Humane Society Legislative Fund Endorses Obama...

"The HSLF board of directors—which is comprised of both Democrats and Republicans—has voted unanimously to endorse Barack Obama for President. The Obama-Biden ticket is the better choice on animal protection, and we urge all voters who care about the humane treatment of animals, regardless of party affiliation, to vote for them"

(HSLF)

Weird Animals...

While doing research, I once again came across some interesting things on the internet. Although everything you type into any search engine brings back some sort of porn sight, that is not what I found. I found a place that listed 25 of the most weird and wonderful animals. Some of them are very interesting looking and look as if they are out of a science fiction movie. While some seem to be part of a little girls stuffed animal collection - like:

Angora Rabbit

The Angora rabbit is a variety of domestic rabbit bred for its long, soft hair. The Angora is one of the oldest types of domestic rabbit, originating in Ankara, Turkey, along with the Angora cat and Angora goat. The rabbits were popular pets with French royalty in the mid 1700s, and spread to other parts of Europe by the end of the century. They first appeared in the United States in the early 1900s. They are bred largely for their long wool, which may be removed by shearing or plucking (gently pulling loose wool).

There are many individual breeds of Angora rabbits, four of which are ARBA recognized. Such breeds include, French, German, Giant, English, Satin, Chinese, Swiss, Finnish, to name a few.

Red Panda

The Red Panda, Ailurus fulgens ("shining cat," from a Latinized form of the Greek, ailouros, "cat," and the participial form of the Latin fulgere, "to shine") is a mostly herbivorous mammal, slightly larger than a domestic cat (55 cm long). The Red Panda has semi-retractile claws and, like the Giant Panda, has a "false thumb" which is really an extension of the wrist bone. Thick fur on the soles of the feet offers protection from cold and hides scent glands. The Red Panda is native to the Himalayas in Nepal and southern China. The word panda is derived from Nepalese word "ponya" which means bamboo and plants eating animals in Nepal.


Then there are some that look like they came from another planet - like:

Aye-aye

The Aye-aye

(Daubentonia madagascariensis) is a strepsirrhine native to Madagascar that combines rodent-like teeth with a long, thin middle finger to fill the same ecological niche as a woodpecker. It is the world's largest nocturnal primate, and is characterized by its unique method of finding food; it taps on trees to find grubs, then gnaws

holes in the wood and inserts its elongated middle finger to pull the grubs out.

Daubentonia is the only genus in the family Daubentoniidae and infraorder Chiromyiformes. The Aye-aye is the only extant member of the genus (although it is currently an endangered species); a second species (Daubentonia robusta) was exterminated over the last few centuries.

Leafy Seadragon

Named after the dragons of Chinese mythology, Leafy seadragons (Phycodurus eques) resemble a piece of drifting seaweed as they float in the seaweed-filled water. The Leafy seadragon, with green, orange and gold hues along its body, is covered with leaf-like appendages, making it remarkably camouflaged. Only the fluttering of tiny fins or the moving of an independently swiveling eye, reveals its presence.

Like the seahorse, the male seadragon carries as many as 150-200 eggs. After being deposited by the female, the eggs are carried in the honeycomb-shaped area (known as the brood patch) under the male's tail for approximately eight weeks. Seadragons have no teeth or stomach and feed exclusively on mysidopsis shrimp. Known as "Australian seahorses" in Australia, they are

found in calm, cold water that is approximately 50-54° F (10-12° C). Leafy seadragons have been protected by the South Australian government since 1982.

And for my FAVORITE one:

Blobfish

The blobfish (Psychrolutes marcidus) is a fish that inhabits the deep waters off the coasts of Australia and Tasmania. Due to the inaccessibility of its habitat, it is rarely seen by humans.

Blobfish are found at depths where the pressure is several dozens of times higher than at sea level, which would likely make gas bladders inefficient. To remain buoyant, the flesh of the blobfish is primarily a gelatinous mass with a density slightly less than water; this allows the fish to float above the sea floor without expending energy on swimming. The relative lack of muscle is not a disadvantage as it primarily swallows edible matter that floats by in front it.

