On Loving Animals...

The national elections are over, and Sarah Palin has been relegated to the role of butt of jokes and spoiler of John McCains presidential dreams. But, Sarah Palin's anti-animal policies continue to hurt our natural treasures particularly the Alaskan wolf. The hunting season is ongoing. This past November was the worst slaughter in five years. At least forty-seven wolves were killed by aerial gunners, and more killings are expected. The Defenders of Wildlife estimated this season's victims could number as much as 600 wolves. Remember that wolves live in packs, and so there is collateral damage for every wolf killed. All this killing is made possible by Sarah Palin's wolf-killing programs. Our natural treasures are in the wrong hands. To stop the killing, Sarah Palin must be voted out of office, or animal rights organizations need to step up the pressure in Washington to counter the governor's barbaric policies. The Protect America’s Wildlife Act (PAW) needs to be reintr

Two more dogs at our shelter who deserve a forever home. A pit bull terrier who looks tougher than she really is, Sandy has been a sweetie at the shelter. However, we are looking for an experienced owner because pits are not lapdogs! Sandy requires a good amount of exercise and strong leadership, typical pittie. She's a darling to walk, no tug of wars. Sandy knows when it's time for a walk and she gladly offers her head/neck to be collared at the kennel door. She's the kind of dog who will sit in place with you in the living room or on the porch. Kimo, on the other hand, is serene and gentle. An Eskimo dog, I would categorize him as small, medium at the most. He's active and loves to run in the yard. We prefer that he not be placed in a home with children under sixteen. He's a cutie. Bloomingdale Animal Shelter Society

On Christmas eve, I bring you a video about Britches. For those who still defend animal experimentation, I want you to view this video. Maybe on this Christmas eve, it will make you think, make you compare the joy you derive from being a free living being, protected by your human rights from abuse, to other sentient beings who are trapped and defenseless in a world of no choice, a world of pain and emotional distress, a life spent on the receiving end of animal experimentation. There is no Christmas spirit, no holiday season at the laboratories. Lab animals never have a good day. This case comes to us from the University of California at Riverside . As you read this, thousands of animals are under experimentation in universities across America, so-called bastions of higher learning, experiments intentionally hidden from our view although the animal abusers claim that their work is meant for our good. Those who have left the fold will tell you that, at best, the results from animal expe

Here's a couple of our dogs at the shelter, namely Patches and Oscar . Patches (below) is under one year old, friendly and active. He's a German Shepherd mix with that lovely mix of brown/black/white fur. Patches exudes energy and some obedience training may be required. He arrived at the shelter approx. three weeks ago. Oscar, on the other hand, is a well-mannered gentleman. He loves back massages, and barks at me when I stop massaging him. What a demanding client! I showed Oscar to a family of three last Sunday, and they have made an application to adopt him. But, it ain't over until its over, and so I am still putting him up here for adoption. Come see our dogs and cats at the shelter. There are more animals there than what you see on our website. . Bloomingdale Animal Shelter Society

PETA announced yesterday that Donna Karan has finally agreed to drop fur from her line of clothes. As people say, even granite cracks in water given enough time. PETA and many other anti-fur activists have continually picketed her stores, even crashed a runway show. Karan, who has a propensity for using rabbit fur, stated that her 2009 products will not include any fur, and no more fur from then on. It was reported that rabbit farmers crush the skulls of rabbits and behead them without making sure that they are dead. Then, they rip the fur of their bodies. Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and Calvin Klein are a few big name fashion designers who have given up fur. According to PETA, Tim Gunn sent Karan a video on the brutal ways of the fur trade---the skinning and dumping of still living but now furless animals; you've seen the videos, haven't you--- and that supposedly helped convince Karan. I don't know about that. I find it improbable that Karan, until then, didn't kno

