Messages we give kids

*disclaimer: Luke and Anna are playing...he knows how to get out of the crate,

 indeed he was the one that put them both in there with water, snacks and a bed...

Messages, we get them daily. We send them daily.  We either get them or we don't.  Do we actually think about them?  I mean really think about the message, the intent and the actual outcome?


Two stories come to mind today that really bring this home, and I mean right where you live home.


1: Ad posted on-line: please come get our mama cat and her two day old kittens or my boyfriend will kill them.


Follow up: a good, dear friend who is also an animal rescue friend, went to get them.  A child, around 10, told her, "Thank you for taking our kitties, I was so sad that they were going to get killed.  I'm happy they get to live and have a good home."


Questions: what sort of lesson is this young girl learning about why things get killed (someone doesn't want or value them anymore) and about caring for those around us (kill it if you cannot give it away).  what sort of lesson is she learning about being responsible for not only herself but for those animals?  What sort of value does her mother's boyfriend have for her?  Is she as expendable as a mama cat and kittens?  

2.  Woman at a dog park with her children, they are playing rough with their dogs, but the woman is 'proud' that her kids can kick the dog, pull its tail and poke it in the eye.  "See it doesn't even mind if you throw it down!" she states proudly.

Follow up: a friend, who works with dogs and other animals, is concerned. She asks why this woman is proud of her children's bad behaviour. Then she asks what happens if the dog finally has 'enough' and snaps?  Of course the dog will be gone because it broke the biggest rule of all - do not do unto others.  The dog will die, they will get another, and the cycle will start all over again.

Questions: what sort of lessons about respect, caring for others and physical safety are those kids learning?  Are they learning that dogs CHOOSE not to bite us?  Are they learning they are responsible for their animals?  Are they learning that causing hurt is wrong?  Are they being taught to treat others as they would like to be treated?


3.  A neighborhood watches as yet another dog dies of neglect in a yard. The neighbors are not unaware of what is going on, they talk about it, they know who is doing this and it isn't the first dog.  Won't be the last.  No one is sure what to do, so they say nothing, hoping that someone comes up with a miracle, life saving plan.

Follow up: the owner gets pressured to take the dog to the vet, refuses help and no one knows what happened to the dog.  No one knows when the next dog will come to that yard.  Everyone knows what will happen to it.  The families who talk about it, know about it and stay quiet are teaching their children not to get involved. They are teaching their children to be silent in the face of abuse.


Questions: Would they be silent if it was a child being abused? What about an elderly person?  Would they stay silent if they knew they were teaching their children to be quiet in the face of abuse?  What if it was them being abused, would they want someone to speak up for them?


Three tough situations - varying degrees of lessons being taught.  What would you do?  What would you say? Would you speak up or remain silent?


What lessons are you teaching your children? What lessons do you see being taught that you remain silent about?

Empty Collars

Up on a hill, surrounded by rolling grassy slopes and wild flowers, watered by a spring of sweet water, stands a great old tree.  The branches are gnarled and twisted with age, the leaves grow in rich shades of green.  The trunk is wide and offers many roots for climbing, sitting and shade.

This is no ordinary tree, it is a memory tree.  Each branch is hung, not with fruit, but with collars and tags. There are old ones made of rope, some braided twine, others of fine leather or other material. The tags are shiny, they are old and worn, some metal, some plastic, some twinkle and some are empty rings.  Each one holds the memories of a dog that has cross The Rainbow Bridge. 

Their people come here, to hang the collars, to leave their memories with the tree.  Of little puppy teeth chewing, of old grey muzzles snoring softy, of a working dog's first successful job, of a service dog's last task.  The memories hang from the tree, with each push of the wind the collars shift and softly sound.  With each movement the wind brings memories to the people left behind. 

We remember a cold nose, soft ears, toe nails ticking on hard floors, puppy barks and old dog mumbles.  

We remember wagging tails, first confident steps, tripping over toys and soggy chewies.
We remember first glances filled with love, we remember puddles and poopsciles.

We remember our dogs, those who wore the collars that hang from the tree, and we love them still.

The memories they leave in our minds also leave paw prints upon our hearts.  

We never forget their first moment with us, nor do we ever forget their last.  That last breath, that last heartbeat, that last living look.  Those who lived long lives or those who were barely here - if they were with us long enough to touch our hearts we can rest knowing we also had them long enough to show them our love.

I never forget: Whiskey, KK, Kahula, Jessie, Voodoo, Andy, Sparkie.  See you at The Bridge!

(this post is dedicated to the memory of the dogs I've loved and those I love still...feel free to change dog for cat, collar for halter, and remember your animal friends who have crossed The Bridge.  The love is the same, no matter who we loved, how or when.)

