Pit Bull Puppies Poisoned At Pit Bull Awareness Event

by Megan Drake October 19, 2012 @ 4:00 pm

Pennsylvania is not known as very animal friendly as evidenced by the legality of live pigeon shooting in the state. Now comes an alarming story of six 8-week-old pit bull puppies who were poisoned while attending a pit bull awareness event in Hollidaysburg. How’s that for irony?

Founders of A Darrah Bull Bully Rescue (ADBBR) brought the pups to the first annual Central Pennsylvania Pit Bull Awareness Day on Saturday, October 13. At about 2:00 p.m. Renae Metz, one of the founders, noticed that one of the puppies, Yogi, looked like he was having trouble. “His stomach was bloated, he had glazy eyes and couldn’t hold his head up,” said Metz.

Yogi was rushed to Ebensburg Animal Hospital where he died. The other five pups – Niayah, Mongy, Aramis, Deacon and Takoda – were sent to the animal hospital for observation and given IV fluids. Tragically, Takoda also died.

A necropsy confirmed poisoning. Brittany Miller, another founder of ADBBR, spoke with me by telephone and relayed the veterinarian suspected bleach or a bleach-based product was put in the water bowls. This caused their livers to start bleeding. Two days before, the puppies were given a clean bill of health by the veterinarian.

ADBBR is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to a conviction of the perpetrators. The money was generously donated by some of the adoptive parents, and others, with a $1,000 donation from a single person. Both the Pennsylvania State Police and the State Dog Warden are actively investigating this poisoning.

All of the surviving puppies have been approved for adoptive homes. Media coverage brought numerous applications. Niayah, Aramis, Deacon and Mongy are all back in their foster homes awaiting final adoption. Brittany told me the veterinarian wants to wait a little longer to spay/neuter because of the poisoning. He wants to ensure it is totally out of their systems before surgery.

Understanding Bully Breeds

ADBBR rescues all bully breeds — from Rottweilers to bulldogs and pit bulls. They are dedicated to educating the public about bully breeds. Did you know in the early twentieth century pit bulls used to be called “nanny dogs” because they were so dedicated to protecting the young children of their household?

It’s important to understand that any dog has the potential to bite humans.

Without proper socialization as a puppy within a loving home, any dog can become aggressive. If a dog – any breed – is raised to be violent you have the possibility of aggression causing harm to humans and/or other animals.

It is also imperative that people — especially children — be taught humane education and the proper way to interact with unfamiliar dogs and other animals. According to the American Humane Association (AHA), of the 4.7 million estimated dog bites each year almost 800,000 require medical intervention. Fifty percent of the attacks were on children under the age of 12.

Many townships have passed breed-specific legislation (BSL) but this only serves to provide a false sense of security, because any dog can become aggressive. BSL is expensive and often poorly-enforced, therefore providing little protection to the general public from dog bite incidents.

The AHA reports 25 different breeds of dogs were involved in 238 fatal dog attacks in the U.S. and sites “responsible breeding and ownership, public education and enforcement of existing laws are the most effective ways of reducing dog bites.”

Check out events for the 6th National Pit Bull Awareness Day, being held this year on October 27.
So yes, that adage “it’s the deed, not the breed” is something we should all be aware of.
Take a look at some photos of the poisoned puppies Brittany Miller shared with me.


Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/pit-bull-puppies-poisoned-at-pit-bull-awareness-event.html#ixzz2A2NdVzWg

Whoopi Goldberg Honored By Lupus Foundation Of America

October 22, 2012

Whoopi Goldberg, physician and renowned researcher Dr. Michael Lockshin, and humanitarians Judith and Wayne Barlin were honored for their work to improve the lives of people with lupus, at the Lupus Foundation of America's annual Butterfly Gala in New York City on October 18.

Other special guests at the Gala included multi-talented musician, philanthropist and photographer Julian Lennon, actor S. Epatha Merkerson, music producer Phil Ramone, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Saks Fifth Avenue, Stephen I. Sadove. Actor Phylicia Rashad served as the Master of Ceremonies.

Four-time Grammy award winner India.Arie inspired and moved the crowd with a performance of her song There’s Hope: a salute to the honorees and the hope they bring to people with lupus.

