Author: Just-Do-Something

This past weekend a bunch of us were heading to Niagara Falls, taking the scenic route so we could take our time and enjoy any nature we were lucky enough to spot along the way.

The drive was pretty relaxing, until we drove by a field with two dairy cows in it.  The farm grounds were clean, all the dairy cows looked healthy, and the livestock had access to the barn and to the outside.

Until we drove past the barn.

In between the main barn and the residential house, was a small field, no shade, and two dairy cows.

None of us are cow experts, however it was apparent that both cows were having trouble trying to stand. And, it was h-o-t.

Not sure of the situation, or sure of what we were seeing, we decided to continue onto the Falls, but take the same way home so we could see if these two cows were still there.

Nine hours later, the cows were still there.  One was able to walk, but the one larger cow seemingly hadn’t moved from the place it had been laying when we first spotted her.

That was enough for me to want to inquire about this cow.

I get that not everyone is the same as me when it comes to championing for animals.  I will champion for ANY animal, and be loud about it and/or persistent if I have to. I don’t expect everyone to be like me in this area, however, I DO expect that those who know me understand that they can stand in the background, but *I* will not.  So, we pulled over so I could go up to the barn and speak to someone.

I was told that both cows were put in the field the day before, because they had fallen in the barn and injured themselves. A cow can fall a certain way where their legs go out from underneath them, splaying straight out from their side, tearing tendons and ligaments.  Sometimes the cow is able to recover, but it takes time, and often, it takes effort on the part of the cow owner because the cow needs help getting up and needs support in moving around. This often requires supportive bandages and hoists.

I was told that both cows were put in the field because they did not want them to be injured further by being stepped on by other cows, and they wanted to give them room to quietly rest and stretch out so the owner could see the extent of their injuries.

I remarked about the heat.  I stated that no injured animal should be left to spend hours in one place in the sunshine without shade.

The cow farmer was not concerned, citing that the cow would have cooler temperatures when the sun set.  That explanation was not good enough for me.  I took a picture of Downed Cow, noted the address, and marked down the mileage from that location to my house.

Unfamiliar with that county’s Animal Control Department, I decided to make some additional calls when I got back home.

In any county, Animal Control and/or Animal Cruelty have only so many hours in the day to follow-up on abuse and neglect calls.  Obviously, some situations take precedence over others, but ALL calls need to be addressed.  There are specific guidelines these governed entities are required to follow, based upon domestic and non-domestic animals.

Smaller counties do not always address all animal concerns.  As it was for this county, their local Animal Control only dealt with domestic dog issues – mainly license problems.  The bigger issues were handled, happily enough, by our county’s SPCA Animal Cruelty Division.

To me, sometimes it doesn’t matter WHO handles the call, as long as the issue gets addressed.  I was determined that the cow was going to be looked at the very next day, and that meant more than a few telephone calls to ensure it happened.

No-one initially seemed too concerned about one downed cow in the middle of a field, until I mentioned a confirmed injury and lack of ready-available water (lack of water is considered animal cruelty, however leaving livestock outside without shade is not always an issue – go figure).  Shade falls under the category of “sustenance”, and there is a fine line with that.  One Animal Cruelty Division may take that into consideration, another may not. I pressed on this issue also.

By late afternoon the next day, Downed Cow had been visited by a NYS Trooper Division where one of the State Troopers actually owned a working farm, and by a member of the SPCA Animal Cruelty Division.  It had been confirmed by both visitations that earlier that same day, upon examination, Downed Cow broke her hip in the fall.  As a result, the cow was euthanized.

I can’t help but wonder if Downed Cow was put in the field because they already knew she was not going to make it.  I have often heard about other situations where an injured cow is simply put aside until it can be taken care of (killed) at a later time. This would explain why no-one bothered to provide her shade or a comfortable, safe spot in the barn away from the other cows.

