Editor's Note
Wasn’t it just yesterday that I was busy plotting out my 2005 holiday plans? How did the year fly by so quickly? You blink and suddenly your pet is five human years older!
We had the privilege of witnessing much change, both big and small, in the animal world in 2006. The ASPCA, the oldest animal-welfare organization in the United States, turned 140 this year, Chicago made animal-rights history by banning the sale and production of foie gras (a first for any U.S. city), New York launched Pet Fashion Week, and just recently, Congress enthusiastically approved the Pets Evacuation and Transportations Standards Act (PETS).
There were plenty of other newsmakers both nationwide and abroad, but it all boils down to one thing: Our pets are living better lives. Why should we care about a thing like that? Should we really be worried about the well-being of our animals when countless troops are fighting a war, gas prices are soaring, and North Korea is testing nuclear weapons? I say yes. I don’t believe the critics who accuse pet people of putting the welfare of animals above humans. Helping animals helps people, too.
For example, part of the reason we encourage spay/neuter efforts is so that we have less aggressive animals roaming the streets and harming people. Our goal is to save lives and when we needlessly euthanize animals, it costs taxpayers money; alternatively by saving animals, we’re giving them the life they deserve and we’re putting that money back into our communities. And need I mention the number of human lives we could’ve saved during Katrina if we’d just allowed people to take their pets with them? The list goes on and on. It seems to me that helping pets is mutually beneficial. How wonderful is that?
I have much to be thankful for this holiday season. I recently purchased a loft and my cats are beside themselves with curiosity. I’ve always dreamt of having a space large enough for them to really roam around in and they’ve taken to exploring every inch of the new space with total abandon. I even have a balcony and come springtime I’m going to install a Kittywalk system so that they too can enjoy the outdoors.
Have a safe and happy holiday season. We look forward to sending more Tails wagging your way in 2007.
We had the privilege of witnessing much change, both big and small, in the animal world in 2006. The ASPCA, the oldest animal-welfare organization in the United States, turned 140 this year, Chicago made animal-rights history by banning the sale and production of foie gras (a first for any U.S. city), New York launched Pet Fashion Week, and just recently, Congress enthusiastically approved the Pets Evacuation and Transportations Standards Act (PETS).
There were plenty of other newsmakers both nationwide and abroad, but it all boils down to one thing: Our pets are living better lives. Why should we care about a thing like that? Should we really be worried about the well-being of our animals when countless troops are fighting a war, gas prices are soaring, and North Korea is testing nuclear weapons? I say yes. I don’t believe the critics who accuse pet people of putting the welfare of animals above humans. Helping animals helps people, too.
For example, part of the reason we encourage spay/neuter efforts is so that we have less aggressive animals roaming the streets and harming people. Our goal is to save lives and when we needlessly euthanize animals, it costs taxpayers money; alternatively by saving animals, we’re giving them the life they deserve and we’re putting that money back into our communities. And need I mention the number of human lives we could’ve saved during Katrina if we’d just allowed people to take their pets with them? The list goes on and on. It seems to me that helping pets is mutually beneficial. How wonderful is that?
I have much to be thankful for this holiday season. I recently purchased a loft and my cats are beside themselves with curiosity. I’ve always dreamt of having a space large enough for them to really roam around in and they’ve taken to exploring every inch of the new space with total abandon. I even have a balcony and come springtime I’m going to install a Kittywalk system so that they too can enjoy the outdoors.
Have a safe and happy holiday season. We look forward to sending more Tails wagging your way in 2007.
