ON FINDING SAFETY
A note from the editor
We cannot expect everyone to be there for us all the time.”
When a friend told me this, I felt like running away. At the time, I couldn’t explain why. I knew it was true, but it didn’t feel right. I just knew that alarms went off in my head, but I didn’t know where the fire was.
A few days later, I realized why I had felt the urge to up and leave: I just didn’t feel safe anymore. The statement felt like a disclaimer in one of those contracts that we all have no choice but to sign. It felt like someone has already given up on me even though nothing has happened yet.
The statement being true wasn’t what made me feel uncomfortable. It was that it even had to be said, like an advance apology from someone who knew they would bail in the future.
It felt very much like a copout.
And when it comes to animals, while this statement also applies and we cannot be there for them all the time, we cannot use it as an excuse to not do our best.
First, we need to look inside our own homes – are they safe for our animal companions? As we observe National Pet Obesity Month this October, we are reminded that while chubby critters are cute, they’re also at risk. We need to get them back in shape if we truly care about their safety.
It’s also hard not to notice that of all animals, reptiles are usually put in harm’s way the most when they find themselves in our company. Just the mere mention of snakes and everyone wants to find an axe! Maxine Louise Lagman tells us why reptiles are often misunderstood, and that they don’t deserve their bad reputation.
We need to make sure the world is safe for all animals again. Sadly, we have set the planet on fire as we continue to contribute to the climate crisis that has already pushed many animal species to extinction, as explained by Cacai Buenviaje in this issue. But we didn’t just manage to make the planet unsafe for animals; we’ve also somehow made it unsafe for us. Megan Cabalcar tells us that there’s a new swine flu in China with pandemic potential because of our addiction to animal flesh.
On the bright side, striving to make the world safe for us once again are people who continue to hold the fort, and Rich Briones showcases ten photographs that give tribute to these frontliners.
Lastly, we need to address the health of all animals if we are to ensure our own – and our favorite vet Dr. Emmanuel Macapagal tells us more about this through the One Health concept.
Yes, animals cannot expect us to be there for them all the time, the same way we can’t expect our loved ones to always be there for us. But this fact need not be another waiver in our contract with animals as their stewards. We cannot keep failing them. We owe them a safe world.