We don’t like to think about this, but we really should…
I don’t know about you, but I consider my pets to be a part of my family. They bring me joy like no other human can. I don’t have children, but I consider them to be my “fur babies”. They are living, breathing souls that I must feed and take care of each and every day. In exchange, they give me an unconditional love like no human can.
This is not a sponsored post. My heart just swelled with sadness and joy and inspiration when an email about this event was delivered to my inbox:
In early 2021, I came across a story about a dog named Ethan. He was brought into the Kentucky Humane Society almost dead. The KHS believed he had been locked in a crate and was starved. The staff at KHS worked night and day to bring the large dog back to life. He had been discovered in the parking lot (how on earth did he get there?!) by someone dropping off a donation. He weighed in at 30-something pounds, when he should have been over 80.
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Image via The Kentucky Humane Society’s Instagram Page
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Long story short, he is doing great now! The amazing staff gave him the care he needed and deserved. He had to learn how to walk again, but he didn’t forget how to love. I’ve loved watching the videos of him wag his tail and become the dog he was meant to be.
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Image via The Kentucky Humane Society’s Instagram Page
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It broke my heart to see him in such a horrendous state, but I donated, prayed and asked for others to pray as well and it worked. He became the most neglected dog the KHS had ever seen to being the most beloved as he received TONS of much needed donations, fan mail, toys and more.
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Image via The Kentucky Humane Society’s Instagram Page
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Maybe it’s a story of terrible animal neglect and cruelty, but during my life, I’ve learned there are weird things that happen in this world. I wonder if there is an alternative scenario behind what happened to him prior to being dropped off in the parking lot of the Humane Society.
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Image via The Kentucky Humane Society’s Instagram Page
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Did someone abuse and neglect him (very possible) or did someone live alone (lots of people do) and died outside the home and no one thought about or even knew about the dog? Then I think about how he arrived at the Humane Society. Did the owner abandon the dog in a rental property, and the property owner didn’t know what to do, so they dropped him off at the KHS in fear that they would be charged with animal cruelty? Did the owner not have the money to feed the dog, so they left him in a crate to starve to death? This is animal cruelty, but it’s also a possibility that the person was uneducated in the services many animal-centered organizations offer and chose neglect over research.
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Image via The Kentucky Humane Society’s Instagram Page
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There are so many scenarios I could think of, but instead, I decided to think about how we can prevent things like what happened to Ethan.
Here are some ways you can help your pets and other animals never end up like Ethan:
Put a decal on your house windows or doors that tell people that you have pets inside the home. This would be very helpful in the event of a fire. Purchase the set I bought for our home on Amazon below.
Put a note in your wallet or have a key chain made stating that you have pets and what to do in case of emergency (I created a free printable you can print out for your wallet…see below!)
Ask family and friends to care for your pets if anything were to happen to you. My husband and I made out our wills years ago. We are only in our 40’s BUT it’s never too soon to think about things like this. In creating our wills, I realized that the lawyers want to know all the human aspects of your property (which humans in your life gets your personal property in the event of your demise) BUT they never ask about PETS. If you think it’s necessary, will your pets to someone in your life and update it as needed. Some breeds of birds out-live many owners so willing a pet like this does happen!
If you know an animal is being abused or neglected, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. You can report it anonymously. Google the phrase “reporting animal abuse” or “how to report animal abuse” and Google will give you numbers to call in your area. You can also call your local police department or animal shelters for guidance. Read this article from the ASPCA for more information on reporting animal cruelty and abuse.
Become educated and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Did you know groups like the Kentucky Humane Society will give you free food if you can’t afford it for your pets? They will also help you find a temporary home for your pet if you are in between homes and can’t keep your pet during the transition. Call your local shelters and animal organizations and talk with someone if you need help. That is what they are there for. All the money that is donated to them truly does go towards some great programs that can help you!
One last thing…
If you have the means, please donate to your local shelters. We have adopted animals, as well as purchased pure breed dogs (as adopting vs. purchasing is a personal choice…..and ALL animals need someone to love them!) but we still donate money and wish list items to animal charities.
If you’d rather donate items, many have wish lists posted on their websites and many have Amazon wish lists too! If you have a Prime membership, you can easily send needed items directly to shelters and animal organizations at no extra cost.
You can also donate your time. You can be a foster family for animals, volunteer at shelters and more. While humans always need help (and we should help them when needed) we can’t ever forget that the fur babies of the world need help as well. Visit websites, social media sites and find out where you can offer your help today.
What happened to Ethan exactly may be never known. It is currently under investigation. For now, let’s use his story to help educate and inspire us all. I know his sweet face and story have inspired me and I hope to pass along some of that inspiration to anyone that may need it.
Sending love and light to all those who need it!
The Pets At Home Emergency Set I Purchased via Amazon:
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Get the wallet card free printable by clicking the button below!
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C.J. Braden is a regular contributor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Little Ways to Get Back To You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her by clicking here.
This is a sponsored article. All opinions and ideas expressed in this post, however, are based on my personal point of view.