And I Thought I Had a Lot of Cats! Sharing My Lanai Cat Sanctuary Newsletter to Celebrate International Cat Day

Aloha,

Today is International Cat Day and we’re celebrating cats and all of the people who make the world a better place for them. We are only as strong as our network of helpful folks who understand that each has a role and we can all play to our strengths.

Conservation Partners: Rather than conservationists euthanizing cats caught in traps, we partner with them to help save feline lives. They bring us cats that are out in the wild, searching for food and water, and also jeopardizing native and endangered ground-nesting bird populations. We welcome these cats for the rest of their lives or until they find a furr-ever home. 

Veterinarian Partners: Currently no veterinarians live on Lanai. We partner with two of Hawaii’s leading veterinarians to fly their teams from Oahu nearly every week to provide high-quality care for our 665 Lanai Lions. The ability to provide this care is critical to a successful sanctuary. 

Volunteer Partners: Our volunteer partners visit from nearby islands and from around the world. We’re also thankful for foster families who provide temporary homes while sick or injured Lanai Lions are being rehabilitated.

Adoption Partners: Last year more than 100 cats found their furr-ever homes through adoption. Our Sanctuary continues to search for shelter partners throughout the U.S. so that cats who would be great pets can live with families of their own. 

Donors: Without our donors, we wouldn’t be able to continue our life-saving work. Friends like you are the heart of our nonprofit organization.

We live on an island with about 3,000 people, no traffic lights, and one gas station. It’s always an uphill battle to do what we do so we rely on partnerships to empower us to make a difference in the lives of animals. On this International Cat Day, let’s celebrate all the hundreds of feline lives we’ve saved on our tiny island as well as celebrate all the relationships we have made throughout the years.

About Lanai Cat Sanctuary

With 25 cats, a horse corral and a dream, Lanai Cat Sanctuary was born. When founder Kathy Carroll moved to the island of Lanai from Illinois, she was shocked to see the large homeless cat population. She vowed to stop the suffering of cats struggling to survive and rallied volunteers to help. Today on 3.5 acres, Lanai Cat Sanctuary is home to more than 600 rescue cats who now have food, medical care and love, for life.

Read more…

Quote of the Day

“Never stop dreaming,
never stop believing,
never give up,
never stop trying, and
never stop learning.”

― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

Anyone Up For An Ice Cream Sundae?

I love indulging in a creamy ice cream sundae occasionally, and I love putting the whole thing together. So many creative options, and this vegan ice cream sundae guide from PETA is full of great tips for the perfect sundae.

Another diet-friendly option for lovers of frozen deserts is making vegan ice cream and sorbets with the Yonanas machine. This nifty appliance turns frozen bananas and other frozen fruit into dreamy concoctions that you can get really creative with, such as adding cocoa powder, chocolate chips, cookies, muffins, additional fresh fruit, make frozen pies, and so much more. Ice cream is a rare treat for us but with this machine, we have a delicious frozen desert, either in a bowl or in a cone, every week or so. I bought my Yonanas on Amazon.

PETA’s Guide to Making an Epic Vegan Ice Cream Sundae

Quote of the Day

“The more sand that has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.” Jean Paul

Quote of the Day

“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.” ~ Albert Camus

Quote of the Day

“Classical Horse” by Marilyn Hageman ~ Today’s Thoreau quote is certainly a poignant one, and not to trivialize its meaning, but the above canvas hangs in my studio sitting room and I love it, but no matter how many times I look at it, I see a black horn sticking out from the side of this horse’s head when clearly it is an ear.

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

Animals feel pain, pleasure, fear, frustration, loneliness, and motherly love. Whenever we consider doing something that would interfere with their needs, we are morally obligated to take them into account.

As a long-time member of PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, I believe the following excerpt from PETA’s website eloquently sums up the belief that “equal consideration” of animals is an integral animal right.

“Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. Many of us bought our beloved “pets” at pet shops and kept beautiful birds in cages. We wore wool and silk, ate McDonald’s burgers, and fished. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you may be asking the question: Why should animals have rights?

In his book Animal Liberation, Peter Singer states that the basic principle of equality does not require equal or identical treatment; it requires equal consideration. This is an important distinction when talking about animal rights. People often ask if animals should have rights, and quite simply, the answer is “Yes!” Animals surely deserve to live their lives free from suffering and exploitation. Jeremy Bentham, the founder of the reforming utilitarian school of moral philosophy, stated that when deciding on a being’s rights, “The question is not ‘Can they reason?’ nor ‘Can they talk?’ but ‘Can they suffer?’” In that passage, Bentham points to the capacity for suffering as the vital characteristic that gives a being the right to equal consideration. The capacity for suffering is not just another characteristic like the capacity for language or higher mathematics. All animals have the ability to suffer in the same way and to the same degree that humans do. They feel pain, pleasure, fear, frustration, loneliness, and motherly love. Whenever we consider doing something that would interfere with their needs, we are morally obligated to take them into account.