Regardless, Downed Cow is out of her misery – out of the heat, out of pain from a severe fall that caused a devastating injury.  I am including her picture because I wanted her to be noticed, and thought about. So many are not.

Wondering about the other cow that was also in the field? She was sent to slaughter. And sadly, so it goes.

I was told that the farmer was upset because they lost a good $1,200.00 cow.  What was that cow to that farmer? Money.

What ARE cows to others? They are leather, horns, meat and milk. They are a means to earn a living. They are a way to make a living. They are money.

How sad that so many of us have stopped looking at cows just because they are big, beautiful animals who deserve to be exactly what they are.

So, question – when is a cow just a cow?

Answer – when WE allow them to be just that.

If YOU see a situation involving a farm animal that needs attention, make sure you have the address, nearest crossroads, county (if possible), name of farm (if possible), and any pictures you might be able to take.  If you are not getting anywhere with local authorities, first, contact a State Trooper.  They have jurisdiction many times that local 911 does not have.

Also, you can call the US Department of Ag and Markets at this number: 518-457-3502, prompt 0. Tell the receptionist that you want to report abuse of a farm animal.

Want more information on Factory Farming issues? Take a moment to go to Mercy For Animals.

Here’s to downed cows.

And remember, if you see something – please, JUST DO SOMETHING.  It matters.

Psychotherapy, of which I’m a practitioner, is about change: people changing their habits, their lifestyles, their ways of seeing and being in, the world. Helping human beings become enlightened so they can live happier and more fulfilling lives is very important to me. But I also care deeply about another type of enlightenment – opening people’s eyes, minds, and hearts to the cruelty experienced daily by the majority of the world’s animal beings. Illuminating for people how each day, many of their lifestyle choices end up hurting and exploiting animals, is a critical first step on the road to change. A great way to accomplish this I recently discovered, is through humane education.

There are many ways to help animals. Writing letters to newspapers and corporations, attending demonstrations, rescuing, leafleting, tabling, imploring policy makers to vote on animal-friendly legislation, becoming vegan, organizing fundraisers, are all important ways to help animals. And, like many others, I have engaged in all. But when I discovered the power of humane education, I knew I had found my ideal forum to fight for the world’s animals. Watching the hocked and horrified faces of the teenagers when they saw and heard for the first time evidence of the daily brutality inflicted on animals at factory farms and slaughterhouses, was powerful.

Whether we’re educating adults or children, it’s important to convey to the populous how pervasive, entrenched, and horrific animal exploitation is. While there can never be any guarantee that hearing the truth about animal cruelty will persuade someone to live more compassionately, it’s still vital that the information be disseminated. The truth, while often hard to hear is crucial, if transformation is to occur.

Each of us has particular proclivities and passions and when advocating for animals, it’s really helpful if we can tap into what those are, so we can be as effective as possible in the type of advocacy we choose. While I have only just begun my journey as a volunteer humane educator, I know it’s an area of activism that fits both my mindset and temperament and is one that I will continue to pursue.

Ultimately, the particular type of advocacy we choose to engage in is not what matters most.

What’s important is that we all keep working as diligently as possible to make our world a safe place for all the animals.

April Lang, LCSW, is a vegan psychotherapist and writer in private practice in New York City. Please visit her website at www.aprillang.com for further information.

“Don’t waste your time”, we were told.  But we ignored that. And we went.

This past weekend, I caught up with Mr. David Sacks, and formally met with Dr. Chester Gipson, Dr. Gerald Rushin, and Mr. Julian Prager of USDA APHIS.

I have been speaking to Dr. Gipson for the better part of two years.  My introduction to him started with a letter I had written to Tom Vilsack about “puppy mills”.  My letter was addressed by the office of Mr. Vilsack, directing me to reach out to Dr. Gipson with my questions and concerns.   So, I called him.  And, he called me back.  And we have been talking ever since.

