It’s been awhile since I’ve written, but I’ve been busy working on some paw-awesome🐾🐾 new things.
As you may know, animal advocacy is near and dear to my heart. With years of experience volunteering at an animal shelter in Costa Rica, I performed various roles in the organization from a shelter shift volunteer, to social media, to grant writing, to community outreach, and also leadership roles.
Of all of these roles, the one that continues to touch my heart the most is community outreach🫶🏾. Because, to me, the most important goal is to prevent the need for a shelter at all.
Can you imagine a world where all cats and dogs are living in loving homes free of pain and suffering? All things are possible when guided by love!
Community outreach can be in many forms – from offering affordable spay and neuter clinics to assistance with affordable veterinary care to animal welfare education. I am focusing on the latter in this blog post.
I’ve created some educational materials from my personal experiences and research. I am not a veterinarian nor an expert in animal behavior, but I am an animal guardian (aka “owner” or “caretaker”) who loves animals and believe all beings should be treated with respect, dignity, and compassion. I do also understand that everyone has their own views on pet care. But, I think we can all agree that our cherished family pets should be given the love and care they need to live lives free of neglect and suffering. Please read my first publication “Pets are family too!”
You can tell a lot about a community by how it treats its animals.
And, I truly believe that all humans have the innate nature of love and goodness. Unfortunately, the product of human actions are not always love and goodness. Often these negative actions are not caused by ill will but instead guided by lack of education or misinformation. You can tell a lot about a community by how it treats its animals.
I plan to help inform and educate in the hopes of easing the pain and suffering of animals and those that care for them. I am creating educational materials in both English and Spanish versions and offering to rescue groups in the area, and also on this site. Please stay tuned for more!
I recently started volunteering again at a local animal rescue and shelter El Refugio Costa Ballena in Uvita de Osa, Costa Rica. This organization helps abandoned, homeless, and injured dogs and cats in the Costa Ballena region of southern Costa Rica. My specific volunteer duties are at the animal shelter for a 3 hour shift helping with the care of the cats and dogs.
After my first volunteer shift, I had wobbly, tired legs (from walking and running dogs), dirty, sweaty clothes (and probably smelly too) from cleaning the dog kennels and playing with the animals, and a heart so full and an energy level so happy I thought I was going to burst! But, I thought to myself, “let’s see how the next shift goes,” as I attributed this happy state to my return to animal shelter work. After my next volunteer shift at the shelter, I again left with wobbly, tired legs, and probably even dirtier, sweatier, and smellier clothes (puppy dogs poop a lot! lol), but my heart felt even happier.
As a reflective and curious person, it gave me pause as to why I was having this enormous feeling of happy. Was it being around the animals again? Being part of a team that focuses on animal care? Or was it getting my 10,000 steps in before lunchtime (lol). Volunteering can make you healthier!
For some, being around cats and dogs that have been abandoned, neglected, abused, or never had a home to call their own, can be depressing and almost unbearable to think about. But, on the other hand, having the opportunity to help animals that are now rescued, safe, and no longer abused or neglected, is a reflection of hope and human goodness in a world where there is so much suffering.
Stepping into the animal shelter, I could feel the oneness, the forgiveness, and the unconditional love from the animals – their true nature. It reminds me of my own, and all human beings’, true nature and our ability to BE this oneness and unconditional love. Just seeing the change in an animal from one week to another proves love’s effects. Where a dog had been abandoned by it’s family and ill from lack of medical care and wouldn’t even allow being touched by the shelter staff because of fear and pain, to one week later the same dog falls gently asleep by your side as you pet her. A true testament of an animal’s true nature of unconditional love from the gift of human kindness.
Of course, it’s not all sloppy puppy kisses and kitty cat cuddles in animal rescue . It doesn’t take much social media scrolling these days to see the latest headline where animals are on the receiving end of a human’s pain, of a human’s ignorance and suffering. You can tell alot about a human’s heart and a community by how they treat their animals. But there are many MORE good humans out there dedicating their lives to making the world better for animals and humans alike. And yes, there are many instances (more often than not) when animals come to an animal shelter or rescue group where they need time, medical care, and patience to heal from their injuries. But, amazingly, with the right care and attention, it doesn’t take long for the animals to heal (inside and out).
Now this isn’t a plea for you to volunteer at an animal shelter or other volunteer organization, just a sharing of my recent personal experience. It’s not even a plea for you to choose to adopt a shelter or rescued animal rather than purchase one from a breeder, although I hope you do consider the former. But, if you do consider volunteering your time and talents to a local cause that touches your heart or choose to adopt rather than buy your next four-legged family member, you will have given the world a lot more happy to share. And when we as a society start focusing more on our oneness with each other, rather than our separateness (what makes us different) we will lessen the suffering in the world for all beings. Using our voices, our actions – together, we are stronger!
