A n i m a l W r i t e s © sm
The official ANIMAL
RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter
Publisher ~ EnglandGal@aol.com
Issue # 07/12/00
Editor ~ JJswans@aol.com
Journalists ~ Park StRanger@aol.com
~
MicheleARivera@aol.com
~
SavingLife@aol.com
Layout ~ Corrynthia@aol.com
THE EIGHT ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE ARE:
1 ~ Sonar Dangers to Whales Proven - by Bobbie
Sandoz
2 ~ You Can Keep Your Companion Healthier, Longer - by
Michele Rivera
3 ~ Petshops That Sell Live Pups/Kittens - from
BnzaJ@aol.com
4 ~ Are All Kids Really That Bad? - by Ryan Courtade
5 ~ Bill Rosenberg Award - from Randy Atlas
6 ~ Recipe: Vegan Blueberry Pancakes - Corrynthia@aol.com
7 ~ Poem: It's Natural - Christine
Beard
8 ~ Quote to Remember - John Steinbeck
`*³³¤³*´`´`*³:»§«:´*´`´`*³¤³«:*´`³¤³´`³¤³´`³¤³´`³:»«:*´`´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³*´`´`*:»§«:³*´`´`*¤³³*'
Sonar
Dangers to Whales Proven
by Bobbie Sandoz, MSW,
Author, Listening to Wild Dolphins
www.bobbiesandoz.com SandozB@aol.com
Dr.
Darlene Ketten's ear exams on stranded whales bleeding from their eyes have
provided the link between whale strandings and Navy sonar tests, long suspected
by environmentalists and non-government scientists.
In view of persistent government failure to provide autopsies that would reveal
whether or not stranded mammals had suffered the tissue, lung, and ear
explosion symptoms predicted by the Marine Mammal Commission to be the result
of sonar exposure, these tests were facilitated by an interesting source.
The whales, who often swim great distances in order to strand before us on our
shores and reveal their struggle beneath the sea, came this time to a beach
fronting the home of Dr. Ken Balcomb, a caring marine biologist who made sure
they received timely and appropriate autopsies.
Now that the suspected link has been firmly established, it offers new clues to
the "mysterious" deaths of other cetaceans and marine mammals with
similar symptoms stranding by the thousands all over the world. As a result,
continued efforts to ignore and deny such serious problems with this risky
technology will no longer slip by the American public and press with the same
ease previously enjoyed.
Non government scientists and environmentalists have been trying to warn of the
immense and lethal force of these new sonar devices being secretly tried
throughout the world in preparation for full deployment in 80% of our
oceans. Government studies on their
results have been secret, swift, and shoddy and have provided more evidence for
dire concerns than the assurances of safety they had hoped to produce.
Now, the key is for the American public to sleep with one eye open until all
pressure to press forward has stopped. Clearly let your congressional
representatives know that you want this new brand of sonar out of the water in
order to keep our oceans safe and preserve life on earth as we know it.
If we unite in both action and prayer to preserve our beautiful blue oceans and
the wondrous marine life within them, we will become a better humanity who can
look our own souls in the eye.
`*³³¤³*´`´`*³:»§«:´*´`´`*³¤³«:*´`³¤³´`³¤³´`³¤³´`³:»«:*´`´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³*´`´`*:»§«:³*´`´`*¤³³*'
You Can Keep Your
Companion Healthier, Longer!
by Michele Rivera (MicheleARivera@aol.com)
As an animal-rights activist/writer, a lot of the
people with whom I associate are already well educated on the issue of companion-animal
sterilization. However, as a veterinary technician, I have access to lots
of people who are not. The vets at my clinic, thankfully, are
pro-sterilization, and they allow me lots of opportunities to educate our
clients. For this reason, I embarked on a research project that included
personal interviews with veterinarians, as well as internet and library
research in an effort to get the FACTS about spaying and neutering as a health
issue. There are two benefits to this approach. First, I found that
if I appealed to a client based solely on the social irresponsibility of having
litters of puppies or kittens, they were unimpressed. This was not THEIR
problem. Additionally, education on behavioral changes in sterilized animals
fell on deaf ears. The argument came back again and again: "I love
him/her just the way s/he is and don't want to change a thing!" So I
found that appealing to their desire to keep their companions healthy for a
longer time (which means less money spent at the vet), was a much better
approach.
