Apathy and Cruelty: The Sad Reality For Many Of Guams Animals

The legendary author Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club, Choke) has a great piece about apathy. He writes "You can kill a lifetime without feeling anything but skin". Here on Guam those words are twice as deadly for we actually kill two lifetimes...our own and that of our four legged companion animals who, are dying agonizing deaths due to the publics unwillingness to take a more provocative stand against cruelty and apathy.

Photographer John McDaniel has captured the devastating proof of our islands sickening level of apathy toward animals.

Guam Animals In Need from John McDaniel on Vimeo.

Guams Animals Deserve Better

"When we acknowledge that all of life is sacred and that each act is an act of choice and therefore sacred, then life is a sacred dance lived consciously each moment. When we live at this level, we participate in the creation of a better world." ~Scout Cloud Lee

The situation with abandoned and neglected animals on our island has never been more dire. In the past 6 years the number of pets brought to our struggling shelter has practically doubled. The agonizing toll on the lives of Guams precious pets is matched only by the tragic human face of the tragedy. Here are some sobering numbers detailing what GAIN volunteers have been forced to cope with.

In 2003 2,991 animals were brought to our shelter. Of those a mere 553 were adopted the rest...that is 2,438 had to be euthanized.

In 2008 5,105 animals were brought to our shelter. 834 were adopted and the other 4,271 had to be put down.

Guam is not alone. The Humane Society on the mainland has its own set of shocking and devastating statistics when it comes to unwanted animals.

•Of the 1,000 shelters that replied to the National Council's survey, 4.3 million animals were handled.

•In 1997, roughly 64 percent of the total number of animals that entered shelters were euthanized -- approximately 2.7 million animals in just these 1,000 shelters. These animals may have been euthanized due to overcrowding, but may also have been sick, aggressive, injured or suffering from something else.

•56 percent of dogs and 71 percent of cats that enter animal shelters are euthanized. More cats are euthanized than dogs because they are more likely to enter a shelter without any owner identification.

•Only 15 percent of dogs and 2 percent of cats that enter animal shelters are reunited with their owners.

•25 percent of dogs and 24 percent of cats that enter animal shelters are adopted.

Come on Guam you CAN do better than THIS! Nothing will ever change until every resident of our beautiful island makes a change. The first thing we MUST CHANGE is the apathy. HELP us by making sure your pets are spayed and neutered. HELP us by making a modest donation to our shelter so that we can try to find even more homes for the animals we do get. We need your help Guam.

Hachiko

In May 1994, Japan’s Culture Broadcasting Network played a recording of Hachiko barking which had been made from a broken record repaired with laser surgery. Millions of people tuned in to listen to Hachiko barking, 59 years after his death. Each April, tens of thousands visit the dog’s statue at the Shibuya train station, during a festival in which food offerings are left at the base of the dog’s statue, in hopes that his loyal spirit will visit all humans.

Hachiko is a symbol of loyalty in Japan. He is a dog.

Hidesaburo Ueno was a professor of Agriculture at the University of Tokyo in 1924. Hachiko was his akita and would meet his master every day after work at the Shibuya train station.

Mr. Ueno died at work one day in 1925, but his dog kept a loyal vigil returning to the Shibuya station every day at the appointed hour to wait for his master.

In 1932 one of Ueno's former students published an article about Hachiko's stunning faith in the return of his master and that article became a sensation.

Hachiko's singular devotion to his mission & faithfulness to his master's memory impressed the people of Japan and became a symbol of family loyalty that all should strive to achieve. Teachers and parents used Hachikō's vigil as an example for children to follow.

To this day Hachiko is a symbol of loyalty to the people of Japan. He died in 1935 and his remains have been preserved at The National Science Museum in Tokyo.

Hachiko's story was told on the big screen in a movie starring Richard Gere, who said it brought him to tears. Hachiko's astonishing tale has been told on film before in a brilliant Japanese movie called Hachiko Monogatari that came out in 1987

2011 GAIN Calendars

GAIN's 2011 calendars are now on sale.

You can purchase a calendar at one of our kind local sponsors: Marianas Vet Care, Isla Veterinary Clinic, Harper Veterinary Hospital, Animal Medical Clinic, Feathers n Fins or Opus One. Calendars also available at Yigo Animal Shelter.

If you purchase a calendar in person through one of our partners listed above they are $5.

The calendars are 10$ if you wish to purchase one on line with GAINS official PayPal, or through the mail with a check (made payable to GAIN) / PO Box 22365 / GMF GU 96921. This is to cover shipping and handling charges. The proceeds from our calendar sales will be used for our 2nd Chance Boonie Rescue Program.

Santa Paws For A Great Cause

Stop by Guam Home Center, Dededo on December 18th - 9 am - 4 pm to get your pet's picture with our musical Santa Claus. Pictures will be emailed to you. The cost is$5 per pet. All proceeds will be used for our Spay and Neuter Program for 2011



Our Traveling Santa will be at Jeff's Pirates Cove on December 19th 10 am - 6 pm to celebrate Christmas. GAIN calendars and other items will be on sale. Stop by to say "hi" to Macon and support our legislation on animal cruelty.