Breathing in and out I feel the relief of my heart as it anchors to the shore of steady
My ego flows off of me along with my grief A drip, then a river’s story
A lightness comes awakens within saves me from the ego’s pull before it begins again
As I stand before you in strength and light let the ego weep -ego weeps by Alexis Cress
When we are in the present moment and let the thoughts of yesterday and tomorrow behind, we feel the light and strength within. This is where our lives truly shine. Don’t let ego’s stories take away your peace. Let your ego rest so you can fully feel peace and calm.
It happened two years ago. The jungle night was quiet (I live in a small area of the rainforest in Central America), except for a few toads singing under the moonlight. We were all in a deep sleep (canines and feline too) in preparation for the year anew. Then – noises louder than I had ever encountered! BAM! BAM! BAM! I was shaken out of bed. Lights filled the house, I thought I would soon be dead. Where was I, I couldn’t remember. What was happening, I couldn’t decide. An asthma attack came, I couldn’t breathe. My throat filled up, my hands were shaking, my heart was pounding, I couldn’t move. Was it gunfire, this sounded louder, lights – so blinding. The sounds of sizzling and crackling outside our bedroom window and roof. In the flashes of lights I could see our new puppy darting from one side of the room to the other trying to find safety, trying to jump out the window. Our older dog panting, heart beating, and hiding in the closet. Our cat flying under the bed, crying. How to make it all stop!!!
My husband’s words finally calmed me, as they always do. Then we realized it was fireworks from the neighbor’s above. Why did they have to shoot them right above our house? Why did they not warn us? All questions I came to ask the next day, and every year since.
We learned a lot that night, and we will never be the same this time of year. I learned that my PTSD (which I have experienced off and on throughout the years), comes when “shocked” and triggered by loud, sudden sounds. I am not alone. I learned that dogs too have PTSD, and can be negatively impacted forever from just one occurrence of fireworks.
The debate goes on. It seems like every year in our mountain community there is a debate about fireworks, the pros/the cons (always more cons), but the fireworks continue on. Why in this era of knowledge, where information is literally at our fingertips, do we still choose to do things that cause pain and suffering to other living beings. For example, a dog, whose hearing is 4 to 7 times stronger than a human’s can actually go deaf from fireworks – the sound literally is deafening! This is the same for wildlife, which we have a lot of in our area of the world. And, did you know 50% of dogs are afraid of fireworks? Cats, similar to dogs, can also suffer the consequences of fireworks,with episodes of hyperventilation (they breathe with difficulty), tachycardia (the heartbeat is accelerated), muscle tremors and in some cases even drooling, or hypersalivation. Also, no wildlife is immune from fireworks and the devastating consequences. Birds leave their nests from the sudden booms and lights, some never return back to their young. Other birds ingest the poisonous chemicals in the air and on the ground. A conscious choice to light up the sky for viewing pleasure leads to pain, suffering, even death.
Not an animal lover or lover of the environment? The effects of fireworks aren’t discriminatory, in fact, they also affect humans. Not only do they adversely impact the air we breathe, but also the sudden noises, the sudden flashes cause those suffering from PTSD to be living their nightmares all over again. And, people with auditory/sensory processing disorders and mental health problems are also impacted. Many people enjoy the fireworks and don’t know the impact caused by them (I was once like this). Others may possibly know but don’t care or are indifferent. But, please understand that there is probably someone you love or living near you that is adversely impacted by fireworks.
What can be done? There are so many steps that can be taken to alleviate the pain, suffering, and death caused by fireworks. Besides the obvious, don’t use them, there are “silent” fireworks for those that are impacted by the sounds. Or, choose to not shoot the fireworks off yourself but go somewhere else, a public venue that is having fireworks. Many parts of the world do just this because fireworks are often illegal for individual use in many areas of the world. Other countries or towns are banning them altogether. Yes, fireworks have been (and will continue to be) a part of tradition, a part of culture. But, cultures are never static. They are always evolving and changing due to technological advancements, education, changing social norms, and migration. Other suggestions are to talk to your neighbors about having a firework-free neighborhood, especially if you live in close proximity to your neighbors or live in an area surrounded by nature. But, if you must have them in your neighborhood, please let your neighbors know the exact place, exact time, and the type of fireworks, so they can prepare for the event. With this information, they can secure themselves, their family pets, and their farm animals. This strategy doesn’t work well for the wildlife or the environment, but it does help protect, prevent, and save many lives. Doesn’t that sound like a good thing?
This year, please say NO to fireworks and YES to Protecting those around you, Saving those who cannot defend for themselves, and Preventing environmental hazards. Thank you!
