Animal abuse is a public safety issue
Whenever I hear that someone has brutalized an animal (not neglect, but actual harm and torture), I know that there is something in their past where either they were harmed or they grew up where violence was normalized. We are not born abusers, we are made abusers. It’s called the cycle of violence. Children who […]
Protecting animals from a deep freeze
This has been a really tough winter and we’re only in early January! I am originally from Michigan, so freezing temperatures, snow, ice are normal for the winter months for me. But for the past two months, much of the northern part of the U.S. has experienced record-breaking cold, ice and snow. Imagine that you […]
Screaming will get you nowhere
I have been on all sides of the fence: prosecuting attorney, animal protection lobbyist (federal and state arenas), animal advocate, shelter volunteer, author and national trainer on animal protection issues, and a pet parent. I know how difficult it is for people to learn about animals abuse; and even more frustrating to watch how an […]
Does meat eating promote abuse?
I am a big believer that people need to decide what is right for them. Right? If you push people into doing something that they are naturally not inclined to do, they will not stay with it. It’s like the infamous New Year’s resolutions that have been trashed by the end of January. So in […]
The Rock and the Hard Place: When those who love animals harm them
For those of us who work in animal protection, every day is filled with news stories, social media posts and pleas to help homeless, soon-to-be-homeless and shelter animals find a place where they can be safe and have a home. Knowing that over 4 million shelter pets and countless abandoned pets lose their lives each year in the […]