Supporters of animal rights believe that animals have an inherent worth—a value completely separate from their usefulness to humans. We believe that every creature with a will to live has a right to live free from pain and suffering. Animal rights is not just a philosophy—it is a social movement that challenges society’s traditional view that all nonhuman animals exist solely for human use. As PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk has said, “When it comes to pain, love, joy, loneliness, and fear, a rat is a pig is a dog is a boy. Each one values his or her life and fights the knife.” 

Ways You Can Help Wildlife

Helping Wildlife Tips by PETA

Handsome Basil, raised from a wee babe and successfully rehabilitated into the wild in 2013.

• Rinse out recyclable jars and bottles and put the lids back on them so that the containers can’t become lodged on an animal’s head. Cut apart plastic six-pack rings, including the inner diamonds.
• Keep your trash inside tightly sealed containers.
• Putting an inexpensive cap on your chimney will keep birds, squirrels, and others from making their nests inside, preventing horrific deaths and saving you from spending time and money having them removed.
• Escort bugs outdoors with PETA’s Humane Bug Catcher. You can also use our Humane Smart Mousetrap to catch and relocate small animals and our Frogsaver Lily Pad to help them escape from your pool.
• Replace some hard-to-maintain grass areas in your yard with native plants and trees to provide wild animals with food sources and habitats.
• Keep cats indoors or on a screened porch to prevent them from killing wildlife (and to keep them safe, too).
• Choose Earth-friendly lawn-care methods. Pesticides and herbicides made of dangerous chemicals pollute the environment and poison animals’ food sources.

Linda McCartney’s Deep Dish Pie

Linda McCartney’s Deep-Dish Pie

Quote of the Day

“Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.” ~ Mother Teresa

Quote of the Day

Sara ~ 2007 to 2021

“Love of animals is a universal impulse, a common ground on which all of us may meet. By loving and understanding animals, perhaps we humans shall come to understand each other.” ~ Louis J. Camuti

Quote of the Day

“Everything can be taken from a [person] but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.” — Dr. Viktor Frankl, (Psychiatrist and concentration camp survivor)

Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

My Boy Tommy

“Kind old ladies assure us that cats are often the best judges of character. A cat will always go to a good man, they say[.]” ― Virginia Woolf, Jacob’s Room

Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

“We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes—understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.” ~ Arianna Huffington ~ Greek-American author, syndicated columnist and businesswoman. She is a co-founder of The Huffington Post, the founder and CEO of Thrive Global, and the author of fifteen books.

Elephants and Their Magnificent Trunks ~ A Message from PAWS, Performing Animal Welfare Society

PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETYRescue. Advocacy. Sanctuary. For Life.Since 1984July 2022 | Newsletter African elephants Mara and ThikaSecrets of the Elephant Trunk by Catherine Doyle, M.S. As Director of Science, Research and Advocacy for PAWS, I have been conducting ongoing behavioral observations of the African elephants at our ARK 2000 sanctuary. During a recent round of observations, I took extra notice of the ways the elephants use their trunks, those amazing appendages that serve a multitude of functions.The elephant’s trunk is used to breathe, suck up water and transfer it to the mouth to drink, bathe, smell, toss dust or mud onto themselves, socialize, call, explore, and rub their eyes and scratch their heads. Just like people are left or right handed, elephants may have a preference for the way they rotate the trunk to gather or grab vegetation and the side of the mouth where they place their food. The Elephant Ethogram, a library of the behavior and communication of African elephants created by our friends at ElephantVoices, documents at least 250 separate trunk-related actions. . An elephant’s trunk is boneless, with an array of 40,000 muscles (humans have about 650 muscles in their entire body). It weighs about 200 pounds and is capable of lifting more than 700 pounds. African elephants have two opposable “fingers” at the end of the trunk that are so dextrous they can pick a single blade of grass (Asian elephants have one “finger”). At the same time, the trunk is so powerful it can tear down a huge tree limb (as I once watched our elephant Mara do). Scientists have found that the trunk can suck up three liters (0.8 gallons) of water in a second. To move water this quickly requires inhaling at 330 miles per hour! According to a new study from the Georgia Institute of Technology, muscles are not the only factor in how an elephant stretches the trunk – its folded skin plays an important role. When reaching out, an elephant telescopically stretches the trunk, first extending the section that includes the tip, then moving up to the next section as stretching increases, gradually working back toward the mouth. Researchers found that the elephant’s skin does not stretch uniformly; the top side of the trunk, which has skin folds, is more flexible than the bottom side that has wrinkles. This makes it easier to reach downward – which elephants do when foraging for food and picking up items. This combination of muscle and skin provides the trunk’s strength and versatility.It’s always fascinating to watch the elephants at PAWS and the incredible ways they use their trunks, whether it’s picking up a single acorn, breaking apart tree limbs, or enjoying a good mud bath. The spacious, natural habitats at the ARK 2000 sanctuary offer the opportunity for elephants to engage in these natural behaviors and many more.Click on the arrow ave to watch a super close-up video of African elephant Toka using her trunk to forage for fresh vegetation in her habitat at PAWS’ ARK 2000 sanctuary. Do you think she’s left or right “trunk-handed”?Register Now!PAWS 2022 InternationalCaptive Wildlife onference The PAWS International Captive Wildlife Conference is back! It’s been four years since our last conference and a lot has happened during that time on important animal issues. In keeping with our theme of “Back Together in the Fight for Captive Wildlife”, this will be an in-person conference. The conference will take place November 11-12 in Sacramento, Calif. There is an optional visit to PAWS’ 2,300-acre ARK 2000 sanctuary – home to elephants, tigers and bears – on November 13. More than 30 speakers from around the world will bring you up to speed on issues and actions concerning captive wild animals, including elephants, big cats, cetaceans, and nonhuman primates. Topics include animals in entertainment, zoos and tourism, and updates on the latest in legislation, law and science. Conference space is very limited, so be sure to register today! Here are just a few of our conference speakers:Scott Blais, Co-founder and CEO, Global Sanctuary for Elephants (Brazil)Nikita Dhawan, Founder, Youth for Animals (India)Erika Fleury, Program Director, North American Primate Sanctuary AllianceLori Marino, President and Founder, Whale Sanctuary ProjectAllison Skidmore, Wildlife criminologist and National Geographic ExplorerMichael Webber, Director of “The Conservation Game” (watch the official movie trailer here)Steven M. Wise, Founder and President, Nonhuman Rights ProjectView more conference speakers here. New to the conference: The “super panel” where experts tackle tough questions involving captive wild animals and how to bring about change.Special event: Photographer Colleen Plumb book signing, “Thirty Times a Minute.” (Available for purchase at conference.) Registration is open now. Click on the “Register Now” button for more information and to register. The health and safety of conference participants is a top priority. Please read PAWS’ COVID Health and Safety Protocols before you register. Link available on registration page. See you in November!Register Now!Thank you to our Main Conference Sponsor David Reuben and his steadfast support for all animals!International Tiger Day is July 29Friday, July 29, is International Tiger Day – a time to honor and take action to support these highly endangered animals who are so very close to our hearts, especially here at PAWS. We are privileged to care for nine rescued tigers at the ARK 2000 sanctuary, and thanks to people like you they roam spacious natural habitats, stretch and scratch on sturdy oak trees, and play in their own pools.Rosemary and Morris (above) are among eight tigers PAWS rescued from a defunct roadside zoo that sold photo opportunities with helpless cubs to the public. These places constantly breed tigers, rip the cubs from their mothers shortly after birth, and exploit them for as long as they can. Once the cubs get too big, they are sold off, kept for breeding, or simply “disappear.”Claire (pictured) was bred to be sold like unfeeling merchandise. She was fated to become someone’s exotic “pet” or displayed in a dismal roadside zoo. It would have meant a lifetime of depressing confinement in a small space, with poor nutrition and lack of proper veterinary care. Our tigers are a daily reminder that big cats simply do not belong in captivity, where their complex needs can never be fully met, and that we must strive to protect those tigers remaining in the wild – which is the only place they belong. You can help wild tigers Learn more about these endangered big cats – the largest cat species in the world. Tigers are threatened by habitat fragmentation and loss, lack of prey, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. Share what you’ve learned with others.Don’t be fooled by fake “conservation” claims. No tigers born in captivity will ever be introduced to the wild. White tigers, which have absolutely no conservation value, are highly inbred and often unhealthy. Support conservation work by legitimate organizations working in Asia to save tigers.Reduce your environmental footprint. Wild tigers are being affected by climate change, such as in the Sundarbans in India where they are losing mangrove forest habitat due to rising waters. Learn how you can reduce your carbon emissions using the EPA’s Household Carbon Footprint Calculator. Drive less by carpooling, using mass transit, and combining errand trips whenever you can. Think green!Take action for captive tigers Never patronize a place that offers up-close “encounters” with tigers or other wild animals, including cub petting, photos, or other interactions.Do not “like” social media posts showing people holding or posing with tiger cubs. Reach out and educate the person about why tiger exploitation is inhumane.Avoid wild animal shows, including circuses and those at local fairs.Support the federal Big Cat Public Safety Act to end the private ownership of big cats and end cruel cub petting operations. Follow PAWS on social media for the most up-to-date action you can take. Care for a PAWS tiger for a day with a $55 donationCelebrate our rescued tigers by making a $55 contribution today – the cost of care for one of our tigers for a day. Please consider making a monthly donation to supply the ongoing support our tigers need. Click here to donate.Amanda “Miss Kitty” Blake EstateWeekly eBay Auction to Benefit PAWS Amanda Blake, known for her role as “Miss Kitty” on the television series “Gunsmoke”, graciously left the majority of her estate to PAWS when she passed away in 1989. It helped fund the elephant habitat at PAWS’ first sanctuary in Galt, California. Most of Amanda’s Gunsmoke memorabilia, as well as numerous personal items, were sold during estate sales held in the years following her death.Many of Amanda’s remaining treasures became part of the displays featured in the now-closed Amanda Blake Museum, once located on the grounds of PAWS’ Amanda Blake Memorial Wildlife Refuge in Herald, California. Other personal mementos were packed away in storage. A selection of these prized keepsakes are now being sold on eBay, with new items listed every week. All proceeds go to the care of the rescued and retired elephants, tigers, bears and other wild animals living at PAWS’ sanctuaries.Click here to view the items currently up for auction on eBay and to read more about Amanda Blake and her history with PAWS.THANK YOU!July Amazon Wish List Donors:Pamela Rogers-Ibitz: one 5 lb. bag of pumpkin seeds; one 4 lb. bag of almonds; one 3 lb. bag of walnuts; one 4 lb. bag of sunflower kernels. Daniel: one 3.3 lb. tub of Equithrive. Mary Warrick: three bottles of CosequinDS 132#. Pat Sides: one 5 lb. bag of Missing Link Skin & Coat; one bottle of AminAvast 60#. Staci Sanders: six 6.5 oz. bags of Diced Papaya. Steven Hicks: one 5 lb. box of oranges. Anonymous Donors: two sets of Walkie Talkies; one 10 lb. tub of Equithrive.We have chosen specific items that are needed at the sanctuary, which you can purchase directly from Amazon. We have an ongoing need for many of the products listed. Click here to review the items and donate. You can also review “wish list” items that are needed but not listed on Amazon. Click here for that list.Connect with us: ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌Share this newsletter: ‌  ‌…[Message clipped]  View entire messageReplyForward