Recently on a morning walk with my two dogs, I heard a dog crying. Both of my dogs pulled me to the direction of the sound. Sadly, what we saw was a beautiful german shepherd dog tied up on a short lead, tied to a dog house, far away from his home. We used to see this dog when it was a puppy, doing what puppies do, curious and adorable. But, today, all we saw was a dog, with defeat in his eyes, staring at his human’s home, and crying. His chain was so tight that you could see him trying to pull free towards his home. Did he have fresh water, food recently, enough room to relieve himself? I just don’t know. And, I don’t know the circumstances of this specific situation, so I pass no judgment on it, but I do know what I saw and what I heard. It literally shattered my heart that morning. Maybe it was because my dog is also a german shepherd. And he is one of the most sensitive, loyal, protective, and loving dogs. I couldn’t bare to even imagine him tied to a short chain away from my home. His is part of my family.
I remember when I started volunteering at a local animal rescue. A few volunteers told me I would lose faith in humans when I saw how awful humans treat cats and dogs. I didn’t believe it then. And, I do still have faith in humans, but some days are harder than others. When I see dog rescue cases where dogs are left chained on a short leash, away from humans, solely for the purpose of protection of “material things.” Or I hear the cries of a dog left alone, tied up, away from humans, away from love, I ask myself, what “material possessions” are more important than the kindness towards another living being? What material things give a human the right to treat another living being with cruelty, with disrespect? Does this person know that a dog tied up is actually defenseless towards predators? Does this person know that a dog tied up on a chain cannot protect “material things” or “family” from another human being? Does this person know that a dog tied up can become distrustful towards humans, and lose its spirit.
What is the reason for inhumane treatment of dogs and cats? Is it lack of education, lack of kindness in one’s heart, or is it a person’s desire for power over a helpless animal? I’ve heard some excuse this awful behavior by saying “it is part of the culture”. But cultures change and evolve when facts and information teach us better, smarter, safer ways of doing things, to improve society, to improve ourselves. When someone gives the reason of abuse and neglect as “it is part of the culture”, I encourage you to question, to push back, and have the courage to speak up when you know this action or behavior is wrong – morally, legally, or ethically.
Alternatives to tethering dogs. “There are plenty of alternatives to dog chains.” There are so many inexpensive and creative alternatives to tethering dogs.Break the chains of abuse and neglect today!
There are also laws that protect companion animals in most countries, but sometimes they are hard to enforce. Let’s encourage our leaders in our schools, in our churches, in our communities, to fight for the helpless, to fight for the defenseless. Because when we stop fighting for those that truly need our voice, need our help, I do think this is when the human race has lost its spiritual purpose and lost its way. This will be the time I truly do lose faith in humanity. I pray that time never comes. Break the chains of abuse and neglect today!
I am blessed to live in the beautiful rainforest of Costa Rica. Rain here is so much more than a passing weather story, but often the main story of the day (average rainfall per year is over 250 inches!) We see the daily product of the rain in our landscape’s unbelievably vivid greens and also the devastation of the rain in its extremes at certain times of the year with landslides and flooding.
But, if you are lucky enough you will experience the “whispers” of the rain. The gentleness in her sounds – singing you to sleep, the coolness in her drops – waking you from grief, and the strength in her flow – taking away from you what you no longer need. Rain connects us directly to nature, her healing powers, and awakens the power we already have within us.
Heaven’s Way
Heaven is
where acts of giving
are without
search of praise
Where hands hold together tighter
in the storm and haze
Where the answer isn’t
ego’s self-reflection before action
but the strength of mountains
moving the ocean’s waves
-of inaction
-of discontent
-of selfish ways
Heaven is
love in its most
unconditional way
Will you live
today
heaven’s way?
-Alexis Cress
May your every day be filled with waves of unconditional love.
You’re not alone
even when the night is dark
there are angels nearby
guarding around
You may feel afraid, hungry, and hopeless too
but know an angel is watching over you
Be certain that she sees you there
your life is a gift of love and light
don’t despair
When I saw you there
my tears poured down
I felt your pain, your fear
of being alone
Were you abandoned
or did you lose your way
It’s still hard to believe the world
would turn away
We are learning and trying
to be better each day
Our true hearts are shown
in how we choose to live today
As you rest your head
upon the rocky ground
know that you are loved
You are never alone.
-Alexis Cress
We are never alone. When I started writing this poem, I was reflecting on the abandonment and neglect of animals. But, when I came back to the poem, I was thinking of those in our society who are forgotten, ignored, broken. How we choose to live today is not only important to our own physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing, but it also affects all beings around us. We are so powerful and we are so loved. We are never alone.
The Dangers of Dog Chaining. 
Alexis Cress Yoga and Rainbow's Light 