A Dog's Eye View

Help Ban Horse Carriages in NYC!

2011-11-26T16:12:00.000-08:00

Photo: Elizabeth Forel/Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages

The recent death of a carriage horse that collapsed on a New York City street has gotten a big response from animal advocates, which has only gotten bigger since the collapse of two more NYC carriages horses within weeks of the incident. The movement to ban the city's horse carriage industry is growing, and needs your help.

Carriage horses are forced to pull carriages through dirty, noisy and traffic-filled streets that are frightening and dangerous for them. They are often hungry and dehydrated and work long hours in harsh weather. Many of these horses end up in accidents when cars hit them or the carriages; it's a dangerous situation for horses and humans alike.

Please help ban horse carriages in NYC so that these horses will no longer be enslaved. New Yorkers for Clean, Livable & Safe Streets (NYClass) is an organization working to end the city's carriage horse industry. Please sign their petition calling for a ban and to replace the carriages with eco-friendly vehicles. Over 62,900 people have already spoken up for horses by signing - please help get the petition to the goal of 75,000!

In Memory of Bumble

2011-10-10T14:59:00.000-07:00

This blog is dedicated to one amazing little piglet, who was given a second chance but fell victim to the start he had in life. I tried to write this a couple of months ago after hearing he had died, but I wasn't ready to form the words into something worthy of little Bumble-bee. This probably isn't either, but it will have to do. I'm honored to have known Bumble and to have spent time with him. I'm honored to volunteer at CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm where he was brought to sanctuary and knew peace, safety and love for his remaining time on this earth. And I will continue to speak up for all of the other animals - the ones who don't get a second chance, the ones who are suffering and dying needlessly every day...

Bumble was one of five piglets who ended up at CJ Acres after a very uncertain beginning. They were five of many packed into a truck bound for a slaughterhouse when they fell out onto a busy highway in North Carolina. When nobody came to claim them, the piglets went up for auction in accordance with state law. Many bidders showed up, most wanting to raise and kill the pigs for meat. Luckily, Lee and Jennifer, "Lead Mares" at CJ Acres, won the bid and all five little angels went safely to the rescue farm. You can read the rest of their story here: These Five Piglets Went to CJ Acres, Not the Market.

Meeting the piglets (named Bumble, JJ, Hillman, Hemingway, and Ayden), it was obvious how loving and forgiving they truly are. They hug, they kiss, they play - you would think humans did not make the beginning of their life miserable! Bumble was the smallest, the "runt," although he didn't seem to know or care. He was the happiest and most playful little pig I've ever seen. He had a leg injury after the fall, but vets later found that he suffered a inoperable brain hematoma as well. CJ Acres did all they could to make him comfortable and he had good days and bad, but when his condition worsened and it was clear that he would only suffer, he was euthanized with his friends (human and nonhuman) by his side. JJ, the piglet chosen to stay with him when he became unable to stay with the rest of the five and who took great care of his friend, was there.

Although Bumble didn't live long, he left a hole in the hearts of those who knew him. I hope that we can learn something from his short time here...Billions of farm animals die every year. They're confined, tortured, denied any chance to live a natural life, and then they're killed. They don't have a name, their faces are hidden from you, and the food that they get turned into is given a new name so you won't think about the living being who died and ended up on your plate. Bumble and his friends beat the odds. These individuals were taken out of hell on earth and brought to a safe haven - they were given names, treated not as a product but as living beings worthy of respect and compassion. They are no different from their fellow pigs and other animals that continue to suffer hidden from the public. Although Bumble is gone, you can honor him. Animals just like him need you to make a choice, and you can make it every single day. Choose kindness over cruelty and peace over violence.

Vegans Tell Their Stories: Encouragement for Those New to the Vegan Journey

2011-09-08T14:43:00.000-07:00

To me, one of the most fascinating things about veganism is how many ways there are to get there. I hear so many stories from vegans and they are vastly different in their reasons and their starting points. I love that these journeys can be so different and so similar in many ways.

Rethinking your food choices?

Photo: Matt Groening/The Simpsons

I love to hear these stories and to share them. So, I asked a few vegans, as well as people at other points in the journey still, to answer a few questions and tell their story. Today's blog presents their answers for you to read. I hope that this will be encouraging for people just starting out. Remember that people go vegan for different reasons and at different points in their life. If it's difficult at first, look back to these stories and know that others have done the same thing, and always remember your reason for doing this...

Why did you switch to a vegan diet? - Did you have one of those "A-ha!" moments (like watching a slaughterhouse video, etc) or was it a gradual realization?

Nicole: I read skinny bitch. I gained a lot of weight when my husband and myself got stationed in Florida. I tried everything to get off the weight. So I thought why not this, it makes sense.

Theo: Forks Over Knives. After 2 weeks of Veganism - my compassion for animals really kicked in too. Just made sense. After seeing Earthlings - I have a profound commitment to Veganism.

Renee: I guess really for me it started off for health reasons, but I didn’t know at the time where it was going. As my research continued I really began to discover the animal abuse involved in the SAD and now I’m on my way of becoming more involved and active with all aspects of veganism.

Mark: For me it was a gradual realization over the course of several years. My original intentions were out of beliefs in animal rights. My parents always taught me to be accepting and understanding of all people and to respect their right to live freely. When I was a teenager I started listening to a lot of punk rock and a lot of those artists sang about animal rights which put the idea in my head. The idea of applying that respect to non-humans made sense. This also exposed me to anti-consumerism ideals and self-sustainability. I finally put all that together when listening to Propaghandi and Conflict, that's when I knew I had to change what I was doing not only for the animals but for myself as well.

Danielle: I had been the "friendly vegetarian" So, by that, I mean that I never purchased meat, but if at a friends house for dinner, I would eat what they made, even if it had an animal in it. One day I stumbled on a PETA video, made by Mercy for Animals I believe, and that was it. Then a year later I went to Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, and I will NEVER turn back. I recently was playing a game, the question "Which farm animal would you not want to pet" I said "um, which on do I NOT pet?!" They're all just like my dog to me, and I wouldn't eat him, so I'm not plating them either.

Diana: My "aha!" moment was when I became vegetarian at age 18. I had always loved animals but never made the connection. While reading a bird-watching magazine, the light bulb finally came on that chickens and turkeys were birds, too, with the same beauty and individuality and fascinating different cultures. In the next year or two, I read Animal Liberation and became a vegan.

Lee: Realized it would be counterproductive to rescue farmed animals and eat others. That said, it was a gradual (about a year) switch from omnivore to vegetarian and then just a few months to go from vegetarian to vegan.

Did you immediately cut out all animal flesh and by-products? If not, what went first and how hard was the transition for you?

Nicole: For the most part I quit it all together. But I didn't have a lot of support or information on where to find people to support me. So many times I would fall back into eating cheese and dairy products. It took a little while to stop the cravings.

Theo: Did you immediately cut out all animal flesh and by-products? Yes. I've been down right Nazi about it. I want my body to as healthy as possible. I'm more committed to the diet that anything else in my life really.

Renee: I started by eliminating all fast foods and soft drinks from my diet and incorporating more fruits and vegetables. In May of 2009 I decided to stop smoking and take a break from consuming alcoholic beverages. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was detoxing my body from these things. The same day I stopped I began a daily workout program in order to help with the stress. Than I really started researching vegetarianism on the internet. Still not knowing the differences within vegetarianism itself and that of veganism. I knew of no one who had such a diet and was raised in Iowa on beef, potatoes and corn. In all my research I decided to become a lacto-ovo vegetarian in August of 2009. Although, I consumed very little of eggs and cheese I drank a lot of milk!. That is really what kept me from being vegan for a long time. Still on my journey of self educating I bought Alicia Silverstone’s book Be Kind Diet. It was soon after reading her book that I decided I had to give up dairy and that milk would be the most difficult! I did it in May of 2010. It was tough at first, but I have been vegan ever since(least my diet was vegan). As my research continued I really began to discover the animal abuse involved in the SAD and now I’m on my way of becoming more involved and active with all aspects of veganism.

Mark: Before going vegan I had done vegan and mostly vegetarian fasts, ranging from a few weeks to a few months. When I decided to go 100% vegan I excluded all animal-based foods immediately. The transition was easy due to the fact that I rarely ate most meat out of health reasons. Cheese was tough at first but dairy-alternative cheese helped me the first few months and now I never use the stuff. Aside from food my transition to animal and cruelty-free products was more gradual. I saw no reason to waste the products I already owned and plus products in this category are a tad more costly. Over time I went to natural soap, natural shampoo/conditioner, natural toothpaste, natural shaving cream, cruelty-free razors and so on.

Danielle: I purged EVERYTHING from my apartment, after the Peta video, ALL products with animal anything got dumped. I was pissed. It was like a bad break up where you want to burn the ex's shit down to the ground. Wool coats, leather shoes, I wanted it all out. I think if you could have seen me, I would have looked like a crazed maniac going through everything throwing things out of the closet. I kept only one thing, One leather shoe that my late Tatum had chewed. I know it sounds silly, but that I could not toss. I wont wear it, but I always want it.

Diana: Unfortunately, it did not stick for more than a couple of years. Tasty dairy alternatives were still years away, and I just didn't have the discipline. When my wife and I bought our home, we agreed that we'd at least be vegan at home. When a battery-cage video finally pushed her over the line, I came, too, helped by having met several vegans in the area, and by the greater availability of options at the grocery store. Becoming vegetarian was extremely easy. The vegan transition was harder, mainly because I hate to cook, and options at restaurants are limited, especially when traveling. When I became vegetarian, I did still eat oysters, mussels, scallops, and clams, believing them to be incapable of suffering. I gave them up when I stopped dairy and eggs.

Lee: At first, I had a policy that I would not eat what I had rescued so pork, chicken, duck, goat, and turkey were off the table. I didn't have any cows at the time but gave up beef instantly. That still allowed me to eat fish...in fact, the joke was "I sure hope I never need to rescue a salmon". One day, I saw someone order a plate of popcorn shrimp and remember thinking "dang...you just took out thirty lives with one entree". The move from pescatarian to vegetarian happened at that moment. Milk was easy to move off of and eggs were also not a problem but cheese took a couple of months to eliminate.

How hard was it to shop at first? Did you know what to buy? And what are the staples you always buy now?

Theo: Fortunately for me, I'm in a band with a Vegan already - and his girl friend is Vegan - so they were instrumental in helping me shop. Also have another Vegan friend who took me to Whole Foods to show me the ropes. I've got a good handle on it now.

Renee: At first, I bought a lot of the veggie processed foods and really tried to incorporate more fresh veggies and fruit. Now if you looked at my shopping cart you would see that 95% of the items are from the produce section. I still do buy some convenience foods, but not much. For example, vegan burgers, some of the Gardein products, or Daiya cheese etc. I have to have lots and lots of fresh greens (spinach/kale) and fresh fruit!

Mark: Looking back I was a pretty terrible shopper at first; buying useless items, too much or little of things, not planning what to buy, overal just wasting money. I never found it difficult as I relied on suggestions of where to go and what to buy from other people. Now I understand my body more and don't over-eat which helps a lot. I can go to the store and get everything I need for the week and be able to stay healthy and consistent. This smarter shopping and consuming has also allowed me to go almost fully organic.

I pretty much buy a lot of the same products from week-to-week but I would say my "can't live without them" products would include bananas, peanut butter, oats, kale, sunflower seeds, oranges, red bell peppers, any kind of potato, sprouted grain bread and something spicy whether it be a jalapeno, a habanero or some ground red pepper.

Danielle: Veggies are my staple now, but I think the only thing that was annoying was reading labels, then getting mad when something had some animal product in it. like "Son of a B! WHY does this need THAT in it?!?!" but I knew why I was doing it, so I didnt mind the extra work.

Diana: Shopping was dreadful in the late '80s and early '90s. Nasty, awful-tasting brown soy milk. Tofu ice cream with an aftertaste. No cheese! Now there are great dairy alternatives, but I'm also moving toward more whole foods. Having local restaurants that supply some ready-made vegan options to the local healthfood store really helps, too.

Lee: Shopping wasn't that tough though it became more time consuming as I had to read labels closely. Going to restaurants became tougher and was "less fun". In Jacksonville (and especially Clay County) the choices are pretty limited.

Have you stuck with vegan since or have you gone back to meat, dairy or eggs, occasionally? (Honestly!)

Theo: I've had 4/5 oz. of fish on rare occasions... Otherwise I'm good. I will NEVER knowingly put my body thru meat and dairy ever again.

Renee: I have not gone back nor will I ever! That being said I have discovered foods that I ate in the past had an unwanted ingredient in it that I didn’t know about at the time.

Mark: Since going vegan I have, to the best of my knowledge, been animal-free. I say that because my first few months I ate of processed foods or foods packed with tons of lenghty-named ingredients. This would have allowed some by-products to sneak in on me, especially since I was still learning about ingredients. Nowadays I keep to a simple diet and with the exception of my rarely used Earth Balance butter, my foods contain less than 5 ingredients; all of which I can pronounce.

Danielle: Oh hell no! I haven't looked back since making the choice to go vegan. Even before going to the farm, I just could not imagine what those animals went through, for that first year, I was so angry I refused to falter, then, once I went to the farm, I had over 300 reasons not to ever look back, and then I went to the Hoe Down, and WOW, all the information. I learned about a million more reasons why I would be staying vegan. Veg for Life. That's me. No lie.

Diana: When I made the decision the second time, I stuck with it. Early on, I accepted a few "errors," like bread at a restaurant that I hadn't requested, or cheese accidentally put on my salad, but I've gotten the hang of preventing or correcting those kinds of situations.

Lee: I have never "gone back" but do say that I am "Vegan with an asterisk" as I do occasionally eat the eggs produced at CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm as they are cruelty free. One of my friends, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau on her podcast once addressed this and agreed that this situation is the only time she would agree that a vegan could consume eggs. That said, I probably eat one egg a week.

If someone asked you "why are you vegan?", what would be your answer?

Nicole: Initially it was weight loss and health. But now my reasons are endless.

Theo: Jack LaLanne used to say, "I'll give you $1 Million dollars for your right arm." People said "No way!" and he'd say, "you just proved to me that your body is your most valuable possession." I am Vegan for me (my health) and because I will not participate in the destruction of beautiful animals.

Renee: Short and sweet: for the animals, my health, and the environment!

Mark: When people ask me this question my response is typically, "animal rights". Sometimes they want to know more and in that case I tell them a little more of an in depth answer. I tell people I'm not a church and don't intend to bore them with my preaching. For those interested I will talk eternally to, but for others they simply want a quick response. Just like at the grocery store when they ask how you're doing, they don't want to know the whole day's story. Mind you, I'm still very open about my veganism and gladly accept the label, I think it's good to put it in people's face to remind them that we are out there and we are just as normal as them. My reasonings though are just that...my reasonings; let them be informed and establish their own.

Danielle: Because I love life (mine, theirs, and the earth). I want to be healthy and happy, and yeah, I love animals.

Diana: "Harm none" is a basic tenet of my faith. I would not want done to me what is done to animals for meat, eggs, and dairy. I know it is cruel and wrong, and not participating in it is how I am able to live with myself and in accordance with my principles.

Lee: Cliff Notes version...Because I refuse to reward an industry that produces unbelievable amounts of animal suffering and death, while destroying the planet and causing human disease/illness.

When did you also cut out clothes and other products that include animal by-products or were tested on animals, as well as support for industries that exploit animals. What would you say to someone who's just starting out and feels overwhelmed with having to avoid all of this?

Nicole: I feel once you have all of your information and know how to do it is easy. Stop complicating things that aren't complicated. Its a healthier, more affordable, and compassionate life style. Don't stress out about throwing all of your things away. Replace them with compassionate items as you need them. I still have belts and purses and shoes that are leather or wool. But I haven't bought anymore. Eventually all things need to be replaced.

Theo: Just becoming Vegan saves an estimated 40-100 animals a year. Start there. The other stuff will come in time.

Renee: I would always encourage people to move forward in their journey at a pace that is “doable" for them. Try to provide them with resources, education and as much support as possible on this journey. Everyone is different and everyone approaches things differently. I know that if a person such as my self really wants to change or make a difference no matter their reasons they can. It has to do with being positive, asking for help, seeking out other like minded people educating oneself and so on. I made this transition completely on my own with pure self education. I started off for health reason and that is still a big part of my life, but animal activism has become a larger part of me. So no matter the reason that a person may change from the SAD I will encourage and support them because you just never know where it may lead.

Mark: This was a gradual adjustment for me to some degree. My clothes were mostly animal-free as is before I went vegan. I personally never really like leather or suede; that goes beyond animal rights, I simply feel they are uncomfortable, inferior fabrics. Other products I simply bought animal-free when I needed to buy them. I didn't toss out everything and start from scratch as that would have been too costly and a waste of already purchased materials.

For those new to the lifestyle I offer them a community. Just like anything in life you have to educate yourself and learn in order to understand. At first it is tough to exclude all by-products, especially those random ones that you would never know were from animals. Also you might not understand reasonings behind certain exclusions, such as honey. With help from others and a little D.I.Y. education the task seems effortless and no longer becomes a struggle of avoidance, you just live.

Danielle: Start out slow. Take it easy, it's not a race, and you'll be okay. I actually hadn't thought much about clothes until seeing "Blood Sweat and T-Shirts." That show changed my life! I mean, I didn't do wool and all that jazz, but it's not even just animal products that I worry about, it's WHO made my clothes. Were they treated well, paid fairly, kept safe? There is a ton that goes into it, take your time and learn. Don't just jump into it because you've decided to change to a plant based diet. One step at a time. The Ghosts in Our Machine is an excellent project in the works, and it looks at all aspects of animals that we use, those in the shadows that make the machine work. We don't need them though, the machine can work without exploitation, it's just some changes that need to happen, and those changes are not world-ending. Makeup, household products, you can do it all in steps, and in each step you learn more. It's a learning journey, and nobody is perfect, I suppose remember that, first and foremost. NOBODY is perfect.

Diana: I cut out animal-tested products, leather, and so on when I became vegan the first time. I never went back. To keep the transition manageable, just take one thing at a time. When you run out of soap/decent work shoes/window cleaner/whatever, replace it with a cruelty-free alternative.

Lee: I eliminated clothing and entertainment detrimental to animals at the same time I became vegan. I am a big believer in taking steps toward perfection...even though it may never be achieved. My actions REDUCED animal suffering/slaughter but didn't eliminate it. To new veggies, I would say do as much as you are able to and rejoice in your actions. When you are able to take on more, take another step.

...I hope this will help those starting out. Don't lose sight of why you chose to start down this path, and remember that you have the power to choose kindness over cruelty. You can help save animals, reduce your "environmental footprint," and improve your health (even if only one of these is your reason for starting the journey). I wish you luck! If you need more information, please check out www.chooseveg.com, a great resource from Mercy For Animals. Thanks for reading these stories, and feel free to comment with your own!

Being Vegan in an Omnivorous World

2011-08-14T06:14:00.000-07:00

Photo: Polyp.org.uk

Once you enter that world known as veganism, you may find that you're grossly outnumbered. Don't panic! I will preface this post by saying I do NOT believe that being vegan is as difficult as some make it out to be. There is no longer any need to consume the flesh or by-products of animals, and there are so many cruelty-free and healthier food options available. However, some vegans do find themselves wondering how to deal with certain social situations without appearing to be one of those "vegan elitists" that people rant about. Well, I have some suggestions to offer...

