On Loving Animals...

How much you can learn about an animal when viewed as an exhibit? The placard placed at the animal's cell usually states only genus and place of habitat. Some zoos don't even bother with placards at all. Similarly, how much would you know about a person from reading the ID card hanging around his neck? And if you ignore the placards and just observe the animal, wouldn't it dawn on you that you are observing the behavior of an animal in captivity rather than its natural behavior if it were free? Z oos have long enjoyed a free pass by posing as educational institutions. They conveniently excuse the life-long imprisonment and suffering of the animals by citing regular meals, regular medical checkups, and providing a safe place to stay away from their natural predators. Following this logic, would you say that a life in a state penitentiary for a non-criminal isn't so bad either? The point is freedom. All living things have a right to it. Zoos are a farce and teaches o...

The arrogance of SeaWorld...Their stock price has fallen . Eight of the ten scheduled artists  to perform for them in 2014 have canceled. Attendance tanked  for 2013. The Chairman of their very own Board of Directors, David D'Allesandro,   sold S1.3 millions of his SeaWorld shares last November. That's 26,000 shares on November 1 and then another 17,000 shares on November 4. Yes, that's like the Captain securing a lifeboat for himself while the band was still playing at the ballroom. And Seaworld still refuses to capitulate or make any concessions. They ignore the writing on the wall, clinging to those Orcas like the the thief who stole the silver candelabra from the church altar. At the present time, SeaWorld controls twenty-two Orcas at its three parks---ten in San Diego, seven in Orlando, five in San Antonio. Freedom for ALL the marine animals at SeaWorld, not just the Orcas. Every animal at SeaWorld is a captive.  Everyone should see  Blackfish.

Pretty good answer to a very common question. Somehow, our self-proclaimed dominion over animals, the we'll-decide-what-happens-to-you, also translates to a my-good-before-the-animals' mentality. We know that one of the fallacies out there is that human concerns preempt animal concerns. How is one's suffering more important than another? We're all sentient beings. We object to all forms of animal cruelty no matter what exists on the human side of the equation. Animal welfare is our infinite passion and there is no substitution or subrogation to others.

The battle rages on over Mali , the lone elephant at the Manila Zoo. In 1977, she was taken there as a a goodwill gift from Sri Lanka to Imelda Marcos. She was still a child back then. Yes, I refer to animals like they were humans. It is never "it," but always a he or she. Surely, a mind-shift whose time has come. When we relegate animals to a form of "it," we open the door to all sorts of abuse and liberties upon them. "It" makes them subhuman. What an incredible thought---something lower than a human. Below is my response to an editorial  that appeared in a local newspaper in Manila. The writer, obviously, supports the Stay Mali movement as opposed to the Free Mali movement. The former favors extending captivity while the latter favors freedom. We want Mali transferred to a sanctuary in Thailand where she can socialize with other elephants and live in an environment that may not be perfect but closer to reality. She has not been with another elephant...

This is a typical article  on vegetarianism written by a nutritionist. A writer who is an animal rights advocate and a vegetarian will put a different spin on eating a well-balanced diet. This writer assumed that many people who turn vegetar ian don't really know what they are doing, and there are probably some who don't.  But all vegetarians and vegans I know have done their research well and they have turned vegetarians not because they want to be trendy but because they want to be healthier and ethical in their choices. It's not fashion that drives most people to become vegetarians, but a personal philosophy and a real commitment against animal cruelty. At least, this is true among my group. This writer saw it as a matter of nutrition; animal rights advocates will see it as a matter of decency.  The point that I agree with is that meat is not the only source of protein in this world. Whenever you meet someone who says that he needs his meat for protein then that'...

