A n i m a l   W r i t e s © sm

The official ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter

  

    Publisher   ~ EnglandGal@aol.com                          Issue # 07/18/01

        Editor    ~ JJswans@aol.com

    Journalists ~ Park StRanger@aol.com

                     ~ MichelleRivera1@aol.com

                     ~ sbest1@elp.rr.com

 

 

    THE SEVEN ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE ARE:

  

    1  ~ My Foster Dog Is Beautiful  by Martha O'Connor

    2  ~ The Fight To Keep Dogs Off The Menu

    3  ~ Say No To Trapping Stamp

    4  ~ Circus Billboards

    5  ~ The Food Revolution (book review)

    6  ~ America the Beautiful?  by Donna Anderson

    7  ~ Memorable Quote

      

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My Foster Dog Is Beautiful

Martha O'Connor

Corgi and Corgi Mix rescue - Missouri

submitted by Beatrice Welles - cecibn@sedona.net

 

My foster dog stinks to high heaven.  I don't know for sure what breed he is.  His eyes are blank and hard. He won't let me pet him and growls when I reach for him. He has ragged scars and crusty sores on his skin.

 

His nails are long and his teeth which he showed me are stained.  I sigh.  I drove two hours for this.  I carefully maneuver him so that I can stuff him in the crate. Then I heft the crate and put it in the car.  I am going home with my new foster dog.

 

At home I leave him in the crate till all the other dogs are in the yard. I get him out of the crate and ask him if he wants 'outside'.  As I lead him to the door he hikes his leg on the wall and shows me his stained teeth again.  When we come in he goes to the crate because that's the only safe place

he sees.  I offer him food but he won't eat it if I look at him, so I turn my back.  When I come back the food is gone.  I ask again about 'outside'.

 

When we come back I pat him before I let him in the crate, he jerks away and runs into the crate to show me his teeth.

 

The next day I decide I can't stand the stink any longer I lead him into the bath with cheese in my hand.  His fear of me is not quite overcome by his wish for the cheese.  And well he should fear me, for I will give him a bath.  After an attempt or two to bail out he is defeated and stands there.  I have bathed four legged bath squirters for more dogs years than he has been alive.  His only defense was a show of his stained teeth that did not hold up to a face full of water.  As I wash him it is almost as if I wash not only the stink and dirt away but also some of his hardness.  His eyes look full of sadness now.  And he looks completely pitiful as only a soap covered dog can.  I tell him that he will feel better when he is cleaned. After the soap, the towels are not too bad so he lets me rub him dry.  I take him outside.  He runs for joy.  The joy of not being in the tub and the joy of being clean.  I, the bath giver, am allowed to share the joy.  He comes to me and lets me pet him.

 

One week later I have a vet bill.  His skin is healing.  He likes for me to pet him.  I think I know what color he will be when his hair grows in.  I have found out he is terrified of other dogs.  So I carefully introduce him to my mildest four legged brat. It doesn't go well.

 

Two weeks later a new vet bill for an infection that was missed on the first visit.  He plays with the other dogs.

 

Three weeks later he asks to be petted.  He chewed up part of the rug.

 

Eight weeks later his coat shines, he has gained weight.  He shows his clean teeth when his tongue lolls out after he plays chase in the yard with the gang.  His eyes are soft and filled with life.  He loves hugs and likes to show off his tricks, if you have the cheese.

 

Someone called today and asked about him, they saw the picture I took the first week.  They asked about his personality, his history, his breed.  They asked if he was pretty.  I asked them lots of questions.  I checked up on them.  I prayed.  I said yes.  When they saw him the first time they said he was the most beautiful dog they had ever seen.

 

Six months later I got a call from his new family.  He is wonderful, smart, well behaved and very loving.  How could someone not want him?  I told them I didn't know.  He is beautiful.  They all are.