Victory in Court for Horses Who Need Protection from the Cruel Practice of Soring ~ HSUS

Victory in court for horses who need protection from cruel practice of ‘soring’ 

Quote of the Day

“Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities—always see them, for they’re always there.” ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Quote of the Day

“If you believe it’ll work out, you’ll see opportunities. If you don’t believe it’ll work out, you’ll see obstacles.” ~ Wayne Dyer

Follow-up on Running of the Bulls in Spain

Three men have died in 24 hours from wounds sustained during bull-running festivals in eastern Spain. The three men all took part in Valencia’s bous al carrer (bull-running), where bulls run through tiny streets with people running ahead of them. Animal rights groups have been trying to ban this event for years and have held protests before this dangerous tradition.

Beagles Spared From Animal Testing – HSUS

In pictures: Hundreds of beagles spared from animal testing arrive in our care to start new lives

It’s Shark Week!

How to make Shark Week good for sharks

Quote of the Day

“The most difficult thing is the decision to act; the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process, is its own reward.” — Amelia Earhart (An aviation and feminist hero who broke records in the air and inspired millions on the ground to challenge the status quo. She is most popularly known as the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, but she was also the first person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean from Honolulu to Oakland and non-stop from Los Angeles to Mexico City.)

David’s Story – HSUS Blog

Before David made Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge his home, he went through many hardships that are sadly emblematic of the myriad threats facing his kind. HSI

Excerpted from Humane Society of the United States – A Humane World Blog

Every animal has a story, and for World Chimpanzee Day, I want to tell you David’s.

David is a chimp who now lives at Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge, our sanctuary in Liberia. Fiercely loyal to his friends (fellow chimpanzees Rose, Jiminy Cricket and Tipsy), David often patrols the edge of the island where they live. He happily accepts visits twice per day from the sanctuary’s caregivers, who provide him and his friends their meals, replete with his favorite food: bananas.

But before David found his friends and made Second Chance his home, he went through many hardships that are sadly emblematic of the myriad threats facing chimpanzees. Captured from the wild when he was just an infant, David was torn from his mother, who was likely killed, and kept as a pet. Then, when David wasn’t yet 2 years old, his owners dropped him off at a laboratory.

Read more…

Happy World Chimpanzee Day!

Happy World Chimpanzee Day! World Chimpanzee Day, each year on July 14th was created to honor and celebrate our closest living relative, the chimpanzee!

From Save the Chimps newsletter:

July 14, 1960, is the day Dr. Jane Goodall first stepped foot in what is now Gombe Stream National Park to study wild chimpanzees. Dr. Goodall called attention to the remarkable chimpanzee and to this day, more than six decades later, advocates on their behalf. She is our hero and friend, inspiring love and compassion for chimpanzees across the world.

Tonka, one of eight chimpanzees to arrive at Save the Chimps this summer

With 12 incredible chimpanzee families on 150 acres, Save the Chimps’ mission is to provide exemplary care to chimpanzees in need, and our vision is a world in which chimpanzees are free from exploitation and endangerment. Just this month we rescued eight more chimpanzees, Tonka and the Sunrise Seven, bringing the total number of chimpanzees we have cared for to 341.

