The Doris Day Animal Foundation

They look up to us. They are our very best friends, even when people have let us down, and bring joy to many lives. They listen to us when we talk, and cheer us up when we are sad, and ask for nothing in return. They deserve our love, attention and respect, at the very least, for all of the love and devotion they give us during their lifetime; they deserve the very best.

In 1998, a special organization was founded by actress Doris Day. The Doris Day Animal Foundation, a non profit organization, is devoted to our special furry friends who can't speak for themselves, and through numerous informative educational programs strives to make this a better world for our animal friends. It is the voice for the creatures who deserve a better life now and in the future, and hope for a better life for the animals, who may not otherwise have a second chance.

The Foundation consists of many programs including Beyond Violence, Comics for Compassion, and Spay Day USA.

The Beyond Violence program informs people such as social workers, judges, prosecutors, advocates for domestic violence victims, and mental health providers, through a series of training workshops and publications, about the connection between people and animal abuse. It is a proven fact that there is a correlation between both types of abuse.

Comics for Compassion is a unique program that utilizes special comic books, with illustrated heroic stories of familiar heroes such as X-Men, standing up for animals in their time of trouble, against cruel violent perpetrators who maliciously attempt to harm them.

Another program which is led by the Foundation is Spay Day USA, a National day of action which is a program that promotes spay/neuter to humanely cut down the disastrous consequences of pet overpopulation. Since 1995, more than one million animals have been spayed or neutered, as a result of the Spay Day USA program.

"Message from the President, Doris Day" from the Winter 2004 issue of the Foundation's member magazine, Animal Guardian:

"We hope that, by learning more specifically about the Doris Day Animal Foundation, you might find ways to use the resources of this organization in your own community. We are proud of the programs we have initiated, and those in which we participate, which are designed for those who want to increase compassion for animals in their own home towns, schools, neighborhoods, and families."

For more information about the Doris Day Animal Foundation, please visit the Foundation’s Web site at: www.ddaf.org

Photo courtesy of Doris Day Animal Foundation.

I would like to thank Vicki Stevens, Director of Programs, for allowing me to write about the Doris Day Animal Foundation.