Thu
18 Jun
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Cousteau calls dolphin care at Las Vegas hotel a Mirage

Published under General.

Summary:   Famed oceanographer joins Born Free USA in opposing hotel’s dolphin import request Las Vegas, NV—Renowned marine researcher, educator and environmentalist, Jean-Michel Cousteau has joined Born Free USA and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) in opposition to the Mirage hotel’s April 27, 2009 request to import two bottlenose dolphins. In light of the June 4, 2009 death of yet another dolphin in the Mirage hotel’s care, the groups argue that importation to the hotel’s pool is nothing more than a “death sentence” for dolphins.   “The more we learn about dolphins, the more we must admit they are our counterparts—intelligent, social, self-aware, capable of complex relationships, emotions, and learning.  To consign them to a place like the Mirage hotel, with its 75 percent mortality rate for dolphins, and solely for our entertainment, is to impose a death sentence on innocents,” said Cousteau, President of Ocean Futures Society. “In addition, ...

Famed oceanographer joins Born Free USA in opposing hotel’s dolphin import request

Las Vegas, NV—Renowned marine researcher, educator and environmentalist, Jean-Michel Cousteau has joined Born Free USA and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) in opposition to the Mirage hotel’s April 27, 2009 request to import two bottlenose dolphins. In light of the June 4, 2009 death of yet another dolphin in the Mirage hotel’s care, the groups argue that importation to the hotel’s pool is nothing more than a “death sentence” for dolphins.

 

“The more we learn about dolphins, the more we must admit they are our counterparts—intelligent, social, self-aware, capable of complex relationships, emotions, and learning.  To consign them to a place like the Mirage hotel, with its 75 percent mortality rate for dolphins, and solely for our entertainment, is to impose a death sentence on innocents,” said Cousteau, President of Ocean Futures Society. “In addition, the display of marine mammals for commercial gain does not represent the values we should be passing on to future generations. I believe this request and the continuation of this practice must be denied if we are to respect ourselves in addition to respecting the dolphins.”  

 

Born Free USA and WSPA had initially voiced their opposition to the hotel’s request on May 26, 2009 with the submission of an official complaint in which they called on the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to deny the hotel’s request. The groups asked the permit be denied on the grounds of the hotel’s dismal animal care record, the lack of educational and conservation value of the display, animal welfare and transport concerns, and more.

 

“Time and time again, the Mirage hotel has proven it cannot provide the proper care for these animals. We know this because they keep dying,” said Monica Engebretson, senior program associate for Born Free USA. “The last place a dolphin belongs is in a pool, in a hotel, in a city in the middle of the Nevada desert.”

“Importing additional dolphins to the ‘death pool’ at the Mirage hotel, given the slim chance of their long-term survival, is just plain unconscionable,” added Engebretson. “The NMFS must immediately deny this request.”

 

Born Free USA is a national non-profit animal welfare and conservation organization and nationally recognized leader on exotic animal legislation and international wildlife trade issues. Born Free USA was founded on the principle of the classic movie Born Free — to Keep Wildlife in the Wild. More information can be found at www.bornfreeusa.org.

 

A copy of the above referenced comments submitted by Born Free USA to the NMFS can be viewed at www.bornfreeusa.org/miragedolphins.

 

The mission of Ocean Futures Society is to explore our global ocean, inspiring and educating people throughout the world to act responsibly for its protection, documenting the critical connection between humanity and nature, and celebrating the ocean’s vital importance to the survival of all life on our planet. More information is available at www.oceanfutures.org

Wed
17 Jun
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Circus comes to New Orleans scarred by trial evidence of cruel bullhook and chain use on beloved circus elephants

Published under General.

Summary:   Animal advocates ask New Orleans residents to review the evidence before buying a ticket New Orleans, LA—The recent federal trial of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus (Ringling) revealed shocking evidence of routine mistreatment of elephants in the circus. As the circus prepares to open June 25 in New Orleans, Born Free USA, a plaintiff in the trial, is asking New Orleans residents to review the evidence before buying a ticket that supports animal cruelty. “This groundbreaking trial uncovered clear evidence that Ringling Bros. violates the Endangered Species Act­—which states it is illegal to harm, wound or harass an endangered species— by routinely striking, punishing and chaining elephants,” said Nicole Paquette, Esq., senior vice president and general counsel for Born Free USA, who was also a witness in the trial. “The evidence, from Ringling’s own employees, its CEO, and its medical records, is crystal clear: Ringling’s treatment of elephants is inhumane.” “New ...

