Today's post is written in participation of Blog the Change for Animals.
My dog, Kiva, holds a very important distinction: she's the best dog in the world. And she's in very good company, because there are a lot of best dogs in the world—at least one in every household containing a dog who's loved. Every dog...and cat, bird, reptile, fish, small mammal, insect, crustacean, amphibian who is loved by a human, is someone's best pet in the world.
There are millions more best pets in the world, too. But you wouldn't know them, because no one's ever given them the title.
I've been volunteering for service dog organizations for a long time. I've worked with puppies bred specifically for the purpose as well as shelter dogs who enter service dog training because they've shown an aptitude and personality that fits with service. Some of the dogs make it through the full program and some don't, but all the organizations I've volunteered with place all their dogs into carefully screened homes with people who pledge to love and care for them.
I've also worked as a photographer and copywriter for an animal shelter. Depending on the season, my dedicated staff of volunteers and I might photograph and write bios for hundreds of animals every week. Hundreds.
For the dogs, I'd tell my volunteers, try to photograph them outside in the sunshine whenever possible. Help potential adopters imagine what the dog might look like on a walk in the park or their own backyard. Photograph the cats on a colorful blanket or in a cozy corner. We'd make sure the bunnies, mice, and guinea pigs always had clean bedding and wiggly noses for the camera.
Sometimes, though...too often...their bodies spilled the secrets of a tragic past. So, we'd capture their spirit. In the thousands of animals I photographed, no matter how thin they were, or lonely, or confused, depressed, aged, patchy, damaged, or deformed they may have been, each one genuinely had a sparkle. With some it was a roman candle, others just a tiny glimmer. But each one knew they were the best pet in the world. They just needed someone to give them the title.
Working with service dog organizations and animal shelters has shown me the extremes of human and animal tragedy and triumph. It's challenging and inspiring and, yes, often difficult. As a service puppy raiser, the question I get most frequently is "How can you give them up?" As a shelter worker, it was, "How can you not adopt them all?" The answer to both questions is strangely the same. I can do my part to help the person who truly needs a service dog, just as I can do my part to help the millions of shelter animals who truly need their person. With both questions, the really important thing is simply the first word: "How?"
Volunteer. Just do what you can, when you can. There's no commitment too small. All the little efforts by every volunteer, every day, add up to one great BIG! Volunteer with a service dog organization to help a person with a disability find greater independence. Or volunteer with a local shelter or rescue to help give an animal the gift of being called the best pet in the world.
Go ahead. Click. You'll be really glad you did.
My blog, Raising Ruby, and BTC4A are both nominated for Best Cause Related Blog in the 2011 Petties Awards (Raising Ruby is also honored to be nominated for Best Blog Post). Please make sure to vote, because everyone involved in this competition is a winner! DogTime is offering a $1000 donation in each category to the shelter/rescue of the winner's choice (I've chosen Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies), so vote today to show your support for these generous donations.
Vote twice daily: 2011 Petties Award Ballot
My dog, Kiva, holds a very important distinction: she's the best dog in the world. And she's in very good company, because there are a lot of best dogs in the world—at least one in every household containing a dog who's loved. Every dog...and cat, bird, reptile, fish, small mammal, insect, crustacean, amphibian who is loved by a human, is someone's best pet in the world.
There are millions more best pets in the world, too. But you wouldn't know them, because no one's ever given them the title.
I've been volunteering for service dog organizations for a long time. I've worked with puppies bred specifically for the purpose as well as shelter dogs who enter service dog training because they've shown an aptitude and personality that fits with service. Some of the dogs make it through the full program and some don't, but all the organizations I've volunteered with place all their dogs into carefully screened homes with people who pledge to love and care for them.
I've also worked as a photographer and copywriter for an animal shelter. Depending on the season, my dedicated staff of volunteers and I might photograph and write bios for hundreds of animals every week. Hundreds.
For the dogs, I'd tell my volunteers, try to photograph them outside in the sunshine whenever possible. Help potential adopters imagine what the dog might look like on a walk in the park or their own backyard. Photograph the cats on a colorful blanket or in a cozy corner. We'd make sure the bunnies, mice, and guinea pigs always had clean bedding and wiggly noses for the camera.
Sometimes, though...too often...their bodies spilled the secrets of a tragic past. So, we'd capture their spirit. In the thousands of animals I photographed, no matter how thin they were, or lonely, or confused, depressed, aged, patchy, damaged, or deformed they may have been, each one genuinely had a sparkle. With some it was a roman candle, others just a tiny glimmer. But each one knew they were the best pet in the world. They just needed someone to give them the title.
Working with service dog organizations and animal shelters has shown me the extremes of human and animal tragedy and triumph. It's challenging and inspiring and, yes, often difficult. As a service puppy raiser, the question I get most frequently is "How can you give them up?" As a shelter worker, it was, "How can you not adopt them all?" The answer to both questions is strangely the same. I can do my part to help the person who truly needs a service dog, just as I can do my part to help the millions of shelter animals who truly need their person. With both questions, the really important thing is simply the first word: "How?"
Volunteer. Just do what you can, when you can. There's no commitment too small. All the little efforts by every volunteer, every day, add up to one great BIG! Volunteer with a service dog organization to help a person with a disability find greater independence. Or volunteer with a local shelter or rescue to help give an animal the gift of being called the best pet in the world.
I Want to Volunteer with a Service Dog Organization
I Want to Volunteer with an Animal Shelter/Rescue
I Want to Volunteer with an Animal Shelter/Rescue
Go ahead. Click. You'll be really glad you did.
My blog, Raising Ruby, and BTC4A are both nominated for Best Cause Related Blog in the 2011 Petties Awards (Raising Ruby is also honored to be nominated for Best Blog Post). Please make sure to vote, because everyone involved in this competition is a winner! DogTime is offering a $1000 donation in each category to the shelter/rescue of the winner's choice (I've chosen Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies), so vote today to show your support for these generous donations.
Vote twice daily: 2011 Petties Award Ballot
