Delawing, Crossposter, TNR and Transport Advocates Should Work Together
by Elisa Black-Taylor
(USA)
Crossposter Cathy new shelter arrivals
Good morning readers. I have a lot I'd like to cover with everyone today. Mostly in defending the different causes I support.
Today I'd like to briefly get into declawing, crossposter, TNR and transport advocates and how we should all work together.
When I wrote the declawing issue last week I never dreamed everyone would gang up on me on a subject I've already told everyone I'm not an expert in. I'd like to take my readers on a little journey to see all of the causes I work on.
First of all let me say I still believe my thoughts on declawing being stopped will work by educating the children and blacklisting bad veterinarians who still promote this. There are currently two programs in place right now in the U.S. where we can do this. One is at http://www.yellowpages.com and the other is at http://www.merchantcircle.com. Both websites allow the public to comment on an individual business. If we don't use vets who declaw and recommend the ones who don't declaw we can hit them in the wallet. LIST THEM! I don't see anything wrong with this suggestion.
As for the importance, yes it's top priority. I'd also like to give you a briefing of other causes I support.
Starting my own Facebook pages wasn't an attempt to "glorify myself." Facebook is a very popular meeting place for causes. I started mine to give an outlet to the crossposters who need my pages. The Elisa Black-Taylor Readers Forum will allow me to notify all members at once when my stories go online.
That and notifications by people suggesting article subjects or needing my help are the reasons I created the site. It also drives traffic to pictures-of-cats.org. Internet competition is fierce and I do all I can to bring in readers. There are thousands of cat sites and probably just as many declawing sites. I feel my best chance on educating people is here at pictures-of-cats.org.
Now back to my Elisa Black-Taylor Readers Forum page on Facebook. My regular page has gotten me 500 friends in two days so I must be doing something right. And every one of those new friends knows I write for pictures-of-cats.org. If I can just get everyone to comment on the actual story instead of on my Facebook page I'll be making progress.
Here are my other causes.
The first is crossposters. The crossposters need my pages to spread the word on death row cats and dogs. The pictures they post are of animals with less than 24 hours to live. So I'm sure they think their cause is most important. I'd like to personally invite all of the crossposters to feel free to spread the word and use me all you want. I look at the pictures of the cats and dogs and it breaks my heart to know without a miracle they'll be dead tomorrow . The crossposters have treated me well on Facebook and I also use them to promote my stories.
Many members of Facebook don't want anything to do with them. I befriended one group who sent me a message banning crossposters because their work does take up a lot of room. So I feel pages like mine are necessary.
Then there are the TNR caregivers. I'm sure they believe their goals and the care of ferals is most important. After all, the cats are reproducing at an alarming rate and without low cost or free spay/neuter plans and people like them the feral cat population will continue to grow and many will starve. I hope my stories bring their work to light. I try to find examples of programs that are working in one part of the country and spread the news to everyone so more programs can be developed.
Strengthening animal abuse laws is my number one priority. This is because the declawing issue has many many supporters. People seemed confused with animal abuse because the laws are different in every state in America. I believe many Americans still see cats and dogs as second class citizens. This is sad.
The animal cruelty cases have escalated, especially in Ohio. I'm sure every state has seen a rise in animal abuse and I've written on many states and cases individually. Ohio personally asked for my help when the Tyson/Sarge abuse cases hit the news. I wrote several articles, not only on each case but on how animal abuse and criminal domestic violence are connected. This information gives the residents something to show the government to show the connection.
I hope my reporting will play a part in strengthening the laws in all states and abusers will get some serious jail time. That may be wishful thinking on my part. I've contacted my state senators and heard back from one of them. That's a start. Especially knowing I'm not alone in my battle.
Sometimes I have to take a step back from all of the bad news. I write about good causes. These include different places that help the abandoned and thrown away pets. And I'm also sure each of them feels what they do is very important. Because it is. I would love to start a shelter or sanctuary that gives animals a wonderful life after reading of what many have gone through.
The transporters are another group who must be included in this story because they also play an important role. They get the rescued/foster pet where it needs to go when no other method of transportation is available. We've all read about cats and dogs dying in the cargo area of planes, so yes, I admire these people who take time out of their busy lives to drive the pets to safety. I'd love to personally experience the feeling that comes with knowing you're taking an animal to a better life.
Unfortunately, in the real world I'm unemployed from a massive lay off and have a car with a mind of its own on whether it will crank each day. If not for that I'd be a transporter. So I write. I write a lot. I don't have the talent or the money to do many of the things I write about. I enjoy what I do and hope I provide my readers with a good story, ideas, and numbers to make the world a better place for animals. I get the feeling I'm a crossposter without meaning to be.
I also use the photos of Mia Anelli, who has her own rescue in Los Angeles, California. She works tirelessly photographing and crossposting pets. I commend her work because she shows the cats and dogs as individuals. She recently took in a dog named Ruby, who I listed in one of my stories as needing a home. She lost Ruby on August 18th. She had an infection she just couldn't get over. At least Ruby didn't die on the cold floor of a cage. She died with Mia beside her in her own bed.
I've educated myself in much of my writing. Before I did the research I never knew crossposters, transporters and sanctuaries existed. So I hope I've educated my readers when I wrote those articles.
I'd like to clear up one thing. I AM bossy. Michael has no idea. My nicknames as a child were "bossy" and "motor mouth." My mother made sure I knew what Ivory soap tasted like! Sorry mom, it didn't help.
I just get a little carried away with some of my stories and I'm sorry. When I look at a dog or cat on death row I want to cry. When I read about an abuser given a small fine and no jail time I want to scream. When I see animals running free in a sanctuary I want to spread the word that places like this exist and how they use fundraising to help financially.
When I read comments people write attacking me I also want to cry. Mainly because it brings me down emotionally and that affects my writing. It's like putting a plug in a sink. I begin questioning every sentence I write. I'm afraid to put anything in my head into written form.
For me that's not good because it could end my writing career.
I will say that those who are attacking me are good writers. I really think their efforts should go into writing their own stories about causes they believe in instead of attacking me personally. I'm serious ladies. You are good writers and should join our family here.
Pictures-of-cats.org is all about a group of people sharing ideas on how to help cats. So la dies, instead of bringing me down, publish your own stories. You don't have to be a professional writer to write a good story. Get published. It's a great feeling when you share the link with your friends and tell them you wrote the story.
No one is wrong in believing their cause is most important. Causes may act to change things for the better. If a cause dies a quick death on Facebook it's because not enough people are promoting it. I'm doing my best on this website to help as many as I can.
I hope Michael agrees with me on all of this.
Elisa
P.S. Crossposter Cathy can be found on Facebook under Cathy Crossposter Colorado. Mia is also on Facebook. And yes, 500 dogs and cats will be euthanized in one shelter in one day due to too little room and too few willing to adopt.
