WYSIWYG

What You See Is What You Get. This is a journal blog, an explore-blog, a bit of this and that blog. Sharing where the mood takes me. Perhaps it will take you too.

Menombobulated [men-om-bob-you-lated]; which way to turn?

Blogville's resident Pastor Goose posted on Wednesday about a special happening at their local shelter home. He asked the question as to how many shelters also cater for the homeless pets.  Those of you in the USA suburb of Blogville can do your own researches, but of course, if you can, then a few extra 'green papers' to the cause at St Annes would be great...

Whilst wholeheartedly supporting that cause in thoughts and prayers, it does not make a lot of fiscal sense to give to causes overseas, when there is much need on one's own shores. (Won't mention exchange rates here.....) As you are all aware, YAM is keen on such things and would, in that ideal world so many of us have sitting at the back of our 'dream file', shower pennies in all directions. No income source precludes such rash behaviour, however. What can be given, is.  The other thing which can be done is exactly what the Meno-Links page is about...ie to spread the word.


Prompted by the question our venerable Weimaraner posed, I made a search for UK homeless shelters which also take in pets. As might be expected, they are few and far between... however there are some. They are almost entirely run by local government bodies. (Steer away from that particular minefield, too, YAM...) Nothing as plush as is on the plan for St Annes.Image result for onekind logo

During my researches though, I came across a small lobby group which I will now follow as they have great values, are based in Edinburgh, and have different levels by which one can participate, from simply writing letters according to campaign guidance through to active, on-the-ground projects.

They are only one of many 'voices' speaking out for those who cannot.

It can be 'menombobulating' trying to decide who to help and when.  In the end, we must
  1. decide that we do indeed wish to help
  2. prioritise according to our talent and (it must be acknowledged) financial state
  3. not get caught up in guilt or other emotions around not giving.
That last one can be tricky. I have actually had one person some years back say to me that there are so many folk with their hands out now that they had stopped giving, as it would be unfair to others!!! The point is, each must find that which suits their own set of interests or values and give in that direction. As varied as the human species is, so it is that majority needs will be addressed. Neither does it have to be 87 millions. A simple 87 pennies/cents given regularly can be every bit as useful. 

On the matter of homeless and their pets, I am sharing with you, from the OneKind site, the following. 
The film demonstrates the important role companion animals play in giving street people a sense of purpose and some love in their lives. Indeed, the experiences of vets working at the hostel vet clinics has been that many of these pet owners take considerably better care of their pets than they do themselves.
While many people might assume street pets have a much tougher life than domestic pets, the film-makers found this was not necessarily the case.  Susi Arnott says: “The way homeless people have such close attachments to animals was something I hadn't considered. It seemed like a lot of people were prejudiced, myself included, when it came to homeless people and animals.”
Sadly, of course, not all street pets can be said to enjoy a positive experience, and this is where the work of organisations like Vetwork, pet-friendly hostels and OneKind plays a vital role in ensuring that the same level of care and attention is available to all pets regardless of their circumstances.

Sleeping Ruff from Susi Arnott on Vimeo.




Hope you don't have too much trouble with the accents! A different view of the streets of Edinburgh, certainly...

16 comments:

  1. Yes, that is exactly right. We need not feel guilty because we cannot give green papers to every good cause. It is best to be able to joyfully give whatever we can give (time, talent, papers, etc.) to what we feel passionate about. A good post!

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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    1. Hari OM
      Thanks your Doodships. The term 'compassion fatigue' has been coined by media to describe the drain folk feel when there are endless calls to give and it is a good one. The example I gave is just one of several which have been heard over recent years; undoubtedly there can be a reverse effect and people become cynical and jaded and that is a great shame. Yxx

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  2. In EVERY country there are those who are worthy of HELP... butt that does not mean that everybuddy can spare the precious green papers. Sometimes HELP is worth more than Money... like with advertising and such. Butt one should NEVER EVER feel guilty if they are not in a pawsition to support. We all have to take care of ourselves FIRST.