I am trying to save the life of a pit bull named, Amber. She is being held, at the time of this writing, at the North Jersey Community Animal Shelter  (NJCAS) in Bloomingdale, NJ . It serves as an adoption center as well as animal control for several towns in Passaic  County. I am presently a volunteer at NJCAS, coming in on Sundays, and whenever I have free time. I love all animals, and I love all the  dogs I have met at the shelter. But, Amber's case is outstanding, and I'd like the world to know her story.  Amber entered the shelter around June, 2012, ten months ago. And during that time, she has never bitten anyone---shelter staff or a  prospective adopter. However, in an adoption event several weeks ago, she was reported to have lunged at a stranger and would have  bitten that stranger if not held back. The Animal Control Officers (ACO) at NJCAS do not deny that Amber has no aggression towards the  shelter staff at all, even with an ev...

New Jersey's five-year Bear Management Program vilifies the Black Bear as a public nuisance, a danger to humans, and whose population is exploding. The program is the brainchild of Governor Chris Christie. Jon Corzine, the previous Governor, disallowed hunting the Black Bear during his terms in office. The Department of Fish & Wildlife serves as Gov. Christie's running dog. The program has nothing to do with conservation nor public safety. No one has ever been attacked and killed by a Black Bear in New Jersey. The Black Bear does not destroy the environment. If nothing else, the Black Bear ends up hauling away the garbage humans generate. The program is a sop to the well-organized gun and hunting groups who helped elect Christie to office. Only one percent of New Jersey's population hunts, but they are a well-organized as a lobby group.  Already in its third year, the program has killed roughly 1200 black bears. The dead include both young and old. Even bear cubs...

Well, it is that time of the year again when Van Saun County Park  becomes ablaze with colors. I was thinking the other day, wondering what is my favorite month. The truth is, I don't truly know. Never given it a serious thought. Certainly, it wouldn't be January or February. Those months remind me of stiff and desiccated corpses in their dank graves. Deep Winter months have no juice, tinged with gray, and stone cold. I love the Summer months for the heat and the extended hours of sunlight, but not much color. It must be October then. The most beautiful weather in the year occur in the Fall, particularly in October.  My birthday is in October, and I am beginning to treat that day extra specially just like in my younger years. However, it is not for the gifts but for scoring one more against Father Time. The height of the Fall colors comes around mid-October in the New york/New Jersey area, at or around the 40th latitude North. As a bonus, I get a holiday in Octo...

S1848  (Senators Bob Smith (D-17), Jennifer Beck (R-11)  (Our top priority.) As the Senate returns from summer holiday, Senator Smith will  press his colleagues to pass S1848, the Poaching Bill. Once again,  we are asking that you again contact your Senator to express your  strong opposition to this cruel, irresponsible, and ecologically  damaging measure. The Poaching Bill (S1848) would expand the killing deer on  forest stewardship and commercially logged lands by poaching  methods long banned as unethical, unsporting, and unsafe.   Methods include killing animals directly over bait, any time  of day or night, the use of vehicles, and jacklighting, or  stunning deer with strong lights. Under Pennsylvania anti-poaching  laws, first-time offenders who jacklight deer at night face  ninety days in jail. The poaching practices will be permitted on stewardship lands,  a significant portion of which ar...

The campaign to replace New York City's horse-drawn carriages with electric, horseless carriages  picked up some steam when two city council members pledged their support for Intro 86a. They are Margaret Chin  of District 1 and Peter Koo  of District 20. The New York City Council  has 51 members. By my estimation, there are 16 council members who support Intro 86a including Koo and Chin. Supporters on the Council are Melissa Mark-Viverito (Prime sponsor), Maria Del Carmen Arroyo, Fernando Cabrera, Daniel Dromm, Julissa Ferreras, Daniel Garodnick, Sara M. Gonzalez, Letitia James, Jessica Lappin, Rosie Mendez and Ydanis A. Rodriguez.  We all know that the horse-drawn carriage industry is archaic, cruel, and far from being a romantic ride.  Who wants to sit and kiss right behind a horse's ass?  The horses work an average of 9 hours a day, pulling a carriage that weighs hundreds of pounds, in all four seasons of the year. You can se...