Here is the site for the whole list of the 25 Worlds Weirdest Animals

800 Dogs Seized...

On March 12, a huge story broke in Tucson, Az. Around 800 small dogs were seized from a triple-wide mobile home of Wanda and Bill Jones. As with many hoarding cases, the dogs were kept in filthy living conditions. Some dogs were pregnant and giving birth as they were being transported to the shelter.

Jenny Rose, a spokeswoman for the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, said 96 dogs were removed from the house on Monday and about another 700 were taken out Wednesday. "This is twice the numbers that we've ever seen before, twice as big as our previous record-breaker," Rose said. "The home was definitely in very bad condition, urine and feces all over the home, in the kitchen and bedroom, with a very strong odor," she said. "Obviously, 800 dogs in a triple-wide mobile home, they were packed in there. That being said, they were in pretty good shape."

(via Pet-Abuse.com)

Along with the dogs, investigators also found 82 caged parrots. How do we let things get to this stage? Animal shelters and humane societies run on very little money as well as very little staff. There is a lot of bad in the world when it comes to animals and most shelters are trying to do it all themselves.

On the upside, there has been a huge turnout from the community to adopt these dogs.

In the days since local law enforcement and Humane Society of Southern Arizona officials rounded up 752 dogs from an Avra Valley breeder, scores of people have inundated the shelter seeking to adopt the animals. As of Monday, March 17, 460 dogs and cats taken from the property on the 12200 block of West Manville Road had found new homes, according to Humane Society spokeswoman Jenny Rose.

(via Pet-Abuse.com)

The couple started to raise these dogs and sell them to interested people. But as time progressed, they started to sell fewer and fewer until they became hoarders. So what is a hoarder, you ask?

An April 1, 2000, article in the Psychiatric Times refers to a study of animal hoarders, offering this definition: “… someone who accumulates a large number of animals; fails to provide minimal standards of nutrition, sanitation and veterinary care; and fails to act on the deteriorating condition of the animals …” An estimated 700 to 2,000 new cases of animal hoarding occur every year in the United States, according to the article.

(via Pet-Abuse.com)

Hoarders believe that they are the only people that can take care of the animals. They feel some unhealthy attachment to the animals and as a few become more and more, the owners become unable to properly care for them. The house fills with urine and feces as the owners fall deeper and deeper into the inability to care for the animals. There is a strong denial of the inability to provide this minimum care and this impacts the animals, the household, and human occupants of the dwelling.

Below is a picture of the "people of interest".

Scruffy...

I remember when I was young. I used to watch Saturday morning cartoons like a freak (didn’t all kids). My favorite cartoon was (and still is) Scooby Doo. Now I’m not saying that Scooby drove me into the animal welfare field, but you never know. I always wanted a little dog that could talk and be my best friend. Of course that was when I was young, now I have three wonderful dogs that make my days that much easier. They all have their own personalities and they all know how to push my buttons. There was also a cartoon that played once in the afternoon called “Scruffy”. I had the book (and wish I still did for Mikayla), but I mainly remember the cartoon. Although the book is out of print, I did find a review on Amazon.com. This is a review from a young kid. It will let you understand why the book should be back in print:

This story is about a mother dog, at first. She lives in an abandoned house. When she has pups, she goes out of her way to feed them. All the same, something tragic happens, and she only has one pup left. That pup turns out to be the focus of the book, and become Scruffy. Scruffy is stumbling along when she meets a male dog. He is Butch. Butch escorts her back to his pack, who lives in a car in the junkyard. All the dogs are somehow caught, and they only have a few days left. Finally, an article about Scruffy runs in the paper, and, and, and I won't tell you what happens. It has a happy ending.

This is a great book for anyone who is a real doggie lover. They don't talk, so you kind of have to mind read. This is easy. The book is a good read on a rainy day, and reminds you that everyone is special. It is almost impossible to find it. Check a used bookstore. That's where I found mine.