The second benefit to this research is that our powers of persuasion are much
stronger if we have the truth on our side. At the Animal Rights 2000
conference, Howard Lyman pointed out the rationale behind this. On all
the issues that we deal with as activists, and on every level, the truth is on
our side. The horrors of what we do to animals is well-documented and true, we
don't have to make stuff up! And if we do make stuff up, we impeach
everything we say. So this point was driven home again and again.
Know your facts, do your research and tell the truth. This is the only way we
will be an effective, collective voice for the animals.
We know that our readers have all had their companion animals sterilized, and
so this article is meant to be a tool for you to print out and hand out to
those of your friends who have yet to make this important decision. Feel
free to give it to your vet to make copies and hand out to all his clients with
new puppies. The more people who learn the facts, the better for the
animals. And that's what it's all about.
The Health Benefits of Sterilization
There are many good reasons to sterilize your dog or cat, and each person has
to decide what is the most important to them. However, experts agree that
spaying or neutering your pet will insure a longer, healthier life.
Studies show that animals who are spayed or neutered relatively early, between
5-8 months, are much less likely to suffer from certain types of cancer later
on in life. Although many of these cancers are treatable, the treatment
tends to be expensive and can be somewhat unpleasant for the patient. The
most common reason to perform ovariohysterectomy (OHE) (spay) is to prevent
estrus and unwanted litters. Other reasons include prevention of mammary
(breast) tumors (the most common tumor in female pets, both feline and canine),
prevention and treatment of pyometra (a potentially life-threatening
accumulation of purulent material within the uterus), inflammation of the
uterus (metritis), cancer, (ovarian, uterine, or vaginal) cysts, uterine or
vaginal prolapse, vaginal hyperplasia and even control of some endocrine
abnormalities, such as diabetes, epilepsy and dermatoses.
Female dogs and cats:
~ The risk of mammary tumors for dogs spayed before their first heat is
0.05%. This risk increased to 8% after one heat cycle, and 26% after the
second heat.
~ Cats who are spayed prior to one year of age have a 0.6% risk of
developing mammary carcinomas compared with intact cats.
Male dogs and cats:
Gonadectomy (neuter) is one of the most ancient surgical procedures
performed upon domestic animals. A treatise on the diseases of dogs written
in 284 B.C. bears this out. The ancients were well aware of the
benefits of neutering a male dog. Therefore, the experts have had enough
time to perfect this surgery and all its attendant benefits.
Current recommendations suggest that male dogs and cats be neutered between the
ages of 6-8 months. Studies show that neutering male animals drastically
cuts down on certain obnoxious and unpleasant behaviors while keeping the
animals personality totally intact.
The old wives tale that a neutered dog will become fat and lazy is not grounded
in fact. The truth is, the behaviors that are avoided through this simple
surgery are not wanted in the average household pet.
These behaviors include:
1. in-house urine marking
2. mounting of people and other animals
3. fighting or aggression towards other males
4. wandering
Behaviors that are NOT affected by the neuter surgery are:
1. watchdog barking
2. hunting
3. playfulness
4. activity level
5. seeking of affection
In adult dogs that are engaging in urine marking inside the house, fighting
with and/or mounting other dogs, people or objects, neutering appears to reduce
or eliminate this behavior in the majority of the animals. Neutering also
drastically reduces the anxiety in male dogs. That "I gotta get
out...lemme out.....lemme out now" mentality. For those who think neutering
a male dog is cruel, think of the cruelty of preserving a strong sex drive
that can never be alleviated.
Health Benefits of Neutering
Just as in female hormones, testosterone, the male hormone, is responsible for
a variety of medical problems, all of which can be expensive and unpleasant to
treat. Remove the testes, (which make the hormone testosterone) and you
remove that risk. Some of these diseases and disorders are prostatitis
(inflammation of the prostate), hernias, tumors and hair loss. The
testicles themselves are also subject to tumors (cancer) and infection.
