Singing the praises of unsung heroes for animals

In our world of big names, curiously, our true heroes tend to be anonymous.  In this life of illusion and quasi-illusion, the person of solid virtues who can be admired for something more substantial than his[or her] well-knownness often proves to be the unsung hero: the teacher, the nurse, the mother, the honest cop, the hard worker at lonely, underpaid, unglamorous, unpublicized jobs.  --Daniel J Boorstin (1914-2004)

 

“Heroes” are in the eyes of the beholder – or the eyes of the appreciator.  Save a life at the risk of your own and you’re seen as a hero by any observer and the person whose life you saved.  But some “unsung heroes” also save lives and take other actions behind the scenes that only the beneficiaries may know of.

Donate to help imperiled animals in Ukraine knowing they’ll never write you a thank-you note. . .  Vote for an official who’s also an animal welfare advocate and it’s your secret. . . Contact a local agency to report animal abuse and your good deed will go unrecognized even though the mistreatment may stop.

You are an anonymous, unsung hero.  Thank you!

And you chose the path of promoting animal welfare (despite its being hard, lonely, underpaid, unglamourous and unpublicized work) simply because you saw it as the right thing to do.  You couldn’t not do it.  Thank you!

The back of a treasured old tee shirt reads, "Speak for those who cannot say, ‘Please don’t hurt me, I don’t want to die’  Be the voice for animals.”  That tee came from the Animal Protection League of NJ (APLNJ.org) –the only statewide organization taking a hard stand for animals in New Jersey.

APL members have taken that message to heart, as evidenced by their myriad issues, projects and yes, successes.

A while ago, I wrote about two of them: one, a widely acknowledged “cat specialist,” who reaches out to share her expertise and experience with anyone who asks; the second, a member who befriended the geese she was working to save from death.  They remembered her later, lovingly.

Others who are affiliated with APLNJ regularly  

• keep track of and work for passage of legislation that benefits NJ animals, including geese, deer and black bears
• meet with legislators
• form coalitions to strengthen and unify APLNJ’s positions
• research animal issues and write position papers and op-eds  
• talk up APLNJ efforts through “tabling” to distribute materials at public events, publications, billboards and aerial banners
• demonstrate or protest to raise awareness and right wrongs  
• propose positive alternatives to town councils, homeowner associations, park commissions, etc., about practices toward animals that are unconscionable 
• make speeches, write letters to the editor and legislators to build support  
• testify at legislative sessions on APLNJ positions  
• lead by example and inspire the organization’s members

Our too-often unsung heroes for animals all need reinforcements.  There can’t ever be too many aware and caring people working for animal welfare – simply skim media stories for a  frightening idea of how animals, domestic and wild alike, are abused.  

Of course, donating to respected animal advocacy groups is always welcome.  But the power of a group of like-minded people brainstorming ideas, joining up for outreach, directly aiding animals in need . . . such activities can bring about remarkably positive (internal and external) results.

Please visit www.APLNJ.org for ways to contribute – then make a move “for the animals.”

Hoping you'll comment -- how about on unsung heroes in other organizations for animals?  -- at 1moreonce.blogspot.com.