We have wondered, at various points in our lives, if there is no limit to human cruelty. Over the years, we have seen the nasty photos and heard the horrifying news. But is there a limit to human kindness? Some people will give you the answer. In the news today, a woman named Catherine Titus cares for approximately 100 stray dogs on a $700 a month budget. The $700 comes in the form of a social security check. It wouldn't be correct to say that she splits this sum of money with the dogs because, according to Ms. Titus, the dogs get most of it. A former worker a humane society in Texas, Titus moved to Oklahoma after falling into hard times. She now lives in a van with a select few of the dogs while the rest fend for themselves outside. But how did she end up with so many dogs? Titus explained, " I get them wandering in from the pasture, stranded and beaten... I pick them up out of trash bags. I picked them up out of cardboard boxes... They tie them to the fence. They tie them t

You've heard me denounce the Chinese officials for their brutal treatment of dogs and cats, particularly the roundup of animals in preparation for the Olympics, but I certainly do not believe that the Chinese nation is a monolithic block of animal abusers. Just like any other nation, the Chinese form a contrasting nation of animal lovers and abusers. Like or not, the Chinese have been a force to reckon with for thousands of years. Literature, astronomy, mathematics, art, you name it, the Chinese have been there and back. It is said that the Chinese were wearing silk when only cave people in fur inhabited what is now Europe. But a long history in the sciences and other ethereal fields of study do not necessarily translate into a cruelty-free society. Far from it. Recently, some Chinese protested the killing of cats for meat. Evidently, there is an organized inter-city trade in cat meat in China, and some animal lovers have had enough of the cruelty. Even if kind-hearted Chinese seem

The word is out. It's former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (photo) for Agriculture Secretary and U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar from Colorado for Interior Secretary. I think that Gov. Vilsack doesn't raise any red flags among animal lovers, but Sen. Salazar does. Okay, he's a mixed bag which I think is what happens to you if you want to survive in Washington. For example, in 2005, Salazar opposed legislation to ban horse slaughter. This year, he co-sponsored legislation to strengthen the penalties for animal fighting plus signed a letter requesting more funds for the adequate enforcement of animal welfare laws. What are we to think of this? In Defense of Animals (IDA) recommended Rep. Raul M Grijalva (D-AZ) for the post, arguing that Rep. Grijalva has a 100% record on animal issues. IDA further claimed that while Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, Grijalva was " instrumental in advancing fair and balanced use of federal parks, recreational area

Maybe this isn't new, but it is new to me. There is now a Most Wanted list for those who have committed environmental harm. Well, why not? We have laws to protect the environment and most definitely there are people who won't abide by them if it was convenient or profitable for them. Many of these criminals dumped toxic waste into our natural resources or treasures. It's like someone dumping his repulsive trash in your living room, worse in your kitchen. I also noticed that many of these criminals are foreigners, now fugitives hiding in their home countries. Take for example this guy Butch R. Bustamonte . He hails from the Philippines, and it is believed that he is there right now. That's going to work for him because of the generally weak law enforcement in that country. Criminals can hide there for years incognito or out in the open as long as you continually bribe those who are suppose to catch and prosecute you. I know, I am from that country. I don't need to be

Okay, folks. It was a long and hard campaign effort. We might not be able to recall with ease the highlights, but don't despair. Someone did it for us, and you can see them in the video presented here. Aptly enough, it's called Sarah Palin's Greatest Hits. No, it's not about the shooting of moose and wolves which the governor wholeheartedly supports. Actually, wolves are being hunted and killed, from the air and from the ground, as I type this message to you. Remember, if you can present a severed front leg of a wolf to the governor, she will pay you $150 for it. How do you do this? Well, you can hop on an aircraft and hunt them down from the air. Don't worry. She'll probably give you a hug and a kiss as well. Governor Palin supports the aerial hunting of our natural treasures. Heck, the less wolves around, the more moose for her to shoot. Some people's values are simply misplaced, I tell ya. I find this practice to be very brutal and destructive, and so are

Auggie arrived at the shelter about two weeks ago. A happy dog, he waits anxiously to be walked, like all other dogs really. Auggie is immediately friendly. You can touch him right away. Walking him is like walking a sniffing machine. Auggie loves to check out his environment, very curious dog. Auggie does not try to drag you along the way in a power struggle. Instead, he takes a walk with you. Within two minutes of meeting Auggie for the first time, I gave him a tummy rub. That's a testament to his being a friendly and trusting dog. He's just a nice dog. I like him a lot. Bloomingdale Animal Shelter Society UPDATE : Adopted 12/12/2008