Castration is recommended for the treatment of the diseases of the testicles,
but can be a preventative as well. Many owners believe, erroneously, that
this operation will make the dog less brave, less macho. Personality is not
determined by sex hormones exclusively, but by breeding, environment and
upbringing. For those who believe that neutering their male dog is cruel
or unnecessary, the argument that neutering reduces the chances of testicular
and prostate cancer usually wins them over. Who wouldn't want to spare their
best friend the pain of cancer if they can avoid it?
Both spay and neuter surgery is quick and painless as the animal is under
general anesthesia. The recovery time is only one day and the patient can
usually be discharged from the hospital with only the pain medication that was
employed at the time of the surgery. In most cases, the patient will be
brought back to the clinic for an
incision check and removal of any sutures in about ten days.
`*³³¤³*´`´`*³:»§«:´*´`´`*³¤³«:*´`³¤³´`³¤³´`³¤³´`³:»«:*´`´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³*´`´`*:»§«:³*´`´`*¤³³*'
Petshops That Sell Live
Pups/Kittens
Jacki
Hadra, the founder of IMOM (In Memory of Magic) who organized the
anti-puppymill demonstrations on July 2nd is asking us all for a small favor --
see below.
The intent is to compile a national list of petshops large and small who both
DO and DON'T sell companion animals as part of their merchandise. Obviously we all want to help support those
that DON'T by giving them our business. National listings will help give
a much clearer picture of where the thrust of the action should be.
Recently there have been many newspaper and media accounts of some of the worst
cases; raising public awareness to a degree never before seen. It is up
to us to make every effort in helping.
Thanks and please pass this on to others.
"Could everyone who read this post please forward. I would like to have everyone check their
phone books and newspapers and send me the name, address and phone number of
any pet stores.
Please send them to jacki@imom.org and write Pet Store Location in the subject
line.
This info is vital to statistics we are trying to work out and we need your
help.
Thanks,
Jacki Hadra
IMOM Founder/Director"
Source:
BnzaJ@aol.com
`*³³¤³*´`´`*³:»§«:´*´`´`*³¤³«:*´`³¤³´`³¤³´`³¤³´`³:»«:*´`´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³*´`´`*:»§«:³*´`´`*¤³³*'
Are All Kids Really That Bad?
by Ryan Courtade (LAAPrez@aol.com)
On July 17, 2000, from 10:00-2:00 at Fountain
Square, in Cincinnati Ohio, teenagers will be taking a stand for what they
believe is right. Many teenagers will be conducting a protest against Procter
and Gamble's animal testing.
This protest calls for Procter and Gamble to end its animal testing. Procter
and Gamble continues to test on animals, even though no law requires it. Also there are more than 550 other companies
that do not test on animals.
If corporations as big as Gillette and Revlon can ensure their customers safety
by using non-animal tests, why can't Procter and Gamble?
Proctor & Gamble has blinded and poisoned thousands of animals, including
mice, rats, rabbits, and guinea pigs. During such tests, laboratory workers
drip chemicals into the eyes of restrained rabbits, force substances down the
animals' throats and fill their cages with toxic fumes. No surprise that such
poisoning can cause convulsions, vomiting, bleeding from the nose and mouth and
painful deaths. The animals are often locked into restraining devices so they
cannot escape the pain; they do not get sedatives or post-exposure painkillers.
Some animals used in such tests have broken their necks or backs trying to
escape.
Love All Animals is calling for all people wanting to come to the protest to
contact Ryan at <LAAPrez@aol.com>
Also another local group will be attending. And many members from other
national groups will also be helping out.
Contact: Ryan Courtade
E-mail: LAAPrez@aol.com
`*³³¤³*´`´`*³:»§«:´*´`´`*³¤³«:*´`³¤³´`³¤³´`³¤³´`³:»«:*´`´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³*´`´`*:»§«:³*´`´`*¤³³*'
Bill Rosenberg Award
Tenth
Anniversary
Honoring
Young Champions of Farmed Animals
Presented by FARM (Farm Animal Reform Movement)
Email: Farmusa@erols.com
Each
year, the BILL ROSENBERG AWARD honors a young person under the age of 18 who
has made a substantial contribution to ending abuse of animals raised for food.
The Award consists of a plaque and a $300 cash prize.
The BILL ROSENBERG AWARD was established in 1990 in memory of a young champion
of farmed animals who passed away earlier that year.
