On Loving Animals...

As some of you know, there is a great legislative battle in the Philippine senate over two bills that proposes to make greyhound racing legal and operational in the city of Mandaeu on the island of Cebu. These two bills ( 5291Cebu and 5648 Luzon ) have already passed through the lower house, and it is up to the senate to defeat them. Thank goodness that at least half of the twenty-three senators have already pledged to oppose these bills for the obvious reasons of extreme animal cruelty and an aversion towards another form of gambling where the poor will get poorer while the entrepreneurs get richer. The proponents of these bills, namely Representatives Ben-hur L. Salimbangon (Cebu), Nerissa Corazon Soon-Ruiz (Cebu), Ferjenel Biron (Iloilo), have come up with the most naive arguments for greyhound racing. They argued that no blood is spilled in greyhound racing and therefore it isn't cruel. They stressed that active dogs will be cared for while retired dogs will be turned into p...

Guess who is at the San Diego Zoo? Tina and Jewel. Their saga is finally over, or least their captivity under the abusive handling of Willie Davenport. In Defense of Animals informs us that Tina and Jewel were confiscated by the USDA on August 20 2009. It was reported that Jewel is very ill and she will need immediate care. The San Diego Zoo was good enough to take them in temporarily, provide the medical care, before the elephants are permanently homed at the sanctuary in Tennessee (See Correction in Comments). All involved are intent in keeping these two elephants together. Tina is 39 years old while Jewel is 40. They are considered dangerously underweight. It seems that you can judge their proper weight by the area behind their eyes. When this area is sunken, there's a problem. You can see it in the photo. The seizure occurred in Leggett, Texas where Mr. Davenport argued that he had done nothing wrong. The Davenports have been in the circus business for generations. Willie D ave...

The shelter is for all animals including insects. While quite focused on my task, hosing and scrubbing a kennel at the far corner of the shelter, I heard a scream from one of our volunteers. Upon investigating the source of this alarm, I found out that a large spider was hanging out in one of our dirty sinks. I reckon that pitbulls are not as scary as spiders, for some people. Well, something had to be done about the gentleman with many legs. He seemed so out of place. Before killing him became an option, I took the latex glove on which he was clinging to and gingerly took it outside to a place, I thought, suitable for web spinning. And there he remained until I left four hours later. I guess one can call this a rescue. Even spiders in dirty sinks should be given the benefit of animal rescue.

It's another pet adoption segment gone wrong. By wrong, I don't mean a bad thing. These segments on television that are devoted to pet adoption do a lot of good; they reach more people than a website does, in my opinion. Here's one that is a sure attention-getter :

Approximately an hour or so North of Manila is the city of Tarlac. That's home base for the Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF), a non-government organization dedicated to combating the dog meat trade among other animal welfare issues. They work with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in intercepting dog transporters by spot checking vans along the highways, usually operating off tips from concerned animal lovers. The AKF/PNP teams also conduct raids on eateries that serve dogmeat. It's pretty nasty work, but the AKF is up to the job. The natural byproduct, of course, are the rescued dogs. They are taken to a large shelter in Tarlac where they are treated and brought up to snuff for adoption. Here are several survivors from th e dogmeat trade, all set to bring love and joy into the homes of those willing to give them a chance at a decent life. When you look at these dogs, you wonder about those who didn't make it out safely. The dogmeat trade has given the Philippines a ver...

Be careful when you're alive but it seems you should also take care when you die. Leona Helmsley , unfairly labeled as the Queen of Mean by the media, wasn't so mean after all. She earmarked the enormous wealth she left behind ( five billion) to be spent largely on animal welfare, but there is a problem. The ASPCA, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and Maddie’s Fund, filed a lawsuit last week in New York Surrogate’s Court to intervene in the allocation of Helmley's wealth, claiming that her wishes are not being fulfilled by her trustees. This lawsuit targets an earlier ruling that allowed the trustees to disregard Mrs. Helmsley’s specific instructions that her wealth be spent helping dogs. In other words, spend the money the way the deceased wanted it spent. Because of that earlier ruling, less than 0.1% the trust’s initial round of grants went to dog-related charities. Marsha Perelman , ASPCA Board Chair, stated that “Just a fraction of the money involved in M...

We were a bit shorthanded last Sunday at the shelter, but we managed to get the job done nevertheless. Much of the work on any regular day is concentrated on cleaning every kennel and its run. That means washing, scrubbing, rinsing, and squeegeeing the dogs' living areas. We also collect the soiled blankets and replace them with fresh ones. A couple of volunteers prepare the food at our small kitchen counter. It's more time-consuming than it sounds. Of course, the dogs need to be walked. We walk the dogs before the cleaning begins, and then walk them again about an hour after they are fed. We begin the Sunday shift at 8am and by around noon we're done. I realized that I have been partial to dogs in showcasing our animals at the shelter. This comes naturally since I do my volunteering exclusively at the dog house and I rarely enter our cattery. The cattery has its own very dedicated group of volunteers and hired employees. They have their own separate building, a small and e...

