On Loving Animals...

Why can't we leave the animals alone?

I am presenting this video in celebration of Earth Day which was yesterday. Dugout Dick passed away today. I believe he was 94, having lived in a cave for more than 60 years. His real name was Richard Zimmerman. In this video, Dugout Dick's caretaker who lives in the next cave speaks about the simple life, the extremely simple life. Their hermit-like perspective and the extraordinarily bare living conditions that they call home point to a level of asceticism not commonly found today. Unlike them, we have become so deeply meshed with the accouterments of modern living that without them we begin to speak of survival. Thoreau's independent spirit and minimalist philosophy are well and alive in these children of the Earth.

This poor old man. Withered, made salty and bitter by life's tramplings, unrepentant about calling a couple of women the " C " word... A shooter of pigeons for sport... what a life. " Honey, I'm home. I shot two dozen pigeons today. " He proudly refused to apologize for the C word when asked to, citing his Freedom of Speech. Shackleton aside, the First Amendment has been amended itself to include responsibility for our spoken or written words. The First Amendment does not protect irresponsible, fraudulent, criminally negligent statements. We can't shout, FIRE!, in a movie house. We can't threaten the President of the United States. We can't intentionally make false claims against someone. Mr. Shackleton may argue that using the C word is still within bounds of our freedom of speech. I could concede that point to him. But, echoing those now famous words to come out of the McCarthy hearings many years ago, I could say, " Have you no sense of ...

Some excellent news! Nellie, a young female pittie, finally went home after one year and three months at the shelter--- that's fifteen months, or approximately 455 days of shelter life. Think back, even for a year, in your life. Imagine, if you can, every hour of that time. Nellie spent all that time a homeless, family- less dog, living in a hard and uncomfortable kennel, waiting for someone to make her a member of their family. In the course of that time, Nellie developed some health problems and she was taken to the vet several times. She received a strict diet to address her problem. Even her cookies were specially tailored to her condition. Frankly, there were hints at euthanasia but the volunteers collectively staved off that idea. Perhaps, the byproduct of her being a longstanding resident of the shelter is the special status, a special consideration for a loving dog whose only shortcoming was not even her fault. Two adopters considered her, but no cigar. Her escape from a li...

A very short notice here...I am cross posting an announcement for an audiovisual presentation about New Jersey's bear situation. If you haven't visited the Flat Rock Nature Center in Englewood, then this is a great time to come. Arrive early and explore the grounds and then attend the presentation. =================================== Sierra Club North Jersey Group Presents: “Living with Black Bears in New Jersey” - an audiovisual presentation by Janet Piszar, Director of the Bear Education and Resource (BEAR) Group, about almost everything-you- ever-wanted- to-know about black bears. Her program will cover New Jersey's bear situation and the controversy over the proposed bear hunt and bear population statistics. Piszar will explain the history and evolution of black bears, their nature, temperament, biology, ecology, social organization, diet, habits, and more. She will discuss current bear management practices, dos and don'ts when encountering a bear, bear proofing and...

Dog Poops on Field During Naturals Game @ Yahoo! Video

I am cross posting an alert from the group, Protect New Jersey Bears , regarding the proposed bear hunt at the end of this year. As usual, if it is not kill the deer, it's kill the bears. Further, in Passaic County, Mayor Pat Lapore and the Board of Freeholders are getting ready to do a geese kill plus their eggs. This is the same gang that ordered the deer hunt at Garrett Mountain in February that was ultimately stopped due to irregularities in the tagging of the dead deer. And that hunt was stopped not because Pat Lapore and his cohorts realized it was wrong. The real reason was that the state Division of Fish and Wildlife had begun an investigation into the hunt. New Jersey has a serious empathy deficit when it comes to wild animals, treating them like a nuisance rather than our natural treasures. Now, the bears are in the crosshairs, again. ======================================== Please Attend the Public Hearing and Oppose a 2010 Bear Hunt in New Jersey Please RSVP here: h...

