In "Open Your Heart with Pets: Mastering Life through Love of Animals" I shared with readers ways that we can open our hearts to pets even when we cannot have a pet in our own home. I've noticed that as our understanding and appreciation for animals increases, a feeling of being overwhelmed, or even a feeling of guilt, can then follow, as we soon realize that we cannot adopt them all, save them all, love them all. Our kindness has a limit.

We are limited by the space in our homes, the patience of our families, our pocketbooks, our health. Perhaps even sometimes there is the temptation to think, though perhaps we are not even conscience of thinking it, that it is easiest and best to "find another hobby" and forget about the animals out there that we could help, in some way. In other words, if we can't adopt them, then is it easier not to think about them at all?

Well, of course, if you want to be hard-hearted! If you want to risk the fall-out that shuttering your heart to one being will have on your relationships with all other beings (yourself and the humans around you, for instance).

Opening our hearts to pets is good for pets, but it's really good for us. It enlarges our capability to love (this isn't even taking into account the documented physical benefits of being around animals). Animals teach us about love, forgiveness, patience, living in the moment, along with interesting things like nutrition, biology, behavior, etc.

In fact, I'm not even sure it is possible for a human to be kind to an animal without getting something back for him- or herself! Animals, on the other hand, are often kind with no selfish thought to a return on their investment. (Though I imagine some might debate that… see my previous article, "Can Pets Choose to Do Good?")

When it's "Be Kind to Animals" week and your house cannot fit one more pet in it, what's an animal-loving person to do? Here are 5 suggestions for being kind to animals when you cannot adopt an animal:

1. Learn More--Spend fifteen minutes going online (I've got some links at the right side of this blog) and learning about current rescue efforts in your area, or nationwide.

2. Drive--In the coming days, I'm going to share with you information on a great nonprofit, Saving Shelter Pets, that works with volunteers to transport adoptable animals from one place to another; saving their lives. There might be a similar organization in your area.

3. Write--Is there pending legislation concerning animals in your city, county or state? Usually local rescue groups will have info on this on their site. You can also very easily go to the Humane Society of the United States webpage and click on your state to see, in an easy format, pending legislation that affects you and your neighbors.

For instance, I learned that in Washington state the following bills have "DIED" or "FAILED."

Pets in Disasters: Requires that state and local emergency preparedness plans address the needs of individuals with household pets or service animals; requires plans to include provisions for evacuation, transport, and temporary sheltering of animals.

Damages for Wrongful Death of a Pet: Allows a person to recover economic damages for the wrongful death of a companion animal, including damages for the "actual value" of the animal, veterinary expenses, burial expenses, and other expenses by the owner in rectifying the injuries of the animal; "actual value" of the animal means the intrinsic value of the animal and is not limited to the market value, but it does not include unusual sentimental value.

Pet Protective Orders: Allows a court to issue orders protecting animals in cases of domestic violence.

You might also want to look at pending legislation and consider writing a letter to your senator or representative in support of animal-friendly legislation. It only takes a half an hour at the most to learn about a bill, locate the address of your representative, and write a letter, sending it by email or snail mail. It doesn't have to be the bill of rights. Complete sentences and a quick spell check should do it.

Legislation not your thing? How about posting on animal related blogs. Bloggers, and other writers, tend to work in isolation, well, at least when they are starting out and not well known. Find those you can support with your comments even criticisms. Feedback matters. It takes a bit of faith to put information and opinions out there (among other motivations). So, read, comment, and return.

4. Give--Sometimes we think that if we don't have $100, or $50, or $20, that we cannot donate to help an animal-related organization. Donations are for corporations and millionaire, right? Pshaw! If I had a nonprofit, I'd of course appreciate a donation of a million dollars, but I'd also appreciate 100,000 donations of ten bucks.

Donations of $5 or $10 are very welcome…all those small amounts can add up to save one whole animal's life. And that's a good thing, right? So, make a decision what nonprofit you want to support. (There are some links on the right of this blog.)

Drink 5 fewer sodas, or lattes, or Big Gulps per week (water's better for us, right?) and put the money in a jar in your kitchen with the name of the organization on it. After a month (no taking from the jar, no matter how much gas costs), take the money to the post office or convenience store, with an envelope addressed to the organization. Get a money order. Get a stamp. Mail the money order. Save the copy of the money order (the part you tear off) for when you do next year's taxes.

Want to spend money on yourself and help nonprofits? The Nonprofit Shopping Mall offers the chance to do just that. See also Ebay's Mission Fish, and "support your favorite causes while trading on Ebay."

Here's a site that gives suggestions to kids and teenagers who want to learn more about responsible giving.

Considering a charity? Check out the Better Business Bureau's National Charity Index.

For local charities, check our us.bbb.org. http://us.bbb.org/WWWRoot/SitePage.aspx?site=113&id=4ef08b14-37cb-4974-a385-7f41f63b16b0

The American Institute of Philanthropy offers some times at charitywatch.org.

5. Volunteer--Your body is needed. It doesn't matter if you weigh 100 lbs or 300 lbs. If you are short or tall, a member of Mensa or a reluctant student in high school. There are no barriers to race, religion or sexual orientation. Animals do not discriminate! You, too, can help transport an animal to its new home; bath an animal waiting adoption; walk a dog waiting for it's forever home; man a table at a fundraiser; donate your artwork to help raise money for a nonprofit (see Saving Shelter Pet's Café Press site). I maintain a Café Press shop. It is easy to set up. If you, or your children, are artistically inclined and computer literate, you can set up a Café Press shop for under $7 per month and sell products and then give a portion to your favorite charity. How's that for a good family project?

Continuing on with "a body is all you need": If your community has a "Mingle with the Mutts" type activity (often in the summer time, on Sundays), go to the next one. Ask how you can help.

Some rescue groups offer raffle items at their events. I recently attended an event with the most beautifully "done up" baskets of pet-related items. They were beautiful and easily encouraged bidding at a silent auction. Perhaps you could collect donated items and create beautiful baskets to be raffled at a nonprofit's next event.

Can you bake? Organize a bake sale. Can you sing? Write a song and post it on YouTube.

Find out what your local animal shelter needs (newspapers, pet food, blankets, baths, etc.) and then help make it happen.

Being kind doesn't have to take a lot of time or cost a lot of money. Being kind starts with "random acts of kindness" and also with deliberate decisions about what we value and what we want to do with the most precious commodity we have, our time.

Be kind today and you will reap the benefits tomorrow.

Keep an Open Heart,
Janice Phelps Williams
May 6, 2008