Strengthen your capacity for providing deeply responsible care for your pets, whose lives are quite literally resting in your hands and heart.
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The Principle |
The Pet’s Right |
Your Pledge that Supports the Right |
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| Daily sustenance | Biological needs are met | My pets will receive appropriate amounts of good-quality food and continuous access to clean water. | |
| Shelter is provided | My pets will have dry, wind-proof, shaded shelter, a soft clean bed, and sturdy fencing when needed. | ||
| Good health is supported | My pets will receive annual checkups and year-around parasite control, and health issues will be promptly addressed with veterinarian support. | ||
| Exercise is provided | My pets will receive daily moderate exercise totalling at least one hour. | ||
| Elimination is enabled | My pets are allowed appropriate daily opportunities to eliminate bodily wastes. If my pets are having accidents, I will devote time to reward-based training activities and seeking out expert advice. | ||
| Security and safety | Training and guidance is provided | My pets will receive positive reinforcement training to become cooperative members of the household, as well as ongoing guidance that encourages good behavior. | |
| Self and family protection is allowed | My pets may protect themselves and family members from harm under reasonable circumstances without risk of euthanasia. | ||
| Evacuation is guaranteed | In disasters, my pets will be evacuated with other members of the family. | ||
| Companionship | Affection is regularly offered | My pets will be dedicated a minimum of two daily 10-minute periods of affectionate one-on-one interaction with family members. | |
| Pet companions are provided | My pets will be provided with other pet companions if they are without human attention for long periods on a regular basis. | ||
| Comfort is freely offered | My pets will be comforted when frightened, have suffered a loss, or are suffering from health problems. | ||
| Fun is provided | My pets will be provided with the mental and emotional stimulation of toys, games, and playing with family members on a daily basis. | ||
| Respect | Divine life embodied in our pets is recognized | All pets will be considered worthy of our humble respect, because we share the divine energy of life. My pets won’t be euthanized for any reason, except to avoid needless suffering. | |
| Pet intelligence is appreciated | My pets will be respected for their special intelligences and unique talents that have cooperatively evolved with our own mental gifts. | ||
| Pet feelings are respected | My pets’ feelings of exuberance, fear, affection, aggression, and other feelings, will be recognized and and responded to with appropriate guidance, to support good citizenship in the family. | ||
| Pet diversity is appreciated | Each of my pets are unique in so many ways, and I will place equal values on all types and individuals. | ||
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Reprinted by Courtesy of Sunbear Squad. Sunbear Squad, Inc. is an all-volunteer, non-profit humane awareness organization with 501(c)3 status. Please visit their site and be informed!
Read the true story of Sunbear, an 18 month old Chocolate Lab that inspired Sunbear Squad’s beginnings, here.
I have 3 Shelties which are my life. I Love each of them equally and unconditionally. They get the best of everything (which means SPOILED) but I enjoy doing so and I receive the Love from them 100 fold. They adore me and they are totally dependent on me. I cannot imagine my life without them. I am a firefighter/paramedic and when I am away from them, I miss them dearly. They always make me feel better when I have had a rotten shift or just feel lousy.
I love my cats and dogs, my day revolves around them and their needs. I realize the good intention behind this Bill of Rights for Pets but I also see a bigger problem. Correct me if I'm wrong, but how many of you that are concerned about Pet Rights are concerned and fighting for our, people's, Bill of Rights? Our rights are being eroded everyday, going unchallenged by the masses, so please focus on that first.
Please join me in fighting for OUR CONSTITUTION, OUR BILL OF RIGHTS. Once we've won that battle, we'll re-focus our efforts on the animals.
So people everywhere have to have all of their rights granted and guaranteed, before we can make any attempt to give pets (which are bred for us to enjoy) their own rights? Why can't we work on both simultaneously?
"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." Proverbs 12:10
It is our pets that make our lives better. They give us unconditional love. All they want in return is food, housing, and a pat on the head. Very basic needs which many people ignore.
I have two dogs, one cat, and one corn snake. So my household is a full one. Oh, I almost forgot my husband.
