What YOU can do...

n our everyday lives, in the choices we make and the actions we take, we can
create change. These are the simple, yet profound, things we can do...

• Understand the commitment we are making when we take an animal into our homes and lives, be ready and willing to accept that commitment in our hearts and minds, and make it a lifelong commitment.
• Protect our animal companions from becoming lost by keeping them safely confined and always wearing current identification.
• Spay and neuter our animals so that they do not contribute to companion animal overpopulation.
• Save a life by adopting our next animal companion from a shelter.
• Choose our companions thoughtfully and carefully to ensure we are making a good match that will last a lifetime;
• Provide our companions with the basics of food and shelter and medical care, and also provide them with the love and companionship they need to be happy;
• Include them as part of our families, socialize them so that they are comfortable in human society, train them so that they are safe and good citizens;
• Work through problems with them, and include them in our own life changes;
• Always demonstrate responsible and loving companion animal care so that others may learn from our example, and so that such care becomes the standard in our society.

These actions honor our animal friends, and show gratitude for the love and companionship they give to us so freely. These actions acknowledge their intrinsic value, and express respect for them as living beings. Moreover, these are the actions that, one at a time, begin to bring an end to the homeless animal tragedy, and they are in your power.

If want to learn more...

Recommended Reading

On homeless animals...
· Disposable Animals: Ending the Tragedy of Throw-Away Pets by Craig Brestrup, Camino Press, 2001
· Lost and Found: Dogs, Cats, and Everyday Heroes at a Country Animal Shelter, by Elizabeth Hess, Harvest Books, 2000
. The Pet Surplus: What Every Dog and Cat Owner Can Do to Help Reduce It, by Susan M. Seidman, Xlibris, 2001
· Save Our Strays: How We Can End Pet Overpopulation and Stop Killing Healthy Cats and Dogs, by Bob Christensen, Canine Learning Centers, 1999
· The Stray Cat Handbook, Tamara Kreuz, Howell Book House, 1999
· Circles of Compassion: A Collection of Humane Words and Works, edited by Elaine Sichell, Voice & Vision Publishing, 1995
· The Animal Shelter, by Patricia Curtis, Lodestar Books, 1984
· A Day, A Dog, by Gabrielle Vincent, Front Street, 1999

On valuing animals...
· When Elephants Weep by Jeffrey Mousaieff Masson, Ballatine Books, 2002
· The Ten Trusts: What We Must Do to Care for the Animals We Love, by Jane Goodall & Marc Bekoff, Harper, 2002
· For Bea, by Kristin Von Kreisler, Tarcher-Putnum, 2003
· Souls Like Ourselves: Inspired Thoughts for Personal and Planetary Advancement edited by Andrea Gillan Wiebers and David O. Wiebers, Sojourn Press, 2000
· The Extended Circle: A Dictionary of Humane Thought, edited by Jon Wynne-Tyson, Centaur Press, 1986
· Free the Animals: The Untold Story of the U.S. Animal Liberation Front, by Ingrid Newkirk, Noble Press, 1992
· Pit's Letter, by Sue Coe, Four Walls Eight Windows, 2000
· Next of Kin: What Chimpanzees Have Taught Me About Who We Are, by Roger Fouts, William Morrow and Company, 1997

On making a difference...
· Save the Animals: 101 Easy Things You Can Do, by Ingrid Newkirk, Warner Books, 1990
· One Makes the Difference: Inspiring Actions that Change our World, by Jullia Butterfly Hill, Harper, 2002
· In the Footsteps of Ghandi, by Catherine Ingram, Parallax Press, 1990
· Stone Soup for the World: Life Changing Stories of Kindess & Courageous Acts of Service, edited by Marianne Larned, Conari Press, 1998
· Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey, by Jane Goodall, Warner Books, 1999

On society and culture...
· An Unnatural Order: Why We Are Destroying the Planet and Each Other by Jim Mason, Continuum, 1998
· The Culture of Make Believe by Derrick Jensen, Chelsea Green Publishing, 2004
. Walking on Water: Reading, Writing and Revolution, by Derrick Jensen, Chelsea Green Publishing, 2004
· Ishmael: An Adventure of Mind and Sprit, by Daniel Quinn, Bantam, 1995

Children's books...
· Pole Dog, by Tres Seymour, Orchard Books, 1993
· Unknown, by Colin Thompson, Walker Publishing, 2000
· One Day at Wood Green Animal Shelter, by Patricia Casey, Candlewick Press, 2001
· I'll Always Love You, Hans Wilhelm, Crown Publishers, 1985
· Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea, Arthur Howard, Harcourt Brace & Company, 1994
· Charlotte's Web, E.B. White, Harper & Row, 1952

If you want to do more...

Every community is different in its homeless animal problem - in its causes, as well as in its progress toward a solution. To find out how you can best become involved and help, find out what kinds of shelters you have in your community, and what kind of help they need. You may be able to foster an animal who needs extra care or time the shelter cannot give; you may be able to care for the animals in the shelter and give them the love and attention that will help them stay healthy while they wait for a home; you may be able to help the shelter raise funds or educate their community.

There may also be other organizations working outside the walls of the shelter - rescue groups, groups providing low cost spay/neuter, groups working to help feral cats, educational organizations, etc. - that can use your help.

Your time, your action, and your advocacy are incredibly valuable gifts to a shelter or non-profit organization, and to the animals themselves.

All of these organization sare playing a part in building communities that no longer have overwhelming homeless animal problems and have, therefore, no need to kill animals; they're working toward creating communities that find killing to be an unacceptable answer, and that see animals as having value and beauty, as beings with a sacred spark of life and spirit

Whatever you decide to do, we thank you for your compassion, your concern, and your efforts to bring about an end to the homeless animal tragedy and create a better world for animals.