On Loving Animals...

I am taking a momentary break from the usual animal welfare issues on this blog to urge people to vote for the candidate who is most deserving to be the next President of the U.S. of America. It's no time for a beginner. Speeches and promises are cheap. A long history of public service is not, 35 years, in fact. A promise of Hope does not safeguard our national security, but experience does. Hillary is the Change we all need.

Wearing nearly nothing, a local PETA activist will defy chilling winter temperatures to bring attention to Ringling Bros.' abuse of animals. Demonstrations like these are making an impact. Many potential circus goers turn around and go home after finding out how animals suffer in the circus. We need your help to spread the word that circuses are no fun for animals. What : Caged Tiger Demonstration When : Tuesday, March 4, 12:00 noon. Where : Intersection of Ridge Road and Park Ave., East Rutherford All materials will be provided. To RSVP or for questions about this event, please email Ashley Byrne at AshleyB@peta.org . Thank you for being on the activist network and for everything you do for animals. Sincerely, David Salisbury, Assistant Activist Liaison People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals DavidS@peta.org

Here's the full text of Sen. Zubiri's speech to the Senate delivered on 27 February 2008. Thanks to Josef Sagemuller for providing the text. The senator's staff have been in touch with the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines and the e-group formed by Mr. Sagemuller after he initiated his now well-known petition to stop the killing of Philippine wildlife. Pictured here is Senator Zubri and Senator Pimental together with and several members of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines. I believe that this is not a knee-jerk reaction nor a passing fancy of the Senator. I believe that he is sincere in his interest and concern for Philippine biodiversity and wildlife. The Senator has proven to be one of the more enlightened minds in the Philippine government. I am immensely pleased that the Senator spotlighted the Mindoro Safari and has called for action against it. The alerting emails I sent to the DENR, the Philippine National Police, and the Governor of Mindoro have all gone una

So you feel special because of your fur coat? Or, is it someone else's fur coat? You think it's classy and chic? How do you think the animals feel about losing their fur coat?. Help Stop the Cruel Fur Industry .

Here is a link to GMA News TV reporting on a new tactic by dog meat traders to avoid detection and arrest: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/82522/Baguio-cops-seize-slaughtered-dogs-from-Pangasinan

Something reprehensible happened on Good Morning Kuya last week. This is a show that touts itself as a font of information on the myriad of social issues confronting Filipino society. They've got segments on employment, news, biblical issues, legal and medical advice, cooking, etiquette, and pet ownership, to name a few. Several hosts take turns at the helm as the subject matter morphs through time, four hours in fact. If the segment on animal welfare is any indication of the show's understanding of the issues, you could do yourself a big favor by donning some ear plugs and just watch the visuals. Quite contradictory, isn't it? But it isn't an exaggeration. Let's consider Rene Jose 's segment on the spaying and neutering of stray animals. A few days ago, a post in the Philippine Animal Welfare Society 's e-group raised red flags among animal lovers and activists. It was almost like a plaintive cry for help, reaching out to those who might explain the bizarr

Dear Animal Lovers: I would like, first of all, for you to scroll down to the post just before this one relating to Ms. Charlene Pedrolie 's appoinment by the New York Health Department as Executive Director of the Animal Care and Control of New York City, Inc late last year. Since then, Ms. Pedrolie has quickly earned the ire and horror of local animal groups and rightly so. For example, Ms. Pedrolie stopped allowing antibiotics to be administered to shelter animals , leaving them very vulnerable to upper respiratory illnesses. When they do get sick, they are considered unadoptable and that puts them straight down death row. Ms. Pedrolie also banned seven rescue groups from pulling animals from the shelter . In effect, that's like shutting the door on animal rescue and adoption. Her strong-arm tactics do not belong in animal welfare where compassion is the underlying thread and not cost-saving. Please sign this petition and make this world a better place for animals: h ttp:/