More Anti-Fur demonstrations coming up very soon. Here is the info: Saturday, December 13, 2008 NJ Antonovich Furs (1:00 - 2:30pm) 125 Route 46 West, Totowa, NJ Important Parking Note: There is parking at a business building across from the Bethwood Restaurant. People will need to drive through to the back and turn right to park. Any questions: contact Jan - godscre@msn.com Saturday, December 13, 2008 NY Macys (2:00 - 4:00pm) 151 West 34th Street New York, NY. Due to the cost of sound permits/parking because of the transporting of large props, please consider bringing a $10 donation to keep the protests going: to NYCAnimalRights - Please RSVP to santos@nycanimalrights.com Sunday, December 14, 2008 NY Lord & Taylor 2:00 - 4:00 In front of the Lord and Taylor holiday windows 38th and 5th Ave. For more info: ljordan77@hotmail.com

The good people of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) have sent out a list of much needed supplies, and also a pair of photos that will warm your heart. Don't let anybody tell you that they don't make a difference in this world because they do. You can make a difference yourself by volunteering at your local shelter, reporting animal cruelty, intervening in an ongoing cruel situation, and by donating goods or money. As I have often said, the first line of defense is the individual person, not an animal welfare society. Individual actions will morph into a greater good. The first photo shows Sylvester when he was rescued last July and the second one was taken in October, after four months of care at the Philippine Animal Rehabilitation Center run by PAWS. What a difference, isn't it? You can see the sadness in Sylvester in the earlier photo, and the contentment in the later photo. God Bless. As for the much needed materials, here they are: 1. Dry cat food or kib

Our good friend over at For the Love of the Dog , Deanna Raeke, reported on a botched response by the Memphis police to a dogfighting complaint. Dogfighting is a felony, and the Memphis police couldn't get a proper response to it in time. I don't want to give the story away, and so you can read the report HERE .

Ok, here's a picker-upper for you. We've heard about dogs who don't mind the rain, dogs who love to swim, and dogs who love the snow. This dog loves the snow, but please just decaf coffee next time.

Some good news. As much as I criticize people for their cruel acts, abusive behaviour, and inhumane work, I also give praise to those who rightfully deserve it. For this post, I've got Inspector Angelo Nicolas , head of the Quezon City Police District’s Anti-Carnapping Unit (Philippines). What does carnapping have to do with animal abuse? Well, Insp. Nicolas received a tip from an animal rights advocate concerning the illegal transport of animals, dogs in this case. These dogs, all seventy of them, were meant for the meat market in the northern Luzon city of Baguio. Baguio used to be the Summer capital of the Philippines, at least when I was growing up in the country in the 1960s. If my memory serves me right, the city has an elevation of 10,000 feet. God blessed this city with pine trees, clean mountain air and a cool climate. I used to look forward to weekend trips to Baguio for these reasons, but I believe that it has gone to pot since I was there last. Noxious fumes pervade al

Here's a message from our friends at the ASPCA regarding pets as gifts this holiday season. If you ask me, I'd say just forget about it. I don't like the idea of animals as gifts even if you are good -intentioned. There's something about the holidays, or birthdays, that has " IMPULSE " blinking in red in my mind. Getting a pet should be a well thought-out process. In the best of worlds, getting a pet should be about giving an animal a better life and not making someone happy on a special occasion. Yes, I know. It's not a perfect world, and there are many cases where things have worked out quite well for both gift and celebrant. I don't always get my way. In case you are in the hunt for a pet this holiday season, take a few minutes to listen to ASPCA President Ed Sayres and Officer Annemarie Lucas , ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement’s Supervisory Special Investigator:

