A n i m a l W r i t e s © sm
The official ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter
Publisher ~ EnglandGal@aol.com
Issue # 12/10/00
Editor ~ JJswans@aol.com
Journalists ~ Park StRanger@aol.com
~
MicheleARivera@aol.com
~ SavingLife@aol.com
THE NINE ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE ARE:
1 ~ Thinning Out The Herd by Robert
Cohen - i4crob@idt.net
2 ~ Letters To The Editor from Marc Bekoff -
bekoffm@spot.colorado.edu
3 ~ I Could Never Work Here!
4 ~ Job Opportunity
5 ~ Chinese Bear Farming Phase Out
6 ~ Warning: Mushroom Alert
7 ~ Soynog, Vegan Eggnog by
VegeTexan@aol.com
8 ~ Corey's Saga ~ A Trilogy
9 ~ Quote To Remember
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Thinning Out The Herd
An open
letter to hunters of America
by Robert Cohen - i4crob@idt.net
http://www.notmilk.com
Dear
Hunters,
It's hunting season!
The dead bloodstained animals on your cars bring me joy.
The sounds of gunshots echo from the mountains, and fill me with a sense of
serenity.
Soon, you and your family will be dining on your prey.
Got filaria?
There is a very tiny worm that grows in mammalian hearts. Filaria are
also known as heartworms. Their larva are microscopic, and your venison
flesh may very well contain the seed to you and your child's premature deaths.
The worm resides in the chambers of your heart and loves atrial fibers.
You dine, you die. Who will hunt after you are gone?
Recently, there have been tales of a new disease that turns the human brain
into a sponge. It's called spongioform encephalitis. The scientific
name is Cruetzfeldt-Jacob disease, (CJD) and deer shot by hunters are now
testing positive for this debilitating brain disease.
The incubation period of CJD can be up to thirty years. Once you get it,
there is no getting rid of it. The deer you shoot today may very well
contain the protein particle (PRION) that acts like a ticking time bomb within
the multi-layered folds of your cerebral cortex. Some say that you can
taste the Prion, just as you swallow. I hear it has a bit of a
"gamey" taste.
(NOTE: A recent study in the October, 2000 issue of the Journal of the
American Medical Association revealed that 42% of hunters do not have a
cerebral cortex. For purposes of this letter, these are probably the illiterate
hunters. Do not post this letter to a tree, please. Read it to a
hunter instead).
Lime disease and deer tics are a walk in the park compared to "mad-deer
disease." I'm not mad about Bambi's revenge. How good will
that venison taste when you and your family know that the next bite might be
deadly?
Once all the hunters are gone, who will hunt the deer?
Every time I hear a gun shoot, or see one of you walk into the woods wearing
camouflage, I say a prayer for the deer, who is the hero of the moment.
The proud antlered buck will give his life, so that your entire family might
die. His flesh contains pain and suffering for you, so eat up! You
and your children will no longer hunt, and my children will be free of
hunters...for good!
Is there anything that I might do to help extend the deer hunting season? Could we get federal agencies to allow you
to kill an unlimited amount of deer? Imagine, eating venison every
night. Wouldn't that be great? In the short run, there may be a
thinning of the deer herd. In the long run, it's the thinning of the
hunter's herd that I want to promote!
Good hunting, and great eating!
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Letters To The Editor
from Marc Bekoff - bekoffm@spot.colorado.edu
[The following] are letters to the editor of US
News and World Report and show, in my opinion, that there *is* hope.
<> <> <> <> <>
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/001127/27lett.htm
Animal instincts
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COVER STORY on the feelings and intelligence of animals
["Animal Emotions," October 30]. The hard-logic arguments made by
Marc Bekoff and Jane Goodall are compelling. The contortions some scientists go
through to avoid attributing "higher" thoughts and emotions to
animals resemble the ways pre-Copernican astronomers tried to defend a
geocentric universe. In their exertions to remain "rigorous" and
"objective," they have forgotten two other fundamentals of hard
science: that the simplest explanations are preferred (Occam's razor) and that
absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Clearly, we are they, but they
are not us. Humans are animals, vertebrates, mammals, primates. Biochemically
and behaviorally, everything we do has been done by other animals for a lot
longer. Logically, everyone accepts that. But the implication is that we are
not really different and not really special.
