Just over a century ago, there were more than 200,000 wild lions living in Africa. Today, there are only about 20,000; lions are extinct in 26 African countries and have vanished from over 95 percent of their historic range. Join the Pride and Help Us Save Lions
Join Oliver’s Army at Animals Asia
Breaking news: Parent company of Giant Food, Food Lion and Stop & Shop to eliminate cruel cages for egg-laying hens, mother pigs
Ahold Delhaize, the company that owns some of the largest grocery chains in the United States, including Food Lion, Giant Food, the GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop, has announced it will only sell eggs from cage-free chickens across all its stores by 2025 or sooner. The company will also eliminate any pork produced through locking mother pigs in gestation crates from its supply chain.
This is incredible news, coming as it does from what is the nation’s fourth-largest grocery retailer, with more than 2,000 locations. The company’s new animal welfare policy, which comes after dialogue with the Humane Society of the United States, eliminates two of the most heinous forms of intensive animal confinement in cages and crates. Cages used to confine egg-laying chickens are so small that the animals cannot express natural behaviors like running, exploring or even extending their wings. Each chicken is given less space than a sheet of paper on which to live. Gestation crates, used to confine mother pigs, are about the same width and length of the animal’s body, leaving them with no room to even turn around.
The announcement from Ahold Delhaize is the latest in a series of similar pledges that the HSUS, Humane Society International, and other animal protection organizations have secured from hundreds of major food companies over the last decade, including Kroger, Nestle and Unilever. With our Food Industry Scorecard, we are keeping track of the progress these companies are making toward achieving their cage-free goals.
Read more…A Humane World Blog
Quote of the Day
Love this Apollinaire quote delivered to you by happy Moesha at Save the Chimps Sanctuary in Florida where 1,150 bananas are eaten every day.
Quote of the Day
Courtesy Vegan Green Planet (check it out – great vegan recipes, animal advocacy, vegan lifestyle, environmental issues, beauty, health and lots more)
Industry support for Humane Cosmetics Act grows, with 900 companies supporting an end to animal testingFrom a Humane World Blog
Image and article courtesy A Humane World
Momentum for passing a federal law against animal testing for cosmetics continues to
grow, with some of the strongest support coming from the industry that makes and markets these products. This week, we reached an important milestone with 300 independent companies now officially endorsing the Humane Cosmetics Act, in addition to nearly 600 member companies of the Personal Care Products Council, which also supports the bill. The measure would, with certain exceptions, end all animal testing for cosmetic products and ingredients in the United States and prohibit the import of cosmetics that have been tested on animals anywhere in the world.
Most of the endorsements come from small businesses that are already proving that high quality cosmetics can be formulated without testing on animals. But the list also includes industry heavyweights such as Unilever and P&G, and known brands such as H&M and LUSH.
This is just the latest achievement in our efforts to engage with industry leaders to make the United States the next cruelty-free marketplace. The Humane Society Legislative Fund and the Humane Society of the United States worked closely with the Personal Care Products Council, the leading national trade association representing hundreds of cosmetics and personal care products companies, to propose language for the Humane Cosmetics Act. The bill has already been introduced in the House and the Senate, with sponsors from both sides of the aisle.
Quote of the Day
Here’s Shellie from Save the Chimps Sanctuary with these fun facts about chimpanzees:
Fun Fact Friday!
Chimpanzees are our closest living relative sharing approximately 98.6% of our DNA. Perhaps that is one of the reasons learning about them is so fascinating. Did you know these fun chimp facts?
- Even though chimpanzees’ habitat is often near water, chimps cannot swim, due to the structure and density of their bodies.
- Chimpanzees spend a large part of their day looking for food and eating, but they do not wander aimlessly in search for food. They remember from year to year where food is located and when a particular fruit is ripe.
- In addition to their diet, chimpanzees eat certain plants for their medicinal value, such as to soothe an upset stomach or get rid of intestinal parasites.
- Grooming has a two-fold purpose: cleaning, and cementing the bonds of family and friendship.
Visit “Chimp Facts” to learn more and to download Save the Chimps free chimp facts booklet.
Rest in Peace, Sweet Samuel
Celebrating Jane Goodall and her Wonderful work with chimpanzees (our closest living relative) that began July 14, 1960 and is still going strong!
quote of the day
Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Sandwich
By now, if you follow this blog at all, you know I love to share plant-based recipes with fellow vegans and also aim to entice meat-lovers to try some awesome plant-based recipes. If you love cauliflower like I do, you will love this incredibly tasty cauliflower sandwich from Veg News that fits the bill for comfort food, at least for me:
What you need:
For the buffalo cauliflower:
2 heads cauliflower
1½ cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons garlic powder
4 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons paprika
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
¾ cup unsweetened vegan milk
¾ cup water
3 cups panko-style bread crumbs
¼ cup vegan butter
1½ cups buffalo-style hot sauce
For the sandwiches:
4 kaiser-style rolls
Vegan ranch
1 cup thinly sliced red onion
2 cups shredded leaf lettuce
2 tomatoes, thinly sliced
What you do:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- For the cauliflower, remove leafy parts, being careful not to cut off any florets. Slice each head in half from top. From inside of each half, cut a slice ¾-inch to 1-inch thick, resulting in 4 large cauliflower steaks.
