Pawsitive Progress: Celebrating Justice for the Animal-People, Part 1 of a Multi-Part Series

In Ireland some wonderful developments have taken place to protect cat-, and dog- people from the use of remote-controlled electronic shock collars. The use of these disturbing collars causes harm on multiple levels. Electronic shock collars are already banned in several states and territories in Australia and in Wales, UK, Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Quebec, Canada and other countries. The Kennel Club says the collars are both cruel and ineffective. “It can cause dogs to be much more cowed and to be frightened. What we want is happy dogs that actually want to go and learn to train.”

Under the Pet Abduction Act 2024, anyone who is found guilty of stealing a beloved animal companion in England or Northern Ireland will face up to five years in prison, a fine, or both. There are laws and punishments to prevent pet theft in other areas of the world too. For example, in the state of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, The Crimes Act 1900 outlines that stealing a dog-person is considered an offense.

And in Wagoner County, Oklahoma, USA, animal-people who are rescued from neglect and abuse situations will receive community support through a new initiative called the Badges and Paws Program. This initiative isn’t limited to only cat-people and dog-people, but also includes care for animal-folk who may not be able to receive care from shelters. This includes horse-individuals and cow-folk for example.

Foster carers are recognized for playing a very important role in helping traumatized animal-individuals. “So this is a foal whose mom died just after she was born and we decided to graft her to a new mare. Some of them squeal and aren’t sure, but it only took her about an hour to accept this foal as her own and ever since then it’s been her baby.”