May 4th – May 10th is both “Be Kind to Animals Week” (American Humane Association – 99th Anniversary) and “National Pet Week” (American Veterinary Medical Association). Both of these terms unsettle me, as I would prefer we would consider kindness towards animals and pets a lifetime endeavor, but I do understand the intention and anything that helps to promote love, kindness, and compassion towards all animals – whether they are pets, or animals that live on the streets, or those that live in shelters or in captivity, or those that grace the outside world in the wild, I will champion.

Reflecting on what these special weeks mean, I feel that treating animals with kindness is a mindset that has been put in serious jeopardy as mankind and civilization has expanded. We have brutalized this earth with each new home, shopping center, skyscraper, and everything else you can think of in order to make our lives bigger, better, and more convenient for us. Think what you want, but it has been done at the expense of all the animals – from tiny little bugs to great and giant wild cats – all of whom have had to try their best to adapt to the constantly changing horizon to survive. Some adapt, but many don’t and they may find themselves on the verge of extinction, or worse yet, extinct altogether. But regardless of the circumstances, they have no say in the matter. Perhaps we can casually think that they have no feelings because they are not human, or it that it doesn’t matter in the scheme of things, but in my opinion, if these creatures exist, then they do feel and it does matter.

All animals deserve to be treated with respect and the AHA recommends creating an inviting space in your yard for butterflies, hummingbirds and other creatures if you can. After all, it is their world too and finding a way to coexist with them is the humane thing to do.

Just think about it – we eat massive amounts of animal by-products, not necessarily because we are hungry and need sustenance, but merely because it tastes good. We euthanize animals in shelters because our own irresponsibility has landed them there in the first place and we hunt for sport. Mind you, I am talking in general terms – not all of us are guilty of all or any of the above. But chances are good that we all have room for improvement and maybe there is merit to this week. Perhaps it is a time to reexamine how we live and what each of us can do to expand our circle of what we consider being kind to animals is. I know that I’ve always considered myself someone who was kind to animals, but if I really allow myself to think as deeply as I can about it all, I know I can do better and one of the first steps is to take the pledge with the American Humane Association to join their 99th Anniversary Compassion Movement for Be Kind to Animals Week®. For details, please click here.

As far as National Pet Week, it was created in 1981 by the American Veterinary Medical Association and is dedicated to celebrating the more than 200 million pets that enrich the lives of pet guardians across the country each and every day. The week is meant to honor the many important roles pets have in our lives and to promote responsible pet ownership and I couldn’t agree more.

There is nothing greater than celebrating the love of a beloved pet. Ranging from creepy, crawly reptiles to soft and cuddly kitties, our pets provide us with a lifetime of loyalty, devotion, companionship and so much more. They give us reason to laugh and smile and they mend our hearts when we are feeling lost or broken. They keep us healthier by lowering our blood pressure and stress levels and each and every one of them has a unique personality and special spot in our hearts.

But if you really want to honor Be Kind to Animals and National Pet Week, what a better way than by helping those in need. The pets and animals affected by the recent tornadoes that ripped through parts of the South on Sunday and Monday, April 28 and 29, wreaking havoc on communities in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma desperately need assistance. To find organizations that you can donate to, please click here for information.

Having Kizmet and Harley by my side during my final moments with Mr. Jazz was one of the most profound moments of my life and the true testament of the gift of love and companionship our pets give us.