Lennon and Merkerson presented Goldberg with the 2012 National Public Awareness Award for her work to increase public awareness of issues touching the lives of women and children, including lupus. Dr. Michael Lockshin, one of America’s most preeminent doctors and lupus researchers, received the National Leadership Award for Lupus Medical Advancement. Dr. Lockshin is Director of the Barbara Volcker Center for Women and Rheumatic Disease and Professor of Medicine and Obstetrics-Gynecology at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

Judith and Wayne Barlin received the Lupus Foundation of America Family of the Year Award for making possible more than $1.5 million in support for pediatric lupus research and for establishing the Michael Jon Barlin Pediatric Research Fund. The Barlins also developed a college scholarship program for young people with lupus. The Barlins’ son, Michael Jon, passed away from lupus in his early 20s.

The Gala seeks to focus attention on lupus, an autoimmune disease that affects 1.5 million Americans, mostly women of childbearing age. Although lupus can be fatal and can rob a person of their most productive years, it does not share the high profile of other diseases.

“The challenges we face to make lupus one of the top national health priorities do not daunt us,” said Peter Schwab, chair of the Lupus Foundation of America’s National Board of Directors. “We remain steadfast in our mission to advance lupus research and, just as importantly, provide education and support to those with the disease as well as to further raise awareness of this significant health threat.”

The Lupus Foundation of America’s New York City Butterfly Gala is the companion event to the Foundation’s National Butterfly Gala held each year in Washington, DC. The Butterfly Galas raise awareness about lupus and generate critical funding for research, education, and advocacy for people with lupus.

Read more: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/9137-whoopi-goldberg-honored-by-lupus-foundation-of-america?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#ixzz2A26Eqc54

California Landlords Can’t Require Pet Mutilation

by Piper Hoffman October 21, 2012 @ 1:00 pm



Landlords have been forcing tenants to mutilate their cats and dogs if they want to rent apartments. Fortunately, California is making them stop.

Until recently, landlords could require tenants to declaw their cats and devocalize their dogs. These are not trivial procedures, but serious operations that agonize the animals and have lasting negative effects.

Declawing

“Declawing is actually an amputation of the last joint of your cat’s ‘toes,’” not just a fingernail trim, according to veterinarian Christianne Schelling. “It is a painful surgery, with a painful recovery period.”

“Declaw surgery exposes cats to the risks of general anesthesia and complications of the surgical procedure, which include bleeding, infection, lameness, nerve damage, gangrene, extensive tissue damage, and death,” the Paw Project explains.

Declawing cats makes them vulnerable to predators if they spend time outdoors or escape from their homes. Their claws are “their primary means of defense” and also help them escape to safety by climbing trees. Deprived of their claws, cats can become fearful and withdrawn.

Cats also use their claws for balance, and to exercise and stretch their muscles by digging into a surface “and pulling back against their own clawhold — similar to isometric exercising for humans,” according to Declawing.com. Without their claws they cannot exercise and stretch properly, which “can cause back pain” and other physical problems.

Amputating the first joint of a cat’s toes is such a drastic, painful surgery that at least 25 countries have banned it, including England, France, Switzerland, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand and Israel.

Presumably landlords who require declawing believe that it will protect their property. But even if a cat with claws does cause property damage, for example by scratching a rug, repairs can be paid for out of the tenant’s security deposit. Money doesn’t justify the damage and suffering this mutilation causes defenseless creatures.

Devocalizing

Devocalizing dogs is also radical and inhumane. It is the cutting or removal of a dog’s vocal cords. The surgery can substantially decrease a dog’s quality of life, without offering any benefit to the dog. It can make dogs gag on food and even water. Scar tissue can make it hard for devocalized dogs to breathe.

People subject dogs to this cruelty for their own convenience. Some breeders routinely devocalize all of their dogs so that neighbors don’t complain about noise. Dogfighters and hoarders may devocalize dogs to hide their cruel and illegal activities. Some show dog exhibitors choose to silence their dogs to keep them “quiet in transit between shows or in the ring.”

Landlords who require tenants to subject their dogs to devocalization probably hope that it will reduce noise complaints from other tenants. Training dogs when they should not bark can achieve the same effect without causing suffering and even death. Addressing the reasons for a dog’s frequent barking is even better: the most common causes are “Loneliness, boredom and distress,” according to Pat Miller, a certified dog behavior consultant and past president of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.

