This morning, I came across the following story of animal cruelty: forty horses and seven donkeys were found starving and freezing in a field not far from Cork. In the field three carcasses were also found by the animal rescue people; those horses had been let to die. Here is a link to an article on this story and here are some photos the rescue put up on its Facebook page.
Stories about abandoned animals pop up every day and a few people work on rescuing them and giving them a better life. People buy animals because they are cute, but don’t take responsibility for them and, once it’s time to go on holidays, will just let them on the side of the road. These are living beings and I see this as atrocious as killing people: the suffering of human and animal beings is too often afflicted by other human beings. We are all residents of the planet Earth and we should respect what it gives to us, starting by other lives.
I am in touch with my local rescues, but I feel so powerless. What can I do? I already have four cats (three of them are rescued cats) and I can’t afford to spare more money to donate to those charities. As always, I try to do what little is in my power and that consists mainly of spreading the word.
I find that in Ireland, attitude to animals is still quite backward. There are still many farming communities who will see cats as useful to kill mice, but won’t hesitate to shoot a few if there are too many of them hanging around. Laws of nature? I do not think so. I find it cruel to see all those cats reproducing and then suffering or being killed.
I know there are more important problems in the world. However, I think that many of them stem for the same thing: something is wrong in human nature.
What about the bees? This is another story I heard of this morning. I do not know if you are aware of this, but bees are essential to our eco-system. However, governments keep allowing the release pesticides that kill them. What are we doing to our planet? Seriously, can’t people realise that we are destroying it? What are we going to leave to our children (although I don’t have any - there are enough people on this planet and not enough resources)? Thus, today, I signed a petition in order to revoke the French decision of authorising the release of one of those pesticides. If you feel concerned by this or other global issues, I would recommend that you have a look at the Avaaz website.
And, as I am at it, I would like to remind you that the 26th of March is the day the Earth Hour will take place. Time to think about what you can do to make a change and time to act! Take the pledge! In order to make the hour a bit longer this year, I will run a feature on this blog in the month preceding the event. Everyday, I will write a post (there might even be a few guest posts) about tips and thoughts about the environment. It is all about becoming aware and then acting.
Sorry for the long rant, but I can’t always keep quiet.
If any Irish readers come across this post, I list here a few animal rescues who do a great job: Cork Animal Care Society, Glansillagh Animal Rescue (Cork), Cottage Rescue (Tipperary), DAWG (Cork), The Donkey Sanctuary (Cork), the ISPCA, Galway Cat Rescue, Cork Cat Action Trust.
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January 9, 2011 at 1:30 am
steph
Oh, Em, I really hear you! I was afraid to read this post when I saw it in my reader because I’m very sensitive about this sort of thing.
I too wish I could rescue every animal I found in need! But as you hinted there’s also an element of responsibility. It’s not a matter of being able to house the animals but also being able to afford to feed them and pay for vet bills should they arrive. I’m seriously stressed about our Lucy who has suddenly developed a leg problem. We’re going to the vet but I know we’re not going to be able to pay for anything really expensive, though I would in a heartbeat. She is a member of the family, so we will find a way if we have to. But it got me thinking: we could never take in two dogs with our pay.
I have always said I would love to have an animal shelter or that if I won the lottery I would tear down our shitty humane society building and rebuild a great one. I’ve been accused of loving and being concerned about animals more than people but I don’t care. Animals can’t help themselves and far too often their troubles are created by people.
January 9, 2011 at 2:16 am
Em
Yes, unfortunately we are small beings and it can be very frustrating.
I hope Lucy’s problem is not too serious and that you manage to get it sorted at minor costs. I know how you feel. I always freak out if one of my cats is not well, but then I have always manage to sort things out. “Quand on aime, on ne compte pas”. It’s so true for our pets. I often think that between all of them, the boys and Gypsy eat better than I do!
Keep me posted on Lucy!
January 9, 2011 at 1:48 am
brigid
Animal cruelty is the one thing guaranteed to bring me to tears. I can’t even watch tv ads for humane societies and such because it’s too sad and I can’t do as much about it as I’d like.