We've all found ourselves at a party or some other social gathering at which someone offered us a meat or dairy-filled food. You may find yourself torn between sticking with your food beliefs (whether you went veg for ethical, religious, health or any other reason) and being polite. But, I don't think you need to worry too much about losing a friend or family member because you turn down their chicken parmesan or chocolate chip cookies. I don't see any difference between doing this and saying no because you have a food allergy. I would suggest politely saying that you are vegetarian or vegan, and explaining why that means you can't accept (there are people who stare blankly when you say vegan, not knowing why that means you can't eat their milk chocolate brownies). Most reasonable people will be tolerant of your beliefs, and will at least be willing to engage in conversation. Use this as an opportunity to talk about the benefits of plant-based diets for your health, for animals and for the planet. And I ALWAYS recommend bringing some homemade (or store-bought if you're kitchen-challenged) vegan goodies with you to show your friends and family that we eat delicious food!

What to do if you're invited to a wedding or some event at which you know there will mostly (or only) be non-vegetarian/vegan food options. Do you make a special request? YES! I don't think there's any reason to stay home or feel that you're being rude by politely saying or writing on your RSVP that you will need a veg option! Just like someone who is lactose intolerant (by the way, many people are, and humans are the only species that consume milk beyond infancy) or have a peanut allergy, you need to eat something that may not be served to everyone and that's fine! If you're worried that they may not be accomodating, eat some food at home before you go. And once again, I understand that people worry about the reactions of others, but if you need to worry that someone won't talk to you ever again because you asked for a vegan dish in place of meat, you may want to rethink that relationship!

When these situations come up in the office, it can get trickier. Everyone knows the job situation is not so great right now, and having conversations like this with bosses and co-workers may make you feel a little on edge. Having actually brought up being vegan in a job interview, I may have an answer that you don't feel so comfortable with. You are vegan (or vegetarian), and that doesn't change (I hope) when you leave your house and go to work. If there is an office party or just a co-worker that brought in some food for the office, you shouldn't need to worry you might lose your job for being "that vegan who won't eat the food." Again, politely say that you don't eat that and that you are veg, and if they ask what that means or why you have chosen that...use that opportunity!

Photo: Farm Sanctuary

It's wonderful to be vegan and not contribute to the mass slaughter of animals for unnecessary and unhealthy food, but it's not enough. It's important to continually be having this conversation with others. Use your experience and your knowledge. Encourage others to explore where their food is coming from and give veg options a try! Again, it helps when you bring some delicious vegan food to give them while you say it! Most people are scared of what vegan food will taste like, but when they try it, they love it! I so enjoy seeing the look on the faces of pleasantly surprised omnivores when they try a yummy vegan meal! Remember, those who can't speak need a voice! Speak up!!

"But what's wrong with eating fish?"

2011-07-26T08:53:00.000-07:00

Photo: Brian Skerry/National Geographic

Fish are often left out when discussing cruelty to animals and certainly animal rights. And I have even heard people who have cut all other animal flesh out of their diet say that they still eat fish. Why are fish so overlooked? It's most likely because they're not as cute, cuddly and furry as other animals, which seems to be reason enough for most to ignore their plight. But, not only do fish suffer long and painful deaths in order to become "seafood," the fishing industry has nearly depleted the oceans and is a threat to other ocean wildlife along with the fish traditionally caught for food.

Let's start with commercial fishing. Fishing vessels are able to stay out at sea for months, catching massive amounts of fish. Long-lines are deployed, sometimes over 100 miles long, with baited hooks all along the line. Animals that get hooked often bleed to death or drown in the water before getting pulled onto the ships. The long-lines catch not only the intended animals, but also endangered sea turtles, sharks, albatross and other sea birds. According to Stop Shark Finning, over 25% of long-line catch gets thrown back into the sea, most often dead.
Bottom trawling and dredging involve heavy nets being dragged along the ocean floor to catch fish that live deep in the ocean. This system also threatens many species of ocean wildlife outside of its intended catch (shrimp, cod, clams, scallops, and more). Coral and sponges are often killed by the deep-sea nets.
Scientists are now saying that over-fishing has contributed to depletion of our oceans so severely that a huge extinction is not far off. "The loss of ocean biodiversity is accelerating, and 29 percent of the seafood species humans consume have already crashed. If the long-term trend continues, in 30 years there will be little or no seafood available for sustainable harvest."

While wild-caught fish is clearly not a good choice if you're concerned with the survival of the oceans and the many threatened species that die as by-catch, fish-farming has its faults too.

Photo: Flickr

On these farms, fish are kept in crowded tanks, often leading to spread of disease and injuries from other fish. They are sorted by size in a process in which "they are netted or pumped out of their tanks and dumped onto a series of bars and grates with varying space gaps to divide them by size and redistribute them into different netted cages or tanks; small fish slip through the small grates while larger fish fall through the larger gaps. This practice, called "grading," is very stressful and results in painful scrapes and a loss of protective scales, leaving the animals vulnerable to disease.
Some of the fish raised on these farms are carnivorous, and therefore are fed fish from the oceans, adding to the depletion of ocean life. The destruction doesn't stop there. Waste and chemicals leak into the ocean water and disease from the farm-raised fish spreads to wild fish.

Along with the threats to the ocean and wildlife, this industry is not regulated in regards to killing of fish. There are currently no legislation or regulations to enforce that fish are raised and slaughtered humanely. The fish are starved before going to slaughter so there is reduced waste during transportation. Fish are fully conscious when their gills are slashed and they begin to bleed to death. Some fish are hit on the head with or left to suffocate as their water is drained. When packed onto ice still alive, fish die very slowly because they are coldblooded, and can take up to 15 minutes to die. For this and more info on fish farming cruelty, Aquafarming. The industry is growing, now supplying over 40% of the fish eaten each year.

So, if you find yourself baffled and unsure of whether to buy wild-caught or farm-raised fish, the answer seems clear. Both industries have led to a decline in ocean health, suffering and cruelty, depletion of endangered species and other ocean wildlife. An easy way to stop supporting this assault on our oceans is to stop eating seafood, no matter the source. What else you can do:
- Support organizations working to save our oceans. For example, Sea Shepherd removes thousands of miles of longlines from the oceans.
- Educate others on the real cost of seafood and the many endangered animals that suffer and die as by-catch of the fishing industries they're supporting monetarily. You can also get leaflets to hand out from organizations like Animal Aid, and PETA. Also, encourage people to sign Mercy for Animals' Pledge to Forgo Fish.
- Find out more from The End of the Line, a documentary about overfishing and its devastating effects on the oceans.
- And, as always, my best recommendation is go vegan!! A vegan diet is the easiest way to stop supporting animal cruelty, environmental destruction caused by farming and fishing industries, and destruction to your health!

Sea Shepherd Needs Your Help to Get Their Ship Back!

2011-07-20T11:43:00.000-07:00

Photo: Deborah Bassett/Sea Shepherd

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has asked its supporters to donate as much as they can to help get their ship, the Steve Irwin, back.

The ship has been detained by British courts in the Scottish Shetland Islands because of a civil suit brought against Sea Shepherd by Fish and Fish Limited. The fishing company is claiming damages for bluefin tuna rescued from their nets in 2010; SSCS believes the tuna were caught illegally after the season was over and without proper paperwork or an inspector onboard.

Sea Shepherd has legal representation and believe that this case can be won. But until they post bond, the fate of the Steve Irwin, and the ocean wildlife its crew defends, remains in question. Captain Watson has said "Now, unless we post a bond for USD$1,411,692.87, the Steve Irwin will be held indefinitely and possibly sold. This would not only be a financial hardship for Sea Shepherd, but more importantly, it could prevent us from reaching the Faeroe Islands to protect pilot whales and threaten our ability to defend whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary from the Japanese whaling fleet this December."

The Brigitte Bardot is currently in the Faroe Islands for Operation Ferocious Isles, but they are waiting for their fellow Sea Shepherds on the Steve Irwin to get there. Please help by donating as much as you can! Share this link with others and ask them to help: Emergency SOS from Captain Paul Watson: Save Our Ship!

Photo: Sea Shepherd

The Grind - Pilot Whale Massacre in the Faroe Islands

2011-06-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

Recently returned from Operation Blue Rage II protecting bluefin tuna from illegal fishing operations, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is preparing for yet another campaign in defense of marine wildlife. This summer, the captains and crew will return to the Faroe Islands, home of the brutal pilot whale massacre known as "the grind."

A pregnant pilot whale cut open and her baby removed, both left rotting on the ground

Photo: Peter Hammarstedt/Sea Shepherd

Despite its horrific cruelty, few people seem to be aware of "the grind," although the Ministry of Fisheries in the Faroes makes no secret of it. Here's what they have to say:
"The pilot whale hunt in the Faroes is, by its very nature, a dramatic and bloody sight. Entire schools of whales are killed on the shore and in the shallows of bays with knives which are used to sever the major blood supply to the brain. This is the most efficient and humane means of killing these animals under the circumstances, but it naturally results in a lot of blood in the water. It is also understandable that there have been many strong reactions to media reports and pictures of the hunt in other countries, especially in urban communities, where most people have never actually been witness to the slaughtering processes from which their own meat derives" - Whales and Whaling in the Faroe Islands, The pilot whale drive.

Humane? There is nothing humane about the event described here. Entire pods of pilot whales are driven to the shores by hunters in boats, and when they are trapped, they're repeatedly hacked at with knives. Their heads are cut open and their spinal cords severed, a process that the "hunters" claim is quick, rendering the pilot whales unconscious within seconds. Yes, there are understandably strong reactions to images, like the one above, of brutally slaughtered animals, and water turned red with blood. But it's hard to believe this reaction occurs because you may not have witnessed this slaughter in person as the Ministry of Fisheries would have you believe...do you think you'd be more or less opposed to "the grind" if you watched this happen?...

Photo: Peter Hammarstedt/Sea Shepherd

The images above were taken during Sea Shepherd's undercover operation in the Faroes in July 2010. Peter Hammarstedt's account of the pilot whale slaughter is a little different than the quick and painless version the Ministry of Fisheries is telling...

"One whale had five to six brutal chops to her head...The islanders basically used her as a chopping board. Her death would have been slow and extremely painful. Some whales are hacked repeatedly for up to four minutes before they finally die...Babies had been cut out of their mother’s dead bodies and left to rot on the docks...Pilot whale groups are strongly matriarchal; I can’t imagine the fear and panic that these mothers must have felt as their families were wiped out in front of them" - Sea Shepherd Undercover Operation Exposes Cetacean Mass Slaughter.

On top of the fear, pain and death inflicted on these defenseless marine mammals, "the grind" has many more harmful effects. There is no regard to the sustainability of the the pilot whale populations and its effect on the ocean ecosystems. The children of the Faroe Islands are brought along and encouraged to be a part of this horrific event, ensuring future generations will participate in this cruelty and destruction. The pilot whale meat consumed by the Faroese is not even safe for consumption and can cause mercury poisoning. What good comes out of this?

Here's what you can do to help:

- Little has been done to stop this massacre, please support an organization that is doing something. You can help Sea Shepherd on their next campaign in the Faroes by making a donation!

- If you can't donate, please spread the word! Share the link with others and encourage them to show their support! Remember, you can always help get the message out by becoming an Onshore Volunteer.

- Spread the word about "the grind," share the pictures...it isn't pleasant, but ignorance and closed eyes are parts of what allow cruelty like this to continue.

- Contact the Ministry of Fisheries and demand an end to the grind - fisk@fisk.fo. Also, contact Prime Minister Johanneson here - Info@tinganes.fo.
- Boycott tourism in the Faroes until this is ended!

“We will have crew on the beaches, on the water, under the water, and in the air...It is time to blow this horror show out of the water once and for all. The killing is a violation of the Berne Convention and Denmark needs to be brought to task. If the Faeroese are going to enjoy the benefits of the European Union, they need to abide by the laws of the European Union.”

- Captain Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd to Bring the Whale Wars to the Faeroe Islands

These Five Piglets Went to CJ Acres, Not the Market

2011-06-20T19:07:00.000-07:00

The piglets, at their new home, greeting visitors

Photo: Corey Mishler

The billions of animals that perish in the factory farming industry each year most often remain faceless, nameless beings that go from factory to plate. Every now and then, though, shocking stories of meat industry horrors or incredible rescues hit the news and grab the attention of the public. This particular story began in Durham, North Carolina, where a second chance came out of potential tragedy for five little piglets.

These pigs were five of many in a cramped truck headed to a slaughterhouse. Before they could reach that horrible end, they fell out of the truck onto busy Interstate 40 on a weekday morning. Several drivers reportedly made 911 calls reporting the pigs darting in and out of traffic. Durham police and animal control put the pigs into police cars and they were taken to Durham Animal Shelter. Their journey didn't end there. According to state law, the piglets had to be sold at auction when their "owner" did not come to claim them. So, up for auction they went, and as expected there were several bidders looking to turn them into bacon. Luckily for the piglets, and animal lovers everywhere, Lee and Jennifer Sackett of CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm had other plans. The "lead mares," as they call themselves, of CJ Acres (an all-volunteer nonprofit organization in Keystone Heights, FL) were able to win the bid for all five piglets and bring them safely to their new home.

Watch Lee and Jennifer bid to save the piglets (in the pouring rain)
Video: NBC-17

In total, CJ Acres paid $3200, which went to the Durham Animal Shelter to cover their costs. And the pigs? After a very long ride (but much better than how they were transported in the truck bound for the slaughterhouse), they arrived in paradise. CJ Acres is home to many animals, once abused or neglected, or saved from natural disaster or rescued from horrific factory farms. They are given clean water and food, affection and rehabilitation, the ability to socialize together and be out in the grass and sunlight...all things they would have been denied. The piglets are growing every day, and getting ready to join the "big pigs" on the farm. According to Theresa Krupa-Aiken, a dedicated CJ Acres volunteer and one of the "head mares": Maria, once a "gestation sow" at a factory farm, has already taken the babies in as her own and continues to greet them at the fence separating them until they are ready, and nuzzling her nose against theirs.

On Saturday, CJ Acres opened its fences to supporters for the Wine With The Swine event. Those lucky enough to be there got a tour of the farm and interacted with the wonderful animal residents, while also drinking animal-themed wines and enjoying delicious food (all vegan of course!). This was also the first chance to meet the five piglets: now named Ayden, Bumble, JJ, Hillman, and Hemmingway. They are no longer "products" or nameless beings suffering behind closed doors. They are beloved members of the CJ Acres family, and this weekend it was clear how loving, gentle, intelligent and forgiving these incredible animals are.

Safe and sound

Photo: Corey Mishler

What you can do:
- Support CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm! Please consider donating if you can.
- If you can't donate, you can still build support by sharing the link to the website on Facebook or Twitter! Tell others about this organization and what they do for animals! Also, check out their Herd Calendar, and stop by one of their events if you're close enough to the farm!
- You can help farm animals in a more general way by spreading the word about the horrific cruelty of factory farming and the benefits of a plant-based diet (not only for the animals, but for your health and the environment): Farm Sanctuary: Factory Farming, Vegan Outreach: Why Vegan.
- And of course, you can have a huge impact by going vegan! If you haven't yet begun your journey into a plant-based and cruelty-free diet, here are some links to help you have an easy transition! PCRM: 21-Day Vegan Kickstart, The Vegan Society: Become a Vegan.

"Every day at CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm, the caregivers are surrounded by happy animals. At morning feed, the horses prance around the barn knowing that fresh grain and hay will soon arrive in their stalls. The pigs squeal with delight at the prospect of getting fruit, vegetables and juice delivered right to their feed bowls. The ducks jockey for position to secure the best lettuce and get the first drink of fresh water.

Later in the day, the goats happily sun themselves on elevated decks. The barn cats joyfully stretch in-between (what else) catnaps. As dinnertime approaches, the chickens and turkeys merrily peck and scratch at the grain and corn thrown on the ground. The mood is positive, even though their pasts may not have been" - Lee Sackett, CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm

The Calgary Stampede

2011-06-13T18:17:00.000-07:00

The Calgary Stampede, billed as "the greatest outdoor show on Earth," could more accurately be described as "the most barbaric show on Earth." Rodeos are unquestionably cruel; terrified animals are forced in front of screaming crowds, and severely injured or killed. The Calgary Stampede just may be the cruelest of all.

Terrified calves are roped around the neck and violently pulled to the ground, where their legs are tied together

Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals

www.weanimals.org

It doesn't stop at calf-roping. Bulls and horses are injured, provoked and ridden around the ring. Steers are wrestled. They are not athletes or willing participants. They are victims. For more information, check out this link from the Vancouver Humane Society: The Calgary Stampede. You can also learn more from Humane Society International: Calgary Stampede Cruelty.

The Calgary Stampede is often referred to as some wonderful part of Canadian "culture," as if this event defines the nation. I'm sure there are many compassionate Canadians who want to see an end to cruelty toward defenseless animals, and would question this as a part of their culture. Granted, the stampede has been taking place for many years and rodeo fans continue to attend, but the term "culture" has been used too many times in attempts to justify acts of cruelty and violence. When a long-standing tradition is harmful and unnecessary, it is time to evolve past that tradition. Let's not forget that slavery was justified in the same way. We can choose to make changes and act with compassion.

A bull struggling as the rope around his neck is pulled

Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals

www.weanimals.org

Please join the fight against this horrific and unnecessary cruelty. Here are some quick ways that you can help!
- 'Like' the Calgary Stampede Facebook page to join other animal advocates commenting on why this needs to be stopped! Remember to be firm, but polite! Encourage responses and debate.
- Contact the CEO of Calgary Stampede, Vern Kimball - vkimball@calgarystampede.com. Or use the comment form on the website.
- Use this page from Vancouver Humane Society to send a letter to Bell Canada, the main sponsor of the Calgary Stampede. Explain to them why this event is cruel and ask them to no longer provide their support.
- Most importantly, do not attend the Calgary Stampede or other rodeo events! This continues only with money and support from those who attend and sponsor. Please encourage others to stop attending these events! Share these links!

Thank you to Jo-Anne McArthur and We Animals for the use of their wonderful photographs. You shed light on the suffering of animals and inspire action in their defense! Here is some more info on how you can help fight the stampede from We Animals - Calgary Stampede: Starting a Dialogue and Taking Action.

Sea Shepherd Defends the Tuna: Blue Rage 2011

2011-06-08T18:11:00.000-07:00

Following their huge success defending whales in Antarctica during Operation No Compromise, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has begun their latest campaign. Now, Operation Blue Rage has taken the Steve Irwin and the Brigitte Bardot to the coast of Libya to defend the endangered bluefin tuna.

The Steve Irwin and the Brigitte Bardot ready to stop the illegal tuna poachers

Photo: Josh Trentner/Sea Shepherd

You may be asking, "Why risk so much to defend tuna?" Well, here are some facts about the amazing bluefin tuna. Along with being one of the largest fish, bluefins are warm-blooded. They are an important part of the ocean ecosystem as one of the top predators, eating a wide variety of food sources and traveling long distances to feed. Bluefins usually live deep in the ocean, and can live to the age of 30 years old! For these reasons and more on why Sea Shepherd feels these fish need to be protected, check out this page: Why Defend Bluefins. You can also learn about the bluefin from National Geographic here: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna.

