Outrage against the capture of a Giant Pacific Octopus...

As there should be! The fact that this kid said he killed this Octopus for an art project & its meat is disgusting. Do I think he should be recieving death threats, probably not. But I would be horrified if my child brought home a "trophy" & treated other living beings in such a disrespectful manner. I hope something is done to protect these creatures & kudos to those speaking out for them. We are their voices.

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/40201/divers+capture+of+a+beloved+giant+pacific+octopus+sparks+outrage/

Butterfly Massacre

This is just gross and it's even more disturbing to know that people were attracted to it. Nature is beautiful, yes, but that doesn't make it something that we have the right to bottle up & exploit. I'm sure the sight of all the butterflies was beautiful, but you know where else you can see butterflies? OUTSIDE, IN THEIR OWN ENVIRONMENT!!! And really, you call placing a shark into formaldehyde, ditto a bisected cow and calf, art? Umm, really? Then why doesn't he take it a step further - throw in a disected human body....yeah, that's gross & completely disturbing. But why should there be any difference w/ displaying a dead cow or a dead human body? The human body can be seen as a form of art. But then, who would go see a decapitated human head being plunged into formaldehyde? Probably no one because it's horrid...why should other animals be treated differently? I'm pretty sure dumping a shark into formaldehyde was not used as an educational reason so you can just cross that excuse out. But here's the story - determine your own opinion.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/damien-hirst-art-show-killed-9-000-butterflies-211840872.html

Swan Massacre

This is absolutely heartbreaking & disgusting. What the hell is wrong with people?! Honestly, I know that I ask this all the time & there is no answer, but OMG. To also know that Georgia law for animal cruelty is only a misdemeanor...when senseless acts of violence such as this go unpunished, what makes people think that senseless acts of violence against other people will stop? We allow things like this to occur everyday to "lower" species, yet we are shocked when the very same type of action is taken out on another human being. Hello people! Those who murder & cause senseless harm view their victims as "objects" - it doesn't matter if it is a swan or monkey or human.

Just baffling

http://news.petpardons.com/residents-shocked-by-swan-massacre-in-idyllic-community/

Dog loses his life because of the ignorance of people

Ok this is just ridiculous! Seriously - Pit Bulls are not 'dangerous' dogs per say. The way they are breed & raised creates the 'monster' & enhances the natural drive within the breed to be used for aggressive behavior such as illegal dog fighting. Just because people exploit this breed's natural energy, strength & intelligience for money & entertainment is no excuse to mark all pit bull breeds with the reputation they have & be put on a death wish list.
People have made the breed out to be vicous & used as a weapon.What consequences are there for against the people? Pit Bulls are not for everyone...but that can be said about any breed. I find Bull Mastiffs beautiful, but as a 4'11" petite female, I do not believe I could handle such a large dog - I choose not to bring one into my home because I do not feel I can provide the proper care & handling they deserve. I don't go out & have them all euthanized. It's just like the "Guns don't kill people, people kill people" saying...people train these dogs to be used maliciously & takes advantage of the breeds natural instinct.
On top of all of that...any animal can turn against their owner at anytime, for any reason. We forget that these are animals that we have domesticated - they weren't always that way. Humans would domesticate wolves if they could, just because they can.
As for Lennox, I feel for his owners & what a disgusting decision of the council. You just KILLED an animal for no reason other than it MIGHT hurt someone. Isn't that the same thing as killing someone who attacts you with the intent of harming you? Or, what about the pedophiles that walk free? We allow other humans live freely after harming a child, but we euthanize an innocent animal? I'm not understanding the logic here. Now, don't get me wrong - I realize there is a difference between a dog's life & a human's life, but the overall concept is the same. People are the cruel & vicious 'animal'. People are the only ones who consciously choose to harm one another, to bring hate & violence because of their own ignorance, greed & pride.

Just saying.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/lennox-dog-put-sleep-belfast-145939624.html
http://voices.yahoo.com/pit-bulls-myths-facts-dangerous-dogs-26215.html?cat=53
http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/news/news.asp?id=3109

**And why wouldn't they allow Lennox to be adopted by a celebrity dog trainer or other US citizen who offered to give Lennox a home?**

This little piggie didn't want to go to market...

Absolutely disgusting. How can you continue to eat pork or whatever after seeing this? How can you treat a creature in such a cruel & brutal way for no reason at all other than for your own entertainment, & sleep at night?
MFA investigation...


http://www.mfablog.org/2012/04/video-shocking-cruelty-revealed-at-britains-third-largest-pork-supplier.html

How do you deal with the "weight" on your shoulders that you want to help every, single animal?

It kills me to see strays all around me in this small town. There isn't a big enough facility to hold them all, much less adequate help, time, etc. This town has a very high rate of strays plus people "donate" their dog or cat to the pound because they don't want to take care of them anymore for whatever reason. I just don't understand.

I was driving home to lunch today when I stopped to let a black dog cross the "major" road in town. Panting & I'm sure extremely hot I didn't know what to do. Another car stopped for him too.What do you do? I know realistically you cannot help/save every animal species on the plant, even though it's a nice idea. Reallistically, the average person cannot just bring home every stray they encounter. So what do you do?

Any advice?

Animal Cruelty

I could not believe this photo when I saw it posted on Facebook. What is wrong with people?! Why do they get away with such actions?! I could definitely get on my soap box here, but it just makes me so mad!
I'm thankful for all of those who do what they can to speak up for those who do not have a voice.

The insanity!

