As if this form of abuse wasn’t bad enough, dog fighting has left a sordid stain on the Pit Bull’s reputation and many people assume these dogs are naturally aggressive and enjoy fighting by nature. Due to this belief, these dogs are frequently abandoned or discarded by irresponsible owners and have an incredibly hard time getting adopted in shelters – in fact, they have a euthanasia rate of around 93 percent because of these unfounded fears.
Tabitha was one such neglected Pit Bull. This sweet pup was rescued by Hope for Paws after she was found lying on the streets, barely able to walk due to a leg injury. Unlike other dog rescues that typical involve a struggle and some sort of resistance from the dog, this one was reportedly very simple and sweet Tabitha happily surrendered herself to the team’s care.
While it is unknown what sort of life or pain this pup endured, since rescue, she has an incredible look of relief on her face. After a life of uncertainty, Tabitha can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
This is the face of a pup who knows their days of suffering are over.
How Can You Help Dogs Like Tabitha
Tabitha is one lucky Pit Bull who found her way into the care of people who were willing to give her the care she needs – regardless of her looks or breed. It is up to all of us to put an end to needless stereotypes that have real detrimental effects on animals. At the end of the day, all dogs have the capability to be amazing, sweet companions if they are raised by responsible guardians. Share this post and encourage others rethink their prejudices against animals of all kinds.
Seeing Tabitha’s happy face, we can’t help up to wonder, if you can change a dog’s world by simply changing your thinking … why wouldn’t you? All image source: Hope for Paws/Flickr
Photo of Rescuers Saving Stranded Dolphin Will Inspire You to Do Your Part for the Oceans. Humans haven’t exactly made life easy for marine animals. Every year we dump 8.8 million tons of plastic trash straight into the oceans, commercial fisheries have over-exploited or depleted a majority of fish stocks, and we have made it a habit of endangering marine animals all for the sake of selfies. We might not think about it often, but without a thriving ocean ecosystem, the world as we know it would not exist. The oceans produce around 70 percent of the world’s oxygen and act as vital carbon sinks that help slow the progression of climate change. But all of this will stop if we don’t take action to slow the inevitable collapse of the world’s oceans.
There are many ways that we can all lend a hand to help marine animals, but it all starts with fostering a deep respect for these creatures. We need them more than they need us, so we all need to step up and aid their survival. Thankfully, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Marine Mammal Rescue and Research team is doing just this.
A huge part of what this awesome team does is rescue and rehabilitate stranded whales and dolphins. While there are many reasons that experts believe cetaceans strand themselves on land, a few include ship strikes, plastic ingestion, or an injury caused by commercial fishing nets. The IFAW team recently witnessed a string of three different stranding events involving Atlantic white-sided dolphins off of Cape Cod.
In a blog post update, IFAW’s Kristen Patchett explains that the rescues of these animals were complicated due to numerous public interventions. People often have good intentions when approaching stranded marine animals, but ultimately, professional help is needed to prevent excess stress which can cause more harm than good.
This awesome rescue team worked tirelessly to come to the aid of the animals in need, and this single photo captures the immense dedication of their efforts.
Thankfully, thanks to their knowledge and expertise, the IFAW team was able to rescue all the dolphins who were stranded over this three-day span and after medical treatment, the animals were successfully released to the wild.
How You Can Help Marine Animals
We might not all be able to help marine life in the same way these rescuers did but we can play our part by taking quick action and calling professionals whenever we come across a marine animal in need.
To find out how you can help protect the oceans and its inhabitants, check out these resources:
- Don’t Bite the Hand That Feeds! Why Humans Need Sharks
- If You Took Seafood Out of Your Diet, How Would it Really Help the Planet?
- 6 Ways You Can Help Save Our Oceans
These People Went to Inspiring Lengths to Save an Orphaned Rhino. But We All Need to Help. Most of us grew up seeing images of rhinos either in storybooks or on TV shows. In either depiction, these animals always appeared as strong and powerful animals that had the ability to command attention and respect from any viewer. And this is exactly how humans should view rhinos, but unfortunately, in the real world, outside of books and TV, this is not how rhinos are treated.
