Blog The Change

I came across this a few weeks ago and have been waiting to participate. I believe that animal shelters and rescue groups are so important. Milly and Shelby did not come from shelters, they were given to us from my husband's parents. That being said, however, animal rescue is something near and dear to my heart. It is something I want to be more involved in. It's not an easy thing though. It takes time, money, and an unselfish heart. 

A couple of years ago when I was in college I volunteered for Cullen's Archangel Rescue (CARE). I did not do nearly as much as the other volunteers, but I saw first hand just how hard the job is. It is emotionally draining. However, that group of people truly enjoyed rescuing animals. They loved the animals. They helped them to find better homes. They still do, I'm just not there anymore. Once, while volunteering, I volunteered to go to an animal shelter in the Columbia area. It was awful. All of those poor animals. On the way home I cried and cried. I felt awful. We had rescued two dogs... but there were soooo many more. The conditions of the shelter made me sick. I know they were doing what they could with limited funds, but it was horrible. 

You know, the thing is that all of this suffering could be prevented. All of this has come about by the irresponsible actions of humans. It truly is not the animals' faults. It's ours. That is what makes it so difficult. You know, it's kind of like when people go to jail- except (almost always) they have done something to deserve that. These animals have not. 

Please spay/neuter your pet. Please don't breed animals while so many are in shelters needing homes. If you do breed animals, please be responsible about breeding. Please consider local shelters or animal rescue groups. Please remember that a pet is a pet for life. It is not only an animal to sit outside your house chained to a tree or stuck in a fence, it is a member of your pack. It will be loyal and true and faithful to you... be the person who deserves that.

I have said it before and I truly mean it with all of my heart: I try every single day to be the person that Milly and Shelby deserve for me to be. I don't always succeed, but I always try my hardest.

Milly and Shelby, you will never know a day when you are left at a shelter, alone and forgotten, abandoned. You will always be loved. You will always be appreciated. You will always be my heart. I will always have your best interests at heart and in mind. You are not just my "dogs"; you are my baby girls and I love you... and I will forever.

Milly

Shelby