Help Animals This Summer

I’ve gathered 10 items from various sources with suggestions on how you can help the animal causes this month. They are all easy to do and some will feel really rewarding. Small steps – big leap for animals!

1. Write to corporations and governments that practice or support puppy mills (including your local pet shop selling puppies), factory farming, and other abuse you feel passionate about.

2. Learn to cook a fabulous vegan or vegetarian meal, and share the recipes with your friends! Get recipes here

3. Meet people like you anywhere like online communities, who advocate for animals – share ideas and debate. Go to Causecast.org and learn more, or social sites like Humane Society Network.

4. Volunteer at your local animal shelter or the ASCPA, in New York City/Brooklyn, a great one that needs a lot of help is BARC Shelter in the Dumbo district. You will help walk dogs around the park, bring a friend.

5. Scout out 3 animal welfare organizations that fit your cause, and donate $25, $50 or whatever you feel comfortable with to each organization. You would be surprised how much good a little money can do. My favorites are Defenders of Wildlife, Humane Society of the United States, International Fund For Animals. Local shelthers like the Northshore Animal League is no-kill, and Bide-a-Wee in NYC as well as BARC in Brooklyn.

6. Start a blog about animals, whether it’s just about the pure love of your favorite animal, breed. Or get even more active with a welfare blog. Make taking pictures this summer fun by starting a photo blog of the dogs and cats you see in your neighborhood.

7. Go to a local dog park, and enjoy a nice summer day. Appreciate the simplicities of life.

8. Attend a show at Cirque Du Soleil, a non-animal circus. They are amazing and far more entertaining than watching elephants get whipped into a standing position. See their show listings and schedule here.

9. Adopt a cat or dog at your local shelter. If you can, adopt one from a kill-shelter, as you can save lives, especially an adult who has a lesser chance of getting a loving home, or a cat with one eye who suffered abuse. They deserve your love. Go to Petfinder.com and browse the thousands of animals.

10. Decide on an animal welfare topic most close to your heart, and make a simple flyer (don’t forget to include instructions on what they can do to make a difference) and pass it out at a farmer’s market, dog park, supermarkets, etc. This one takes a little bit of guts – I’ve done it once on the subject of Veal Cows – you will get positive encouragement from people, or some people just don’t care, but that’s how you start something important!

And finally, have fun!

Filed under: Take Action, circus, dogs and cats, farm animals, friends, humane organizations , animal shelters, animals in need, summer activities, Take Action, what to do this summer

What’s Wrong With Fur

In the old days, fur was a mean for human survival in the wild. Humans killed animals for food, fur to protect themselves from harsh climates, and bones for tools. Today, carnivorism has not changed, which can be argued as ‘natural’ since this has been so engrained into our upbringing and subconscious appetite. For vegans and vegetarians, we applaud you for shedding meat off their list. It’s not only a humane thing to do, but it is also healthy to consume less red meat. But if you insist on eating meat, at least going the organic route since it is more humane.

As for fur, it is simply inexcusable to continue this barbaric practice in modern society. There are, of course, still tribes throughout the world where people still depend on fur for survival. But 95% of society today will buy or wear fur for glamour, fashion, status, and luxurious living. When one thinks even briefly about how animals suffer for this purpose, he or she will cringe for a moment. It used to be bears, tigers, foxes, minks and rabbits, and now some countries have added dogs and cats, like in China. This industry, if not breeding animals to slaughter, will capture homeless animals, or even abduct neighborhood companions, to torture, skin alive, beaten, even boiled animals for their fur and meat. Human perpetrators are not simply farm workers, they have been trained to become unfeeling, sadistic, callous, and mean people who don’t see animals as living beings. They laugh, smoke cigarettes and find satisfaction WHILE they are bludgeoning the animals to death. Much like in our own country today, farm animals like cows, pigs, horses, goats are being treated at factory farms in ways one can’t even imagine. If we eat the meat and wear the fur from animals that suffer that much, what does that make us? Some people would say, “well, this is the way we are, it’s none of our business, and it’s stupid to put so much thought into inferior beings- what about people?”, well, that’s like saying we should not end genocide, not help starving children and societies in the 3rd world, not give assistance to the hungry and diseased in Africa and other improverish nations. If you don’t think about it, it is not your concern and you can go on living your happy lives. This way of thinking is one-sided, irresponsible and selfish.

It is an excruciating fact to know this, and we must educate ourselves about this and spread the word. This winter, when you buy coats with “faux fur trims”, be sure to carefully judge for yourself if it is really faux. It could be racoon, or dog and cat fur. Especially if the garment is made in China – beware.