In March 2011, government attending the Convention on Internation Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) decided not to ban trade of bluefins, despite severe threats to their population. On top of that, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has determined that the bluefin does not need protection under the endangered species list. Despite all of this, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) continues to allow outrageous catch quotas for the fishing industry. The high market value of bluefins is huge incentive to continue poaching, and continues to increase as their population declines.

So, once again, Sea Shepherd steps up and does what the governments and regulation organizations will not do. This time, they enter into an area currently in a state of war. Despite the danger involved, the Sea Shepherd captains and crew will be there to stop the poachers and defend the defenseless. Although the ships have already entered in Libyan waters and begun their mission, you can still help protect the bluefins! Here's what you can do:
- Donate to the campaign!
- Follow Operation Blue Rage, and share the updates on your social media pages so that others can find out how to get involved!
- Stop consuming tuna! Encourage others to decrease or eliminate their seafood consumption to help stop depletion of the oceans. Remember that along with the massive amounts of fish that die in these fishing operations, there are countless marine species that die as unwanted "bycatch."
- You can help Sea Shepherd in a more general way by taking action! Apply to become an Onshore Volunteer or a member of the crew!

Photo: Gary Stokes/Sea Shepherd

“Any bluefin tuna seiner or holding cage found in Libyan waters will be intercepted, the nets will be cut open, and the fish will be released. This year it is zero tolerance towards these illegal poaching operations and any fish in any net we encounter in Libyan waters will be freed and released.” - Captain Paul Watson

New York Bill Latest to Target Cruelty Investigations

2011-06-01T17:35:00.000-07:00

New York is the latest in a string of states with proposed legislation targeting undercover investigators on farms. Similar bills have been introduced in Florida, Minnesota, and Iowa, with all but the latter defeated. Concerned individuals and organizations continue to oppose the Iowa bill. For more information, please read my previous blog on this topic: Documenting Cruelty to Animals...a Felony?!

Photo: Farm Sanctuary

New York's SB 5172, introduced by state Senator Patty Ritchie (R), would criminalize photographic, video, or audio recordings on farms without prior consent from the owner, like the other bills. However, this one also includes a bogus justification for this cruelty cover-up by citing a need to stop meth users from stealing fertilizer containing ammonia. Despite the reasoning these legislators are trying to sell to you, this bill, like the others, is a clear attempt to silence individuals and organizations exposing the horrific cruelty inflicted on animals on factory farms. Undercover investigations bring to light the atrocities inflicted on these animals and have been one of the only reasons that any legislation protecting farmed animals exists today.

For example, a recent investigation conducted by Mercy For Animals at E6 Cattle Co. in Texas documented on video unimaginable cruelty inflicted on calves by employees. These defenseless babies were bludgeoned on the head with hammers, beaten and thrown onto piles of other calves and left to die, left sitting in their own waste in tiny cages, and denied veterinary care despite infected wounds and illnesses. Calves also had their horns removed without any painkillers or anesthesia. Click the link above to learn more about this investigation, and share it with others. MFA's gathered evidence led to felony animal cruelty charges being brought against the owner and several employees of E6 Cattle Co. And even better, many of the calves have been rescued and can finally begin to know peace and safety. Click here to see some of the survivors now living at The Gentle Barn.

A calf's horns are removed without anesthesia

Photo: Mercy For Animals

Without the brave and compassionate activists and organizations that conduct these investigations, these animals will continue to suffer and die with no one to hear their cries. The investigators are not criminals; they're not terrorists. They cause no pain and death. They simply document the nightmare that factory farm animals are living in, and they show their findings to those who will hopefully step up and do what is right for these sentient beings. Please support their efforts, and help fight this bill. Here's what you can do:
- Contact members of the New York Senate Agriculture Committee and urge them not to support this bill! Feel free to use information given above, and you can even cite findings from previous investigations that revealed cruelty to animals.
- Use this link to find and contact your New York State Senator if you're a NY resident, and urge him/her not to support this bill!
- Share these links with others and ask them to join in the fight for the animals!
- In a more general way, you can help farmed animals by going vegetarian or vegan, or at least no longer buying meat and other animal products coming from factory farms. This industry can only continue to torture animals if we continue to support it!

Liz Marshall Talks "The Ghosts In Our Machine"

2011-05-26T20:08:00.000-07:00

I am honored to say that today's blog features an interview with director Liz Marshall about her groundbreaking multi-platform documentary: The Ghosts In Our Machine. Liz is an award-winning filmmaker who has brought to light important social justice and environmental issues with her films. Her most recent work, Water on the Table (2010), shines a spotlight on Maude Barlow's cause to make water available to everyone, a human right rather than a privilege or a product. Liz provided some insight into The Ghosts In Our Machine, still in development and growing each day. Here's what Liz had to say:

About the project of The Ghosts In Our Machine and its comparison to her other works:
This is a film and web narrative in development. I have created two trailers as teasers for the film. The developmental stage is so important to a social issue project like this. We are trying to reach a broad audience and bring to light the ghosts in our machine. They are the lowest of the low, the lowest on our radar. That's why I am so attracted to this. I don't think there's a more challenging project to take on. Like the mission says, it 'seeks to uncover the dark recesses of our anthropocentric society to illuminate the lives of individual animals used for human profit and consumption.".

I've always been drawn to exploring issues of social justice. I want to tackle significant global issues that matter. I am concerned with exploring. It's an excavation, a journey. I don't like to be didactic or newsy. I'm on a journey and I live and breathe the project and become consumed by it. I want to convey that to others and I hope they have a similar experience.

So many people don't want to think about or maybe don't know about the animals used in these industries and I'm convinced there's a real blind spot. There are so many animal lovers out there. They love their pets and they love whales and wolves and they donate to organizations that will protect them. Then they continue to eat meat from factory farms. I think there's a disconnect there.

Prior to Water on the Table, all of my work focused on people and their hardships and social issues. I think all of that matters and I care a great deal, but I also want to show that these creatures matter and deserve to be free of this suffering and exploitation. I have been vegetarian for most of my life and am still on the way to vegan. I am open and transparent about my journey. I don't need to say that my animal footprint is zero. My life partner has been vegan for many years and we have a vegan household. We like to say our house is totally "ghost-free."

On working with Jo-Anne McArthur - photographer, activist and the human subject of The Ghosts In Our Machine:
Jo-Anne has been a photographer and animal rights activist for decades. Her amazing project is We Animals. We have become friends and I have gotten to know her over a few years and have really grown an increasing respect for her commitment. Each one of her compositions is a portal, expressing emotion and posing moral questions in a powerful way.

I first had the idea to work with her on a film about a year and a half ago. My partner, Lorena, and I started talking about a film that would stand apart and really depict the plight of animals. It didn't fully click in my head until October 2010. I wanted to incorporate Jo-Anne's work into a project that wasn't just a film but a cross-platform documentary. The web component isn't just an extension of the film, but its own thing. It mirrors the message in the film. I want this to be a place where people can get educated. Some educational films leave you with a feeling of 'Okay..but what can I do?' The Ghosts In Our Machine will give people a dialogue around the issue. I hope that they can learn and experience the subject matter in an emotional way. Jo-Anne's photographs and her journey are the portal for that. She will be shooting in Europe, the United States and Canada to photograph animals used in industry for food, fashion, entertainment, and biomedical research and consumer product testing. There won't be a focus just on the industries as a whole, but on individual animals. I want to get up close and personal with them, and have them take up a lot of space in the film.

Jo-Anne McArthur plays with Norman

I'm so excited about the rest of the team that is coming on board. I can't announce all of their names yet because it is still preliminary, but there are people in my industry that I really respect and they're saying that this project has a lot of potential. It makes me hopeful that this will be able to go mainstream, and that is really the goal, to bring this to light. It is a point of view film but at the same time, we want to bear witness to the truth but not frighten people. I want people to feel they want to watch this. I want it to be accessible but not lose the integrity.

On what she hopes you will take away from your experience:
I really want to inspire people to be conscious consumers. I hope that The Ghosts In Our Machine will first touch their hearts, and then that people will make a decision in their daily lives to change their consumer habits. That can lead to less suffering and hopefully phasing out of these incredibly barbaric industrial practices.

On a spiritual level, the question here is: are animals property or are they sentient beings? And if they are sentient beings, what does that mean? How do you then change your interaction with them and your consumer habits that impact them? I feel it is a paradigm shift that needs to happen. It was important to have a human as the main subject of the film. It will resonate with the audience and give them something to hold on to. Jo-Anne travels and photographs animals all over the world, often on her own. Her journey will help guide the story of these animals and the look into their lives.

On the animal subjects of The Ghosts In Our Machine:
One of the animals featured is already on the website, on our ghosts section. Her name is Maggie and she is the most adorable beagle. She was adopted by Mark and Melanie after being used for biomedical research. Maggie was bred in Texas specifically to be used for research, and then sent to a university where they usually euthanize the dogs after they are finished experimenting on them.

Maggie, with the numbers branded on her ear at the research lab still visible on her ear

Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur

In Maggie's section, we also have more information on beagles used in research. I feel it's important that we back up what is said with facts and educate. Mark and Melanie will also be rescuing another beagle. We will be going back to film. Other animals included are a mink on a fur farm in Europe, and a downed animal rescued at Farm Sanctuary in New York. I hope to go there and spend a few months capturing the healing process, depicting the animal surrounded by these incredible activists in an almost magical place. It is really exciting to be able to film that and capture the sentient nature of the animal and the beauty of the people. There will be a lot of difficult subject matter, so it's important to have that beauty. Gene Baur is one of our Animal Ambassadors, and I am proud to have him involved. I have such tremendous respect for Farm Sanctuary and what they do.

In regards to animals used in entertainment, I didn't want to just focus on the common, popular issues. I'm glad that issues like dolphins in captivity are coming into the public eye with movies like The Cove. I wanted to uncover the gray zone though. There is a man with a parrot with clipped wings. He has the bird as a pet and he seems to love him. But he has the parrot perform tricks for people all day long. I want the audience to look at that and question.

On where the project is right now and what you can do to help:

We hope to start production sometime in the fall ideally. The traditional model is to not go public with a project until production and unveil the final product at the end. I wanted this to be about the process. We are in our infancy, but it is constantly becoming more articulate and clear as we go and I want the audience to be a part of the process.

People who feel moved by The Ghosts In Our Machine can literally help us realize our next step. You can go to our IndieGoGo fundraising campaign and help by donating, we are trying to reach $12,000. You can use your PayPal account or your credit card.

I hope that people will also watch the new trailer that I just cut featuring Jo-Anne McArthur. Other ways you can get involved include joining our Facebook group and following our Twitter feed. Social media sites are really important tools. I hope that people will plug-in to them and we can get connected. I'm on these every day and I really want to foster the relationship with the audience all the way through the project. I am committed to that and I am on this journey too.

- Thank you, Liz, for your amazing talk and for the work you are doing to uncover the lives of animals used in the cruel industries of our modern world! You are an inspiration. Readers, please spread the word about The Ghosts In Our Machine and donate if you can! Here is the new trailer, please watch & share:

THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE [trailer 02] from THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE on Vimeo.

Help Free Great Apes from Research Labs

2011-05-15T16:49:00.000-07:00

A bill is currently in the United States House of Representatives that could potentially end the horrors of experimentation on chimpanzees. The U.S. is the only industrialized nation in the world that continues to conduct experiments on chimpanzees. The Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act (H.R. 1513), introduced by Representative Roscoe Bartlett, is an attempt to change that shameful fact.

Photo: Frans Lanting/National Geographic

The bill would prohibit invasive research on any great ape. This includes not only chimpanzees, but also bonobos, gorillas, orangutans, and gibbons. "Invasive research" has been defined as any research that "may cause death, injury, pain, distress, fear or trauma."Along with ending invasive research on these sentient beings, the bill also calls for an end to all federal funding of this research in or outside of the United States, and prohibits the breeding of or transportation of great apes for the purpose of invasive research. One of the best parts of this proposed legislation? All great apes currently owned by or under control of the U.S. government for research would be permanently retired and cared for in sanctuaries. The bill even defines "sanctuary" as a place for retired and abused or neglected animals in which they will not be experimented on, used for entertainment, put in traveling exhibits, allowed to be in physical contact with the public, bred with other animals, or used in commercial activity.

This act would be revolutionary. It would end years and years of horrible cruelty inflicted on primates of remarkable intelligence, emotional complexity, and strong social ties. Great apes who have spent years in research laboratories could retire to sanctuaries where they would be safe from pain and suffering and the cruelty of vivisection. There are so many new technologies available to the world of science and medicine that can replace the use of animals in research, and there is no excuse for the cruelty inflicted on animals in the name of "learning." We have the power to free these animals from their prisons and here's what you can do:

Please support this bill! Contact your representatives and senators and ask that they support H.R. 1513! This link will help you determine who you should contact. You can also use PETA's pre-written letter to elected officials regarding the bill, but it helps if you add some of your own words! Share these links with others and ask them call or email too! Educate others about great apes and why they suffer at the hands of experimenters and slowly die in research labs. Many of these animals end up in research facilities after their families are killed and they are ripped from their natural environment; make sure people know that and do what they can to end this nightmare! Please also visit the Jane Goodall Institute to find out more you can do to help the great apes (as well as humans and the environment around us all!). Save the Chimps is another great organization to support.

Jane Goodall with Jou Jou

Photo: Michael Nichols

"And if we dare to look into those eyes, then we shall feel their suffering in our hearts. More and more people have seen that appeal and felt it in their hearts. All around the world there is an awakening of understanding and compassion, and understanding that reaches out to help the suffering animals in their vanishing homelands. That embraces hungry, sick, and desperate human beings, people who are starving while the fortunate among us have so much more than we need. And if, one by one, we help them, the hurting animals, the desperate humans, then together we shall alleviate so much of the hunger, fear, and pain in the world. Together we can bring change to the world, gradually replacing fear and hatred with compassion and love. Love for all living beings." - Dr. Jane Goodall

Florida's Cruelty Cover-Up Bill is Dead!

2011-05-09T16:30:00.000-07:00

With animal cruelty still so rampant, and animal activists and advocates almost constantly hit with bad news for their animal friends, it feels great when news of a victory is announced! Days with a win for animals are days to celebrate. Today is one of those days!

One of the living, breathing reasons to celebrate this victory!

Photo: Farm Sanctuary

Senator Jim Norman (R) of Florida introduced SB 1246 in February 2011 and the bill, if passed, would have prohibited any individual from entering a farm and taking video or photographs without prior written consent from the owner of the farm. The bill was instantly declared unconstitutional by animal law groups as well as other organizations. After revisions to the proposed legislation, it passed the state Senate but has now officially died in the state House of Representatives.

Defenders of farm animals everywhere are celebrating this victory over a clear attempt to silence those who seek to uncover animal cruelty committed on farms.

My sincere thank you's and congratulations to everyone who helped fight this bill. For your calls, emails, letters, protests, and your dedication, thank you!

A big thank you to the organizations that helped to lead the fight against this bill targeting animal activists and hiding cruelty from the public eye: Farm Sanctuary, Humane Society of the United States, Mercy for Animals, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm, and more!

For the animals.

What you can do: This battle has been won, but there are similar bills in Iowa and Minnesota. Click on these links from Mercy for Animals and the Humane Society of the United States to find out what you can do to help defeat these bills as well!

The Cruelty of Horse Racing

2011-05-07T16:23:00.000-07:00

Today seems like the perfect day to talk about horse racing. You may be watching the 137th Kentucky Derby today, and if you are, take a few minutes to learn the truth behind the horse racing industry.

Horse "trainers" and fans of horse racing will tell you that these animals are "athletes" who love the "sport" of racing. Unlike humans, horses don't choose to take part in racing and they certainly don't choose the life that they get along with it. Racing horses are trained from an early age and injected with steroids to increase their strength and speed. Their weight can become massive and difficult for their thin legs to support. They often suffer injuries from being pushed to keep training and racing past the point of pain and exhaustion. Medications are given to mask the pain so that these "athletes" can continue to race. And if they just can't anymore? Well, then they're considered useless and are either euthanized or sold at auction. Most are not lucky enough to go to a loving home with caring humans; most are bought to be slaughtered for meat. Their meat is used in dog food or is eaten as a delicacy in some countries. Read more about this cruel industry here from the Humane Society of the United States: Horse Deaths Signal Need for Reform and from PETA: Horse Racing.

A particularly heartbreaking example of the horrors of horse racing: Eight Belles, a 3-year-old female who suffered fractures to both front ankles during the 2008 Kentucky Derby and was euthanized right on the track. Anyone who was watching or has seen the footage knows Eight Belles was in extreme pain and terrified. She was running at full speed, being whipped by her jockey as all of the horses experience, when her front legs bent and she collapsed onto the track.

Eight Belles lies injured on the race track, about to be euthanized

Photo: Brian Bohannon/AP

Only two years earlier, Barbaro, a Kentucky Derby winner, broke one of his rear legs in the Preakness Stakes. He underwent surgery but later died of complications resulting from his injury. Four-year-old Barbaro went through months of pain and suffering.

Please consider what these horses endure before you continue to support this industry. These are sentient beings capable of pain and emotion and they are forced to perform through pain and injury, until they are of no use to humans and can be sold or killed. There is no excuse for cruelty, and it should never be considered entertainment.

What you can do: Boycott horse racing, and racing of any other animals. Encourage others to do the same. Share information about the cruelty involved; here is a link that you can share: The Horseracing Industry: Drugs, Deception and Death. Protest races happening near you and invite others to join you! Lobby against tracks that are to be built and lobby for regulations protecting animals used for racing or seeking to end animal racing!

The tragic loss of Eight Belles, one of many victims of the horse racing industry

Update on "Dogs Wars" App - It's Back.

2011-05-02T16:37:00.000-07:00

Amidst outrage from organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Humane Society of the United States, and American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as well as many concerned individuals, Google removed the disgusting dog-fighting app "Dog Wars" from the Android Market. However...the victory for dogs was short-lived...

The picture featured on the Android Market site for the newly named KG Dogfighting

Photo: Kage Games

The game has been put back up by Kage Games under the new name "KG Dogfighting". Read more about the game here from the Los Angeles Times: 'Dog Wars' Android app still 'sick, disgusting,' even under new name , LAPD union boss says.

What you can do: Continue to boycott the app! The name may have changed but it's still the same horrible game promoting cruelty and violence. Encourage others to boycott the game as well as other Android apps until Google has removed the game from its site. Contact Google and ask that the game be removed immediately! Explain the dangers of promoting dog-fighting and what becomes of the victims of this horrible cruelty.

“Android should drop ‘Dog Wars’ from its online market and join the national movement to save dogs from this violent practice. Because “Dog Wars” actually instructs players on how to condition a dog using methods that are standard in organized dogfighting, this game may be a virtual training ground for would-be dogfighters. Its timing and message are all wrong.” - Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States

SeaWorld's Conservation: 24 Orcas dead in 25 years

2011-05-01T10:15:00.000-07:00

Orcas "perform" in SeaWorld's new show "One Ocean"

Photo Credit: Katherine McElroy

SeaWorld's newest orca show, "One Ocean" has opened at the Orlando location, and Earth Day was selected as its start date. Why? SeaWorld is promoting this new show as a way to teach the public about the importance of the ocean, and that humans and animals are all connected by one ocean and one Earth. The need for humans to share the ocean with its inhabitants is emphasized. Read more about "One Ocean" here: New SeaWorld show 'One Ocean' debuted Friday.