I just read a post on my Facebook from someone asking for help with their chi-Pom mix. Their neighbor shot her dog with a BB gun because it was barking. WTF is wrong w/ people?! My neighbors blare their music all hours of the day & you don't see me running out shooting anyone - even if it was with just a BB gun.
Now it's stuck in her dog's leg & this lady is going through a divorce without a job, so needless to say, doesn't have the money for an emergency vet visit.
The town police or animal control will not do anything - so people can just shoot animals for the hell of it? Grrr! That just makes me sooo angry!

And they say animals don't have feelings...

OMG! I am so glad that I stopped to read this article. Absolutely amazing & touching. People need to wake up & recognize the reality that humans are not the only beings on this plant that 'feel'. This bull crying is just like a human begging for their own life. I wish people would open their hearts & be moved by the miracles of God's creatures that are all around us.

Bull who cried

Mice & men....or other rodents

Okay, so my co-worker proceeds to tell me abou the glue mouse traps...I'm not completely up to speed on animal traps & catching or whatever, so this was quite horrifying. So the mouse/rat gets stuck to this glue pad essentially & then what?  Do you throw them away in the garbage? Do you stomp on them? I envision this mouse trying to crawl away & starving to death...it makes me want to cry.

While I understand I can't save every animal/species etc. & mice/rodents can create issues within your household (like carry diseases) what do you do? What is the best way to handle it? Is there really such a thing as 'humane' mouse trap?

Butterball Workers Arrested on Animal Cruelty Charges

Butterball Workers Arrested on Animal Cruelty Charges

I am glad national news is sharing this information & thankful for groups like Mercy For Animals.

*Unicorns & Glitter*

If you take an oath...keep it: Sante Fe Vet Brags about Killing

I ran across this post yesterday & it just makes me sad. While I can comprehend the horror, anger, sadness & sense of loss, that still does not make it right to take vengeance. As the author of this article puts it "...the coyote was only doing what came naturally to it. Coyotes have as much right to be here as do humans, dogs, and cats, and to do what they do naturally." On top of that, the statement that the barn cat only went after bunnies, mice & rats in the veterinarian's barn & she was grateful for the elimination of these other animals by the cat itself, is a horrible justification made by the vet. Um, hello? Bunnies, mice & rats are all living creatures, you would think a person who specializes in the animal field would know this.
Yes, I hate the idea that anything gets "hunted" & "killed", but I also understand the circle of life & the basic nature of most creatures that dwell on this earth. The cat was acting out of natural instincts - it doesn't know any better. It wasn't out of malicious intent; it didn't sit there & devise this master plan of revenge & create a justification to make itself feel better at the end of the day; and it wasn't KILLING for no reason!
I think the worst part of all this is the fact a middle aged woman got onto Facebook to brag about a childish action, that is also damaging to her career. Seriously lady?! This has LAME written all over it. This is like a politician posting pictures of his penis on Facebook & not expecting to be caught...and we call ourselves the most intelligent creature?
If this cat was that important to you that you would purposefully harm another, what were the safety precautions you put into place to protect the cat? Probably none...any feral cat (or other animals that roam freely) run the risk of being killed, ran over, etc. My personal opinion: This woman should not be able to practice animal care anymore. Period. I would definitely NOT take any of my animals to see her, much less live anywhere in the vicinity of her.
I would love to have been a veterinarian...but unfortunately, funds for going back to school are not available.
It makes me sick that people like her are practicing with something that is so precious, yet there are others out there with the heart, compassion & passion to do this but are not able to.
Santa Fe Vet brags about Killing a coyote on FB

Veterinarian's Oath

(Approved by the HOD, 1954; Revision approved by the HOD, 1969; Revision approved by the Executive Board 1999, 2010)



Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.

I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.


I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.

Elephants never forget...

As much of a fan I am of Reese Witherspoon & Rob Pattinson, I still cannot bring myself to watch, much less buy, the Water For Elephants movie. The allegations of elephant abuse from the trainers at Trunk Will Travel, undercover footage provided by Animal Defenders International, are just heartbreaking. I have seen at least one video & I just can't bring myself to watch more. Regardless if Tai was not abused on set or during the making of the film, does not negate the abuse Tai (or any other animal being trained for entertainment) endured prior to...of course she was trained before the movie & of course the trainers will never admit to abuse or brutality, but let's be realistic here...some people's view of abuse is quite different from another. These elephants are just "things", property & a means of money...when you have that outlook, any sort of sympathy does not apply. If the trainers truly cared for the well being of the elephants, then electric prods or bull hooks would not have been used in the first place because they would know these animals FEEL just like we do. Would they ever do that to a dog or a cat? Of course not - because we humans have an emotional connections with these animals (which I do not believe you can have an emotional connection with something & purposely cause harm to it) & the same views for companion animals do not always transfer to those non-companion animals (or animals that a person may know nothing about etc.).
On another note, elephants were not created solely for our entertainment nor is it in their well being to "train" them to do abnormal activities (i.e. balance on a ball or whatever). It's not like it's done for educational purposes, it's solely for entertainment & the bottom line.
So with just these random thoughts in my mind, is it acceptable to support this movie? The jury is still out on this one...but what I do know, is that anyone who takes an electric prod to a baby in front of their mother should have that electric prod shoved where the sun doesn't shine. I'm just saying...if we believe that would be unkind & painful, how do you think Tai felt?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/11/water-for-elephants-animal-abuse-video_n_860792.html
http://www.tmz.com/2011/05/09/water-for-elephants-reese-witherspoon-robert-pattinson-abused-shocked-animal-defenders-international/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/may/10/water-for-elephants-abuse-claims

Justice for puppy mills

I think it is awesome to know a woman is being charged for neglect & animal cruelty - 46 counts to be exact!

www.aspca.org/news/kentucky-woman-charged-in-puppy-mill-case-neglected-dogs-receiving-care