As a society, we often lack compassion for street animals, such as stray dogs and cats. As a result, they suffer neglect and cruelty instead of love and care. Yet, they are living beings just like us. They deserve our kindness and respect, and we are responsible for ensuring that they receive the care and attention they need.
One way to encourage compassion towards street animals is to lead by example and demonstrate kindness towards animals in our own lives. For example, we can feed a stray cat or dog, adopt a street animal as a pet, or simply show them some love and affection. We can also spread awareness by sharing social media articles and information about their plight.
Tips for raising awareness about strays
Showing compassion towards animals, especially homeless ones, not only improves their lives but also helps humans to be more compassionate towards others in the community and bolsters our self-esteem and self-worth.
Adopt, don’t shop
Shelters keep stray animals until someone adopts them. If fewer people opt to adopt, the animals stay for longer, living without the love and comfort that a real home affords. They also occupy space, potentially preventing other strays from getting the attention they need.
As responsible community members, it’s good to encourage others to adopt rather than shop for companion animals. Not only can this help change the life of the animals, but it creates space for shelters to help more strays.
Volunteer
Rescue centres often need volunteers, either to help look after the animals in their care or to raise awareness about the shelter and the issues affecting stray animals today.
It can be an extremely rewarding experience, and you can fit it around you, offering a few hours each week or more, whatever you can manage. You don’t need any special skills, but if you can build things, such as kennels, or work on printing fliers, that would greatly help the staff.
Donate
Caring for stray animals is an expensive business. Animals often need medical attention when they arrive in shelters, with many involving hospitalisation and supportive care, so costs add up quickly.
Shelters often rely on donations to fund their efforts to provide this medical care and shelter, food and toys for their animals. Donating is a great way to make a difference in their lives.
Before you donate, it is a good idea to research and choose an organisation that aligns with your values and is known for using donations effectively.
Fostering
Sometimes shelters can get crowded, and fostering can help the animal and relieve pressure on the shelter.
Foster homes provide rescue animals with a temporary home where they can benefit from love, affection, training, and medical care. They may also have behavioural issues or anxieties to work through due to their time on the streets.
Advocate for animal rights
Finally, it is important to advocate for animal rights and welfare and support policies that protect the welfare of street animals. This may involve signing petitions, writing to your local politicians, or supporting organisations working to improve street animals’ lives.
Having general empathy and compassion towards homeless animals is the minimum we humans can do for them. By educating others, setting a good example, volunteering, and advocating for animal rights, we can help to spread awareness about the issues and make a difference in the lives of street animals.
Blog by Nicole McCray.