Created To Serve
Humanity is at an all-time low, people have become selfish and self-centred, and as a result, they have lost the best part of themselves.
We are created to serve others, and in doing so, our own cup is filled to overflowing, we cannot exist in a silo.
Furthermore, we are massively interdependent, each part needing the other, all of which works together in a powerful symphony.
It is not enough to wish people luck or send positive vibes, if we want to make a difference, the only way is to do something that contributes towards the cause.
Something of value, significance and worth, where change happens as a result of your existence, action, focus and commitment.
We Have To Move!
Man has been falling since the Garden of Eden, and sadly, we are sinking ever deeper as greed, lust for power and sin overtakes us.
We cannot rely on anyone else to do the work that is the commission of all of us, not just some of us, we all have a part to play.
We have to make a concerted effort to individually move, in whatever way is best suited to us, based on our resources, skill and experience.
Love and action are doing words, they require us to physically do something.
We are using a tiny fraction of what we have been blessed with and it is my heartfelt intention to move one million towards greatness, both for each other and for the world.
The Man & Woman In The Mirror
Michael Jackson's song Man In The Mirror is a poignant tribute to the individual responsibility we each have to make a change, for once in our lives.
It's gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference, gonna make it right.
I see the kids (and animals) in the street, with not enough to eat, who am I, to be blind pretending not to see their needs?
A summer's disregard, a broken bottle top, and one man's soul, they follow each other on the wind ya know, 'cause they got nowhere to go.
We have to start with the man or woman in the mirror, changing our ways, and no message could've been any clearer, if you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change.
A Willow Deeply Scarred
We are the victims of a selfish kind of love, it's time that we realise that there are some with no home, not a nickel to loan.
We are pretending that they're not alone.
A willow deeply scarred, somebody's broken heart, and a washed out dream.
They follow the pattern of the wind ya see, 'cause they got no place to be, that's why I'm starting with me.
You've got to move, come on, you got to, stand up, yeah, make that change, stand up and lift yourself now, gonna make that change, come on, you know it, change, make that change!
Our Presence Is Needed
As I write, I am thinking about a little kitten we found in very bad condition, a bag of bones and smelling as though close to death.
We took her to the vet and it turned out she had swallowed a chicken bone which was stopping her from eating and drinking and created a serious infection in addition to really bad snuffles.
The name that came to me was Presence because even though the odds were against her, we gave her a fighting chance, spoke life over her and were present to her suffering and needs.
Presence is alive because of our presence and we were able to be of service, because of hers, and our hearts have expanded in the process.
There are so many ways to contribute, your help is priceless, invaluable and of great significance and the difference you can make in whichever area you feel makes best use of your unique ability is exponential and will return to you ten-fold.
Financial Support
Financial support is always the top priority because rescuing animals is expensive, and money always has to be immediately available to account for any eventuality.
Vet bills come unexpectedly in multiples and they mount up quickly, with expenses easily climbing into the tens of thousands of rands, which is hundreds of dollars and pounds, for just one animal.
When you have over 100 animals, there is also the monthly maintenance costs involved with feeding, housing, electric, staff, building, boarding fees for the overflow and routine healthcare costs.
Rescues are always running short of funds, always in the red, always flying by the seat of their pants and this stress is not conducive to a well-oiled machine that needs to be kept in perfect working order.
If you can sponsor a dog's monthly boarding fees or a monthly amount towards their upkeep, or even a one-off contribution, this goes a long way towards easing the financial burden.
Fundraising
If you are unable to financially contribute personally, fundraising via crowd-funding is a powerful force and it's easy to set up.
Crowd funding is when many people come together to contribute towards a cause and it's usually done via a platform such as GoFundMe which is only available in certain countries or BackABuddy for South Africa, but can be done many different ways.
It requires some effort and a powerful post, but with the right heart and intention, the necessary funds can always be raised.
Fundraising campaigns that hit the target rely on exposure, which means that you have to get your campaign in front of the right audience.
The best way I've found to do this is via my personal contacts and then generating additional contacts through finding the target audience for example dog, cat or animal lovers from the huge selection of Facebook groups.
Shares & Prayers
Networking and sharing is the second most important piece of the puzzle that is absolutely critical to getting the necessary exposure.
Sharing pleas, plights and practical content via Facebook, WhatsApp, email and phone calls increases our reach exponentially, resulting in more homes, more supporters and more funding.
This is a quick and easy way to help from the comfort of your home via joining and sharing to both rescue and community groups and contacting whoever you feel may be able to help.
This also contributes towards building our following, raising awareness of the animals in need and sharing the knowledge and wisdom that we have gained through hard won experience.
Prayers are the oil that keeps the wheels turning, creating the necessary momentum and supernatural power with which to achieve our objective, not through our power, but through God's.
Finding A Place In Your Home & Your Heart
Most of the animals I have rescued and support live in my home, onboard Amanda's Ark, but with limits on numbers and how many we are reasonably able to care for, additional space is also needed.
Boarding services are expensive and aren't sustainable as a long-term option, and therefore, alternative accommodation is necessary, particularly during hot summers and cold winters.
In addition, some animals don't cope well in this environment, it depends on their needs and what they've been through and in these cases, foster homes are essential to their well-being.
Ultimately, all animals need to be placed in forever homes and a foster home is the ideal temporary measure until each animal's perfect home is found.
Fostering or offering a forever home to an animal is an opportunity to help a little soul in need at the same time as benefiting from companionship, in a symbiotic relationship of upliftment.
Taking Responsibility
Taking responsibility for a rescue from start to finish is a perfect way to give from your heart, in a way that pays huge dividends.
So many people find a dog on the street, who is either lost or in a vulnerable position, only to then drop it off at the local vet or "rescue shelter", thinking they have done a good deed.
Unfortunately, these are not the safe havens that you would expect them to be and many vets and "rescue shelters" have a process of contacting the SPCA to collect them.
What most people don't realise is that the SPCA euthanise dogs that are not collected and who they believe to be un-homeable or difficult to re-home, and those who show aggression, which is often based on fear, are euthanised immediately.
Safeguarding an animal whilst taking the time to see if they belong to someone by posting in local groups, rescues, shelters and the local vet is much better than putting their life at risk and there are so many ways to make a plan, for those who are willing.
Volunteering Your Time
Volunteering your time is another way to help as the needs are so wide and varied, and it's easy to find a place where your skills fit and make a difference.
You could help with transport when dogs need collecting and delivering & also carrying out home-checks to check the suitability of security, environment and location.
There is also support needed with phone calls to assess potential adopters in order to find the best possible home.
Volunteering your time by walking dogs, stroking cats or just keeping them company, some people take a book and just sit with them, there are so many ways to provide companionship, support and love.
When you give of your love and your time, it's never wasted, and there's nothing more rewarding than contributing to a cause that needs you, where your efforts are rewarded and lives saved.
The Animals Need Us
With so many animals in need, the call is loud and sometimes deafening, and we must turn towards them, and not away.
I would like to think that if I ever found myself in a vulnerable position, that someone would be there for me, and in the same way, we need to be there for others.
Even the smallest action can have a ripple effect, and the key is to do something, and to let that momentum carry us, and in turn, carry those in need.
The greatest way to contribute is by taking inspired action, that which is on your heart, leaning into the cause with courage, faith and a commitment to succeed.
When we are willing, God is willing, and it is this willingness that makes the difference, and together, we can save them all.
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