At the age of 13, after reading about the plight of animals, Bill decided to
end their exploitation by not eating them. At 14, he joined FARM and other
animal rights groups. In addition to educating his friends and family, he
addressed the general public through literature and demonstrations.
At the age of 16, he organized a Mother's Day March Against Veal. At 17, Bill
founded the first-ever animal rights club at his high school. He educated his
fellow students on animal rights issues and actions they could take to reduce
animal abuse.
Bill Rosenberg believed that, no matter how young a person was, s/he could help
create a kinder world. The winners of the BILL ROSENBERG AWARD have
carried on this tradition.
Past winners of the BILL ROSENBERG AWARD are: Kathryn Blomgren, Michael
Markarian, David Berman, Katy Reagan, Marc Freligh, Danny Seo, Ella Magers,
Paul Shapiro, Chu Hui Cha, and Patrick Kwan.
To be considered for the BILL ROSENBERG AWARD, submit a 1-2 page typed
statement of your accomplishments to help stop suffering of farmed animals. You
may also send up to three pages of supporting materials, including
recommendations from animal rights leaders or others who are familiar with your
work.
Please mail your application to:
Bill Rosenberg Award
2301 Curtis Street
Berkeley, CA 94702
The deadline for this special Tenth Anniversary Award is September 25, 2000.
For additional information, contact Riki Robbins at 510-649-9666.
Source: ranatlas@earthlink.net
(Randy Atlas)
`*³³¤³*´`´`*³:»§«:´*´`´`*³¤³«:*´`³¤³´`³¤³´`³¤³´`³:»«:*´`´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³*´`´`*:»§«:³*´`´`*¤³³*'
Vegan Blueberry Pancakes
Corrynthia@aol.com
1/2 c unbleached flour
1/2 c whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp En-R-G egg replacer powder
2 tsp non-aluminum baking powder
1 T wheat germ
1 1/2 c soy milk, plain or vanilla
1 T canola oil
1 cup fresh blueberries, washed and drained
Heat griddle over medium heat.
In medium bowl, stir together dry ingredients. Add soy milk and oil; mix
well.
Spray griddle with non-stick cooking spray. Using 1/4 cup of batter for
each pancake, pour batter onto heated griddle; immediately top with 10-12
blueberries. Cook until top of pancake begins to dry. Flip
carefully and continue cooking for about one minute. Remove from
griddle.
Enjoy as is or topped with pure maple syrup or confectioner's sugar, or with
any remaining blueberries. Then smile to show the world your blue
teeth!! =)
`*³³¤³*´`´`*³:»§«:´*´`´`*³¤³«:*´`³¤³´`³¤³´`³¤³´`³:»«:*´`´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³*´`´`*:»§«:³*´`´`*¤³³*'
It's Natural
As I watch the image
Of the buck on the screen:
Old, past caring,
Being pulled down by
The wolf pack:
Hungry, determined.
I think of the hunter I once met
Who accused me of not
Understanding death.
"Death's part of life," he said,
As though it were something
Only he knew. "It's natural."
And so he went out
With his camouflage toilet paper
And his high-powered rifle
To sit in a tree house
Filling his beer gut
With yet another Bud
Waiting for true death
In the form of a young buck, vibrant buck
Whose head he longed
To stick
On the wall
In his living room.
- Christine Beard -
`*³³¤³*´`´`*³:»§«:´*´`´`*³¤³«:*´`³¤³´`³¤³´`³¤³´`³:»«:*´`´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³*´`´`*:»§«:³*´`´`*¤³³*'
Quote To Remember
"I've
seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I
am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts."
-- John Steinbeck
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»
Susan Roghair - EnglandGal@aol.com
Animal Rights Online
P O Box 7053
Tampa, Fl 33673-7053
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/1395/
-=Animal Rights Online=-
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»
(Permission Granted To Quote/Forward/Reprint/Repost This
Newsletter In
Whole Or In Part with credit given to EnglandGal@aol.com)
* Please forward this to a friend who
you think
might be interested in subscribing to our newsletter.
* ARO gratefully accepts and
considers articles for publication
from subscribers on veg*anism and animal issues.
Send submissions to JJswans@aol.com