Oh, I'm sorry. Have I introduced you to this nice couple over here? World, meet Wilmer Fernandez (34)and his wife Aixa Rodriguez (32). They live in Tampa, Florida with several children plus FIVE starving and abused dogs. The news reported that three of the dogs were tied up in the backyard with a leash that was too short to give them any room to exercise their muscles while two of the five dogs, boxer and dachshund, hadn't seen a veterinarian at all. One of the five was near death. A dog named Casper , according to the officers, was so sick that they could not tell what breed he was. All dogs were found to be hungry and thirsty. If on November 30, an investigator didn't coincidentally see an emaciated dog in the backyard of 12315 Cambridge Ave ., where Fernandez and Rodriguez live, these dogs would have died a very cruel death. When questioned, the couple argued that they did not have the money to properly care for the dogs. Well, yeah, how could they afford vet care when

One more demonstration alert, this one from the New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance ( NJARA ) who will be targeting the fur store Borche in Fort Lee, New Jersey. The sponsor will be the Caring Activists Against Fur . Just two weeks ago, Hearts for Animals demonstrated at this very same store. To tell you frankly, I have never been inside a fur store. That's a blessing, I think. It must be like a morgue. An atmosphere of painful death must pervade in it, to see the remnants of what used to be beautiful animals displayed on hangers and windows. I mean, these stores sell the fur of dead animals. You can realize the monstrosity of the fur business by putting it in this very simple term. Dead animals are literally hanging on chrome racks with price tags attached to them. And for a sum of money, an animal's fur can become your fur. But, no. It never becomes YOUR fur because you don't grow any fur. You just bought the fur of a hapless animal whose fur was forcibly stripped from

Want to help the animals, and get something in return? Well, your ship has arrived. The American Dog Magazine will donate 100% of its revenue to Best Friends Animal Society when you sign up for a subscription. I looked over the magazine, and it became immediately evident that it isn't one for cuteness overload. This magazine delves into animal welfare legislation, advocacy, animal training, profiling of animal welfare advocates, and so on. It has pretty good stuff. Now, why would they donate 100% of their revenue to Best Friends? It sounds counter-intuitive for a magazine to give up 100% of its subscription revenues to a cause, even a good one. Let's hear from the publisher: " I'm personally disgusted by our nation euthanizing 5-7 million pets EVERY year and the only way to end this is to spay and neuter like crazy, shut down the puppy mills, stop pet stores from selling puppies, stop the backyard breeders from trying to make a buck and help change legislation to curb

Now how do you train a dog to blow bubbles in the water? I suspect that the dog, in nature's quirky way, had a knack for blowing bubbles in his water bowl to begin with. All the trainer had to do was to reward the dog everytime it blew bubbles on command. dog blowing bubbles @ Yahoo! Video

This is Franklin, and he is blind. He arrived at the shelter about two weeks ago. Franklin is a very quiet dog, and that might be from his near deaf condition. We crumpled a plastic bag near his ear, and he reacted to it. So, we believe that he can hear a little bit. It is not surprising that when Franklin goes for a walk he goes in circles around you, using the leash as a reference. I know of blind cats who do the same thing. Circling gives them an idea of their surroundings. Franklin will make for a great lap dog, a companion dog, and a house dog. I have no doubts that he can learn the furniture arrangement in any house. When you have a blind animal in the house, do not rearrange the furniture. You can bet your your house that Franklin's sense of smell is above average. Well, Franklin is up for adoption. We're looking for a special person for a special dog. If you have any interest, or doubts, come to our shelter and meet him in person. He is a good boy. Bloomingdale Animal

No joy on Sunday. This morning, I woke up to my wife's excited announcement that snow was falling. The first of the year in my area, but it didn't last long nor did it stick. It turned to icy rain, and then to regular rain by 10am. It has been a wet and cool day since then. Yuck.

I don't know how many years this goose/duck ( not sure ) has been around in the park, but it now walks with a limp. It hobbled by as if i wasn't there. Obviously, it has become very trusting of human beings. It lives by the bridge over the pond along with other ducks. Last January, I took some photos in the park on a bitterly cold day and it was one of the ducks walking gingerly on the frozen pond. I hope it survives this winter.

