This just in: US and China strike deal to stop commercial trade of ivory!

I just got this email from Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society:

“Today marks the beginning of the end of the cruel ivory trade with a shared announcement from President Obama and President Xi Jinping of China. President Xi said his country would match the U.S.’s commitment to stop any commercial trade in ivory. This coming-together of the two largest ivory-consuming countries is a watershed moment for the efforts to stop the cruel global poaching of elephants for their tusks. Now, it is more important than ever to cement this commitment by urging the Administration to finalize the proposed rule as soon as possible»”

It is estimated that one elephant is killed in Africa every 15 minutes. At that rate, this iconic species may go extinct in little more than a few decades. Photo by Alamy

The petition goes on to say: “While in Kenya, President Obama announced plans to release a proposed rule that will institute a near complete ban on the commercial ivory trade in the U.S. We applaud this urgently needed step to protect elephants and address the global poaching epidemic.

The poaching crisis has reached a critical point and unless something is done immediately to stop the ivory trade, elephants could be gone from the wild in the next few decades. Approximately 35,000 elephants are killed annually to supply the global demand for ivory. According to one estimate, the U.S. is the world’s second largest market for ivory after China. Several studies and anti-smuggling investigations have shown that illegal ivory is found in marketplaces across the U.S.”

It’s important to keep up the momentum here. Take just a moment to sign the petition to urge the finalization of the deal. 

The tides are turning for the elephants…and all animals. The world is finally starting to see the light. Keep the candle burning and always make your voice heard when you have the opportunity. Sign those petitions and spread the news! Do what you can to preserve wildlife. Thanks in advance for your advocacy.

GROUNDBREAKING NEWS: McDonald’s Has Just Announced the Elimination of Cage Confinement of Laying Hens from its Egg Supply Chain!

I just received an email from the Humane Society’s President and CEO Wayne Pacelle announcing this pivotal move in factory farming: “McDonald’s has just announced that it will eliminate the cage confinement of hens from its egg supply chain in the U.S. and Canada. Over the next decade, McDonald’s will lay the groundwork for a cage-free future that will impact millions of animals each year and have a ripple effect across the industry.”

This is huge news, especially for the millions of hens currently confined to cages. Speaking up and speaking out makes a difference! Always take advantage of opportunities to make your voice heard when you see animal cruelty.

To read the entire article, go to the Humane Society’s page. For those who’d rather not click out, I’ve copied and pasted the article below. This is such huge news! I’m in awe of this major decision. Kudos to McDonalds and to all the other businesses who are making the move to humane farming practices.

 

Chickens in chicken house 5 at Hilliker Ranch Eggs are in San Diego, California, U.S., on Saturday, March 28, 2015. Photograph by David Paul Morris

“Breaking News: McDonald’s Announces Cage-Free Commitment for Laying Hens

Following years of dialogue with The HSUS and extensive research, McDonald’s has announced a firm timeline for eliminating the cage confinement of egg-laying chickens from its U.S. and Canadian supply chains, by switching to 100 percent cage-free eggs. The company announced this policy just moments ago, and we’re lauding the move.

Like its decision nearly four years ago to phase out pork from operations that confine breeding sows in gestation crates, this hen-welfare announcement makes plain that the future of egg production is cage-free. In practical terms, it now looks like simply swapping battery cages for larger, colony-style cages would be a very dangerous investment for anyone in the egg industry.

Following McDonald’s gestation crate announcement three years ago, more than 60 major food companies announced similar policies. We expect the cascade of laying-hen-welfare announcements – already in motion with pledges from Compass Group, Sodexo, Aramark, Burger King, Starbucks, Unilever, and others – to similarly accelerate, thereby hastening an end to the era of extreme confinement of farm animals.

Battery cages are perhaps the cruelest factory-farming invention. HSUS undercover investigations have documented the suffering caused by the extreme overcrowding in these wire contraptions, where birds are confined to cages so small and tight, they can’t even flap their wings – let alone perch or nest. It’s a near-complete deprivation of all that comes naturally to these animals.

Currently, McDonald’s U.S. and Canada supply chains annually use over two billion eggs from caged chickens—meaning this shift, once implemented, will directly improve life for nearly eight million animals per year. That’s eight million fewer individual animals enduring the misery of suffering virtual immobilization in cramped cages on factory farms. These eight million animals will be able to walk inside a barn, spread their wings, perch, lay their eggs in nests, and engage in other important natural behaviors denied to caged hens.

These are big numbers—almost unimaginably so – but it’s real animals we’re talking about, and this decision can alleviate a good share of their misery. While McDonald’s is taking 10 years to complete the shift, we’re optimistic that the switch can occur even quicker, and that other companies will do the same.

McDonald’s has already implemented a similar policy in other parts of the world, including Europe, thanks in large part to the good work of our friends at Compassion in World Farming, which of course also is supportive of the cage-free-egg policy in the United States. The HSUS is proud to have spearheaded a movement that, over the last decade, has resulted in sweeping change in how our nation farms and eats. We’re getting calves out of veal crates and pigs out of gestation crates. We’re getting hens out of cages. We’re making these practices illegal or at least unacceptable.  The public gets it, and increasingly so does the food industry. We’re driving the market away from caged products and toward more humane and sustainable practices.

