If you read this column, you may be familiar with the excellent nonprofit Darwin Animal Doctors (DAD), the first to bring much-needed veterinary care to the dogs and cats of the Galapagos Islands; the group’s founder, Tod Emko; and his magnificent mutt, a vivacious vegetarian dog namedPiggy.
Tod is a fine example of the profound compassion that charismatic Scorpio natives have for all creatures not only their own beloved, pampered pets. (Read more about what Scorpios are like as dog lovers here.)
Why? Because, besides being an awesome dog dad to Piggy andhis three adopted cats (plus godfather to my beloved Border Collie,Sheba), Tod never stops thinking of ways to helplessfortunate dogs, or any dog in need.
Tomorrow (Sunday, Oct. 30), Tod is leading a group of DAD volunteersatNew York City’s Zuccotti Park, site of the Occupy Wall Street protest.
The mission? To hold a veterinary campaign, bringing creature comforts to the protesters’ faithful dogs, who have been loyally camped outdoorsall this time, alongside their intrepid humans.
DAD will provide two vet techs for animal consultations, and DAD volunteers will hand out basic necessities to help OWS K9s cope with their outdoor environment: flea/tick treatments, dog food, pamphlets on the city’s low-cost vet care resources, and itemssuch asdog beds to keep pets warm and comfortable in the park.
But supplies are limited, and DAD needs help. Sothe groupis calling all dog lovers in the New York City area, asking themto please consider bringing donations of the following to the park:
– Dog food
– Cat food
– Frontline (or any type of flea/tick treatment)
– Heartgard
– Dog-sized blankets
– Dog and cat toys
– Dog beds
– Large Tupperware containers (to keep pet food sealed and protected from rodents and insects)
“Occupy Wall Street is very controversial, and people count the protesters either as heroes or a nuisance.But regardless of how we feel about the human protesters, the dogs and cats of Occupy Wall Street are innocent in all respects, and nothing should stop them from getting the proper care, food, and medicaltreatments they need while they live outdoors in a publicly shared space for so many weeks.”
Fleas area persistent hazard in any urban park, Tod emphasizes. “After living in the park and being exposed to the elements, the companion animals of Occupy Wall Street need to have proper flea and tick and parasite treatments. We need to make sure that the animals’health is not suffering from the intensity of living in those conditions.Serving their health needs simply makes sense, for everyone’s safety.”
AsTod concludes, “Some of these animals and their human companions are homeless. A veterinary campaign to serve these loyal companion animals is long overdue.” (And, we might add, very much in the spirit of Occupy Wall Street.)
If you’re interested in bringing donations for the OWS dogs,please proceedto the south side of Zuccotti Park, near theMedical Tent, at 11 a.m. “We may move if it gets too crowded, but that’s as a good aplace as any to meet,” Tod says. “It’s getting cold outside please help these brave companions stay fed, healthy, and warm!”
Dogsters, please share your thoughts on Occupy Wall Street and dogs’ participation in this historic event in the comments.