As many people know, I started this website with the purpose of fighting the good fight against “puppy mills”.  However, the more I learned, the more I read, the more people and organizations that I spoke with,  it also became extremely clear to me that championing JUST against “puppy mills” was becoming difficult as there were many other animal welfare issues that I just could not turn my back on. Fighting for just one issue no longer was an option for me.

I have had the great pleasure of talking to many people and organizations from all over the world. The one universal piece of advice that I have received during more than one conversation is to stick to one cause because to spread yourself too thin was to burn yourself out faster.  But how does one do that when you see and hear about ALL the atrocities committed against animals? For me, the answer is you can’t.  I don’t mind spreading myself on the thin side. I’m a good multi-tasker, with a big mouth and a strong conviction. I can take being stretched, so I stretch and reach and strive and do a thousand other things that we as animal advocates do to make a difference where and when we can.

And, no matter what other advocacy issues come up, I have still remained focused on my original goal – championing against “puppy mills”.

With that said, I personally felt that I would need to include meeting with USDA APHIS as part of my journey in Animal Advocacy in the fight against “puppy mills”.  I have found that you CAN spread yourself thin when it matters, BECAUSE it matters.

So, what do you say to USDA APHIS when your request for a meeting has been approved? So MANY things to talk about, so little time to squeeze it all in.

After months of consideration, I narrowed down my main talking points, in no particular order, as follows:

• Revising current AWA Regulations (Dr. Rushin)

My comments: Comments on Animal Welfare Regulations

• Vehement public backlash on appointment of Mr. Prager to USDA APHIS as Canine Program Advisor (Dr. Gipson and Mr. Prager)

Questions for Mr. Prager: Questions to Julian Prager

• Public reactions USDA APHIS actions and non-actions on hot topic animal welfare issues (Dr. Gipson)
• USDA APHIS website revisions geared towards the public (Dr. Gipson, Dr. Rushin and Mr. Prager)

General Comments: USDA APHIS Comments

Can one meeting make a difference? I think so.  Meeting with USDA APHIS this past weekend did not change anything – or did it? One of the first things you need to evoke change is communication. I felt HEARD in this meeting. People need to “get” you before they can understand you and see where you are at. I talked about things not from a USDA or legal perspective, but rather from a constituent or layperson perspective. I didn’t yell or cry. I kept my emotions under control while still managing to convey passion in what I was sharing.

I felt that as good as it was for me to share my information with them, it was just as beneficial for them to hear it from me. No lawyers in the room, no egos or negotiating. Just one person, letting them know how important it is to do better by those that cannot speak for or defend themselves.

This one tiny blog cannot convey how much went on in this initial meeting.  I did not come away from it thinking I had changed a lot, but I already know I have changed something.

I will be connecting again with Dr. Gipson, Dr. Rushin and Mr. Prager at the end of this month.  I am already planning my next meeting.

Have you ever zoomed by another vehicle that has stopped on the side of the road? Most times, people are in such a hurry that they don’t take the time to stop and wonder why someone is pulled over.  And, those that do take a moment to ponder that, never guess that perhaps it’s because they have either just hit an animal with their vehicle or have come upon an animal that someone else hit but didn’t stop.

Why it is that everyone has first aid kits in their homes and in their workplaces for PEOPLE, but rarely have first aid kits for animals? Why would someone take the time to learn first aid care for people, but not for animals?

It’s shameful the numbers of people that hit an animal, or come upon an injured animal at the hands of another driver, and NO-ONE stops.  No-one.

Why wouldn’t someone stop?

Sometimes this is because they think that the car “must have” killed it, so there is no sense in stopping.

Sometimes this because the animal has been knocked unconscious, so s/he looks dead already.

Sometimes this is because they think someone else will stop.

Sometimes this is because they fear punishment for injuring or killing an animal with their vehicle.

Sometimes this because they don’t know what to do for or with an injured animal.

Sometimes this is because they just can’t take it knowing they are responsible.

Sometimes this is because they are afraid.