Devocalization is entirely illegal in Massachusetts and New Jersey.

Kudos to California for not making residents choose between shelter and their companion animals’ health, safety and wellbeing.


Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/california-landlords-cant-require-pet-mutilation.html#ixzz2A21agik3

Movember 2012 – Knowledge is Power and the Moustache is King

We are open for business, come on in and join our family! Movember, the Global Men’s Health charity initiative staged annually during November, has launched the 2012 campaign and registrations are now open.

This will be the 3rd year that South African men and women register and support the Global charity that is ‘Changing the Face of Men’s Health’, which sees men grow moustaches for 30 days during November in order to raise awareness and funds for CANSA’s prostate and testicular cancer programmes and initiatives.

Movember Supports CANSA’s Men’s Health Programme

Over the past two years, Movember has paid homage to the Modern Gentleman and Country Gentleman, exploring his appreciation and penchant for luxury items, etiquette, craftsmanship, pride and honour. In 2012, Movember gets down to the raw hard truths of the past two years,taking a look, quite simply, at what it means to be a better man. 2012 is the year of Movember & Sons.

In 2011, the campaign had close to 18 000 men (known as Mo Bros) and women (known as Mo Sistas) registered as active participants and R4.9 million was raised for the local men’s health partner, namely CANSA.

Founded in Melbourne, Australia, in 2003, Movember enjoyed 856 000 Mo Bros and Sistas, registered from 14 countries in 2011, raising over R949 million last year alone. In 2012, Movember will launch in a further 7 countries, increasing the number to 21 countries participating in the campaign. This has resulted in Movember being one of the single biggest contributors to prostate cancer research globally through their GAP (Global Action Plan) initiative – which has already achieved remarkable outcomes and breakthroughs.

Mo Bros and Sistas are asked to register – for free – on the South African landing page of www.movember.com, where participants can also post and chronicle their moustache journey and | or support their favourite ‘moustache merchants’ on their respective Mo Space pages. Mo Bros and Sistas who have registered previously are required to re-register in order to participate in the 2012 campaign. There are a few new additions to this year’s campaign including various challenges within communities and industries participating in the campaign.

Those who have already pledged their support, vowed to grow a moustache and join the Movember conversation include Springboks Andries Bekker, Frans Steyn and Dean Greyling.

Movember Partners

• Major partners to this year’s Movember campaign include OUTsurance, who has committed that registered Mo Bros and Mo Sistas who call in for a free life insurance quote will receive R200 donated to their Mo Space Pages.
• Low cost airline kulula, will allow registered Mo Bros and Mo Sistas who book and fly with the airline an additional bag (or 20kg’s luggage) and free access to the SLOW Lounges during the month of Movember.
• Clover, as promotional partner, will donate a portion of sales of all Clover Mmmilk products over this period to the campaign.

Register Now!

To register and find out more visit www.movember.com

Paul McCartney Supports Campaign To Save Sea Turtles

October 21, 2012

Sir Paul McCartney has lent his support for a campaign to save sea turtles from being farmed for food in the world’s last commercial farm in the Cayman Islands.

He announced his support last week with a news story on his website, calling for fans to support the World Society for the Protection of Animals' (WSPA) campaign to stop sea turtle farming at the Cayman Turtle Farm, in the Cayman Islands.

McCartney tweeted: “There is no humane way to farm sea turtles. Support @WSPA campaign to #stopseaturtlefarming” adding on his official Facebook page: “the Cayman Turtle Farm is the last place on Earth that breeds endangered sea turtles for food.”

An investigation conducted by WSPA has revealed disturbing evidence of animal cruelty, along with massive conservation and financial failures at the Cayman Turtle Farm.

Despite marketing itself as a conservation focused tourist attraction, the Cayman Turtle Farm is the world’s last remaining facility that commercially raises sea turtles for slaughter and consumption.
Some 7,000 endangered sea turtles – accurately portrayed in Finding Nemo as peaceful animals that travel thousands of miles across oceans – have been effectively immobilized and stockpiled in filthy, tiny tanks for so long that they have begun to cannibalize each other.

