This blog is just an attempt to throw out into the universe an idea and see what's sticks. I am not promoting it as I have nothing to gain from it. Just an online journal of my thoughts on taking care of our animal friends.
I found myself stopping on the road a few weeks ago for a deer that was hit. Everyone else kept driving by and I decided to stop traffic and try to help this being. The deer was disoriented and looked like it could not stand. I should have known better than to approach a disoriented and injured wild animal but for me the risk was minimal.
I spoke to the deer as if it could understand me, calmly. I let it know I was there to help and I did not want to harm it. I had people get out of their cars, a lady came out with apples and tried to help me. That deer eventually was able to walk away and disappeared into the back yards.
I think back to this and realized there was no thinking about the danger. I decided someone needed to do it and I had to be me. There was no hesitation. I do not know if the deer made it, it's injuries looked surmountable.
I like that the lady in the house came to help. I like how patient the drivers were waiting for me. I stopped liking it when social media users showed up trying to get a selfies.
That is what neighbors do. We are responsible even when we are not at fault. GNAP doesn't deal in fault. We only deal in the things we CAN do. Change lives. Save Animals. Have compassion more than accolades. Thank you Good Neighbor.
Sunday, October 6, 2019
Friday, July 5, 2019
Good Neighbor Animal Protection - New Brunswick, Canada
We as humans bare a great responsibility to nature and specifically the parts of nature we take into our homes.
We have used animals for our benefit for millennia and our dislike of those who abuse them is warranted.
There are some of us that take great passion in their protection of those we call our pets, our work animals, our service animals. However some of us also find themselves on the negative side of that passion, taking action when not warranted, ruining lives and businesses while holding their torch of animal protector.
We do not carry torches. We are no better than anyone else.
We are expected not to judge the homeless on the street begging for money, addicts, nor are we expected to judge people on any other basis. I have even seen criminals get defended by people saying we have no right to judge. Except when we see the apparent abuse of animals.
It is then we are expected to put everything aside. Leave our work, drive across the country, trespass on land and endanger families and post indiscriminately online the misdeeds of the abuser and mostly only on the basis of one photo taken out of context (and sometimes illegally) and who's only purpose is to feed our ravenous hunger for justice. If anyone dare disagree with us we will destroy that person as well because, well, we have proof, we have pictures. We are just.
However once we have done our good deed we leave. We are not responsible for the damage done, as we are just. We are not responsible for the loss in livelihood, as we are just. We are not responsible for the damage to reputations, as we are just. We are not responsible for the loss of a beloved animal, as we are just.
I suggest we are, responsible. I suggested once that there was a better way only to be ridiculed, denigrated and ultimately left powerless to help the target of the latest witch hunt. Like a swarm of locusts they descend upon a scene and using every contact, resource and social media outlet available to destroy the object of their hatred and disgust.
The Stop Animal Cruelty Facebook group of New Brunswick, Canada, though apparently a good group with good intentions has lost it's way. The moderators will not tolerate anyone saying anything different other than their battle cry to action. They NEED their witchhunt. :(
I say to them, time to take a GNAP.
The GNAP movement is one evolved from the same passion yet yields to common sense and decency. The GNAP movement is not one of inaction. In fact it obligates us to take action. However the actions we take are not ones of destroying another human, or their livelihoods or reputation based on our incomplete understanding of their situation.
I know there are people out there that share my sentiment. The Stop Animal Cruelty in New Brunswick page contains many good people. They need a place to go. The moderators of that site need to be stripped of the power that they possess to influence those with good hearts.
The GNAP movement is one of kindness, not just to animals but to the humans. True there are cruel people in the world. Those folks are the domain of the law. The rest, well they deserve our protection as well.
That dog chained up outside. The apparent sickly horse. That apparent puppy mill. There is always a bigger story.
The GNAP movement is about helping our fellow man and as such keeping the animals they own well. If that chained up dog is a concern, we will, as neighbors bring that family cookies both for them and for the dog. As good neighbors we will chat with them and find out what they need. As concerned citizens we will learn the story and we will help. We will preserve the dignity, the respect of our neighbors.
If that chained up horse is a concern we will talk to the owners, break bread with them and see how we can help.
If a puppy mill is suspected, we will bring it to the attention of the authorities. We can work as a community to ensure the animals there are taken care of with donations of blankets and other acts of kindness that will perhaps change someone's life and the lives of the animals we want to protect.
Not all protection is done with hatred. In fact, only the protection with love is effective, the other starts war, like this one I am declaring on the "old way".
