.png)
National Dog Day – By Kate Smith |
Today is the 7th annual National Dog Day and as I’m an avid dog owner and enthusiast (I have four dogs of various sizes!) I thought I would bring the Den community’s attention to this excellent event!
The aim of the passionate people behind NDD is to raise awareness of the sheer number of homeless dogs on our streets and in our shelters. Charities such as the RSPCA and Dog’s Trust (amongst others) do an excellent job of tracking down, rescuing and rehoming the lost and abused dogs of the UK, but we all hear stories of overcrowded pens and perfectly healthy animals being put down. It is heart-breaking.
Aside from raising awareness of the above, National Dog Day was created to show appreciation for ‘working dogs’, that is dogs who assist the police, the armed forces and in the home to assist the deaf and disabled to live a more independent life. These dogs are true heroes and deserve our respect, thanks and protection.
So do your bit today by donating to your local dog shelter and perhaps consider adopting a rescue dog if you have the space and your lifestyle will allow it. If you are unable to do either but have some time on your hands, volunteering is a great way to give back to your community and does wonders for your karma!
--Kate
Why I Give to Animal Charities - by Miss Bunny |
Giving a percentage of my hard-earned cash to charities is something which has always left me with an immense sense of wellbeing. Not to mention a huge boost to my karma! As an animal/wildlife lover I took the decision a long time ago to concentrate on giving to just four charities which are prominent in this area. I feel that giving more money to fewer charities on a monthly basis will benefit them far more than if I just gave sporadically to seven or eight charities just to try and cover all the bases.
Some people question why I choose to give to animal charities and not human charities, as apparently this is selfish of me. But my answer is always the same: ‘animals are just as deserving as humans of protection. They can’t ask for help, so we have to be there to give them a voice’. To illustrate this point of view further; I don’t feel that my pet gerbil Big Sam is any less deserving of a life, protection, food and warmth than a pet dog or cat, or even a child. He is still a living creature and his life has meaning, especially to me the person who has fed him, looked after him and loved him for almost four years! Obviously if I was given the choice between protecting him and protecting a child I would pick the child, but it wouldn’t be an easy decision. I have always felt more of an affinity with animals and wildlife than with humans, I’m not sure why. I am always just as upset to see an animal injured or die in a movie as I am to see a human injured or die, perhaps even more so in some instances. I suppose that says something about my personality that isn’t necessarily good but I really couldn’t care less really. This is how I feel and have always felt. It really drives me crazy when people say ‘it’s only an animal’. Well you are only an animal. A life is a life, no matter who it belongs to.
This being said, Adam and I gave a large donation to the East Africa Drought Appeal recently, and we often give money to emergency appeals following earthquakes, tsunamis and other natural disasters. We do this mainly to feel that we are helping people who desperately need financial assistant from the west. I know that I can’t just drop everything and fly out to them to help in person (which I would if I could), so donating a decent amount of money seems like the next best thing. Here’s a link to their website if you feel that you want to help out, they are still desperate for donations - http://www.dec.org.uk/
Also, check out my four favourite charities; RSPCA, RSPB, Cat’s Protection & Dog’s Trust! Here’s some links to their websites…
RSPCA - http://www.rspca.org.uk/home
RSPB - http://www.rspb.org.uk/
Cat’s Protection - http://www.catsprotection.com/ (I adopted my kitty cat’s from this charity when it was still called The Cat’s Protection League!)
Dog’s Trust - http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/
Thanks for reading my rant!
--Miss Bunny
Awww Miss B, you big softy!
Fab article!
I do like an animal lover as you know! Your fav species are rabbits right? right?!
First of all your gerbil is soooooo cute!
Secondly, I don't think you need to explain yourself to anyone. If you like donating to animal charities then that's great and it certainly doesn't say anything negative about you. I bet human-related charities do very well as it is, so what's the harm in giving to the RSPB etc?
Keep doing what your doing!
xx
Helping Feet: Ethical Footwear - TOMS ‘One for One’ campaign - By Kev Callus |
‘With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we're all about.’
