Friends of The Animals

Love and suffering go hand in hand. Being friends of animals means to love them; loving them will lead to suffering.

Many of us have experienced emotions and feelings that loving animals makes them flourish in our hearts. The responsibility of feeding and taking care of animals requires the capacity of being able to deal with the expense, selection and storage of animal food; as well as shelter and dedication. When the moment of traveling appears, oh my!!!! Who, how and where will be our replacement? Having animals, definitely takes our time, money, effort and love. It sure does deserve it!

We love our 10 cats that hide from our three dogs. The cats came from only two to help with the rats; which now have an eye on the two birds and the two turtles. Two of the three dogs now have seven puppies each.

How do we deal? With joy, patience, suffering and love; just because we know they have a heart, they breath and deserve to live. It kind of got out of control, but the cost is very high to sterilize them. All our animals are rescued in different forms.

The dogs got pregnant by dogs that smelled females and did whatever to get them. It was too late when we noticed that the twins were pregnant. I do not believe in abortion. We never thought those little dogs had the capacity of having seven puppies each.

We are responsible for these puppies and that has made us search for a solution. We have a sister (from the church where we worship our Creator, Savior and Lord.) that is an animal lover. She is Adrienne Galler Lastra; the picture to the side is her. She is President / Executive Director of: Amigos de los Animales (ADLA) which translated means Friends of the Animals. It is an organization in Puerto Rico that rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes abused and abandoned companion and farm animals.

Adrienne orientated us in how to proceed with the puppies and their mothers in order to help them and us. The choices we have requires money. Funds are given for this same purpose, but like many other funds they are misused.

• Friends of the animals means to sterilize them if their next generation cannot be afforded.

• Friends of the animals means to feed them with nutritional needs.

• Friends of the animals means to dedicate time to walk and play with them.

• Friends of the animals means to keep them clean and with appropriate shelter.

• Friends of the animals means to take them for veterinarian check ups.

An animal has life. Animals will respond to the treatment we give them. We are responsible for them. Genesis 1:26 says: "Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

Ruling over animals means responsibility. Perhaps you do not like them, but the case is that they are all over. There are many things we all can do like:

• Adopt one.
• Help a shelter.
• Don't abuse them in any way.
• Offer your talent to help those that care for them.
• Contact the organizations to seek what you can do.

Humans have rights because they have life, animals have rights because they also have life.

Blessings to all!

© Maria Magdalena Ruiz O'Farrill