Caring for Fosters

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.
- Mother Theresa


Rescue Community,


Perk up your ears.  Give me a tail thump on the floor if you can hear me.  I'm talking to you.  How are you taking care of your fosters?  Not your animals but those people who actually foster animals for you.  What is your plan for caring for them?  If they gave you a grade would you be an A+ or slipping below the D mark?  What color ribbon would you be given at the end of the day?


Give me a woof if you've checked in with a foster, had a foster orientation, perhaps done a foster respite where your fosters get a break (without guilt), how about a foster appreciation day?  Stars on a chart for how many days/dogs/cats/months/years they've fostered?\


Give me a roll over and a 'shake-a-paw' if you've calculated how much your fosters really are worth to your shelter, rescue or group.


Chewies and squeak toys for everyone who has called, visited and stopped by to say 'hey thanks' with something special for a foster.  Seriously, I'll mail them out if you send me proof.  I'll even get the cute animal ones and organic chewies.


Or are you like so many others rushing from pull to pull, dog to dog, always calling for fosters and always needing more?  Instead of saying thanks or do you need a break, are you always looking to your fosters for the next dog?  Do you offer support, respite and training for fosters?  Do you have a plan to help your long term fosters take a holiday or a break by caring for their dogs, which really are your dogs?


What would happen to your rescue, shelter, organization if your fosters were not available?  What if the reason they were no longer available was something you could have prevented?  If hind sight is 20/20 then I'm giving you a long view as someone who has and is a foster - we do it because we want to help, because we care and we are giving people.  We are doing it for you because we chose you or continue to choose you.


Every organization who relies on volunteers takes care of them, or they soon find they have none.  Rescue must operate the same way - you need someone who is responsible from your rescue, shelter, organization for the well being of your fosters.  It is a must - there are so many good and worthy causes for our time - making and keeping us with yours is critical to YOU.


Every organization that relies on volunteers knows their value because they wouldn't be in business if they had to PAY for the work their volunteers do, they would no be able to function.  Especially non-profits and charities, especially those who work in challenging areas with children, the elderly or animals.  


I want to hear from you - good, bad and ugly - what is your BEST foster story, what is your WORST.  What is the BEST thing someone did to say thanks, what was the WORST thing someone did that made you question why you were supporting them with your home, your time and your love.


Fosters are more than a house, a 'free board' for your animals - they offer a chance for animals to become adoptable, they offer many times training and rehabilitiation for those dogs and cats and other animals that wouldn't have chance otherwise.  They give you space to work with those animals who cannot be fostered, those who need special care and aren't ready to get on the adoptable road.  


Fosters are more than people who take care of your animals for you, they are the reason your animals can and do become adoptable . They are the reason successful shelters and rescues have animals get adopted.  Fosters are key to your success, whether you have a few select or you cast the net for anyone who has a spare spot for a crate.


So folks, who is going to be cashing in on the chewies and squeak toys?  Who is going to be re-examining their policy and treatment of fosters, and who is confident that they won't see a foster of 'theirs' commenting with anything other than love and glowing praises?  

Someone Knows

It almost breaks my heart to see and hear the stories of animals that are abused, neglected, mutilated, left to die and abandoned on a daily basis.  It seems no one is immune to the cruelty whether they are committing the crime or remaining silent about their knowledge.

It is proven, and known that many violent offenders learn their craft on animals.  What is not so well known but equally valid is many who abuse and neglect animals will do the same to people.  Starve them, beat them, torture them, send them to the plant ill or injured, leave them to die the list can literally go on and on.  This is horrible, unconscionable and obscene.

There is one other person or persons that need to be called out to answer for their choices. and those are the ones who know something is wrong, and remain silent.  Every jurisdiction in Canada and the US offers anonymous tip lines, you don't even have to reveal how you know.  You just need to say something!

Someone always knows, they know the kid down the road or in their church is not someone they would trust their children to.  They know that when 'Billy' is home the pets seem to be having more accidents. They know that a family is retreating in to a bruised silence.  They know that no one called, drove or broke down a gate to check on their own animals.  They know someone has quit living or started becoming more violent, addicted or depressed.

These are the people who are never surprised when the person gets caught or the act is revealed, why?  Because deep down in their conscience they knew, and they choose to remain silent.  They made the choice to shut up and hope that it would magically 'go away'.


People who abuse animals never just 'go away', they stop for reasons such as: death, incarceration or they move on to people.  They don't suddenly start, except in rare psychological cases, and they don't just as suddenly stop.

On Facebook, on the news and on the blogs people are cursing the abusers, the violence against those with no voice, and they are right to be outraged and angry.  I am saddened deeply by these stories and photos and videos.  But they don't tell the whole story, they don't get to the deepest, rottenest core of it all - someone always knows and they rarely do anything about it.  They don't call, they don't get help, they don't consider it their responsibility as a member of a community.