The shocking images documented during WSPA’s investigation show widespread problems at the tourist attraction that also commercially factory farms thousands of turtles for human consumption under the banner of sea turtle conservation.

Stress from overcrowding turns these gentle animals into cannibals and WSPA staff saw turtles with fins entirely chewed away. In-breeding causes turtles to be born with massive deformities, such as no eyes; these young animals have no chance at life at all.

WSPA Wildlife Campaign Leader Dr Neil D’Cruze said: "The farm itself reports that demand for turtle meat has halved, possibly due to waning interest. The galling backdrop to this large-scale suffering is that of the 31,000 turtles the farm says it has released since 1968, only 133 have been released in the last five years and in over 40 years only 11 farm-tagged turtles have actually made it back to the beach to nest.

McDonald's bloody burger kills appetite

All That Is Bitter and Sweet by Ashley Judd

Ashley Judd is an award-winning film and stage actor known for her roles in both box-office hits and art-house gems, and the daughter and sister of country-music royalty. In 2002, drawing on a deep well of empathy forged by a painful childhood, she found her true calling: as a humanitarian and advocate for those suffering in neglected parts of the world.

Asked why she was opting out of a successful career, walking away while she was one of the highest-paid women in Hollywood, Ashley herself could not provide an answer. She simply knew that after her first trip to the notorious brothels, slums, and hospices of southeast Asia, her own life depended on advocating on behalf of the vulnerable. Promising each new sister, “I will never forget you,” Ashley began writing extraordinary diaries—on which this memoir is based—expanding her capacity to relate to, and to share with a global audience, stories of survival and resilience.


Along the way, Ashley realized that the coping strategies she had developed to deal with her own emotional pain, stemming from childhood abandonment, were no longer working. Seeking in-patient treatment in 2006 for the grief that had nearly killed her, Ashley found not only her own recovery and an enriched faith but an expanded kit of spiritual tools that energized and advanced her feminist social justice work.


Now in this deeply moving and unforgettable memoir, Ashley Judd describes her odyssey, as a left-behind lost child attains international prominence as a fiercely dedicated advocate. Her story ranges from anger to forgiveness, isolation to interdependence, depression to activism. In telling it, she resoundingly answers the ineffable question about the relationship between healing oneself and healing others.

How to get your own activist page for fundraising projects

http://www.givengain.com/learn/activists/

 

How GivenGain Works

GivenGain is the place for global philanthropy. We're known primarily for two things:

• We help Individuals do extraordinary things to raise money for their favourite causes
• We help Charities and Non-profits build strong and sustainable funding models.

Individuals

We call our philanthropists, fundraisers, and opinion leaders Activists. Some of them give money, others give advice, and a brave few create fundraising projects.

 

 

Dolly the blind Pit Bull

Dolly is a 6 year old female pit bull. She came to our shelter on October of 2009, because she was scheduled to be euthanized at the local city pound. She was the perfect candidate to be put down, because she was blind; her head was cracked with a baseball bat; she had possible brain damage; her right ear was almost hanging off, and was apparently lit on fire judging by the burns and scabs on her body.

Hers is not really a unique story in animal rescue, but she is possibly the sweetest creature I’ve ever encountered – especially after what she’s been through. She’s so innocent that I’m sure she thought she must have been a bad girl and deserved to be punished.  She has ZERO aggression, and actually adores any type of human interaction. She also lacks the ability to frown. What I mean is that from the moment she awakens to the time she goes to bed at night, she has the most genuine beaming smile.

She also loves to play with other dogs after she has the opportunity to meet them and determine that they play fair, since she can’t see. When a person or canine that she knows enters her room, she immediately starts to buck like a deer, twirl and frolic like a puppy. We have a volunteer who recently had a death in the family, who relies on playing with her every day. He calls her a life saver, and actually she would probably qualify to be a therapy dog.

We had her spayed and her head, ears and body are long healed, but the blow(s) to the head seemed to have affected her sight permanently. Regardless, my volunteer is going to adopt her, since he has permission to take her to work!! -- Robert

 

Dolly's story has a happy ending thanks to the volunteers who rescued her and treated her for her injuries. It is important to remember that Dolly is one of many animals who fall victim to abuse at the hands of humans.

Great Spirit