 

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The Fight To Keep Dogs Off The Menu

from conectus@enternet.co.nz

 

A global Petition which has attracted nearly 4 million signatures and supporters is to be presented to the United Nations in November.  Representatives from New Zealand, Norway, Italy and Great Britain will be attending the presentation.  The Petition is protesting the fact that China is importing

western breed dogs, namely, Saint Bernards, Great Danes, Newfoundlands, Tibetan Mastiffs and breeding them as livestock for food.

 

Some quarters have said that there is nothing to be done as it is China's "culture" to eat dogs.  Mrs. Elly Maynard, Initiator of the Petition and President of Phoenix Animal Trust New Zealand disagrees.  "If you want to talk 'culture', then these animals belong to ours. We breed them purely

as domestic companion animals not food and this will never happen".  Four million people agree and the signatures are still coming in from every part of the world.

 

With many Asian countries now banning the slaughter and sale of dog meat, it is about time that China became a part of the world and followed suit.  Otherwise, it will seem that this country thinks they can do what they  please with our animals.  The Korean dog situation is horrendous and our

animals are being slaughtered the same, though with the Saints, the slaughter has been refined to include cutting holes in their paws and letting them bleed to death, breaking of legs the night before slaughter and of course, the live skinning so the coats do not shed to name a few methods. 

 

Mrs. Maynard is fully committed to this cause and will be traveling to Rome to present the Petition.  "We want the dogs classified as not for human consumption.  While the United Nations do not set laws, they have the power to classify these animals on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN list of all edible animals.  It is interesting to note that dogs do not appear anywhere on the list."

 

The breeding/cross breeding of these beautiful animals was started as a pure money making venture. The Saints were chosen because they did not bite and had large litters of puppies.  To all those signing the international petitions there is also no difference between a full bred Saint  Bernard and a cross bred one.  The breeding of these animals as livestock is abhorrent.

 

Great Britain is presently voting on a Bill which will safeguard all animals going to Asia.  It has passed the first Reading unopposed and goes to a Second Reading in three weeks time.

 

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Say No To Trapping Stamp

from caftutah@hotmail.com

 

The National Trappers Association is pressuring the US Post Office to develop a pro trapping postage stamp.  The NTA has even threatened to sue the US Post Office if they don't get their way.

 

People opposed to cruel traps generated letters to the post office about this issue a month ago.  But the trappers are making a second push to get their way.

 

Please write the US Post Office and ask them not to give into the threats of a small organization that is out of touch with the majority of Americans.

 

You can point out that any stamps commemorating fur trapping will serve no purpose other than to glorify cruel devices that crush into animals paws, tear flesh, and rip tendons.

 

 Write to:

 

 Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee

 c/o Stamp Development, U.S. Postal Service

 475 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W. Room 4474-E

 Washington D.C. 20260-2437

 

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Circus Billboards

 

The Animal Protection Institute (API) is offering Free Anti-Circus Billboards, Posters, Flyers, and Educational Packets to grassroots individuals and groups.

 

The Anti-Circus Billboards are an easy way to send the anti-circus message to a large number of people!  They cost about the same as a small newspaper ad and are usually posted for an entire month!  API's billboard features a picture of three chained elephants with the text: "The Cruelest Show on Earth. Say NO to Animal Circuses." The ads are available in English or Spanish and ready to be shipped out now. API will cover printing and shipping costs and provide assistance with placing the ads. API will also assist you in sending out a press release for media coverage.  There is also space at the bottom for you to add the contact information for your group.

 

View the billboard at: http://www.api4animals.org/doc.asp?ID=1016

 

The Anti-Circus Posters, 18 x 24 featuring chained elephants in full color with text: "The Cruelest Show on Earth " Say NO to Animal Circuses. Get yours now before circus season is in full swing and we have to start charging for them this fall.

 

View the poster here: http://www.api4animals.org/doc.asp?ID=1037

 

API's Anti-Circus Flyers "The Big Lie Under The Big Top" are great for handing out at tabling events or leafleting at circus protests.

 

API has prepared an Anti-Circus Educational Packet to assist local activists with their circus campaign. From model ordinances to various sample letters to current performing animal incidents, this packet is a valuable tool.