What about you?  Are you a 'stay silent' type who doesn't know or want to know?  Are you a 'speak out' who does their best and tries to stay the course?  Do you know why you are the way you are?  Were you abused? Did you witness abuse?  Do you know deep down in your heart that if you were in the place of those animals or an abused person that you would want someone to speak up for you?  Would you want it to be someone like you?

In Manitoba you can call the police, any local detachment or 9-1-1.  You can contact the Provincial Welfare Vet at 945-8000.  Every province has a similar number, each province has municipal, city and RCMP who can be reached.  The sooner you speak up, the sooner the animals can be helped and the sooner a tragedy can be averted.

You can make a difference, can you choose for that? Don't be the silent someone who always knows but never speaks...I cannot abide by that.  If you are at risk, call anonymously, pass a note in the store, reach out to someone who can get you to safety and tell your story.  No one, not anyone, should be abused.  There is no 'degree' of abuse, there is no 'less' or 'more'.

Abuse is abuse, violence is violence, silence is silence.

Why Ohio Won't Go Away

You have seen the video, or have seen the story.  You may have chosen NOT to view the video, that to me is a wise choice if you are already aware of what they are talking about.  I personally didn't need a visual reminder, my mind can drill down and drag up all sorts of images without the help of YouTube.

If you don't know what I am talking about here are some links that discuss the story from a couple of sides:
http://www.agweb.com/DairyToday/Article.aspx?id=157584
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dcnow/2010/05/animal-rights-groups-video-shows-abuse-at-ohio-dairy-farm.html

One worker has been charged but this wasn't the work of one person, this is a system of abuse that shows a blatant disregard for animal well being, worker well being and welfare.  The news stories may quote this as a isolated incident or as something out of the norm.  And industry really wants to believe this, but how can we be sure?  How can we, as an industry, stand up and say we are doing our best when videos and stories like these come out?  How many 'exceptions' can there be?

We've had Chino with downer cows, we've had Death on a Factory Farm for hogs and now we have Ohio with dairy calves and cows on farm.  These stories are not going to go away, especially Ohio because not only were they abusing animals, but they abusing calves. Blunt force trauma may 'do the job' but that doesn't mean it is the right way or the best way.

The physical welfare of the animals is compromised, the welfare of the workers is devalued as they are taking on tasks that they are untrained or unprepared for, or worse, becoming desensitized to.  There is a devaluing of life that is going to be pushing citizens (consumers and producers) into legislative changes which may or may not be in the long term best interests of the animals or the agriculture industry.

When we consider the numbers of calves born daily to dairy operations and the numbers of calves which are put down (I do not consider blunt force trauma to a calf euthanasia - argue with me if you will but I just don't see it as a 'good death') because there is a shrinking veal industry and no finishing market for dairy steers there is a lot of room for devaluing life, for cruelty and for abuse.

When you consider how some animals, any species, are treated you can see how the welfare for animals can be compromised because their well being has NO CASH VALUE. The missing factor here is perception.

If you have read my blogs before you know that my belief is that perception becomes reality.  What people believe about us comes from what they see - do they see you doing your job well?  Then even if you goof it up they will believe you are doing a good job and that you care.  If you do a great job and you are not seeing as caring then your work won't have the same impact.  This holds true in policing, politics and farming.

Face it folks, are your farm practices up to the scrutiny of YouTube?  Can you honestly say you feel comfortable showing your practices to the world because you KNOW you are doing the best you can for the animals and for your farm.  I believe that any sector on any given day can be one video away from the sort negative attention that can only hurt agriculture.

If we are doing a good job why aren't we saying so?  If we, as an industry or sector, are confident that we can stand up for what we do - why aren't we?

Spring Farm Safety: Children

Welcome to our first of a series of Farm Safety Blogs by guest blogger Glen Blahey, CRSP, Provincial Farm Safety Coordinator. Thanks Glen!

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The sun is out and so are the children.  With more vigour then last year and a curiosity that has grown by 10 times.  So what should we be doing to protect them?  The gut reaction is to say they were here last year and they know.  But the question is; are they really able to recognize all the risks that exist on your farm and are they able to understand cause and effect?

Most child development professionals will tell you that young children have relatively short attention spans and they can not perceive consequences such as a critical injury.  So we should be doing a few things to help our children grow and thrive.

Firstly, boundaries need to be established – no wandering around the farm yard, workshop, barns, sheds and so on unsupervised.  The best solution is a safe play area – an enclosed space that keeps the toddlers from wandering off.  They need a space where they can play and be safe.  The Manitoba Government has a grant program for farm families to help offset the cost of building such areas – http://www.gov.mb.ca/healthyliving/injury/farmsafety.html

Secondly, children should only accompany adults to work areas when there is someone to continually supervise that child.  If the supervisor is busy working who is watching the child as they explore – and perhaps disappear from sight behind a wheel, into a pen or to the edge of the lagoon?

