Tips and Advice
Protecting the Vulnerable
I awoke again today to my next-door neighbor’s two Shetland Sheepdogs barking. They are like wind-up toys—the minute they shoot out of their back door, they dodge around the yard yapping. They do not quiet until they are back inside. The old man often lets the dogs out early or late, and has been cited…
Read MoreThe Link Between Animal Abuse and Violence Against People
By Phil Akow, National Coordinator https://nationallinkcoalition.org/ Over the past 35 years, researchers and professionals in a variety of human services and animal welfare disciplines have established significant correlations between animal abuse, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, elder abuse and other forms of violence. Mistreating animals is no longer seen as an isolated incident…
Read MoreIs a Life-long Commitment On Your Gift List? Gifts of Pets From/To Others
“Hello, I was given a dog for Christmas and cannot get a leash on her. She is ruining my apartment because I can’t get her outside. Can you help me?” This email came through my website (www.sunnyweber.com) two weeks after the holidays. I immediately responded and asked for the woman’s phone number. I knew the…
Read MoreWhat is an Animal Attorney? Part Two
Part Two: Animal Welfare Law In our previous segment, we discussed Animal Rights Law. It is one of two animal law specialties: Animal Welfare and Animal Rights. In this segment we will delve into the Welfare field and look at the differences this type of law practice entails. For this segment we discussed the…
Read MoreTeaching Children to Think Independently & Humanely
How do we as parents, teach our children to respect authority and yet think independently enough to decipher and reject illegal, immoral, or dangerous demands from those more powerful than they are—especially when we are not present to protect them? We want to protect our kids from harm, yet they may face adults or peers…
Read MoreHumane Education Through Storytelling: The Pups & Purrs Children’s Book Series–Part Three
In our final segment, let’s tie up the two previous segments featured in this blog post, their importance, and how books can bring us the tools to reach out to middle grade children as they approach their individual “coming-of-age” challenges. In Part One we learned: “Coming-of-age” books try to address emotional and social challenges that…
Read MoreHumane Education Through Storytelling: How to Use the Pups & Purrs Children’s Series–Part 1
“Coming-of-age” books try to address emotional and social challenges that all children face. Children are buffeted in overwhelming directions during their formative years. There are so many options and expectations from society that often children founder in trying to discern how grow up to be the best they can be. Despite supportive adults, some children…
Read MoreDo Small Lives Matter?
I did not know Daisy long. We met in July, 2018. I had received a call from a bird rescue friend, Heather, pleading for me to check out three parakeets that were in need of help. My friend lived far away and I lived close to where the three birds were. I contacted the owner,…
Read MoreProtect Yourself & Your Dog When You Walk
Encountering Challenging People One cold winter day I was walking on a pedestrian trail in a neighborhood open space. My dogs and I were the only ones in the vicinity until a young boy rode past on a speeding bicycle. As he passed me within inches, he kicked out at one of my three dogs,…
Read MoreWhy I Wrote “City Dog Walking Safety & Etiquette”
Why read a book on a “simple” activity such as dog walking? All you need is a dog, a leash, and a collar right? Theoretically, yes. But to fully engage yourself and your dog in public, there are many factors that will need to be addressed. Some factors will be obvious, such as how to…
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