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2010-02-23T12:56:00.000-08:00

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Cold Weather Cautions for Pets

2010-02-06T11:56:00.000-08:00

The Arctic blast that has hit so many parts of the country this month hasn't been fun for humans or pets. It's important to always consider your pet's comfort during the long winter.

Here are some good tips for caring for dogs and cats in the extreme cold weather from Petfinder.com, an online database of adoptable pets and pet care information:

Feed your pet plenty of high-quality protein foods, since walking outdoors in this weather burns extra calories.
Never leave your pet in the car in cold weather (or any other weather, for that matter). A car in this kind of cold can turn into a refrigerator, and your pet could suffer from hypothermia.
After a walk, check your dog's paws for any chunks of ice or snow and remove them; it's nice to towel their whole body off when you get inside.
Never use metal water bowls outdoors - your pet's tongue may stick to them in very cold temperatures.
Don't clip your pet's hair too short - extra fur is great this time of year.

--Jura Koncius, Local Living section (Petfinder.com)

HBO Films' 'Temple Grandin' Debuts February 6

2010-02-06T11:25:00.000-08:00

Gerson Saines, who calls Danes "a revelation," recalls, "I showed Temple some dailies in my room. As soon as she saw Claire and as soon as Claire opened her mouth, she said excitedly, 'That's me, 35 years ago, that's me!'

Today, Temple Grandin is a success story. She has a PhD in animal science from the University of Illinois and over half the cattle in North America are handled in humane systems she has designed.

"One important factor in my success was the way I used my visual thinking to design and build projects that other people wanted and appreciated," said Grandin. "People in the livestock industry started respecting me when they saw the quality of my work. When I showed them my detailed drawings, I got respect."

A full professor of animal sciences at Colorado State University, Grandin speaks around the world on both autism and cattle handling. She is also the author or co-author of an array of books.

Editor's note: In the September 2007 issue of Horse & Rider, the article "What's He Thinking?" shares Grandin's theories. Call 940-497-4600 to order the back issue. Plus, read Horses in Translation for additional snippets from Grandin.

Vt. court eyes value of love of man's best friend.

2009-12-24T14:35:00.000-08:00

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Vermont's highest court is being asked to decide what a dog's love is worth.

The state Supreme Court on Thursday began hearing a case that started in July 2003, when Denis and Sarah Scheele, who were visiting relatives, let their mixed-breed dog wander into Lewis Dustin's yard and he fatally shot it.

Now the Scheeles, of Annapolis, Md., are asking the court to carve out a new legal doctrine that a dog's owners can sue for emotional distress and loss of companionship, just like parents can when they lose children.

See Full Article Click Here!

Easy Tips for a Pet-Safe Holiday Season

2009-11-26T04:41:00.000-08:00

There’s nothing more scrumptious than gathering with friends and family for the holidays, but many of the ingredients in human fun can result in distress for pets. As we kick off this season of lights, parties and yummy treats, the ASPCA wants to remind pet parents of the potential hazards certain goodies and décor can pose to our furry friends.

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Free-Range: Not Free Enough

2009-11-19T14:46:00.001-08:00

In recent years, the campaign to replace battery-farmed eggs with a cage-free, guilt-free version has gained tremendous popularity. For those who are becoming increasingly aware of the suffering of hens in the egg industry, the 'cage-free' movement appears on the surface to offer a win-win situation: improved welfare standards for hens… and eggs can remain on the menu, even for concerned consumers.

In addition to the 'free-range' label that we're all familiar with by now, new labeling schemes have been developed over the years to offer assurance that the products in question have been obtained from animals living in humane conditions.

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Are American Rodeos More Acceptable Than Spanish Bullfighting?

2009-11-04T07:29:00.000-08:00

Helloooo, American arrogance and blindness. In the discussion on the post "It Is Our Job to Fight for All of Them, Not Only Some of Them," reader and Change.org member Lisa R. shared this troubling news report: "From Bullfighting to Rodeos: Culture Shock in Spain." The very premise is that rodeos are somehow a more humane alternative to bullfighting, that those silly Spanish need wise Americans to show them how to exploit and injure animals humanely. Um, no.

See Full Article Click Here!

New Animal Cruelty Laws in Two Unlikely Countries

2009-10-15T11:41:00.001-07:00

Two far-east countries that are infamous for violations against human rights are making a very unlikely compassionate leap by instituting their first policies to protect animals. The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal has passed its first Animal Welfare Act and the People’s Republic of China has drafted the China Animal Protection Law.

The recently approved Animal Welfare Act in Nepal already has two initial projects in the works. The building of the country’s first animal sanctuary for rescued animals and a separate sanctuary for donkeys. Both are scheduled to open in mid October.

See Full Article Click Here!

Teaching Children to Kill Animals?