That message is pretty ironic when you consider SeaWorld's record. Tilikum, an orca still being used in SeaWorld's shows, has repeatedly responded to the stress of captivity with aggression toward trainers, the most well-known being Dawn Brancheau who was killed in February of 2010 when Tilikum pulled her under the water. Clearly, this whale, along with any other, does not belong in captivity interacting with humans. It is unfortunate that SeaWorld has cost someone her life as well as imprisoned and enslaved highly intelligent and complex animals. Along with Brancheau's death, several orcas in SeaWorld's "care" died in 2010. Three died in the span of only four months, and there have been 24 orcas lost in the past 25 years at SeaWorld.

These tragedies must cause people to question SeaWorld, and any other facility that holds marine mammals in captivity. These are animals of extremely high intelligence and complex social lives. They swim for thousands of miles in the ocean. They hear through vibrations, which in captivity bounce off tank walls causing pain and disorientation. Many refuse to eat, or become aggressive or begin to self-injure. Is all of this cruelty and suffering worth an hour of entertainment for humans? Why would you find it entertaining to watch an enslaved animal perform "tricks" for you? I ask you to think about how these animals got from the ocean to their new captive environment, about what you're teaching your family when you bring them to a place like SeaWorld. A better way to teach them the importance of the ocean and its wildlife, as SeaWorld claims to be emphasizing, is to teach them about where whales and dolphins truly belong and what captivity is like for them.

What else you can do: Boycott SeaWorld! Don't go to aquariums or "swim with the dolphins" programs or anywhere or shows where captive animals perform. Taking away the money that keeps them in business is the only thing that has the power to stop them! Spread the message to others.; share this link from the Humane Society of the United States: Marine Mammals in Captivity. Instead of seeing these beautiful animals in tanks, go on a whale-watching tour and see them as they are meant to be: freely swimming in the ocean! Support groups like the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society or The Black Fish who work to save whales and other marine wildlife and conserve our oceans. Captivity is NOT conservation, despite what SeaWorld would have you believe.

An orca swims free

Photo Credit: Bob Talbot

"We owe it to our children to be better stewards of the environment. The alternative? - A world without whales. It's too terrible to imagine" - Pierce Brosnan.

"Dog Wars": Dogfighting is NOT a Game!

2011-04-25T17:55:00.000-07:00

The Android Market, Google's store of apps, now includes "Dog Wars." With this disgusting app, from Kage Games, you can "feed, water, train and FIGHT your virtual dog against other player's." Read the game description here on the Android Market site: Dog Wars - Beta. Players earn "cash" and "street cred" or "police heat" as their dogs fight.

The game is drawing outrage from animal rights organizations and concerned individuals who feel this will glamorize dogfighting and encourage users to subject dogs to this horrible cruelty. Many people have already voiced their demand to have the game removed.

Photo Credit: Kage Games, LLC.

Pitbulls have gotten a reputation as vicious fighters because of heartless humans who subject them to violence and harsh "training" to make them more aggressive and willing to fight other dogs on command. The loyalty that these dogs will show to their humans is exploited and used for profit and "entertainment" as the dogs fight to the death. Dogs who refuse to fight or lose fights are often brutally beaten, killed, left to die, or used as bait for other dogs. Here is some more information on dogfighting from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Dog Fighting FAQ. NFL player Michael Vick is likely the most infamous example, but dogfighting is an all-too-common event. And, by the way, even Vick has joined in the campaign against Dog Wars: Even Michael Vick wants Google to dump dog-fighting app.

What you can do:

First and most important, don't buy or use this app! Any support that the game gets will only add to its time on the Android Market. Encourage others to boycott Kage Games as well! Report Dog Wars to the Android Market and ask that it be removed. Explain firmly but politely why this game is harmful. Share the link with others and ask that they report the app too! You can also use PETA's letter form to contact Google about the app.

In a more general way, you can help pitbulls (and other breeds used for this horrible cruelty) by talking to others about dogfighting and the reality of the breed. When any dog is raised knowing only abuse and violence, they can become aggressive and dogs obey the commands of the humans that they love and trust (or fear). Show this link from Best Friends Animal Society to others: The Vicktory Dogs. Even the pitbulls rescued from the hell that was Michael Vick's dogfighting ring turned back into gentle and trusting dogs when given kindness and care. It's beautiful to read their story of horror, pain, rescue, and rehabilitation. You can find more information on pitbulls here from The Positive Pitbull.

Lucas, one of the Vicktory Dogs, sporting both his scars and a happy face now

Photo Credit: Best Friends

Remember, you can always find a pitbull in need of a loving home on Petfinder.com! There are too many in shelters right now and they are often the first to be euthanized. Please consider opening your home (and your heart) to one of these incredible dogs.

Bunnies are Not Easter Toys!

2011-04-24T06:48:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit: Orlando Rabbit Care and Adoptions, Inc.

Every year after Easter Sunday, animal shelters take in thousands of unwanted and neglected rabbits (and sometimes chicks and ducks) that were given as presents and then quickly forgotten. Rabbits are adorable and many people rush out to get one, completely ignorant regarding the care that they need.

Rabbits are too often thought of as a "simple pet" that does not need the amount of veterinary care, food, and attention that dogs and cats require. However, if you have ever had a rabbit, you know that's not true! Rabbits need grooming (especially with longer fur), a constant supply of hay along with feedings of vegetables, veterinary care, shelter from heat or cold as they are very sensitive to changes and extremes in temperature, and lots of attention! They can live up to ten years so be prepared for a long commitment!

Rabbits also can be easily frightened and need gentle handling for their delicate bodies. They are not recommended for young children who don't always know to be extra careful with rabbits. Loud noises and sudden movements can be terrifying; imagine having the size and vulnerability of a bunny, you'd be scared too!

What you can do:
There are many rabbits in need of a loving home. If you do decide to bring one of them into your family, please do some reading about the care that they need and talk to anyone else who will be responsible for their care. This is a good source of information from the Humane Society of the United States for anyone soon to have a new rabbit friend: Rabbit Care and Behavior Tips. Once that's done, remember that it's always better to adopt than to buy! Check out Petfinder.com to find a rabbit that needs someone like you!

There are other Easter presents to give to your loved ones! Check out this delicious vegan Easter basket from PETA! Also, spread the message to others about the dangers of giving rabbits or other live animals as Easter gifts! People you know may simply be unaware of the care that these animals require and may be acting with ignorance but good intentions. Rabbits are silent so be their voice!!

Also, share this video with others who are considering a rabbit for their newest family member:

Video: Rabbit Care, Humane Society of the United States

A Sea Shepherd Benefit Dinner!

2011-04-19T17:39:00.000-07:00

Readers! If you happen to be close enough to St. Augustine, FL (or can get there) on Sunday, May 22nd, this is a great event to attend while showing your support for Sea Shepherd! Enjoy amazing vegan food courtesy by the Present Moment Cafe and talk with Onshore Volunteers about how you can get more involved and support Sea Shepherd's direct action conservation efforts for the oceans!

Sea Shepherd Sails On

2011-04-17T06:10:00.000-07:00

After a very successful 2010-2011 campaign in Antarctica, bringing an early ending to Japan's whaling season in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary and saving over 800 lives, Sea Shepherd has been preparing for their next efforts to save our oceans! Sea Shepherd Fleet Sets Sail for Upcoming Campaigns.

The Steve Irwin is headed to the Mediterranean Sea to defend endangered bluefin tuna and oppose illegal fishing operations. Read more about Operation Blue Rage and why it's important to defend the threatened bluefin.

The Bob Barker is preparing for its campaign in Palau defending the world's very first shark sanctuary. Sea Shepherd has partnered with the Republic of Palau's Division of Marine Law Enforcement in their efforts to protect sharks from illegal fishing. Learn more about the millions of sharks killed each year and the importance of defending the one of the top predators of the sea: Defending Sharks.

Captain Paul Watson and Sea Shepherd CEO Steve Roest sign a partnership agreement with Palau's President Johnson Toribiong and the Council of Chiefs

Photo Credit: Sea Shepherd/Steve Roest

Last but not least, the Gojira, after making a visit to Sea Shepherd Galapagos, is on its way through the Panama Canal and on to the Mediterranean Sea to join the Steve Irwin for Operation Blue Rage.

The Gojira enters Puerto Ayora in the beautiful Galapagos Islands

Photo Credit: Sea Shepherd/Simon Ager

What you can do: You can support Sea Shepherd's conservation efforts by donating! You can specify a campaign you'd like your donation to benefit, or simply that it should go to the area of greatest need. Visit the Support Us page to find out all the ways you can donate. One of the best ways to show your support is to become a member of the Direct Action Crew, the automatic monthly donation program (you'll get a free t-shirt too!). You can also support Sea Shepherd by visiting the online store and getting some merchandise! An important way to help is to donate items listed on the Wishlist and In-Kind Items page. These are supplies needed for campaigns and at headquarters in Friday Harbor, WA.

Another way to get involved is to become an Onshore Volunteer. If you can't go to sea, you can still help Sea Shepherd by participating in outreach and encouraging others to support the cause! Fill out an onshore volunteer application today! If you are able to go to sea (and are feeling very brave), why not join the crew?! Those interested in crewing at sea must submit a crew application, fee, and waiver forms.

Check the event calendar at www.seashepherd.org to keep up to date with events that may be happening near you so you can go and show your support!

Interview with Gary Loewenthal, Founder of Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale

2011-04-05T18:30:00.000-07:00

Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale has quickly become a great way organizations and individuals can use vegan treats to make a difference around the world! A Dog's Eye View got the chance to ask WVBS founder Gary Loewenthal a few questions about this incredible annual event, named "Veg Event of the Year" in 2009 by VegNews Magazine and featured on CNN.com in 2010. Read on to see what Gary has to say and learn how you can get involved!

http://www.veganbakesale.org/

1. WW Vegan Bake Sale started in 2009 and has already grown to be a huge annual event in the vegan world! How did this all start?

When our Compassion for Animals group started in late 2008, our original plan was just to do some leafleting and tabling, maybe occasional protests. During our first meeting, while kicking around ideas, someone suggested that we have a bake sale. I loved the idea, because it combines a well-known tradition, delicious food, and positive vegan outreach.

I had no experience organizing a bake sale, so I surfed the web for articles. I saw that there were some national networks of bake sales for specific causes, and a thought popped into my head about organizing a national vegan bake sale. I liked how that sounded but it seemed like quite an overreach for our brand new, tiny group. So, in my head, I simplified it (from an administrative standpoint) by deciding that each participating group could choose its own charity; I figured that would make it more attractive to potential participants as well. Also in my head I changed it to a North American vegan bake sale, to include Canada and Mexico.

I discussed the concept with my colleagues, we expanded it to the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale (WVBS), picked some dates, and just started doing it, with high hopes but low expectations, and not really sure what would happen.

2. This year's events are sure to be bigger than ever! How many groups are hosting bake sales and in how many cities around the world?

Last year at this time we had about 85 groups signed up and that’s exactly where we are this year. However we got a surge in the last three weeks last year, and ended up with 140 bake sales, including some that occurred later than the official week-plus date range (about which we’re not strict )… so we’ll see what happens this year.

The WVBS has grown in other ways this year. For the first time, we have some companion animal organizations holding participating. One bake sale is part of a neighborhood, kid-run lemonade stand. The all-vegan REWILD cruelty-free club in Rome is having a nine-day vegan bake sale. And we just associated with a great online bake sale. Like last year, there are participating groups on six continents.

3. One of the great things about Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale is that many groups are donating their proceeds to charity, like aid for the victims of the recent disaster in Japan. What are some of the charities that will be receiving proceeds this year?

Vegan bake sales have proven to be powerful fundraisers in response to natural disasters. I haven’t tallied all the numbers but the vegan bake sales just from this last weekend probably raised ten thousand dollars for Japan. But bake sales associated with the WVBS raise money for a wide variety of causes. Animal sanctuaries use the bake sales to raise funds for the care of their animals and outreach activities. During the past three years, a number of bake sales have donated their proceeds to human health charities. Humane societies and companion animal rescue groups are popular causes for participating bake sales. Some bake sale proceeds this year and in past years have gone to local environmental efforts. This year, as last year, some participants are donating proceeds to special needs child development centers and various humanitarian programs.

Note that participants in the WVBS are not required to reveal how their proceeds will be used or how much money they raised.

4. Can those interested in hosting a bake sale still get involved for 2011? How do you go about hosting an event?

Yes! Please do! Even if you can’t make it in time for the “official” dates of April 23 through May 1, we would be happy and honored to have you spread the love after that. The signup form is at http://www.veganbakesale.org/veganbakesale/vbs-signup.html. We have an ever-growing list of bake sale tips at http://www.veganbakesale.org/veganbakesale/vbs-links-bake-sale-tips.html.

Securing a location is generally job number one. In addition to classic locations such as in front of grocery stores, consider non-traditional places such as the lobby of your office building, an art gallery, or a block party. If you’re a student, you can have your bake sale at school; if you’re a regular member of a congregation, you can hold your bake sale at your house of worship. The bake sale tip page has lots more suggestions. This is a bit of an oversimplification, but once you’ve got your location, you’ve practically got your bake sale.

5. How do you suggest that participants promote their bake sale and get people or organizations involved?

The aforementioned tips page has all kinds of suggestions for promotion and finding volunteers. Use a combination of social and local media. Contact vegan and vegetarian groups in the area. Quite a few vegan bake sales have resulted from collaborations in The Post Punk Kitchen forum. Ask non-vegan friends and co-workers who bake if they’d like to donate baked goods – that can be a great opportunity for “cookbook outreach” (and keep in mind that we have links to over 1000 vegan baking recipes here). Do the same with local bakeries, even if they’re not vegan – another outreach opportunity. You can use our Facebook wall to put out a call for bakers even before you’ve signed up to participate. This is just the tip of the iceberg; many more hints are on our vegan bake sale tips page.

6. Since this is the Worldwide VEGAN Bake Sale, what are things that cannot be included in the baked goods sold (for people who aren't totally sure of what is and isn't vegan)?

The main products to leave out are eggs and dairy. We also ask bakers not to use honey. There are a few other non-vegan ingredients that are less common in baked goods to avoid, such as gelatin in some candies. Our “gotchas” page lists a number of products that a non-vegan or new vegan might assume are vegan but are not.

Fortunately, there’s no shortage of vegan recipes for just anything you can imagine selling at a bake sale. Or you can veganize recipes. Generally, any nondairy milk works great as a substitute for cow’s milk. It’s easy to make vegan buttermilk with nondairy milk and lemon juice or vinegar. Here is a handy guide to using vegan binders such as applesauce or ground flax seeds mixed with water instead of eggs.

7. What do you suggest to people who would like to be involved but aren't so skilled at baking? :)

Ask friends, family members, and colleagues who bake; work out deals with bakeries; create baked goods from mixes—judiciously, as results may vary. Know that many bake sale favorites, such as chocolate chip or peanut butter cookies, are fairly easy to make. We even have a section on the web site called Bake Sales for Non-Bakers.

Keep in mind that bake sales don’t have to be huge. Every vegan bake sale, of any size, can be a fun and rewarding combination of community, creativity, outreach, and fundraising. A few friends, a location, a table, some miscellaneous supplies, and you’re in business.

8. Is there anything else you would like readers to know about Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale?

The power and excitement of the WVBS is dependent on the number of bake sales more than anything else. If you were toying with the idea of holding a bake sale as part of the WVBS this year, I hope this interview has persuaded you to go for it.

Consistently, participants in the WVBS report that they had a great time raising money for a good cause and introducing people to the deliciousness and diversity of vegan baked goods. The community aspect of vegan bake sales – meeting neighbors, swapping recipes, working on a successful joint project – cannot be overstated. Vegan bake sales are low-stress yet effective forms of vegan outreach, and the effect is magnified when your bake sale is linked to all the other vegan bake sales taking place around the world.

Feel free to contact me at gary@veganbakesale.org if you have any questions about the WVBS, or if there’s anything my colleagues and I can do to help you bring your vegan bake sale to fruition, or to help promote it so it can achieve awesome success.

There are two more very important ways you can help the WVBS:

1 – Peruse the schedule and see if there are any bake sales near you. Bake sale teams can almost always use more bakers and other volunteers.
2 – Visit the nearest vegan bake sale, buy some scrumptious baked goods, and support your local, talented, hard-working, cruelty-free bakers!

A Ban on Wild Animals in Circuses in the UK!

2011-04-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a lot of bad news for animals lately. Live turtles and fish sold in keychains, GoDaddy's CEO killing an elephant and bragging to the world about it, and the start to yet another season of seal hunting in Canada with an increased kill quota (despite a huge drop in demand for seal products). But, today, some great news!

Within a few weeks, an announcement will be made about a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses in the United Kingdom! This is wonderful news for animals forced to travel in extreme weather and cramped conditions to hundreds of performances where they entertain humans with "tricks" that are so unnatural to them. Elephants, tigers, lions, monkeys and more are taken from their natural environments and their families to be kept in captivity, endure day after day of "training" in which they are scared and beaten so that they will perform for their cruel "trainers." Learn more here about the cruelty of circuses and watch the revealing video from Animal Defenders International (ADI) that exposed violence and horrific conditions at the Bobby Roberts Super Circus in the UK.

A still photo from ADI's video footage of a circus employee viciously kicking an elephant

Photo Credit: Animal Defenders International

A similar ban in China was announced in January, along with stricter regulations on animal treatment in China's zoos. Now, let's hope that here in the United States and in other countries, circuses featuring animal performances are banned as well!

What you can do: There has been well-documented evidence of cruelty at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus among other circuses. Learn more and see videos of undercover investigation at Ringling at www.ringlingbeatsanimals.com and make sure you share the site with others! You can also use this page to contact the USDA and ask that they seize Ringling's abused elephants and send them to a sanctuary. Ask your friends and family to do the same! Tell others about the cruelty of life in the circus for animals and ask them to no longer support circuses that feature animals! Remember, there are circuses that use only human participants, like Cirque du Soleil! If a circus is coming to a town near you, organize or participate in a protest! Contact venues scheduled to host the circus and inform them of the cruelty (show them some of the video investigations if possible) and ask that they cancel circus appearances.

One of the most important ways you can help these animals is to no longer go to the circuses abusing them! Animals suffer and often die in captivity so find cruelty-free entertainment instead of going to circuses, zoos and aquariums!

A baby elephant undergoing "training" at Ringling Bros. by being prodded with metal hooks and pulled on ropes tied around his legs and waist

Photo Credit: PETA

"Bears, elephants, tigers, and other animals do not voluntarily ride bicycles, stand on their heads, balance on balls, or jump through rings of fire. They don't perform these and other difficult tricks because they want to; they perform them because they're afraid of what will happen if they don't. For animals in circuses, there is no such thing as "positive reinforcement"—only varying degrees of punishment and deprivation. To force them to perform these meaningless and physically uncomfortable tricks, trainers use whips, tight collars, muzzles, electric prods, bullhooks, and other painful tools of the trade." - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Circuses

A Dog's Eye View is Now on Twitter!

2011-04-02T12:17:00.000-07:00

Are you following A Dog's Eye View on Twitter yet? Follow all the blog updates and other news!

Twitter: @ADogsEyeView

And if you haven't already, please go like the A Dog's Eye View Facebook page!

Please share these pages with your friends! Social networking is a great way to spread the message of compassion for your fellow earthlings! Thank you!

