Life’s Purpose #4. Helping Animals
“All creatures deserve to be treated with kindness. I want to show compassion to animals through caring acts that help protect them and help them survive.”
The SPCA stands for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In Canada, Humane Canada is the federation of SPCAs and humane societies. Humane Canada advances the welfare of animals with a strong national voice. It promotes the interests and concerns of animal welfare to the government, policy makers, industry and the public.
The Criminal Code of Canada prohibits anyone from willfully causing animals to suffer from injury, pain or neglect. The Criminal Code is enforced by police services, provincial and territorial Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and provincial and territorial ministries of agriculture.
In my home city of Lethbridge, Alberta we have the Lethbridge & District Humane Society. Their main goal is to find the best possible homes for abandoned, stray and previously owned animals from Lethbridge and the surrounding area. The Society was formed in early 1970 and has been a no-kill haven since its inception. The Society also works to educate the public on responsible pet ownership as well as on the benefits of spay/neuter and vaccinating pets.
All animals entering the facility are vet checked and given their vaccinations. All are spayed or neutered and because the Lethbridge Humane Society does not euthanize to create space, they are limited in the number of cats and dogs they can take in at any given time.
Animal lovers is a term used for people who display affection or concern for animals. If you are fond of animals, the word philozoic is used to describe you. If you love animals more than your brother or sister, you are more philozoic than he or she is. Using the superlative case you are most philozoic.
Can animals tell if you are an animal lover? Dogs can most definitely sense when someone is a lover of all things animal. They rely on their nose in order to tell if a human is a friend or a foe. Their strong sense of smell could be leading animals away from you or toward you. Animals can smell food. If you have any edible items on your person, they can probably tell. Quite often when a dog or cat approaches you, they are more interested in the candy bar in your pocket than they are in making friends with you.
Animal lovers are people who openly express empathy towards animals. You probably have a good understanding of what it is like to give and receive unconditional love when you are a pet owner. Did you know that whether or not you are an animal-person is actually inherited? Yes, it is in your genes. A study showed that people who love animals have a specific version of the gene that produces the love hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin is important for empathy between humans and boosts social bonding. It also helps people bond with animals. Animal lovers are friendlier people and they have more empathy.
Natural affection for animals can be compared to the affection we feel for our children. We impulsively care for them and desire to help them because they are unable to help themselves. We want to speak up for their rights and defend them from danger. Can animals sense kindness? While they may not have the ability to feel as deep emotions as humans, recent studies have shown evidence that animals understand and feel kindness from people.
For animal lovers, Helping Animals is their Life’s Purpose.
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