* Post by Laurie Bleier, Director, http://BrooklynAnimalFosterNetwork.org If you are having trouble viewing this message, please go to http://community.icontact.com/p/bafn-event/newsletters/event9-29 . VERY DISTURBING NEWS -- PLEASE CROSS POST After a 9 months search to hire a new executive director, the Department of Health hired Ms. Charlene Pedrolie , a nationally-recognized business consultant with NOT a shred of sheltering or animal medical experience. Within weeks, 3 veteranarians and several vet techs resigned because of her misguided change of protocols. To add fuel to the soon to be raging fire, Ms. Pedrolie fired Ursula a head vet tech. Last week I was told by an insider that many of this medical team who resigned were bribed into returning with offers of large pay raises at a huge cost to this already grotesquely underfunded system that euthanized 20397 dogs and cats in 2006. Since Ms. Pedrolie's arrival more than 13 people have resigned and many are looking for new job

The DasMarinas Village Great Cat Massacre occurred in mid- December 2007. People were naturally horrified by the execution-style killings of helpless animals. Click HERE to see my first report on the massacre. The airgun shooting of caged cats recuperating from their spaying procedures meant that a monster was on the loose in this upscale neighborhood. The local television news covered the story and by early January the Makati police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) got involved in the investigation. Things looked promising back then-- the pellets examined, the visitors' log at the subdivision perused for any abnormal activity, and a suspect questioned. Even the Mayor of Makati, Jejomar Binay , condemned the killings on January 6th and promised to get to the bottom of it. Animal lovers were pleased with all the attention and activity. Finally, authorities were acting from the sheer force of their professionalism. But two months into the investigation, the case remai

There is only one correct answer: NO! Declawing is very much misunderstood. Some people think it is nothing but a nail clipping. Actually, it is more than that. In many countries, declawing is considered inhumane. The claws are not toenails, but a part of the bone. So, declawing is more than just a nail job. It is a serious surgical operation because it is like cutting off the last joint in your cat's toe. There is pain involved in the recuperative period because of the sore wound, and from walking which the cat must still do. Imagine cutting off your finger at the base where it connects to your hand. It's not a pleasant thought, isn't it? There is also the psychological, or emotional, side effect of declawing. Claws are your cat's weapons for self-defense, out in the yards or among other cats. Declawing them makes them more insecure and vulnerable. Maybe some doctors would disagree with me, but I don't think they know all the things that needs to be known. Plus, ot

Listen to Tammy Grimes, founder of Dogs Deserve Better, speaks about her conviction for theft and receiving stolen property. The property? A dying dog, chained outside, too weak to even get up. Here's the story: http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/doogie.html " On December 14, 2007, I was convicted of theft and receiving stolen property for coming to the aid of this dog, who lay chained, unable to stand, and suffering in an East Freedom, Pennsylvania backyard. Despite overwhelming evidence of cruelty on the part of the dog’s caretakers, no charges were ever brought against them by either the humane officer or the police. A private criminal complaint filed by myself and Dogs Deserve Better languishes unaddressed on the desk of DA Richard Consiglio . Both video evidence of the dog struggling to get up and after-photos and video of the dog walking were suppressed from the jury. These videos are currently available for viewing on YouTube and our site. I am to be sentenced by Judge El

From the Newnan-Coweta Humane Society: PLEASE CROSSPOST WIDELY! WE HAD A MIRACLE WEDNESDAY AND GOT 9 OUT, NOW THERE ARE 14 MORE THAT WILL DIE ON FRIDAY, IF WE DON'T FIND RESCUE, OR ADOPTION! PLEASE, IF YOU CAN TAKE EVEN ONE INTO RESCUE, ADOPT ONE, OR FOSTER, CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY!! Please don't wait! There are no reprieves: if not adopted or rescued, these, and possibly more animals will die Friday at 8:30 A.M. Click HERE to see them. Their videos here: http://www.shelterrescue.org/id1.html Furthermore... PLEASE go to the website at http://www.shelterrescue.org/ to see videos of some of the wonderful, friendly Coweta dogs ! You can REALLY see their personalities shine through in their videos ! They are in the shelter through no fault of theirs and are so deserving of a chance to live! If you are a GA resident, and can go to the shelter, please don't wait. You can also contact: (In State Help): Georgia If you are in state, and wish help with pulling or adopting please con

