Brian Shapiro, NYS Director HSUS

Friendly, down to earth, engaging, and knowledgeable, Brian took the crowd through the NYS bills HSUS is strongly supporting. The MUST DO bill among these is the Consolidated Animal Crimes Bill (CACB) A.775a/S.1776, which would move crimes against animals from Ag & Markets into the Penal Code, with which police, judges, and DA’s are most familiar.

Brian urged EVERYONE to CALL your representative WEEKLY and tell them that, as a constituent, you would like them to support these bills.Emailing is fine, writing letters and sending faxes is terrific, but CALLING is most important. Click the link below to read more about these bills, then MAKE THOSE CALLS to help the animals of New York State!

This action moves Syracuse into the forefront  of NYS municipalities fighting animal abuse, and we in the Animal Alliance couldn’t be prouder!

Related articles

• Animal Alliance calls on judge, DA to prosecute animal abusers to the fullest extent of the law (syracuse.com)
• Jennifer Owens: Cuse Pit Crew works to end pit bull abuse in Syracuse (syracuse.com)

Today  I  came across this  post and  thought it was very  interesting that as many  as  80% of Americans are  opposed to Predatory Horse  Slaughter  ……

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Sound Off: Over 80% of Americans Oppose Predatory Horse Slaughter

Posted: March 19, 2013 by R.T. Fitch

This is YOUR Chance to be Heard!

You are frustrated, angry, hurt and confused as to why a small band of deviate horse haters can progress legislation and gain media attention in their attempt to kill, butcher, slaughter, torture and ultimately eat the very companion animal on who’s back this country was founded; have you had enough?

The good folks at Wild Horse Freedom Federation and our Straight from the Horse’s Heart blog most certainly have so we are supplying you with a means in which you can not only vent but have your point and opinion heard by those who write the laws in this great land.

If you visit here often you are aware that there are two bills pending on Capitol Hill to, once and for all, put an end to the unspeakable cruelty of horse slaughter, they are:

The Safeguard American Food Experts Act (HR 1094): To prohibit the sale or transport of equines and equine parts in interstate or foreign commerce for human consumption.

Read Full Post  Here at Straight from the Horse’s Heart

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And then  I  came across  this post .  Now what  are the  chances that the  day  I  see  that   80% of  Americans  are  opposed to  Horse  Slaughter  that  I  would find a post  on Oklahoma having approved a Bill on  Horse Slaughter?

Well   it  may  have been a coincidence,but  since  I  do not believe in coincidences I  decided to  create a post  about  it  and  possibly  , hopefully make peoples sit  up and read about  it .

The Slaughter  would be legal, but  it  would still be illegal to sell Horse meat  in  Oklahoma ,so   who is  this really for?  To help put food on the  table of  people who cannot  afford  beef  or chicken?   I  think not.  As  always   it is  to  satisfy the  greedy  money  grubbing businesses that have their hands in  the  politicians  pockets.  The  ones that  say  jump and  these Public  Servants immediately   ask  how high.

It  looks like  the  Politicians and Legislators are not listening to us.  Perhaps we  will have  to  speak  louder for  the  deaf, dumb  and blind  for  convenience Public Servants  to hear  what we  have  to  say!

What  do  you  think  ???

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Source: Newson6.com

“Under the bill, the sale of horse meat still would be illegal in Oklahoma…”

OKLAHOMA CITY -A state Senate committee has unanimously approved a bill that opens the way for a horse slaughtering facility in Oklahoma.

3/3/2013 Related Story: Debate Heats Up On Controversial Oklahoma Horse Slaughter Bill

The Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Committee on Monday voted 9-0 in favor of the bill by Bristow Republican Rep. Skye McNiel. It would end Oklahoma’s 50-year ban on the slaughter of horses for human consumption.

Under the bill, the sale of horse meat still would be illegal in Oklahoma, but the export for sale in other countries would be allowed.

Read House Bill 1999

Read Full Post  Here on Straight from the Horse’s Heart

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• Breaking News: FRER Discovers New Applications for Horse Slaughter Facilities (rtfitchauthor.com)
• REPORT: US Horse Slaughter Plant to Open… (bloomberg.com)
• If Oklahoma Gets Their Foot in the Horse Slaughter Door ~ It’s All Over ~ SIGN NOW. (thisnthatn.wordpress.com)
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Reblogged from WGNO:

(Humane Society of LA) - The Humane Society of Louisiana, a statewide humane society based in New Orleans, is seeking donations to help replenish its Emergency Medical Fund. Recently, the Humane Society has been flooded with calls for assistance from financially-challenged pet owners seeking medical attention for their animals and having to provide emergency care for animals that were criminally neglected.

Read more… 411 more words

http://www.examiner.com/article/spotlight-on-fawl-an-interview-with-allison-michael

-Allison Michael
Founder
FAWL

But something strange has been happening….