I adopted one dog from the SPCA and then learned that he had been there for more than eight months. It is because of him that I started volunteering at the SPCA. That was six years ago this month. I have also become very involved in a Dog Rescue group that works hand-in-hand with the SPCA.
In my six years, I have seen what us humans can do to dogs. They come in beaten and starved. Sometimes it is almost unbearable to see. Surprisingly, these dogs turn around and make very good pets. My dog was one of those.
As I tell the new group of volunteers, none of these dogs walked up to the SPCA door and knocked, asking to live there. The dogs are at the SPCA simply because of human neglect and bad decisions.
I find the company of my pets very relaxing. Maybe we humans should take some lessons from these "dumb" animals. Our lives would be better and we wouldn't have to worry about anyone's bill of rights; human or otherwise.
I totally agree with you and i am going to look into volunting witn the lovcal dog shelters, we have one dog now it is my son's, it was his turn as i just put my very beloved chelsea down due to thyriod cancer and it is still very disturbing for me as she was my love and my life and savor, she helped me thru the long days of depression when the demons came looking for me, she is forever in my heart and on my mind
I am so saddened today. I picked up a stray dog the other day (I always try to help the strays when we see them). Then my Sheltie was attacked to I had to take him out of our home. He was a Mixed Breed (Shepard and ???) under one year, had been neutered. Very friendly with people but not other dogs. We had put him on the online petfinder websites like pets911.com immediately after finding him.
After an emergency room visit with our Sheltie, I took him to a no kill shelter the next day. They could not take him because he lunged at two different female dogs. They had no room for his own kennel. Then I had to take him to Maricopa County Animal "Care and Control" dba: Killers. And in 72 hours they killed him. I just found out. I called within the 72 hours and they said they had not done the assesement yet. To call back the next day. I called when they opened first thing in the morning. He was down. Did not pass their test. I cried and cried. Still am crying.
I indirectly killed this puppy. And he was so adorable, lovable, and loving towards us. He was taught to kill other dogs, though. Or was part pit bull perhaps. I don't know why people are so unresponsible. A dog died because of two people. Me, because I did not try to find him a home. The owner, because they let him escape without any tags, microchip, and they did not put him online as lost. We drove around looking for flyers too. I am trying to justify so I might feel a twinge of innocence. But it is not working. I feel like I gave him the killer drugs. I put him down. It is NOT a good feeling.
I won't forget Decker ever (named him during the day we had him) and my stepson who passed away at the age of 12 had always wanted all stray dogs to have a home. I failed him too. That hurts as much or more.
Blaze, I know how you feel as I'm sure many others do also. You can only do what you can and pray to God it is enough.I live in an apartment and I have my hands tied. But I still do as much as I can when I can, in fact I have a lost kitten in my bathroom right now, He's there because my girls would probly do him some serious damage (Cats) But at least you did try. How many actually passed the little thing up and didn't give it a seconds thought? You just keep on helping and God bless you for that.
Blaze, sometimes you do all that you can and still can't save all of them. Yes, it is sad but there are only so many options open to people sometimes. It wasn't safe for you to keep him at your home, you'd already found that out. The only one who can take away your guilt is you. You just have to know that you tried, honestly tried. That's all anyone can ask, even a dog. And you did more than most people would have done.
I'm sorry that things turned out the way they did for him and you. Most shelters just do not have the means to deal with aggressive dogs.
Forgive yourself then try to help another. Wallowing in guilt helps no one and as much as it hurts me, not every dog can be saved in today's society.
Deanna
Thanks, I will try to help another….soon.
I thank God for people who rescue and love animals
I like your site very much.I rescue pugs and i know what happens to these poor animals.people should speak and use their voice for these poor animals.I fight everyday against these puppymills;i think they should be shut down.i've got pugs with problems but i love them with all my heart and i'll continue to take in any pug no matter the problem.to look into the eyes of a dog that;s being neglected; or that may be different you can't walk away.My dogs are my life and know matter what problems may happen i'll deal with anything that may come because these dogs need me and others like me.