Finally, the first hot day of summer arrived yesterday. It was great. I drove up to Warwick, New York and found myself at a country store where I was at last Winter. It was one of the coldest days, 7F. I remember when I walked into the store the owner asked, " Is it cold enough for you? " I said, " Nah, but it's getting there. " Denial can have a warming effect. Anyway, yesterday was the hottest day so far at 92F. Down the hill, the antiques store placed a nice and comfortabe oak chair out on the sidewalk from where I watched people pass while my wife shopped the store. Even the local freight train came rumbling by. The breeze was wonderful, and the killer humidity absent. Here's a very nice and soothing video I found on the web. It's great to see traditional enemies live in harmony. Dog Gets Cat Bath @ Yahoo! Video

Things have moved on a little since I wrote the PETITION and my last blog post on the subject. There are now eleven senators who have pledged to oppose the passing of Bills 5241 & 5648. These bills seek to establish greyhound racing in city of Mandaue, Cebu and Luzon respectively. Twenty-three senators make up the Philippine senate, and so eleven is almost 50%. Mind you, it doesn't mean that the rest are supporting the bill. They just haven't come out with their official position on the matter. For example, Senator Miriam Defensor was reported to be in the United States as part of Pres. Gloria Arroyo's entourage. I trust that the well-educated Defensor will reject this cruel and decadent business proposal. Below are the names of the senators who have yet to commit, their email addresses, and a formatted letter to them. I implore all animal lovers to copy and paste the information into your very own personal email and send it off ASAP. You don't have to be a Filipin...

The New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance (NJARA) reported that approximately fifty people attended the demo in Vernon last Saturday. Comparing that with the demos I have attended against Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus, fifty people is a pretty good turnout. I reckon people are getting sick of non-violent bears getting murdered. According to NJARA, people drove by the demo honking their horns in support. If you haven't tried your hand at public demonstration, I can tell you that those horns are music to the ears. When complete strangers give you a sign of support, that is very reassuring. I am sorry that I had to be at work that day. This last bear was reported to be walking the neighborhood, enticed into someone's yard, treed, tranquilized, and then executed by a combined force of Vernon police and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Pretty nasty stuff that would make you wonder who is the real beast. Wildlife are not just animals flying through, swimming along, or walk...

For those of you who come to this site from the Philippines, here is a slide show put together by May Angela Felix , a PAWS volunteer and intrepid rescuer of abandoned animals. While you're at it, I urge you to explore her website particularly the photos section and see the commitment this lady has made to animal welfare. I am very impressed by her compassion for animals. This slide show showcases the cats that are up for adoption at the Philippine Animal Rehabilitation Center (PARC) located right next to Ateneo University. PARC is run by PAWS. If you don't fancy any of them, I invite you to visit PARC in person and have a look at the rest of them. Click on the map to enlarge it. Please call 475-1688 for an appoinment. Cats for Adoption

" And the survey said... " Remember Family Feud? Well, anyway, Michael Vick, bankroller for a dog fighting business, is the most disliked person in American sports according to surveys conducted by E-Poll. Why not? Don't argue. He's earned it. Aside from shelling out the dough, Vicky participated in years of killing and torturing dogs who displeased him by their subpar performances in the pit. Punishment included electrocution and drowning. The commissioner of the National Football League, Robert Goodell , allowed Vick to re-enter the league but he can't play until the sixth week of the regular season and only the last two games of the pre -season. That is, if, a team is willing to take him in. The New York teams, Giants and Jets, have already declared Vick as persona non grata . He's in quite a dilemma. His status as anathema has turned him into a player without a team. If you were the general manager of an NFL team, would you be willing to shell out milli...

I am cross-posting an alert from the New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance. Here, again, is an example of the needless kiling of a bear who, if left alone, would have gone back to the woods. It climbed the tree to protect itself rather than attack anyone. This bear showed clear signs of fear of humans. Yet, the NJ Depart of Fish and Wildlife chose to kill it. This course of action is inhumane and unneccesarily deadly. These officers should be sanctioned. ========================================================== PROTEST : Bear Killings in Vernon, NJ WHEN : August 1, 2009 TIME : 11am - 1pm WHERE : Corner of Route 94 & Church St. in Vernon, NJ. 07462 Mapped location: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=church+st+%26+Rt.+94,+Vernon,+NJ&sll=41.199287,-74.485824&sspn=0.002696,0.004801&ie=UTF8&ll=41.199372,-74.484547&spn=0.002696,0.004801&t=h&z=18 Parking : Municipal Parking lot on Church Street, across from the Municipal C...