- In a large bowl, mix flour, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, milk, and water until well combined. Transfer batter to a wide, shallow dish that will fit cauliflower steaks. Into a large bowl, add bread crumbs.
- Immerse each steak in batter, using one hand to coat all crevices and letting some excess drip back into dish. Coat all sides of steaks in bread crumbs. Place breaded cauliflower steaks on baking sheet.
- Bake for 25 minutes, until crispy, flipping halfway through bake time.
- Melt butter. Into a shallow dish, add melted butter and hot sauce, and whisk.
- Remove cauliflower from oven. Let cool for five minutes. Coat breaded cauliflower steaks evenly on all sides in buffalo sauce. Reserve excess sauce to baste cauliflower before serving. Bake again for 25 minutes, flipping steaks halfway through bake time.
- To assemble sandwiches, cut rolls in half and toast. Spread a generous amount of ranch dressing on cut sides of each roll. Place a buffalo cauliflower steak on bottom half of each roll. Add red onion slices, lettuce, tomato slices, and top half of roll.
TimTam’s Story from the Animal Rescue Site
From the Animal Rescue Site comes the sweetest story about the love between a cat and his human as told by the charming cat himself, TimTam (actually, the cat’s mom sent in her story that brings tears to this cat lover’s eyes):
Bangkok, Thailand Please consider putting the Animal Rescue Site on your to-do list where you can click to feed shelter animals and much more, and in the midst of the pandemic, you can click up to four times a day: The Animal Rescue Site committed to funding the equivalent value of almost 29 million bowls of food for shelter animals as a result of visitor’s clicks last year, and every purchase at The Animal Rescue Site store supports shelter pets in need.
Plant-Based BLT Sandwich (PBLT!)
One of my favorite bloggers reminded me how delicious a vegan BLT is so I’m reposting this beauty.
Happy Father’s Day Gentlemen from Garfield and his son Jude at Save the Chimps Sanctuary
Jude (born January 2003) and Garfield photographed in 2003 at Save the Chimps Sanctuary
Due to a failed vasectomy, Garfield fathered three sons.
The below two photos are of Jude who is now 17 years old!
And here’s Dad, Garfield who is now 29 years old:
Quote of the Day
Thank goodness Samuel’s sister is feeling OK! Here’s wonderful Sarah!
“Until one has loved an animal, a part one’s soul remains unawakened.” Anatole France
Pictured here is wonderful Sarah, her majesty with the gorgeous ice green eyes. She is a little brown tabby—one of my herd of cats—the ‘special one’ who sleeps beside me every night. She was born in my house in 2007, handraised and cuddled every day since birth, daughter of Buffy, since passed, who was a feral cat we took in from the cold. We didn’t know Buffy was pregnant with two wee ones, but I guess it wouldn’t have mattered if we did. Sarah is sister to Samuel who is equally as loving as she is. Sarah’s giving me that feline annoyed glance that says, “Did you ask my permission to take this photograph? I don’t think you did because I was having such a lovely snooze, so here’s the sneakiest, creepiest face I can come…
View original post 13 more words
Welcome to my new blog look and revisit a favorite quote post from 2018
My new blog theme photo header features Samuel, my gorgeous brown tabby cat, who has not been feeling up to par lately. He has liver disease and is on a supportive program that I hope keeps him thriving for as long as he can. At 13 years old, Samuel is only one of several same-age cats who arrived to our feral cat sanctuary as a kitten. Given oodles of love by me from birth, Samuel is totally bonded, and it breaks my heart to see him now fading day-by-day. As you can see by his confident gaze, Samuel is representative of the beauty and elegance that generally defines all felines.
“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn“. -John Muir
Light & Tasty Vegan Lemon Cookies
Recipes and Image:- 1 cup self raising flour
- 1/3 cup soy milk
- 3.5 tablespoons sunflower oil
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 small lemon, zested
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- In a bowl, mix the flour with the baking powder.
- In another bowl, beat the oil with the milk. Add sugar, juice and zest.
- Then, gradually add the flour and baking powder mix and stir.
- After ingredients are combined, take some dough, make it into a ball and use your palm to spread it into a round shape. Place it in a pan lined with oil and flatten with a fork.