My pets are the most important things in my life and animal welfare has always been top priority whether with my house pets or my race horses. I work closely with the SPCA in my area and also a rescue group for whom I shelter Yorkies. This is my life's calling. I love this site.
Very good post, Deanna. I completely agree. In today's hustle and bustle lifestyle, and the need for 25-hour days and 8-day weeks just to be able to keep up…it's too easy to neglect the dog that waits patiently for us to give a few minutes of our time…or sometimes, not so patiently. *grin*
Too many people don't understand that the few hours' separation from us is an anxious and often painful time for the dog. Their lives are on fast-forward, and I often wonder if that works in reverse for their perception of time. If a year to a dog is the equivalent to four of our years…does a day seem more like a week to ol' Bowser? Think about it.
I especially agree with the part about having the company of other dogs. I've often said that in order for a human being to really appreciate the dog experience…that they need to be kept in multiples. Then…and only then…can we truly begin to understand them. I hesitate to use the term "own" in the same sentence with dogs. We can't own a life. We can only respect it and care for it. We were given dominion over the creatures of the Earth by God. I read "dominion" as stewardship rather than a license to do as we please with these unique beings.
When we take in a dog…whether adopted, purchased, or rescued…we sign a contract with that dog…whether we realize it or not. A covenant with one f God's best. I believe that God will hold us accountable if we breech that contract.
Finally, I believe that the notion that some hold of dogs not having souls is ludicrous and arrogant. The spark of life is in them…the same as it is in us. Why would the Almighty give only one of His creations a soul?
"Revel in my uncondional love, beloved master, and treat me with kindness. Give me every minute that you can spare…for my time with you is short."
I need the help of people here in a project I want to undertake for my state and hope that it spreads. I am a lawyer and a member of the Louisiana Animal Law Section of the Louisiana State Bar Association and I'm working with the Tulane Animal Legal Defense Fund on an "Animal Code" for the state. Currently there is no difference here between a diamond ring and a dog–property law treats the two the same and an owner has rights which transcend best interest of the animal. If the dog is lost or ill-treated, that really doesn't matter much; owners have total control. If the dog is found and rescued, and the owner shows up WITHIN TEN YEARS the dog has to be returned! Supposedly the owner will owe expenses to the caretaker but the police enforce this, not the courts, and I've seen abuse you wouldn't believe. It also means that adoptions are always at risk, because if an owner shows up the owner prevails. Likewise–vets don't have any responsibility; if they do something outrageous (and sometimes they have employees, particularly, who fail) the reimbursement is the "value" of the animal, which is usually minimal and not worth pursuing. There are TONS of issues, and the law needs to be viewed comprehensively. Animals should NOT be the equivalent of inanimate personal property, BOTTOM LINE. If anyone has ideas of what SHOULD be in place, I'd love suggestions and I'll share what we do, too. Best to everyone here and I look forward to sharing.
To Blaze: I understand your guilt, and agree that whomever originally owned Decker was irresponsible, or perhaps just ignorant. I've been involved in rescue, primarily with pits and pit mixes (it seems that every dog whose breed is unknown is deemed a pit, which is rarely the case). Regardless of Decker's breed, he had issues that can only be resolved by time, patience, and lots of training. Much to my chagrin, city 'shelters' do not devote time into training or rehabilitation to make dogs like Decker become adoptable. If you really want to make a difference (and have the cash & time), maybe you could consider taking some classes in dog training/rehab and volunteer your time at the local shelters and help train some of the dogs who need help with aggressive behavior. Easier said than done, don't be too hard from yourself. At least Decker wasn't picked up by someone else; he could have ended up in the hands of some gangbangers who would have fought him or used him as a bait/breeding dog.
I hope the state will shut this place down and prosecute those employees. Did the puppy survive? I could not look at that picture. We have had some bad cases come into our shelter, but that one is the worst I’ve ever seen! Please keep us up to date on whether the state of New York does anything about this place, and whether those employees were prosecuted for cruelty to animals. This makes my blood boil!
The pup, now named Metro, is being cared for by the Erie County SPCA. Cross your fingers and send some good thoughts and prayers her way…