How it started

Ask most of my friends and family and they'd tell you that I've always had a "thing" for spontaneous giving: making things for people, leaving random, anonymous gifts behind, etc.  It was partly this nature of mine that inspired a friend of mine to nominate me for a makeover and photography session, which I ended up winning.  It was an awesome feeling to know that I inspired someone.  

But in Dec 2010, actress Kellie Martin challenged the Twitterverse to join her in a month of Extreme Giving (#extremegiving), during which participants were to find one thing to do, every day, to take care of someone or something else.  Had I been smarter back then, I might have started the blog already, but hindsight is always the smarter part of me.

At least I was able to go back and capture images of my Tweets during that month:

 

 

I really enjoyed the challenge of finding something every day to do, figuring out ahead of time what I could imagine next.

When Dec 2011 rolled around, I knew I wanted to do something like it but not exactly the same, and thus The Friendly Beasts project was launched (inspired by one of my favorite holiday carols!)

Now, Dec 2012 approaches and I'm challenged yet again.  I'm taking the RAOK inspiration from author Erin McHugh and actor Misha Collins, but what can I do with it?  Will it be too similar to the Extreme Giving challenge?  Do I jot down ideas as they come to me and put them in a Kindness jar, and then draw them "randomly" come December?  Do I follow Erin's steps and wait to see what each day brings, looking for opportunities that present themselves?  What if the "only" thing that presents itself on a given day is opening the door for someone?  Is that enough to count??

Oh the dilemma.  At least I have time to think about it.  How delightful is the imagining!

Friendly Beasts: The Post-2011 post

I had great ambitions to complete the full 31 days of blog posts about animal organizations, but sadly ended up very ill in early 2012. Just as I recovered myself, my mother passed unexpectedly.  Life certainly has a way of intruding on life sometimes, doesn't it?

While I did not have the chance to finish off this 2011 project, I'm looking forward to doing something special again this December (it'll be my third in a row!), using this traditional month of love and generosity as an opportunity to share both with my community.

This year will be focused on RAOK (Random Acts of Kindness), borrowing pages from both Erin McHugh (author of One Good Deed and the website/blog by the same name) and Misha Collins, co-founder of TheRandomAct.org.

Stay tuned!

Friendly Beasts, Day 26: K-9 LifeSavers

(Eep playing a bit of catch up again.  Here we go!)

http://www.k-9lifesavers.org/

This is the place for dogs who might not otherwise receive a second chance.  Rescued from high-kill rate shelters and other risky situations, the dogs at K-9 LifeSavers are cared for by a team made up of volunteers, foster families, trainers, kennels and professional health care providers while the dogs are screened for personality and behavior information, and then carefully matched into forever homes.

The territory covered by K-9 spans multiple states where shelter "holds" are only a few days.  Once the dogs are rescued and screened, they are adopted out through events held throughout the greater DC Metro area.  Because they rotate locations, this enables the group to outreach in multiple places at a time, introducing their precious canines to a wider audience and, hopefully, better matches.

What they won't do is rush the adoption process; people interested in taking one of their dogs home need to be patient with the process.  Adoption counselors interview the family, make sure landlords and the environment will accept the dog, and may even conduct home visits to ensure the dog's new home is the right place for him.  Every effort is made to ensure that K-9 LifeSavers is a once-in-a-lifetime stop, and not a revolving door.  Their success at this is reflected in the "Happy Tails" section of the Web site, where grateful puppy parents have provided updates on their new additions.

People in the greater DC Metro area who are looking to adopt a dog can view the available pooches at their Web site listed above, lovable dogs who are waiting, like sweet Jill pictured above.  Anyone else interested in supporting them can check them out on Twitter (@k_9lifesavers) and on Facebook under "K-9 LifeSavers" (where you can also view available dogs.  Huzzah!)

Friendly Beasts, Day 25: Meow Foundation

http://www.meowfoundation.com

Founded in 2000, MEOW Foundation has a no-kill mandate, believing that, with time, all of the stray/abandoned cats that find their way into the Foundation's care can and will be matched with a permanent home that best suits the needs of the individual cat.  This takes both patience and perseverance, which their volunteers and staff have in spades.

In addition to their adoption listings (provided in a "cat"alog, of course!), their Web site offers helpful links regarding bringing a new kitty home, how to care for feral colonies in the community, and resources for TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) programs.  And if you need some uplifting stories, check out their DEAR MEOW section featuring the follow-up notes from some of their previous residents; they help demonstrate how every permanent place is a win in the fight against homeless and abandoned pets.