- Optionally, sprinkle with poppy seeds.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for 17-20 minutes.
- Take them out of the oven and place them on a cooling rack.
Vegan Eggplant Hot Dogs
Vegan Mushroom Po Boy
Get recipe at https://vegnews.com/2020/4/vegan-oyster-mushroom-po-boy
Quote of the Day
Happy Friday from me, and Spencer and Bart who live at the Save the Chimps Sanctuary in Florida
Quote of the Day
As slaughterhouses continue to spread coronavirus, plant-based foods are a safe, humane alternative
Image and excerpt from a Humane World Blog:
This week, the Washington Post and New York Times reported rampant coronavirus spread at meatpacking plants, and efforts by large meat producers to obscure the transmission rates.
“As dozens of plants that closed because of outbreaks begin reopening, meat companies’ reluctance to disclose detailed case counts makes it difficult to tell whether the contagion is contained or new cases are emerging even with new safety measures in place,” according to the Times. The article added that while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported nearly 5,000 meatpacking workers were infected with the virus as of the end of last month, the nonprofit group Food & Environment Reporting Networkestimated last week that the number had climbed to more than 17,000. And the outbreaks may be even more extensive.
A Washington Post analysis found that the number of Tyson employees with the coronavirus exploded from less than 1,600 a month ago to more than 7,000 this week.
The problem is not limited to the United States. Slaughterhouses in Brazil, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom and France have reported the spread of the coronavirus among employees. At a single Cargill beef processing plant in the Canadian province of Alberta, 949 of about 2,000 employees were infected with the virus and two died. As in the United States, these facilities are staffed mostly by immigrants.
To those of us who watch Big Ag closely, the ongoing problems have a familiar ring. This is an industry that has always put increasing profits above the well-being of workers, animals, the environment and public health. That’s why we take on Big Ag and have never failed to point out the significant threat industrial animal agriculture operations, or factory farms, pose to humans and animals alike.A Humane World
Read more at A Humane World
Quote of the Day
We are like the little branch that quivers during a storm, doubting our strength and forgetting we are the tree – deeply rooted to withstand all of life’s upheavals. ~Dodinsky
Quote of the Day
“Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy, and serenity. We need only be awake, alive in the present moment.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Quote of the Day
Quote of the Day
“Aging is not ‘lost youth’ but a new stage of opportunity and strength. ” ~ Betty Friedan
Mink on fur farms test positive for coronavirus, increasing urgency to end this brutal trade
Mink on fur farms test positive for coronavirus, increasing urgency to end this brutal trade
via A Humane World
Vegan Sauerkraut Lasagna from One Green Planet
Cooking Time
45 min.
Sauerkraut:
- 1 cup of sauerkraut
- 2 onions
- 3 1/2 ounces smoked tofu
- 1 tablespoon of oil
- 2, 3 dashes of soy sauce
- Salt pepper
- (Gluten-free) lasagna sheets
Bechamel Sauce:
- 25 1/3 ounces soy or oat milk
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 ounces vegetable margarine or coconut oil
- 2 ounces gluten-free flour or normal wheat flour
- nutmeg
- salt and pepper
Yeast Melt:
- 4 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 3 teaspoons (gluten-free) flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- 6 ounces water
Preparation
For the Sauerkraut:
- The sauerkraut drain in a colander, the onion peel and coarsely chop. Cut the tofu into small cubes and fry in the heated oil and turning for 2, 3 minutes and drizzle with soy sauce . Now add the onions and sauerkraut to the pan and simmer for about 10 minutes. Season with salt & pepper .
For the Bechamel Sauce:
- Melt the oil / margarine in a small saucepan, sprinkle in the flour while stirring and then pour in the milk. Now add the bay leaves to the saucepan and bring the sauce to a boil. Approx. Simmer for 10 minutes until the sauce is nice and creamy. Finally, season with salt, pepper and nutmeg and remove the bay leaves.
For the Yeast Melt:
- The coconut oil or margarine in a small pot melts and then with a whisk the flour into the mixture. Now add water, stir in the other ingredients and bring to the boil briefly. If the yeast melt is too thick, just add a little water.
- Now take a high casserole dish and cover the bottom with sauce, then a layer of lasagna, then a layer of sauerkraut and layer in the order until the ingredients are used up. Finally the yeast melt on top and everything in the oven at 400°F for approx. 45 min.
About The Author
Peffe Stahl Website: https://der-veganizer.de/
European favorites made vegan. Vegan since 2013. Popular speaker and aesthetic, upholder of moral standards, welcome guest, danger seeker, and witness.