Live Turtles and Fish Sold as Keychains

2011-04-02T08:51:00.000-07:00

A Brazil turtle sealed in a plastic pouch on a keyring to be sold

Photo Credit: Li Bo

There sometimes seems to be no limit to the cruelty and suffering that humankind can (and will) inflict on animals. This week, news of live animals being sold as keychains in China has outraged anyone with a sense of compassion for other sentient beings.

Brazil turtles and kingfish are sealed in plastic pouches filled with dyed water (sellers claim that this water is colored due to nutrients that have been placed in the water) and placed on a keyring. These animals die of starvation, suffocation or trauma from being swung around or hit into other objects. Apparently though these "keychains" are becoming popular and are widely sold in markets in China. Read the full story here: Live Animals Being Sold as Keyrings in China.

Unfortunately, there are daily examples of animal abuse and of the ability of humankind to completely destroy other life. Sometimes, though, examples like this make you wonder how low humans can sink. What can be said for the relationship with our fellow earthlings when they're being sold as products in the streets, left to die in plastic pouches like they're nothing more than a keychain to be carried around?

I ask that you please think of the animals and ecosystems around you as other life, not products to be used for your every whim. These turtles and fish have the capacity to suffer and the will to live just like you, and just like every other animal. Encourage others around you to make more compassionate decisions, and start with yourself. You don't have to make an immediate jump to veganism to be more compassionate to animals and the earth shared with them; start with every day choices that will make a difference. If you see cruelty, speak up, do what you can. We can be a voice for those who cannot speak and we can defend the defenseless.

GoDaddy CEO's "Heroic" Elephant Hunt

2011-04-01T17:46:00.000-07:00

GoDaddy CEO Bob Parsons would have you believe that he kills elephants out of the kindness of his heart. He's been busy lately defending a graphic video of him killing an elephant in Zimbabwe.

GoDaddy CEO Bob Parsons

Photo Credit: CBS/Getty Images

Parsons regularly hunts in Africa, but says that he is doing the villagers a favor by "managing" the herd populations which are a threat to local crops. He even feels he's a hero of sorts to the people of Zimbabwe. Read more about the video and Parsons' "heroic" hunts here: GoDaddy CEO: Elephant hunts help the locals. Parsons himself posted the video and a picture of himself with the elephant after he was killed on his blog.

Animal rights groups are outraged over the justifications given for the killing of this and other elephants hunted by Parsons and point out that nonlethal methods have been used to manage elephant-human conflicts. Groups including PETA and Humane Society of the United States have dropped accounts with GoDaddy and are asking that you do the same!

What you can do: Take your business elsewhere! In response to this news, several domain hosting websites have offered to donate to Save The Elephants when you open an account with them! These sites include DomainIt.com (use coupon code DomainitCares) and FatCatServers.com (use coupon code NODADDY). Encourage others currently using GoDaddy to make the switch, and to contact GoDaddy and let them know WHY they no longer want to do business with them! You can also sign the petition to Bob Parsons demanding an end to his elephant hunts. You can also use PETA's letter form to contact Parons.

If you want to help elephants in general, please learn more about ways you can help from Save the Elephants and Humane Society. Check out the wonderful documentary How I Became an Elephant (release coming soon)and share the link with others. Donate to organizations working in elephant conservation and protection. Educate others about the dangers of poaching, elephant captivity and ivory trade.

Vegan is on the Martha Stewart Show (and everywhere else these days!)

2011-03-30T17:09:00.000-07:00

Veganism seems to be working its way into the mainstream! Once labeled a "radical" lifestyle, or assumed to be only for "treehuggers" (what's wrong with being a treehugger?!), veganism is becoming a more and more popular way to get healthy while being eco- and animal-friendly!

Martha Stewart, the latest in big TV names to feature veganism

Photo Credit: PR Photos

Today, vegan was the topic du jour on the Martha Stewart Show! Guests included vegans Biz Stone (cofounder of Twitter), Kathy Freston (author of The Veganist) and Gene Baur (President and cofounder of Farm Sanctuary). Martha also mentioned that her daughter is a vegan! While she herself remains an omnivore, maybe what she learned from her vegan guests will persuade a compassionate change in diet!

Biz Stone cooked up a seitan bourguignon, while Kathy Freston prepared fruit and nut bars. It's great to see healthy and animal-friendly recipes showing up on TV more often! However, I must point out that honey (NOT vegan!) was used when making Kathy's fruit and nut bars. In the link to the recipe above, it does say that you can use either brown rice syrup OR honey. Kathy also talked about the benefits of a vegan diet such as getting to a healthy weight and improving or even reversing diabetes and heart disease.

When asked why he made the switch to veganism, Biz Stone responded that both he and his wife made that choice ten years ago after a visit to Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, NY. After meeting cows, chickens and pigs face to face, Biz could only think of them as friends, not food! Gene Baur was also on hand to talk about this incredible organization. Martha showed a picture of Persia, the rescued sheep that she now sponsors and of Opie the cow, one of Baur's first rescues, left for dead at a stockyard before living eighteen happy years at Farm Sanctuary. Gene has been vegan since 1985, and shared some information on how vegan diets have the power to positively impact world hunger and the environment as well as the lives of animals. You can learn more here: Factory Farming.

Also mentioned were Farm Sanctuary's 25th Anniversary Gala events! These are going to black-tie galas with gourmet vegan food, celebrity guests, and fantastic auction items! If you're interested in attending either the New York City or Los Angeles event, check out the event page to learn more and register for your tickets!

If you missed today's episode, no worries! Tomorrow you will be able to watch the full episode on the Martha Stewart Show website. Or, you can find out when the episode will air again: Local TV Listings.

New York City Vegetarian Food Festival

2011-03-29T18:02:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit: New York City Vegetarian Food Festival

If you're looking for a great opportunity to try out some delicious vegetarian (and/or vegan!) food, this weekend includes the perfect event for you! The New York City Vegetarian Food Festival is this Sunday, April 3rd from 10am-6pm! If you're lucky enough to live in the Big Apple or close enough to get there this weekend, please check out this incredible event! Some of the most delicious vegetarian food New York has to offer will be available to sample. And..it's free!

On the NYCVFF website, you can find a list of the food vendors and guest speakers that will be there, as well as organizations that will have tables with information and merchandise.

I must mention that the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is going to have a table at the festival where you can talk to volunteers from Sea Shepherd New York about how you can get involved, become a Direct Action Crew member, and buy some SSCS gear! So make sure you stop by and show your support while you're sampling all the yummy foods!

There will also be a raffle benefitting the Empty Cages Collective, an animal and environmental advocacy non-profit organization. So be sure to buy some raffle tickets to help them out as well as get your chance at some great prizes! A list of the prizes up for grabs can be found here.

So, if this all sounds like fun, please get to the festival this weekend! Here's the info:
Sunday, April 3rd
10am-6pm
The Altman Building - 135 West 18th Street (Between 6th and 7th Avenues)

What you can do: If you'd like to donate to help make NYCVFF a success, you can do so here. Also, they need volunteers to help out! If you're interested in volunteering your time and efforts for the day, please send your contact to info@nycvegfoodfest.com and type Volunteer as the subject of your email. You can also "like" the festival's Facebook page and make sure to Share the link and ask your friends to join you on Sunday! Remember, one of the best ways to help open people's mind to a healthy and compassionate diet is to feed them amazing veg food!

Buffalo Field Campaign

2011-03-27T11:31:00.000-07:00

Buffalo Field Campaign

Every Winter and Spring, wild buffalo of Yellowstone National Park are rounded up and slaughtered by the Montana Department of Livestock. The department claims that the buffalo must be "managed" because they spread brucellosis (a bacterial disease affecting wildlife and livestock that may cause cows to have abortions if infected) to cattle, despite the fact that there is no documented case of a buffalo to cattle transmission of the disease. The confinement of hundreds of bison together has actually led to spreading of the disease.

The buffalo of Yellowstone are the last continuous wild herd of bison in the country, and Buffalo Field Campaign has been working to protect them.

Wild buffalo are rounded up and chased into pens

Photo Credit: National Park Service

Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC) was formed in the winter of 1996-1997 (then called Buffalo Nations) by founders Michael Mease and Rosalie Little Thunder. Since then, the BFC has conducted daily patrols monitoring the buffalo and government actions taken against them, and educated others through grassroots activism. 6,887 Yellowstone buffalo have been slaughtered since 1985, according to BFC's reports. Learn more about their campaign history and more here: Buffalo Field Campaign.

Testing for brucellosis

Photo Credit: Buffalo Field Campaign

What you can do:
A compassionate and dedicated group of volunteers keeps BFC going. If you are interested in being a part of that team, read more and find out what's involved: Volunteering at Camp. Volunteers are especially needed in the Spring season. They ask that you stay for at least two weeks as they provide training needed to participate in the campaign. Fill out the Volunteer Application here!

If you are unable to go to Yellowstone and volunteer, there are other ways you can help buffalo and the BFC! Donations are always helpful, even if you can only give a little! Along with monetary donations, continuous supplies are needed to run the campaigns. Here you can find BFC's Wish List of supplies. It's important to speak up and get the message out there! BFC provides a list of agencies and politicians to contact, and a list of local and national news sources so you can write a letter to the editor. "Like" Buffalo Field Campaign Facebook page and Share the link with your friends! Encourage others to join the cause! You can also follow BFC's weekly Update from the Field on their Facebook page.

"The Yellowstone herd is both genetically and behaviorally unique, being the only herd with continuously wild ancestry from the days when 50 million buffalo migrated freely across the Great Plains. At the end of the 19th century, after tens of millions had been slaughtered, only 23 wild buffalo survived. Taking refuge in Yellowstone's remote Pelican Valley, this remnant herd ensured the survival of the species in the wild. Today there are a little more than 3,000 buffalo living in and around Yellowstone, comprising America's only free-roaming and unfenced population" - Buffalo Field Campaign

Update on Patrick

2011-03-26T14:01:00.000-07:00

Patrick, the one-year-old dog who was rescued from a bag thrown down the garbage chute of a 22-story Newark, NJ apartment building moments before he would have died in a trash compactor, may get some justice.

Patrick with one of the veterinary techs caring for him; Patrick is reportedly affectionate with everyone he meets despite the cruelty he has faced

Photo Credit: Jennifer Brown/The Star-Ledger

Patrick's abuser has been arrested and charged. She is facing two counts of abandonment and two counts of failure to provide sustenance. Her justification for months and months of starvation and neglect almost leading to Patrick's death? She "could no longer care for him." She denies having thrown him down the garbage chute. Read the full story here: Animal cruelty charges filed in case of brutalized New Jersey pit bull.

The penalties faced are jail time of up to six months or a $1000 fine. These are the maximum penalties for animal cruelty crimes in the state. However, many are criticizing New Jersey's animal cruelty statutes and demanding that harsher laws be established.

Photo Credit: Garden State Veterinary Specialists

What you can do: If you live in New Jersey, contact your representatives and ask that they support stronger animal cruelty laws and penalties. Many states have established felony animal cruelty charges. If you're outside of New Jersey, but are concerned with animal cruelty laws in your own state, contact your representatives. Remember that you have the power of the vote and elected officials do respond to that. Spread the word to others that they can create change! "Like" the Patrick's Law Facebook page and Share the link.

If you would like updates on Patrick's recovery, you can follw this page provided by the Garden State Veterinary Specialists. They have announced that they are no longer accepting donations for Patrick's care as this has been assured by many donations from concerned individuals as well as organizations. They do suggest that you donate to your local animal rescue organizations in Patrick's name if you wish!

Tests on Hundreds of Dolphins Found Dead in the Gulf Kept Quiet

2011-03-25T18:49:00.000-07:00

Marine wildlife biologists examining the many dolphins who have washed up dead along the Gulf Coast have been asked by the National Marine Fisheries Services to keep their findings confidential. Why all the secrecy?

A vet tech from the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies with a dolphin found dead along the shore of the Gulf of Mexico

Photo Credit: Patrick Semansky/AP

Apparently, the scientists have told that because the dolphin mortalities may be linked to the massive BP oil spill, their findings are now part of a federal investigation and must be kept confidential. Reportedly, about 200 dolphins have been found dead in the area in 2011, with almost 100 more in 2010. Many of these have been premature babies, and scientists are speculating that these huge numbers in recent dolphin fatalities may be a result of ingestion or inhalation of oil, leading to miscarriages. Read more here from Reuters: Investigation of dolphin deaths in gulf kept confidential by U.S. government.

Marine biologists are frustrated that they are being silenced, and that there has been such a delay in response since the oil spill occurred.

Whether or not these dolphins died as a direct result of the oil spill, there can be no doubt that the spill has had a devastating impact on marine wildlife and the residents living along the Gulf of Mexico. Furthermore, the ecosystems impacted are still suffering and dying and the effects of the oil may be present for many years.

Oil seen from the air, 2010

Photo Credit: Steve Roest/Sea Shepherd

What you can do: Donate to campaigns dedicated to rescue and conservation in the Gulf. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's Gulf Rescue Campaign is ongoing and on this page you can find a Wish List of their needed supplies and a way to donate to the campaign. If you are in the Gulf region or can get there, volunteer to help out with beach cleanups, animal rescues, and however else you may be able to help. Spread the word to others and ask them to help out however they can!

"I think the environmental impact of this disaster is likely to have been very, very modest." — Former BP CEO, Tony Hayward, interview with Sky News television, May 18, 2010

Patrick's Story of Cruelty, Suffering, and a Miracle

2011-03-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

Patrick on March 16th, emaciated and so weak he could not stand

Photo Credit: Associate Humane Societies

Patrick is one of many pitbulls who have been abused and left to die. His story has been all over the news since he was found in a garbage bag in an apartment building in Newark, NJ on March 16th. How did he end up there? Well, someone was cruel enough to starve Patrick nearly to the point of death, put him in a bag and throw him down the garbage chute of the 22-story building. Moments before he would have gone in a trash compactor, he was rescued by a maintenance employee who noticed the garbage bag was moving.

After being rushed to the Associatied Humane Societies Newark Animal Care Center, Patrick was given fluids and food and wrapped in heated blankets. Those caring for him report that his body temperature was so low it would not even register on a thermometer. Once urgent care had been given, he was then transported to Garden State Veterinary Specialists, a 24-hour emergency animal hospital Tinton Falls, NJ. He also received a blood transfusion and a bath. Employees have been carrying him outside, as he is too weak to walk on his own, and holding him upright so that he can go to the bathroom. Read more about Patrick's care and current condition here from NBC: Starving dog thrown down garbage chute.

Patrick looking better after his much-needed food, water and compassion

Photo Credit: Jennifer Brown/ The Star-Ledger

New reports today bring both good and bad news. The good news is that police believe they have strong leads as to the identity of Patrick's "owner" who committed this horrible act of neglect and cruelty. Unfortunately, while Patrick has been making huge steps in his recovery, vets have now discovered a foreign object in his intestines and believe he ate something to try to fight starvation. He is currently too weak to undergo surgery.

Despite everything he has endured, Patrick is reportedly improving with all of the care and affection he is receiving and responding lovingly to the vets and technicians caring for him. It's amazing how terribly humans can abuse an animal, and that animal will still respond with love. It's a lesson from which everyone can (and should) learn.

What you can do: If you have any information at all about who did this to Patrick, please contact the authorities. The Humane Society has also offered a $2000 reward for information leading to their arrest. Make a donation to help with Patrick's care; the Garden State Veterinary Specialists have set up this page specifically for donations for Patrick. Spread the word and encourage others to donate. Contact Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, and ask that his abuser be charged with animal cruelty when arrested and that justice is finally given to Patrick who has suffered for far too long. Sweet Avenue Bake Shop, home of the most delicious vegan cupcakes ever, is donating $1 per red velvet cupcake sold to Patrick's care. If you're close enough to stop in and pick up some cupcakes, they're in Rutherford, NJ. If not, you can order the donation cupcakes specially on their website.

Thank you to those who rescued Patrick from the nightmare he was living and to those who are providing him with veterinary treatment and care to help him become whole again!

"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man" - Mark Twain.

The Namibian Seal Hunt

2011-03-20T19:14:00.000-07:00

Canada's annual seal hunt is known around the world as a barbaric and cruel massacre of baby seals. Not as many people are aware of the seal hunt of Namibia, in Southern Africa. Thousands of seals are clubbed or shot to death each year despite protests against the cruelty of the hunt and the unsustainable depletion of seal populations. Read more about the hunt from Humane Society International here: Namibia's Commercial Seal Hunt Threatens Species Conservation. This hunt has become larger than Canada's seal cull and is even more violent.

A seal in the Cape Cross Seal Reserve, Western Namibia

Photo Credit: World Society for the Protection of Animals

Animal rights groups and conservation organizations are calling for a boycott on Namibiam tourism until this hunt is ended. There have also been attempts to document the hunt. This article from 2009 describes an incident in which a journalist and cameraman were attacked by sealers while doing so- Brutal Namibian seal hunt caught on film - Journalists attacked. There is also a link provided to their video by Ecostorm which caught the killing of seals followed by the attack.

There should be no doubt as to whether or not this hunt is cruel and violent. Thousands and thousands of baby seals are clubbed repeatedly on the head until they die, adult seals are shot. Some are still alive when they are skinned.

What you can do: Contact Hatem Yavuz Deri, the business run by Hatem Yavuz who funds the Namibian seal hunt and profits from the pelts of the brutally slaughtered seals; demand that this massacre is ended. Join in the International Day of Protest Against Seal Clubbing and let your voice be heard. Protests have been organized in cities around the globe; use this link to see if there is one near you or organize your own! Contact the Namibian SPCA who has approved of the seal hunt and ask that they join in the fight against the killing of seals! Donate to organizations which work toward protecting seals like Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Humane Society International.

Remains of seal pups who have been killed and skinned for their pelts

Photo Credit: Sea Shepherd

"On July 1st, 2011, the annual slaughter of 85,000 baby seal pups and a further 6,000 bulls, begins in Namibia. For the next 139 days, terrified pups will be rounded up, separated from their mothers, and violently beaten to death. Pups, bulls, and mothers will be surrounded…men with clubs will move in, and the seals will be massacred. The sand on the beach will literally be stained red with blood, the bloody bodies thrown into the backs of waiting vehicles. Soon after, bulldozers will be brought in to clean up and restore the beach before the tourists arrive to view the colony, because all of this happens in a designated seal reserve"

- Pat Dickens, Sea Shepherd South Africa Coordinator, Namibia's Deadly Little Secret: the Cape Fur Seal Cull.

Helping Japan's Animals Left Behind

2011-03-18T14:44:00.000-07:00

The recent earthquakes and tsunami that hit Japan have caused widespread destruction and displaced so many people. There have been many lives lost, and still many have loved ones missing. Thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Japan who are now recovering from this disaster and searching for their family and friends and grieving for those lost.

Human lives have been taken or forever changed by this tragedy, but there are animal victims as well and today's blog will give you ways that you can make a difference for the animals affected. During evacuation, many animals were left behind as they are not allowed into most of the emergency shelters. There have been animal welfare and rescue groups on the ground saving as many animals as they can, providing emergency care along with water and food, and bringing them into shelters where their owners or a new home can be found.