About a year ago, I hosted a Dream Board gathering at my house. I knew I wanted lots of photos of healthy food and women running, swimming and biking. (I wanted to do a triathlon and I have completed two so far). My board reflected my triathlon goals as well as my goals for continuing to eat a healthy vegan diet. As I flipped through the magazines with my friends I saw a few pictures of cows. My initial reaction was,

“Don’t do it Angela, don’t put a damn picture of a cow on your dream board”.

What would it mean if I put a picture of a cow on my dream board? Would I actually have to do something for cows?  If I put a picture of a cow on my dream board then it meant I was committed. Committed to do something more than read a bunch of books and blogs about veganism and plant based eating. I would have to do more than repost stories and pictures on Facebook (which no one wants to see) of cows having their calves torn away from them so humans could consume their milk. I would have to do more than let a bunch of ideas about how to open peoples eyes to the cruelty of our food choices rattle around in my head and take no action.

So I did it…

My last picture was one of a cow. I just had to do it. I hesitantly added it at the bottom of the board.  A few weeks later while in a toy store with my kids I spotted a bowl of mini rubber farm animals. I sifted through and found a cow. It has been in my change purse ever since.

Yep, this was getting serious.

I never thought I would find myself advocating for cows but now it seems that I will be using my training as a Social Worker to do just that. It would be a lot easier if the particular species I felt so drawn to was a dog, cat, horse or some endangered wild animal. Lots of people could jump on that bandwagon and already have.

I’m sure there are others out there who feel just as passionate about helping cows. Who are you? Where are you? Lets create a Conscious Moo-vement!

Which  leads  one  to  wonder as  to the  why of  this  undertaking?  I  would  venture  to say   it is  all for the  greater  glory  of their  Scientific  careers.  They  nether  care  nor  are  concerned  with the  well being  or  happiness of  any of these  creatures.  The  proof is in the lack  of impetus where pollution, experimental animal  research and  deforestation are  concerned.  Just  look  at the  palm oil plantations  flourishing  at the  expense of  the  Orangutang ,  the  bees  and  pollinators   dying off  due to  GMO’s.   The  Whale, porpoise and a  long  list  of  sea life.   The endless  list  of   animals  that  are  endangered,  being  poached and savaged on a  daily  basis, and then  there is  always   the commercialization of the  creatures.    Aquariums for  profit,  Zoos that confine  these  poor  animals to cages or  concrete  pens in many  cases in   environments that  are  completely  alien  and  detrimental to the  species.  Exotic  animals  captured and  sold for the  highest dollar to people  who think they  are  pretty  and since they  have  the  money   why  not ?   Of course if they  can  afford it  they  want  what  no one  else has, regardless of the morality of  such a desire.  Avarice and social standing know  no  limits to   satiating  these desires

Photograph by Tim Laman

A lesser bird of paradise flaunts his flank plumes to entice females.

Purchase this print »

www.timlaman.com

Who  cares  what  these poor  creatures  had to endure  to  make it  to  that pet shop or  dealer.  The only thing that  matters is they  got  what they  wanted , the  animal  be  damned.  After  all it is  just  an  animal  isn’t it ? 

Let’s not  forget  the  Circus,  animals  taken  from their  mothers  at  a young  age   that  are  savagely   beaten and traumatized to  conform for the  amusement  of those  willing to  pay for the entertainment  and for the profit of  those unethical beasts  that mistreat and terrorize  them on a  daily  basis.  Their  suffering is  of  no consequence and  trivial  to those  who  want to  possess  them.

Image Source

 Image Source                                                             Image Source

 

Image Source                                                 Image source

In light of  the cruelty  and  callousness with  which  humanity has  treated  the  creatures  of this planet,  I  would venture  to  say  they are  better  off  as  a part  of  history   than   part  of the  next  series of  experiments  for the  glory  of greedy  and  soulless enterprises.

~Desert Rose~

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Jennifer Welsh | Mar. 17, 2013, 10:39 AM

Charles R. Knight

Smilodon

On Friday at a National Geographic sponsored TEDx conference, scientists met in Washington, D.C. to discuss which animals we should bring back from extinction. They also discussed the how, why, and ethics of doing so.They called it “de-extinction.”

There are a few guidelines for which ancient species are considered, and sadly, dinosaurs are so long dead they aren’t in the picture. Their DNA has long ago degraded, so researchers are fairly sure that Jurassic Park will never happen.

But there are plenty of other animals on the table. The list of candidates is actually pretty long, considering.

Here are the 24 animals they are hoping to one day resurrect.

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10 Animals That Were Hunted To Extinction

Tasmanian tiger (Extinct since 1936)

Wikipedia

Tasmania Tigers were hunted by humans to extinction

Wikipedia/E.J. Keller

Woolly Mammoth (Extinct for ~10,000 years)

Wikipedia/Public Library of Science

Dodo Bird (Extinct since ~1681)

Wikipedia/Ballista

Stellar’s Sea Cow (Extinct since 1768)

Wikipedia

Passenger Pigeon (Extinct since 1914)

Stuffed passenger pigeon on display at the Royal Ontario Museum.