Animal advocates ask New Orleans residents to review the evidence before buying a ticket

New Orleans, LA—The recent federal trial of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus (Ringling) revealed shocking evidence of routine mistreatment of elephants in the circus. As the circus prepares to open June 25 in New Orleans, Born Free USA, a plaintiff in the trial, is asking New Orleans residents to review the evidence before buying a ticket that supports animal cruelty.


“This groundbreaking trial uncovered clear evidence that Ringling Bros. violates the Endangered Species Act­—which states it is illegal to harm, wound or harass an endangered species— by routinely striking, punishing and chaining elephants,” said Nicole Paquette, Esq., senior vice president and general counsel for Born Free USA, who was also a witness in the trial. “The evidence, from Ringling’s own employees, its CEO, and its medical records, is crystal clear: Ringling’s treatment of elephants is inhumane.”


“New Orleans is a remarkable city, steeped in history, but we hope its citizens send a clear message that they don’t support ‘traditions’ that include animal abuse by refusing to buy a ticket,” added Paquette.

The case against Ringling exposed the following:

  • An independent examination of Ringling’s medical records, by a Board-certified retired veterinarian from the San Diego Zoo, corroborates plaintiffs’ claims that elephants suffer injuries and scarring from bullhook strikes and foot injuries, and lameness from being continually chained. In fact, the evidence revealed that 100% of Ringling’s adult elephants suffer from some form of ailment relating to prolonged chaining on hard surfaces.
  • Ringling’s transportation records proved plaintiffs’ claims that elephants, both in the circus and at Ringling’s Florida breeding center, spend extensive amounts of time being chained. These records documented elephants being chained for up to 100 consecutive hours in cramped circus railroad cars.
  • Kenneth Feld, President of Ringling’s parent company, admitted “all elephant handlers at Ringling strike elephants with bullhooks”.


“Ringling constantly compares their training, confinement and handling tactics to those the average individual would use on a dog, yet their own statements and documents prove the exact opposite: elephants endure a lifetime of abuse at the hands of the circus,” added Paquette.

 

Born Free USA is a leading national non-profit animal advocacy organization working to conserve and protect wildlife in the U.S. and globally. More information is available at www.bornfreeusa.org. Details on the trial against Ringling Bros. circus, including trial documents and exhibits, can be found at www.bornfreeusa.org/ringling.

Mon
15 Jun
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Stories from my readers: Animals as Healers

Published under Happy Tails.

Summary:   I'm a big believer in animal rescue and adopting older animals. I have a 2-year old son named Scott and a 4-month old daughter named London. Our animal story starts when Scott was a baby and he had some developemental problems. We thought having an animal would encourage his gross motor skills so we rescued a kitten who was jet black, with one patch of white. She was rescued by the Folsom Prison, and was so malnourished that she almost died. We took her to get her shots and had a microchip placed inside of her. The day we brought her home, my son Scott took his first steps and we worried that he might be too rough with her, so we watched him carefully. He was so gentle with her, and he would pet her as she sat on the toilet while he took a bath. She slept in his ...

I’m a big believer in animal rescue and adopting older animals. I have a 2-year old son named Scott and a 4-month old daughter named London. Our animal story starts when Scott was a baby and he had some developemental problems. We thought having an animal would encourage his gross motor skills so we rescued a kitten who was jet black, with one patch of white. She was rescued by the Folsom Prison, and was so malnourished that she almost died. We took her to get her shots and had a microchip placed inside of her. The day we brought her home, my son Scott took his first steps and we worried that he might be too rough with her, so we watched him carefully. He was so gentle with her, and he would pet her as she sat on the toilet while he took a bath. She slept in his room and somtimes crib, and then his toddler bed, and now his bunk bed. These two are best friends; I even have art work with their finger and paw prints. We also took a family photo with her in his arms! I think that they will have a long lasting friendship, and since he’s not ready to share his kitty with his sister yet, we may just get her a rescued feline of her own.