This is simply amazing.

This is Fidelma when I leave her in the car because the store owner does not allow dogs in the premises. She spends the time looking out the windows. Yes, some shopkeepers are adamant about the " No Dogs " rule. That's fine. I am just as adamant about not buying from animal-intolerant stores. I let them know by telling them. Here, Fidelma looks like she lacks some sleep but tries valiantly to stay awake.

Look at what money can do! Well, a lot of money AND a kind heart really, they're both present in Madeleine Pickens. She's the wife of T. Boone Pickens. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management plans to euthanize thousands of wild horses, to cut down to 27,000 the wild horse population in ten western states which numbers 33,000. The bureau isn't the bad guy in this picture. They are dealing with an over population of horses in their long term holding facilities, horses who are too old and unadoptable. Euthanasia has become an option. However, Mrs. Pickens' solution involves purchasing approximately 1 million acres of land and turning them into a refuge. In a wonderful spirit of cooperation, the bureau agreed to give the horses to Mrs. Pickens after she purchases the land. But, it's not just taking in the horses, and that's it. They will be sterilized at the refuge, and the horses the bureau takes out of the wild each year will also come home to the refuge. Mrs. Pickens

There's a show in the Philippines called, Lovely Day , that featured a dog rescue by Philippine Animal Welfare Society ( PAWS ) volunteers May Angela Felix and Joe Claret . Now, this stuff is all in Tagalog but you can easily surmise what went on. Evidently, an elderly woman rang to report a dog in need of help. May showed the reporter, Jacob, how the the catch pole works and when the net is necessary. They weren't needed after all because the dog went along without any resistance after a food offering was made. Joe Claret explained that most of the animals in need of rescue flee upon their approach, and so this was one of the easiest rescues. The rescuers took the dog to " Dra. Mardi " for a check-up/deworming. From there, they're off to the PAWS shelter where the dog began its rehabilitation. The second video includes a rescued two-week old kitten, the adoption of two dogs, and a dog named Jackie getting groomed for a better chance at adoption.

Well, if Sarah Palin insists on being in the limelight after the election, then I think she is definitely still fair game. I want you to visit the link I have provided below, and enjoy the many jokes on her by the late night show hosts. "Sarah Palin made three campaign stops today: Saks, Nieman Marcus and Bloomingdales." --Jay Leno Palin has become the new Dan Quayle, and nobody is responsible for that than the animal killer herself. If I were Palin , I would bury my face in my pillow and curse the day I thought America would believe in me. 2012? You won't make it beyond the primaries, Sarah. Here is the link : http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/sarahpalin/a/palin-jokes.htm And what about the Vice-President and the Senate? Evidently, Sarah Palin doesn't know what the Vice-President does in the U.S. Senate. And she's committed this gaffe twice during the campaign, and probably hasn't checked the constituion to this day. Here is one of those moments: For the

Some good news, made me look twice. Ned , a captive elephant performing for the Royal Hanneford Circus , has gained her freedom through the good people of In Defense of Animals who sent photos of an emaciated Ned to the USDA . If you eyeball the photo, you'd presume that Ned is an old elephant, but he is only 21 years old. Ned weighs approximately 2,000 lbs less than normal for his size and age. Well, it didn't take a month for the USDA to rescue Ned and send him off to a better life at the Elephant Sanctuary. The IDA reported that he now enjoys a variety of good food, watermelon and corn on the cob being his favorites. The IDA further reported that : " Meanwhile, Ned’s trainer, Lance Ramos, remains a USDA-licensed exhibitor while the case for revocation of his license is on appeal. He and his father, Manuel Ramos, have a history of violating the Animal Welfare Act since 1989. ( click here for more information about the Ramos family ) He has in his control other animal

