YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ANIMALS YOU FORCE TO LIVE IN YOUR WORLD.
Even though most people are having a festive time, the animal welfare industry faces its worst time of year! This happens due to the failure of the animal guardians (owners). If everyone took better care of the animals they choose to take in, then animal welfare would not have to clean up the mess year in and year out!
Do your animals deserve a better guardian?
If your animals are in the streets, they deserve a better guardian. Animals left to roam without protection face numerous dangers, including traffic, predators, and harsh weather. It’s our responsibility to provide a safe and loving environment for them.
If your animals aren’t groomed regularly, they deserve a better guardian. Neglecting grooming can lead to painful matting, skin infections, painful feet, and overall discomfort. Regular grooming keeps them healthy and happy.
If your animals are left alone for long periods, they deserve a better guardian. Pets are social creatures that thrive on companionship. Loneliness can lead to anxiety and destructive behaviours. If you go away without someone checking in on them regularly during the day, they deserve a better guardian. Ensure they have proper care and interaction, even when you’re not home.
Also, read about holiday safety as well as Christmas safety for pets.
If your animals are left outside in bad weather conditions, they deserve a better guardian. Exposure to extreme temperatures, rain, cold, heat, or storms can lead to serious health issues. Every pet should have a safe, warm place to stay, regardless of the weather.
If your animals don’t have adequate shelter, they deserve a better guardian. Every pet needs a safe, comfortable place to rest. Proper shelter protects them from the elements and provides a secure environment.
If your animals are fed unhealthy food, they deserve a better guardian. Nutrition plays a vital role in their health and longevity. Choose high-quality, nutritious food that meets their specific needs, and avoid feeding them harmful products, including cooked bones. This doesn’t have to break the bank!
If you do not provide them with safe, fresh, cool water, they need a better guardian. Access to clean water is vital for their health, especially in hot weather. Ensure they have plenty of fresh water available at all times, so they can stay hydrated and healthy.
If one of your animals were killed by another animal in your care, they deserve a better guardian. We often hear stories of the dog or cat that ate the bird, the dog killed the cat, or one dog bit the other one. Your animal should never have been set up to get injured or killed or to fail by killing another in your care.
If your animals don’t receive regular vet checks, they deserve a better guardian. Routine veterinary care is essential for preventive health. Regular check-ups, vaccinations, tick and flea treatment, and deworming keep them safe from diseases and suffering.
If your animals lack clean bedding, they deserve a better guardian. A clean and comfortable resting space is essential for their well-being. Dirty bedding can lead to infections and discomfort. When you change your bedding, change theirs too.
If you don’t spend quality time with them daily, they deserve a better guardian. Building a bond through play, exercise, training, and simply being together is essential for their emotional well-being. Every pet deserves attention, enrichment, and love.
If your animals don’t have a variety of safe toys, they deserve a better guardian. Toys provide mental stimulation and encourage healthy play. Without safe toys, pets may become bored or resort to destructive behaviours.
If your animals are not trained, they deserve a better guardian. Proper training helps keep pets safe, makes them feel more secure, and improves their behaviour. Remember, you can’t blame them if you don’t train them. Training doesn’t have to be formal; simple commands and positive reinforcement can build a strong bond and promote good behaviour.
If you use choke chains, shock collars, anti-bark collars, or any adverse tools on your animals, they deserve a better guardian. These tools are there to make it uncomfortable or painful for an animal. They are cruel tools.
If you breed or allow your pet to have a litter, which is never for her health, they deserve a better guardian. Any litter in our current welfare situation contributes to the massive overpopulation crisis and causes stress for the mother. Responsible guardianship includes spaying or neutering to prevent health issues and ensure a better quality of life for them.
If your animals don’t get vet treatment when injured or sick, they deserve a better guardian. Prompt medical attention is crucial for their recovery and well-being. Delaying care can lead to worsening conditions and unnecessary suffering. If you can’t afford to provide for the animals, then it is unfair to them to have them.
If you don’t allow your pets to be in environments and enclosures that meet their needs, they deserve a better guardian. Every animal requires an appropriate living space that provides safety and comfort.
If you don’t allow your pets to do what their species do, like digging, chewing, or barking, they deserve a better guardian. Engaging in natural behaviours is essential for their mental and emotional well-being.
If you use your animals only as tools for protection rather than companions whom you should protect, they deserve a better guardian. They are sentient beings, not security systems, and should be treated with the dignity and compassion any family member would receive. Although they can alert you, it’s your responsibility to protect them!
If you do not help your animals cope in stressful situations like thunderstorms and fireworks, they deserve a better guardian. If we force animals to live in our world, then it is our moral obligation to help them cope. This can be done by desensitizing them before the events, helping them during the stressful events, and destressing them afterward.
If you do not include them in your plans to move, they need a better guardian. Pets are part of the family, and they should be considered in every significant life change. Planning for their inclusion, transportation, and comfort during a move is crucial.
If you do not have an emergency plan that includes your pets, they need a better guardian. In times of crisis, having a clear plan for your pets is essential. This means knowing where they will go, who will care for them, and how they will be transported. Your animals deserve not to be left behind or abandoned in difficult situations. This also includes having a plan for them if you die. Are they included in your will?
If your animal is at the end of their life or suffering, you have the duty to help them over the rainbow bridge. It is a difficult decision, the worst I ever had to make, but an important last gift which you can give them. If you are not willing to make that decision because of your feelings, then they need a better guardian.
They are not “just animals”, they are sentient beings who feel pain and emotions. Animals need more than just love, food, and water; they need thoughtful guardianship that encompasses every aspect of their lives, including emergency preparedness and transitions. It’s our duty to ensure their safety and well-being in all circumstances.
Also, read why love is not enough for your pets.
The Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare
Ensure your pets enjoy the Five Freedoms of animal welfare:
- Freedom from Hunger and Thirst: Ensure access to fresh water and a proper diet.
- Freedom from Discomfort: Provide an appropriate environment, including shelter and bedding.
- Freedom from Pain, Injury, and Disease: Prevent and treat health issues.
- Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour: Allow them to engage in natural behaviours.
- Freedom from Fear and Distress: Ensure a safe and secure living environment.
Every animal deserves a loving and responsible guardian. By evaluating your care practices and making improvements where needed, you can ensure your pets live happy, healthy lives. They depend on you—let’s make their world better. Thank you to each who takes this responsibility seriously!
Animals are not just companions; they are beings with their own needs, emotions, and rights. We have a moral obligation to ensure they thrive in the world where they were forced to live in, not merely survive. If you cannot meet ALL their needs, then you should reconsider bringing them into your life. Each pet deserves a guardian who fully commits to their well-being, providing not just the basics, but a nurturing environment where they can flourish. Let’s be the responsible stewards our animals need us to be—because they rely on us to make their lives better. It’s time to step up, advocate for their welfare, and truly honor the trust they place in us.
If every person was a good guardian, then rescuers would not be overwhelmed. You, not being a good guardian, might have been the reason that a rescuer quit or committed suicide. Your actions have a ripple effect. Think about that.
After this, I hope you intend to be a better guardian next year. Join us for the next three weeks as we share some pawsome ways you can do better for them.