Canadian residents interested in volunteering or visiting one of their events should check out their calendar.  If you aren't lucky enough to live nearby, you can still sponsor an animal-in-waiting and help to care for them until they find a forever placement.  Whatever help you can offer provides new opportunity for kitties like Tiberius, pictured above and waiting patiently for his match.  Visit their Web site, mentioned above, or check them out on Facebook at "The MEOW Foundation".

Friendly Beasts, Day 24: Best Friends Animal Society

After a couple days off for the holidays, we're back in the blog-saddle...

http://www.bestfriends.org/

Working to eliminate the term "homeless" when referring to our feathered and furry companions, the Best Friends Animal Society follows a very simple yet effective philosophy: kindness to animals builds a better world.  Since its inception in the 1980s, the number of animals killed in shelters has dropped from 17 million to somewhere around 5 million.  Still too many to be sure, but the decrease has been due, in part, to the BFAS's work in championing spay/neuter programs, and grassroots efforts to place animals previously considered unadoptable.

Through rescue and outreach, along with networking with local groups, BFAS is now hoping to impact some of the greatest populations that inhabit the shelters: the bedraggled cats and kittens from feral colonies who may not be in the best physical or mental condition when on display in the shelter's adoption zones, the pit bulls abandoned and passed over because of their aggressive reputations, and the castoffs from puppy mills who are dropped off when their owners are unprepared for the level of care needed.  These are where some of the greatest floods of unwanted animals are coming, and BFAS hopes that through networking and education, these numbers, too, will begin to drop.

They are also among the first to arrive during disaster and rescue recovery efforts, from natural elements like Hurricane Katrina to the heartbreaking devastation humans inflict when they selfishly hoard animals like baseball cards.  And for those animals who may have no other options...too ill or traumatized from past experiences...BFAS offers an animal sanctuary.  Most of the animals that come stay just briefly for care before they are ready to be adopted into loving homes.  For some, though, it will be their last stop and will be a safe and loving one for the remainder of their days.

To help the Best Friends Animal Society, please visit their Web site above, or on Facebook at "Best Friends Animal Society".  Pictured above, Louie and Cheech ask you, "What better way to spend holiday-time than with your best friends?"

Friendly Beasts, Day 23: Itty Bitty Orphan Kitty Rescue

http://www.ibokrescue.org/

Another nominee from a friend who has adopted some of her own furr-faces from this organization, Itty Bitty Orphan Kitty is located in San Jose, California, and is primarily dedicated to the rescue of orphaned, pre-weaned kittens.  Because this group is at higher risk for euthanasia from overcrowded shelters due to their more intense care, IBOK seeks out pre-weaned kittens from local shelters and feral colonies, bottle-feeds them, and then takes care of finding them new, permanent homes.

Also, because of their involvement with the feral cat colonies, they partner with other local groups to help with TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) programs that will, hopefully, eventually, reduce the need to rescue these kittens at all.

In addition to foster and adoption programs, and fun fundraisers like their annual Santa Paws photoshoots which help raise money for their ongoing maintenance, IBOK also serves as a resource for the community in the event someone should find themselves with an orphaned kitten (or four) and aren't sure what to do.  They are a treasure-trove for kitty-lovers everywhere.

Visit the gallery on their Web site to ooh and ahh over the cuteness, and check them out on Facebook (search for "IBOK Rescue").  Thanks, Michelle, for telling me about IBOK!

Friendly Beasts, Day 22: Animal Welfare Institute

http://www.awionline.org/

Since 1951, the Animal Welfare Institute has worked toward decreasing the overall total of cruelty inflicted on animals by people using them to further their own aims.  From the overcrowded, filthy, and painful conditions of factory farming to the vicious and unnecessary jaw-traps used in the fur trade, representatives from AWI regularly attend trade meetings and regulatory summits surrounding these and other issues to ensure that objections are voiced concerning these matters.

In addition to fighting for laws, regulations, and industry policies that impact these animals directly, AWI works on efforts to minimize the impact of human actions that are indirectly affecting animals and their habits, such as sonar testing that injures and disrupts ocean life in its path and pollution that is damaging the world's forests and the habitats these animals require to survive.

The Web site listed above provides information regarding legislative and advocacy programs AWI is currently involved with, along with information regarding how those interested can help.  But they also provide valuable information for those wanting to help animals closer to home, such as how and where to adopt pets, and what to consider when making a choice of where to adopt.

People interested in all aspects of animal care and welfare should consider a visit to their Web site, join their Facebook page under "Animal Welfare Institute", or follow them on Twitter (@AWIOnline) for helpful tips and links to articles about current animal events.