Vilsack for Agriculture. Salazar for the Interior. Obama's Choices for the Farms and Animals and the Land.

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 areas, and public lands with ranching, hunting, mining and oil interests." Rep. Grijalva has also been described as " a champion of all wildlife and companion animals." Sounds like a good man to me, but good people sometimes do not finish in first place ( not to say that Sen. Salazar is evil! ).

The President-Elect has made his decision, and we can only hope that Sen. Salazar does not disappoint.

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Three Members of the Philippine Shooting Team and the Killing of Protected Philippine Wildlife

When a member of the animal or plant kingdom goes extinct, there will be no second chances. Evolution will simply not repeat itself. There are reportedly eighty bird species that are unique to the Philippines and many of them have already made it to the endangered list. And we, to a great extent, have indiscrimate hunting to thank for it. In spite of two national laws protecting Philippine animals, the carnage continues unabated. The killings could occur as arbitrarily as guys getting together for macho time, or as a result of a well-planned hunting trip involving speed boats, bird callers, and camouflaged outfits. Either way, the outcome is the same. Philippine wildlife, our natural treasures, inches closer to a state of irreparable vacancy. Not too long ago, we learned about the Bacolod Air Rifle Club (BARC) whose unbridled killing of Philippine birds and ducks became the subject of an online petition calling for immediate government intervention. My post on that most disturbing c...

William Baber, Tennessee Vet Gone Bad.

Euthanasia is suppose to be merciful. When William Baber had his way, it was far from it. Baber used the very cruel " heart stick " method minus the sedation. This means that the animals could spend as long as 30 agonizing minutes before death actually occurred. Undercover video showed that William Baber even stepped on the animals to immobilize them for the injection. Do I sound like I am describing an executioner and not a veterinarian? Very sad, isn't it? The video showed dogs’ tails visibly wagging and cats are flailing before they’re given the lethal injection . "It’s just a horrible, horrible way for an animal to die,” said former euthanasia technician June McMahon. Tennessian.com reported that " still conscious, the cats were described by inmates as 'going wild' after being placed in a container, with as many as 10-15 of them being dumped on top of each other in a 'cruel manner,' authorities allege.These animals were allegedly placed ...

Ringling Bros. Elephant Acts to be Abolished. Nothing to be Excited About. March 2014.

This is today's big news. It is all over the newspapers. Different animal rights organizations have made their respective announcements. Many people, particularly animal right advocates are celebrating. No reason to celebrate, sorry If you believe that Ringling can commit an act that benefits their enslaved animals, any animal for that matter, I have a tall building on 34th Street to sell you. Altruism is not the motivating factor, but their profits. Why three years from now? If they have the money to keep the elephants for three more years, they certainly have the money to release them to sanctuaries NOW. It's a ploy to lull AR groups into a state of complacency, and e ase up on the pressure. I don't think that will happen. The AR groups will persists simply because elephants are not the only enslaved animals in circuses. All of them have to be sent home for us to truly celebrate a victory. As for now, Ringling will tread water and watch if their image will recov...

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