About the Job: The Work of Emily Matejcek (Interview)

For Emily Matejcek, a volunteer at the Minnesota Valley Humane Society, working with the animals was about giving back to the community. Her passion for animals and kids lead her to the position. "As an 'Animal Ambassador' I would take my 8-year-old son Sam along with our dog Lois and even our ferret Arthur to nursing homes and even schools." At the schools, Emily would give presentations to the students about "how to treat animals and what it takes to own them." In addittion to her regular appearances at these two places, she also worked directly at the MVHS. "I helped out with educational tours at the society. They had summer camps there and girl scout groups came in."

Emily and Sam's efforts seem endless, for they also did funraising events. "We would take Arthur [our ferret] outside Wal-Mart," as a way of drawing in people to their fight. "We raised funds for the Humane Society by doing the Woofer and Hoofer," an annual pet fundraising walk. Although there are many positions available to volunteer for the HS, Emily has 3 traits she feels are necessary to be perfect for the job she was in: "you need to be patient, good with animals, and good with kids." Emily and Sam are just a few among many volunteers, but their support and dedication goes unforgotten.

FIG 1. Sam shows off how friendly and cute his ferret friends are.  Matejcek, Emily. "Arthur the Ferret's Photos - Arthur 2010 | Facebook." Facebook. 7 July 2010. Web. 11 May 2011.

Arthur the Ferret even has his own Facebook!
Arthur's Facebook

Seal Slaughtering

Although the Humane Society International deals with a great realm of problems around the globe, on of the hottest topic on their list is the commercial seal hunt happening close to home. "Canada's commercial seal hunt is the largest slaughter of marine mammals on Earth," a HSI representative explains. Browing their website, pictures and videos gives the viewers a better understanding of just how brutal it is. "Canada's seal slaughter is a barbaric annual event where men armed with rifles and clubs descend on the ice to kill seal pups for their fur," she describes.

However, with the amount donated each year, the Humane Society International is able to dedicate much of its time and money on helping the seals. "Your donations help us document the seal slaughter so that we can effectively campaign throught southeast Asia for bans on trade in seal products, defend the European Union seal product trade ban from Canada's aggressive World Trade Organization challenge, promote a federal sealing industry buyout in which the Canadian government would compensate the sealers for lost income when the slaughter ends and promote employment alternatives & expand the boycott of Canadian seafood throughout the U.S. and Europe, giving the fishing industry in Canada a clear economic incentive to stop killing baby seals."

FIG 2. A seal laying in the snow.  "Protect Seals : Humane Society International." Humane Society International : Humane Society International. 16 Apr. 2011. Web. 11 May 2011.

Describing the Organization

The Humane Society International works on issues all the way from lands in nine different countries to the deep seas of the oceans. This society supports other important international programs world-wide with offices located in six different countries. It is one of the only organizations that works internationally to protect all animals: pets, marine life, farm animals, and wild life. They have accomplished many of their goals which include: adopting a tough new legislation for the protection of animals in labs, helped increase the farm animal visibility in India and Brazil, a shark protection bill and much more. They also work with local animal organizations all over the world to provide direct hands on care to animals. Soon we hope that they reach all of their goals in helping save the animals

FIG 3. The map where the Humane Society is fighting, specifically for seals.  Aldworth, Rebecca. "Humane Society International - Save Seals! | Facebook." Facebook. Web. 11 May 2011.

Like them on Facebook at 

http://www.facebook.com/hsiglobal

Issues the Organization Confronts

The International Humane Society of the United States is working to protect all animals. They work with animals at home, the wildlife, farm animals, and even the marine life. There are so many issues that they wish to accomplish, but they can only do one at a time. They are confronting cruelty such as bullfighting, dog meat trade, horse slaughter, and fur. They are trying to stop the puppy mills that give puppies endless and needless misery. They discourage buying wild which includes: drive fisheries, habitat protection, polar bear trade, shark finning, tiger trade, marine mammals in captivity, and even wildlife trade. They are trying to protect the seals from being captivated. And a huge project they are working on is the end to animal testing. Although it advances the sciences, the chemicals, pesticides, and lethal dose animal testing is cruel and unnecessary. They wish to protect the street animals as well as farm animals that includes: force-fed animals, humane eating, factory farming and flu, farm animal transport and slaughter, and the intensive confinement of farm animals. And finally, they wish to stop wildlife abuse. The Humane Society International confronts these cruelties through major campaigns targeting the inhumane treatment of animals.

FIG 4. Puppies in their cage at the Humane Society, waiting for a home.  Michelle. "“I Rescued a Human Today” « “An Eclectic Array of Topics”." “An Eclectic Array of Topics”. 4 Dec. 2008. Web. 11 May 2011.

To help these animals please visit:
The Humane Society online