Cats Are So Cool!

Cats Are So Cool!

10 Ways to Be Amazing

FOCUS ON ANIMALS

Here’s Hunter and his teddy bear having a snooze!

I am revisiting old posts on this blog I began way back in 2013 when I became vegan and share once again the series Ways to Be Amazing with some tweaks and new ideas (based on my own personal view of life. and how to live purposefully and mindfully). 

1. Live in the moment.
2. Know when to let sleeping dogs lie.
3. Believe in your power to make a positive difference.
4. Count your blessings.
5. Inspire someone with your unique talents.
6. Rekindle your spiritual fire.
7. Master your thoughts — cultivate the positive, banish the negative.
8. You are what you think.
9. Let nature inspire you every single day.
10. Be kind.

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The Sunrise Seven Have Arrived at Save the Chimps

Just last month, Save the Chimps Sanctuary in Florida announced that they would be rescuing seven chimpanzees from the former Wildlife Waystation in California.  The seven chimps have arrived in Florida and settling into their new home at Save the Chimps.

From Save the Chimps

The seven—Vanilla, Shake, Cayleb, Ernesta, Jacob, Jeff, and Magic—are among the last chimpanzees rescued from the Wildlife Waystation, a refuge in California that went out of business in 2019 and has been threatened by wildfires.

FedEx Cares transported the chimps free of charge to Save the Chimps

It took the dedication of many, and your support, for these chimpanzees to make the cross-country journey to their new home at Save the Chimps. Save the Chimps’ staff Jestine Sall and Skye Conners drove to California with transfer boxes customized by our maintenance department to safely meet the standards to transport the chimps via airplane. They were flown free of charge by FedEx from L.A. to Orlando via Memphis and then driven in a climate-controlled truck donated by Pero Family Farms to Fort Pierce.

Jeff nesting just after arrival

Save the Chimps’ veterinarian, Dr. Anne Meyer, and Curator, Deanna Jenkins accompanied the chimpanzees on their journey to provide care and monitor their health. Upon arriving at Save the Chimps, all seven chimpanzees explored their new play yards. Ernesta and Jeff immediately started making nests in the hay, a sign that they were comfortable in their new surroundings.

“The chimps are adjusting very well to their new home and have already made new friends,” says Save the Chimps CEO Ana Paula Tavares. “We are immensely grateful to FedEx and Pero Family Farms for their help in this emergency rescue.”

The urgent transfer was orchestrated by the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance (NAPSA) in conjunction with the California Fish & Wildlife Department, which assumed control of the shuttered wildlife facility three years ago. NAPSA’s emergency “Chimps In Need” fundraising campaign made possible the transfer of the Sunrise Seven and dozens of other chimpanzees from the closed compound.

Jacob enjoys peppers donated by Pero Family Farms. In addition to helping with this transport, Pero Family Farms donates fresh produce to our residents each week.

The seven residents will go through quarantine in our special needs play yards, a standard for any new chimpanzees arriving to Save the Chimps. Then they will be slowly introduced into a larger family group, providing them with a family structure similar to what they would experience in the wild. Family groups live on 3-acre islands attached to indoor housing, giving them freedom of choice in how they’d like to spend their days.

We look forward to giving these chimpanzees lifelong care in sanctuary and updating you on their progress as they segue into their new lives.

We’ve made a commitment to care for these chimpanzees for the rest of their lives.  Should you wish to support Save the Chimps, it helps them provide the chimps with the dignified retirement they deserve including nutritious food, individualized medical care, engaging enrichment, and maintenance of their home. Visit Save the Chimps here

Mexico City moves to ban bullfighting · A Humane Nation posted here in 2018

Post from 2018 — took four years!

FOCUS ON ANIMALS

Read more…Mexico City moves to ban bullfighting · A Humane Nation

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Animal Rights Victory! The World’s Largest Bullfighting Arena in the World, Monumental Plaza de Toros in Mexico City, Is Now Legally Prevented from Staging Bullfights

In my opinion:

Inhumane and outdated, bullfighting has always been a major sore point for me, among myriad animal welfare issues that make me as mad as hell. This incredibly cruel blood “sport” needs to end everywhere. It’s time bulls, magnificent creatures tthat they are, be recognized as sentient beings by everyone, and all those thousands upon thousands of tourists who descend onto the streets of Pamplona, Spain for the Running of the Bulls starting tomorrow should be ashamed. But perhaps many do not know the fate of those running bulls?

Just perhaps, some/many don’t know that bulls running through the streets in this sickening annual event have killed 16 people foolish enough to run with them over the years. Or maybe they don’t know the fate of all those bulls in the past events, that when the wild and crazy run is done, tragically, the bulls end up in the bullfighting ring. Over the agonizing course of a very long, drawn out spectacle played out in a disgusting drama for bullfighting enthusiasts that lasts about 20 minutes, each bull is stabbed multiple times by a matador until they die. Starved, beaten, isolated, and drugged before the “fight,” the bull is so debilitated that he cannot defend himself. Blood, gore, the bull experiencing unspeakable fear and pain. The crowd goes wild! Imagine!