If you see a problem with this manifesto, you are likely part of the problem. We are here together. We have to work with each other and not try to destroy others just to feed our sense of worth and justice. Our egos are secondary to compassion.
I am one person who tried to share this message and was silenced. As good neighbors we are going to build a culture we can be proud of, not one built on indiscriminate destruction of others because of our passions. Please share this. Share this especially on any groups you find are getting out of control with their witch hunts. They have lost their way. With your help I hope to organize a powerful and compassionate group and force the inquisitors to evaporate into a past we are ashamed to speak of. This will take time. Our passions can be all encompassing however our compassion should be all encompassing. This is why taking a GNAP is preferred over lighting a torch. I am asking you for your help. This will be a slow movement. The alternative that destroys lives is not an option here. Let's get that across to them.
We have used animals for our benefit for millennia and our dislike of those who abuse them is warranted.
There are some of us that take great passion in their protection of those we call our pets, our work animals, our service animals. However some of us also find themselves on the negative side of that passion, taking action when not warranted, ruining lives and businesses while holding their torch of animal protector.
We do not carry torches. We are no better than anyone else.
We are expected not to judge the homeless on the street begging for money, addicts, nor are we expected to judge people on any other basis. I have even seen criminals get defended by people saying we have no right to judge. Except when we see the apparent abuse of animals.
It is then we are expected to put everything aside. Leave our work, drive across the country, trespass on land and endanger families and post indiscriminately online the misdeeds of the abuser and mostly only on the basis of one photo taken out of context (and sometimes illegally) and who's only purpose is to feed our ravenous hunger for justice. If anyone dare disagree with us we will destroy that person as well because, well, we have proof, we have pictures. We are just.
However once we have done our good deed we leave. We are not responsible for the damage done, as we are just. We are not responsible for the loss in livelihood, as we are just. We are not responsible for the damage to reputations, as we are just. We are not responsible for the loss of a beloved animal, as we are just.
I suggest we are, responsible. I suggested once that there was a better way only to be ridiculed, denigrated and ultimately left powerless to help the target of the latest witch hunt. Like a swarm of locusts they descend upon a scene and using every contact, resource and social media outlet available to destroy the object of their hatred and disgust.
The Stop Animal Cruelty Facebook group of New Brunswick, Canada, though apparently a good group with good intentions has lost it's way. The moderators will not tolerate anyone saying anything different other than their battle cry to action. They NEED their witchhunt. :(
I say to them, time to take a GNAP.
The GNAP movement is one evolved from the same passion yet yields to common sense and decency. The GNAP movement is not one of inaction. In fact it obligates us to take action. However the actions we take are not ones of destroying another human, or their livelihoods or reputation based on our incomplete understanding of their situation.
I know there are people out there that share my sentiment. The Stop Animal Cruelty in New Brunswick page contains many good people. They need a place to go. The moderators of that site need to be stripped of the power that they possess to influence those with good hearts.
The GNAP movement is one of kindness, not just to animals but to the humans. True there are cruel people in the world. Those folks are the domain of the law. The rest, well they deserve our protection as well.
That dog chained up outside. The apparent sickly horse. That apparent puppy mill. There is always a bigger story.
The GNAP movement is about helping our fellow man and as such keeping the animals they own well. If that chained up dog is a concern, we will, as neighbors bring that family cookies both for them and for the dog. As good neighbors we will chat with them and find out what they need. As concerned citizens we will learn the story and we will help. We will preserve the dignity, the respect of our neighbors.
If that chained up horse is a concern we will talk to the owners, break bread with them and see how we can help.
If a puppy mill is suspected, we will bring it to the attention of the authorities. We can work as a community to ensure the animals there are taken care of with donations of blankets and other acts of kindness that will perhaps change someone's life and the lives of the animals we want to protect.
Not all protection is done with hatred. In fact, only the protection with love is effective, the other starts war, like this one I am declaring on the "old way".
If you see a problem with this manifesto, you are likely part of the problem. We are here together. We have to work with each other and not try to destroy others just to feed our sense of worth and justice. Our egos are secondary to compassion.
I am one person who tried to share this message and was silenced. As good neighbors we are going to build a culture we can be proud of, not one built on indiscriminate destruction of others because of our passions. Please share this. Share this especially on any groups you find are getting out of control with their witch hunts. They have lost their way. With your help I hope to organize a powerful and compassionate group and force the inquisitors to evaporate into a past we are ashamed to speak of. This will take time. Our passions can be all encompassing however our compassion should be all encompassing. This is why taking a GNAP is preferred over lighting a torch. I am asking you for your help. This will be a slow movement. The alternative that destroys lives is not an option here. Let's get that across to them.
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