Critter talk: Sweet charity for the pet lover this holiday season

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Last night a thoughtful neighbor and longtime client asked whether I’d prefer the annual gift of a plant over a different approach: the gift of a donation to a charity offered in my name. To which I responded with relative equanimity: Anything’s appreciated but nothing’s necessary.

Yet if you’re pressing for my preferred approach, I guess I’d have to be honest: I’m all about the “intangible” gift. Though I adore the beaded Buddha bracelet I already received from a client this year, I cherish most the DIY, experiential, and charitable gifts above all.

Because the thought of hitting the mall this time of year gives me visions of parking-place-road-rage and feigned patience in the cash register line, I’m especially supportive of the anti-consumerist approach.

Though I do make exceptions for the supermarket, book stores, craft stores and online outlets, making my own gifts is my favorite approach. (Stay tuned for an upcoming post on this.)

But sometimes I’ll shop for charities, too. This is especially helpful if I’ve got gobs of people to give gifts to and the social obligation to deliver. If, like me, you also have a desire to avoid giving people more junk from China that they’ll just stuff into their garages, charity donations are an excellent way to handle your gift responsibilities … responsibly. (And they’re tax deductible, too!)

Here are my favorite recommendations:

1. Heifer International: My love of goats makes this a gift from the heart, and one that never fails to elicit a beaming smile from the recipient. Donate cash and your giftee gets the pleasure of having “bought” a goat for a family in Guatemala. How can you resist that? Plus, the download-able cards are so beautiful they’re a gift in and of themselves.

2. The International Fund for Animal Welfare: From saving elephants to paying for shelter animal care, you can dedicate your dollars to a variety of animal welfare imperatives.

3. The University of Pennsylvania’s Shelter Medicine Program: Every year I recommend, and give, this one. I believe the work my alma mater does in this area is groundbreaking and essential. One of my clients gave $500 in my name a couple of years ago and it made me cry. So sweet.

4. Pet Insurance: Got relatives or friends who you know have trouble paying their vet bills? Buy them a pet health insurance policy! It’s a modern solution to the old adage that urges you to recognize that charity starts at home. It’s a gift your recipients will have a hard time not welcoming.

But you’ve got more. Lots more. This I know. Offer them up below.

Thanks as always to Dr. Patty Khuly

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Professor Mike

Professor Mike is a left-leaning, dog loving, political junkie. He has written dozens of articles for Substack, Medium, Simily, and Tribel. Professor Mike has been published at Smerconish.com, among others. He is a strong proponent of the environment, and a passionate protector of animals. In addition he is a fierce anti-Trumper. Take a moment and share his work.
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13 years ago

[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Michael Scott and Lena, sponso RING. sponso RING said: Critter talk: Sweet charity … for the pet lover this holiday season: How about doing something different this … http://bit.ly/hql3Ik […]

JC
13 years ago

Heifer International (HI) is an organization that claims to work against world hunger by donating animals to families in developing countries. Its catalog deceptively portrays beautiful children holding cute animals in seemingly humane circumstances. The marketing brochure for HI does not show the animals being transported, their living and slaughter conditions, or the erosion, pollution and water use caused by the introduction of these animals and their offspring.

By definition, animals raised for food are exploited in a variety of ways. The animals shipped to developing countries are often subject to; water and food shortages, cruel procedures without painkillers, lack of veterinary care resulting in extended suffering as a result of illness or injury.

A large percentage of the families receiving animals from HI are struggling to provide for themselves and cannot ensure adequate living conditions, nutrition, and medical care for animals they have been given. HI provides some initial veterinary training to individuals and the initial vaccines. But, long term care for these animals and their offspring is up to the individuals.

To make matters worse, animal agriculture causes much more harm to the environment than plant-based agriculture. The fragile land in many of the regions HI is sending the animals cannot support animal agriculture. Although they say they encourage cut and carry feeding of the animals to avoid erosion, the reality is often quite different.

The consumption of animal products has been shown in reputable studies to contribute significantly to life-threatening diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and a variety of cancers. Regions that have adopted a diet with more animal products see an increase in these diseases. The remote communities supposedly served by HI have no way of dealing with the health consequences of joining the high-cholesterol world.

While it may seem humane and sustainable to provide just one or two dairy cows here or there, the long term consequences are an increased desire for animal products in local cultures leading to an increase in production. These communities may be able to absorb the additional water use of one or two cows, what happens when there are hundreds or thousands of dairy cows, each consuming 27 to 50 gallons of fresh water and producing tons of excrement? The heavy cost to animals, the environment and local economies is not figured into HI’s business practices.

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