Posted: 05 May 2010 01:29 PM PDT
HSUS staff, in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, conducted yet another animal fighting raid yesterday—this one in the southern portion of San Luis Obispo County in California. There were three arrests, and more than 700 birds seized. Our emergency responders seem to live on the road to deliver animals from jeopardy.
There’s a good way to interact with animals and a wrong way. Animal fighting is the wrong way. But one great connection with animals is to bring them into service to help our veterans—a subject I wrote about recently. Many of you shared touching responses—along with the names of some of the other programs devoted to matching dogs with military service members—and today I post your comments.
Great article that reinforces what so many of us know about dogs—they have the power to help us heal. Dogs have been used for other rehabilitative purposes, including as therapy dogs in hospitals and nursing homes (of which my dog is one) as well as for prison inmate recovery. We can all learn from our gentle, noble and loving companions. —Lee Rush
I am so thankful there are programs such as these to help our veterans. Too many dogs are in shelters and what better way to take them out of the shelters and have them bond with one of our heroes! This truly is so heartwarming. It really made my day! More of these programs need to be implemented for our animals’ sake as well as for our heroes that are returning home from the war. —Karen Wagner
Thank you so much for your overview of some of the ways animals have "rescued" humans in our society. When I despair about the lack of progress in animal rights and welfare, I just have to repeat my old civil rights mantra, "Think globally, Act locally," which the Humane Society does so very well. I wish many of these programs would be publicized in the media so others could see the cumulative effect of these successful "redemption" efforts. —Dr. Glenda Berg
I've literally got tears streaming down my face after reading and watching all of this. What angels you all are! Keep up the good work. I know in these times it's hard to see the good in things; I live in chronic pain, my husband has congestive heart failure, but just in the time I read and watched this email I felt better. Thank you! —KymmLisa
Thank you for bringing attention to Puppies Behind Bars. I have given to this charity for nine years and I believe in it as much as I believe in the efforts of the HSUS. —Becky Schlosser
We are pleased to introduce you to another Washington, D.C. area organization which serves our nation's heroes and fosters the human-animal bond. Hero Dogs, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide independence and improved quality of life to our nation's veterans by training and placing service dogs ("Hero Dogs") with military veterans who become disabled as a result of illness or injury sustained while serving honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces. —Jennifer Lund, founder and executive director
And do you know about PETS2VETS? Also D.C. based but would like to expand nationally. Matches up veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder with animals from the Washington Animal Rescue League. Dave Sharpe [PETS2VETS founder and president] has gotten some good media attention locally and was also on MSNBC. —Dianne
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