
22/05/2025
As many of you know, Apalachee High School is only a few miles from us, and we have been part of this community for over 20 years. Tonight the graduating class will share the stage with several therapy dogs, to help end a tragic school year.
Pets help us with coping and grief. They also can save our lives! ***deprevention
In a 2020 research, over 1/3 of adults that were actively suicidal reported their pets as the the reason they haven't acted on their feelings. Especially in elderly and single people. Caring for their pets provide purpose, comfort, mitigated loneliness, and let's not forget, give unconditional love (some do make you work for it though.) Pets don't care if you are rich, poor, overweight, underweight, autistic, disfigured, the color of your skin, they just love you for who you are.
A friend summed it all up after seeing my current foster kitty with her severe injuries, "Pets don't deserve us."
I always try to give each of them back the love and support they provide me. Because the golden rule of "Do Unto Others As You Would Have Done Unto You" should not only be applied to our fellow humans, but also our fellow animal companions.
Want to help? With summer coming up, many parents are looking for something to do with their children. Consider for a program that helps animals stay with their humans, even in hard times.
Locally, we have the Georgia Pet Food Pantry and End The Cycle Georgia that provide pet food pantries to the low income families so they can afford to feed their pets and not surrender them to a shelter. Rescues such as Pup & Cat Co. MACS Friends Animal Rescue Inc and more that pull animals from kill shelters and try to find them homes. They need fosters or even people to drive pets to and from appointments, boarding, foster, etc. same with Ahimsa House, which helps safely remove pets from situations so the doesn't need to leave their pets behind. They need fosters and transporters while the humans get in a safe place.
All of these places or your own local rescues also need funding in these difficult times. Consider setting up a fundraiser. Even something simple as a Lemonade Stand, or as my own granddaughter was doing, making jewelry and selling it online. Have a car wash, clean out some clutter and hold a yard sale, with proceeds going to a local rescue.
Know of an elderly person that may be lonely? Someone severly depressed? See if they would be willing to foster a pet, giving them a purpose, and helping a pet who needs it.
If you or someone you know is struggling and considering su***de, and in immediate danger, please call the Su***de Prevention Hotline: 988 in the US from any phone
Please share this post, it just may save someone's life.