Instead of seeing awe and inspiration in rhinos, many people see an opportunity for profit. Due to the belief that rhino horn possesses rare and almost magical healing properties, this animal has been hunted into near extinction. It is estimated that three rhinos are killed by poachers every day and given this species’ low reproduction rate, this has already lead to the loss of a number of rhino species. The Javan rhinoceros was declared extinct in 2011 and the Western Black rhinoceros followed in 2013. Currently, the Sumatran and Black Rhino are classified as “critically endangered” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The most heartbreaking part in all this is the reality that rhino horn is composed of nothing more than keratin … the same protein that makes up our own hair and nails. But because of the unyielding belief in its healing abilities, rhino horn continues to be highly sought after for Traditional Medicines.
Tragically, we are being faced with the stark reality that if we do not make an effort to dismantle these myths and halt rhino poaching, children in the next few decades will only ever know rhinos as animals who exist in fictional stories.
Thankfully, there are many dedicated and determined individuals who refuse to let this happen. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya exists as a haven for rhinos. Many of this sanctuary’s residents are orphans who lost their mothers to the rhino horn trade. Taking on the role of a mother figure for baby rhinos is extremely difficult. These animals imprint quickly and need constant love and comfort from their caretakers.
This photo taken by photographer James Suter gives us just a small glimpse into the amazing commitment that the caretakers at Ol Pejeta have to the animals in their care.
Suter writes on Instagram, “He [Ringo]was weak from the start and needed constant company and comfort. Many carers across Africa lose orphans because of this – humans cannot replicate being a mother to an orphaned rhino. And although many survive, there are many that don’t too. And it is why orphans left behind due to poaching are a whole added element to the problem – they cannot simply continue without their mothers.”
There are many success stories of rescued orphaned rhinos who do eventually learn to thrive on their own, but we cannot forget the loses like Ringo. This is the real impact of our endless pursuit of greed. Rhinos are not simply commodities, they are living, feeling animals who suffer immensely from our recklessness.
We can all play a hand in saving this species by raising awareness for the plight of rhinos. Spreading the truth about rhino horn and encouraging others to see the intrinsic value of this species to their ecosystem, instead of the economic value to our wallets, is the only hope we have.
To learn more about Ol Pejeta Conservancy and support their work, click here. Image source: James Suter/Instagram
This Fearful Puppy Had Never Experienced Kindness … Just One Year Later, Wow! Dogs are a lot like humans. They get a little restless when they’re hungry, they enjoy a nice treat (who doesn’t?) and most importantly, their personality and behavior changes in accordance with their upbringing and surroundings. When pups are lucky enough to have a loving and caring guardian, they grow to be happy, playful, and affectionate dogs. On the other hand, when they have to spend many years in the lonely confines of a shelter, they are more likely to become guarded, timid, and anxious dogs.
When an Imgur user visited the pound looking to adopt a dog, they met a pup by the name of Bosley. Shelter life had clearly taken a toll on Bosley. He would spend his days in a lonely kennel where he would often hide in the corner. Without play time or cuddle sessions, Bosley must have begun to think the world was a cold and cruel place.
Bosley’s body language and vacant stare reveal a timid and fearful soul. He has no idea that there’s a world of kindness right outside of the shelter door…
Adorable Rescued Farm Animals Go For a Joy Run.
Share this video and encourage others to learn more about what they can do to end animal testing. We can all make more happy endings like these possible by speaking up for animals and demanding change!
| A tigress havening a private pool |
Thank Rescuers for Saving Endangered Dolphin Trapped in Shallow Water.
Goal: Thank rescuers for saving a critically endangered Indus river dolphin who was trapped in shallow water.
Local fishermen saw a small Indus river dolphin swim into a tributary where she became stuck in the shallow waters. The water was getting shallower with each passing day and the fishermen kept an eye on the lone dolphin, hoping she would find her way back to the deeper river. Unfortunately she did not, and she was then trapped under the brutally hot sun.
Sadly, only about 1,200 Indus river dolphins are believed to be left on this planet. The small population of this species makes it even more important to help them whenever possible.
Thankfully, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Pakistan was called in. Rescuers jumped into action upon arriving at the scene. The dolphin was carefully captured and transported up the river where she was released. WWF Pakistan has saved 119 Indus river dolphins from situations similar to this. Sign this petition and thank WWF Pakistan for all its hard work in saving the animals and the planet.
| Hope For Paws: Rescuing dogs in the Costa Rican jungles! |
