The Urban Pantheist

This time of year usually includes lots of giving. It might be motivated by religion or generosity, or by the last chance to get a break on your taxes. Whatever the reason, if you are reading this, you are probably someone who likes and supports charities that are kind to animals and helpful to the environment. Here are my five favorites, all very local to where I live. If you live somewhere else, I bet there are similar organizations that need your support.


My five favorite animal charities for the end of the year

Animal Rescue League of Boston
Founded in 1899, the Animal Rescue League of Boston is dedicated to rescuing domesticated animals and wildlife from suffering, cruelty, abandonment, and neglect.
The League carries out its mission through an emergency rescue team, anti-cruelty law enforcement, adoption and veterinary services, community outreach, and burial services.
(I have seen first hand how this organization will act on behalf of animals when state and local agencies are unable or unwilling to.)

Mass Audubon
Mass Audubon works to protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and wildlife. Together with more than 100,000 members, we care for 35,000 acres of conservation land, provide school, camp, and other educational programs for 225,000 children and adults annually, and advocate for sound environmental policies at local, state, and federal levels. Founded in 1896 by two inspirational women who were committed to the protection of birds, Mass Audubon is now one of the largest and most prominent conservation organizations in New England. Today we are respected for our sound science, successful advocacy, and innovative approaches to connecting people and nature. Each year, our statewide network of wildlife sanctuaries welcomes nearly half a million visitors of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds and serves as the base for our work. (I worked for this organization for 7 years. It is the largest Massachusetts-based environmental group, and makes a real difference in the world.)

MSPCA-Angell
The mission of the MSPCA-Angell is to protect animals, relieve their suffering, advance their health and welfare, prevent cruelty, and work for a just and compassionate society.
The MSPCA-Angell is a national and international leader in animal protection and veterinary medicine and provides direct hands-on care for thousands of animals each year. Founded in 1868, we are the second-oldest humane society in the United States. Our services include animal protection and adoption, advocacy, humane education, law enforcement, and world-class veterinary care. The MSPCA-Angell is a private, nonprofit organization. We do not receive any government funding nor are we funded or operated by any national humane organization. The MSPCA-Angell relies solely on the support and contributions of individuals who care about animals. (I deal with this organization regularly, and am always awed by the compassion and dedication of its people.)

PittieLove Rescue.
PittieLove Rescue Inc. is an all-volunteer, foster home-based rescue devoted exclusively to the care, understanding and adoption of the American Pit Bull Terrier. As one of the most abused and misunderstood breeds of all time PittieLove’s number one goal is for our rescued dogs to never suffer from neglect or abuse again, carefully placing them into loving homes where they will be Ambassadors for the breed. (Foster homes for dogs like ours don't get paid--your donation pays for vaccinations and vet visits. If you have donated to PLR you have helped both Turtle and Pocket through their difficult starts and to their happy new lives as family pets.)

Zoo New England
Zoo New England's mission is to inspire people to protect and sustain the natural world for future generations by creating fun and engaging experiences that integrate wildlife and conservation programs, research, and education. (Obviously I benefit directly from donations to this organization: more than 60% of our funding comes from donations, membership, and admissions—a dwindling fraction is supplied by the State. Behind the animal exhibits are great programs like animal care and veterinary internships, research on wildlife diseases, and wildlife conservation efforts. Everyone who works at the zoo is passionate and underpaid, and motivated by love of the natural world.)

Passing Jamaica Pond on my way to the MSPCA. Did you know last week they waived adoption fees on adult cats and placed almost 200 cats in new homes?

We took Turtle to his new owners yesterday. We had Jim and Alex over earlier in the day to play and say goodbye. Turtle learned from Maggie how to get up on the picnic tables.

( cut for playing puppies )

I honestly didn't mean to have such a sad look on my face for this snapshot, but it is kind of a sad topic. Turtle here turns out to have a congenital heart defect called Pulmonary Valve Stenosis which means that one of his heart valves is kind of closed. It causes his heart to work harder to get the blood through the smaller opening, which causes the muscles of the heart to get bigger. Left alone it will probably eventually cause heart failure.

The good news is that Pittie Love Rescue has agreed to pay for the surgery he needs to correct it. They go in through a blood vessel and insert a balloon to the site of the faulty valve, and inflate it to widen the opening. Apparently this surgery is very safe and the dog will go on to live a normal healthy life afterward. We have a family ready to adopt Turtle once he recovers from his surgery. We take him in to see the cardiologist for a consult on Saturday.

The hospital is giving the rescue a little break on cost of the surgery, but it's still expected to go into the thousands. This will hit the budget of the rescue pretty hard. The friends of turtle on facebook have been generous, even those who feel very broke and overextended because of the holiday have chipped in five dollars. Sorry to ask for money again but I love this little guy and I'm very grateful that the rescue organization has agreed to do this surgery to improve the quality and quantity of his life. He literally loves every human and dog that he meets, I hope he gets to do so for many years.

http://www.pittieloverescue.org/help/donate/

The "over the shoulder into the back of the car" snapshot is a risky one, not just because it requires taking one hand off the wheel. Here Alexis is miraculously in the frame, but the two dogs she is between are completely missing.

( Read more... )

Golf cart below, wisteria above.



I'm a fan of the very small horses.

If you also like very small horses, the MSPCA has a whole bunch right now.

Alexis is quite shy, and does not like crowds. That's why I not only took this picture, but remarked about the event on Twitter. Yesterday we took Preston, our foster puppy, to the MSPCA for Pit Bull Awareness Month. The rescue network that Preston is from was there, and they also brought Happy, (who I absolutely loved) and the director's amazing therapy dog Rosie. Another pit bull rescue org, Braveheart rescue was there as well.

The main event was a screening of Beyond the Myth, a documentary about the negative consequences of recent anti-pit bull laws in the US. There are some unbelievably heartbreaking and infuriating stories in it, especially from the city of Denver. (I visited Denver in 1992 and thought it was a very cool and vibrant city. Since they have passed their anti-pit bull law, which has led to authorities going door to door to seize family pets and put them to death for no reason, I WILL NEVER GO TO DENVER until the law is repealed).

Anyway, Alexis is surrounded by people in that first picture because she is showing off Preston to the crowd that is there to see the movie. Here's Preston being robbed of his already small amount of dignity:


Since we were there for a few hours, I couldn't help but notice this party announcement:

Those radiology technicians know how to get down! I feel inadequate, since I don't even celebrate Darwin's birthday.

Here's Charlie experiencing goats for the first time. He thought they were probably delicious.

( more and other stuff too )