An Opportunity to Give Restricted Funds

When I use the term "abolitionist," I’m referring to my belief that we shouldn’t use animals. Therefore, my efforts do not concentrate on "reducing suffering," "protecting," or, heaven forbid, "conserving." But Erik Eckholm reminds me in "For Poor Families, an Added Burden if Too Many Pets" in today’s New York Times, that there are a few instances that require intervention of some sort.

Midnight dumping of unwanted dogs is common here on the southern tail of the Appalachian Mountains, where large numbers of poor people are attached to multiple pets but cannot afford to sterilize or vaccinate them, and where impoverished county governments do not maintain animal shelters, require licensing or enforce requirements for rabies shots.

There’s now a free clinic, staffed by volunteers (from Rural Area Veterinary Services, an HSUS program) to help deal with this tragic situation that humans helped create. If you agree that something must be done (including educating the people, which is a key component of the program), check out the website (and the NYT article and slide show).

Here’s your opportunity to give restricted funds. Don’t like the HSUS mission of "protection?" Not a fan of their participation in the happy meat brigade? Well, you can give directly (and only) to this program (click on the red "Donate to Rural Area Veterinary Services"). You can help, and not feel like you’re betraying your abolitionist beliefs. I just donated $300.

I refuse to believe that giving to an HSUS program is supporting the overarching HSUS mission and makes me some kind of traitor, new welfarist, welfarist, or whatever other word is being used as an insult within "the movement." I’m here to help. I’m here to change the world. And everywhere I turn, I’m going to find a way to do it.