I still remember this book even though it was more than thirty years ago when I saw the cartoon. I was just so impressed with the story that I had to buy the book. I still have it today. The story of what happens to stray dogs and how people can save them set my life in motion to do what I am doing now. Then life took it turn on me and I lost the path that I was on. Then September 11th happened and I remember PETA, ASPCA, HAUS, and other organizations helping the rescue dogs looking for survivors in the World Trade Centers. The campaign they had to help these over worked animals, I think, helped to galvanize people to the benefit of certain animals. Watching rescue dogs bring someone out of the rubble can only melt your heart.

Spay Day...

There is another reason to celebrate today and that is the 14th annual Spay Day USA. This is the day that many shelters across the U.S. get the word out about the importance of spaying and neutering your animals. Why is this important? Consider these statistics:

Number of cats and dogs entering shelters each year:
6-8 million (HSUS estimate)

Number of cats and dogs euthanized by shelters each year:
3-4 million (HSUS estimate)

Number of cats and dogs adopted from shelters each year:
3-4 million (HSUS estimate)

Number of cats and dogs reclaimed by owners from shelters each year:
Between 600,000 and 750,000 -- 30% of dogs and 2-5% of cats entering shelters (HSUS estimate)

Number of animal shelters in the United States:
Between 4,000 and 6,000 (HSUS estimate)

Percentage of dogs in shelters who are purebred:
25% (HSUS estimate)

Average number of litters a fertile cat can produce in one year: 3

Average number of kittens in a feline litter: 4-6

Average number of litters a fertile dog can produce in one year: 2

Average number of puppies in a canine litter: 6-10

According to the Humane Society of the United States, a single un-spayed female cat, her mate, and their offspring can produce a total of 420,000 kittens in just seven years! In six years, one un-spayed female dog and her offspring can product 67,000 puppies! This results in the euthanization of millions of homeless pets.

If we want to cut down on the useless euthanasia rate in America, we need to have our animals spayed and neutered. This is the only way. Below is a video from the Humane Society of the United States on Spay Day.

Seal Hunt...

From HSUS:

The 2007 Canadian seal hunt left at least 215,378 seals dead -- and almost all of them were babies as young as 12 days old.

One of our most effective weapons against the hunt is the Canadian seafood boycott. Seal hunting is an off-season activity for Canada's east coast commercial fishermen. They earn a small fraction of their incomes from selling seal skins to the fur industry: only a reported $17.5 million (Canadian) annually, compared to the nearly $3 billion taken in by the Canadian fishing industry from seafood exports to the United States. The connection between the commercial fishing industry and the seal hunt gives consumers all over the world the power to end the hunt.

We are excited to report that the boycott is working! The Canadian fishing industry has suffered a $460 million (Canadian) decline in the value of snow crab exports to the United States.

Help us keep the pressure on Canada's fishing industry by teaming up with more than 545,000 people who have joined the boycott.

We'll deliver your pledge to Canada's government, so the politicians will know you've joined our international ProtectSeals team to end this shameful hunt.

To sign the pledge, click here.

Videos courtesy of The Human Society of the United States:

Four Dogs Poisoned...

Fairview, Michigan - Four dogs were poisoned on Sunday February 1, 2008. The person who did this put antifreeze in mashed potatoes and fed it to the dogs. They also left a note on the door - "Paybacks a bitch. Woof! Woof!" Out of the four dogs, three had to be euthanized due to the damage that the antifreeze did. Here is what antifreeze does:

Symptoms:
Clinical signs depend on how long it has been since the pet drank the antifreeze as well as the amount they drank. Early symptoms are much like alcohol intoxication. Dogs and cats may vomit due to the irritating effects of ethylene glycol on the stomach. They drink and urinate excessively and may be depressed and wobbly. The increased thirst is due to stimulation of the thirst centers of the brain. Pets may seem on the road to recovery twelve hours later as the ethylene glycol is metabolized by the liver and kidneys. However, a day later in cats and two days later in dogs the patients suddenly becomes much worse. They become depressed, weak, and dehydrated. They may develop diarrhea, mouth ulcers, rapid breathing and seizures. Their kidneys are often painful and swollen.