A woman and her beloved dog who she would not leave behind

Photo Credit: PETA Asia-Pacific

PETA Asia-Pacific has members rescuing companion animals in some of the hardest-hit areas and providing dog and cat food to people staying behind with their animals. Senior campaigner Ashley Fruno says, "The damage is absolutely horrific...These dogs and cats need rescue for the sake of the anguished people who were forced to choose between seeking refuge in evacuation centers and taking their beloved animal companions with them." Read more about PETA's rescue efforts here: PETA Asia-Pacific Providing Aid in Japan.

What you can do: You can use this link to donate to PETA's rescue efforts in Japan. You can also donate to Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support, a group formed by the Japanese animal rescue groups HEART-Tokushima, Animal Garden Niigata and Japan Cat Network working together in the wake of this catastrophe.

This picture shows a loyal dog and an injured companion that he stayed by despite being cold, hurt and starving, and led rescuers to the other dog. The more severely injured dog is now receiving care from a veterinarian, and his brave friend is at an animal shelter also receiving care and awaiting a home.
See the full story and more pictures here at Daily Mail: 'He's alive!': Spaniel somehow survives amid the wreckage of the tsunami.

CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm

2011-03-15T18:55:00.000-07:00

Recently, my humans spent a day at CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm in Keystone Heights, FL.

Thomas the turkey, arrived at CJ Acres four days before Thanksgiving.

Thomas flirts with visitors to the farm, loves to showoff and to hang out with the goats who have become his best friends.

CJ Acres is a nonprofit organization run by Lee and Jennifer Sackett and an all-volunteer staff who care for the animals. There are currently 84 residents including pigs, horses, dogs, chickens, a turkey, goats, sheep, ducks, and geese. All residents of the farm have been rescued from factory farms, abuse and neglect or natural disasters.

During the day at the farm, visitors learned about CJ Acres' work with PETA to rescue animals after cruelty investigations and with FEMA after animals are displaced or hurt in natural disasters. They do incredible (and much needed) work for animals and provide a safe place for them to heal until they are able to find a forever home. These animals are rehabilitated and socialized and slowly learn to trust again despite what they have lived through in the past. Some spend the rest of their lives at CJ Acres, while others are placed in homes. But to adopt one of these precious animals, you must first apply, then there will be a home visit to establish that your home is the right place for your new companion (there will also be announced and unannounced home visits after adoption takes place), and you must promise that you are not intending to sell or eat them of course! For more information on adoption, check out this page: Adopt A New Pal.

A special tour was given for participants in a local event called No Meat March. A big thank you to CJ Acres for opening their farm to the No Meat March pledges and allowing them to meet all the animals and volunteers. One of the most effective ways of spreading the word about a more compassionate diet is by giving people the chance to "meet their meat." If you see the animal you thought of as "food" living and breathing and see that they have a personality and enjoy interaction and affection, just like your dog or cat or humans, it becomes a lot harder to dismiss that animal's suffering and death for your appetite. The animals of CJ Acres were so happy to meet their visitors and were lovely hosts!

Betsy the potbellied pig. CJ Acres received a call about a pig who was "terrorizing" a FL town and asked to take her. When they arrived, they found a small pig who had been chased relentlessly and was blind in one eye from being tased. She was understandably terrified of humans and was aggressive at first, but has been learning to trust again and now spends time with the other pigs and humans of CJ Acres.

There was an emotional moment in which the metal tag bracelet was removed from the leg of a newly rescued chicken. The bracelet had been placed on at a factory farm, and labeled this beautiful creature as "# 31,900." She's free and safe now, and will never be a number again. Thank you again for letting the No Meat March group be a part of such a wonderful event, and for working so hard to save lives every day!

What you can do: Please check out CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm's website and get more information! If you are near Keystone Heights, are 18 or older, and would like to do something to help animals, volunteer at CJ Acres! Find out how here: Volunteer Your Talents. If you can't become a part of the "volunteer herd" at the farm, help out by donating! This is a nonprofit organization that runs on donations so whatever you can give will help! Here is the link to donate! Read CJ Acres' list of ways you can help here: Help In-Need Animals. Spread the word to others, "like" the CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm Facebook page and share the link so your friends list will see it and encourage them to check it out!

You can help all farm animals in a more general way by going vegan! Remember that veganism not only benefits your health, but animals and the environment as well!

This fantastic day at CJ Acres was featured on the news! Thanks to Julie Watkins and Action News!

Sacred Vision is No Sanctuary

2011-03-11T08:34:00.000-08:00

A whistleblower's report of neglected and suffering cats at Sacred Vision Animal Sanctuary (SVAS) in Myrtle Beach, SC led to an undercover investigation by PETA. What they found was hundreds of cats and an arthritic dog named Hope living (and dying) in horrible conditions.

One of the cats at SVAS, left to suffer from an infected wound

Photo Credit: PETA

In total, 240 cats and Hope the dog were removed from SVAS, which was called a sanctuary but was clearly just a facility used by a hoarder, Elizabeth Owen. Owen had no paid staff to care for the animals and rarely cleaned or cared for the cats. They did not receive veterinary care and most were very sick, injured, or dying. Owen owned a thrift store next door and would hide some of the animals who were the most visibly sick or hurt there. Owen also admitted that several of the cats were positive for feline AIDS and/or leukemia, fatal and contagious diseases which received no treatment or monitoring by a vet. The investigator reports having repeatedly offered to get veterinary care for the cats, but Owen refused despite admitting they looked very ill. A volunteer at SVAS also reported having buried "at least 100" cats who had died there.

Most of the cats were kept in these filthy wire cages 24/7

Photo Credit: PETA

The building in which the cats and dog were kept was unventilated and packed with crates stacked on top of each other. Many of the cats had been in those cages for years living in their own waste and barely having enough room to stand or stretch let alone to be uncaged, explore and play, and receive attention or care. They would often have no litter in their litter boxes and were not given regular feedings. You can see more photos from the investigation here: Undercover Photos from Sacred Vision Animal Sanctuary.

Around half of the 240 cats removed from SVAS were euthanized due to untreatable illnesses and horrible pain and suffering that could not be reversed. These neglected cats were suffering from conditions like "anal maggots, herpes, ringworm, tumors, seizures, multiple abdominal abscesses, cracked and bloody paw pads, severe gum disease and missing teeth, and more." This did not happen quickly and was the result of months and years of neglect and living in filthy conditions. Before their findings were released, PETA offered free vet exams and help in adopting them out to good homes, but this was refused. The case was presented several times before animals were removed from SVAS. Get more information here: Hundreds of Cats Suffer and Die at Hoarder's Warehouse.

Owen's attorney appealed the judge's decision to have all of the animals removed from Owen's care and stated that these cats and Hope are her personal pets. The judge has decided that the "pets" may be returned to her if they receive veterinary care within fourteen days of having been removed on March 1st. About a hundred of thecats are in the county's care right now and receiving treatment from a veterinarian. Owen's registration has been revoked, so she can no longer solicit donations and cannot sell items in the thrift store.

What you can do: Use this page to send a letter to contact Horry County State Solicitor Greg Hembree. Thanks are in order as it was their office which was in part responsible for the rescue of these animals, but also ask that they now file animal cruelty charges against Owen on the state level and seek a ban on her owning any animals in the future if convicted. Share the link with others and ask them to do the same! Unless these bans are put in place and enforced, hoarders usually continue to obtain and neglect and abuse animals.

Video: Sacred Vision Animal Sanctuary Hoarding Investigation
- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

2011-03-10T17:58:00.000-08:00

Since 1980, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has been one of the biggest names in the world of animal rights. PETA is now an international nonprofit with affiliates around the globe. Millions have joined as members, with more joining each day. PETA sometimes stirs up controversy and offends many, but it's hard to argue with some of their results. And while it would be difficult to find someone who hasn't heard of PETA these days, it wasn't always that way...

PETA was founded in 1980 by Ingrid Newkirk and Alex Pacheco. Newkirk had previously worked as an animal protection officer and led the division of animal disease control of the Commission on Public Health in Washington, D.C. She has reported witnessing horrific treatment of animals at the shelters in which she worked, and says that she would often go in to euthanize the animals to end their suffering and prevent further abuse. Pacheco was an activist and had recently been a crewmember with the then newly-formed Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (he is now on their Board of Advisors). He began volunteering at the shelter where Ingrid worked and introduced her to Peter Singer's Animal Liberation, the book she credits with helping to shape her view of animal rights. She later convinced him to join her in creating what would become PETA.

PETA President/Co-founder Ingrid Newkirk

Photo Credit: PETA

Alex Pacheco, activist and PETA co-founder

Photo Credit: Laura Guttridge

1981 brought PETA's first big case - the Silver Spring monkeys. Alex began working the Institute for Behavioral Research (IBR) in Silver Spring, Maryland in order to see firsthand what was going on in animal experiments. This lab was chosen simply due to geographical convenience, but he found horrific cruelty was being routinely inflicted on monkeys there. He obtained evidence of the abuses to 17 macaques being used in the lab. This evidence was presented to police, who conducted the first raid on an animal research lab in the United States and arrested researcher Edward Taub. Taub was convicted of six counts of animal cruelty; the conviction was appealed and later overturned. But this case brought attention to the issue of animal experimentation and helped lead to changes made to the Animal Welfare Act in 1985 regarding animal testing. As for the monkeys, they were removed from IBR and taken to the home of a fellow activist as there was no place else that could facilitate them at the time. However, the courts ordered that the monkeys be returned. Within a short time of their return to the lab, one was severely injured and one dead. For more information on the investigation, trial, and the monkeys, read The Silver Springs Monkeys by Alex Pacheco and Anna Francione, taken from Peter Singer's Animal Liberation (1985 ed).

Since its beginnings, PETA has become a huge force in the animal movement. Their campaigns focus on animals used for food, clothing, entertainment, and experimentation and their stance is that animals are never ours to use for any of these purposes.

There has been wide criticism of their media campaigns which depict graphic images of slaughter and other animal cruelty, their comparison of violence against animals to violence against humans such as the Holocaust, and their use of nudity in ads and protests. They have also been criticized for their policy on euthanasia of shelter dogs and cats. PETA has admittedly participated in euthanasia and has a position that while there is rampant overpopulation and animals are suffering in shelters, it is ethical to humanely euthanise when they cannot be adopted out or if the animal is sick or in pain and cannot be healed. And while PETA is an animal rights organization, there is criticism within the world of animal rights due to the fact that PETA works toward incremental improvements within the industries that are using animals. PETA's response is that while their ultimate goal is the complete abolition of the use of animals for these purposes, in the meantime improvements in their quality of life must be worked toward.

PETA is well-known for their undercover invesigations of factory farms, slaughterhouses, fur farms, research labs, puppy mills, and other places animals are being abused. You can see some of their videos here: PETA TV: Investigations. Many of these investigations, along with ones conducted by other organizations such as Mercy for Animals and the Humane Society, have been instrumental in securing what little protections are now in place for farm animals.

How to get involved: One of the ways to support PETA's work is by becoming a member! A donation of $16 will get you a year's membership along with a subscription to PETA's quarterly magazine Animal Times. A great way to get involved is to join their Action Team of animal activists, which will allow PETA to contact you when there is an animal in need of help in your area or notify you of local protests, events, or other news. You can also check the Action Alerts page regularly to stay up to date on ways to help. Join their Causes page on Facebook and invite friends to get others involved!

Remember, there are many other organizations working to help animals! I will be featuring more on the blog. If you choose not to get involved with PETA, look for others where you can become a member or volunteer!

You'll Only Drink Milk Intended for Another Species?

2011-03-09T16:15:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how many people are disgusted by the news of ice cream being made with breast milk. Check out this blog on Huffington Post: The Stir: Baby Gaga Breast Milk Ice Cream is Vomitous, where the writer is oh-so-sickened by the concept, but reports having eaten "pig cheek, blood sausage, and bone marrow" the previous night. Doesn't get much more sickening than that if you ask me! So, what's got people so grossed out?

Apparently, some are willing to try it!

Photo Credit: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images

From an early age, society drills into your head the importance of dairy products. Never mind the cholesterol and fat, or the growth hormones or the blood and pus that make their way into the milk and other dairy products, it's good for you, really! More and more reports of the risks of consumption of dairy (and meat products) are hitting the news with realizations that these products increase your risk of problems like obesity, heart disease, diabetes, strokes, and all kinds of ugly things. Read some information here from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine: Health Concerns about Dairy Products. But people are still convinced that humans need to consume the milk of other species...

Cows (and any other mammal) lactate for the same reason that humans do: to feed their young! They don't "have to be milked" by us and they don't "always produce milk no matter what." They are repeatedly impregnated and given hormones so that they will produce an unnatural amount of milk, and their babies are taken away so that the milk can be taken and used for human consumption. Male calves are raised for beef or killed as babies for veal, and females are raised as dairy cows once again until no longer able to give birth and then slaughtered for beef. Mothers often cry out for days after their babies are taken from them, wouldn't you?

Cupid the calf, one of the rescues at Farm Sanctuary

Photo Credit: Farm Sanctuary

People would be disgusted by a female human giving her breast milk to a baby cow! Gasp, that would just seem so unnatural! Why is it any more natural for a human to drink the milk of a cow, intended for her baby!
I hope that soon people will realize how backwards this thinking really is.

There are so many alternatives to dairy products now, and they're delicious! Try almond milk; there are many non-vegans who drink it and love it! There's also soy, coconut, and rice milk! And you can find ice creams made from these milks at health and regular food stores.

"The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for white, or women created for men" - Alice Walker

Sea Shepherds Return Home to Celebrations (and a police raid as usual)!

2011-03-06T16:24:00.000-08:00

The press and Sea Shepherd supporters gathered in Hobart to greet the crew, the Bob Barker can be seen docked in the background

Photo Credit: ABC News/Selina Bryan

Operation No Compromise has officially come to an end, as the Sea Shepherd captains and crew have returned to port. The Gojira arrived in Tahiti a few days ago, while the Steve Irwin and Bob Barker docked in Hobart, Australia yesterday. This has been Sea Shepherd's most successful campaign to date, shutting down whaling operations in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary mid-season and saving the lives of over 800 whales. The captains and crew returned to a heroes' welcome from the crowd gathered at Macquarie Wharf, but also to a raid by the Australian Federal Police.

This is the fourth time the federal police have boarded and searched the Sea Shepherd vessels upon their return to port, despite having found no grounds to pursue the organization. Japan has repeatedly requested that Australia take legal action against Sea Shepherd, take away their flags and refuse to allow their ships into port. Only one previous investigation has been closed, with no evidence of any illegal activity and no charges filed against captain or crew. You can see news of the latest investigation here in the Sydney Morning Herald: Police tackle anti-whaling fleet despite lack of legal grounds.

Despite the usual response from the government, it was a day with family, friends and supporters greeting the Shepherds as they came off the ships. Captains Paul Watson and Alex Cornelissen and First Officer Peter Hammarstedt held a press conference shortly after arriving with Senator Bob Brown of the Australian Greens Party. Captain Watson has reported feeling fairly confident that the Japanese whaling fleet will not return for another hunting season, but promises to return for another campaign if they do. "We will be prepared and we will be ready...Our objective is to defend the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. We have done so since 2002, and we will continue to do so if there are any future threats to the sanctuary and the whales" (Paul Watson, from Operation No Compromise is Officially Over).

The Steve Irwin and Bob Barker arriving in Hobart

Photo Credit: Barbara Veiga/Sea Shepherd

"There's no way we can outrun the Sea Shepherd boats!" - Japanese Fisheries Agency Official, quoting a phone call from the Nisshin Maru before the whaling fleet ended their hunt

New to the World of Animal Rights or Veganism? Get Informed!

2011-03-05T11:15:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of great sources of information out there for people new to issues involving animals and veganism! Here are some books I suggest reading to learn more:
- Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy (Matthew Scully)
- Animal Liberation (Peter Singer)
- Eating Animals (Jonathan Safran Foer)
- The PETA Practical Guide to Animal Rights (Ingrid Newkirk)
- Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds about Animals and Food (Gene Baur)

Not into reading? There are movies too!
Earthlings (Nation Earth Films) is a must-see. You can now watch the full-length documentary on the website, http://www.earthlings.com/. Warning, there is graphic footage, but everyone continuing to use animals for food, entertainment, clothing or experimentation should know about the lives (and deaths) experienced by those animals.

For information about the health aspects of a plant-based diet (and risks of a diet consisting of meat and other animal products), watch Forks Over Knives. The film is currently screening in cities around the United States, and will be released in May. And I promise this one has no graphic images or footage of slaughterhouses, it focuses solely on dietary and health info.

A shorter and informative (but graphic) video from PETA and Paul McCartney- Glass Walls.

And for those looking for how to get started eating a healthier diet that will have a positive impact for themselves, animals, and our environment, here are some sources for recipes and information:
- VegWeb
- Guide to Cruelty-Free Eating (Vegan Outreach)
- Vegetarian Living (PETA)
- Recipes (Chef Chloe Coscarelli)
- Post Punk Kitchen (Isa Chandra Moskowitz)

I also recommend We Animals - a website with amazing photographs from Jo-anne McArthur depicting animals from all over the world and the many cruelties they face, and activists and organizations doing something about it. A must-see!

These are just a few suggestions! If you know of more, please comment with the links!

"Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight" - Albert Schweitzer

Documenting Cruelty to Animals...a Felony?!

2011-03-02T18:37:00.000-08:00

What little protection that farm animals have under the law has come about mainly from documentation of abuse, in videos and photographs taken by undercover investigators. This work is heartwrenching and the compassionate individuals who investigate factory farms and other operations and document the horros that they see should be treated as heroes, not criminals. But now, lawmakers are pressing for these investigators to be charged as felons.

A photo from Mercy for Animals' undercover investigation of Willet Dairy in Locke, NY: a worker burns the horns off of a calf without anesthesia

Photo Credit: Mercy for Animals

In Florida, state Senator Jim Norman has proposed a bill (SB 1246) that would make the conducting of undercover cruelty investigations at farms and "other legitimate agricultural operations" a felony. If passed, the taking of photographs or video without the owner's prior knowledge and written consent would become a first-degree felony. See the news here in the Florida Tribune. This bill is blatantly in favor of the interests of the factory farming industry. There seems to be no limit to the power the state and federal governments are willing to hand to the industry. There is pressure on lawmakers to allow the abuse, neglect and mistreatment of these already suffering animals to go unknown and therefore unopposed.

Now, in Iowa, a similar bill has been proposed. This one is seeking the same effect but by targeting the supplying of false information to become an employee at a farm. Representative Brian Quirk went one step further with this statement: "These people need to be dealt with. They are terrorists and this is wrong. These producers' rights are being trampled when they're taken advantage of in this way. If we can clamp down on this kind of practice, I think it is warranted" (see the full article on globegazette: Farm interests fighting back against anti-agriculture individuals, groups).

These people are terrorists now?! Nonviolent activists documenting injured, malnourished, diseased, dehabilitated farm animals who have suffered horrible abuse and neglect at the hands of cruel people working for a heartless profit-hungry industry are...terrorists?! Those who inflict violence, pain and fear on others (including animals) are terrorists, not those seeking only justice and compassion for those without a voice in our society. I hope that reason and kindness will prevail in this situation, that these bills will be seen for what they are: a blatant attempt to completely silence individuals and organizations who have the courage to take a stand against the almighty factory farming industry.

What you can do: If you live in Florida, here is the link to search for and contact your state representatives. Please email or call them and urge them to not support the state bill. Here is the link to do the same for those in Iowa. You can do your part in the effort to stop these bills from becoming law by voicing your concern that this legislation will create more suffering for animals. Please don't be silent! Spread the word to others and encourage them to contact their representatives! Support organizations like PETA, Humane Society, and Mercy for Animals that conduct these investigations.