Bottom line, tradition does not warrant animal cruelty, ever! What haunts me is how anyone could actually enjoy or even endure witnessing such a horrific affront to all that makes us human — kindness, compassion, respect for our fellow creatures who share the world with us. Where is their collective heart?

But then, I recall from my reading of “Gladiators, Deadly Arena Sports of Ancient Rome” by Christopher Epplett, that in those days when Romans crowded into giant ampitheaters, including the Colosseum, wildly cheering from the stands as gladiators, some enslaved and delivered to the ring in chains, others professional gladiators lured by the thrill of battle, learning their grisly skills in gladiator “schools,” often fought to the death in this well-organized blood sport. Often, convicts or even Christians forced to be gladiators were thown to ravenous dogs, lions, or bears as part of the day’s vile “entertainment.”

In our modern-day world, people have evolved beyond wanting to see such horror inflicted on fellow human beings, mostly, I like to think? But the show must go on for those evil, greedy people who profit from such spectacles that cater to blood lust. For those spectators these days who just can’t seem to witness enough violence, as long as they are not getting hurt or killed themselves, the human beings have been replaced by bulls (bullfighting), cocks (cockfighting), and dogs (dogfighting), and then there’s cow fighting and camel wrestling. And like the slaves, Christians, and/or convicts who were forced to fight in Ancient Rome all those thousands of years ago, animals have no say in the matter. We have to be their voice!

Let’s celebrate the demise of bullfighting in the world’s largest bullfighting arena, and do what we can as animal advocates to ensure all venues for these disgraceful displays are shut down, shut out, kaput, dead, forever!

From A Humane World -HSUS Blog

The Monumental Plaza de Toros in Mexico City—the world’s largest bullfighting arena—is no longer a venue for bullfights. The bullring closed its doors indefinitely last month, after a judge issued a suspension on bullfighting shows in the Mexican capital. This is the first time in its 76-year history that the 50,000-seat Monumental Plaza de Toros has been legally prevented from staging bullfights.

Judge Jonathan Bass’s decision was based on Article 13-B of the local constitution of Mexico City, which guarantees the “right to a healthy environment” and recognizes animals as “sentient beings.” In 2016, Humane Society International/Mexico worked with local legislators to ensure the constitution reflected citizen concern for animal welfare. We are extremely honored to have participated in the drafting of the constitution and the shaping of that article, which ultimately made this ban possible. We’re also grateful to the lawsuit filed by Justicia Justa, a civil society organization, which brought this issue to court.

Mexico City’s constitution is one of the most animal-friendly in the Americas. It includes far-reaching animal protection language that recognizes animals as sentient beings who should be treated with dignity and whose welfare must be protected. As part of that moral consideration, it frames their care as a common responsibility of citizens and local authorities. It also mandates secondary laws to determine penalties for animal abuse and guidelines for wildlife protection and humane practices for farm animals.

The judge’s decision took account of a study by the Environmental and City Planning Attorney General of Mexico City that describes the suffering and injuries caused to the bulls during the fights. Backed by scientific evidence, the research shows that bulls forced to participate in the spectacle of bullfighting suffer agonizing pain before dying. One of the authors of the study, ethologist Claudia Teresa Edwards, who serves as programs director for HSI/Mexico, shows there is sufficient evidence derived from neurophysiology, pathology and ethology, to argue that animals such as bulls are sentient, capable of feeling pain and generating diverse emotions.

As with any major step forward for animal protection, there has been controversy over the judge’s decision. Bullfighting still has a significant fan base in Mexico, and its supporters see the decision as an attack on one of the country’s long-standing traditions. (The city hosted its first bullfight to honor Spanish conqueror Hernan Cortes in 1526.) Mexico remains one of the handful of countries that still allows traditional bullfighting: Bulls are raised for the fight and usually die in the ring at the tip of the matador’s sword. But the tradition is swiftly falling out of favor as citizens become ever more concerned for animals. Since 2013, five states in Mexico—Coahuila, Guerrero, Quintana Roo, Sinaloa and Sonora—have banned bullfights, and several polls indicate substantial citizen support for a ban. According to a leading polling agency, 80% of Mexico City’s inhabitants consider bullfighting a cruel spectacle in which animals are abused.¹

I’ve thought about this issue for a long time because it has come up in discussions of global declarations of heritage under UNESCO and other international entities in which I’ve played a part. But claims of tradition are not a warrant for animal cruelty. As Judge Bass pointed out, “society demands that the physical and emotional integrity of all animals, including bulls, is respected.”

We agree with Judge Bass, and we are enormously grateful to him for issuing this suspension as well as to all the concerned citizens who believe that bullfighting should be banned. This is a critical step forward for a more humane future for animals. In the world we’re trying to build, there’s no room for such cruelty.