2009-09-23T07:38:00.001-07:00

Children at the Lydd Primary School in Kent, England raised a lamb named Marcus by hand and then voted to have him sent to slaughter.

The school started a program, which involves some 250 children, with the intention of teaching them about breeding and raising animals, which also includes ducks, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs.

See Full Article Click Here!

Should you brush your dog's teeth?

2009-09-23T07:35:00.000-07:00

Yes. It's a good idea to reduce the tartar build-up on your dog's teeth, stave off periodontal disease and help prevent oral infections. Regular care and dental checkups can prevent other serious problems from developing.

See Full Article with check lists; Click Here!

farmsanctuary.com posts for Sept, 17 2009

2009-09-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

Big Stars Speak Up for California Cows
Bill Maher, Bob Barker, Kim Basinger, and a host of other celebrity supporters join Farm Sanctuary in reaching out to Governor Schwarzenegger, urging him to sign a bill to ban the cruel practice of docking dairy cows’ tails.

Many more, See Full Article Click Here!

4.5 Million Animals Saved From Toxicity Testing

2009-09-23T07:29:00.000-07:00

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has responded to requests from animal welfare groups to clear up vague chemical safety testing requirements, which will spare about 4.5 million animals from toxicity testing.

Animal welfare groups including the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments, Eurogroup for Animals, Humane Society International - Europe, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and PETA Europe all wrote ECHA with concerns about companies performing repeated toxicity tests in order to register chemicals under the EU’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulations, which governs chemicals sold in Europe.

See Full Article Click Here!

Update on the Dogs Seized in the Largest U.S.Dog Fighting Raid

2009-09-23T07:28:00.001-07:00

On July 8, 2009 more than 500 Pit bull dogs were rescued during the largest multi-state federal dog fighting raid in U.S. history. The raid by federal agents and several animal welfare organizations ran across 8 states and led to the arrest of 26 individuals. All of the dogs were sent to a temporary sanctuary which is being managed by the Humane Society of Missouri (HSMO).

Now more than 2 months after their rescue, the U.S. District Courts are preparing to make a ruling regarding the future for each of these dogs. This will happen within the next 1-3 weeks.

See Full Article Click Here!

Coyotes Attack Celebrity Dogs!

2009-09-23T07:24:00.000-07:00

Recently, two celebrities have lost their dogs due to coyote attacks. In some areas of California, coyotes are common, and will take advantage of any chance to get food. Of course the coyotes don't know the difference between a family pet and their usual prey, so it's really up to owners to be aware.

See Full Article Click Here!

Social Media is Helping Animals

2009-09-23T07:23:00.000-07:00

It was only a matter of time before someone harnessed the power of social media to help homeless animals! TwitterACritter is a new social media campaign that uses Twitter to spread the word about adoptable pets in shelters. All you have to do is visit the website, www.TwitterACritter.com, and select one of the 130,000 homeless dogs, cats, and other pets listed on Adopt‐a‐Pet.com and tweet a link to that petʹs information.

ʺTwitterACritter is a fun, easy way for people to actively save the life of a shelter pet, even if they canʹt adopt one themselves or afford to donate,ʺ says Abbie Moore, executive director of Adopt‐a‐Pet.com. ʺHomeless pets are powerless to promote themselves to potential adopters, so itʹs up to those of us who love animals to lend a hand, and a set of thumbs, and tweet about them. In these difficult economic times, when so many pets are being relinquished to shelters, they need our help more than ever.ʺ

Read the Full Article Click Here!

Follow-up Interview: Behind the Egg Hatchery Cruelty Video

2009-09-23T07:13:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month the Chicago-based animal activist group called, Mercy for Animals released a dramatic video depicting the cruel treatment of newborn male chicks born at the Hy-Line egg hatchery in Iowa.

The video, which was filmed by one of the organization’s undercover investigators, graphically showed the gruesome euthanizing of male chicks as they were lifted onto a conveyor belt and carried to a chute that dropped them into a grinding machine – while they were still alive.

Mercy for Animals reported that this procedure is standard practice in the egg industry and that 200 million newly hatched male chicks are disposed of in this manner, every year.

Read the Full Article on www.care2.com.

San Fran Cats May Get To Keep Their Claws!

2009-09-16T11:00:00.000-07:00

Several months ago, I wrote a post about ways to keep cats safe, healthy, and happy. In it, I explained that declawing is a cruel and crippling procedure that causes cats’ pain and impaired balance, and robs them of a vital natural behavior and their first line of defense. So, you can imagine how happy I was when I learned that officials in San Francisco are considering a citywide ban on declawing!

See Full Article Click Here!

