SPARC - Supporting People and Animal Relationships for Change

Human and animal well-being are deeply connected. When we care for animals, we care for people. By supporting people, we help animals. This shared well-being creates happier, healthier communities for us all. Realizing this goal requires attitudes and ideas that support well-being. This begins with better stories, messages, and narratives about animals and people. For more information on SPARC's Theory of Change, please check out our website!

We can do better work for animals when our understanding of peoples' experiences get bigger and deeper. How can we expand our understanding of what people and pets go through? Empathic Listening! Learning about someone and their lived experiences requires the willingness to try. Understanding takes effort, which is why we must build the skills of empathic listening. For more tips on practicing understanding, read SPARC's Empathic Listening Guide: https://lnkd.in/gJZPXiqe

Miscommunication often happens when we don’t understand someone’s feelings and motives. We make assumptions based on too little or biased information. Empathic listening can help us fill in the gaps in our knowledge and understanding. Then, we can separate assumptions from reality and avoid mistakes and confusion. Learn about practicing understanding via our Empathic Listening Guide: https://lnkd.in/gJZPXiqe

SPARC is excited to share that we are joining Life of Riley for a webinar on December 5th from 2-3 pm Eastern. Life of Riley’s webinar series, New Perspectives: Human-Animal Connection and Advocacy, is a free series designed to strengthen our collaborative efforts to end puppy mills and other forms of animal cruelty. SPARC is joining this series to discuss the power in storytelling and how we can uplift people and pets through narrative change. Register today: https://lor.dog/webinars/

SPARC's Executive Director, Hanna Lentz, is joining CalAnimals for a webinar on October 17th at 10 am PT/1 pm ET. Pets rely on people, making human connections crucial to improving their lives. The problem is our stories and messages often undermine our best efforts. For decades mainstream narratives have been villainizing, blaming, and shaming pet owners, community members, and other animal welfare advocates. Stories and messages have failed to describe the root causes of issues. The result is that precious energy and resources go to faulty strategies and infighting. Pet families are separated, and animals go without the care they need. In this webinar we explore how better stories and messages can help us overcome these challenges and help us focus on doing our best work for pets and people together. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gZc6Xadq

Last chance to apply for Community Initiatives Manager! We are looking for individuals excited about narrative change who are passionate about the well-being of pets and people. If you are interested in making a difference through storytelling and mobilizing better narratives, apply for our new Community Initiatives Manager position!

During moments like this, the stories and messages we create and share are powerful. They affect the people reeling from shock and loss, the animals needing support, and the helpers within and outside impacted communities. Our stories and messages lay the groundwork for how we think and feel about disasters, and whether we can prevent suffering in the future. We need to use our stories and messages for good. Read SPARC's four essential tips for talking about pets, people, and Hurricane Helene in our blog. https://lnkd.in/gbu9-iV5

Stories are powerful because they shape our understanding of what is right and true. This is at the heart of narratives - the meaning we get from stories. Narratives are created by the details we include or leave out, the order of events, and what is emphasized or minimized. They influence our beliefs and shape our understanding of the world. Stories can inspire us to take action OR leave us feeling overwhelmed and burnt out. When stories focus on blame and shame, we all get dragged down. Stories about how people are affected by social systems can empower us and lift us up. Moving away from blame helps us chart a path to solving problems and doing our best work for animals and people. To learn more about why we are feeling overwhelmed and what to do about it, check out the blog linked in our bio.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and we are reflecting on how companion animals can protect people from suicide. In research conducted by Dr. Janette Young and colleagues, older adults who reported being actively suicidal cited their animals as giving them a reason to live. Caring for their animals gave them purpose. Even if they did not actively care for a pet, the simple presence of a pet provided comfort to lessen loneliness. When our stories and messages support the bond with pets, our work can save lives—both animal and human. For more information, read the helpful blog from Janet Hoy Gerlach, PhD, LISW-S, LCSW via the Link in Bio. Young, J., Bowen-Salter, H., O’Dwyer, L., Stevens, K., Nottle, C., & Baker, A. (2020). A Qualitative Analysis of Pets as Suicide Protection for Older People. Anthrozo?s, 33(2), 191–205.

Our team is growing! We are looking for individuals excited about narrative change who are passionate about the well-being of pets and people. If you are interested in making a difference through storytelling and mobilizing better narratives, apply for our new Community Initiatives Manager position! Please check out our website for more info. Applications close on October 15, 2024. ??