Red Tail Hawks Getting Ready to Fledge

Quote of the Day

“There is so much to one single pig. To know one is to know your family dog. He or she is complex—nuanced. He or she is loving and loves to be loved and wants to live a life without fear.” Brooke, Farm Sanctuary Caregiver

From “Something” to “Someone” What a Beautiful Outcome for Farm Animals Like Jack & Allan Who Are Social, Intelligent, Sentient and Mischievious Pigs Living the High Life at Farm Sanctuary

Excerpted from my Farm Sanctuary Newsletter:

After “this little piggy went to market,” Jack and his friend Allan went home to Sanctuary.

The boys—a Yorkshire pig and Hampshire/Duroc cross, respectively—were both raised for production purposes. Jack, found wandering near a Rochester, New York farmers’ market, might have belonged to a vendor there or to a nearby farmer or slaughter facility. Meanwhile, Allan’s former guardians—an Ohio family involved in 4-H—bonded with the pig during their time together and couldn’t bear to see him sold and killed: the typical fate for animals raised in this program.

The pigs met at Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester. They’re about the same age—around two years old—and are friendly and rambunctious boys with a bit of an eye for trouble. They’re huge diggers, for one, and came to Farm Sanctuary after damaging the fencing at their former home. They can also be nippy when looking for attention—talk about those “terrible twos!”

Read more about these two lovely boys…

Many Ways to Help Ukraine, people and animals ~ Here is But One, Through Greater Good

People and animals are intertwined, and as Henry Beston said about animals, “they are not brethren, they are not underlings: they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendor and travail of the earth.” Now is the time to step in and help them both in Ukraine.

Both the people and animals (pets, shelter animals, farm animals, zoo animals) of Ukraine need us now. A multitude of opportunities to help exist, and here is but one: through Greater Good. I have been a “clicker” follower of this organization for years. If you wish to join me and thousands of others, click the link below for one effective way you can help those people and animals who are so desperately in need:

Crisis in Ukraine: Send Aid Now

Another option to help:

https://www.ifaw.org/eu/news/emergency-aid-ukraine

Sweet Little George ~ Farm Sanctuary

Read George’s story https://www.farmsanctuary.org/news-stories/tiny-piglet-baby-pig-petting-zoo-finds-sanctuary-farm-animal-rescue/e

Quote of the Day

My Favorite Tree Art

“Tree of Witness” the Third Place prize-winning drawing by artist Ruth Howard in the Strokes of Genius 13 art competition. The artist uses realism as a tool to bring metaphorical meaning to her work.

Excerpted from Artist’s Network:

Denise Howard loves going fast. She used to race motorcycles competitively on her days off from her job as a software engineer. When it comes to her art, however, she slows right down to savor every detail. Her third-place prizewinning drawing, Tree of Witness, is one in her ongoing series of detailed portraits of trees—and Howard doesn’t expect to run out of subjects any time soon.

It was the gnarled intricacy of the ancient Osage Orange in New York City’s Central Park that caught her eye. “Trees embody their life experiences in their shape, bark, knots, holes, and branches,” Howard says. “Imagine a lifetime of standing in silent witness to the full spectrum of human behavior—from delightful to monstrous. What would it do to a human? What would it do to a tree?”

Favorite Dog Quotes

“Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer.”
― Dean Koontz, False Memory

Quote of the Day from Save the Chimps Sanctuary

Meet the residents of Save the Chimps

The late Carole Noon, Ph.D., founded Save the Chimps in 1997 in response to the U.S. Air Force’s announcement that it would no longer conduct research on chimpanzees. Outraged over the treatment and conditions that these chimpanzees had endured, Dr. Noon sued the Air Force on behalf of the captive chimpanzees and gained permanent custody of twenty-one chimps. Her bold, courageous, and humane actions were the genesis of Save the Chimps.

Envisioning bright sunshine and blue skies for the rescued chimpanzees, Dr. Noon and Co-Founder Jon Stryker of the Arcus Foundation worked together to purchase 150 acres in Fort Pierce, Florida, and designed a state-of-the-art chimpanzee sanctuary, including a three-acre island home, complete with hills, shelter, and climbing structures for the Air Force. This island home enabled the chimps to roam freely and make basic choices formerly denied to them.

Introducing “Hunter” My New Best Friend ~Adopt a Senior Dog

I lost my dog Chip last May at the ripe, old age of 13, and since he was the last of 10 dogs we had over 25 years, I wasn’t sure about adopting another, at least until spring. But, of course, every night I would scour the websites of rescues, pounds, and shelters “just looking.”

Well, one day I found Hunter, a senior like me. In fact, in dog years he might be about the same age! He was posted on a FaceBook page for German Shepherds Needing Homes by his owner, desperately seeking to rehome him. Seems the kids were now grown up and flying the coop and the parents felt that with full-time jobs, they couldn’t look after him anymore. So, after nearly 8-1/2 years, having had him from a puppy purchased from a breeder, they were letting him go. It didn’t take long for me and my husband to decide. We picked him up on December 23 and what a wonderful Christmas gift he has turned out to be! We couldn’t love him more if we’d had him for 10 years. These photos were taken back in January on the first real snow day when he was adjusting to his new life in the country with five acres to walk and play after living in a townhouse in the city with no backyard.