Thirdly, we all want to share with our children what we do, and they are like gigantic sponges that soak up the mechanical things we do like turn the key in the ignition, unlatch a gate or flip a switch. But before we get too carried away showing 4 year old Johnny how to start the tractor and shift it into gear, we need to remember that it is not a toy, Johnny will remember what we show him, but he will not understand what to do if he wanders over to that tractor when no one is watching and starts it and shifts it into gear.

Our children are our most precious ‘crop’ – protect it. 

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The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered, and his states and all their clans are preserved.

Confucius

Protecting Our Comfort Zone

Do you have these signs up around your industry, your cause, your work?  I'm sure you do!  We all do, some are small and only in certain areas (personal or private information, places where we are just ourselves).  Others are industry or cause wide. They stop us from doing important work because they limit our audience, our scope, our very reach to do our work.

You say, "Not us!" or "Not here!" but yes it is you, and yes it is here.

This is what I have learned, from the inside to the outside, from the outside in.  There comes a time when we run out of converts in our own church (horse industry, pork industry, beef, dairy, sheep, goat, GMO seeds, pick yours).

There comes a time when you have to choose between meeting the outside world and speaking out for what you stand for, believe in and work at.  Or choose to say inside your comfort zone, put up the yellow and black tape and hide away - hoping that the big bad media, activists, consumers, competition just magically get smart or go away.

Folks, I am here to tell you that when you end up with no one but the converted to talk to, it is time to stop talking and start communicating outside the comfort zone.


Horse industry - are you for or against horse slaughter?  Are you for or against welfare?  Are you for or against eventing, rodeo, trail riding, pony rides at fairs?  Are you willing to stand up outside your comfort zone and say that?  Are you for or against owners of horses who do not belong to an organized horse group? What is your stand on spade bits, tie downs and quirts?  Do you have a breed preference that is blinding you to horse industry wide issues?


That gasp you heard, the one that sucked all the dust off of everyone's key boards is the collective gasp of someone being told to get the lead out.  Suck it up, you won't be popular for speaking out.  Suck it up, you won't even be able to convince everyone your point of view has value.  Speaking up isn't about popular nor is it about consensus.  It is about sharing what you know, the information you have with those who do not know it, have it and need it.  It is not about you.


Speaking out is about  sharing information, providing resources, telling another side to an issue, advocating for your industry to someone other than your industry.


Pork producers telling other pork producers they are doing a great job means nothing - nothing to anyone who isn't a pork producer!  Prove to me, a consumer, that your world is changing to meet the needs of your animals, your customers.


The beef industry telling other beef producers that they are making a difference means nothing to me.  The auto industry telling its own members how good they are doing things for the consumer means nothing.  The messenger cannot spend all their time speaking to other messengers.  


Talk to ME.  On my own grounds, in my own media, in my own language about why what you are doing matters, why what you are doing should count in my score keeping, why what you are saying should be weighed any differently than anything else that is said by sources I have come to trust.

"We are concerned but really it isn't our job to do anything, it's _______'s job.  We are here to support an industry that ________ of _________.  It means jobs, it means money.  It wouldn't be an industry if no one supported it." No one wants this type of media friendly, teflon covered, wiggle word double speak.  Your media relations people LIED.


That isn't communication. That isn't a message I care to hear.  It tells me nothing except where you've taped up your "comfort zone" signs.  Tell me how I can make a difference where  I am not where you are.  


I read the news, I see the cruelty that is done.  What I don't see is proactive steps for change.  I don't see you on Facebook, I don't see you blogging, I don't see you reaching any new audiences.  We matter.  We can choose.  We can read and research and make decisions.  Go to a social networking site and do a search - how many groups, fans and discussions are going on? Hundreds? Thousands? More?  Where are you? Where is your voice?


What you need to understand is that  if you don't do your job we will assume you either cannot do it or are uninterested in doing it outside your comfort zone.  Which one is it?  You cannot speak out for horses, you cannot share resources and reach the people who are outside the easy bounds of your comfort zone?  Or don't you care enough to try?  Is the disinterest an indication of your lack of regard for the audience or an indication of your fear?


You tell me.  Really, please do.  Tell me why social networking, blogging, advocating, speaking out, reaching past the comfort zone is so threatening, dangerous and hard to do?  I'm inviting you agriculture industry to tell me.  Please show me where is your fight.  Please show me where is your passion.  Please come out of the comfort zone into the world with the rest of us.


I'm mean you animal agriculture groups, I mean you commodity groups, I mean you welfare alliances, I mean you lobby groups, I mean you....