What do you think are the top things we need to do as a society to reduce animal cruelty/neglect?

[Cari Lombardi]

I do a lot of things on my own to stand up against animal cruelty (walk my neighborhoods, report things that seem neglectful/cruel, write letters and make phone calls to support legislation that can increase penalties, write media to praise for running stories involving these issues, etc) and I forward information to my friends/family and encourage them to get involved, but what can I/we do on a Bigger level. I would like to start on a city-wide level in my area. Suggestions?

[Dr. Randall Lockwood]

Wow - it sounds lke you are doing a lot of good things already. The next step can be to try to organize an animal cruelty Task Force in your community. Several such city or county-wide groups have been started, often by the Mayor's office, the local district attorney or others. This group should try to meet regulalrly and should involve all those who are potentially impacted by animal abuse and neglect in the area - including law enforcement, animal care and control, health department, rescue groups, mental health, child protective services, adult protective services, domestic violence responders, veterinary groups and others.

This group can try to identify hot issues in your community (dogfighting, stray animals, needs of pets of victims of domestic violence, etc.) and then try to identify things that the group can work together on. A first step would be to try to interest community leaders in sponsoring an initial meeting to establish such a task force. Good Luck!

[Tony]

I have tried getting our Mayor's office and local law enforcement involved in something like this, but they are not interested because "dog fighting and those issues are not a problem here." I live in an upper middle class town in CA. What do you suggest if one's town is not interested?

[Dr. Randall Lockwood]

If local authorities deny that problems exist, a good place to start can be working with the local media. Most local TV or newspapers have reporters with an interest in animal issues and they can often help document problems that are being ignored. If local animal advocates can document that the problems really do exist - the media can be very helpful in getting the public motivated to put pressure on elected officials to respond. If you can't educate officials... sometimes it is necessary to embarass them!

[Cari Lombardi]

Thank you! I have been thinking of proposing this very thing to our Mayor's office in Minneapolis as his newsletter has a focus on ways to address increases in crime/juvenile crime in the Twin Cities. I believe humane ed/character ed programs are a key ingredient to improvement.

I will give it a try!

[PJ]

I live by a feeder/breeder. I started seeing dead cats/kittens when I found out she had a colony over 50 and people were letting their dogs out at night or "walking" their dogs at night to prey on them. No one did anything. I emailed news stations, the mayor, the so-called neighborhood association - nothing. I finally found a wonderful organization who would neuter them but I had to trap them. My grandson and I stayed up all night on Sunday nights to do this and we were down to a handful when they started dying. In the end the colony dwindled to 3 and I lost 5 of my rescues. It took months to find out it was poison pet food. I was devastated and inconsolable.
Most of the dogs are gone but I still see them now and again and I think the neighbor is starting up again. I cannot go thru this again. I still grieve over the loss. I want to do something and I know I have to turn my grief into something for the animals. I'm just not sure what that needs to be.

[Cari Lombardi]

You are amazing for trying to help in the way you did. Feel good about that. Your grief will ease with time and doing continued good as you have will help you to feel good again. Go to www.bestfriends.org, www.hsus.org and other such organizations to find ways to deal with grieving, rescuer burn out, etc. If we all work together to help--including helping eachother, we CAN make a difference. We are right now! Thank you for what you do!

[PJ]

Thank YOU, Cari. I have looked at Best Friends a little but I think I am going to try and find or found a place locally where I can do something. I have been blogging as a catharsis and was amazed at the number of people who have taken in multiple animals to help. You are right - we CAN and ARE making a difference! I just want them to all have the home and love they deserve. They did not ask for this - any of them.