Thanks for reading. And don’t go accusing me to be some Peta-loving extremist. I am not in the slightest. I’m just any regular person in this world trying to make a difference, and animal welfare happen to be one of them.

Filed under: Resources, animal cruelty, dogs and cats, farm animals, humane farming, international issues, local issues , carnivorism, china, dog and cat fur, factory farming, fur

Prop 2 Victory For Animals

 

photo from HSUS

Thank you all for spreading the word about Proposition 2 and especially to those who voted on Nov. 4 in California. The important ballot initiatives was passed yesterday, making history for animals (as well as for electing the first ever African-American president of the U.S.). It will ban some of the worst cruelty to animals raised for food in that state. Read more here… Peta article or Humane Society article

 

In Massachusetts, Question 3 ballot was also passed, which will ban greyhound racing in that state and completely abolished by 2010. 

Both victories give us hope that other states may follow in the years to come.

Thank goodness for people who still cares about animals in these tough times. There are so many critical and pressing issues in America we need to prioritize for people however it’s amazing that there is a huge voice for animals in the world. Together we can make the world a better place for people AND animals….

Filed under: animal cruelty, election 2008, farm animals, humane farming, local issues , California, election 2008, farm animals, farming, greyhound racing, proposition 2, Question 3

Vote For Prop 2

I’m going to post this again – if you live in California, please vote YES to Proposition 2 on Nov 4. Prop 2 is a bill if passed require the farming industry to handle farm animals humanely, unlike now. This is it — the fate of 20 million farm animals rests on what we do together in the next seven days.

If California voters pass Prop 2 next Tuesday, it will be the greatest victory for farm animals in U.S. history.

Filed under: Take Action, animal cruelty, farm animals, friends, humane farming, local issues , California, election, farm animals, Prop 2, proposition 2

Hormel Charged With Pig Farm Animal Cruelty

A sick pig sprayed down with blue paint by farm workers for no good reason

Peta’s investigation in a pig farm resulted in 22 criminal charges against Hormel in the state of Iowa. Pigs are severely abused and suffer from major neglect in ways most unimaginable. Pigs, as other livestock animals in America’s meat farms suffer immense cruelty from being sprayed down with paint, electrocution, neutered without anesthesia to being beaten and kicked like worthless objects. Pigs in particular are extremely intelligent and have been compared to human’s age six—they feel pain, experience love and loss. If you are a meat eater, please go organic, where they roam free and are treated with respect and compassion. Read the full article here.
11/3/08 Addendum

Hormel issued an email blast (at least to petitionists) below disclaiming that the pig farm cruelty expose was not about them, although I went to their site and found no such rebuttal – here is the email (not sure if it’s real or not):

A video was released the evening of September 16, 2008 that showed images from a hog farm in Iowa. It is important to note that the farm in the video is not a Hormel Foods’ farm and the people are not Hormel Foods’ employees.We find the images in this video appalling and they are inconsistent with our standards and industry standards for animal handling.

The abuse on the video depicted practices that are completely unacceptable.

We expect all current suppliers to adhere to the proper animal handling standards from day one and continue to do so throughout our relationship. We are working with our supplier to ensure this activity is no longer taking place, and they are investigating this matter and will take appropriate disciplinary actions, including terminating employees. Underscoring our company’s zero tolerance policy, we have in the past
terminated employees, truckers and contracts with producers when animal welfare issues have arisen.

Animal welfare and animal husbandry have always been top priority at Hormel Foods. This is simply about treating animals humanely because it’s the right thing to do. We take our zero tolerance policy for the inhumane treatment of animals very seriously and have implemented many standards outlined in our responsibility report :
http://www.hormelfoods.com/responsibility/process/animalWelfare.aspx.

Rochelle Kroc
Manager Of Consumer Response

Filed under: animal cruelty, farm animals, humane farming, local issues , animal cruelty charges, farm animals, hormel, iowa, pig cruelty, pig farm, pork

Slaughtering of Rabbits For Fur

When it comes to anti-fur topics, we often focus on fox, seals, horses, minks and many helpless exotic animals, even tigers. We must not forget about rabbits. Each year in China and France, millions of rabbits are slaughtered for fur. In these horrible conditions, rabbits are often inproperly electrically stunned and hung by their legs , while their throats are slit and bleeding out, they are often still alive, twitching, suffering in the most disheartening ways.

The following video is an undercover video, narrated by Gillian Andersen of the X-files. It exposes the unspeakable cruelty and horror of rabbit slaughter farms in China and France. Whether you’re a fan of PETA or not, this truth is out there. This targets particular Giorgio Armani, one of the largest patron of using rabbit fur for their fashion line. Please take action by filling out this guided letter template to be sent to the fashion house. Please spread the word to your friends, and please read the label on your winter jackets.