See some of the cruelty that lawmakers are trying to hide from you. This video is from an investigation conducted by Mercy for Animals at a hatchery in Iowa, one of the states with proposed legislation.
Video: Undercover Investigation at Hy-Line Hatchery, by Mercy for Animals

"One worker took a live bird and stomped on her head, crushing her skull until her head exploded. He then laughed and wiped the blood from his leg. He also threw birds against the concrete and punched others...There was a live bird with only one leg and a bloody body in a shackle. A worker looked at her and started laughing—he had ripped her leg from her body when she became stuck between two coops...One worker was inserting his finger into a turkey's vagina [cloaca] for 'fun' during a break when the line was stopped. Another worker said he could paralyze birds by punching their necks in a certain way and demonstrated this on one bird."
- Notes from a PETA investigator after going undercover at Butterball in 2006

The Dolphins of Taiji are Safe for Now...

2011-03-01T13:33:00.000-08:00

It seems that peace has returned to the dolphins who swim off the coast of Taiji, Japan for now. On February 26th, the Cove Guardians of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society who have been bearing witness since September, reported that they arrived at the cove to find the boats in the harbor and the dolphin hunters cleaning and removing all of the tarps. They were told by a Taiji local that the hunting season was officially over. Read the news here from Cove Guardian Libby Katsinis: Report from Taiji: February 26.

The cove, a beautiful place when not red with blood

Photo Credit: Sea Shepherd

The annual slaughter has received worldwide attention since photographs and video released by Sea Shepherd in 2003 (along with the arrest of Sea Shepherds Allison Lance and Alex Cornelissen for cutting the nets and freeing 15 dolphins; the two were held for four days), and the release of the Academy Award-winning documentary, The Cove from the Ocean Preservation Society in 2009. Japanese media have even begun to cover the story. Now, Louie Psihoyos, director of The Cove, has sent free videos of the film dubbed in Japanese to every househould in Taiji with the help of activists from People Concerned for the Ocean in hopes of spreading awareness among the locals. The Japanese version of the film is also now free to watch at http://www.thecovemovie.com/.

Reading the reports from the Cove Guardians, you can begin to imagine the horror of what happens in this scenic place. The water of the cove turns completely red with blood and the dolphins scream in fear and pain. Families are separated, enslaved in captivity, and others are brutally killed. Thankfully, this season has been ended early (it would have continued until the end of March), but this nightmare occurs every single year. There are ways you can help to bring about an end to the slaughter of dolphins in Taiji.

The Cove Guardians celebrate after learning of the end to the hunting season

Photo Credit: Sea Shepherd

What you can do: Spread the word! Tell others about what is going on in Taiji; refer them to these links for more information: Sea Shepherd - Taiji Dolphins, Save Japan Dolphins. Watch The Cove to learn more and encourage others to watch, or you can organize a screening of the documentary! If you can go to Taiji (at your own risk and expense), contact Sea Shepherd about possibly becoming a Cove Guardian for the next campaign. If you can't make the trip, donate! Do not buy tickets to aquariums or swim with the dolphins programs, as captive cetacean facilities are linked to the dolphin slaughter. Use your Facebook and Twitter pages to get the word out about the dolphins and what others can do to help!

Cove Guardian Nicole McLachlan has returned from Taiji but will be continuing her blog updates and has plans to continue the fight against the dolphin slaughter from home. You can follow her blog here: A Path to Protect.

"It is a bloodbath, cruel and barbaric. Each year, the idyllic and peaceful setting
of the village of Taiji in southern Japan is shattered by almost unspeakable
cruelty as incredible pain and ultimate death is inflicted on defenseless dolphins."

- Captain Paul Watson

The USDA Has Asked for Your Opinion on Protecting Downed Animals!

2011-02-25T12:19:00.000-08:00

Please take a moment of your time to voice your concern for farm animals! The nonprofit organization Farm Sanctuary has long campaigned for protections of "downers," the farming industry's term for animals that have become too sick or disabled to even stand on their own. Now in response to their petition, the USDA is considering expanding protections currently given only to downed cattle, to other farm animals as well and have announced they will hear public comments until April 8th, 2011 regarding expansion of these policies.

A downed pig lies unable to stand or move, left to die

Photo Credit: Farm Sanctuary

They have asked for your opinion, so please let your voice be heard (politely but firmly as always)! Currently, downed cows are protected under legislation requiring that they be humanely euthanized rather than sent for slaughter and sold as food. Downed pigs, sheep, goats are still eligible for slaughter and therefore suffer great abuse while being forced to the slaughterhouse, unable to move on their own. They are prodded with electric shocks, dragged, beaten, kicked, and thrown. They are often thrown into piles with other dying or dead animals, sometimes get trampled, and are left to suffer and die slowly with no food, water or veterinary care. You don't need to be a vegan or vegetarian to support protecting these absolutely defenseless animals from further pain and suffering. This is obvious cruelty and must be stopped! Please don't wait and don't be silent! These animals need your help.

Please follow this link to Farm Sanctuary's page Urge the USDA to Protect Downed Pigs, Sheep, and Goats to send comments directly to the USDA! Also, please sign this petition that will be sent to the USDA on Care2.com: Urge USDA to Expand Protection of Downed Farm Animals.

Don't Support the Cruelty Behind Veal? Better Cut Out Dairy Too!

2011-02-23T16:48:00.000-08:00

Many vegetarians or vegans will tell you that the first thing they cut out of their diets was veal. Even a lot of meat-eaters now refuse to eat veal because of the suffering endured by calves killed for the meat. But what many people don't know is that if you're still buying dairy products, you're still supporting the veal industry! I'll explain...

Dairy cows hooked up to milking machines

Photo Credit: Farm Sanctuary

Cows are repeatedly impregnated so that they can be milked. It is still believed by some that cows always produce milk or even that they must be continuously milked or they will experience pain or discomfort. However, cows produce milk for the same reason that human females do, in order to feed their young. Cows, again like humans, have a gestation period of nine months, and as they are impregnated once a year, they have very little recovery time in between pregnancies. This is repeated until the cow is "spent," or physically unable to endure further pregnancies and births. Once this happens, she is sent to be slaughtered. In order to allow humans to consume cows' milk that they do not need, calves are not given their mother's milk. Due to genetic manipulation and hormones, dairy cows now produce up to 100 pounds of milk per day, ten times more than they would naturally produce, making their udders swollen and painful, and often causing mastitis (a bacterial infection in the udders). The milking machines that you see in the pictures are metal and hurt their utters, which often develop open sores, with blood and pus getting into the milk that is packaged and sold.

Once the calf is born, he or she is taken away from the mother and never receives the milk, affection and care that every infant seeks from its mother and every mother seeks to give. The mother cow experiences extreme distress, often crying out continuously for her baby.

"The very saddest sound in all my memory was burned into my awareness at age five on my uncle's dairy farm in Wisconsin. A cow had given birth to a beautiful male calf. The mother was allowed to nurse her calf but for a single night. On the second day after birth, my uncle took the calf from the mother and placed him in the veal pen in the barn - only ten yards away, in plain view of the mother. The mother cow could see her infant, smell him, hear him, but could not touch him, comfort him, or nurse him. The heartrending bellows that she poured forth - minute after minute, hour after hour, for five long days - were excruciating to listen to. They are the most poignant and painful auditory memories I carry in my brain."

-- Dr. Michael Klaper

Female calves are raised to be dairy cows, and replace older cows who can no longer be of use to the dairy industry and will go to be killed. Male calves, who cannot produce milk, are either raised and slaughtered for beef or sent to a "veal crate." These are small, wooden crates in which the calf is confined and chained and does not even have enough room to stretch, turn around or comfortably lie on the floor. He will lie in his own waste, developing raw, irritated skin and open sores. They have no access to fresh air or sunlight or interaction with other cows. For food, the calf is fed a milk substitute intentionally deficient in nutrients so that the calf will be anemic; this condition produces the light color of fesh that is thought to be desirable for veal.

A calf is chained and confined to a tiny veal crate

Photo Credit: Farm Sanctuary

The calves are kept in these horrible conditions for up to twenty weeks before they are sent to the slaughterhouse. As you can imagine, being chained to the floor, unable to move your muscles, malnourished, often sick, and neglected, these calves are not always able to move on their own when they are finally removed from their crates. Animals who are too sick or in too much pain to stand or move to the slaughterhouse are known as "downers."

Downed calves are thrown in a pile as they cannot stand or walk on their own.

Photo Credit: Humane Society of the United States

What You Can Do: Don't buy veal! But as you can now see the connection between the veal and dairy industries, you know that no longer buying dairy products as well is the only way to stop funding this cruelty. Look for bills that seek improvements like banning veal crates and support them; if there are none in your state, ask for them! Contact your representatives. Spread the word to others; share these links on your social networking pages: Farm Sanctuary - Dairy Cows; PETA - Veal: A Byproduct of the Cruel Dairy Industry. Read them and other information you can find so that you can educate yourself on the issue and will be better able to inform others. Remember, with any of these issues, don't be silent, and don't feel that you can't make a difference; being silent will do nothing!

"In fact, if one person is unkind to an animal it is considered to be cruelty, but where a lot of people are unkind to animals, especially in the name of commerce, the cruelty is condoned and, once large sums of money are at stake, will be defended to the last by otherwise intelligent people.”- Ruth Harrison, Animal Machines

A Dog's Eye View is on Facebook!

2011-02-23T06:40:00.000-08:00

That's right, now I, Olivia, have my very own Facebook page! You can find it here!

Please "like" the page so you can stay up to date on my latest blog entries and status updates! Share the link and encourage your friends list to like A Dog's Eye View too!

What Do Vegans Eat?!

2011-02-22T12:46:00.000-08:00

My humans often get asked the question, "If you don't eat meat, dairy, or eggs...what do you eat?!" It's hard for some people to imagine a world of food outside of products that come from animals. So, I hope to shed some light on that topic today.

As plant-based diets become more popular (and the risks of consuming meat, eggs and dairy become more widely known), there are more and more vegetarian and vegan options available in stores and restaurants. Veganism is too often called a "radical lifestyle," when there could be no diet more "radical" than ones that cause obesity, heart disease and other illnesses, devastating harm to our environment, and the confinement, suffering and slaughter of billions of animals per year (learn more about the impact of the factory farming industry here from Farm Sanctuary). By choosing to be vegan, you can help make a change while having a healthy diet filled with delicious foods!

Vegan cupcakes from Babycakes NYC bakery in Orlando, FL

While vegans do eat their fruits and vegetables, it's not all lettuce like some people may imagine! Tofu, tempeh and seitan are great options for protein, and can be prepared in a variety of meals such as sandwiches, salads, etc. There are also delicious alternatives to milk - now you can find soy, almond, rice or coconut milk in specialty as well as regular food stores. Ener-G brand egg replacer can be used as an egg substitute, or some other ideas are corn starch, bananas or applesauce. Daiya brand soy cheese seems to be the most popular among vegans although there are others! Tofurky, Morningstar Farms, Boca, and other brands can be found in many stores. You can find just about anything as a vegan alternative - look for desserts like ice cream, cakes, and more!

More restaurants now have vegetarian and vegan options like veggie burgers, sandwiches, salads, and more. Here's a list from PETA of vegan options at chain restaurants, take a look or bring it with you when you're out to eat so you know what's veg-friendly! Some of my humans' favorite places to get some vegan food are Red Bamboo and Candle 79 in Manhattan, Ethos Vegan Kitchen in Orlando, FL, Sweet Avenue Bake Shop in Rutherford, NJ, and Present Moment Cafe in St. Augustine, FL. But there are many more on their list that they haven't been to yet and you can look up veg-friendly restaurants in your area! Vegguide.org and Happycow.net are good sites that will help you with your search!

The "Creole Soul Chicken" at the amazing Red Bamboo restaurant in NYC

Photo Credit: Red Bamboo

Here are some more resources on what to eat:

- Vegan Outreach: What Do Vegans Eat?

- ChooseVeg: Vegan Food Pyramid

- Vegan Action: Going Vegan

- PETA: Vegetarian/Vegan Recipes

- PETA: Order a Free Vegetarian/Vegan Starter Kit

- VegWeb - Vegan Recipes and Cooking Tips

"A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite. And to act so is immoral."
- Leo Tolstoy

Farm Sanctuary

2011-02-21T14:34:00.000-08:00

Throughout my blog posts, I've mentioned specific organizations that are working to help save the lives of animals. I am so grateful to these groups and their dedicated staff and volunteers. Today's blog is all about one group that has been working tirelessly to save farm animals since 1986, Farm Sanctuary.

Farm Sanctuary President/Co-founder Gene Baur with Opie

Photo Credit: Jo-Anne McArthur/Farm Sanctuary

Farm Sanctuary has come a long way from it's beginnings. As so many organizations start out, this was just two people with a dream and determination. Gene Baur and Lorri Houston (then known as Gene and Lorri Bauston) started out documenting the horrible conditions on factory farms and rescuing "downed" animals left to die in piles by the factories. They originally raised funds by selling vegetarian hot dogs from their Volkswagen van. Lorri Houston is now the founder of the farm animal rescue organization Animal Acres in Acton, CA.

Gene and Lorri's very first rescue was a sheep named Hilda, who was near death when brought back to the rowhouse that was the only property they had at the time for their rescue operation. Despite the neglect and abuse she had faced and her terrible health when she was rescued, Hilda went on to live for over ten years at Farm Sanctuary and died of old age.

Hilda's dramatic change after being rescued from a pile of dead sheep at a stockyard

Photo Credit: Farm Sanctuary

Hilda is a perfect example of the incredible and life-saving work that is done by this organization. Along with rescuing many more animals over the years, they also work to educate the public about the suffering experienced by animals on factory farms and the importance of choosing compassion , as well as advocating for legislation and policies that will improve conditions on factory farms and treatment of the farm animals. Today, they have a 175-acre sanctuary in Watkins Glen, NY and a 300-acre sanctuary in Orland, CA. Both welcome visitors and you can even stay in cabins, enjoy vegan food, tour the farms, and even help out with the animals. I encourage everyone to visit one of their sanctuaries and get to know these incredible animals who are living out the rest of their days in a peaceful, safe place with compassionate people. Remember, Farm Sanctuary asks that if you bring any food with you during your visit or stay, it must be vegan out of respect for the resident animals!

What you can do: Check out the list of Farm Sanctuary's current campaigns here on their website, farmsanctuary.org. Support their work by donating and spreading the word to others. Share the link to their site on your Facebook and Twitter pages! Visit the sanctuary if you can and/or become a volunteer. Also, read Gene Baur's book, Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food, and encourage others to do the same so they can learn more and open their hearts to animals sometimes thought of only as "food." Also, find out more about how you can help get legislation passed in your state to help animals on factory farms. Follow the Adopt a Farm Animal link below to sponsor one of Farm Sanctuary's lovable residents.

"When you walk through the pastures, you'll see frolicking calves, who once only knew pain and suffering in veal crates. As you enter the barns, you'll see pigs slumbering in soft straw — a tremendous change from a cold, filthy stockyard pen. Everywhere you look, you'll see animals who have suffered untold agony and cruelty. Only now, you'll witness these animals experiencing the joys of freedom for the first time in their lives." - Farm Sanctuary, 'The Farm'

Yet Another Wonderful 'No Compromise' Update - Victory!

2011-02-20T17:16:00.000-08:00

That "victory on the horizon" has been won! The Japanese whaling fleet has been called to return home, ending this year's whale hunt in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary! The hunt would have continued into mid-March. Sea Shepherd has declared a win for the whales, and have named February 17th VSO Day (Victory in the Southern Ocean)!

Sea Shepherd pilot Chris Aultman and crewmember Mark Cullivan celebrating an emotional VSO Day

Photo Credit: Barbara Veiga/Sea Shepherd

Operation No Compromise has been a tremendous success! Thank you to all of the crew who have sacrificed so much to spend months at sea defending the whales who are now swimming safely!

Check out the article Antarctic whaling on verge of disappearing from the Daily Yomiuri, a hugely popular newspaper in Japan. Apparently, this victory may not be the last for the whales. It looks like whaling in Antarctica may come to a permanent end due to intervention by the Sea Shepherds. As the article quotes a phone call from the Nisshin Maru to the Japanese Fisheries Agency: "There's no way we can outrun the Sea Shepherd boats!"

Congratulations to Captain Watson who has been fighting this fight for our oceans for over thirty years, and to the rest of the dedicated captains and crew of Operation No Compromise! Also to the many onshore volunteers and supporters of SSCS!

A humpback whale swims free and safe next to the Steve Irwin

Photo Credit: Gary Stokes/Sea Shepherd

"Together we are a force for good, a force for change, a force for ecological sanity, and a force to be reckoned with!
We will be honored if you would continue to stand with us as we imminently face battles on other fronts - bluefin tuna overfishing in the Mediterranean, pilot whale slaughter in the Faeroes, dolphin killing in Taiji, poaching in the Galapagos, and more.
To all the Shepherds of the Sea that made it possible for us to drive the whale killers from the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, I think I can speak for all the citizens of the sea in saying 'Thank-you.' "
- Captain Paul Watson

Update on Operation No Compromise Post: "I see victory on the horizon"

2011-02-17T10:53:00.000-08:00

So, unless you've been completely without access to news in the past few days, I'm sure you've heard the news coming from the Sea Shepherds! Operation No Compromise has proven to be their most effective Antarctic campaign from the beginning (they were able to find the whaling fleet before a single whale was killed and estimate that the whaling fleet have been able to catch maybe 10% of their kill quota this season).

Sea Shepherd crewmember Laurens De Groot and whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru

(from Operation Migaloo, the 2007-2008 Antarctic campaign)

Photo Credit: Sea Shepherd

Now, even better news. The Japanese Fisheries Agency has announced a suspension of the whale hunt. While it remains unclear how long this suspension will be, it is wonderful news, and the agency has cited Sea Shepherd's interventions as the direct cause of their suspension of whaling activities! See the news here from ABC News in Australia: Japan suspends Antarctic whale hunt.

Any questions regarding the effectiveness of the Sea Shepherd anti-whaling campaigns in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary have been answered! Their fleet has gone every year getting stronger and stronger, and continuously cost the whaling fleet millions of dollars and cut their kill numbers by hundreds of whales. This victory provides further proof should you be looking for some!

The whaling fleet has gone far out of the way of their hunting grounds, maybe trying to lose the Bob Barker which has not backed off and the whalers have turned back the way they came. It's unclear where they are headed, maybe back for the whaling area or maybe back to Japan (hopefully!). But it is clear that the Sea Shepherd captains and crew are staying right with them until it is certain their whaling is done for the season. Hopefully the Institute for Cetacean Research and the Japanese Fisheries Agency have realized that their whaling business will continue to sink economically and this will be the last year that they massacre whales in their sanctuary. In the meantime, please support the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in their brave and compassionate efforts to save lives. Go to the Operation No Compromise page to donate today! You can also find updates, crew blogs, videos, photos, merchandise to buy, and links to share the page on social networking sites! Don't forget you can apply to become a crewmember or onshore volunteer!

P.S. February 16-22 Sea Shepherd is offering 10% off in their e-stores as a thank you to all of their supporters! Now's a great time to buy some merchandise to support the shepherds of the sea!

