Dog rescue is of great importance to me. A new perspective on life following a bad car accident 2 years ago inspired me to do more for my community. I began to rescue puppies from kill shelters and let them live at my house until I find them a home. I've rescued 24 so far, and there's nothing like the feeling of finding a happy and healthy home for them. The "Puppies aren't Products" website sheds light on the truth behind the pet store window. Millions of people are unknowingly supporting inhumane, squalid puppy mills by purchasing them from pet stores and online. 11,000 animals are euthanized daily while puppy mills are maximizing their profits by churning out as many litters as possible. Please go to this website to find out how you can help these animals, and help to end this horrible practice.

I am an entrepreneur. I have a clothing store and without someone believing in my business plan and loaning me the money I could never have fulfilled that dream. People suffering much worse than I ever have, and who need the $50 to start a business, are now able to with our help! Kiva lets you lend to a specific entrepreneur in a developing country, empowering them to lift themselves out of poverty, and hopefully be able to support themselves or their families. Women are in special need of this opportunity in these countries, as the men have a great deal of the power and women are sometimes unable to leave very abusive situations without their own money. You can read their amazing stories, and you will be surprised at the small amount of money you can lend to change someone's life forever. The best thing about this website is they repay the money back to you, then you decide who to redistribute it to. It's an ongoing wheel of help and hope for these people, I am always trying to spre ad the word about this amazing website.

Here is a true story from this website, and there are many others as harrowing. From Kenya...at a boarding school, 300 boys attacked the girls dormitory. 71 girls were raped, 19 trampled to death in the stampede to escape. The schools vice prinicipal's remark, "The boys never meant any harm against the girls. They just wanted to rape". Hundreds of tragedies like this are happening everyday around us, and we can make a difference. The women's equality network calls for justice and equality for women. Major issues are trafficking of women, domestic violence, gender discrimination and female mutilation. You can donate to help this cause here, and you can also find contact information to write to key decision makers in the laws of these countries. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Ethiopia are some of the worst offenders of these crimes at the moment. We take so much for granted living in the US, and I am constantly trying to remember that any problems I may have are nothing compared to what some people are suffering through. There are numerous ways you can help, and learn, at equalitynow.org.