NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS - 2009
(Portions and website references excerpted from The Humane Society of the United States)

Remember, every resolution you make and keep will make a concrete difference in the lives of animals worldwide. There's no better way to keep the spirit of new beginnings alive all year long.

How often do you hear yourself say that you love animals? Here are some suggested resolutions that will allow you to act on your love for animals throughout the New Year.

1. Decrease pet overpopulation


Pet overpopulation is a people problem. People cause the problem of too many animals by not spaying or neutering their pets and by failing to care for their pet for his or her lifetime. Although people cause the problem, people can also solve the problem. Here are some New Year's ideas YOU can resolve to do in order to reduce pet overpopulation. Resolve to pay for the spay or neuter of neighbor's, friend's, and co-worker's companion animals. Low-cost spay-neuter options are available to help make this a reality. Offer to assist with transportation. Educate others about the need and health value of spaying and neutering. Never underestimate the powerful impact your words can make!
The solution to pet overpopulation is very simple: spay or neuter your companion animals and make a commitment to care for them forever. Adoption alone will not solve the problem of pet overpopulation. We must prevent the next generation of puppies and kittens from being born.

2. Teach Peace


Children are impressionable, so make sure you impress upon them the humane treatment of animals. Keep your children away from events that exploit or harm animals. Treat them to an afternoon at an animal-free circus or visit a farm sanctuary where they can get a different view of animals. What's more, lobby your child's teachers and your state legislature to recognize your child's right to choose an alternative to classroom dissection. You can even adopt a classroom by sponsoring a subscription to KIND News™.

3. Bring your pet inside.


Make a resolution that your companion animals will always have safe, comfortable living conditions. Find a way for your pet to stay safely inside your home and be part of your family. Free-roaming cats are at risk of contracting feline leukemia, injuring or being injured by wildlife, and being hit by cars. Dogs who spend their lives chained outdoors suffer because of bad weather and isolated dogs can develop unpredictable behavior or problems like incessant barking. (Contact our Humane Officers concerning the law regarding the chaining of dogs.)

4. Participate in your political process.


Resolve to stay informed. Contact the Humane Society and request information from our Legislative Committee regarding current laws and local ordinances. You know that any democracy calls for vibrant public participation, but you may not realize that the little things you do—such as making one phone call or writing a letter to your lawmakers—can make a big difference when it comes to passing a law that protects animals.

5. Eat well, shop smart


Not everyone chooses to be a full-time vegetarian, but even reducing the amount of meat, eggs, and dairy products you eat will help animals who suffer on factory farms. Given the many humane alternatives now on the market, finding a few favorite substitutes for animal products is easy. When you do choose to eat meat, eggs, and dairy products, The Humane Society of the United States’ guides to egg cartons labels and meat and dairy labels help you to know exactly what is going into your cart and your body. While shopping for dinner, ask your favorite local grocery store to go cage-free, and only sell eggs from hens who are not confined to cruel battery cages.

6. Build a kit, make a plan


Disasters such as wild fires, mudslides, hurricanes or the tsunami in Thailand made it evident that people and pets all need disaster plans before the disaster hits. Build a disaster kit for your whole family, including your pets. Then make a disaster plan, so that if necessary, you can gather your disaster kit, family members, pets, and go. Also, learn about the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act), which requires state and local authorities to address the issue of evacuating people with pets from disaster areas.

7. Dress better by pledging to be Fur Free


Put compassion in your fashion by avoiding the purchase of real fur and fur trim. When shopping, make sure to check the label to be sure that the fur or fur trim on clothing and accessories is synthetic. Animal pelts dyed bright colors, sheared, or woven can look deceptively like fabric or faux fur, and labeling loopholes allow many inexpensive and moderately priced garments with fur to go unlabeled. You can donate any fur or fur trim item you have previously purchased or inherited to The Humane Society of the United States’ Coats for Cubs program. All of the furs received by The HSUS are sent to wildlife rehabilitators, who use the furs to warm and comfort orphaned and injured wildlife.

8. Help Your Wild Neighbors


Instead of trapping mice who invade your home, find out how they're getting in, and seal off the entry. If local deer are browsing your prized shrubs, support humane solutions like deer-resistant plants as alternatives to killing. If you're having problems with local wildlife, try a humane solution to your problem before you call the exterminator. Contact The Humane Society of the United States’ urban wildlife experts to develop humane solution to your wild life pet problem.

9. Lend a hand at your local animal shelter


Volunteering at your local animal shelter is a great way to help animals in the most direct way possible. You'll learn about problems shelters confront every day by seeing them firsthand. But more important, you'll be part of the solution.

10. Banish toxic chemicals for your home and health


Strong herbicides and pesticides may be deadly to wildlife and pets, and commercial fertilizers can migrate into streams and ponds and endanger aquatic life. Go "green" by choosing organic, environmentally responsible products, and minimize the threats to your hard work by gardening with wildlife in mind. The pursuit of a stunning complexion or a more inviting yard might be leading you to use dangerous chemicals. When you shop for cosmetics and household products, find an alternative that isn't tested on animals and you will be making a kind decision for the animals.

Give generously


Please visit our website at www.hssbv.org, call our Executive Director at (909)386-1400x225 or our Fund Development Coordinator at (909) 386-1400x224 to learn about ways you could help the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley make 2009 a better year for all animals.

May your year be filled with joy and positive change.