Before You Ask: An Open Letter ~ Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.

"It is not just that animals make the world more scenic or picturesque. The lives of animals are woven into our very being - closer than our own breathing - and our souls will suffer when they are gone." ~ Gary Kowalski, Author of The Souls of Animals

Before wasting both your time and mine by shooting off an email to us asking why we don't support various causes other than animals, why we seem to "cater" to more cat/dog causes than other animals, (i.e., cows, lambs, goats, lobsters, fish, etc.,) or any of the multitude of other why don't you emails we've received since January 1997, please read the following open letter:

Dear "Why" Visitor,

I don't know about you, buddy, but I don't sleep with cows, lambs, goats, lobsters and fish. I don't have them sitting next to me as I watch television at night. As for wearing animals, you should see me when I'm laying on the sofa or in bed. I'm wearing an awful lot of cat fur. It's still on the cats, though.

As mentioned elsewhere on Pawprints and Purrs, Inc., you have an animal cause? Where might your website be? Oh, you don't have one? Why not? Why don't you have one if you feel so strongly about your cause? Want to jump up on your own soapbox? Climb on your own bandwagon? Then get your own website. (geocities.com, tripod.com, angelfire.com, ivillage.com are all free.) You speak out for your cause, I'll speak out for mine, thank you very much. And on your website, post your email address. Get email from people who wonder why you don't support child abuse prevention, why you have chosen animals over children. Or why you don't take a stand against abortion. Or why you don't take a stand against spousal abuse. Or why don't you take a stand against political prisoners in other countries. Or why don't you take a stand against oppression. Or why you don't take a stand against landmines. Or why you don't take a stand against the millions of other things that are wrong in this world. And maybe then you'll understand why people like me consider email like yours a waste of time and bandwidth.

"Cudgel thy brains no more about it for your dull ass will not mend his pace with beating." Hamlet ~ Act V, Scene I, William Shakespeare

Oh, yeah, and cat poop rules. Have a nice day.

Susie Bachman, President

I pledge to:

check for, and provide reliable sources for the information I display on my website

clearly mark any graphic photos or descriptions that may be upsetting to children or sensitive adults

use graphic photos or descriptions only when it is absolutely necessary to provide crucial information

describe issues and events in a journalistic manner, without excessive emotional commentary and

provide you with a variety of things that you can do to help promote kindness to animals