There is reason to rejoice. The powers that be in Rhode Island have decided that there will no longer be greyhound racing in the state beginning August 2009. That's next month. I believe that with Rhode Island dog racing gone, the New England states will be completely rid of this most vile, most cruel gambling enterprise. If you listen hard enough, you'd hear a collective sigh of relief from the greyhounds in America's smallest state. Greyhound racing is legal and operating in only eight states with Rhode Island gone. They are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. An estimated 22,000 dogs are killed each year because they are injured, too slow, unfit to race to begin with, sick, and at retirement age which is five to six years old. You might ask, but they can live up to twelve years and beyond? Yes, you are right. Racing greyhounds are usually slaughtered when they are no longer race-worthy unless a rescue group comes to save them....

Meet Frankie Boy. He's a new arrival, and already a favorite. I like small dogs. Frankie is figured to be a silky terrier mix, and he could not weigh more than six pounds. Of course, he walks well and he is very friendly. We don't expect Frankie to stay at the shelter very long. Small and cute dogs go quickly. The sooner our dogs find a loving home, the sooner we accomplish our mission. Frankie is estimated to be around eight years old. Come quick. And yes, his ears are black. Bloomingdale Animal Shelter Society

Just in the news today, a group in Newark, New Jersey called Cancer Project is suing Kraft Foods Inc . (makers of the Oscar Mayer brand), Sara Lee Corp. , Nathan's Famous , and the manufacturers of Hebrew National and Sabrett brands . Cancer Project believes that processed meat is hazardous to our health and these products should carry warning labels like tobacco products. The law suit was filed at the Superior Court in Newark on behalf of three New Jersey residents who, I presume, developed cancerous growths from regular consumption of processed meat. It is widely accepted that processed meat is bad for us, that they can lead to greater susceptibility to colorectal and other forms of cancer. We know this from a report by the American Institute for Cancer Research. Well, I think these companies are lucky that the lawsuit only requires them to put warning labels on their products. What if the lawsuit stipulated that the manufacturers knowingly put out products that have been clini...

I say good-bye to Sandy who was euthanized a week ago. Her failing health necessitated sending her to the bridge. Sandy's bout with diarrhea and vomiting seriously dehydrated her, and her medication did not stabilize her condition. If she lived, Sandy would have to take her medication for life. The doctor, a volunteer, and our president made the decision. She stayed with us for approximately five months. Someone adopted her but after a several weeks she was returned to the shelter. I remember Sandy when she was first brought in by our animal control officer. A lady found her loose on the road, somewhere in Ringwood , and she stopped to help Sandy. Supposedly, Sandy was seen tearing away at a possum, having lived in the woods on her own. Well, we loved her and I hope that made a difference in her eyes. Good girl, Sandy.

Could you believe that greyhound racing might have a start in the Philippines? That might very well be if a handful of uninformed and misguided congresspeople get their way. This issue has occupied my mind for over a week now, and I have even written an online PETITION to be submitted to members of the Philippine congress in hopes that the enlightened opinion of the world might sway their vote. I make my case there, and I pray that I have made a good one. Greyhound racing is presented to the people as an economic picker-upper, ignoring the horrendous mistreatment of animals and basically trading cruelty for profit. There are certainly other ways to stimulate the local economy including a nationally-funded spay and neutering program. That would also provide employment throughout the country. I find it incredible that bills were even introduced to make greyhound racing legal in the Philippines. With all the bad publicity behind greyhound racing, some people thought it a good idea to mak...

Sorry, no photos for this one but it would have been nice. I've had encounters with bears before, but last Sunday's sighting was the closest. Quite surprisingly, this encounter with a bear didn't occur in an isolated path in the woods but in the parking lot of an antiques mall in Andover, New Jersey. Well, yeah, that part of the state is bear country and the local campgrounds warn people to secure their trash. Trash is almost always the only reason why a bear will venture out of the woods. Anyway, I was walking my dog along the perimeter of the parking lot when I looked to my right and saw the black bear walking towards us. In spite of its huge size, it didn't make any sounds and I could have walked right into the bear if I didn't look around. I reckon it didn't find much in the trash bin, and it was on its way to the next one. This bear's back, when on all fours, measured just about the top of a car's window. Well, as soon as I saw him ( I will presume ...

Curiosity killed the cat. Yes, we know of many examples except in this case where curiosity saved the cat, or kitten actually. A member of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society happened to be shopping at Shell Canvass, a well-known fabric store in Metro Manila, when she heard the plaintive cries of a kitten. Upon further inquiry, she learned that a kitten had somehow wormed her way between the walls and remained trapped for approximately five days already. Why so? Well, that's a matter of finger pointing between the staff of Shell Canvass and the Ayala Administration who manages the mall in which the store is located. A call was placed to PAWS who in turn requested help from Rochelle Regodon and Ashley, two local representatives of PETA Asia-Pacific. Well, they went over there and showed the folks that apathy and stasis can kill the cats too. In the end, the kitten was rescued and it is shown here in the caring arms of Ashley. The rescuers took the little angel to the PAWS shelter ...