Chase's story is just one of the  many rescue stories that come out of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society  (PAWS). The rescue team from PAWS came out on August 22, 2012 to rescue a dog reportedly stranded on an island along a very busy highway. That dog turned out to be lost alright, but the owner was found after some effort. All was well and good until, on closer inspection of the area, the team discovered this dog cowering in fear. That was Chase.  As you can see from his admission photo, Chase was covered with mange and open wounds. The team took Chase to the Philippine Animal Rehabilitation Center  (PARC) where he received immediate attention and treatment. You can see Chase's greatly improved condition in the photos. Chase still has a long way to go until adoption, but he certainly is on his way.   I am providing pertinent information below for any of you who want to help PAWS help animals like Chase. All amounts, large or small, will be appreci...

ABC News, last Monday, reported on an incident  that took place on-board a Virgin Australia  flight that involved an adult male passenger and two unaccompanied children who sat next to him. Johnny Mcgirr, like most of us traveling alone, didn't know who would be sitting next to him. Like Mcgirr, most of us do not truly care, trusting that most people would be reasonable, well-behaved, and clean. Evidently, Virgin Australia does care who sits with whom, for they asked Mcgirr to change seats so that he wouldn't be seated next to 10-yr olds during the flight. The reason? He's a male. Virgin Australia admitted that it is their policy to disallow grown males from seating next to unaccompanied children, for the children's safety. Now, we can easily connect the dots, make the equation that looks like this: grown man = pedophile, grown man vis-a-vis children traveling alone = trouble. Eliminate grown man = children safe. No sweat, this is an extremely sexist att...

    I am crossposting a message from Keep Life in the Park regarding a bill that would make it easier for hunters to kill a deer. I used, "hunters," liberally and it does not necessarily mean humans who hunt. You'd think with all the modern weaponry, gear, and other aides the hunters would have a tremendous advantage over the animal, but no.  But, really, forget the hunt. There is just baiting now. There are no more hunting skills involved because the bait does all the work. This bill in question will legitimize a practice that is already quite prevalent among the shooters.  And what else would capture the attention and take up the time of State Senators Bob Smith and Jennifer Beck than more ways to cater to the hunting cabal in the state, figuring out more ways to destroy our wildlife? They are enemies of New Jersey wildlife.  ======================================== Dear Friends of NJ Wildlife, The New Jersey Legislature is consi...

I don't recall working a job that wasn't a people-oriented job, one that faces and serves the public and not only interact with co-workers. Sometimes, I find it to be some kind of a twisted joke for a misanthrope like me to be a public servant. I've done a pretty good job at sublimation, always courteous and accommodating to people even after becoming aware of multiple forms of animal cruelty from the outright beating of an animal to covert forms like stuffing one's face with a cheeseburger. I try not to blame the individual for specific offenses, but I hold the whole lot suspect by dint of being human. I would prefer to entrust my life to a wild animal than a human being. We are a seriously flawed species with issues rooted in vanity, greed, common stupidity. I had a good laugh at a comment made by a reader in a newspaper editorial about the environment and those who protect it. The reader concluded that environmentalists tend to coddle an anti-human mentality. I am...

Dear Friends of NJ Wildlife, If you haven't done so, PLEASE contact your Senators and express your STRONG OPPOSITION to S2066, the Sportsmen's Heritage Act. Find contact information for NJ Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez here: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?State=NJ Remember to share this information with friends and family out of state! You will also find a link to the Humane Society of the U.S. Advocacy page below. PLEASE cross post!  Thank you! K.L.I.P. Here are some points to reference in your communication. Please oppose S2066 and help to protect wildlife, habitat and the public.  As one of your constituents, I urge you to help protect human health, wildlife and public lands by  voting against S2066 . This legislation, if passed, will undermine provisions of existing conservation statutes including the Marine Mammal Protection Act and t...