And a lot of people have trouble accepting that. In truth, however, we
are different: We alone have the capacity to exterminate them and I hope the
intelligence and self-control not to do it.
GREGORY D. L. MORRIS
New York
I SUSPECT THAT THE SCIENTISTS WHO refuse to believe that animals other than
humans experience emotions are less concerned about maintaining the "purity"
of the scientific method than they are about what they might otherwise have to
think about as they eat meat, perform experiments upon animals, or consider how
similar human behavior is to that of the "lesser" animals.
LARRY HOUGH
Zelienople, Pa.
WHILE WE IN THE ANIMAL ADVOCACY movement have long known that animals have
feelings, the scientific community and other groups have been reluctant to face
this important issue. Could it be that if we admit that animals feel emotions
such as fear, loneliness, desperation, and depression, we might be forced also
to admit that we do not have the right to subject them to the terror of factory
farm, slaughterhouse, laboratory, fur farm, and the other environments where
animals are manipulated, tortured, and killed?
CHRISTINE MACMURRAY
New York
WHEN WE SEE WHAT HUMANS continue to do to our animal brethren endless cruelties
in the way of abandonment, indifference, experimentation, vivisection, etc.,
some of us ask, do we humans have feelings?
FRED COLCER
Tehachapi, Calif.
THEY CERTAINLY DO HAVE FEELINGS and, what's more, they do not pretend or lie
about them. When my dog was happy, she let me know. When she was sad, I knew
that, too. No lying about feelings. They feel more purely than humans.
JENNY PAQUETTE
Sacramento, Calif.
IT SADDENS ME THAT THIS IS NEWS IN the United States and around the
world. We are such an egocentric species.
PATRICIA ANN MULLEN
Burtville, Mo.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS NOT WHETHER animals can think, feel, buy a house, drive an
SUV, or play electronic video games. The bottom line is: Do they suffer? The
answer is yes. That alone should entitle them to the same compassion and
respect we give, or should give, to our fellow humans.
DEANNA TERRY PETERSON
Sherman Oaks, Calif.
I WAS PLEASED WITH YOUR STORIES, but I also would have liked reports on other
domestic and wild animals in addition to dogs and cats. I had the privilege of
observing the relationship of a wild piglet and a company of soldiers during
World War II. Cooks in our company traded some canned meat to Pacific natives
for a piglet. Soon the little pig, with the unimaginative name of
"Porky," became our company mascot, going on marches on the road
bordering the ocean. She always marched at the head of the column next to our
company commander. At dusk, Porky would go from tent to tent, pausing and
grunting at each tent, seemingly saying goodnight before she returned to her
spot at the mess tent. When our unit, Company M, 161st Infantry Regiment, 25th
Division, left Guadalcanal to fight on and reclaim New Georgia, one man
remained behind with our equipment and company mascot. When we returned about
three months later, members of our unit asked, "Where's Porky?" The
soldier who remained behind explained, "After you guys left, she ran
around as if looking for you, squealing all of the time. Then one day she
disappeared into the jungle. I never saw her again."
H. SCOTT WILSON
Everett, Wash.
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I Could Never Work Here!
by Anonymous - permission to crosspost
When you say to an animal shelter or humane
society employee "I could never do your job, it would break my heart, I
love animals too much" or words to that effect, it sounds like you are
saying:
1. That we don't also love the animals, even though we've taken minimum wage
(or no wage) jobs in order to work with homeless animals. For many of us, it is
our life's work.
2. That we, somehow, don't get our hearts broken.
3. That in order to do this job one has to be either cold hearted or an animal
hater.
Your declaration leaves us with some questions.
If you can't do this job, who will? Someone must.
When we've euthanized the 500th kitten for the month, because there are no
homes available, will you take the 501st? Our hearts are completely torn out
and we just can't kill one more. You already have enough pets? We understand,
we do too. Our cages are over capacity, our foster homes are all full. Do you have
a solution? If so, please tell us, we hate this part of the job. Right now, at
this moment, there is a dog or cat in a shelter employee's arms and there is no
where on earth for this creature to go. There is no cage space, no foster
home, no forever home. Nowhere. It is a heartbreaking feeling.