Bad News for Dogs ~ from A Humane World
From Kitty Block blog, A Humane Nation:
The AKC list, released this week, has become a matter of concern for animal protection organizations because it serves as a reference point and incentive for puppy mills to churn out countless numbers of the top-ranking dogs each year for sale. Photo by Somerset County Animal Control
This year, once again, German Shepherds, like Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, English and French bulldogs and poodles, rank high on the AKC’s list of top 10 most popular breeds. The list, released this week, has become a matter of concern for animal protection organizations because it serves as a reference point and incentive for puppy mills to churn out countless numbers of the top-ranking dogs each year for sale.
To add insult to injury, AKC lends misleading credentials to many indiscriminate breeders who produce these purebred dogs, without regard for the problems caused by indiscriminate breeding, inbreeding and the lack of socialization for the animals. On top of that, the AKC vigorously opposes any attempts made by lawmakers and organizations like ours to improve the treatment of animals in puppy mills.
AKC dog breeders have often appeared in our annual Horrible Hundred reports; some have been charged with animal cruelty for keeping their dogs in dreadful conditions. In March, I told you about a dog rescued from an AKC breeder in Caldwell County, North Carolina, who was all skin and bones, riddled with parasites and lethargic. She was also pregnant with seven puppies, four of whom died at birth; the remaining three required hospitalization and round-the-clock care to survive.
One of the most heartbreaking stories is that of Wild Bill. Once an AKC champion dog, this Australian Cattle Dog competed in AKC events, winning ribbons for his good looks. Tragically, after his glory days in the show ring were over, Wild Bill was discovered by local law enforcement officials at a Mississippi puppy mill, where he was starving in a filthy, rusted crate with inches of feces-infested water around him. But if that wasn’t bad enough, an AKC inspector who saw it all gave the kennel a clean inspection report.
Although it registers only pure breeds, the AKC doesn’t hesitate to profit from “designer” mixed breeds like “labradoodles” and “goldendoodles” either. These dogs are in demand because of beliefs that every lab or golden retriever is friendly with children and that poodles are hypoallergenic. The hype is misleading, because mixing any breed with a poodle does not automatically make the offspring non-shedding or allergen-free, yet pet stores don’t hesitate to cash in on the misconception. These dogs also frequently suffer from genetic problems, as do other popular AKC breeds like bulldogs, which can lead to big medical bills and heartbreak for those who buy them.
AKC partners with Petland, the nation’s largest chain of puppy-selling pet stores, offering to enroll mixed breed dogs the store sells in its “Canine Partners program.” The program includes an “official certificate from the American Kennel Club honoring your dog,” and the eligibility to participate in agility and other performance events, all for a fee. Petland, which notoriously sources puppy mill dogs, has been a subject of eight HSUS investigations for its terrible mistreatment of the animals in its care. Many Petland stores boast “AKC Inspected” signs.
The AKC also regularly uses its platform to bash animal rescues – the same groups that help mixed breed dogs who are homeless and in need. Right now, it is also opposing a common-sense law in Massachusetts that would protect dogs from being left outside in harsh weather. And it regularly fights local and state laws that protect dogs in puppy mills, including laws that prohibit the sale of puppy mill puppies in pet stores.
One of the things we have learned during this crisis is just how many Americans are eager to adopt and foster dogs from animal shelters. Shelters do amazing work, and they should always be the first stop for anyone looking to bring a pet home but if families are unable to find a rescue dog, seeking out a responsible dog breeder is key to ending the puppy mill trade. Dogs are truly our best friends, and their companionship–especially in these stressful times–is invaluable. They deserve to be celebrated, and as long as the AKC contributes to their suffering, we will continue to fight the group with all of our might.
Kitty Block is President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States and CEO of Humane Society International, the international affiliate of the HSUS.Read MoreQuote of the Day
“What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness? ”
~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Come into the peace of wild things…
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
Waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
by Wendell Berry — American novelist, poet, essayist, environmental activist, cultural critic, and farmer.
Deep Dish Vegan Baby Spinach Phyllo Pie
Image and recipe from One Green Planet
Ingredients
- 2 pounds fresh baby spinach
- 2 tablespoons good olive oil, plus more for the phyllo
- 1 onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, pressed
- 1 leek, cleaned and sliced into half-moons
- 6 scallions, thinly sliced
- 3 shallots, thinly sliced
- 1 ounce chives, thinly sliced
- A few big pinches of salt
- 1/2 cup fresh chopped dill
- 3 tablespoons fresh chopped mint
- 3 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
- 1 (14-oz [397-g]) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 recipe almond feta
- 1 (16-oz [454-g]) box vegan phyllo, thawed
- To prepare the spinach, heat a big pot over medium-low heat. Add the spinach, as big a bunch as you can at one time. Cover it and let it steam down for a minute or so. Then, go in with tongs and toss it around to help it wilt. Add the rest of the spinach and toss until it is completely wilted. Turn the heat off.
