Animals were put on this earth to be looked after by human kind, to be respected and cared for, to be lived alongside. We are meant to provide them with a safe place to live, to give them shelter and food, and above all - to love them. Each and every animal put on this earth is a beautiful being, created just as you and I were. Animals have brains, and they have feelings and emotions just as we do.
Look around you, watch the TV, read the news, look to foreign countries - look to your next-door-neighbour. There's animal abuse, torture and neglect everywhere we look. It's disgusting, it's heart-wrenching and it's cruel.
My heart literally crushes every time I go online to read the latest in news aboutRhino poaching for money in South Africa, or when I catch an image that someone has randomly posted about dolphin slaughtering for fun in Denmark.
What about the inhumane way that dogs are caged and tortured in China? I feel sick just writing this, but I feel that it's important to get the message out there. I'm not posting images of this, as some people feel the need to do all over Facebook. What good does that do anyway - besides upset whoever had the unfortunate experience to stumble upon that image?
How the hell are we supposed to help animals by just sharing graphic images on animals being killed and not do anything about it?
It infuriates me to say the least. Should we just sit back after sharing such an image and give ourselves a pat on the back - as if to say that we've "done our little bit" for the animals?
This article isn't about blaming people, or doing what they do - posting shocking information and then expecting a miracle to save these animals. I'm writing this because I think we all need to stand together and get involved, to actually do something and not just feel sorry, shed a tear or be filled with rage about what's happening to animals around the world.
Let's channel this rage for our beautiful animal friends somewhere that can be of use.
Isn't this the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?
Source: designswan.com
BEAUTY WITHOUT CRUELTY
A list of cosmetics and skincare ranges in South Africa as well as throughout the rest of the world that are NOT tested on animals:
"Animals are, like us, endangered species on an endangered planet, and we are the ones who are endangering them, it, and ourselves. They are innocent sufferers in a hell of our making."
Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson & Susan McCarthy, When Elephants Weep
Animal Abuse and Neglect
I'm sure you know a few cases of animal abuse and neglect, without needing to think very hard. Whether it be it from watching or reading the news, hearing heart-wrenching stories from other people, or witnessing any form of animals being abused or neglected - I doubt very much that there's a single person on this planet who doesn't know about some inhumane way an animal has been treated.
Last week I opened my Facebook page to find a horrific image of a dog who'd miraculously survived an excruciating ordeal, an ordeal by humans who felt like torturing this poor animal. I'm not going to describe what I saw, because today I still can't get the image out of my head. My eyes sheds tears and my heart bleeds at the very thought of what this poor, defenseless dog went through - I'll never forget that image. Man's best friend. All they want is love and to give love, and instead they get treated like this?
What makes me even madder is the purpose of posting this image on Facebook. For sheer shock, I'm guessing that is its purpose. No link to helping animals in need, no indication of whether the dog is receiving treatment or that it has found a loving home to help him re-cooperate - just a shocking image with a caption "If you're against animal abuse, share this". What an utter load of crap. Excuse my language, but it is! I will never forget that image, and I'll keep wondering every day what happened to him. I can only pray that he either found a very loving family home with people who are able to provide extra care and who are beyond patient, or that he was put out of his misery and was put to sleep by some kind-hearted vet.
Animals don't ask for much, all they want is love
Source: guardian.co.uk
A rare sight of a baby rhino with its mom
Source: theepochtimes.com
"Wild animals never kill for sport. Man is the only one to whom the torture and death of his fellow creatures is amusing in itself."
JAMES ANTHONY FROUDE, Oceana
A leatherback sea turtle
Source: salem-news.com
Hunting Animals
Animals have been hunted for food in order for man to survive, for centuries. Over the last few decades this has however spiraled far out of control. Animals aren't simply hunted as a means for human survival anymore, they're hunted today as a "sport" - they're hunted for fun.
The rhino population in Africa is almost extinct because of disgusting human greed for their horns. More than two rhino's are killed every single day due to poaching. According to The African Wildlife Foundation, there are less than 5 000 black rhinos in the world today.
People are hunting animals every day for their sick pleasure or for greed. Animals, who are innocently going about their day-to-day way of life, are being butchered and slaughtered by man.
