How we treat our animals should tell others how we will treat them

Today I read the story of Trooper from the Roanoke Angels of Assisi's blogspot (angelsofassisi.blogspot.com).  I was horrified by the images and description of what this dog has gone through.  I wanted to sign up to give him a forever home and show him what it was like to live a spoiled rotten life.  Unfortunately, the Morgan household is currently full with two vivacious Rotties that are definitely living the good life.  Thankfully, there is one kind family fostering him as he recovers and another kind family waiting enthusiastically in the wings to be his forever home.

I worry about what kind of society we have turned into that we would treat animals this way.  I don't care what species the animal was (a dog in this case) or what breed it was (a pit bull).  Since when do we think it's okay as a society to allow others to cause harm to animals?  And yet we do so every day.  Let's look for a second at how we treat our children.  In Roanoke (City), VA for FY 10 (which includes July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010) there were a total of 2,126 child abuse reports made to Child Protective Services (CPS).  Of those complaints, only 1,544 were accepted as valid complaints.  I can almost understand this number, since I know that CPS can only accept complaints against a caretaker.  How this may materialize as an unaccepted CPS compliant is that someone complains that the 19 year old neighbor was having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 14 year old.  If the 19 year old was not babysitting or caring for the 14 year old, then this matter would be referred to the police and not handled by CPS.  But I digress.  Of the 1,544 complaints accepted, only 396 - or 26% - of those complaints were investigated.  And of the 396 investigated 211 - or 53% - were founded complaints.  A founded complaint means there was evidence that some type of abuse occurred.  If we use data from the City of Roanoke's website (http://www.roanokeva.gov/) about the number of youth we have in Roanoke under the age of 19, this means that 7 of every 100 youth have had a CPS compliant made on their behalf.  And for those of you who remember the local news from January 2010, we know that at least one of these cases resulted in the death of a child (http://www.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/234529). 

My goal here is not to slam our local department of Social Services.  I know many of these men and women and do not envy the job they have to do.  I know they are often restricted by the Commonwealth of Virginia's Code and the opinions of that code's interpretation as made by the Attorney General all the way down to local judges and lawyers.   The point I am trying to drive home is that this is how we allow our children to be treated.  I can point out similar statistics and data for our elderly and domestic violence.  But what can you do about abuse - whether animal abuse, domestic abuse, child abuse or elderly abuse?  I'm sure that others can come up with more suggestions than I can myself but here are some ideas.


Five ways to decrease (or stop) abuse in our society:

• If you suspect abuse, report it to the police.  If the police are not the correct agency to make the report to, they will tell you who you should call.
• Volunteer your time to a non-profit dealing that works with types of abuse you feel strongly about preventing.  This may mean walking dogs at the SPCA, tutoring or mentoring troubled youth, reading or playing games at a local nursing home, or donating items to the local battered women's shelter.
• Start a program that helps the population you would like to help.  Maybe you could start a clothing drive for the battered women's shelter,  hold a food drive for the homeless shelter or local animal shelter (statistics show stressors such as no housing or food increase both domestic violence and child abuse),  or an afterschool program for high risk kids.  The ideas are endless and may only indirectly help decrease types of abuse.
• Write a letter to your legislator about an issue or incident you are passionate about.  One letter may not make all the difference, but it is important we let those who represent us know what our feelings are and how we want to be represented.
• Educate yourself on abuse issues.  How prevalent is abuse in our society?  Who is most susceptible to abuse?  How can I decrease abuse in my own community?  What are the local organizations that help those who have been abused?

I often think that there are a lot of services out there that help these people, and why should I be the one who does something.  My tax dollars go to pay for all these social services, right?  And then I remember the look on my Madi's face (she is my youngest Rottie), when she was in so much pain and couldn't walk because she had blown both CCLs in her hind legs.  I remember that she wouldn't let the wonderful vets and techs at Virginia Tech Animal Hospital touch her if I wasn't in the room, because she didn't know if they would hurt her, but she knew I wouldn't let them hurt her in my presence.  And I know that the trust Madi has in me and the protection she now offers me without forethought wouldn't be there if I hadn't cared, nurtured, and loved her at her weakest moments.  So can each of us make a difference?  Yes, we can.  And what we do to help those weaker, less fortunate, or without a voice tells others how we will also treat them.  Actions do speak louder than words.