- Set a strainer over a big bowl. Use tongs to lift the spinach out of the pot, squeezing as you go, leaving any excess water in the pot. Add the spinach to the strainer, pressing it against the sides to release the spinach liquid. Leave the spinach in the strainer and let any excess water drain out while you prepare the rest of the filling.
- Clean out the pot and put it back on the stove over medium-low heat. Add the oil and when it is shimmering, add the onion, garlic, leek, scallions, shallots and chives. Season with salt and cook slowly, over medium-low heat, until they are fragrant and translucent, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the dill, mint, parsley, artichoke hearts and lemon juice. Mix together very well.
- Drop the spinach onto a cutting board, and run your knife through for a rough chop. Add the spinach a little at a time, and mix it into the alliums and herbs, until everything is completely combined. Crumble the feta over the mixture, and mix gently to incorporate it into the spinach mixture.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Brush the bottom and sides of your pie dish with oil. Pour more oil in a little bowl. Roll out the phyllo dough. Use a pizza cutter to cut it in half, to approximate the size of the pie dish. Cover it with a kitchen towel to prevent it from drying out as you work.
- Lay a piece of phyllo over the pie dish. Press it down into the bottom of the pie dish and let the ends hang over the sides. Brush with oil. Lay another sheet into the pie dish in the other direction so now the phyllo covers the entire dish. Brush again with oil. Repeat 7 more times, for a total of 9 layers, pressing the phyllo down and to the sides as you brush with oil. Whatever phyllo is sticking out will end up as part of the top layer of the crust.
- Transfer the spinach mixture into the phyllo, spread it out and press it down. Take a piece of phyllo and lay it on top of the spinach mixture. Gently press it down and brush with oil. Take another piece and layer it across the spinach, in the other direction, so the spinach is covered. Brush again with oil. Repeat 7 more times, for a total of 9 layers. Fold the excess phyllo down over the center and brush with oil, to seal the deal. The phyllo on the edges may be a little dry but that’s okay, it will still look pretty and taste great.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is brown and crispy. Transfer the pie dish to a cooling rack and let stand for at least 20 minutes. Use a serrated knife to cut into the pie, being sure to go all the way through the bottom crust and cut 8 big slices. Use a small spatula to help you lift the pie slices out of the pie dish.
- This pie is even better the next day because the spinach has time to settle. Make it, cover it in foil, store it in the refrigerator and then reheat it in a 350°F oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until heated through.
An Important Message From Ed Stewart of PAWS About Tigers and Big Cats
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HSUS sues USDA over policies that risk future pandemics ~ Source ~ A Humane World Blog
Influenza spreads within factory farms directly from animal to animal or by way of workers, flies, manure, and rodents. When thousands of animals are tightly confined it creates a recipe for disaster, in which potential pathogens can recombine and generate viral forms with the ability to infect people.
Image and story excerpted from Kitty Block’s (President of the Humane Society of the United States) Blog:
Today the Humane Society of the United States filed a federal lawsuit challenging the response plan for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (or “bird flu”) of the United States Department of Agriculture. The response plan, produced by the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, is shortsighted and dangerous.
For years, the HSUS has been warning USDA and the factory farm industry of the imminent threat of a pandemic resulting from zoonotic pathogens — diseases transmitted from animals to humans—that are closely associated with the intensive confinement of animals.
Influenza spreads within factory farms directly from animal to animal or by way of workers, flies, manure, and rodents. When thousands of animals are tightly confined it creates a recipe for disaster, in which potential pathogens can recombine and generate viral forms with the ability to infect people.
While the COVID-19 pandemic likely resulted from a wildlife market and the wildlife trade,prior deadly and costly outbreaks of pathogenic illness in the global food chain have been linked to farm animals. For instance, a 2003 bird flu outbreak came from infected chickens and the 2009 H1N1 swine flu outbreak that sickened nearly 60 million people was linked to U.S. pig farms.
Read more…A Humane World
Zoo shares adorable pictures of orangutans playing with their otter friends
Image and story excerpted from CNN Travel:
A zoo in Belgium has shared some amazing photos of a blossoming friendship between a family of orangutans and their otter neighbors.
The animals live together at Pairi Daiza zoo in Domaine du Cambron, as part of a program designed to maintain the primates’ wellbeing in captivity.
Read more and see more images… here
Fauci calls for closing down wildlife markets around the globe
The nation’s most authoritative voice on infectious diseases today sounded a stern warning about the dangers of the wildlife trade and its relationship to pandemic diseases like COVID-19.
In an interview with Fox News, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci called for the global community to pressure China and other nations to close down their wildlife markets, where live animals are sold and slaughtered for food.
Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, said: “It just boggles my mind that how when we have so many diseases that emanate out of that unusual human-animal interface that we don’t just shut [wildlife markets] down.”
“I don’t know what else has to happen to get us to appreciate that,” Dr. Fauci said. “I think there are certain countries in which this is very commonplace. I would like to see the rest of the world really lean with a lot of pressure on those countries that have that, because what we’re going through right now is a direct result of that.”
Read more at A Humane World
Quote of the Day and Meet Normand!
Happy Friday from Normand of the Save the Chimps in Florida, the world’s largest privately-funded chimpanzee sanctuary.
Excerpt from Save the ChimpsHappy Friday newsletter:
Hop onto Facebook for live videos from the sanctuary each weekday at 8:30 am and virtual field trips with Dr. Andrew Halloran each Wednesday at 9:30 am. The chimps have taken over Twitter so be sure to follow us there! And on Instagram you’ll find lots of happy and inspirational posts. Together, we will get through this and we are happy that our residents can brighten your days!
Now, About Handsome Normand!
Age20
Birthday1/6/2000
Rescued From RESEARCH
Alpha of
Bobby’s Family
I am a Virgo.
My Personality
- Strong-willed
- Dignified
- Respected
My Favorite Things
- Roaming my island
- Dried Fruit
- Nuts
My History
I was born on January 6, 2000 at the Coulston Foundation laboratory, a now-defunct laboratory in Alamogordo, NM, to mother Ethyl and father Doug.
Although most chimpanzees born at the lab are taken from their mothers and raised by humans in the nursery, I was raised by my mom. Save the Chimps took over the Coulston Foundation in 2002, and rescued the 266 chimpanzees residing there. At that time, I was still riding my mother’s back as all infants do.
My mom was a beautiful and high-ranking female, and an excellent mother. She protected me, doted on me and loved me unconditionally. We made a nest together every night until the day she passed away from old age in 2009. Luckily, we were integral members of Bobby’s family by then and the group’s support lessened the loss for me.
I inherited my mom’s good looks and high rank. Over time I became the alpha male of Bobby’s family as Bobby stepped into the second-highest ranking position without argument. I am a typical teenager with a lot of bravado. I love to announce my presence with energetic displays and lots of noise. I am very smart and often discover new and inventive ways to use enrichment devices.
Shenzhen bans dog and cat meat trade; first city in mainland China to do so ~ from A Humane World, HSUS President’s Blog
Image and excerpt from A Humane World, Kitty Block, President of the HSUS blog:
Shenzhen has become the first city in mainland China to ban the consumption of dog and cat meat, marking one of the biggest wins yet in the global battle to end the dog meat trade.
This is China’s fifth-largest city. Although not itself a major center for dog and cat meat consumption, Shenzhen is located in the Guangdong province where the dog and cat meat trade is widespread. A ban here is a powerful affirmation of changing Chinese attitudes toward eating companion animals.
Dogs and cats are not in any way associated with the coronavirus pandemic. But officials in Shenzhen say they decided to include them in a proposed law banning the wildlife trade introduced in February in the wake of the pandemic because of the special status companion animals have in Chinese hearts and homes.
Read more atA Humane World
Visit PAWS (Performing Animal Welfare Society) Sanctuary with Kevin Nealon and Animal Advocate Kim Basinger
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Takaya Lone Wolf ~ From HSUS Blog
Excerpted from HSUS blog:
Further to my earlier post about Takaya, the following is from the President of the Humane Society of the United States:
The killing last week of Takaya, the lone wolf of Canada’s Discovery Island whose story of survival and resilience captivated people around the globe, is a grim reminder of the uphill battle wolves face in the modern world.
This was a legendary young wolf, with a grit and instinct for survival that riveted conservationists. The unique life he carved for himself made him the subject of numerous documentaries and television shows, winning him fans the world over. He certainly did not deserve to die for the sake of some trophy hunter’s cheap thrill.
It is believed that Takaya ventured off on his own and away from his pack more than six years ago. While wolves rarely move out of their packs, we can only assume that the wolf–beset by the pressures that so many of his kind face today, including trophy hunting, government culls and habitat destruction—left to start a family of his own.
Takaya was first spotted travelling alone by members of the Songhees First Nation whose territory includes Discovery Island in British Columbia. He lived solo for many years, earning the sobriquet of the “lone wolf.” Earlier this year he ventured out once again, possibly on a search for food or a mate. He completed a dangerous swim across coastal waters to Victoria where he was eventually tranquilized by conservation officers, tagged and relocated to a remote area near Port Renfrew. It is there that the trophy hunter shot him.