Sometimes this is because they think “it’s just an animal”.

Sometimes this is because they simply don’t care.

These reasons are unacceptable. NO excuse is acceptable.

Animals are sentient beings.  Not sure what the definition of sentient is? Look it up.

Anyone who thinks it is perfectly acceptable or simply “okay” to turn their back on ANY living being in need has a screw loose. Which explains one reason why our world is such a mess; we have a lot of loose screws in it. A lot.

Coming to the aid of an animal in need shouldn’t be something that we have to think about. It should be something automatic in us; something deep – that inner voice that you hear whether things around you are quiet or not. That gut feeling that compels you to do the very right thing, no matter what. That thing you call a conscience. That trait we call Humanity. That character called Humane.

So, what should you do if you see a car stopped on the side of the road?
Simply put, pull over and see if things are all right.
For a human or an animal  – that is just the very right thing to do.

How can you help if an animal has been hit by a vehicle?
First, always help.
There are over a million results available on the Internet for tips and suggestions on animal first aid kits and how to help an injured animal. It is up to you to decide what you will keep in your car, and how best you can help. It doesn’t take much effort to educate oneself on the A B C’s of roadside assistance when it comes to animals injured by cars.

How much effort will YOU take to JUST DO SOMETHING?

This past week, just-do-something.org met with our New York State Senator’s Office of the 55th Senate District. For obvious reasons, for meetings like this, it’s important to stay on topic and remain focused on the goals that one wants to highlight. But, like many topics, animal advocacy encompasses so much.  So when your meeting time and date comes, although you have your set agenda to discuss, your minds is whirling with everything else you want to share.

Our goals for this meeting were to discuss plans to heighten Animal Advocacy awareness in our county, and to formulate an agenda to introduce Animal Advocacy in our local school district. These types of meetings usually go two ways: 1 – Thank you for your time, however we can’t help you in your endeavor, or 2 – We want to hear more, let us bring this to the Senator for consideration.

Happily, we received reply 2.

We kept aware that there are only so many minutes in a meeting. So we were excited to be able to extend our meeting time to talk about additional aspects of Animal Advocacy; our journey to-date, and what we have been learning and experiencing along the way.

When we started this website, we had an idea of how we wanted to present it, and how we wanted to evolve.  We clearly stated that ours was to be an endeavor without any political agenda. We meant that, and we still stand by that.

However, it still amazes me how so many individuals and organizations make Animal Advocacy just that – political.  Many times, it seems like it matters LESS about the rescuing and advocating, and MORE about whose name is attached to a good work, whose title is higher, who works harder, who rescues better, who’s helping more, who does it better.

Really.

In the end, does it truly matter who did what during the rescue, during the saving, during making a difference in saving or bettering the life of an animal in need?  I would think that what matters IS the rescue, the saving, making a difference in saving or bettering the life of an animal in need.

Many people may not be aware that we do more than share Animal Petitions and information on social media!  I say this because in between that, and life, we are on e-mail, participating in telephone conferences, attending meetings, and helping others with advocacy issues.

This has led us into some interesting conversations about what some people think Animal Advocacy is about – (gasp) THEM.

Personally, I don’t care if my name or our website is associated with saving or bettering the life of an animal in need.  For me, Animal Advocacy is doing something to make a difference, together or alone.  There IS strength in numbers – but if the numbers are fighting against each other, if the numbers let egos reign over humble, if the numbers put recognition over just doing the work … well, there’s not much strength there.

It’s not about logos, or money, or popularity. It’s not about fame, or accolades, or recognition. Granted, BEING well-known helps to spread the word faster, but a person doesn’t need to be famous to JUST DO SOMETHING.

My point? Animal Advocacy is NOT about us. It’s about those that cannot speak for, or defend, themselves. Period. End of story.

And, at least for my county, I would like to see all the fantastic resources together in one room. Sharing ideas TOGETHER. Working TOGETHER towards the same goal.

