Support your favorite charity

Everyone seems to have a favorite charity or more than just one. Charities address a world of need for those who live on this earth.

I personally support a number of causes and charities that affect our day to day lives but I focus on the local efforts, keeping the support in our own home communities.

Some people don't realize that animal charities also affect humans in so many ways.

People charities are certainly important but they won't ever lead to a totally compassionate society free of violence.

However, by thinking beyond people and reaching out with compassion to all forms of animal life, there is more hope to improve the human condition.

Compassion is a powerful virtue that, if allowed, will become the motivator in our lives when we consider the positive effects of displaying kindness to all living creatures.

By supporting animal welfare organizations, especially those that work to relieve animal suffering and, at the same time, teach the positive aspect of kindness to young people across the nation and around the world, this planet earth can be a far better place to live.

Many, many households have pets today. In fact, for most, it's a way of life.

Most any viable animal welfare organization encourages spaying and neutering pets in order to reduce the over population in our communities across the country.

You see those pitiful animal faces on television almost every evening when you sit down to watch a movie or program. Just recently, I saw a new version that brought tears to my eyes. The music that played in the background still rings in my ears. It was a hollow, echoing cry from the faces behind the cages.

I see those faces on a local level in the kennels and cat cages every day at work. I can't save them all, but my heart goes out to them in their plight.

As it is, I brought two pets home, a dog and a cat that have added so much to my family's lives. But we are responsible for them. They are spayed, neutered, vaccinated and maintained on a regular basis.

But, how many people blow that responsibility off? Far too many, that's for sure. Who picks up that responsibility? Well somebody has to. When animals stray from home animal control departments must deal with them, just like human law enforcement addresses wayward people.

Somebody has to care for these animals until their owners, if and when they ever do, come to get them and take them back home. Too many never make it back home and must rely on another family wanting them.

If we violate human laws and ordinances, we pay one way or the other.

But animals can't speak for themselves. They can't tell us their owners beat them, neglected them and failed to care for them properly. They can't tell us they saw their chance to escape an unhappy life.

Pets require attention. Many, if not most, will wander if not contained behind a fenced yard.

Animals that display aggression must be dealt with even more carefully. We have animal regulation laws that dictate what happens when animals run amok and injure a person or another animal.

Animal welfare organizations today must address a number of animal issues because of the lack of concern on so many owners of these pets.

I suggest checking into the local animal organizations and see exactly what they offer the public in services including education.

We can't sit around and ignore what is a continual problem that affects all of us.

I realize it's important to donate to the national animal welfare organizations, but our local non-profit shelters also need support to continue serving us.