Read more: https://blog.humanesociety.org/?credit=blog_em_header
Vegan Black Bean Burger From Vegan Richa
Grillable Veggie Burger ~ Black Bean Sunflower Seed or Walnuts Burger
This grillable veggie burger can be made nut-free using sunflower seeds. I am making this recipe tonight with walnuts instead, adding wheat germ, nutritional yeast and liquid smoke, and omitting coriander and fennel seeds and green chile cause I have none on hand.
Pan fry, bake or grill and serve with BBQ Sauce and other fix-ins. Makes 6 to 7 patties.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time35 mins
Total Time45 mins
Calories: 269kcal
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds or pepitas or heaping 1/2 cup nuts such as walnuts or pecans if you are ok with nuts.
- 1 tsp coriander seeds
- 1/4 tsp fennel seeds optional
- 1 tsp oil
- 1 large onion
- 1 hot green chile finely chopped or 2 tbsp green bell pepper
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1.5 tsp old bay seasoning + 1/2 tsp garlic powder + 1/2 tsp oregano Or 2 tsp cajun/taco/chili powder blend of choice + 1/2/ tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup cooked brown or white rice I prefer white in these patties
- 15 oz can black beans drained well or 1.5 cups cooked
- 3/4 tsp salt more or less depending on if the beans and rice are salted
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 to 3 tbsp bbq sauce
- 1.5 tbsp flax seed meal
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs use gluten-free if needed
- 2 tbsp or more flour use rice flour or chickpea flour for gluten-free
Toppings:
- tomato slices onion slices
- sprouts or baby greens
- bbq sauce mustard, ketchup, etc.
Instructions
-
Toast the seeds on a skillet over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir occasionally to avoid burning. Add the coriander seeds and fennel seeds after 2 mins of toasting and mix in. Take off heat and set aside to cool.
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Make the smoky caramelized onions: Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion , green chile, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp sugar. Cook for 5 minutes. Stirring occasionally. Add 1/2 tsp smoked paprika and mix. cook for a minute. Add a good splash of water and continue to cook for another 3 to 4 mins. then use.
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In a food processor, add the seeds and spices. Add the seasoning, garlic and cayenne if using for additional heat and process until coarse meal.
-
Add the rice and 1 cup of black beans, salt, 3 – 4 tbsp of the smoky caramelized onions, lemon juice, flaxmeal, bbq sauce. Process until most of the beans have broke down.
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Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Mix in the breadrumbs, flour, remaining black beans. Taste and adjust salt, heat and seasoning. Add more is needed and mix in. Add more flour if needed. I usually add some cayenne if using old bay seasoning. Chill for 10 minutes in the fridge.
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Shape into patties using a cookie cutter (press mixture into a cookie cutter until packed. Tap to release. Even out the top). Heat up the grill over medium heat. When hot, grill for 3 to 5 mins per side. Or pan fry in a skillet over medium heat with a little oil.
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Dress with the smoky caramelized onion, tomato slices, bbq sauce or ketchup and mustard, or vegan ranch.
Notes
To make the patties gluten-free use gluten-free breadcrumbs and rice flour or chickpea flour.
To make the patties soy-free, use soy-free bbq sauce
For variation: Add zest of half a lemon with the lemon juice. Use ketchup + sriracha instead of bbq sauce.Add more smoked paprika for smokier onions.
Nutrition
Calories: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 486mg | Potassium: 447mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 110IU | Vitamin C: 5.3mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 3.4mg
A Song to Cheer Us Up ~ All God’s Creatures
Netflix’s ‘Tiger King’ is a wake-up call for ending private possession of big cats ~ An Important Post from the President of USUS for Animal Advocates
A decade ago, our undercover investigation delved into the bizarre world of Joseph Maldonado-Passage (aka Joe Exotic) and his roadside zoo, GW Exotics. For years, Joe and his band of untrained workers kept hundreds of big cats and other wild animals in captivity in barren conditions, bred them to provide infant animals for public photo shoots and “play time” sessions, and even shot animals dead when they were of no use to him anymore.
Now, weeks after he was sentenced to 22 years in prison for killing five tigers and hiring a hit man to kill the operator of a Florida big cat sanctuary, the nation is riveted by a new Netflix docuseries, “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness,” that takes a look up-close at the terror unleashed on animals by Joe Exotic and a notorious cast of characters, including roadside zoo owners Jeff Lowe, Kevin Antle and Tim Stark.
Joe Exotic had a long history of breeding and dumping large numbers of big cats and bears. At his facility, as our undercover investigator discovered, it was routine to pull newborn cubs, some just hours old, from their mothers to be hand-raised for handling by the public. Customers were allowed to keep handling tiger cubs, even when the infants cried uncontrollably. And as you can see in our undercover video, tiger cubs were “trained” by being punched in the face, dragged by leashes and hit with sticks. Sick and injured animals were routinely denied veterinary care.