Renee - Sacramento, CA

Mon
15 Jun
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Stories from my readers: Angels in the Shelter

Published under Happy Tails.

Summary:   I guess she was "officially" mine before she ever got here. I do rescue, and had taken  a couple of female terrier x types, a young mother and daughter, about Pearl's size, from the Silver Springs NV shelter last year. The daughter, about 10 months old, looked to have some aussie in there as she was a beautiful merle. She looked a lot like our DaisyMae, wire-haired Pointer/Border Collie, with the same sweet, quiet, submissive personality. We were going to keep her, we called her "Merle." My husband loved her. I took the girls in to be spayed. Merle had a bad reaction to the anesthesia. To make a long story short, it was about 2 weeks and $1000 later that we all realized her neurological problems were not going to go away. She could not stand, it was just getting worse. It was the saddest thing as we took her for her last ride. Ron still keeps ...

I guess she was “officially” mine before she ever got here. I do rescue, and had taken  a couple of female terrier x types, a young mother and daughter, about Pearl’s size, from the Silver Springs NV shelter last year. The daughter, about 10 months old, looked to have some aussie in there as she was a beautiful merle. She looked a lot like our DaisyMae, wire-haired Pointer/Border Collie, with the same sweet, quiet, submissive personality. We were going to keep her, we called her “Merle.” My husband loved her.

I took the girls in to be spayed. Merle had a bad reaction to the anesthesia. To make a long story short, it was about 2 weeks and $1000 later that we all realized her neurological problems were not going to go away. She could not stand, it was just getting worse. It was the saddest thing as we took her for her last ride. Ron still keeps her picture as his desktop. He loved her so. It was the end of July last year.

Not more than a few days later I had a dream. The Angel Merle came to me and said, “There is another who needs you. Please find her and save her. She won’t make it without you. Please. Save her.”

So the next day I looked on the Internet at Washoe County AC, where I knew it was possible they might not make it. There was Pearl, cutest little dog, young puppy, still at Washoe, not moved over to NHS. I looked upward and said This can’t be the one. She’s so cute. Someone will come for her. But Merle was right there, and she told me to call them.

I thought I was wasting my time but I made the call. No, she was not on the adoption line. No, she would not be moved to Humane Society side. No, she didn’t have much time left. Better come soon. When I got there she was in isolation in a pen next to a pit bull with babies. Not good. They couldn’t keep her in the adoption line because she literally climbed the walls and jumped over. Escape artist. I saw her do it, a flying leap halfway up the chain link wall, practically crawled across
the ceiling chain. Frightened. Merle was there too.

So she came home beginning of August. After 2 months on the website and absolutely no-one even asking about her I realized that she had come to stay.

Pearl has learned her basic commands and even does some dog agility now. Not once did she ever try to leave. She is a devoted obedient friend, the sweetest little girl was hiding under all that fear. And she welcomes newcomers, fosters we take in, and I know she tells them, “You don’t have to be afraid any more.”

Sheila - Sacramento, CA

Mon
15 Jun
Comments

Stories from my readers: A Forest in the Foreclosure

Published under Happy Tails.

Summary:   “Cruella Coon” is a very large, long haired grey Maine Coon or Forest Cat (not sure). We call her the foreclosure kitty. Two boys had gone to clean out a house that had recently been foreclosed (they worked for the bank who foreclosed on the house), inside they found a houseful of furniture and this cat. They took it upon themselves to take pictures and put an ad on Craigslist. I picked her up the same day. Those boys don’t know how much of a favor they did for me that day. At the time, I had 2 more long haired, grey Maine Coons at home and since that time, the oldest, Smokey has passed away. Cruella is a funny cat and I am so happy to have her in our home. Shelley - Fair Oaks, CA

“Cruella Coon” is a very large, long haired grey Maine Coon or Forest Cat (not sure). We call her the foreclosure kitty. Two boys had gone to clean out a house that had recently been foreclosed (they worked for the bank who foreclosed on the house), inside they found a houseful of furniture and this cat. They took it upon themselves to take pictures and put an ad on Craigslist. I picked her up the same day. Those boys don’t know how much of a favor they did for me that day. At the time, I had 2 more long haired, grey Maine Coons at home and since that time, the oldest, Smokey has passed away. Cruella is a funny cat and I am so happy to have her in our home.

