It's Be Kind to Animals Week

May 2-8 is American Humane's Be Kind to Animals Week.

Here's just a few things we all can do to be kind to animals:

Speak out for animals

Get informed about policies and legislation that can impact the animals in your community and throughout the country. Also, register to receive Action Alerts from American Humane -- you’ll be able to speak out for animals with just the click of a mouse. You know I'm a fan of being knowledgeable about policy--just do it.

Report animal abuse

Animal cruelty and abuse is not only tragic for animals, but also an indicator that other forms of abuse such as domestic violence could be happening. If you see something that looks suspicious -- a dog chained in your neighbor’s yard that looks underfed, a child putting a cat in a box and kicking it around the yard -- don’t hesitate. Let someone know. I have called City Animal Control several times and they are usually very willing to help investigate; advocate for a dog or cat that cannot speak for itself.

Adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue

Every year, an estimated 3.7 million animals must be euthanized at our nation’s shelters because they could not be adopted into loving homes. Help animals find a second chance at happiness by adopting your next pet from your local shelter or rescue group. American Humane has tips to find the animal companion that’s right for you and develop a bond that will last a lifetime.

My shelter babies- Abby, Peach, Fat Albert & cat Bernice (not pictured)

I LOVE my shelter babies--all adopted from our local shelter, The Animal Mission, and they are the greatest!

image via here

And, go buy the new Stamps to the Rescue postage stamps--available in your local post office or on-line. With these 10 stamp designs, the U.S. Postal Service hopes to raise awareness of the need to adopt shelter pets; all pets photographed had been homeless at one time. I just bought some stamps at the Greene Street PO--they are precious!

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A Word for Wednesday

ncorrigible: bad beyond correction or reform; impervious to punishment; not easily changed

Many of the words I have highlighted during this A Word for Wednesday series have been words that I liked, but seldom or never used...(and in many cases, still don't, but I'm trying!). However, today's word is a word I use often; most often when speaking to or about my 8-year-old mutt, Peach.


Peach is a rescue dog, discovered as a puppy at The Animal Mission. His "story" was that he had been found locked on the front porch of an abandoned house. They told us that he was a mix between yellow lab and German shepherd, but over the years I have become more and more convinced that Peach is a dingo. (And yes, he is a boy named Peach--named for Ty Cobb, "The Georgia Peach"). Peach also loves to swim and is an avid barker, and the best and most unique thing about him is that he smiles. For real, when you walk in the door and he is excited to see you, his lips pull up and you can see his teeth and he actually smiles. So sweet.


However, Peach has a sense of entitlement when it comes to our furniture, and a simple "no, Peach," or "off" does not usually dissuade him from trying and trying again to climb on the couch with you. This is when I usually break down, let him on the sofa, and say aloud "Peach, you are incorrigible."

Peach, (middle), on the sofa with Abby, (left), and Fat Albert, (right)

But so cute, don't you think?

Definition via dictionary.com
Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

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Be Politically Active

If you live in Columbia then there is no possible way that you can be oblivious to the fact that we are in the midst of a mayoral show-down; the likes of which I have never seen in my years as a Columbian because Mayor Bob has been in office for sooo long!

Even if you aren't typically "the political type," you should care who is elected. As I tell my Social Policy class often, it is your civic duty to advocate for what you believe in and educate your politicians about the issues. The politicians are not experts on everything, and we can't expect them to be. (Hell, some of our SC politicians are experts in things that I wouldn't want my politicians to be experts in at all...but that's a different, angsty post that I'm not gonna write today).

So, {hopping on my soapbox}, here are some ways to 'get political' and inform yourself and help others this week and next:

Tonight--head to the Richland County Public Library at 1431 Assembly Street at 7 pm for a Mayoral Forum on Homelessness. All 9 mayoral candidates will speak about what they think the city should do to address our homeless population.

Then, (as I mentioned in yesterday's post), go eat a delicious meal at Mr. Friendly's tonight and give the server this coupon. 10% of your meal cost will be donated to the local Humane Society.

image via here

Friday, March 19th- Go to The Animal Mission's annual fundraiser, Party Animals! and hear Edwin McCain. There will be an open bar and food by Blue Marlin as well as an auction--all to help stray animals!

image via here

Saturday, March 20th- Go to Jillian's in the Vista from 1-5 pm to witness the 4th Annual St. Baldrick's Shaving Event to benefit children's cancer research.


Monday, March 22nd- Go to the Mayoral Showdown at 701 Whaley St, 7 pm. There will be a cash bar and a debate among the top 5 mayoral candidates. Click here for more info.

Tuesday, March 23rd- Attend a rally at the State House steps to "End the R-Word," and promote the respect for and acceptance of more than 15,000 Special Olympians. Rally begins at 11 am. (This one is near and dear to my heart, as I am a constant upbraider of people using the R-word).

Saturday, March 27th- Attend the rally at the State House Steps to retire the Confederate Battle flag from State House grounds. 2-5 pm, performances by local bands; click here for more info.

I promise you will feel empowered and excited by being an advocate for change and helping others. What do you do to advocate for change or help others?

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I Have Famous Pets

Not really, but they are featured in today's "Monday's Pets on Furniture" post by Desire to Inspire.

Abby, Peach and Fat Albert are in the last picture from the post, all sleeping on the rice couch that I inherited from my grandmother. All are rescue animals, and Peach and Fat Albert both came from the Animal Mission in Columbia.

image via here
(The Animal Mission's cute sign, which you've probably seen when driving down Shop Rd.)

The main fundraiser for The Animal Mission each year is called Party Animals. This year it will be held on Friday, March 19th at the Clarion Townhouse Hotel on Gervais St. and will feature Edwin McCain and Nashville Recording Artist Patrick Davis. Click here to purchase tickets to this awesome event--I have been to it once, and it is super-fun and for a great cause--heavy hors devours, open bar, good music and a silent auction.

image via here

Click here to become a Fan of The Animal Mission on Facebook.

Seriously consider adopting a shelter animal...there are a lot of good shelters in Columbia: Project Pet and Pets, Inc just to name a couple others. And in the words of Bob Barker, "help control the pet population: have your pets spayed or neutered."

Do you have a rescue animal? I would love to hear about it!

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