 

Those interested should contact Kymberlie Adams, API Program Assistant, at 1-800-348-7387 or "kymberlie@api4animals.org."

 

 Kymberlie L. Adams

 Program Assistant

 Animal Protection Institute

 email: kymberlie@api4animals.org

 

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The Food Revolution:

How Your Diet can Help Save your Life and the World

by John Robbins

Review by Light and Sun

co-founders of Gentle World

Authors of Incredibly Delicious; The Vegan Paradigm Cookbook

www.gentleworld.org

 

During the 1960's, a time of spiritual awakening, people became aware of the cruelty inherent in animal products. The early 80's revealed the extraordinary health benefits of a plant-based diet. In the late 80's, John Robbins wrote the best-selling Pulitzer Prize nominated "Diet for a New America," which exposed the devastating impact the meat, dairy and egg industries are exerting on our fragile environment.  He became a hero of the Vegetarian Movement.  Then, in the mid-90's, we suffered a backlash of media propaganda purchased by these concerned industries.

 

Now, in the first year of the new millennium, our hero has returned, hopefully just in the nick of time, as heroes do. John Robbins has once again, galloped into the frays carrying vinyl saddlebags filled with copies of the FOOD REVOLUTION: HOW YOUR DIET CAN HELP SAVE YOUR LIFE AND THE WORLD."  When we first heard about the book, we literally jumped for joy, "Hooray," we shouted, "The cavalry has arrived!" After reading this updated, more-relevant-than-ever, thoroughly-researched sequel to "Diet for a New America," although the somber facts and figures disclosed are more than a bit alarming, WE ARE ELATED!!! The truth is out, and the truth shall set us free!!!

 

In the almost four hundred inspiring pages, John Robbins reveals the formidable toll an animal-based diet is taking on every aspect of human health.  He eloquently describes the heart wrenching conditions animals are subjected to on factory farms (including fisheries). He unveils the vast ecological damage our planet is suffering at the hands of animal agriculture. He informs us of the frightening facts behind genetically-modified foods.  Happily, all this serious information is lightened with inspiring anecdotes.  One chapter entitled "The Pig Farmer," is a beautifully written true story, which proves that compassion has the power to transform human life. We  would love to see it excerpted and published in magazines world-wide.

 

The author possesses a rare mixture of heroic qualities:  A keen insight into gravity of the situation we are facing, the courage to expose the powerful culprits, and the faith necessary to lead humanity into the light.

 

The beauty of this monumental work is that it reminds us of the greatest power each one of us has to stem the tide of destruction--the power of our choices. It encourages us to use this power, specifically by choosing nourishing, delicious plant-based foods, which are gentler on everyone

and everything.

 

It has been said that visionaries are blessed with a sense of humor to lighten any darkness their visions may reveal. In "The Food Revolution," John Robbins proves this to be true, time and time again, with comments that made us laugh out loud.

 

In the future, a saner world will recognize him as the knight with the shining book. We believe that his words will become steps which will elevate, and thereby guide a higher perspective, to all who read them.

 

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America the Beautiful?

by Donna Anderson - donna1994@delphi.com

 

With banners flying high

proud to be alive

Americans live their lives

without batting an eye

But locked tightly in their cages

are our animals of nature

Crying desperately in pain

as the vivisectionist jots statistics on his paper

Why must we show cruelty

to every living thing

We should be teaching our children to be peaceful

instead of how to sting

The very things that brought us life

you know as well as I

Are the animals we now torture

to put a dollar in the American pie!

 

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Memorable Quote

 

  "The obligations of law and equity reach only to mankind; but kindness

            and beneficence should be extended to the creatures of every species,

            and these will flow from the breast of a true man, as streams that issue

            from the living fountain."

                                                                        ~ Plutarch (46-120 AD)

  

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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=-

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not-for-profit publisher of The Animals' Agenda Magazine

http://www.animalsagenda.org/

The Animals' Agenda Magazine: WebEdition

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