Man, who was put on this earth to live side-by-side with animals. Man, who was meant to care for and look after these animals. Man was not put on this earth to take some sick pleasure in hurting them. But this is what's being done every day, probably as you're reading this very sentence.
What posses a person to completely shut off all emotion and hunt down an animal? To see the fear in their eyes and to kill them for no other purpose than for the thrill of it, for the money? Perhaps we should ask Donald Trump Jr this question. He caused controversy in March 2012 for a series of photographs that were made public in which he boasts his fresh animal kills. A self proclaimed hunter, his response to backlash from animal rights organizations was, "I have no shame". What a disgrace this public figure is to the human population.
Another public figure who is known to be a supporter of illegal hunting is Sarah Palin, who openly supports aerial wolf hunting in Alaska. Not only does she support aerial wolf hunting, but she actively partakes in it! With people around like this, it's no wonder the animal population is drastically decreasing.
Thankfully, there will always be the good to fight the bad in any situation and the above two examples are no exception. Ashley Judd is a public animal activist and continues to promote awareness against Sarah Palin's hunting activities. Watch her video where she speaks to Larry King about her plight against this form of hunting, at the end of my tribute hub to this amazing public figure here.
There are only a few of these beautiful creatures remaining on our planet today
Source: gumshoegrove.com
There are no more Yangtze River dolphin's left on earth
Source: forum.santabanta.com
Extinct Animals
These animals have been wiped off the face of the earth, mostly due to humans:
Atlas bear, Aurochs, Bali Tiger, Caribbean Monk Seal, Carolina Parakeet, Caspian Tiger, Dinosaurs, Dodo,Dusky Seaside Sparrow, Elephant Bird, Golden Toad, Great Auk, Haast's Eagle, Japanese Sea Lion, Javan Tiger, Moa, Passenger Pigeon, Pterosaurs, Saber-toothed cat, Short-faced bear, Steller's Sea Cow, Thylacine, Toolache Wallaby, Western Black Rhinoceros, Woolly Mammoth, Woolly Rhinoceros, Yangtze River Dolphin
The Western Lowland gorillas are close to extinction due to illegal hunting
Source: drake.marin.k12.ca.us
Ten of the Most Endangered Species Today
- Black Rhino
- Giant Panda
- Tiger
- Beluga Sturgeon
- Golden Seal
- Alligator Snapping Turtle
- Hawksbill Turtle
- Big Leaf Mahogany
- Green-Cheeked Parrot
- Mako Shark
I Challenge You
Instead of just writing another article about strong opinions against animal abuse, neglect and endangerment, I wanted to do something different.
I want to make a difference.
And, I challenge each and every person reading this article to make a commitment to helping animals from today onwards. Whether you donate whatevermoney you're able to afford each month to an animal organization, whether you donate your time on a weekly or monthly basis to an animal shelter, or whether you are in a position to make an even bigger difference (for example going to government to make a change) - we can all do something!
How You Can Make a Difference TODAY!
- In your comments, please let myself and everyone else reading this article know how you are going to make a difference (or if you already are, how you are making a difference) towards helping our fellow animals.
- Please share this article as a means to spread the word.
- Get family and friends involved with your projects - the more people that help, the bigger the difference we're going to make.
An unusual and true friendship between Bella and Tara
Source: margaretfisherinteriors.com
Animals SAVED from extinction!
While researching for this article, I came across a website featuring 10 animals that have been saved from extinction through efforts made by animal organizations.
This is fantastic news, and just goes to show that we really can make a difference!
Read the full article here.
My Promise
As I've asked this of everyone else, I feel it's only fair to be the one to start with the challenge and share what I plan to do.
I have contacted a local animal shelter in my area and I will be giving up my Saturday afternoons at least once a month, if not more - to give love and care to animals that have been abused or neglected. These mostly include cats and dogsrescued from squater camps nearby.
Every animal organization is in desperate need of volunteers, and I am grateful that I'm able to help out in some small way.
I'll update some photos and news every now and then on my efforts to helping these animals, and other projects along the way.
LET'S MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
No comments:
Post a Comment