A Double Whammy for Animal Shelters

2009-09-16T10:57:00.000-07:00

The economic downturn is having ripple effects in nearly every part of American life, but the impact on animal shelters has been especially acute. Struggling families are relinquishing more dogs and cats to shelters, as they find they can no longer afford the costs of pet care, or they are evicted from their homes and cannot find pet-friendly housing. At the same time, municipal governments are cutting local services, and charitable giving is on the decline, so both public and private shelters have less funding. It’s a double whammy for animal shelters—greater demand but fewer resources.

See Full Article Click Here!

A robin redbreast in a cage puts all heaven in a rage

2009-09-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

"A robin redbreast in a cage puts all heaven in a rage"
~ William Blake

On June 7th of this year, a 67-year-old man named Dennis Zeglin shot and killed a parrot who was being kept in a cage in Zeglin's family home.

Zeglin was charged with several counts of animal cruelty after telling an animal control officer that he shot Mikey because the bird irritated him while he was watching television. Defense attorney Stephen Fletcher said his client was watching a NASCAR race at the time, and was intoxicated.

Read Full Article Click Here!

Leo Grillo Defines What Makes America Great

2009-09-16T08:28:00.000-07:00

Burnt Offering: Leo Grillo Defines What Makes America Great
by Robert Davi (bighollywood.breitbart.com)

I would like to take a few moments of your time dear readers, away from the fray of politics, and give some awareness to what makes our country great. Our citizens.
Yes, it is not the Congress or the Senate or the President who make America great, it’s the people — people from all over this great land who give of themselves and make a difference. I used to love listening to the late Paul Harvey. He would take an individual or incident and then surprise us with “the rest of the story” — something we didn’t know about or pay attention to but that had made a difference in our lives…

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“Chickens are great companions. If only people knew how smart and lovable they can be.”

2009-09-13T16:25:00.000-07:00

United Poultry Concerns is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the compassionate and respectful treatment of chickens, turkeys, ducks and other domestic fowl. We hold that the treatment of these birds in the areas of food production, science, education, entertainment, and humane companionship situations has a significant effect upon human, animal, and environmental welfare. We seek to make the public aware of the ways in which poultry are used, and to promote the benefits of a vegan diet and lifestyle. We provide information through our quarterly magazine Poultry Press, our Website at www.upc-online.org, and our sanctuary in Machipongo, Virginia on the Eastern Shore. We invite you to join us and support our work.

To learn more please Click Here!

The Social Life of Chickens

2009-09-13T16:23:00.000-07:00

The Social Life of Chickens
and the Mental States I Believe They Have and Need in Order
to Participate in the Social Relationships I have Observed
@2009 Karen Davis, PhD, President of United Poultry Concerns

This essay grew out of the Minds of Animals Conference, August 12-13, 2008, University of Toronto, Ontario.

In this essay, I discuss the social life of chickens and the mental states that I believe they have and need in order to participate in the social relationships that I have observed in them. What follows is a personalized, candid discussion of what I know, what I think I know, and what I am unsure of but have observed relevant to the minds of chickens in their relationships with each other and with other species and with me.

Chickens evolved in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains and the tropical forests of Southeast Asia where they have lived and raised their families for thousands of years. Most people I talk to had no idea that chickens are natives of a rugged, forested habitat filled with vibrant tropical colors and sounds. Similarly surprising to many is the fact that chickens are endowed with memory and emotions, and that they have a keenly developed consciousness of one another and of their surroundings.

Read Full Article Click Here!

Support Animal Welfare

2009-09-13T16:20:00.000-07:00

The Heroic Dogs of 9/11

Eight years ago today, on September 11, 200l, our country witnessed the worst terrorist attack in our history as hijacked planes flew into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Nearly 3,000 people were killed. The majority of the victims came from the World Trade Center in New York City.

As word about the disaster spread, an unprecedented number of police, firefighters, rescue workers and volunteers poured into the city to help. Among this group of heroes were an estimated 250-300 canine teams who arrived on the scene to sniff out those who were injured or trapped and to recover the dead.

See Full Article Click Here!

Don't feed the wild dolphins!

2009-09-11T09:40:00.000-07:00

Sept. 9: On Florida's Gulf Coast, wild dolphins regularly charm food out of humans - but beer and chips can make dolphins ill. NBC News Kerry Sanders reports on efforts to train humans not to be lured by their finned friends.

See the full video by clicking here!

Should Your Pet Be Vegetarian Too?

2009-09-04T18:03:00.000-07:00

By Kelly Rossiter, Treehugger

If you are a vegetarian, does that mean your pet must be as well? Should our own moral choices about not eating other animals be visited upon our dogs and cats? Do our pets have the right to eat other animals? Do we deprive our pets by making them vegetarian? Are we denying the fact that they are carnivores? How do you keep them from hunting, if that is their nature? I don’t really know the answers to those questions, but I feel they are worthy of discussion.

See full Article Click Here!