Friday, April 4, 2014

Go Orange for animals! Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month

Lulu is going orange!

April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals month, sponsored by ASPCA.

Here at Life With Beagle, we are committed to making the quality of life better for people and for pets. In a moment we'll tell you how you can help us with this endeavour this month.

Do you know how to prevent animal abuse?

ASPCA points out these 10 ways to prevent animal abuse where you live:
  1. Know who to call to report animal cruelty. Every state and every town are different. In some areas, you may have to rely on the police department to investigate animal cruelty; in others, you may have to contact local animal control or another municipal agency. If you aren't sure where to report cruelty, please visit our Report Animal Cruelty section.
     
  2. Get to know and look out for the animals in your neighborhood. By being aware, you're more likely to notice, for example, that the dog next door who was once hefty has lost weight rapidly—a possible indicator of abuse.
     
  3. Make the call. Without phone calls from concerned citizens who report cruelty in their neighborhoods, we wouldn't know about most instances of animal abuse. It all comes from the public, it all starts with YOU—that's why it's so important to keep your eyes and ears open.
     
  4. Provide as much as information as possible when reporting animal cruelty. The details that you provide can go a long way toward assisting an investigating officer. It helps to write down the type of cruelty you witnessed, who was involved, the date of the incident and where it took place.
     
  5. Contact your local law enforcement department and let them know that investigating animal cruelty should be a priority. Animal cruelty is a CRIME—and the police MUST investigate these crimes.
     
  6. Fight for the passage of strong anti-cruelty laws on federal, state and local levels by joining the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade. With stronger laws come tougher penalties. As an ASPCA Advocacy Brigade member, you'll receive emails asking you to write letters encouraging your legislators to pass these laws—and you can send them directly from our website.
     
  7. Set a good example for others. If you have pets, be sure to always show them the love and good care they deserve. But it's more than just food, water, and adequate shelter. If you think your animal is sick, bring him to the veterinarian. Be responsible and have your animals spayed or neutered. And give your pets lots of hugs!
     
  8. Talk to your kids about how to treat animals with kindness and respect. We regularly see children in homes where animal abuse has been reported. If a parent isn't treating the family's pets right, we tell the kids that their dog or cat would really appreciate fresh water every day or some daily playtime. If the animal has been left outside without shelter, we'll say, 'You have a nice house, and if you get cold, you can put a coat on. But your dog can't do that.' Children understand that animals are living creatures who have the ability to feel pain, joy and sadness.
     
  9. Support your local shelter or animal rescue organization. It's a great way to make a difference. Some of our ASPCA volunteers foster animals who have been abused in their former homes, giving these dogs and cats the chance they deserve to have a good life. You can find a list of shelters and rescue groups in your area in our National Shelter Directory.
     
  10. Start a Neighborhood Watch Program. Get to know the animals in your neighborhood and invite your friends and neighbors to do the same. Together you can keep an eye out for any suspicious behaviors—abuse and neglect of companion animals, the mistreatment of local wildlife, dogs left in hot cars and other signs of abuse.

In our continuing commitment to supporting the human-animal bond, we are once again raising money for the Paws for Peace Walk.

Harbor House of Central Florida has a state of the art, on-property kennel for the pets of domestic violence victims, all paid for with private donations.

Up to 48 percent of domestic violence victims delay leaving a dangerous situation because they don't want to leave their pets.

 The Paws for Peace Walk is April 26 at 8 a.m. at Blue Jacket Park in Orlando.

This year, I have formed a team! If you go to the secure Paws for Peace website, you can join my team and walk with me. It's a short walk, not even a 5K. And your dog can come too! And there will be a raffle, vendors and other activities too for afterwards!

So if you are in Central Florida, please consider joining my team! Or if you can't make it, please consider donating to me. I have a low fundraising goal. 

Just head to my personal page -- Team Beagle! The site takes you to Harbor House's page. It's powered by Kintera and is a secure server.


Meanwhile -- if you can't donate or join our team, you can still Help Team Beagle! Harbor House is hosting a Paws Photo Contest! Lulu is entered in the contest. If you are on Facebook, please head to this link and vote for her daily!
Up to 85 percent of domestic abuse victims say their partner threatened, hurt or killed a pet. - See more at: http://www.lifewithbeagle.com/2013/12/harbor-house-paws-for-peace-kennel-1.html#sthash.zBv4VzVO.dpuf
Up to 85 percent of domestic abuse victims say their partner threatened, hurt or killed a pet. - See more at: http://www.lifewithbeagle.com/2013/12/harbor-house-paws-for-peace-kennel-1.html#sthash.zBv4VzVO.dpu

3 comments :

  1. Lots of great tips here Christie! We'll be going orange this month too. I just picked up an orange bandana for Luna.

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  2. We've gone orange, too! A great post, Christie! All of them really boil down to get involved somehow. Get involved and care. That is all. Not much to ask, not really :)

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