We all may take a different road to get to the same destination. There’s nothing wrong with that. And, if we all end up at the same destination, then what harm is it if you wanted to take Route A, and I wanted to take Route B? When it comes to Animal Advocacy, we are ALL walking the same path.

Wouldn’t life be more harmonious and productive in the Animal Advocacy community if everyone felt like this? I think so.

This is how I ended our conversation at that meeting this past week.  And when I left, we were both nodding our heads in agreement.

Why bears? It’s a question I ask myself a lot. Not why do I advocate for them necessarily but why do human beings persecute them to the extent they do.

An animal revered in Native culture, the national animal of many countries, one we recognise on state seals, flags, city emblems, we write stories and songs about them and they are the toy animal we give to our children as cherished childhood companions. We seem to be very fond of bears and yet they are one of the most persecuted species in the world. And often in the most hideous ways.

Bear bile farming in Asia has to be one of the most barbaric and horrifically cruel abuses people inflict on bears. The bears, either caught in the wild or imported from equally dreadful breeding centres are mutilated daily to ‘milk’ their bile which is then used as an ingredient in Chinese traditional medicines. A process that causes acute pain and the onset of diseases, cancer, infection and injuries from self-mutilation. The awful truth is there are herbal and synthetic alternatives available.

Bears languish in unacceptable, inappropriate conditions around the world in zoos, private animal collections, unregulated roadside menageries. Noble apex predators in the wild become circus clowns performing cheap tricks for an audience either uninterested or unaware of the abuse and deprivation of a life in a circus. From bear-dancing, canned hunting and bear baiting, to barren zoo enclosures and pits overfilled with bears succumbing to zoochosis, the numerous ways we have devised to exploit and utilise bears for our own benefit has eroded their right to respect, to live free from cruelty, exploitation and confinement.

Bears are sentient, intelligent animals requiring large spaces and complex environments, they are not good candidates for captivity and yet there are thousands round the world enduring life in cage. The challenges in helping caged bears are difficult. But rescue and rehabilitation is possible. Many rescued animals spend their lives in specialised sanctuaries, places of respite and hope where they can become real bears again.

Why do we advocate for caged bears?  Because we cannot go on disregarding their suffering. Bears can’t tell us about their distress, they can’t complain about the intolerable conditions we force them to live in and they can’t ask for help. It is easy to turn a blind eye to the lifelong suffering of these tragic prisoners that we have reduced to objects we display, use, own and control. Seeing this cruelty is hard but looking away is a tragic mistake, because apathy and indifference casts them into the shadows. We choose not to turn away.

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Please join us and help free caged bears.

People Advocating for Caged Bears is a group of volunteers from Canada, Italy, Scotland, England, Albania and Germany, passionate about bears, concerned about their welfare, determined to raise awareness and take action for those languishing in bad conditions. We also support conservation organisations who work to preserve wild spaces for bears and other animals.

All nature is interconnected and when we try to ‘manage’ the natural world we are jeopardising natural processes and upsetting the natural balance, risking the disintegration of a healthy environment for ourselves.

This short film Why Bears? explains why we need wild bears:  whybears.org

– Lynn Waddell

Find us on Facebook and Twitter through our website at www.freecagedbears.com.

This is the story of an unlikely pair, an odd couple for sure.  Two frightened and confused residents of the foster house of Friends of Orangeburg County Animal Control find comfort, companionship, and understanding in each other.

This is a story that has a few twist and turns.  Let’s start with Cinder.  Cool name right?  It begins like this.  Animal Control was called to a local business that reported a stray with a cinder block on his head.  Yes, I said a cinder block stuck on his head.  We still do not know for certain how long he had to drag around the block on his head or how he came to get stuck this way, but he had to be freed from that frightening situation with the help of Animal Control personnel. He was then taken into the shelter looking desperate, beaten and defeated.  Physically you could see the scars of his life and struggles and emotionally he seemed to be broken and resigned to whatever fate befell him next.