Filed under: Take Action, animal cruelty, corporations that fund cruel practices, farm animals, international issues , china, cruelty to animals, farm animals, fashion fur, france, fur, giorgio armani, inhumane, peta, rabbit farm, rabbits, slaughter

Vote Yes to Proposition 2 to Help Farm Animals

Wayne Parcell from the Humane Society of the U.S. will be on The Ellen DeGeneres show September 26th, (U.S.) to spread the word about Proposition 2 – an anti-cruelty measure that will end inhumane confinement of 20 million farm animals that suffer in tiny cages and crates their entire lives. You can only vote if you live in California, however, if you live elsewhere, you can still learn about this and get the word out to friends and family.

See here for airtime in your area. Ellen will feature this animation on the show as well.

Filed under: animal cruelty, election 2008, farm animals, friends, humane farming, humane organizations , california voters, Ellen DeGeneres show, farm animals, HSUS, proposition 2, the humane society of the United States, wayne parcell

National Conference on Animal Protection July 19-21

Leading animal protection agencies will be hosting a conference in our nation’s capital to address current issues of animal welfare on July 19-21. If you’re in the neighborhood or feel like taking a nice trip down to D.C. this will be an educational event if you love and care for animals.

Here you will hear from 75 experts on animal campaigning and visit more than 500 exhibitors from all over the world. Speak with advocates in person about your concerns and interests. Rally at the Capitol’s doorstep to demand action against the cruelty of puppy mills. Get the latest scoop on factory farming, local animal abuse, animal fighting, and many more. Volunteer or sign up for a job and join in the fight for animals.

Register for the conference here

Filed under: Resources, Take Action, farm animals, friends, humane organizations, local issues, puppy mills , animal campaigning, animal fighting, animal protection, conference, factory farming, puppy mills, take action 2008

Eating Meat vs. Opposing Fur

It’s a bit of an oxymoron being a carnivore and an animal advocate. I eat only beef, chicken, fish and a little bit of bacon but that’s it. I won’t add another animal to my list. It is a conundrum and I’m not proud of it.

I oppose the fur industry as well as anything that breeds and kills an animal for fashion. Some people will say to me “isn’t it hypocrisy to eat an animal but preach that wearing one is wrong – it’s the same thing.” But I don’t think it is that black and white, and it’s a lazy and lame excuse to justify that wearing fur to look fabulous is okay.

In ancient times, humans killed animals for survival- flesh for food, skin and fur for warmth, and other parts used for tools and gear. This is not necessary any longer in modern society. Take a cow for instance, when you slaughter it, you use its flesh for food, its skin for leather— you use ALL of the animal for some purpose. When you strip a fox, bear, tiger, even dog or cat, racoon of its fur, the rest of the animal is mostly discarded. The same goes for breeding sheep and shaving its precious coat for fine wool. They are often castrated without anesthesia and cut so deep while being shaved they bleed and die. This is why fur is wrong. This is why this matter is not that black and white.

Not that I think eating meat is a good thing—it is not really healthy for humans, but when I eat an animal, I choose eating the ones that did not die in vain or in the name of fashion. I choose eating the ones that I know all its parts went to use in some way. So there, it’s about setting some boundaries and have to live with yourself. And I will do my best to stop eating animals altogether as that’s what I choose.

Filed under: animal cruelty, farm animals, friends , animals for consumption, carnivores, fur, meat

Victory on Factory Farming

Recently there has been a lot of news on factory farming cruelty exposed by the HSUS in one of the largest recall on cattle meat in recently history. The USDA today announced a complete ban on the slaughter of downed cattle for human consumption. In the past, there had been no real inspection practices in slaughter trails and auctions. Sick and crippled cows, too frail to walk to the slaughter line were electrocuted, kicked, forklifted, and forcefully dragged to be slaughtered—just plain needless torment for the cows. This is not only extremely inhumane but also poses major health risks for people as sick animals subject us to diseases such as ecoli, mad cow diseases.

This is a major victory – now that the loophole is closed we will only hope that this will be carried out. The HSUS and other animal welfare organizations will push for stronger federal legislation to ensure humane euthanasia of downers and protect farm animals from abuse. Read the full article here.

Just because we eat them, doesn’t mean they should suffer and die in such an awful way. We are what we eat. The better we treat the animals, the less chance we will subject ourselves to health risks. Better yet, go organic or become vegetarian.

(photo: a downed cow left to suffer at auction – from HSUS)

Filed under: animal cruelty, farm animals, humane farming, humane organizations, local issues , animal abuse, animal suffering, cows, diseases, downed animals, factory farming, humane slaughter, USDA