The three Operation No Compromise captains: Locky MacLean (Gojira), Paul Watson (Steve Irwin), and Alex Cornelissen (Bob Barker)

Photo Credit: Sam Sielen/Sea Shepherd

"I see victory on the horizon...I think certainly our actions down here have contributed to them possibly calling their season off early. This year has really been our must successful campaign to date...We're speaking the language these guys understand, and that is profit and loss. Every day we prevent these guys from whaling we're costing them millions of dollars in profit" - Peter Hammarstedt, Sea Shepherd First Officer, from onboard the Bob Barker

This Valentine's Day, Show Love for All

2011-02-14T18:10:00.000-08:00

Love for your fellow humans is a beautiful thing, especially when you show love to everyone regardless of what makes them different or similar to you. But, you can extend that love and compassion to all the creatures of this earth and the time to start is now!

Everyone needs love!

Photo Credit: Jean Liebenberg/Farm Sanctuary

The easiest way to show kindness to yourself, others, and the planet is to go vegan! Despite depictions of veganism as a "radical" lifestyle, it's so much easier to go cruelty-free than you may think! And what could be more radical than eating the flesh of murdered sentient beings (or wearing their skin or fur)? There are now so many cruelty-free foods, clothing, cosmetics, and other product choices widely available.

Basically, vegans do not eat the flesh of any animal (yes, that includes fish!) or any products that come from animals (dairy, eggs, honey), and also do not use any products made from animals (leather, wool, fur, etc). Many also do not support any industry that exploits or abuses animals such as zoos, aquariums and circuses and will not buy products that were tested on animals. For more information on exactly what being a vegan means, check out my earlier blog post: What is a Vegan, Anyway?
The best part of all is that your change to veganism will not only benefit you but will also help others by no longer supporting industries that are abusing and killing animals and polluting the earth. Here are some more links where you can find information on veganism and what foods to eat, where to buy cruelty-free products, and more!

Vegan Outreach (http://www.veganoutreach.org/)

Vegan Action (http://www.vegan.org/)

The Vegetarian Resource Group (http://www.vrg.org/)

The Vegan Society (http://www.vegansociety.com/)

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (http://www.peta.org/)

Lisa: "Do we have any food that wasn't brutally slaughtered?"

Homer: "Well, I think the veal died of loneliness."

- Matt Groening, The Simpsons

Sharks: Hunters or hunted?

2011-02-11T17:02:00.000-08:00

Once again, the news media is pouring out horror stories of an increase in shark attacks. Every time these numbers or stories of another shark attack hit the news, people panic and sharks are seen as "man-eaters." The reality is a very different picture, and sharks are in serious trouble.

Great white shark

Photo Credit: Associated Press

The number of worldwide shark attacks reported in 2010 was 79, and six of those were fatal. See MSNBC's Shark attacks rose 25 percent last years across the globe (2/7/11). While this may be 25% higher than the previous year, experts are citing reasons such as higher water temperatures, divers feeding fish and sharks, and dead sheep thrown overboard from ships. There is no reason to believe that sharks simply want to eat humans. When you go into the ocean, you must remember that you are in their natural environment, and not yours, and there are risks involved. There are known ways to make yourself less vulnerable to attacks, one list is provided here by National Geographic.

While fatal shark attacks are very rare, the fishing industry claims the lives of up to 70 million sharks each year. You read that right: up to 70 million lives (estimates usually range from 30-70 million)! That should be a terrifying number. And many of these sharks fall victim to shark finning. Finning is a horrible practice in which sharks are caught, pulled onboard ships, and their fins are painfully cut from their bodies while they're alive. The sharks are then thrown back into the water to slowly drown (some must continuously swim to breathe), bleed to death, or become prey for other animals drawn by their blood. These fins are used for shark fin soup, popular in Asia. Many other sharks are killed as bycatch or get tangled in nets in fishing operations targeting other ocean life.

Shark fins sliced off to be used for shark fin soup

Photo Credit: Sharktrust.org

Many shark species are facing the threat of extinction, and sharks do not reach sexual maturity until the age of ten years or older and produce very few offspring (see more info from WildAid). Sharks are not seen by most as beautiful like dolphins, or majestic like whales, and our fear of them often prevents public concern for their tragic situation. But as an apex predator of the important ecosystem of the oceans, sharks are vital to the survival of the sea and therefore, all other species. The time is now to save the sharks.

What you can do: Find out more ways you can help by visiting these sites: Shark Angels, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and Humane Society International.

"We need not peer into the dark depths of the sea to see the monstrous creatures that maim and kill by the millions - we need only look into a mirror" - Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Shark Finning.

That Other Bowl Game!

2011-02-08T08:18:00.000-08:00

Before the game on Super Bowl Sunday, I hope you were watching the OTHER bowl! Of course, I mean the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet! Since I'm a dog myself, I love to watch the other pups run around and play. And the best part about the Puppy Bowl is that most of those adorable dogs you saw are rescues available for adoption!

Brownie Sundae (of Oldies But Goodies Cocker Spaniel Rescue in Virginia) with the football!

Photo Credit: Animal Planet/Discovery Communications

You can go here to the Starting Lineup page to see pictures and information about each of the dogs and their rescue organization. If you can offer one of the puppies (or another pet) a safe, loving home, head over to their rescue group's site and fill out an application!

Remember that you can find lots of dogs, cats, and other animals in need of a home at Petfinder.com!

Help Fuel Operation No Compromise!

2011-02-07T09:11:00.000-08:00

In case you haven't been following Operation No Compromise updates, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is having their most successful Antarctic campaign to date! They were able to get to the Southern Ocean before the Japanese whaling fleet and have almost completely prevented their whaling activities. You can get ongoing updates, videos, photos, crew blog entries, ways you can help and more on the Operation No Compromise page; or "like" the SSCS or Captain Paul Watson Facebook pages to get more updates.

Sea Shepherd crewmembers on the Delta approaching whaling fleet ship Yushin Maru No. 2

Photo Credit: Simon Ager/Sea Shepherd

Right now, Captain Watson and the crew of the Steve Irwin are in Wellington, New Zealand getting the fuel and supplies they need to return to the Southern Ocean and meet back up with the Bob Barker and Gojira. You can help them get there and keep this campaign an amazing success! Go here to donate! Even if you can't give a lot, it will help! Let the crew know you're behind them from here onshore!

The Steve Irwin following a whaling vessel alongside ice in the Southern Ocean

Photo Credit: Barbara Veiga/Sea Shepherd

Remember, you can also get involved. Apply to be a crewmember or an onshore volunteer today!

"Sea Shepherd is active all over the world and all of us who are involved from the crews of the ships to the supporters onshore are shepherd guardians of the citizens of the sea from the plankton to the great whales.

I am a Shepherd of the Sea and so are you, and so must we all be, because if we fail to defend our oceans and we lose the biodiversity that maintains the integrity of all oceanic eco-systems, the truth is that the oceans will die…and if the oceans die – we die!" - Captain Paul Watson

Oprah Goes Vegan (for a week)!

2011-02-01T08:11:00.000-08:00

So, it seems veganism is hitting the mainstream with full force! It's getting harder and harder to label vegans as tree-hugging hippies with all the news about the healthfulness of a vegan diet (and the risks of consuming meat and other animal products) coming out.

Author Kathy Freston and Oprah Winfrey

Photo Credit: Oprah.com

Today, Oprah will feature on her show a discussion about her "vegan challenge." Oprah and 378 of her staff members adopted a vegan diet (no meat, no dairy, no eggs, no animal anything!) for a week. Check it out at Oprah.com. Tune in today to see what Ms. Winfrey and her staff have to say about it! Oprah has done vegan cleanse diets in the past, and featured an episode in which reported Lisa Ling went into a chicken factory farm slaughterhouse to investigate how those chickens become meat for consumption. Disappointingly, Oprah later teamed up with KFC to give out free chicken sandwiches. KFC is a well-documented abuser of chickens, with their suppliers having been repeatedly videotaped stomping and kicking chickens amongst other abuses - see my blog on KFC here and visit http://www.kentuckyfriedcruelty.com/. I'm all for feeding those who need food, but KFC's torture of animals needs to stop and it would be nice if someone as influential as Oprah would use that influence to encourage compassion toward animals!

In today's episode, Lisa Ling is going back to the meat industry and once again giving us a glimpse of a factory farm slaughterhouse. Viewers can get a look at the animals they eat before they become food and learn about how they're turned from living beings into meat. Also featured in today's episode are authors Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma) and Kathy Freston (The Veganist). I hope this time Oprah will stick with a plant-based cruelty free diet and learn from the look into a slaughterhouse.

Please tune in to watch today, and when you're done keep learning more about veganism and a compassionate, healthy diet and lifestyle!

Update on Lipton "Cruel-tea" entry (good news)!!

2011-01-31T15:38:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit: In Defense of Animals

Good news! Lipton Tea's parent company, Unilever, has announced that they are putting an immediate end to their cruel animal testing! Thank you to everyone who called and emailed, you are a part of the victory!

See PETA's announcement here: Victory! Lipton Ends Cruel Animal Tests. PETA states that over 40,000 of their supporters and affiliates contacted Unilever regarding their testing, and PETA sent representatives to meet with Unilever in London. Thank you PETA and their supporters!

In the tests, piglets were intentionally infected with E. coli and their intestines were cut open while they were alive, rats were fed tea ingredients through tubes in their throats and cut open while alive, mice were suffocated and their necks were broken, and rabbits were decapitated. None of these tests were required of Lipton or other beverage companies.

Contact Lipton and let them know their compassionate decision is not going unnoticed! Messages of thanks for compassionate actions are important too because they encourage others to continue those actions, and Lipton will want to know their customers buy products from companies who are kind to animals!

Learn more about animal testing: PETA's Animals Used for Experimentation, and Humane Society International's End Animal Testing. PETA also provides a list of companies that do and do not test on animals which you can take along when shopping to help you make compassionate purchases!

Photo Credit: peta2

Go green, go vegan!

2011-01-31T14:31:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit: peta2

Evidence of environmental destruction is all around us. Climate change isn't something in the distant future, it's happening. As the "green" movement gets stronger, there are things you can do to be a part of the solution and not the problem!

Of course, we all know ways to be more eco-friendly like recycling, buying and using less plastic, using public transportation or bicycles instead of cars when possible or using a hybrid/electric car, and conserving water and energy. But, do you know one of the biggest positive impacts you can have on the environment is through a vegan diet? It's true!

The factory farming industry is devastatingly harmful to the environment. According to the United Nations, industry raising animals for food now takes up about 30% of the earth's land mass, with more land areas being bulldozed every minute around the world to dedicate more land to the same purpose. Soil erosion occurs, and much of the land grazed livestock becomes barren when it was once fertile. Farmed animals are fed huge amounts of grains, soybeans and other plant foods and produce small amount of meat, dairy and eggs. The vast quantities of foods overfed to animals raised for foods could easily feed the people of the world, many now suffering from severe hunger. Also, much more energy and water are required to raise animals for food then to produce plant-based protein foods. And all that food the animals are fed must go somewhere! The massive amount of animal waste ends up in "lagoons" at the factory farms and runoff leads to rivers, lakes and oceans, polluting water and destroying marine life. You can find more information here: Natural Resources Defense Council, Sustainable Table, and Farm Sanctuary.

A map of factory farm locations throughout the United States

Photo Credit: http://www.factoryfarmmap.org/, a project of Food and Water Watch

What you can do: Hit the industry where it hurts, the wallet! Go vegan and stop supporting the meat, dairy and egg industries that are devastating our planet! If you don't decide on vegetarian or vegan, at least commit to buying from local, small farms so that you know you're not supporting factory farming. Spread the word to others that they can add this to their list of ways they're going eco-friendly! Remember we only have one Earth!

"A human being is part of the whole, called by us "Universe," a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole [of] nature in its beauty"

- Albert Einstein

China Has Banned Animal Circuses (and cracked down on abuse of zoo animals)!

2011-01-19T08:04:00.000-08:00

A lion forced to ride a terrified horse at an "animal park" at Xiamen in Fujian, southeast China

Photo found uncredited at The Daily Mail

What a perfect way to follow the last blog - good news!

China has now banned animal circuses, and warned all of its zoos that they must stop abusing animals or will be shut down. Read the full story here: China bans animal circuses, by Malcolm Moore on The Telegraph. This is fantastic news! Animals in these zoos are suffering severe abuse and hopefully this will make life at least a little better for them while they're forced to live in captivity. Among the practices banned are the removal of baby tigers' teeth so that guests can hold the tigers, selling of rare and endangered animal meat in zoo restaurants, and feeding of live animals (such as chickens, goats, cows and horses) to big cats while zoo guests watch.

As mentioned in the article, Animals Asia, a charity organization based in Hong Kong and dedicated to animal welfare and conservation of endangered animals, is helping to ensure the ban is enforced. A big thank you to Animals Asia for their hard work and compassion!

As for the circuses, animals forced to endure cruel and painful "training" methods and perform repeatedly for humans suffer greatly, and all circuses should be shut down. This is a great step. My humans keep talking about Ringling coming to town this week and the protests that are going to be happening outside the show! It's sad that the United States has yet to take the action that China has just taken, and that people concerned for these animals still need to voice their outrage. But this news is uplifting!

What you can do: While these steps have not yet been taken here in the US, you can help work to make that happen! PETA has more information about zoos and circuses, go to their site to learn more and get resources that you can give to teach others. Encourage others to no longer patronize zoos and circuses (or aquariums and anything else forcing animals to suffer in captivity and be exploited for the entertainment of humans). Attend or organize protests in your area. Contact your government representatives and urge them to work toward more positive animal legislation like this. If you see animal abuse, contact the police, your local SPCA and the news media! Don't be silent!!

"Animal performances portray the animals to the public in a humiliating way that does not promote empathy and respect. Many animals used in animal performances suffer from severe neglect and cruelty, tigers and lions have often had their teeth ripped out to make them defenceless and animals such as bears, monkeys and elephants are whipped and beaten to force them to perform ‘circus tricks’. A ban on such abusive animal performances has the potential to free many thousands of animals from a life of suffering in Chinese zoos."

- David Neale, Animal Welfare Director for Animals Asia

Whatever You Do - Don't Give Up!

2011-01-18T13:52:00.000-08:00

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less without that missing drop" - Mother Teresa

Humans who care about the suffering of animals and work to ease that suffering can experience burnout and sometimes wonder whether or not anyone is hearing their pleas for compassion. The businesses, governments, and individuals that inflcit cruelty and violence on animals are so big and strong that the cause can feel hopeless. But on behalf of us animals, I ask you to remember every voice is heard in some way and every person can make a difference so please don't give up!

Keep spreading the word to family and friends (and everyone else that you can get to hear you) about being kind to animals and our earth, because you may be surprised who hears your message and decides to act. For the most part, people care about animals and don't want them to suffer. They may just need some encouragement to take the next step! Even though cruelty and ignorance can be maddening, remember to stay polite but firm and give all the information you can. Keep yourself informed on the issues and ways that people can help.

Remember that while there are people being cruel to animals, there are people saving them. Remember people and organizations working to save precious lives. An example - Farm Sanctuary, a non-profit organization with two sanctuaries (one in Watkins Glen, NY and the other in Orland, CA) that rescue farm animals. Most of these animals are almost at the point of death when they arrive, but given some time and love at their new safe place, they heal and get to live out the rest of their lives in peace and health. The factory farming industry is huge, but there are determined forces working against its seemingly unending cruelty and giving its abused animals places where they can become whole again.

Photo Credit: Connie Pugh for Farm Sanctuary

Remember local people and organizations in your area working to spread messages of vegetarianism/veganism or general compassion toward animals. Look for places where you can volunteer. It feels better when you're surrounded by others who are working toward the same positive goal! Remember larger organizations like PETA (now the largest animal rights organization with millions of members worldwide - started 30 years ago by Ingrid Newkirk and Alex Pacheco, two activists armed only with passionate determination and a common goal), Humane Society, ASPCA, and many more where you can become a member or volunteer and donate to support their work. Remember ways the message has been spread to millions such as through films like The Cove and Earthlings.

When you feel overwhelmed, take a moment and breathe and remember all that has already been accomplished. Think about ways that you can keep making a difference and get others involved. Never lose hope!

"Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul

And sings the tune without the words

And never stops at all

And sweetest in the gale is heard

And sore must be the storm

That could abash the little bird

That kept so many warm

I've heard it in the chillest land

And on the strangest sea

Yet, never, in extremity

It asked a crumb of me"

- Emily Dickinson

Who Will Still Buy Canada's Seal Meat?! Oh..China.

2011-01-14T17:01:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit: IFAW

Canada's annual barbaric massacre of seals has incited outrage and disgust and bans of seal products in other countries. Europe and the United States have both established bans. Canada recently tried to have the European Union's ban lifted, unsuccessfully. Also, the US Senate has unanimously passed a resolution that calls for an end to the seal hunt. And as profits sink (reportedly the value of price of a seal pelt has gone from $100 to $15 in only a few years due to decreasing demand), Canada is becoming desperate to find someone willing to share the blood on their hands...

It looks like they found an accomplice. China has agreed to buy seal meat and seal oil from Canada.

Here's the news firsthand from Reuters Canada (China agrees to buy Canadian seal meat - Alan Dowd), and the usual excuses are coming from those butchering baby seals - "it's tradition." Because some of Canada's sealers are Inuit, bans on the country's seal products are being attacked as prejudicial and ways of preventing their traditions from continuing. Sorry, nice try, but these bans exist because your seal hunt is incredibly cruel and unnecessary. Baby and adult seals are clubbed on the head repeatedly and left to slowly bleed to death on the ice, or skinned alive before death even occurs. This is tradition? Slavery was tradition in the United States, some traditions are cruel and barbaric and need to be ended. And there's no need anymore for you to be killing these defenseless seals for profit.

Tradition is being given as the reason for the annual slaughter of dolphins in Taiji, Japan too (more info can be found at Save Japan Dolphins and at Sea Shepherd Conservation Society with daily updates from their Cove Guardians). And for the annual killings of pilot whales ("the grind") in the Faeroe Islands (see photos here from Sea Shepherd's July 2010 undercover investigation of the Faeroese grind by SSCS officer Peter Hammarstedt). Clearly, tradition is being used to defend cruelty and murder of sentient beings not just in Canada, but around the world. It's time to call this what it is: barbaric, disgusting, cruel, unjustified murder of gentle, defenseless beings.

What You Can Do: Contact Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and demand an end to the seal hunt. Support Sea Shepherd in their directly action campaigns to end the seal hunt; here's a link to donate. Find more information from organizations like PETA and Humane Society of the United States. Spread the word to others, ask them to do their part!

Photo Credit: Jonathan Hayward/AP

"Very little of the great cruelty shown by men can really be attributed to cruel instinct. Most of it comes from thoughtlessness or inherited habit. The roots of cruelty, therefore, are not so much strong as widespread. But the time must come when inhumanity protected by custom and thoughtlessness will succumb before humanity championed by thought. Let us work that this time may come"

- Dr. Albert Schweitzer

"Just as we have progressed beyond the blatantly racist ethic of the era of slavery and colonialism, so we must now progress beyond the speciesist ethic of the era of factory farming, of the use of animals as mere research tools, of whaling, seal hunting, kangaroo slaughter and the destruction of wilderness. We must take the final step in expanding the circle of ethics" - Professor Peter Singer