The heat of summer is already here, and with it comes lots of good things and a ton of bad things. Right now we're in a place where the world feels really negative and awful for most people (aside from the rich, spoiled, ignorant, and privileged). It's hard not to feel the weight as you go about your day, hearing heartbreaking, tragic, sickening news on social media and TV all the time. The world needs a breath of fresh air and for people to all invest in small acts of kindness, which, when combined, create powerful, global shifts.
We in the queer community are no strangers to tragedy and pain, and so it can often feel even more personal for us to invest in the support and well-being of other marginalized and oppressed groups, whether that be through intersectional feminist work, involvement in #BlackLivesMatter, or in supporting animals in ways that go beyond petting cats and dogs and saying how much of an animal person you are. In this case, we'll be talking about the latter, and how you can help your furry friends without having to fill your house to the brim with stray and feral animals.
1. #AdoptDontShop
Summer is, unfortunately, a big breeding time for stray and feral animals. Animal shelters get packed to capacity very quickly (particularly in big cities) this time of year. This problem would be easier to deal with if more people adopted. The importance of adoption over purchasing is that adoption is saving an animal whose life may be on the line, while purchasing, either in a store or from breeders (don't even get me started on them), is dominantly based on people wanting a pet of a certain aesthetic. That's all well and good, because lots of people have favorite breeds of animals, but when that shallow desire kills animals in shelters, it really isn't cute anymore.
The pet-selling industry continues to thrive because people don't adopt. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I want animals in pet stores to suffer, nor that their lives are perfect, but the industry has to be stopped and little aside from losing funds will change anything. This is an industry that empowers puppy mills which are absolutely appalling establishments of dog torture and manipulation. This is an industry that empowers selective breeding, where people mix dogs that they think people will love, like the Pomsky. What people don't realize is that this breeding process can often create wholly unhealthy or mutated offspring that suffer short lives, are dumped, or never find homes all because someone wanted a dog special breed they saw on Pinterest.
Too many animals die in shelters because no one ever gave them a chance. People pay much more to breeders and stores when there are beautiful, amazing animals just waiting in shelters for their forever homes. Animals with disabilities, black cats, as well as older or shy animals are often overlooked for the littlest, the youngest, and most energetic in the group. We need to think differently about how we get pets because at this very moment there are over 300,000 animals on Petfinder, "an online, searchable database of animals who need homes."
Remember, #AdoptDontShop! For more, check out The Humane Society of the United States' "Ten Reasons to Adopt a Pet."
2. Set out food and water
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People are often hesitant to do this for stray and feral animals because they're worried that the animals will keep coming back. If you don't have the means to continually purchase food, that's one thing, but if it's solely the fear of responsibility and commitment that's bothering you, you should probably think again, especially when you're hungry and thirsty when you're outside in the blistering heat. You don't even have to buy pet food if you have things like chicken or tuna to spare, which will quickly and gratefully be eaten.
It's recommended that you keep the food out for animals for anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour, for the animals who might be slower in getting to where the food is. If you leave it out all the time, the animals won't understand what time to come around and won't get on a schedule, so, ultimately, it just makes everything easier for you.
Here is an example of a cat feeding station, which could be adjusted to support dogs or any other wandering, hungry animals that you'd like to help! If that doesn't work for you, you could always make something of your own.
3. Throw some shade (literally)
It's very easy for animals to overheat, dehydrate, or even suffer from a heatstroke when exposed to the merciless burn of summer. It's incredibly helpful for stray and feral animals to have shady places to rest, as it makes a big difference for their heat-ravaged bodies. You can buy something or make something simple yourself, there's really no specific way to do this one.
If we have to throw shade, this is the time and way to do it!
4. Take in an animal (if it's possible for you)
I may have lied about the "no strings attached" thing on this one. Honestly, pets aren't easy, but nothing worthwhile really is. Ask yourself if there's any possible way you could have a (or another) pet. One of the biggest worries with stray and feral animals is that they won't get along with the current pet(s) of the house and/or vice versa. There are resources for that (ex. here and here).
It's hard out there for animals, and the world (like I said and like you probably already felt way before you read this) is being consumed by negative energies. Put out some good in the world and do what will, with no exaggeration, save a life. I did it, and I haven't regretted it once, not even for a minute.
5. And finally, fight for chained dogs (and I really mean fight)
Some people's idea of having a dog is chaining them outside and leaving them there. These dogs are given little to no love and attention and are so deprived of interaction that they become deeply sad and depressed. Not only that, these dogs are at serious risk in the summer, particularly those who have no shade from the elements (winter is just as terrible for them) and whose water bowls are often left bone dry and whose food bowls are perpetually empty.
I can't tell you to steal the dog away (although that would surely be grand and I'd love every bit of that) but you can make life difficult for the perpetrators of this cruel animal abuse that the government has yet to recognize because animals are still thought of as property even though they're living, feeling beings just like us. Try to reason with the owners. If they won't respond to emotion or reason, ask if you can bring the dog some sort of dog house, water, food, toys, etc. Call the animal authorities just to let them know. Contact local and national organizations, even if just to get this animal on their radar (as they often create networks across the nation). Whatever you do, don't give up on those dogs, because you may be the only person fighting for them.
There are plenty of ways to care for and help out our animal friends this summer. Let us know how you do it in the comments and on Twitter!