I know, it’s kind of ironic that an anti-hunting, animal advocate would have a dog named Hunter, but he’s too old to change it now:)

Consider adopting a senior. There are several organizations that specialize in senior adoptions, whether it be dogs or cats. The Elderly Pet Organization in Rhode Island whose mission is to provide information and education about senior pets with the goal of ending senior pet abandonment and premature euthanization, while increasing pet adoptions throughout the US., says, “When you adopt a senior dog or cat, you are doing the ultimate good deed. Let’s face it: a lot of people think they want a puppy or kitten, but not everyone is lining up to adopt the great senior pets! Did you know that every year, approximately 4 million adoptable animals are surrendered to shelters and prematurely euthanized? There are a LOT of wonderful senior dogs and cats available for adoption.”  And we got one of them!

Favorite Cat Art

Favorite Cat Quotes

Sara 2007 – 2021

“One cat just leads to another.” – Ernest Hemingway

Celebrate National Comfy Day!

“It’s never too late to do nothing.” Zen Saying

This Sunday is “National Comfy Day!”

Chimpanzee residents at Save the Chimps Sanctuary are masters of comfy so here are their tips on celebrating National Comfy Day this Sunday!

Snuggle something soft. –Capone

Blankets. Lots of blankets. –Allie

Never underestimate the power of a hammock. –Debbie

Spend time with friends who like to pamper you. –Sally

Soak up some sunshine. –Kiley

Relax in the pool. –Liberty

Enjoy some light reading! –Melody

Favorite Cat Quotes

“Earning a cat’s friendship is a difficult process. Cats are philosophical, strange, habit-ridden creatures. They love order and cleanliness. They refuse to give love haphazardly. They want to be friends with us (if we should prove to be worthy) but they refuse to be enslaved. They cherish their freedom and they steadfastly resist what they consider to be unreasonable…” Theophile Gautier, French poet, novelist, critic, journalist and dramatist

Breaking News from HSUS: 110 Dogs Saved from Slaughter on Korean Dog Meat Farm Arrive in Ontario, Canada to Find Adoptive Homes

Breaking: 110 dogs saved from slaughter arrive in Canada to find homes

Easy, Mindful & Delicious Ways to Make a Difference for Animals

CUT UP PLASTIC 6-PACK HOLDERS

Inspired by blogger Cindy Knoke’s post “Chubs” featuring gorgeous photos of healthy, chubby, sweet-faced seals and sea lions. But, disturbingly, one sea lion had a plastic ring tightly constricted around his neck that Cindy reported to the park ranger, and a seal bore old scars from the same fate.

Cindy’s post is an important message for us all to be mindful of wildlife and the environment by carefully disposing of our plastic packaging. Until alternative packaging is available, cut up those irresponsibly manufactured plastic loop 6-pack holders (soda pop, beer etc. ) Left intact, these loops wrap around beaks, muzzles, necks and other body parts causing animals unbearable suffering. It is so heartbreaking to think of all the animals who are not rescued in time from being ensnared or entangled by human garbage and who die a slow, painful death from starvation, wounds, infection, and choking.

Thousands upon thousands of birds, turtles, marine mammals, and other wildlife die every year from this fate that could be prevented by something so simple as getting out a pair of scissors or a sharp knife and slicing through every closed circle in the packaging rendering its strangling capability useless.

Of course, just the toxic chemicals in plastic in any shape or form wreak havoc upon wildlife when they ingest microplastics, but that’s another post.

FOSTER AN ANIMAL

When you bring an animal into your home, you make space available for another at your local shelter.

GIVE SOME VEGAN RECIPES A TRY

Delicious, exciting, and totally fulfilling, vegan and vegetarian dishes give you a way to make a difference for animals and the environment while eating a variety of scrumptious, plant-based meals that improve your health, too! Check out some of the recipes featured on this blog here

And below are only a few of the dozens of vegan and vegetarian blogs I follow, altogether featuring hundreds of vegan recipe ideas. From plant-based-eating newbies to long-time vegans there’s something for everyone!

https://www.loveandlemons.com/

https://cookieandkate.com/

www.connoisseurusveg.com

Easy Vegan Recipes

Delicious Vegan Recipes

CHOOSE ONLY VEGAN FASHIONS

PREVENT CRUELTY TO COWS ON DAIRY FARMS BY DRINKING PLANT-BASED MILKS LIKE SOY, RICE, ALMOND AND OTHER NUT MILKS

MORE TO COME…

Quote of the Day

“To be kind is more important than to be right. Many times, what people need is not a brilliant mind that speaks but a special heart that listens.” F. Scott Fitzgerald