Out in Camp Verde, Arizona, a 27-yr old elk hunter named Skylar Stock from Queen Creek, Arizona was killed when a 70-foot pine tree snapped and crashed down on his tent. High winds buffeted the general area at that time plus an ant infestation was observed at the point where the tree broke in two. Stock's hunting buddy called for help after he wriggled his way out of the tent uninjured. Stock leaves behind a wife and three kids. What a waste! Pine trees are one of the most recognizable and much appreciated trees on this planet. Heck, we even use their young as the center of our Christmas celebration at home. Back when I was a small boy, my dad would take the family up to a resort town at about 4300 feet in elevation where fog, cool temps, and the sweet-smelling pine trees constituted a complete reversal from our lives in the concrete jungle below. Those trips surely helped instill a love of nature in me. Let's hope that no more pine trees fall victim to nature's fury.

Animal rescue usually means saving an animal for an abusive situation or grave physical condition. We have seen the dramatic and tear-inducing photos on the web, and I have displayed some of them here in this very blog. But, animal rescue could also mean preserving an animal in its good health and form. I reckon in this form it can generally be considered respect for animals. Last week, I rushed out to get some urgently needed medication from the drugstore before they closed. This unplanned foray into the night put me in a frantic pace that built on itself even after I have made it to the store before closing. Sometimes, you can find yourself whipped into a frenzy and you just keep on going, and going. Evidently, I had my foot on the gas pedal a bit too much as I came down the hill leading to my home when I noticed that familiar pig-faced animal called the possum in the middle of the street. It must have judged that it was safe to cross the street then, for no one was in sight. But, lo...

Two men fighting over animals, but neither one loves them. Reading this article, I was once again reminded of how vast and varied our country is. The closest I have been to a ranch is somewhere south of Redbank, New Jersey, but that's horse country. This is cattle country. At the core of the matter is that age-old ethic of being a good neighbor. I consider it an a priori fact that even the early humanoids had to get along well with their neighbors. " Ok, you stay in your cave and I'll stay in mine. " Well, things didn't go as smoothly between QB Ranch's foreman Edmund Cassillas and neighboring ranch foreman Jackie Doyle Hill of Niblo Ranch. As you read through the article, you will notice that the animals, buffalo in this case, are considered nothing more than chattel property. Clearly, this is about commercial property and not animal welfare. In fact, The QB Ranch isn't a home for animals but a 20,000 acre slaughter pen. With a few exceptions, when one ma...

Back in the old country, many companies give away small, live animals for Easter. It's a promotional program to attract more consumers to their products or services. It's still done these days, but local animal welfare orgs like the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) are working to stamp it out. People get a nice gift for the day, but what happens in the following weeks? That Easter gift turns into an unwanted animal, and the ugliness begins. Promotionals like these are mood-based. Like premature marriage proposals, people have regretted it. In this case, people won't pay the full price for their temporary enthusiasm. The animals will.

Do you feel alarmed or distressed whenever you come to the realization that the dullest knives in the kitchen wear a uniform, a badge, and enforces the law on the street? It's a silly question to ask, I know. Well, some of them get their very own column in a newspaper, both print and electronic, for all to be influenced by. That's pretty dangerous stuff, and so I am seriously alarmed. When in power, one must act and think responsibly. Take the Star Ledger's editorial board, for example. The editorial board at the Star Ledger came out with a piece on bear hunting in New Jersey---they are for it--- where they made assumptions that struck me as unfounded or illogical. A link to their piece is provided below. First of all, how did the editorial board of the Star Ledger know that bears from New York and Pennsylvania are pouring into New Jersey? We know very well that no one tracks every bear in these states and their migration from state to state is a matter of conjecture. The...

Listen up! If you thought Spring meant warmer temps, flowers and singing birds in the morning, think again. There's work to be done, at least in the eyes of the proprietors of the Catskill Animal Sanctuary (CAS). They are looking for a few good men, and women. It's time for their Spring cleanup when they get ready to receive this year's visitors, patrons and friends. Those who answer the call can expect to paint barns, do some landscaping, perform property maintenance and other such jobs. Hey, it actually sounds like fun. So, the big day is April 10th, Saturday but be sure to register by Thursday, the 8th, by calling 845-336-8447. Their email is info@casanctuary.org Located 2 hours north of NYC in Saugerties, NY, CAS is a 100- acre haven for farm animals rescued from cruelty and neglect. CAS also educates the public on the devastating impacts of agribusiness on people, animals, and the planet we share, and how to live a more compassionate lifestyle. Since 2001, CAS ha...

Anyone out there who can rationalize and defend this?

