On Loving Animals...

You wouldn't think that in the Wayne/Paterson, New Jersey area there would be enough acreage for a wilderness preserve. Well, there is. It's called the High Mountain Park Preserve (HMPP), and it lies just north of William Paterson University. I believe some time in the past there was a fight to save the area from development, and the result was the HMPP. If you happen to be driving on I-80 West, just when you're at the Paterson exists, look to your right (North) and you will see a series of peaks. The highest peak is High Mountain and to the left is Mount Cecchino . Not so obvious is Beech Mountain which lies to the northwest of High Mountain. You'll need to stretch your neck for that one, and probably cause an accident on the interstate. All three peaks comprise the Preakness Range . Two weeks ago, my wife and I decided to climb the 875-foot High Mountain. It's a popular climb among hikers, not too hard but not too easy either. We started on the Red Trail which ...

I am cross posting a message from our friend at KLIP. ==================================== Dear Keep Life in the Park Members, I wanted to make sure that I shared some important information. Due to our attending freeholder meetings in the winter & speaking up for animals, the Bergen County Freeholders passed a Resolution against Black Bear Hunting in NJ. (attached) "Resolution seeking the prohibition of all future Black Bear hunting within the state of New Jersey" This resolution passed on 12-30-10, with a copy being sent to the Governor. One line stated: "Whereas The Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders find the hunting of Black Bears to be inhumane and unnecessary considering the alternative methods that are available in deterring human and Black Bear interaction." So true!! The vote was almost unanimous: Freeholders Ganz, McPherson, Hogan, Driscoll, Calabrese, & Carroll voting yes, and Freeholder Hermansen voting against. Please send an email, th...

Please take the time to read about the wonderful work PAWS is doing in the Philippines. There are several heart-warming stories in this edition. http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-The-Philippine-Animal-Welfare-Society.html?soid=1104292817189&aid=wRqKEvRH7ps

He is a controversial guy, but there is no controversy in Howard Stern's disgust about people who dumped their dogs at the shelter. I share this disgust for irresponsible pet owners, particularly towards those who abandon their dogs because they've found a new place to live---no pets allowed. Their decision: jettison the pet and consider it as c'est la vie. People, if pets are not allowed, then keep on looking until you find one that does! Give your pet some importance. They are not your disposable old furniture.

Roughly a month ago, on Valentine's Day, I joined other animal rights activists in protesting the horse-drawn carriages in New York City. We met at the corner of 59th St. and 5th Avenue, known as the Grand Army Plaza, across the gloriously lit Plaza Hotel. This protest brought together members of the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages , Friends of Animals, NY , and Heart For Animals and individuals like myself who didn't have to be a member of any organization to stand up against cruelty. I took this video at the very beginning of the evening when the group was just beginning to gel. Compared to other demos, this one was much more gratifying since we could elicit responses from the very people we are demonstrating against. The carriage drivers stood right across the sidewalk from us. When demonstrating against Ringling Bros, for example, we meet and speak with the ticket holders but not the circus people themselves. The carriage drivers' reactions were predictably hos...

Here is an announcement from Keep Life in the Park (KLIP) regarding humane geese population control in our public parks. GeesePeace ,the organization, has been working with government agencies who are enlightened enough to go the humane way in controlling the geese population in parks and the general area. Remember, not too long ago, families of geese in Bergen County parks were surreptitiously herded into a truck and gassed to death by the USDA. The gassing took place in the wee hours of the day to escape detection and public outcry. If not for an early morning hiker who cried foul, the gassing would have continued unchecked. The Bergen County Board of Freeholders quickly condemned the practice and outlawed the gassing of any geese in the county. I am still awed by that class act that other counties can't seem to follow. GeesePeace will show us how they do it in these training sessions. I can make it to the 8pm sessions, and so I'll see you there. ============================...

Did I hear this guy say that he stopped eating chicken because of his relationship with the goose? Maybe he should regularly visit farms where he can create a bond with an animal and see it go to the slaughterhouse because someone ordered meat from a menu. That goes for all of you carcass-eaters out there. Your life is no more important than an animal's, not by my yardstick, nor in God's eyes that know no favoritism.

You might wonder what on Earth are these? They are called, "gaiters," and fashion has nothing to do with them. Gaiters act like shin guards against briars and other thorny plants, worn by those who work outdoors like forestry rangers, ranchers, and farmers. Gaiters come in different styles and material, but they normally protect the ankles up to the knees. This pair provides protection against snake bites. New material called SuperFabric makes protection possible without putting on the usual thick, cumbersome gaiters with polycarbonate sheets embedded in them. This pair is flexible and light, made by Whitewater. I got this pair from http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/ I believe that such protection is necessary for hikers considering that rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths are not rare along the trails, and they can be difficult to spot on the ground. I am willing to accept the prevailing theory that snakes, like most wild animals, will avoid hikers if given enough t...

I received an email from an office mate regarding a pit bull that needs rehoming . It seems that I have already developed a reputation at the workplace as an animal rights proponent that they think of me when such issues come up. They know that I don't consume animal products, an activist, and that I volunteer my time and effort at the animal shelter on weekends. It's not a bad reputation at all except when another office mate jokingly, perhaps mockingly, referred to me as "St. Francis." I am posting the photographs I received and a short assessment by the owner of our subject---Pigeon. If you can spread the word about Pigeon, then you are already doing something to help. You can reach Pigeon's owner a beauclayton@gmail.com . Pigeon is the one with the white head. ==================================================== " Pigeon is a 52lb, medium sized pitbull found tied to a fence on 20 th Street in Chelsea. I took her in and have been fostering her until i...