Luckily for Cinder, the collective goodwill of several people all around the country helped write his next chapter. Funds were raised through the efforts of Friends of Orangeburg County Animal Control to help this guy, and he was sent to a foster in Tennessee.  One month later, the foster sent a message saying she could no longer keep him, and he would have to go into a shelter in Tennessee if he could not come back.  Transport was then arranged between three different individuals to get him back to Orangeburg County.  After another long journey, he arrived at the foster house with his lowered his head and trembling with uncertainty.  What was going to happen to him next?

Slowly over the next weeks, as Cinder spent more time with the volunteers and other dogs in the foster house he began to trust that the love of those around him was genuine.  He learned to walk happily on leash and soon became friendly with other dogs in the foster house.  Thanks to the sponsorship of a rescue in New York, he finished his heartworm treatment and gained more energy as well.   Then one day this small little scared dog came to live at the foster house.

Now let’s talk about Chico.  He was turned in by his human family because he was “biting her kids.”  A few different rescues came into the shelter with intentions of pulling this cute little guy.  But he would have no part of it.  What would become of this little guy?  Was he really mean or just scared to trust again?  Brandy Hudson decided she would not let fear stop her from making sure he made it out of the shelter for a second chance.  She agreed to take him into the foster house and work with him.  It took a number of weeks and a lot patience, and love.  He was eventually allowed to stay out of the kennel.  And Cinder, as you remember, is in the foster house too.  And the unlikely friendship began.

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These two dogs were down to their last hope when someone cared.  They were both misunderstood and abandoned, but now they have found each other.  And they have an amazing friendship.  When it’s time for their walk, they bark and whine and insist on walking together.  You simply do not take away one without the other.  They walk side by side with tails wagging in the happiest little swagger you ever have seen.  They play together joyously and when they are finally worn out, they sleep, cuddled together.  You can see the trust and you can see the bond they share through their experiences.  Their story and friendship is a heartwarming sight that reminds those fortunate enough to see it, that all hurt and lost faith can be healed with love and patience and time.

– Renee Jackson

I am the volunteer photographer for Orangeburg County Animal Control & Shelter.  The rescue group who took in these dogs is “Friends of Orangeburg County Animal Control & Shelter.”  Orangeburg County is a mostly rural county and up until a few years ago, very few dogs or cats made it out alive.  As of today, not one adoptable dog has been put to sleep since October.  This is huge and it is only possible with the work of the volunteers and the staff at the shelter.  There is still a long way to go, but we are getting there.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

Did you know that the one day a year where domestic animals (think cats and dogs) are lost more than any other is the 4th of July?!

This ALSO means that shelters are extra-crowded the next day, and Animal Control’s phones are ringing off the hook.  And sadly, many animals die from getting lost (and becoming strays), and/or being hit by cars.

Many well meaning pet owners think it’s nice or ‘cool’ to bring the WHOLE family out together for fireworks and celebrating this holiday in large crowds.  Let’s face it, dogs hanging out with people is fun, a conversation starter, a very cool thing to do.  But actually, it can be a horrible and tragic experience for your four-legged family members.

It doesn’t take a lot of sense to figure out that the 4th of July is for HUMANS.  WE “get” the reason for the loud noises and huge crowds. WE understand that it’s “just noise” and that the parties are for OUR enjoyment.

However pets, although we humanize them to the point of feeling they understand our every thought, action and motive, do NOT “get” or understand anything about the 4th of July, which makes it a very scary and dangerous time for them.

There are many awesome blogs and reminders going around about ways to keep YOUR pet safe and comfortable during this celebration weekend.  Below are a few quick, common sense highlights that you can share and keep a look out for – because, yes, even if YOU are keeping YOUR furry friend safe and sound, MANY are NOT.  Remember : It’s always okay to speak up and JUST DO SOMETHING if you see an animal in need or in distress.  The 4th of July is no different – if YOU see something, take a moment to see how you can help that animal.

