by Cathy Davis
www.houltonanimalshelter.com
There are all kinds of animal advocates, both in numbers and in style. I happen to be what I call the ‘chicken’ kind of animal advocate. That doesn’t mean I prefer chickens, it means that I’m not the kind of person that would climb up on a boat and ride out to a seal hunt and stand between a club and a baby seal. I deplore seal hunting, I think it’s barbaric and unnecessary and cruel and heartbreaking, but I don’t have the courage to actually physically put myself in jeopardy to protect them.
I am not proud of this; I’m just stating a fact. I’ve spent my life trying to be socially correct, politically correct, trying not to burn bridges and trying to always keep the fences mended.
While I have dedicated 24 years to animal welfare, I can’t say that I’ve stopped a speeding train to save a kitten or that I’ve picketed a puppy mill. I’ve done a few things to raise money to help care for the local animals.
Once I went on a 30-day fast and people paid so much per day for every day that I went without solid food and I raised a little money that way. I’ve probably participated in 600 fund-raising events over the years, giving up weekends and evenings and time with my family to help organize and host these events. I’m a worker bee more than anything else.
I’ve fostered many a cat and a few dogs, but there are dozens who have done more. I’ve donated more money than I care to think about. I could probably buy a new house with what I’ve given over the last 24 years, but many people have given much more. I have cried over injured animals and I have lost sleep over lack of funding, but I have never gone so far as to jeopardize my health or my family.
I’m telling you this because there are people who do just that. They are so passionate about caring for the helpless defenseless animals that they are willing to get on that boat and stand between that seal and the club, they are willing to boycott products, they refuse to eat meat, they picket when necessary, they confront abusers without any thought for their own safety. These people are true heroes. They believe with all their heart and soul that they can and will make a difference and they will settle for nothing less than 100 percent proactive advocacy.
These folks are not politically correct. You might not always agree with what they say or how they say it, but you have to admire their dedication and commitment. I do. I wish I were one of them. I wish I wasn’t so concerned about doing things ‘by the book’. I wish I wasn’t so worried about this one getting mad at me or that one thinking I’m a crazy old lady. I wish that the passion I have in my heart for these animals could burst out and I could go screaming up the street some day just shouting “would you PLEASE spay and neuter your pets” until someone listened to me.
Over the years, the Houlton animal shelter has transitioned from a local ‘pound’ to a no-kill rescue. We should all be very proud of this. This country is moving closer and closer to being a no-kill nation. But having come from where we were, I am unwilling and unable to speak badly about shelters that still find themselves in the heartbreaking position of having to euthanize for space.
We were there. We were one of them. I can’t say they are bad people, we weren’t bad people then and we’re not better people now. But I do think that the word has to get out that these Shelters aren’t the problem, the people are the problem.
The people who move away and abandon 30 cats in a trailer with no food or water; the people who neglect and abuse their animals and refuse medical care; the people who tie their dogs out 24 hours a day seven days a week and then wonder why they become aggressive. Then they want to bring them to shelters.
The problem isn’t the shelters that have to deal with these issues, the problem is getting people educated that this is not acceptable behavior and animals are not disposable.
I have very little courage and I’m ashamed of that, but I have stamina and if I keep preaching for another 24 years, God willing, maybe just one family will get their pet spayed and prevent thousands of unwanted births. I will never change the world. I admire those who will. I envy their spirit, I applaud their bravery and I defend their right to speak up for what they believe in.
