Healing animals...where does one begin?

A recent friend of mine was helping animals that lived outside in a very poor part of a town. For days afterward she was depressed and filled with despair. When I discussed it with her she replied (to something I said) "You would have to get to the root cause of poverty." I agree that when people are living in such dismal circumstances it is more likely to see their animals follow in the same despair. It is easy when being an animal lover to become angry with people. Unfortunately, the well being of animals is often dependent on people, and to uplift the animals there are often times we have to work with the people and where they are at. I think we need to start at the most basic level in helping the poor. People need to eat and they need access to healthy food. Community gardens might help with this. I bet there are examples of this out there where people living in low income areas are invited to take part in a community garden. There is something spiritual in being out with nature. In planting and planning a garden dialogue would help in creating community around something positive too. One has to begin somewhere, and that might be the beginning for some in creating peace.

Inspiration

I was in Royal Oak recently at a pet supply store and saw a simple handwritten flyer. It advertised free help for seniors with limited mobility. This help included walking the dog, cleaning cat litter boxes, taking to vet, ect. On the flyer were simple sweet drawings of a cat and a dog. When I am out of school this semester I would love to get together with other people and offer these services on my side of town. Sometimes all an elderly person has is their pet. If they are overwhelmed they might give up their pet, and we all know how another dog or cat needing a home or being euthanized is the last thing we want. Also heartbreaking, would be to break up a loving relationship of a guardian and companion. Forming a relationship with a senior and their animal companion could also help safeguard neglect and alert the helping hand to a senior needing money for food or vet care. The helper could locate resources like the humane society for help with food, and money discounts or payment plan at a vet. I just found this flyer to be so inspirational that it helped me to come up with this blog.
Peace to all,
TC

wonderful quote from Northern Vegans website!

Hi,
I thought this sums up things well, on how I like to look at the relationship of animals and humans.
A human being is a part of the whole, called by us the 'Universe', a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separate from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security.
Albert Einstein, New York Post, 28 November 1972

I would like to add to the last sentence ..and this all ads to a more peaceful world!

P.S. Check out Northern Vegans website!

Peace of my Heart

Hi, the mission of this blog is to generate dialogue, and implement projects to create peace between animals and humans. I am an animal, nature, and people lover. I live this message every day in part by following a plant based diet. I love rescuing animals. I have 2 bunnies named Cooper and Buddha, a hamster named Tipsy, and a dog named Snaggle Tooth Ed. I am a member of the largest vegetarian organization in Michigan called VegMichigan. I also help with a meetup called, "The Animal Care Network-Inkster."
Sincerely,
TC