Celebrate Be Kind to Animals Week
Mahatma Gandhi said, “The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
Treating animals well can take many forms — from rescuing a lost dog to teaching a child to care for the family pet to making one's voice heard at the ballot box on animal welfare issues.
Be Kind to Animals Week begins May 5 and while we believe kindness to animals should happen every day, it does provide an opportunity for us to reflect on our connection to these wonderful creatures with whom we share our homes, our community and the world.
Marin County has long been known as a region that cares deeply about animals, both domestic and wild. It has one of the highest rates of animal adoptions and one of the lowest rates of animal cruelty in the nation. It's home not only to Marin Humane, but also to great organizations like WildCare, Marin Friends of Ferals and the Marine Mammal Center. And many Marin residents open their homes to foster animals through a variety of shelters and rescues.
Most promising is the involvement of many of our younger residents. Marin Humane's summer camp and after-school clubs are hugely popular and our “Compassion in Action” blog is filled with heartwarming stories about the kindness of kids. From donating proceeds of a lemonade stand to running a pet food drive to asking guests to donate to the shelter in lieu of gifts, Marin's kids are proving they value kindness to animals.
There are many ways, big and small, that we can all celebrate Be Kind to Animals Week. Here are just a few:
• Become a volunteer. From walking dogs to socializing kitties to pitching in at events, Marin Humane can always use the help of animal lovers. It can be a great way to connect with animals, especially if you aren't able to have one at home.
• Become a foster parent.
Across the Bay Area, loving foster homes are desperately needed to give animals a break from stressful shelter life.
• Respect sensitive habitats by following posted signs and not letting your dog romp where they shouldn't.
• Consider taking a break from eating meat. It's estimated that