Shelley - Fair Oaks, CA

Mon
15 Jun
Comments

Epiphany while buying cat food

Published under General.

Summary:   I had an interesting epiphany while buying cat food at the grocery store the other day...

I had an interesting epiphany while buying cat food at the grocery store the other day.

 

You see, having been in the animal care profession for 12 + years, I know first-hand the importance of quality dog and cat food. I have personally lectured those with dogs and cats on how vital proper nutrition is in animals, and the difference between higher quality, and lower quality, pet food.

 

On the other side of that, I have also personally seen people neglect their animals to the point of starvation, and thought to myself with disgust, “Would it have killed you to spend 50 cents on a can of Friskies?”.

 

So there I was, at the grocery store, with a very cheap bag of cat food. Why? Because the tides have changed in my life, as can happen to all of us, and I have had to pick myself up, and dust myself off, from a recent major life change. As such, I have had to go back to the very basic commitments that I have made to the animals that I have taken-on in my life; food, water, and shelter. Unfortunately, this does not mean the very best, and very expensive, food that they have eaten in the past. I simply cannot afford that.

 

As I saw a woman glance down at my bargain cat food selection, I felt myself automatically getting defensive at my assumption that she was judging my choice, and I came up with a laundry list of explanations for my “failure” as a pet-parent; “I am doing the best that I can”, “I am going to put them back on the expensive food as soon as I am on my feet”, “they seem to be doing ok on this stuff”.

 

After she glanced down at the bag of food, she looked back up and said, with a slight smile, “I lost my cat about a year ago to cancer; I sure do miss her”. I quickly let go of my own insecurities, and as I began offering my apologies to her for her loss, it hit me; I will not be ashamed that I cannot afford the best food out there right now. I will take pride in the fact that, despite my current struggles, I am making my pets care my top priority. I will take pride in the fact that I am keeping my basic commitments to always provide food, water, and shelter.

 

And I will never again make assumptions about someone else for buying the “cheap stuff”. Hey, at least they’re trying.

Mon
08 Jun
Comments

Alternative Healing in Veterinary Medicine

Published under General.

Summary:   Recently I was asked to offer advice to one of the readers of AllAboutWorms.com whose dog was diagnosed with heartworm disease. The reader was looking for natural methods of healing vs. the usual, more aggressive, medication that is often used for heartworm treatment. Having worked as an emergency and critical veterinary technician, as well as having been in veterinary hospital management, I have had the privilege of working with many wonderful veterinarians that have practices both traditional medicine, and non-traditional medicine. I have seen healing through Chinese herbs, acupuncture, chiropractics, and other less conventional methods. I think that there are many wonderful types of alternative healing and have seen them work wonders. I have seen alternative healing be successful in areas where conventional medicine has not been successful. But, alternatively, I have seen many situations wherein conventional medicine was the much better option in certain circumstances. I integrate both methods in the health ...

Recently I was asked to offer advice to one of the readers of AllAboutWorms.com whose dog was diagnosed with heartworm disease. The reader was looking for natural methods of healing vs. the usual, more aggressive, medication that is often used for heartworm treatment.

Having worked as an emergency and critical veterinary technician, as well as having been in veterinary hospital management, I have had the privilege of working with many wonderful veterinarians that have practices both traditional medicine, and non-traditional medicine. I have seen healing through Chinese herbs, acupuncture, chiropractics, and other less conventional methods.

I think that there are many wonderful types of alternative healing and have seen them work wonders. I have seen alternative healing be successful in areas where conventional medicine has not been successful. But, alternatively, I have seen many situations wherein conventional medicine was the much better option in certain circumstances.

I integrate both methods in the health care of my animal companions, and have always found this a great option to be able to have the best of both worlds. My advice: find a veterinary hospital that practices both types of medicine, because then you can ensure that your animal companion’s treatment plan is one that offers them the best options possible.

See my response to the reader on the All About Worms website here

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