One of the dogs (maybe more) were part of a search and rescue team. These are the same types of dogs that help during major disasters. The people have not been found.

The family has set-up an account to pay for the euthanasia and autopsies:
Northland Area Credit Union
208 N Morenci Avenue
Mio, MI 48647
Account under: Courtney French

The news video is here. There is a commercial before hand, but you need to watch the story - so sad.

Cruelty: The Animal/Human Connection...

We live in a violent society. Many people have been taking notice of a certain connection. A connection between animal cruelty and human abuse. In an article by John Locke called “Cruelty”, he makes note of how, we as a society, would exclude “butchers from juries of life and death”. He felt that these men have become desensitized and could not truly see the court case for what it is. It was his thought that butchers have become desensitized by the “cruel” acts they perform on animals.

The topic of desensitization in kids is touched on in Mead’s article “Culture Factors”. As television gives us more and more graphic shows and parents allowing kids to watch more adult shows, we as a society have turned off or blocked something in the human mind. When you see a dead body, do you feel anything? Probably, but with shows like CSI, Criminal Minds, and many more we tend not to be fazed by a body sitting on a table sliced opened. The graphic shows I watch are CSI: NY, NCIS, and Criminal Minds. I know the difference in a body that is made up for TV and one that is hanging out of a car window. But do these shows desensitize me and how I feel? If they do, how do they affect the growing mind of a child? We also have to look at video games that kids are playing today. So how are children to distinguish what is right and wrong when it comes to killing? As Mead stated, “Pests to be killed, food to be eaten, pets to be loved, are discriminated for the growing child.” We, as the adults, need to help guide these kids. We need to let them know what is right and wrong.

We, as parents, need to be aware of what kids are doing and why. There are people that believe that people that cause animal cruelty are psychopaths (“It is an undeniable fact that cruelty of any kind has its roots deeply buried in psychopathology”), I agree with a different mind set that states, “researchers cannot assume that animal abusers are ‘psychopaths’, ‘cold- blooded killers’, or ‘sadists’ thought to act impulsively without reason”, but we need to look deeper into the reasons why they are doing what they do. Kids tend to act out for various reasons, but that does not make them killers or rapist. It makes them human. It’s when they step over the line that parents need to worry.

But if a child acts out and kills an animal, what do we do? We cannot let this incident go unpunished. Mead says that if we do not punish the child for something that is “tabued”, then there is the possibility that the child will “try it again (or) try something bigger”. Parents and educators need to understand that any type of cruelty is a cry for help in some way. We need to pay more attention to our kids and try to find out what is bothering them. If the cruelty increases with the child, there is a chance that this child will grow to be a burden to society. But how can we do this when our lives are so busy? How can we keep an eye on everything a child does?

As with anything in animal welfare, education is the key. We need to help educate the public on the different signs that can be linked to animal cruelty. Many people have no perception or a very small idea of what can happen to a child that commits animal cruelty. Someone who abuses animals may have some physiological problems; they may grow up to be abusive or worse a murderer. Shelters need to have an outreach program that goes into schools to talk with young people about animal abuse. We need to teach teachers to be aware of what to look for in kid’s behavior and then what to do to help. We tend to leave this to the police or local authorities, but we need to step up and help guide the police and the local authorities in looking for certain signs and what to do and whom they should contact if they see these signs of animal abuse. The police may only know to call child services and not the local shelter if an animal is involved.

The mind is a vast machine that can break down. When this happens, things go wrong for many reasons. People are angry with someone who did them wrong, so they want revenge. Kids are left out, ostracized and made fun of and they tend to act out, sometimes violently. We have no real understanding of where violence comes from, but at some point in everyone’s life there was a violent act or thought. We need to learn to understand our emotions. Cruelty is a desire and a readiness to give others pain without feelings or remorse. We all just need to heed the signs.