Read more…here
Take a Moment for Peace and Tranquility With Gorillas 98.6 Percent Human Documentary
Takaya, Lone Wolf, Shot
I’d like to share my latest Newsletter from Living With Wolves,
Living with Wolves is a non-profit organization dedicated to engaging the public worldwide in education, outreach and research to promote truth and understanding about wolves while encouraging coexistence and inspiring people to take action to protect them.
Dear Susan,
They are calling him “the People’s Wolf.”
We, all of us, are on a path, but in which direction? Each of you will help determine where we are headed. What value do you see in wild animals?
A hunter happened to spot Takaya. That was his final moment.
Takaya, the island wolf had spent nearly his entire life living peacefully, hunting seals on a small group of pristine islands, just a few miles off the shore of downtown Victoria, British Colombia. For most of a decade, he 
went about his life, being a wolf with the constant humming and bustling of humanity just across the water.
went about his life, being a wolf with the constant humming and bustling of humanity just across the water.For reasons known only to him, perhaps in search of love, food or for some other reason, in January he left the island after making it his home for so long. He swam to the nearest land, a peninsula at the southern tip of Vancouver Island. But the city of Victoria covers the peninsula. For a few days residents reported the wolf moving briskly, with apparent determination through the city, probably in search of something safer, more familiar, more natural. He was probably frightened, but he caused no harm.
Eventually, conservation officers darted him, immobilizing him for relocation 100 km to the west in a wild place better suited for a wolf. Landing in an unfamiliar place after the trauma of being drugged, captured and relocated, he went on the move, perhaps still in search of something and likely feeling the effects of the drugs for weeks. Still, he caused no harm. Yet it appears he was killed for no other reason than being a wolf. Is this the value we place on wild animals?
Takaya’s life was shared with the world thanks to the passion and dedication of conservationist and photographer Cheryl Alexander. She spent countless hours over seven years observing and documenting Takaya, sharing time, and appreciating his remarkable island life. Cheryl worked with a documentary team from the BBC to bring his extraordinary story to world. Takaya: Lone Wolf was extremely well-received, viewed by adoring audiences everywhere, and it created tremendous interest in the life of this wolf and wolves everywhere.
Jamie Dutcher, Living with Wolves co-founder, is honored to have had the opportunity to visit Takaya and participate in telling his story. Thank you, Cheryl and thank you, Takaya.
For Takaya, life has been taken. For many of us, his life now has even greater meaning. Something ancient, something that has endured time, something that reminds us of what it means to live, to be here, to be an animal, still lives around us and in each of us.
If we have no functional need or reason to end the life of an animal, should it be our choice to do so? Or do we hold within us an appreciation for the natural world? Do we revere and have compassion for all the animals with whom we share this planet – our planet, their planet?
Your awareness, your words, your voice will help determine the direction in which we are headed.
Founders, Living with Wolves
To Prevent Another Pandemic, Global Leaders Should Crack Down on Wildlife Trade ~ From A Humane World
Image and excerpt from A Humane World
At the G20 coronavirus meeting today, global leaders, including President Trump, brainstormed on ways to control the coronavirus pandemic that is now ravaging dozens of nations, leaving a vast trail of human casualties in its wake. But one thing that didn’t come up was the reason why we are in this predicament in the first place: the unchecked trade, transport and consumption of wildlife.
Scientists believe that the novel coronavirus originated in bats, who are natural hosts to coronaviruses and were also linked to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2002. In that case the coronavirus was transmitted to palm civets—small, slender mammals with ferretlike faces—who were then sold at a wildlife market in Shenzhen, China. It is suspected that the current pandemic, traced to a wildlife market in Wuhan, China, may have originated in a similar way.
Read more…A Humane World
Quote of the Day
“Hard times don’t create heroes. It is during the hard times when the hero within us is revealed.” ~ Bob Riley
Top Eight Vegan Recipes of the Day ~ From One Green Planet
Image: One Green Planet — Hearty Buckwheat Waffles With StrawberriesPlanet
From Turkish Rice Pilaf Hand Pies to Bulgar With Chickpeas to Hearty Buckwheat Waffles With Strawberries and Chocolate Brownie Waffles, One Green Planet serves up their top eight recipes of the day at One Green Planet
Quote of the Day
“Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don’t.” – Steve Maraboli
Quote of the Day
“I see optimism as a way of coping with life. Optimism leads us to look for solutions and silver linings when hardship strikes. ” ~ Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Sourced from Martha McKinnon’s blog Simple Nourished Living, which is not exclusively vegan or vegetarian like most of my favorite food blogs. It’s primarily weight control and Weight Watcher-friendly (I’m a member) recipes, but it does offer up some tasty veg recipes, And most importantly for me, Martha shares thoughtful quotes like this one every day.