When is it too cold to walk your dog? It was 22F this morning when Fidelma and I went for our morning walk. Now, for most of us in the northeast, 22F isn't a show-stopper at all but it is cold for November. We're just out of the Summer, and here we are hunched over in our heavy jackets and hoods, cursing that damn wind. Snow has already fallen farther north of us, in the Catskills and Adirondacks, and those folks are probably under more freezing temps than we are in northern New Jersey. Anyway, I remember a year or two ago when Fidelma and I were out in 12F weather, and my neighbor was at his window gesturing to me, " What the hell are you doing out there in this kind of weather? " True, twelve-degree weather can be tough on everybody. At those temperatures, if your dog agrees to venture out of your warm home, your time out with your dog should focus on a quick poo and pee. When it gets down to single digits, then that's definitely painful. My inner ear starts giv

I should have done this a long time ago, take photos of the dogs I meet along the avenue called life. Of course, I meet a lot of dogs ; I volunteer at an animal shelter. But I am talking about those dogs/cats we meet in stores, junk yards, gas stations, parks, etc. It's no longer enough to compliment the owner on how wonderful their pet is. We need to make a simple record of their existence. Meet Buddy. He's a good boy. Buddy loves to meet other dogs and strangers like me. He was most curious about my dog, Fidelma , who is a lot smaller than him. Many dogs cannot tolerate a small dog, but Buddy looked at Fidelma like she was a toy that walked in just for him. Issues? I don't think Buddy has any. This is a dog you can hug right away. Just absolutely friendly. Tell-tale signs say Buddy has had a loving environment all his life and he, in turn, epitomizes the sweet and loyal family dog. You can meet Buddy at Granny's Attic in Ridgewood , New Jersey. He hangs around the

The old BMW finally gave out. The engine froze because fuel got into areas where only oil should be. The mixture took away the lubricating quality of the oil, and the pistons overheated and froze into place. It's no longer advisable to have it repaired. It would cost a ton of money, and she is already eighteen years old with 151,000 miles. So long, old friend. We shared many times together. I was always proud of you. To make something positive out of something negative, I have decided to donate the car to an animal rescue organization in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Yes, they will take a car even if it does not run anymore. I think the plan is to scuttle the vehicle and sell individual parts separately. The organization is the Animal Rescue Force , and they work with the Vehicle Donation Center .

Barack Obama wasn't the only big winner on November 4, 2008. The passing of Proposition 2 in California meant that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of farm animals will get some relief from the cruel confinement in which they live their lives. Relief could be as simple as pigs or cows being able to turn around in their cages, for hens to spread their wings. Proposition 2's provisions will be in full effect by 2015. On the eastern front, voters in Massachusetts were asked if dog racing constituted animal cruelty, and Question 3 went up for voting. Question 3 is known as the Greyhound Protection Act, and it would outlaw commercial dog racing by 2010. The people voted, and Question 3 passed. This issue isn't a new one. Back in 2000, a similar act failed to pass by less than 2% of the vote. A special thanks for this year's successful campaign goes to The Committee to Protect Dogs . The committee collected 150,000 signatures with an all-volunteer effort to qualify Q

If you're like me, you must feel that a new age of optimism and change has come to Washington with Sen. Obama's election as our next POTUS. At the present time, the President-elect is forming his administration so he can hit the road running when inaugurated on January 20, 2009. That could be a cold day in Winter, but it will be a bright and warm day in my heart. The Humane Society of the U.S. is asking us to send an email to President-elect Obama urging him to select a Secretary of Agriculture who is sensitive to animal welfare issues as well as consumer safety and environmental protection. The Secretary of Agriculture has oversight on the Animal Welfare Act and the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. A humane Secretary of Agriculture can make a significant and positive contribution to issues concerning puppy mills, animal slaughter, animal fighting, and food safety. What a play maker that person can be, and what a giant leap forward for animal welfare if the right person is chos

This is the fifth year that In Defense of Animals (IDA) will publish their top ten violators of animal welfare, the worst ten zoos in America. By whose judgment would that be? By you, the people. Last year's list is HERE . Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California topped that list. And they have been on top for the fourth consecutive year. What a shame, but they've got none. Nine elephants have died at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom since 1995, five of them euthanized as a direct result of the same foot and joint disorders. There are, at least, two elephants who suffer from them at the present time. These ailments are caused by the elephants living in cramped and barren areas. If ever you are reincarnated as an elephant, make sure you don't end up there. IDA reported that " An IDA investigation revealed that elephants with diseased feet and joints are forced to stack 600-pound logs and perform in shows for the public, despite their afflictions. To force the

