Quote:
Originally Posted by jimjamuser
I choose not to feed stray dogs or cats because it might help the individual animal but does not help a more refined dog breed or at least a cat that is wanted by humans. I think it is more humane to neuter them. I am guilty of feeding a goose mama with little gooselings, but I never feed them bread, which hurts their digestive tracks - I go with ground corn. I know that I should NOT feed the geese because they become habituated to humans and end up getting hit by cars.......my bad!
|
Corn is almost as bad. Geese eat mostly seeds, plant roots, berries, whole raw fresh grains (grasses) and stems, and insects.
No need to give homeless people money, but sometimes it's a good thing to offer a kindness - simply because you're a human being connecting with another human being. If you bought a case of water, give them a bottle of it. If you bought a box of protein bars, give them a bar. If you bought a 12-pack of Ivory soap, give them a bar. If you bought a box of tampons, offer the young woman a few. When you get free sanitizing wipes from the Freeosk booth, give it to the person out there. Maybe if there's a BOGO on cheap toothbrushes, get them - and give one to one of those people out there.
Up north we had deposits on cans and plastic bottles - some folks - when they're parking downtown for whatever reason, would gather whatever empties they tossed in the back seat, into a plastic bag, and just give the whole bag to a random homeless person sitting in the park. We get rid of our empties, and they have to actually work for their dollar. Win-win for everyone.
There was also a program downtown that many restaurants participated in. Customers could buy credits, that would be given to homeless people in exchange for a bite to eat (a cup of hearty soup and bread, or a small salad) or a cold/hot drink.