Paws for a Cause – Guyana
Doctor’s Note: Paws for a Cause – Guyana (“Paws”) is a local animal welfare group operating and registered in Guyana as a non-profit inc. The group works to prevent animal cruelty; to promote humane, ethical, and responsible pet ownership; to advocate for controlling the animal population via spay and neuter campaigns; and to educate the public while pursuing cases of reported animal neglect and abuse. The Group’s work extends beyond dogs and cats, and includes all other animal species, including wildlife, in Guyana.
PAWS will occasionally contribute a “Paws Perspective”, providing positive considerations that are aligned with the ethos of the PET CARE column.
As promised in last week’s Pet Care column, here is Part 2 of a two-part guest column from PAWS on the value of making a New Year’s resolution linked to having a companion animal in your life.
More Reasons for Adopting/acquiring a companion animal in 2022
Resolution 3: Make new friends
As adults, it can get harder to make friends as we get older. There are no parents forcing playdates, no school activities, no cousins that you can hang out with when your aunts and uncles visit.
We don’t know about you, but we have a hard time keeping up with the newest social media, and we’re not that great at Fortnite and Roblux.
If you’re an animal lover, you’re more likely to strike up a conversation with a fellow animal person about your or their pet; and, many times, a friendship can flourish from there. Since the formation of Paws, we have met so many interesting and kind people who inspire us, support us, and encourage us to keep doing the work that we do. Shy or anxious people may find it easier to overcome the awkwardness of striking up a conversation when a cute animal is the topic of conversation. Plus, our social media outlets are proof that every animal is photogenic, and will inevitably help you rack up those likes and potential friendships on social media!
Resolution 4: Eat better
Cooking for your pet can help you to cook better for yourself. It is important to educate yourself on the specific foods that are good for your dog and, more importantly, those that are toxic. Meat, as well as some veggies such as pumpkin, sweet potatoes and callaloo are all good for you AND your pup, along with lots of other foods. When you put on a pot for yourself, put one on for your pup as well! Committing to cooking for your dog can reduce the probability of going out to buy fast food on a regular basis, and will, as a benefit, keep your food budget down.
Resolution 5: Do more charity work
We’d be remiss without mentioning the obvious. If you want to do more good things in 2022, if you want to improve a life or give back to a charity, supporting a local animal welfare group goes such a long way. Animal rescues have been through cruelty, neglect, abandonment, or a combination of all. Sometimes something as simple as a new toy makes an astounding joy emerge from behind the trauma that an animal has suffered. We are grateful for donations of all types of food, collars, leashes, bowls, towels, cleaning supplies, litter, toys, and the list goes on.
We are also thankful for monetary donations, as they assist in covering the medical treatment for all of our rescues. So, consider how easy it is; when you buy food or items for your pets, why not double your order and drop in for our fosters?
Resolution 6: Spend more time with your pets
If we need to explain this one, then may we refer you to Resolutions 1-5 above? So many of these items intersect with each other. Taking your pet out for some exercise can mean forging a new friendship, can give you the peace you need to clear your mind, and can lift your spirits. If you want to spend more time with them at home, consider making ‘forbidden’ sections of your house more animal-proof, putting breakable, dangerous and toxic items out of reach, or you can work on making your pet area more conducive to you spending time there.
We do understand the fatigue, frustration and trauma that the pandemic has inflicted. It has stripped another year of so much joy, frivolity and festivities, and is a lot to deal with on a daily basis. However, working towards a better version of yourself is not mutually exclusive with supporting animal welfare or caring for your pets, and can easily be seen as complementary. We implore you to reframe your perspective, and hope that you can make 2022 a better and kinder year for yourself and for those around you.
If you’d like to offer comments, support or follow our work, find us on Facebook.com/Pawsforacause.gy, on Instagram @pawsforacause.guyana, subscribe to our YouTube Channel, drop us a line at [email protected], or visit our website at https://www.pawsforacausegy.com.
Animal welfare is everyone’s business. You don’t have to be an animal person; you just have to be a kind person.