I love animals, especially dogs, so much and yet I don’t own one because I’ve always known I love travel too much, and couldn’t commit to caring for a pet for its entire life. I think people generally want instant gratification though, so they buy a pet without considering whether they can really give it what it needs. It drives me nuts. Also, people so often go for a puppy or a kitten instead of a beautiful older animal that is in need of a home. We live in such a throw-away society. It’s easy to get depressed about it, that’s for sure.
When I’m struggling to find things in life to be grateful for, I always think of how grateful I am that there are people out there who dedicate their lives to helping mistreated or unloved animals. They are doing the job that I would do if I wasn’t such a sook about the whole thing. I always throw some money their way when I’m making donations, but the problem is so big.
January 9, 2011 at 2:24 am
Em
I know, people always tend to go for the cute little ones and then realise that they are difficult to train and that they eventually grow bigger.
At least, with rescuing Gypsy, I know that there is one less female in the wild ready to have litters. I am actually hoping to do a collection to get her mother spayed and if I collect enough other queens in the area sorted too. Hopefully I will manage to sensibilise the community, which won’t be easy in a fishermen’s village.
I hope that if you clicked on the link you didn’t get too upset; those images are horrifying and had me in tears.
January 9, 2011 at 6:12 am
brigid
I didn’t click on the link, I never do when it’s animal cruelty. I just can’t look at it.
Great idea to raise some money. Let me know because I’d be happy to contribute
January 9, 2011 at 4:57 pm
steph
“Quand on aime, on ne compte pas”. C’est tellement vrais, Em, et pas seulement concernant les animeaux.
I clicked on a link once, about 8 years ago, and went vegetarian because of it and because of Lucy. C followed suit a month or two later. I’d like to go vegan but I’m having a hard time giving up cheese! Having read the benefits outside of to ourselves, I feel as though being vegetarian was the one of the best things we could do, and the thing most in our means right now. We’ve also donated pet stuff and food to the shelter and that’s always helpful, they say. It will never feel like enough, but even being conscious of the issue will reflect in our actions.
Have either of you seen The Kind Diet, by Alicia Silverstone? It’s a pretty good book!
January 9, 2011 at 10:52 pm
Em
Ah! The vegan/vegetarian debate!
I am neither, but I can understand how one could become one in order to make a statement. But then, I also have a problem with the way vegetables are grown nowadays, so it wouldn’t leave me many feeding options!
I try as much as possible to get local and organic food, but this can get quite expensive. A friend of mine owns a restaurant and he has started raising animals himself, which I find brilliant. I know, there is still the issue of the killing of the animal… I suppose that the fact that I spent all my holidays in a farm until I was 13 made me differentiate between pets and animals for feeding.
In the restaurant where I work, we also try to get local and organic products as much as we can without having the prices go up the roof. It’s difficult: people don’t want to pay and don’t realise that we have to pay more to get quality food.
The problem in Ireland is that food is extremely expensive, even local products which are often dearer than imported food. I try to be selective, which is not easy when you have a small budget. My mum actually finds shopping with me horrible because I check things. For instance, I only buy kiwis that come from Italy, so when the season is over and kiwis are imported from New Zealand, I don’t eat any!
I don’t eat much meat and I could probably do without, but I eat fish… What I’d like to see is people to stop eating so much meat, without realising what happens behind this whole process, and rather to have a treat sometimes.
January 9, 2011 at 8:07 pm
brigid
Steph I often read The Kind Life website (http://www.thekindlife.com)
I haven’t looked at the book yet but I’ve tried many of the recipes from the site. They are great. But alas, cheese is my downfall too… My town is too small to sell cheese substitutes but I might try some more vegan products when I get back to Melbourne.
January 9, 2011 at 10:57 pm
Em
I have never heard of this book, nor website.
See, if we take the example of cheese. Cheese making is a craft. If it is done properly, the animal are treated properly. Those people have a love of their animals and the products they make. A good cheese won’t taste the same year after year. Two years ago, there was an Irish cheese I absolutely loved; however, last year, I didn’t buy any because the taste was different and I didn’t like it. This is not indusrial cheese we are talking about and I would rather support those people than buy cheese substitute…
June 13, 2011 at 12:02 am
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