In my generation, dogs and cats, cats and birds, cats and mice, don't mix. That was the status quo and unassailable norm. There are nations thought to be traditional enemies, and so why not animals? Well, we couldn't be at many places at virtually the same time. Our knowledge and experience were comparatively narrow. But with the development of the worldwide web, we now can. Increasingly, these assumptions are challenged as examples contradicting them relentlessly come to the surface for both our delectation and wonderment. We should start to reconsider these equations as worn out dogmas of the past. It seems that animals do make choices, just like we do.

Call me bad. Call me callous. But, hunting accidents bring joy to my heart. They are God's way of handing out sweet revenge on those who kill animals for sport. And yes, retribution, in its many forms, is part of my God's core values. Accidents, therefore, is a misnomer when you factor in divine intervention. For kindred spirits, there is a website that collects information on the misfortune of the hunters, their stupidity and carelessness, their self-inflicted injuries and deaths. What else can I tell you except that it is a delightful READ ! http://www.all-creatures.org/cash/accident-center.html

There are bits of news that are extraordinary in their nature that they are almost a source of merriment than disappoinment or joy. You know the stuff---bank robber caught in a surveillance video with his name tag on his chest; after hours liquor store intruder who couldn't get out through the broken window he used to enter the premises; a mugger who mistakenly targeted an undercover cop. Thanks for the memories and the laughs. Well, I don't know if it is proper to compare Joe McCabe's case to those mentioned above, but certainly his level of stupidity and carelessness made those guys look sharp. In Denville, NJ this week, Joe McCabe created a string of events that landed him on the pages of NJ.Com. Who in his right mind would leave his daughter's pet rabbit on a screened porch and alongside an unsecured garbage bin in bear country? Well, Joe McCabe! I know that it pays to advertise but McCabe virtually put up a giant pulsating neon sign along a bear superhighway that ...

This is all over the news, and the media just loves this kind of stuff. The local anchorwoman began her report by saying that a tragedy occurred even before people knew what was going on. I reckon she meant the killing of the marine park trainer before a live audience. But, the truth be told, the real tragedy has always been in plain view. They are kept in relatively small tanks, and taught to perform acts that are unnatural to them. Killer whales are not pets that you embrace, kiss, and ride. Yet, they are trained to tolerate these human acts, and marine parks make money exhibiting this tenuous state of affairs. Killer whales are social beings, vis-a-vis their own species, have their own sense of self and what is acceptable to that self. They don't belong in marine parks and are not normally subservient to humans. Even a yokel like me, doing a little bit of research, can come to this conclusion. Is there anyone out there who can truly measure the frustration level of captive kille...

This rescue occurred some time ago, but it shouldn't go unmentioned. Back in January 2010, an individual named Imon Monzon reported a disabled, stray dog to the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). The dog's location was reported to be at Xavierville Ave in Quezon City. In her email to PAWS, Imon stated that her heart bleeds whenever she sees the dog, all gray, so thin, seemed neglected and unable to walk with its hind legs. Imon gave the dog some food and it wagged its tail. The dog devoured the food like it was its first meal in a long time. Imon continued to say that the dog was usually at the same spot, and that it had a dog tag that was unreadable. She ended her plea for help with, " Everytime I see him though, I feel like crying..:( " PAWS responded by sending two volunteers, Daisy Medel and John Tangkengko , to rescue the dog. That dog is the one you see in the photo, and its new name is Vangie because she was found at the corner of Evangelista Street...

Subaru never ceases to amaze me. Not only are the vehicles all-wheel wonders, but the manufacturer itself is all will when it comes to being green and compassionate. Who's ever heard of a car maker who cares about the environment and animal welfare at the same time? Well, now you have! The ASPCA reported that, " For the past two years, Subaru has partnered with the ASPCA as part of the “ Share the Love ” event, resulting in a $1.2 million donation in the first year alone. This past holiday season, the ASPCA helped connect Subaru dealerships with local animal welfare agencies around the country to promote Share the Love with fun-filled events and activities. Our matchmaking resulted in more than 350 adoptions and raised $28,000 for local agencies! " Subaru will soon embark on an advertising campaign that features two adopted dogs at the wheel, Olive and Zelda. You can see them HERE . Did you know that half of Subaru owners have a dog? As for some kind of pet, seven...