Wikipedia/Keith Schengili-Roberts

Bubal Hartebeest (Extinct since ~1954)

Wikipedia

Javan Tiger (Extinct since ~1970s)

Wikipedia/Andries Hoogerwerf

Zanzibar leopard (Extinct since ~1990s)

Wikipedia

Pyrenean Ibex (Extinct since 2000)

Wikimedia Commons

Western Black Rhino (Extinct 2011)

Na Son Nguyen/AP

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For Those Of Us who Love Animals And  Understand  Why They Need To Be  Protected.  This  One Is For You !!

Photographer Captures Incredible Human Side Of Animals

British photographer Tim Flach is known for taking human-like photographs of animals. His latest body of work, called “More Than Human,” captures the emotions of wild creatures through intensely close shots — like the stunning picture of a gorilla below.

Tim Flach Photography

The intimate animal portraits, which feature everything from a featherless chicken to a pair of affectionate chimpanzees, are meant to illuminate the similarities between animal poses, gestures, and gazes, and our own.

Photographing animals on a set, as opposed to in their natural habitat comes with a unique set of challenges.

“You can never predict an animal’s mood,” Flach says on his website. “So you have to plan beforehand to get what you want.” To make the animals feel as comfortable as possible, Flach may adjust the temperature of the studio or play music.

You can purchase a hardcover copy of Flach’s animal portraits here or visit his website to see more of the award-winning photographer’s work.

…

A chimpanzee affectionately cradles its child.

See The Animals

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On March 5, shelter pet advocates attended the Petersburg city council meeting, demanding reform.  What they wanted was immediate action to save the lives of pets currently at the pound, allegedly being abused.  What they got was a task force:

[Councilman W. Howard] Meyers made a motion to create a task force under his direction that includes the manager of the Petersburg Animal Shelter, the Chief of the Petersburg Police Department and various animal groups from Richmond and the surrounding areas.

Meyers said his task force will work to enforce stricter breeding laws.

[...]

Meyers said there will be bigger fines for people who don’t spay or neuter their pets.

Well, crud.  How does an investigation into allegations that the shelter staff is abusing the pets result in penalties for pet owners in the community?  Is the councilman unwilling to do the hard work of implementing no kill and so just taking a page from the well-worn Blame The Public Handbook instead?

Punitive legislation does not work.  And it does nothing to save the pets allegedly being abused at the pound today.

“There a lot of big things that need to be done at the shelter,” said Jill Navary, an animal advocate. “What we would like to have addressed are the small things that can be done in a day and save a lot of animals.”

Sounds like a good place to start to me.  But I’m not on the task force.  I hope someone committed to reforming the pound and ending the killing is.  Several someones, in fact.

(Thank you Clarice for the link.)

It’s just a random thought. My co-worker doesn’t eat meat or products that are made from animals. My conversations with him make me think of the aftermath. What happens after the deed is done? I never hear the news report about what happens after the act is done.  I think it’s okay to support a cause but not to act aggressive to anyone that hasn’t acted aggressive toward you (or kids)?

I think you can be respectful while supporting a cause. In fact, I think this has more of an impact because people will be more prone to listen to someone speaking or giving information in a rationale manner. If you act out with aggression or do something else wild (like wearing a large side on the front and back of your body without clothes) people will look and not listen. What’s your take on it?

Isn’t this dog adorable?

If your fast food told you where it came from before you were about to eat it…would you? Would anyone? Check out this provocative new video from Mercy For Animals…

7NEWS

Published on Mar 5, 2013

FIRST ON SEVEN: A woman has told of how a pod of dolphins saved her life after she fell into the ocean while trying to rescue her dog. Michelle Vella reports.

 

……

 

Australian woman says dolphins saved her and her dog from drowning

By David Ferguson
Tuesday, March 5, 2013 12:13 EST

A woman who fell from a cliff into the sea while trying to rescue her dog said Tuesday that a pod of dolphins saved her life. According to Perth’s Channel 7 News, Karyn Gitsham was walking her dogs on the beach at Carrickalinga, on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula, as she does every morning, when one of them got into trouble.

Ramsey, a 5-year-old Cocker Spaniel, ran into the water chasing seagulls, but began to struggle against the tide and couldn’t make it back to shore. Gitsham followed him along the shoreline, scrambling up a cliff face to keep him in sight.

Then, the retired police officer lost her footing.

“I just remember falling and I’m in the water and the waves were just pounding me up against the rocks and I could see him out there trying to get back in,” she said.

Dog and owner struggled to stay afloat as help arrived from an unexpected quarter.

“I remember going under and coming back up I saw a fin, and I saw him, and thought ‘Oh great, it’s a shark,’” she said. “And then I saw another fin then I realised they were dolphins. These dolphins just formed this horseshoe and were guiding him in, pushing him in.”

Soon enough, Gitsham herself was being herded toward shore by the ring of dolphins.

 

Read Full Article Here

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