As a devoted animal welfare supporter and cat lover, I can honestly say that the stories of animal suffering that I so often see in the papers, online and via charities such as the RSPCA turn my stomach. I am talking about the heart-wrenching horror stories that are so frequently occurring all over the country. One of the most recent stories I have seen is that of a mother cat who was sealed into a child’s plastic container and left to suffocate to death. What makes it even worse is that her newly born kittens were left to fend for themselves, dumped in a cardboard box beside her. Words cannot describe just how tragic this story is and I cannot begin to comprehend why anyone would commit such a heartless act? Unfortunately the person guilty of this act has not yet been identified, which means they could go on to commit further acts of cruelness to other innocent creatures.

The Human Race Is A Cruel Race

Stories such as this not only anger me but leave me questioning the human race and the cruelness that we as a race are capable of. I want people to realise that to kill an defenceless animal is a criminal offence. In fact, in the time it takes to commit such a cruel act, the individual could instead have called the RSPCA for their professional and humane assistance. The RSPCA provide a free service and calling out to them can mean laying in bed at night knowing you did the right thing. A simple call can result in a dog, cat or other animal being rescued, given medical treatment, being taken care of and re-homed – a pretty fantastic service at the mere press of a button. Simply by calling the number 0300 1234 999 you can gain all the advice and information you need. For further information see; RSPCA.

For those who cannot afford the upkeep of their pet or afford the medical treatment that their pet requires, supportive organisations such as PDSA can help. With such a great deal of help and support available from numerous charities, why do so many people feel the need to take matters into their own hands either through neglect, abandonment or violence towards animal? These cold and heartless acts are 100% unnecessary and utterly disgraceful. A small act of kindness can go a long way, so if you would like to help build a future in which humans live in harmony with animals and nature, there are lots of positive things that you can do to help. Simply by showing responsibility and love towards your own pets is a fantastic start, but if you want to do that little bit more to help animals, here’s how…

How Can You Help To Make A Difference?

• Joining the online communities of charities such as the RSPCA, PDSA, WWF and PETA by pressing the ‘Like’ button on their Facebook page or following them on Twitter. Doing this means you can help raise awareness and share stories to promote more Facebook Likes and more Twitter followers.
• Making a kind donation to your charity or organisation of choice. This will help provide funds for medical treatment, food, clean beds and many other animal necessities.
• Adopting an animal with WWF (World Wildlife Fund). This is an effective way to donate money yet in return you will gain information on the species of animal you have chosen to adopt. You will also receive regular updates, adorable photographs not to mention a cuddly toy!
• Volunteering at your local animal sanctuary or animal charity for a few hours a week. Charities such as the RSPCA offer a wide range of roles, from charity shop worker to cat foster and practical animal carer to branch trustee. You can help make a difference simply by offering your services for as little as two hours a week.
• Keeping a look-out for animals in need. If you see an injured animal or an animal you believe to be homeless, take them to your local vet. Your vet has funding to pay for treatment for estranged and stray animals.
• Checking your garden, garage and other outdoor areas of your property to ensure there are no harmful chemicals. This is a factor easily overlooked resulting in unnecessary harm to many animals. Anti-Freeze is a particularly harmful chemical, especially for cats. Believe it or not, cats love the smell and taste of Anti-Freeze and just a few small drops will cause a cat’s internal organs to shut down, resulting in death. For this reason, please avoid leaving anti-freeze lying around, be sure all bottles and solutions are kept out of reach.