Yesterday was Veterans Day. The wife and I drove an hour to Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania for a look at the antiques at the Old Engine Works. This is one of our favorites haunts. In 1993, antique dealers took over the old brick building used as a machine shop beginning 1903. From their website, we can learn a bit of the shop's history: " In the early years they built large steam powered hoists that were used for bridge building, quarrying and many other heavy industry applications. During WW II they built hoists that were used to load and unload the Liberty Ships. After the war the principal operation developed into building winches for Shrimp Boats. These hoists are used to pull in the nets and you will find Stroudsburg Engine Works hoists on boats all over the world. For many years, if you built a Shrimp Boat, you put a Stroudsburg Hoist on it! Winch production ended in 1989 and the business continued as a machine shop until November 1992 . " The photo shows a large Ameri

There is much talk nowadays about the Obamas getting a dog, and bless their hearts for preferring to adopt instead of purchasing. Let's say it again : purchasing from pet stores only helps the puppy mill business. Avoid it like the plague, and adopt from a shelter. Adopting saves lives---one, the dog you adopted; two, the dog who will take its place. Hypoallergenic means that something does not produce, or produces less allergic reactions in a certain person. Hypoallergenic dogs are not allergen-free. They just produce less irritating allergens than other dogs. The culprit is usually a protein found in saliva and dander, and this protein comes from the sebaceous glands. Hypoallergenic dogs can be found in shelters. It is not true that all shelter dogs cause allergic reactions in people. It is not true that one has to go to breeders or pet stores to get a hypoallergenic dog. As in other matters relating to adopting a pet, one has to deal with the particular dog or cat to see if it i

Heart for Animals, a new group formed by Claudia Emerson, will be holding a demonstration at against the fur trade. Here is the write up: Fur Demo - SPEAK UP FOR FUR BEARING ANIMALS USED FOR FASHION It's 2008 and animals are still being killed for clothing. There are many other options to keep warm then using fur bearing animals for clothing. Whether it's a coat or fur trim it still all spells death for millions of animals. Now our best friends cannot escape the fur industry as dog and cat skins are used for coats and trim. It's not elegant, beautiful or sophisticated to wear fur. It only says an animal was violently killed for his skin. Let's educate consumers about the fur industry so they won't wear or buy fur. Help to end the suffering and violent deaths of minks, rabbits, opossums, beavers, raccoons, foxes, Karakul sheep, and many other kinds of animals. Where : Borche 200 Main Street Fort Lee, NJ When : November 22, 2008 Time : 12PM - 2PM http://maps.google.co

Introducing Brandy . She's 7 years old, and very sweet. Her human passed away, and Brandy has become our dog at the shelter. Sometimes, I look at her and I can feel her pain. It must be extremely sad for Brandy to lose her home and the human who loved her. But we love her at the shelter, and she is in good hands. As you can see, she is a red nose pit bull, and a tad on the small side, very compact. Brandy walks nicely, no tug of war going on, just a nice pleasant time. To state the obvious, this sweet girl needs her forever home. Please come to the shelter and meet Brandy in person. She is readily accepting of strangers and enjoys a back rub when she can get it. Bloomingdale Animal Shelter Society

The good life @ Yahoo! Video

And let us not forget the cruelty in the fur business. There will be a Fur-Free Friday coming up this month, the 28th to be exact. Last year's Fur-Free Friday was captured on video, and you can see it below. The objects of protest are the giant fur trade cronies, Macy's and Lord & Taylor in Manhattan. Yep, if you sell the stuff, you are guilty as those who rip the fur off the animal themselves. A large turnout is expected. The group meet will meet at 1:00pm in front of the Lord & Taylor holiday windows (5th Avenue near 38th Street) and then march down to Macy's around 1:45pm till 3:00pm. Macy's is located at 151 West 34th Street (34th between 7th & Broadway). Bullhorns and large screen television will aid in the education of the people. http://www.caafgroup.com/

Play the full size version on PETA.org .

