by Michelle Rivera -
[email protected]
I received the following letter from an Animal Writes
subscriber who lives in my area. I have met her once or twice and have
called on her a few times when I needed help for an animal. Her letter
to me was so filled with hope and optimism, that I asked her if I could
share it with all of you. She gave me permission to do so and so here it
is, slightly edited. It is my desire that you will have the benefit of
the energy, truth and pride that emanates from this letter. It certainly
made my day and gave me courage and strength to keep up the good fight
for a while longer. The italics peppered throughout the letter are mine.
Hi Michelle.....I read your "Heart's Desire for the New
Year" in the Animal Writes Newsletter ....My heart goes out to you and
to the animals and to all of us who are trying to create compassion for
animals in our world....some quotes come to mind that I can't remember
exactly but one is about the tragedy of circumstances when "good men do
nothing." The other is about it being better to "light one candle than
curse the darkness." ("All that evil needs to prevail is for good men to
do nothing" and "All the darkness in the world can not extinguish the
light of a single candle" ~St. Francis of Assisi)
ONE ANIMAL AT A TIME
I often have to tell myself that even though I might only be able to
save one animal now and then, or write a protest letter to a
congressman/corporation, etc. once in a while, or do on-line research
sometimes to help someone find transport for an animal to a new
home....that if I didn't do these little things, we would be that much
farther behind in the struggle.....it is so heart-breaking when we see
our efforts fail.....but I can tell you, that people like yourself (see
yourself here, reader, please) have ALREADY changed the world......
THE WORLD IS CHANGING FOR THE BETTER RE: ANIMAL WELFARE
I have been interested in animal welfare for twenty years, although have
not had the opportunity to really get involved until recently. The
attitude of people towards their companion animals these days and the
number involved in movements such as humane farming, has grown
TREMENDOUSLY in the past decade.
I used to think there was something WRONG with me, 15-20
years ago, that I would cry over the animal's plight or have a
heart-felt terror that I would have to move somewhere where I couldn't
keep my animals, when my husband (ex-now) didn't care about
this.......indeed, everyone around me was indifferent, thought it was
ridiculous or thought I was nuts.
But, these days, I don't have to EXPLAIN my feelings
about my dog and cats---strangers understand and commiserate----I know
that I wouldn't have to risk being labeled insane if I wanted to take a
day off to stay home with my dog, after she had minor
surgery.....recently I was putting up posters for a lost dog I had found
(we got the owner, happily) and EVERYONE----people who ran the bars,
grocery stores, etc. ----were SO helpful, interested and really cared
about this dog getting back home.....Also, I have been looking for a new
rental house recently and the number of landlords who allow pets is
HUGE, when, in Boca twenty years ago, NO ONE allowed pets.......
OUR BIGGEST GIFT IN THE FIGHT IS THE INTERNET
And, the biggest God-gift of all has been the internet, giving us all a
chance to connect globally----although this miracle of electronics also
has its "dark" side, it allows us light-beings to really reach out and
get the message to thousands, not just to hundreds....and this is really
how I got involved on a local level with animal welfare, myself. This
has to have been the case for so many of us who are "newbies" to the
rescue scene. But, miraculously, now you have new recruits to help you
in the fight as a result of this spectacular invention.....
So, for what it is worth, I can tell you that things
have changed a LOT, due to people like yourself, who are in a
high-profile position, with a unique chance to make a difference, and to
inspire the rest of us. (She is talking to the collective
"yourself"-take a bow!)
I SEE CHANGES IN THE POLITICIAN'S ATTITUDES, TOO
I am glad that the state's attorney at least returned your calls and was
obviously interested in the dog-fighting case....I have found that this
response is becoming more the norm with the politicos......we animal
lovers are indeed becoming a force to be reckoned with.....and I also
would like to think that these politicians individually care about
animals, too....that helping us help animals is not just done for
political expediency
I have encountered some interesting, compassionate
senators and congressmen while working on getting the law passed to stop
automatic euthanization of retired military dogs by the government, (it
passed, thanks to Bill Clinton, who signed it on the way out of office)
Even on this level, I think that animal--compassion is truly
wide-spread,,,,
I didn't mean to write so much, Michelle, but I wanted
to give you my perspective from the outside--looking--in. Unfortunately,
although you are in a wonderful position to make a difference, you also
are forced to confront, on a daily basis, the dark side of this
struggle. (She is referring to the fact that I am involved in cruelty
investigations and rescue at our local shelter) I am only trying to tell
you how much you mean to all of us out here and how people like yourself
have TRULY made changes that you might not always be aware of.....
I pray to St. Francis all the time----I find that he is
a VERY powerful saint who has truly helped me with my animals in times
of great need.....I don't know what your beliefs are, but I know you
believe in something .........Prayer is the greatest tool of all in this
struggle, I believe.....
Tara in Boca Raton, Florida
I hope that this letter has lifted your spirits has it
has mine. And I thank you, Tara, for sharing your sunshine today.
Go on to Compassion
For Animals Action Symposium
Return to 13 January 2002 Issue
Return to Newsletters
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