With a little help from their friends

I’m not the only voice in this paper advocating for the well-being of our pets. There are many articles about rescues, fostering and adoption, either in general or about a specific animal or shelter in particular.

As we see the approach of winter, these needs become more dire, and the rescue community is already stressed to the limit, as animals that need shelter from the elements create additional demand.

Linda Toews is The Dishcloth Damsel on Facebook and Instagram, generously making handmade dish cloths and sells them to raise funds for rescues (available soon at Thrive with 100 per cent of the proceeds donated). She recently shared a post with me by Kristen Perich of Tails of Freedom rescue. While this is not a unique plea, Kristen states the seasonal plight of rescues quite well:

“We are out of space. Out of options. And it’s breaking our hearts.

“Every day, messages pour in about cats left outside, kittens born under decks, mamas trying to keep their babies warm… and we have to say no.

“Not because we don’t want to help – but because we physically can’t. There’s nowhere to put them.

“We are at a standstill. Until some of our cats in intake holding can move into foster homes, we cannot take in another single soul.

“And yet – the pleas keep coming.

“Every ‘please help’ we can’t answer feels like a punch to the heart.

“Fostering doesn’t have to be forever. Sometimes it’s just short-term – a soft bed, a safe room, a warm touch that reminds them the world isn’t all cruel.

“You provide the love. We provide the rest.

“If you have ever thought about fostering – this is the moment.

“We are begging.”

As I said, this is a plea almost every rescue is currently making. Many are out of space, many are out of funds with crushing veterinary bills hanging over them, many just don’t have enough hands to take care of the everyday tasks needed in a rescue operation.

If you have space, please help. If you have money, please donate. If you have time, please share. Whether it is Tails of Freedom or any of the dozens of other worthy organizations, please reach out and make the life of a needy animal just a little bit better in this holiday season.

If you can go the next step and provide a ‘furever’ home for a needy pet, even better.

In this season of giving, put a little space in your heart for animals in need.