Things to Consider When Finding a Stray Animal

A portrait photographer, Lisabeth Christy is very passionate about animals. Lisabeth Christy believes in preserving the lives of animals and commits herself to saving strays in distress.

When a person finds a stray pet, it is vital to consider options to ensure the animal’s future safety. While it may seem reasonable to take a stray animal to a shelter or animal care and control agency, one should understand the limitations of these entities. These organizations have strict budgets and limited space. Therefore, they might not be able to provide care, may deny the animal entry into the facility, or worse, be forced to make tough decisions regarding the animal’s livelihood as a result of insufficient means.

Inadequate resources are a major factor for stray animals that have health concerns. Stray animals that have minor wounds may be accepted into a shelter or animal control agency, but will stay there for only an allotted period of time. If the animal is not adopted within the time mandated, the pet will most probably be euthanized. The same applies to animals that have severe injuries. In the case of more traumatic wounds, however, the animal will likely be euthanized to relieve suffering rather than providing treatment.

How You Can Help Animals in Your Community

Lisabeth Christy, owner of the award-winning Lisabeth Christy Photography studio in Washington, D.C., is a lifelong animal lover. She often brings injured or abandoned animals to local rescue and rehab centers and otherwise helps animals in her community any way she can.

Many individuals consider themselves animal lovers and would like to help animals in need, although in some situations it is unclear how to do so. If you wish to provide assistance to animals in your community, the first step is to learn how to report animal abuse and neglect. Each state and town has its own method for reporting animal cruelty, which may range from contacting animal welfare officers with the police department to calling the local animal control unit. These entities, as well as veterinarians, are good sources of information on effectively communicating instances of animal abuse.

Volunteer work is perhaps the most direct way you can get involved in the lives of struggling animals and help them. Local animal shelters and rescue centers always need assistance, whether it’s walking or grooming dogs or simply taking care of clerical work in the office. Finally, you can reach out to neighbors who may need assistance with their pets. The elderly, injured, or sick may have dogs or cats that they cannot exercise properly on a daily basis. Taking these animals out a few times per week can prevent a healthy, friendly pet from being put up for adoption.

The St. Jude Cure4Kids Program

Throughout her career as a photographer, Lisabeth Christy has remained firmly dedicated to community service and charitable giving. In addition to contributing to Habitat for Humanity and animal rescue operations, Lisabeth Christy supports the efforts of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, one of the most prominent pediatric cancer support organizations in the world.

Through its Cure4Kids program, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital sets out to improve health care outcomes for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. The St. Jude Cure4Kids website features thousands of international medical education resources, including seminars, conferences, journals, and self-paced courses developed by thought leaders in such areas as HIV/AIDS, pediatric cancers, and various blood disorders. Although the majority of the content is in English, selected materials are available in Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Spanish, and Portuguese. Looking ahead, the St. Jude Cure4Kids program intends to add online collaboration tools that will enable physicians across the world to make the most of the resources available to them.

Supporting Habitat for Humanity

The owner of her own Washington, DC, photography company, Lisabeth Christy actively assists those in need through her support of several charities, including Habitat for Humanity. In 2005, Lisabeth Christy worked with Habitat for Humanity in southern Costa Rica, where she and other volunteers built a house for a family in need.

Habitat for Humanity accepts monetary donations in any amount through its website and through the mail. Donations as small as $10 provide the organization with a box of nails, while larger donations help pay for siding, front doors, and even flooring. Whether the donation is monthly or just a single gift, any funds donated directly support the organization’s efforts, and individuals have the option of sending their donation to relief efforts in specific locations.

Planned giving ensures Habitat for Humanity continues its support for people in need. The two most popular forms of planned giving involve including the organization in one’s will and giving a charitable gift annuity. For some, matching donations are also an option if an employer agrees on equaling any charitable contributions made by employees.

St. Jude Researchers Discover an Enzyme’s Role in Cell Survival

Lisabeth Christy, a photographer based out of Washington, DC, frequently donates time and resources to various charities. Supporting her belief that every child deserves a happy childhood, Lisabeth Christy donates a portion of each of her photography sessions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, an organization dedicated to advancing cures and preventative methods for pediatric diseases, recently found that enzyme receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) plays an important role in determining whether cells live or die. The enzyme is normally responsible for survival after birth, and when functioning properly, it uses two different pathways for disposing of dangerous or unneeded cells. However, its control over these pathways can also lead to cell death.

Researchers discovered that RIPK1 ensures cells respond to signals that promote either pathway in a balanced way. This discovery was achieved by removing certain parts of the pathways and testing the results. The study not only answers the question about how RIPK1 affects cell survival, but it also provides new insight into how the pathways could be used to contain infections. New studies are now underway that look into the possibility of harnessing RIPK1 to use against cancer cells.