Short and sweet – how we can ALL help our pets (or someone else’s) during the 4th of July:

The NEVER’S:

• NEVER deliberately expose ANY animal to loud noises, bright lights, and/or huge crowds.
• NEVER play with or light fireworks around an animal.
• NEVER let your pet around strangers – especially if they have been partying.
• NEVER leave your pet in a confined situation for prolonged periods without checking on them every half hour.
• NEVER leave your pet in a car alone for ANY length of time.

The DO’S:

• DO keep your pets inside and away from celebrations in a familiar place.  This means that even animals regularly kept outside should be brought in.
• DO provide food, water, air circulation and background noise in that safe, familiar place.
• DO keep pictures of your pet handy in case they accidentally run off (many animals run when frightened).
• DO make sure that your pet has identifying tags on secure collars (not too tight).
• DO make sure your pets are put out earlier in the evening, so they are safely inside before the bulk of celebrating begins.

PS – Two good articles on what to do if you lose your pet, from PetFinder and from Lost Pet FBI.

The 4th of July is for HUMANS, not animals.  If we keep that in mind, then having a safe, fun time for EVERYONE is easy to attain.  HUMANS = Yes.  Animals = No.  It’s that easy; it’s that simple.

If you have another quick tip, please let us know!  We’ll be happy to share it.

Here’s wishing EVERYONE a safe and a very Happy 4th of July!

Along with other animal rights campaigners I’ve often been accused of afraid to protest against so-called religious slaughter. The accusers have almost always been pro-hunt supporters. Well they can’t accuse my companions and I of being afraid to protest, since we’ve already taken our campaign to the streets and lobbied the authorities !!!

One of those protests took us to a small town in North Wales, UK, for a demo against a newly refurbished Halal abattoir, but the level of indifference from some people in this town staggered me. Grown men and women sniggering as they went by with no sign of any compassion – whilst looking at our graphic banners.

Is it any wonder why so many of us in the animal rights movement get so depressed, whist other members of our species feel they have a divine right to do just as they please in this world? Perhaps it’s because we’re taught at a young age to place ourselves above all other creatures. And? So what if we can send craft into space and other animals can’t! There are things they can do that we cannot ever dream of doing.

At the end of the day, we’re all living creatures surviving as best we can.

What matters is keeping the fabric of life intact; In other words we should be working with nature instead of against it!

For example, we slaughter crows and jackdaws – and other predatory animals, to protect so called ‘game birds’, which we breed in large numbers for paying guns to blast out of the sky. We butcher rabbits as vermin – and then blame the fox that depends on them as a food source. And we chase and disembowel these animals just for the thrill of it, and if that’s not enough, we then dig them out after they’ve gone to ground because it’s a fun thing to do! Why else would hunts routinely use artificial earths to ensure a fox for their paying hunt members to chase and kill? At least they can’t claim they’re some kind of ‘pest control’ after that little expose.

We wrongly blame badgers for spreading bovine TB – and refuse to accept that it’s us who are to blame for ‘factory farming’ too many animals and for raping the land.

We pack sheep into multi tier trucks; the ones on the top defecating on the ones below; and we transport these animals all over the world often without rest, food and water.

Pigs are thought to be more intelligent than dogs! Yet we keep them crowded inside sheds and force them to produce many litters. Sows are then unable to nurture their own piglets because they’re kept imprisoned in crates for up to two months at a time unable to turn around.

Just recently pigs were ‘accidentally’ boiled alive in a slaughterhouse in Sweden; it was claimed to be an accident. Yet when the vet returned a week later, he found two more writhing agonised pigs in the boiling water. I’d bet everything I own, that this has happened many times in our own British slaughterhouses.