For years, many in our movement considered it an almost fanciful and far-fetched idea that we could actually end cage confinement of veal calves, breeding sows, and laying hens. But that day is coming, and faster than almost anyone expected. There’s no turning away from it. Animals built to move should be allowed to move. It’s time for all of these industries to accept the inevitability of that outcome.

These changes are now inexorable and consumer attitudes irreversible, driven by a combination of ballot measures, courtroom victories, corporate policies, public awareness campaigns, and innovations in agriculture.

Side by side with so many major food companies, we’re working to assure a better future for farm animals. Today’s announcement from McDonald’s is surely one of the biggest moments in our long march forward.”

Amen!!!

Greyhound Racing to End in Texas

Finally!! Here’s the latest news from greyhound ambassador group Grey2K, taken directly from their email sent out earlier this week:

“Dear Friends,

Yesterday, GREY2K USA learned that the last greyhound track in Texas was calling it quits! That’s right, Gulf Greyhound Park, the third and final dog track in the Lone Star State will close its doors to live racing by January 1…

Gulf Greyhound Park is one of the worst dog tracks in the country, and this is truly a victory for everyone who cares about dogs. Hundreds of greyhounds will now be released from their cages and given the second chance they deserve…

More than two thousand greyhound injuries have been reported at Gulf since 2008 alone, including broken legs, puncture wounds, a broken neck and a crushed skull. During the same period, 115 dogs died or were destroyed due to the severity of their injuries. Meanwhile, the amount of money gambled on live racing fell by 61% over the last decade. As a result, there were fewer and fewer funds available to care for the greyhounds, and at least one kennel worker was sanctioned for failing to seek veterinary care for an injured dog. Another trainer was also caught on tape using live rabbits to bait his dogs.

Once Texas racing ends later this year, greyhound racing will be legal and operation in just six states. Thanks to everyone who worked with us last summer to keep slot machines out of Gulf Greyhound Park. The track spokesperson has conceded that this was the last hope she had for keeping the aging facility afloat and acknowledges that “the economics of live greyhound racing have significantly deteriorated.”

Enough greyhounds have suffered and died while racing in Texas, but soon this cruelty will come to an end. Please continue to support our work until the dogs in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, West Virginia and worldwide get the same chance.

Together we can do it!

Christine A. Dorchak, Esq.
President
GREY2K USA

Carey M. Theil
Executive Director
GREY2K USA”

 

This is a huge victory in the fight against dog-racing. Please consider donating to your local greyhound groups or national organizations like Grey2K. Greyhound Pets of America-Central Texas is one of the local Austin groups. I’ve been a GPA member for 16 years. Every dollar helps.

And always take the opportunity to sign petitions to end dog-racing (or horse racing). Your signature matters!

Julian’s Story

This video is the story of Julian, a dog who was cruelly shot, his front leg shattered, and he fended for himself before finally collapsing beneath a tree. Once found, his miracle story begins. To read more about Julian’s journey, click here for the full report at Viktor Larkhill, Extreme Rescue.

The video pretty much tells the story though. God Bless all those who helped this precious dog. Thankfully he has a very happy ending. This is a feel good video and will warm your heart. (Caution: the video is graphic only in showing his wound and injury)

Feel free to leave your comments below.

Notable Quotables – Kindness

So true! Oftentimes being kind can go against what constitutes being right.

This quote can be interpreted in a number of ways. The way it struck me is from an animal perspective. I interpret it in a way that may be a bit controversial. I’d like to see how others interpret it though by presenting this hypothetical situation:

Let’s say you have a neighbor who you have witnessed beating his dog on more than one occasion. You also can see that the dog suffers from shameful neglect. You’ve called the police and animal control but the dog’s owner still has the dog and still isn’t treating him in a manner that would be consistent with compassion and loving care. You cringe every time you hear the dog whimper, your heart breaks a little more each time you hear your neighbor yell at the dog. The dog is chained up outside 24/7 and is all alone. You can see him getting thinner and thinner. You know he’s not being watered regularly either.

You’re bewildered that the legal route has not yielded a satisfactory result for this dog. Your neighbor goes away for the weekend and naturally leaves the dog to fend for himself. You look out the window and see the sad look on this dog’s face. At once you decide that you are going to step up to the plate and do something for this dog. So you go into your neighbor’s backyard, unchain the dog and lead him away, taking him to your home where you give him fresh water and food. You see oozing wounds that have been ignored so you take him to the vet for treatment, which you pay for out of your own pocket. You know you’ve broken the law because you’ve literally stolen this man’s property (and I HATE that animals are still considered “property” in the eyes of the law but that is the way it is now).

You then call a rescue group to see if they can take the dog into foster care so that he can be placed in a loving home where he will finally get the life he deserves, one with love and fun and family. And then you hope that your neighbor never discovers that you were the one who took his dog.

In this case, no one could argue that what you did wasn’t kind. But was it right? Was it the right thing to do?

Those who know me know which side of the argument I come down on. But I’m interested to hear what you all have to say. Once again, the quote says “Choose being kind over being right and you’ll be right every time.” Are you therefore right in this case?

As I see it, as a member of the human race, we have a moral responsibility to be good stewards of all of God’s creatures. I think we absolutely have to take this duty seriously and we cannot turn a blind eye to animal cruelty and neglect. We have to be the voice for animals because they can’t speak for themselves. That’s my viewpoint. What’s yours, particularly as it relates to the situation presented here?