Emil Written by Celine Quijano Edited by Alya Honasan. Photos by Elsie Araneta and Sherwin Castillo THE DOGS knew someone was approaching, and a barking frenzy commenced. One dog managed to keep his calm amid the excitement, however, lazily turning his head. It was the quiet and dignified Emil, estimated to be about five years old, and a long-time resident of the shelter.Emil moved closer and looked at me curiously. His white coat was mottled with soft brown patches in the sunlight. His beautiful green eyes stood out; when I first met him, I thought he had one of the most unforgettable stares I had ever seen. Emil is a deep thinker, a doggy philosopher. He seems to listen to your every word, and it’s almost as if he wants to say something important in return. Emil is easy to handle on a leash, and a good walk cheers him up. Small things, like a gentle stroke or a caring human voice, can make him happy. He likes to cross his front paws while lying on the ground before closing his eyes t

When I said, " Angels on Earth, " I truly meant it. The other day, I was surfing around the web and I came upon the website of the Newnan-Coweta Human Society and Shelter Rescue . I found myself looking through their list of urgent dogs, unfortunate beings who were facing euthanasia on Feb. 12, 2008. There were nine dogs in all. The society does not have possession of the dogs at their website except those who are listed in foster care. What the society does is to showcase animals held at different animal control centers in the Georgia area, appeal to the public for support, look for foster homes or other animal shelters in which these dogs/cats can be placed. During less urgent times, if such times really do exists, the society runs public adoption programs and fundraisers. Whatever and whenever, all their efforts are focused on saving the animals from a homeless and love-starved life which will ultimately lead to a lonely and untimely death at the animal control center. I

Sosimo Lagasa of Barangay Butac, Suyo, Ilocos Sur, a farmer, would still be alive today if someone just abided by the law. Hunting is illegal in the Philippines unless you are a member of an indigenous tribe. It seems that Villar Marcelo , 40, of Barangay Sto. Rosario, Sigay isn't one of them and he's the hunter who shot Lagasa dead with a 12-gauge shotgun. Marcelo was hot on the trail of a wild boar when he saw some movement in area of tall grass. Assuming it was the boar, he fired into it, killing the farmer. Marcelo surrendered to the authorities. What else can we expect from hunting in the Philippines? If it isn't wasted, protected wildlife, it's an innocent farmer blown to pieces. Not only does this case involve illegal hunting, but it also violates one of the cardinal rules of the sport. Don't shoot at something you can not see. It's as simple as that. Heck, I am not a hunter and I know this rule. Give up this destructive sport. Hunting disrupts the circ

We've heard about the animals who were put down in shelters because their time had ran out. They were killed to make room for new arrivals who themselves lived a short time at the shelter before they met the same fate. It is a circle of death, a slide down the slippery slope of survival into the jaws of death with a few exceptions. What a sad world we live in when you consider the thousands of animals put to death in any given day because their families no longer wanted them, because no one adopted them, because they did not have homes to begin with, because they did not have a sponsor to prolong their stay, because only a few cared. The national (USA) statistics are staggering. According to Business Wire Feaures (1999), over $2 billion a year are spent by local governments to house and ultimately euthanize 8-10 million adoptable cats and dogs because of a shortage of homes. The Humane society of the U.S. (HSUS)estimates that 7 dogs and cats are born every day for every person b

http://www.paws.org.ph

Here's a cutie named Jorgia . She must have some Dalmatian in her, judging from the spotting. I like the way her face is white and both ears are black and drooping. Unfortnately, Jorgia was abandoned by her former owner at the shelter. She's two years old, and has been at the shelter since August, 2007. To learn more about Jorgia and how to adopt her, go to Me.Find.Home HERE . Photo by Sherwin Castillo .

Do you believe in miracles? Well, there was an event in the upstate New York town of Mahopac that could be considered a miracle. There's a 6-yr old boy who attends the Austin Road Elementary School in Putnam County whose name is Marc Oliviere . For some unknown reason, Marc does not speak. With a 6-yr old who hasn't spoken yet, any parent would be passed the point of speculation. There's definitely something not right. Until, a dog named Boo came to visit. Boo is a Labrador mix and a therapy dog. Boo's handler brought him to the elementary school last month where he was introduced to children with special learning needs. Evidently, that was enough to get Marc out of his shell and into the world of communication! But, the biggest surprise was yet to happen after school when Marc's mom heard her son speak for the first time. April Oliviere , Marc's mom, told a local newspaper that she still gets chills when she recalls the afternoon when her son jumped off the