At a party to raise awareness of the brutality of the Canadian Seal Hunt, actress Famke Janssen displayed a depth of compassion reminiscent of Dr. Jean Grey, the character she plays to perfection in the X-Men movies.
"I get approached by a lot of different organizations," Janssen explained. "The seal hunt particularly struck me, because it’s completely unnecessary and inhumane, and it’s something that can be stopped.
Janssen, a self described "doggie fashion whore," has a Boston terrier named Licorice who keeps warm in winter by wearing diminutive designer dog sweaters. Her habit of wardrobing Licorice is not strictly frivolous: short-coated breeds such as Bostons require an extra thermal layer when the weather turns cold.
Like many dog lovers, Janssen has a heightened empathy for seals – and all animals – in part because she treasures, and takes such good care of, her own dog.
"I’ve always had an enormous love for animals," she says. "But I think that when you have a dog, you really understand the bond between animals and people. We’re animals too."
"People should be more aware," Janssen adds. "It’s easy to close your eyes and pretend you live in a bubble. But when you really start paying attention, that’s when you open your eyes to alternative ideas and possibilities for the humane treatment of wildlife, of animals used in medical tests, and all living things."
Can loving a dog motivate people to become wildlife activists? "Absolutely," says Dr. John Grandy of the Humane Society of the United States. "Being humane and kind to animals is a slippery slope. As you develop compassion and empathy for your pet, those feelings extend to your relationships with people, with the world, and with the environment. It’s a wonderful thing to experience."
That, in turn, makes the bond between people and their beloved pets stronger still. "I encourage people who have pets to become more involved in wildlife issues," Grandy concludes. "It deepens all the important relationships in your life."