No one say that Californians didn't care because they do. Proposition 2 passed with 60% of the voters voting YES. The full provisions of Proposition 2 will be fully implemented by 2015. Relief is on the way for millions of abused farm animals. Proposition 2 is a landmark measure that bans confinement methods like battery cages , veal crates and gestation crates . The misery that farm animals have been living through is immeasurable. We are hoping for a domino theory come true, a political theory thought improbable during the Cold War era but it could just work out in animal welfare. California joins Florida , Arizona , Oregon and Colorado in outlawing gestation crates, joins Arizona and Colorado in outlawing veal crates. But California is first to ban battery cages for laying hens whose fatality rate is far higher than we've seen among pigs or calves. I suspect that egg producers in California are much annoyed that they will be required to provide hens with enough space to t

I learned about the plight of the Alaskan wolves from the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund(DOWAF). This group is dedicated, I mean dedicated , to the welfare of our American wildlife, working the political route for change. Life looked dismal when the effort to stop the aerial hunting of wolves fell short of the mark, primarily due to the aggressive opposition of Gov. Sarah Palin who spent approximately $400,000 to preserved this merciless practice. She even offered a $150 bounty for every severed foreleg of a wolf. Mind you, Gov. Palin did not specify that the wolf be dead. Wolves prey on moose, and the governor is primarily a moose hunter. The less wolves, the more moose to shoot. Simple equation. Enter the 2008 presidential election. The DOWAF sent out a call for donations to fight the election of Gov. Palin to the White House, and people like myself gave readily. The DOWAF aired their now famous video on aerial gunning in key voting states that ultimately ended up in Obama'

A minor feat was accomplished yesterday, hardly noticed except by this site manager, one not up to par with the sighting of a glowing and gyrating UFO but possibly as rare as seeing the monstrous head of a primordial creature sticking out of the lake waters. For the second time since beginning this blog more than two years ago, more than one hundred people came to visit this site in one day. That was yesterday, 104 to be exact. There have been nibbles before, daily readers numbering in the high eighties, when sixty or seventy constituted the norm. The only other time readership crossed the century mark in one day was when my blog was featured in several blogs and in a petition relating to the indiscriminate killing of Philippine wildlife. And so, we go on from here...

Obama wasn't elected because he is a black man. He was elected because he is a good man. Obama is our duly elected leader. As he has often emphasized, we are not red states nor blue states. We are the United States of America. We have become embroiled in seemingly insurmountable problems that threaten our political and economic welfare, a nation under stress, that a new beginning is necessary so that " this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. " We have a new President, and he is worthy of our respect and support.

Here is Colin Powell's take on the Obama victory and the road ahead for all Americans including the Republican Party. I find him to be very astute, and I believe that his support for Obama was born out of a deliberate weighing of the pros and cons and not solely from the color of Obama's skin which he shares. No doubt, Powell takes pride in seeing an African-American become POTUS, but so do I. I think it is a wonderful accomplishment for our country. I am very proud of this country. Click HERE

One of the most notorious circuses is coming to town. This one has been cited numerous times, and I am perplexed as to why this circus is still in business. Worse, they will be performing at Shea Stadium in Queens, my old stomping grounds way back when I was a rabid Mets fan. It's sacrilegious to allow animal cruelty to perform on what has been the venue for wholesome family entertainment for many years. Baseball, by itself, is proof enough that we don't need to be entertained by captive and miserable animals. Shame on the Shea Stadium management for allowing this circus to perform on their grounds. Below is the alerting email I received which I am cross-posting here for your information. ============================================ Please Help Stop Circus Vazquez From Endangering Animals At Shea Stadium Circus Vazquez will be performing at Shea Stadium in Queens Friday, November 7 through December 7. This circus has a terrible record of animal handling and care. On March 31,