Dear Friends and Family,

I set up this page not only to raise money for the Washington Humane Society, but also to raise awareness on the issue of homeless animals in shelters.

Many dogs and cats end up in shelters for a common cause: the failure of the owner. Some are lost and cannot find their way home (failure to microchip or tag). They are often the product of unwanted pregnancies (failure to spay/neuter). Sometimes they are surrendered to the shelter due to behavioral issues (failure to train). Other times, life changes and the animal is simply not in the plan. Sometimes they are also adopted for illegitimate reasons. Parents adopt an animal for a young child as a present, or "responsibility experiment". Shoppers impulsively buy an irresistably cute puppy on their way out of the mall without realizing that the tiny thing they are holding in their hand will grow up to be 120 lbs and live for another 15 years. The end result of such failures and urges often lead to euthanasia of a perfectly healthy animal abandoned at the shelter once the novelty wears off and responsibilities kick in.

During the days leading up to the execution, the animal's fate is contingent on the public's mercy. Many people are hesitant to adopt from a shelter due to the belief that shelter animals are behaviorally problematic. According to the Humane Society, only 10% of owned dogs and 18% of owned cats were adopted from an animal shelter. People also are less inclined to adopt an adult or older animal. Black dogs are less likely to get adopted. "Bully breeds" and Rottweilers crowd inner city shelters due to irresponsible dog ownership and unpopularity with adopters. From my experience with shelter animals, when paired with the right owner, they are just as loving and capable of becoming excellent pets as store purchased animals, if their interesting mutt look doesn't already give them an edge (who needs symmetrical ears?). Bully breeds are protective and dedicated to their family, and old dogs are much calmer, sometimes already trained, hence easier to care for.

If you are not interested animals or pet ownership in general, please consider that they too are capable of suffering and their suffering is caused by human actions. They may not know who the president is or ever ponder life beyond death, but they have the capacity to feel pain and grief as any other sentient being. By educating the general public and the young to respect animals that live amongst us is to teach compassion and humanity, which ultimately build the foundation for any acts of kindness.

I visited one of Washington Humane Society's facilities and got in contact with the Director of Annual Giving and Special Events, Peter Larson, who informed me that just $15 can provide two animals with heartworm tests, and $30 can help six newly adopted animals get microchipped before they go to their new homes. Donation goes towards book purchases for Humane Education program, funding for cruelty investigations, and medical expenses of abused and injured animals.

As the owner of two adorable rescue dogs, I wish to see more animals happily placed in loving homes and less dogs dropped off at the shelter. Thank you for supporting the Washington Humane Society.

Yours,

Chia Liu

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated". Mohandas Gandhi