and dad care for our dog and cat?  Was there a “help animal gene” that came through my father (a veterinarian)?  I also liked to hang out with my older brother.  Neither he nor his friends ever exhibited any signs of aggression toward animals—in fact they demonstrated the opposite. 
Research has linked violence and cruelty toward animals with violence toward humans.  In other words someone who abuses an animal is also highly likely to abuse children and abuse their spouse or mate.  Abusers usually had a childhood that included abuse.  When a kid grows up in an abusive home they can go two ways.  They can use that experience to be a catalyst for good, or they can perpetuate abuse.   In order to be a catalyst for good, there needs to be some type of experience where that child feels safe and connected. 
Humane education (where kids are introduced safely to friendly pets and learn about animal care) provides a special gift for abused children.  An animal may be the first real connection that kid makes.  The unconditional love of an animal may just be the catalyst that helps an abused child lean to trust, and then learn to connect, and then learn to live without violence.   It probably won’t be a cure all, but it’s a great start.  For more information you make want to research “the link” and check out Univ. of Washington State, as well as the Humane Association.

As the 4th of July approaches protect your pet from noise and chaos.  Here are a few tips from my book “Pet Care Tips for Summer Fun and Safety”. 

Create a safe space for the pet.  Bring outdoor dogs inside.  Allow your cats to hide under the bed or in closets.  Don’t force your animal to be social, allow them to hide.   

Consider using non-addictive relaxers like “Rescue Remedy”.  Or if you pet has bad reactions to noise and chaos, have your veterinarian prescribe some tranquilizers.  Begin giving rescue remedy or tranquilizers a few hours before the noise is about to start.  Limit your pet’s exposure to children and other animals at this time.  When your pet is anxious because of noise and chaos, they may exhibit signs of aggression.  A normally docile cat or dog may bite or attack a child or other pets when it’s overloaded with fear and confusion.  If your pet hides in a closet or under the bed, leave them alone.  Some people try to baby their animals.  Usually, pets just want to feel safe.  If your pet is anxious and comes to you, by all means provide comfort.  But, if your pet is hiding, don’t go after it.  It will come out when it’s more relaxed and ready to be social.Don’t drag your pet along to every event-parades, fireworks, picnics, etc.  They can get overloaded and dehydrated.  Also, make sure your pet always has access to fresh clean water, and shade.  Watch the table scraps.  

This spring I noticed a particular squirrel when he and one of his friends would scamper across the telephone wires in my backyard.  They ran gracefully, twirled and ran some more.  This particular squirrel was large and chubby so he was easy to distinguish.  I wondered how he could be so fast and yet so graceful. 

Shortly after I noticed him running on the telephone wires, I began to notice how this squirrel loved to tease my dog Sabrina.  He would scamper into the yard, wait until he had the dog’s attention, then, race up the fence, sit at top, and scold her.  My dog would pace and stare in frustration at the squirrel sitting up above.  It often sounded and looked like the squirrel was chuckling. 
About a month ago, his cute little face and chubby body greeted me in the early morning.  I was in the living room when “Mr. Squirrel” crawled up the Sheppard’s hook (a metal pole) that was holding my Begonia plant.  He balanced his chubby body on his back two feet and looked through the living room picture window.  It almost felt like he was saying, “Hello, how ya doing today?”

Unfortunately, last week my neighbor found a dead squirrel on the median.  Most likely it had been hit by a bus or car.  I’ve lived in urban areas most of my life, so I didn’t give it much thought.  However, a few days later I realized it wasn’t just any squirrel, it was my squirrel.  Well, not really.  But, it was the squirrel who had entertained me most of the spring and summer. 

These days, my backyard feels a little bit larger, and my dog seems to want to be in the house more often.  Just like people, animals come into our life–some for a long time, others for a few moments.  They touch us, make us ponder and add joy to our journey.  I find it extraordinary that an animal as small and ordinary as a squirrel has the power to make a connection, cause a smile, or bring a tear. 

Last week I had the opportunity to attend a Native American Summer Solstice Celebration.  (The true summer solstice will be this Thursday, June 21st.  It is the longest day of the year.) Sitting beside the shores of Lake Michigan watching the sun make it assent, the Native American elder briefly discussed how animals were used for food, clothing and shelter. 

His people would offer a prayer to Creator and ask for their needs to be met.  Most often, an animal that could meet those needs would appear shortly after the prayer was given.  The animal’s life would be swiftly and honorably taken so that the needs of the tribe could be met.  The belief was that the animal was willing to sacrifice itself for the tribe.  All parts of the animal would be used, and the spirit of the animal was thanked.

How different is this from the way we live today?  Back then, people lived in balance.  They never had freezers of meat, they were not obese, they didn’t pollute the earth with packaging, and animals roamed freely until they were killed as humanely as possible.  Today, most of our meat comes from animals which are often raised on corporate farms that use factory farming techniques.  These techniques may include cramped or inhumane cages, mutilation of body parts (beaks, horns and testicles), shortened life spans for dairy animals, and poultry and other consumable livestock may spend their entire life in crowded cages or small roaming areas.  Then to end their “glorious” life, these animals are shipped long distances in non-air-conditioned trucks where they are finally slaughtered.  And what happens once an animal becomes meat?  Too often there is little regard or acknowledgment for the life that was taken. 

So what can you do?  For starters, think about a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle.  Start slowly and build up, or go “cold turkey” on animal food consumption.  Make a change.  Don’t beat yourself up if you occasionally stray.  Adding more vegetarian meals not only will help animals, but if done right, you’ll see health benefits like lower blood pressure, and better cholesterol numbers.

If you refuse to give up eating meat there are two options.  You can either buy products that are humanely raised or take up hunting for your own needs.  If you decide to hunt, spend a lot of time practicing at a shooting range, so that when you take the life of an animal you’ll be swift and humane.  Consider praying before the hunt, and thanking the spirit of the animal once it’s been killed.

Personally, I wish everyone would be a vegetarian, but I respect those who hunt following Native ways.
AHo! 

So often good hearted consumers give to organizations and causes never realizing their financial gift may cause harm.  For example, I used to give to the American Caner Society.  But then I found out this organization is one that sponsors large amounts of animal research.  With today’s technology, animal research is completely unnecessary.  It is also inhumane, inaccurate, senseless, it  deprives people from experimental treatment and drugs and causes horrific suffering and death of animals.  (See my article on animal research at www.ezinearticles.com).

Another time a friend told me about her terrific mutual fund.  Sure, the fund was making great money, but several of the companies in the fund where killing the environment in Central America and completely disregarding human, plant and animal life.

If you’ve been dupped, don’t feel bad.  Even Dr. Phil got fooled.  If you’ve ever seen him getting real with someone who’s being mean to animals, you know Dr. Phil McGraw is an animal advocate.  But on one of his television shows he advised a woman to work with a certain attorney who was an “advocate for animals”.  I did some research and found out this woman had affiliations with a supposed “animal welfare organization” when it fact the organization she was affiliate with was sponsored by one of the largest animal research groups in the US.  

So what do you do?  Well, as much as you are able, do your homework.  Investigate charitable organizations, mutual funds and other groups that will receive your money.  However, in the end you may still make a mistake.  But, fortunately Mother Theresa left us with words to guide us.  One day when a beggar asked her for money, she gave it to him.  The person beside her asked, “Why did you give it to him?  He’ll just waste it.”  Her response, “What I do with my money is between me and God, what he does with his money is between God and him”.