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    1. Hari OM
      The term 'charity begins at home' is what you remind me of here, F&E; and it is certainly the case, just as in matters of health care, that one can only do the caring/giving when one is in good order oneself. That is not to say that a little stretch when possible is not to be made. It is sometimes a greater generosity to share out one's few grains than to drop the 87 millions! Yxx

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  3. I struggle with the same things. So many great causes, not enough money. When possible I try to support local or Canadian. I try and support causes friends and family dedicate time to help (like my annual donation to my best friend's father who runs the Boston Marathon and Big Sur for the Liver Foundation). Working part time at a charity I can tell you that every donation, no matter how small can have a huge impact. If everyone give what they could can, when they could, in money, time, awareness etc., the world would be a better place!

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  4. Great post Aunty ..... The video made Mum cry, however!! AND she had BIG TROUBLE with the accents.

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    1. Hari OM
      It can be difficult watching (and listening - even for me!) at times. I appreciated the non-voyeuristic and unprejudiced camera's eye view though. ...and of course the message that the dogs make a difference... Thanks 'mum' for taking the time. Yxx

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  5. When I lived in Castle Combe in England years ago, we would regularly make our way to Bath, either for cinema/disco or shopping. There were a fair few rough sleepers/beggars out there and occasionally I would give them some money. And then one day a gang of them were arrested. Men and women who lived in ordinary detached homes with two cars in the garage went out begging on a daily basis and made so much money they could afford to live in said detached home! It really hurt the honest homeless person a lot, because a lot of people (including myself) stopped giving.

    Where I live now there are three beggars who sit out every day. They are part of the same family and have lovely snazzy mobile phones. They are poor and when it is very cold/wet they will not be there. But I don't give. I would then rather give to an organisation that will help them, like the Salvation Army. They do not have animals with them though. Perhaps I would be tempted to buy pet food in that case and give that instead of money directly.

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    1. Hari OM
      Lovely comment Mara - thank you for thoughtfulness! I completely understand the withdrawal of support for the 'organised' gangs. That is something which shocked me when I returned to Scotland; Edinburgh in particular is rife with the Eastern Bloc arrivals sitting under their blankets holding out their mugs. Most of them brought over with the promise of new life and finding themselves in a sort of slavery under a 'kingpin'.... whole other subject...

      To be very frank, I have never given money to a street beggar! I can be surprisingly 'hard' in that regard. This is partly experience from third-world living. I HAVE, as you mention here, provided a sandwich or a burger to one or two I thought truly needed.

      Your point about giving to those who do the hands-on helping is exactly the focus of this post and the most valid... next to providing that cuppa directly. What I have noticed here is that, in general, one of the reasons the street dogs are well fed it that many people (which would include us it seems) would happily feed the animal, whilst being wary of the person attached to it!

      What was heartening to me here (in the full article) it was clear that Edinburgh's Royal Veterinary School provides on-the-ground support for homeless pets through 10 shelters in or close to Edinburgh. THAT is work worth supporting.

      Thanks again to you (and others) for participating in 'discussions'!!! Yxx

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  6. DEAR ME....SO MUCH SUFFERING FOR 2 AND 4 LEGGERS WE DON'T HAVE A CLUE!
    THIS WEEK WE'VE HAD WHAT IS BEING CALLED SIBERIAN AIR GOING ACROSS THE NORTH POLE TO CANADA THEN SOUTH TO THE USA. MANY SHELTERS IN OUR CITY ARE ADVERTISING THEY WILL ACCEPT PETS. GOD BLESS THEM.
    HUGS MADI AND MOM

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    1. Hari OM
      Oh yes, and that 'air' is hitting us with its tail a bit; one does wonder at the hardiness of some folk. So glad to hear that shelters are opening their doors just that bit wider! Yxx

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  7. we sadly have not much shelters who accept pets... and their people decide to stay outside too, together with their pets... I sometimes feel guilty , but I try to do my best and give what I can ...
    easy rider

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  8. When I worked in Sydney their were many street people but not so many now I'm not sure if there are less now or they have been moved on as I'm not in the city much now .
    Yes you are right we should always look after our own poor before sending money overseas.
    Merle.................

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    1. Hari Om
      It is not so much that we ought to not care for our overseas neighbours either; however sometimes this is done at the expense of local need. Even within borders, all too often worthy smaller causes are lost whilst the more 'glamourous' giants can use up the gathered dollars in mass marketing in attempts to gather more dollars..

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    2. Like pinkwashing, or slactivisim!

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