All Creatures Great and Small, Making a Difference for the Innocent Ones

“We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.”  Immanuel Kant

“The love of all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.” 

Charles Darwin

     In my explorations both at home and abroad of what individuals are doing to make the world a better place I always find an abundance of people working with our animal friends, both wild and domestic.  This could be in part because of who I am, an animal lover through and through. One who seeks out those interactions on a daily basis and who will also plan an entire trip devoted to seeing and living with a particular species.  Boating with Gray Whales in Mexico?  I’m there.  Rubbing elbows with a thousand elephants in Africa? I’m your woman.  And in Tucson it’s no different.   Living with a dog, a cat, two snakes, and two horses gives me lots of juicy animal connection on a daily basis.   Residing in the bio-diverse Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona allows me to take in a plethora of wild creatures from exotic migrating humming-birds, rare bats, and ten species of rattlesnakes, as well as bobcats, coyotes, Javelina, jackrabbits, and too many rodent species to count. There is always the hope of seeing mountain lions and bear and ocelots and jaguars are returning to their former range after decades of extirpation. With this bounty of animal life comes a lot of joy.  But there is also great need.   Whenever humans and animals come together the potential for conflict arises in multitudinous ways.  We live in a throw-away society, and when a person decides they can't care for their dog, they take it to the pound.  Sometimes when they decide they can no longer care for their horse they set it loose in the desert to wander.  Wildlife on the urban edge have the unfortunate experiences of being run-over, killed or maimed by domestic animals, shot by home owners, or simply losing out on critical habitat necessary for basic survival.  Misunderstandings are rife and many animals end up sick, dead, or homeless.  
      I have been fortunate to volunteer throughout my life in wildlife rehab, with humane societies, horse related organizations, environmental organizations and have met many people who work tirelessly to make life a little better for the animals that call this region home. I want to focus on one such volunteer here today. She wishes to remain anonymous for several reasons, so I will call her Marie.

     Marie has lived in Tucson for 16 years and is a former professional musician from the east coast.   She has volunteered for fifteen years with a local therapeutic riding organization that utilizes horses to aid children with developmental disabilities and also helps veterans with various issues as they return from war.  She has donated many hours a week at local wildlife rehabilitation center for over seven years caring for large and small mammals and also raptors, and is now in her second year volunteering at an equine rescue organization that takes in horses that have been abandoned, abused, or saved from a horrible fate in the slaughter houses of Mexico.  

     When I asked Marie what her motivation for doing this difficult and sometimes thankless work was, she said, “Trying to help an unsung population. It’s not the usual stuff that people think of like the humane society, etc.  Horses and wildlife get sidelined.” We talked about how there was a lot of awareness around puppies and kitties but less around animals that need a greater level of care and that most people are hardly aware exist.  Caring for a herd of Javelina that is smelly, loud, and often dangerous, just isn’t as heart-warming as a box of puppies. “Sometimes animals are treated like commodities, but they are sentient beings. They care about their own lives.  They have pain, fear, loss, joy, playfulness and they have families.  They are like us.” And this attitude drives Marie to continue the work she does with rehab and rescue.

     I asked her if it was difficult to continue sometimes since there seemed to be a never-ending supply of injured, sick, and abandoned animals. She replied no, but it shouldn't be sugarcoated.  Working with animals who are fragile can be painful. She has experienced the loss of animals under her care.  Volunteering in this way is not all warm and fuzzy. As a volunteer in this capacity she has to be aware of the issues an animal has, be willing to get her hands dirty, and be willing to experience pain and loss.  “Sometimes, I just have to realize there was only so much I could do. I am learning how not to take it home with me and to second guess my decisions, how I could have done something differently.”    Marie told me a story of a hunter who had shot a female Jackrabbit (legally) and then realized she was pregnant.  He cut open her belly to deliver the kits and took them to the rehab center. Marie shared the job of tube-feeding the tiny infants. It is a painstaking task and requires nerves of steel, yet a soft touch.  Marie said, “I’m an impatient person but this experience has been my best teacher.”   

     When we work in a rescue environment we hear terrible stories.  We see animals that have experienced the unthinkable at the hands of our fellow humans.  Sometimes our grief is so large we can hardly see straight.   It is hard to go on. But the animals are there, waiting patiently looking at us with trust, and it seems like the least we can do, to go on, serving.  I ask Marie why she continues with this work in spite of the difficulties,  “When you successfully release an animal back to the wild or rehab an animal, or match a horse to a good adoptive home you can find healing yourself.  Sometimes it feels like ‘soul surgery’.   It can be life-changing and can give you a higher level of appreciation of nature’s miracles.”    Being with animals that are themselves vulnerable allows us to be vulnerable.  “We can learn life lessons with a being that doesn’t judge us or have any baggage.”

     I asked Marie to discuss the qualifications of a good rehabbing or rescue volunteer and the following qualities seemed important to her:

1)   Empathy with beings who have challenges to overcome.

2)    Willingness to learn on the job, beginning by observing, then being mentored by others who know more. 

3)   Being willing to get your hands dirty.  A lot of animal rescue/rehab work is not fuzzy/warm hands on, but a lot poop-scooping, thawing out food, and general “grunt” work, but all absolutely essential.

4)   Look at the big picture.  Your presence may improve a precious being’s quality of life.

Marie’s life and work effectively illustrate the Buddhist idea of Ahimsa:  the belief in the sacredness of all living creatures and urging the avoidance of harm and violence. She lives her entire life from this philosophy and is someone who walks her talk and does her best to make a difference, one day at a time. I am grateful for her contribution.  Marie is one person, providing hope to many animals in Tucson.  Thank you so much!

     If you would like to get involved with animals in need in your area the Humane Society is usually a good resource for rehabs and rescues of all kinds.  And locally in Tucson I am providing links to several non-profits here.    I will be featuring H.E.A.R.T. (Happy Equine Acres Rescue of Tucson) here on another date, and can vouch for them as I volunteer for them regularly and hope to be adopting a horse soon!  This list is only a beginning.  Our world is filled with animals in need, and you can make a difference with your time or your donation.

Namaste,

Felicia

“Because the heart beats under a covering of hair, of fur, feathers, or wings, it is, for that reason, to be of no account?”  

Jean Paul Richter

Organization Links:

http://www.trotarizona.org/

Therapeutic Riding of Tucson, always in need of volunteers and donations.

http://www.heartoftucson.org/

Happy Equine Acres Rescue of Tucson, always in need of volunteers and donations.

http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/urban_rehab_relo.shtml

List of Wildlife Rehabbers in Arizona who might welcome you as a volunteer.