Rhonda Bracey: At Random

Two friends of mine in the US are very involved in animal rescue — one rescues guinea pigs; the other, greyhounds. Animal rescue organisations rely on volunteers such as my friends to take in and hopefully place animals that have been abandoned by their owners. Perhaps the owners can no longer care for them financially or physically, maybe they no longer want them, or maybe they just want to get rid of them because the novelty wore off for precious little Dakota or Heathcliff.

In the US, May 6 through 12 is National Pet Week and also Be Kind to Animals Week.But even if you’re not in the US, you can still participate.

You can help by spreading the message of kindness, compassion, responsibility, and stewardship. Or perhaps you can drop off some supplies at a rescue or shelter, donate money to an animal organisation, or talk on your own blog, MySpace page, or FaceBook profile about the animal causes closest to your heart.

As my friend Whitney says: “Maybe…just maybe…we can start making some changes on this planet we call home.”

(If you’re a quilter reading at this blog, consider using some of your stash, scrap fabrics, spare batting etc. to make small quilts for your local animal shelter, as I did earlier this year. It’s a great way to use up leftover fabric, to practice free motion quilting, and your gift will be appreciated by the humans who care for the animals and the animals themselves.)