I like helping people as most people do. We’re asked on many occasions to donate money or to give up some of our time to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Today I was approached at least twice on my normal day-to-day hustle and bustle journey to and from work. ‘Do you have change Sir? Can I sign you up for donating by direct debit each month? Do you want to sponsor a cat? It’s for a good cause’. However we’re also constantly warned that we may not be helping even if we genuinely want to. Would that homeless person just accept my money then go to the shop and buy a four pack of Special Brew? (I have in the past had to physically step over a homeless person during the day whilst he was sprawled out on the pavement holding a can of Special Brew)...How do we know if we are actually making positive strides by wilfully offering financial aid?
I have a slightly funny story. After a drunken night, I got quite leary and challenged a friend of mine to eat eight burgers in one sitting. He then responded, “I’ll do better than that, I’ll eat ten!” I offered to pay for ten burgers as long as he demolished them all. Ten burgers were served up and we soon attracted a crowd of hungry homeless Polish people who could not understand this challenge that I had laid down. They had not eaten for ten days; yet there was some foolish boy attempting to devour ten burgers in one go! Anyway, I’m going off the point here. The point is, that my ambitious and formally hungry friend could not finish off the burgers. I felt generous and donated the remaining now cold burgers to the unfortunates sitting on either side of me on the cold pavement by Old Street station. To my delight, I witnessed firsthand the burgers going down well. I was happy! I would rather give food than money as I know its money well spent. I was out of pocket, my now full, fat, silly friend was feeling sick and the Polish homeless people were satisfied...
I guess the point I’m trying to make is that when I buy a pair of these shoes I know that someone out there will receive something they actually need but are not fortunate enough to have.
TOMS – A brand with a fantastic ethos. For every pair of shoes that is purchased, a pair is donated to a child in need. Not only can you buy some cool espadrilles but you know your money is going to a worthy cause. I like my sneakers, fashion, etc. But I also have some strong views on how the world works and what goes on upon this planet.
I’ll finish with this blog post about TOMS releasing limited editions for MO-vember - a cause which raises awareness for men’s health. Limited edition styles will be released in aid of the great cause to help raise awareness and also to allow women to participate in this campaign.
More info at....
Toms.com
UK Movember.com
Thanks for reading,
Kev.
If Just One Person Reads This - By Vi Cooper |
'In celebration of the Breast Cancer Campaign 2010, Vi Cooper of RSVP Erotica (www.rsvperotica.com) has kindly written a very personal and informative post about the benefit of being in tune with your body' -- Miss Bunny.
The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month around the world individuals like you and I are trying to raise awareness that may hopefully save another person’s life.
I personally have been affected by it. My mother was diagnosed and had a breast removed at the age I am now, 42. Although she didn’t suffer like many other women do, she chose to have the breast removed completely rather that going down the route of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Did she make the right choice? She did, it wasn’t cancer that took her life. If she had found the lump earlier where would her life have taken her? She would have still had her beautiful breasts, tatas, boobies, hooters call them what you will.
A common denominator among women across the globe is the fact that we are all prone to getting breast cancer, the thing that we do forget that men can get it too! Early detection of all cancers gives us that extra time to fight for our existence as human beings. We can go to war and ‘win’ wars. Why can’t we win this war?
Ladies and gents it’s up to you, become aware of your body, not just your breasts. Tell your doctor if you have concerns and don’t take no for an answer if you don’t feel content with any diagnosis. I am no specialist, I am aware of the facts! I am a woman if I don’t check my breasts on a regular basis it is possible one day I may find a lump that could change my life forever. My mother had it, the likelihood I will have it is a lot higher than if she hadn’t.
I love my boobs; I didn’t always love them as they were in the way as a teenager. As a young adult they were all men seemed to notice about me. As a mature woman they are part of me, they make me the sexual woman I am and intend to stay!
By Vi Cooper.
If you would like to read poetry written by some of Vi's community members over at RSVP Erotica, visit this link - http://bit.ly/a1Jh41
Aww cute post Kate, thanks for this!! xx