When you’re an animal lover, it can be very disheartening – and even heartbreaking at times – to know that for every photo I take at the shelter with Pawsitive Shelter Photography and for every animal that gets adopted as a result, there are scores of other pets that aren’t quite so lucky.
At times, it becomes overwhelming and other times downright hopeless to see how many causes need our help – to feel that as one person, you can’t really make a difference or that you simply can’t save them all. Despite how difficult it is to be inundated with stories of animal neglect and abuse, puppy mill raids, shelter animals on death row, etc., it’s important to take a step back and remind ourselves that one person can in fact make a difference.
That’s where the 13 Project comes in. This initiative was started by Pretty Fluffy to encourage us all to compile a list of 13 acts of kindness towards animals we can perform before 2013.
You can join the movement and find out more over at Pretty Fluffy, but here is my list of 13:
- Donate stuffed animals and dog toys to East Orange Animal Hospital’s “surgery buddies” program.
- Work with specially abled dogs and cats to show that “different” doesn’t mean “not adoptable.”
- Donate old towels, blankets and sheets to Orange County Animal Services.
- Use social media – Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. – to share adoptable local animals.
- Become educated on BSL and share what I learn with others.
- Donate to animal charities in lieu of holiday gifts.
- Continue my work with Pawsitive Shelter Photography (hopefully more often).
- Promote local events for low-cost spay/neuter clinics, vaccinations, microchipping, etc.
- Donate a portion of sessions booked to animal charities.
- Buy from and share a local rescue’s wish list.
- Educate pet owners on dangers facing our pets in Central Florida, i.e. poisonous cane toads.
- Collect props and accessories for photographing shelter animals.
- Share the 13 Project and the message that one person CAN make a difference year round.
