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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Ashland kindergartners on track with letters, sounds ... Phone scam triggers bank robbery alarm ... Exit 24's northbound on-ramp will open Wednesday night ... Ashland kindergartners on track with letters, sounds ... Phone scam triggers bank robbery alarm ... Exit 24's northbound on-ramp will open Wednesday night ... ESSAY CONTEST ENTRY Essay Contest Entry: Dedicate yourself to animal welfare Comment By Lisa A. Frost DailyTidings.com By Lisa A. Frost Posted Feb. 10, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Lisa A. Frost Posted Feb. 10, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Dear Mayor Stromberg: I am rising to the task of writing an essay on the topic: "A Concrete Example of How I Can Make the World Better in 2016." Given that written communication still remains powerful in this age, I believe that persuasive writing to reach audiences concerning worthy causes regarding animal welfare will be my most important endeavor for 2016. The question is, what are the most worthy causes regarding animal welfare of 2016? Surely, the Equamore Foundation is truly one of the most successful horse sanctuaries in Oregon. I have first-hand experienced Equamore when I boarded my horse there several years ago and met Linda Davis and her collaborators. I strongly support donations to the Equamore Foundation. Now, with a ranch of my own, I have several rescue dogs that were originally fostered from various shelters in Jackson and Siskiyou counties. Dogs have become my passion, notwithstanding my enduring devotion to equines and others. Adopting a dog from a shelter rather than buying from a breeder will assist our nation in reducing the current canine euthanasia rate of approximately 3 million per year. When one buys a dog from a breeder, one dog will die at a shelter, or worse, slowly die in a no-kill shelter environment. This is a mathematical fact. There is a substantial decrease, however, in euthanasia rate in the U.S. (down from 15 million in 1970) largely due to spay/neuter campaigns targeted to underserved communities, improved coordination among animal welfare organizations and changing attitudes toward pets as family members. Still, over 50 percent of dogs nationwide entering shelters are euthanized simply because there are not enough adoptive guardians. I use the term guardians rather than owners to describe the movement toward responsibility toward sentient beings rather than merely caretakers of property. (Dogs can think and feel and have emotion. They feel pain.) And so, my goal for 2016 is to continue to spread the word, through newspapers, the Internet and other publications, that dogs are thinking, feeling beings who have been domesticated by man to serve us for a variety of purposes, most notably to be loyal companions. I would advise reading, if nothing else, "Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson to understand dog psychology — a very easy read. Dogs are simple and learn by association. No room for cognitive psychology here. Dogs are not human. That is why they are so special. Concrete examples of "what to do" to help: volunteer at your local shelter or humane society by walking a dog, fostering a dog or even just taking a dog out for an hour off the shelter property. Donate enrichment toys and bones as allowed, and please, adopt rather than buy to save a life. Spay and neuter your pet. Love your dog. Give him/her time, love and consistency. Lastly, support organizations like the Humane Society International, Animals Asia Foundation, Soi Dog Foundation and Change for Animals Foundation who are reaching out to stop the horrendous dog meat trade in other countries, notably South Korea and China. There is nothing culturally acceptable about torturing dogs and eating them. This is analogous to condoning dog fighting because it used to be culturally acceptable. Dogs were domesticated to be companions. The argument that such countries are sanctioned to behave as such since we do the same to livestock flies in the face of ridicule. We should not be doing the same to any animal, and even the staunchest of meat eaters do not condone factory farming. Nonetheless, it is impossible to humanely farm domesticated dogs for meat. This likens to U.S. puppy mills, only worse. And the cruel practice of torturing prior to slaughtering to "tenderize" dog meat (to increase one's libido after eating this meat) is false and abhorrent. To make change, boycott the upcoming 2018 winter Olympics scheduled in Seoul, Korea unless dog meat is taken off the menu forever. Sign petitions. Tell others. Together we can make change. Please open your hearts and minds. Man created dogs. It is man's responsibility to care for and cherish this sentient creation and not exploit this resource. Lisa A. Frost lives in Ashland. By Lisa A. Frost DailyTidings.com By Lisa A. Frost Posted Feb. 10, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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