Chickens, which were meant to live a life foraging outdoors, are crammed five to a cage not much bigger than a phone book and every attempt to stop vile factory farming is still met with the utmost resistance and indifference. Other chickens are kept in overcrowded sheds with no room to move – let alone act out their natural behaviour. No wonder these animals need so much antibiotic in an attempt to halt infection. Plus their feathers fall out from the stress of a their abnormal lives!

In other words, we decide which animals will die cruelly and which we will nurture as pets. And after thousands of years we still believe that it’s all right for animals to die in religious rituals; and yet we call ourselves a humane society – what a joke!

When a calf is forced into the killing hold – the smell of death all around, eyes bulging in terror – where’s the compassion?  When the slaughter man grabs the ears of a frightened whimpering lamb – and then pulls back her head to cut her throat, where’s the compassion? Can’t people see that without compassion there’s no hope for any of us!

The animal’s friend the very eloquent Reverend James Thompson had this to say about ritual slaughter. “Any major world religion that claims to worship either a God of Love, or ‘An All Compassionate One’, yet condones or indeed contributes to the abuse of gentle, herbivorous farm animals are worthy of being stigmatised as hypocritical.  I agree one hundred percent with the following words attributed to Anna Sewell, the authoress of Black Beauty, who wrote: ‘You can talk as much as you like about your religion, but if it does not teach you to be kind and caring to both animals as well as humans, then it is nothing but a sham’. How very true!”

It’s bad enough that animals have to go through such a traumatic experience in the first place, but to compound their terror further by subjecting them to such a brutal end is inconceivable. And let’s not forget that all animals entering a slaughterhouse are going to suffer before they lose that most precious of gifts – life!

If people must eat meat (though we can live without it – I have for my entire adult life), then animals selected for slaughter should be killed on the farm with a single shot to the head. They should not have to endure transportation, the market place and the horrific slaughterhouse. Nor should any animal be separated from their young until these youngsters are fully-grown. I saw the devastating effect on a herd of cows after their babies had been removed, and the memory of those wailing bellowing mothers will haunt me for the rest of my life.

A shift from eating meat gets us all a little closer to a saner world; a less hostile world; a world where humanity really does mean what it implies; a world worth waking up to every single morning!

Okay, so there will always be animals predating on other animals, but does that mean we should be the most gruesomely cruel animal on earth? We have the gift of knowing right from wrong – we can make moral judgements, wild animals can’t! Nor do wild animals treat their prey as cruelly as mankind.

For the sake of our species – and every living creature on Earth, we have to stop the mindless slaughter of the innocents – IT CAN BE DONE!!

– Judi Hewitt
  Founder Wales Against Animal Cruelty  

For the past 25 years, I have devoted a great deal of my time towards campaigning for the rights and welfare of animals. I founded Wales Against Animal Cruelty – to highlight the plight of creatures persecuted in the name of so called [blood] ‘sport’, intensive farming, animal experiments, fur farming, bull fighting and circus entertainment. I write articles for magazines and newspapers to highlight the plight of animals and ‘game’ birds – and also bombard newspapers with letters in an attempt to educate the public regarding animal welfare issues – as well as the benefit of adopting a meat free diet. To date I have over 2,000 published articles and letters. Over the past 30 years, I have rescued many injured or orphaned birds – wood pigeons, cuckoos, wood peckers, jackdaws – and more, have been rehabilitated and released back to the wild.

A parent doesn’t have to be human to be a great Dad to their kids.

Dads, in general, do the following:

• They defend their family
• They protect their young
• They provide food and shelter
• They stand guard
• They stay close
• They instill survival
• They encourage independence
• They teach by example
• They comfort
• They reprimand
• They provide structure
• They play with their children

Dad’s are role models.

They leave us their legacy, their DNA.

Without Dads, life could not be created.  We wouldn’t exist.

Here’s to being a Dad, and here’s to having a Dad – no matter WHOSE Dad we are talking about;
they ALL matter.

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Happy Father’s Day!