There is a really nice yellow lab mix named Jake. He's 3 years old, healthy,
housebroken, loves kids, loves everyone! But, he can't find a home because he's
quite generic looking, not real flashy and he's not an eight week old puppy
("I want a dog to grow up with the kids"). We've had him here for 3
months, but can no longer justify taking up valuable cage space for a dog
that's showing no signs of becoming adopted. What would you do?
There are 10 dogs that came in today. We have 2 open runs. Who has to die?
Walking through the kennel, having to choose which ones have no more time is
the worst part. It breaks our hearts. If you know of a way to keep Jake alive
and still be fair to the other animals, please tell us. We've grown so attached
-- it's our hearts again you know -- theey're breaking into a million pieces
this time.
Will you talk to the woman who brings in a blind, 10 yr. old peek-a-poo with
bad skin and says "Don't kill her! Find her a good home!"? Oh
puhleeeeeeze. We can't find homes for the healthy 1-year-olds, who's going to
adopt a 10 year old, unhealthy dog? You? No, not me either. I already have four
dogs that were considered unadoptable. Because we can't get this owner to face
reality and allow us to euthanize right away, the dog has to spend her last 24
hours on earth in a holding cage, wondering what happened.
But, we held her as often as we could and tried to comfort her... because you
can't. It would break your heart. "Wait!" you say, "Someone
might want her!" It's quite
unlikely that there is someone that wants an elderly dog that needs a few
hundred dollars worth of veterinary care, but maybe you're right. Our
crystal ball is broken, but if you think she can find a home and you want to save
her please go back to the kennel and pick which young, healthy dog has to give
up it's space here.
OK. You can't work at an animal shelter. Not everyone can. Can you help
in other ways? Can you buy us a bag of food when you buy for your own
pet? Can you come in and talk to the cats? Walk the dogs? We are so busy
running the place that we often don't have time. When you come back next week
we won't tell you the final disposition of your favorite one if you don't want
to know. We are, after all, a compassionate
group and we understand about broken hearts. Could you go to your friend or
neighbor and offer to get their pet spayed/neutered? Could you trap one
of those stray cats in your neighborhood and get it vaccinated and neutered?
That will be one more free-roaming cat that's out of the reproduction loop.
Maybe you could just send a small check to say "thank you". Anything
at all would help.
I know you mean well. I know you mean to say "I couldn't work here because
my own emotions get in the way of doing what has to be done for the animals,
thank you for doing it."
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Job Opportunity
from Sara Whalen - petsaliv@warwick.net
We have two full time positions (live-in) available
at the moment.
Cat Caretaker: You will be responsible for the care of 245
cats (FELV Positive, FIV Positive and FELV/FIV Negatives) You will have
sole responsibility for cleaning, feeding, grooming and administering meds if
needed (we will help with the loving). Except for animals receiving
medical care, all are loose and free to 'be' in separate areas. Those
receiving medications are temporarily confined to cages.
Large Animal Caretaker: Assist in caring for steer, sheep, goats, and
retired NYC Carriage Horses. You will be responsible for feeding, watering,
grooming and administering meds on an 'as needed' basis. You will also
need to be physically 'fit' in order to wield a pitchfork and utilize an
old fashioned wheelbarrow.
Room and Board are available. Salary is negotiable based on
experience. These positions may be
suitable for a couple.
Please reply to:
Sara Whalen
Executive Director
Pets Alive Inc.
363 Derby Rd.
Middletown, NY 10940
or e-mail at petsaliv@warwick.net
http://www.petsalive.com
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Chinese Bear Farming
Phase Out
http://www.cnn.com/2000/ASIANOW/east/12/03/china.bear.farming/index.html
Agreement
reached to phase out bear farming in China
December 4, 2000
BEIJING (CNN) -- Bear farming will be banned within 15 years under a new
agreement between Chinese authorities and animal-rights activists. The
agreement comes following international pressure to ban the practice used to
obtain the bear's bile. Activists say farming bears is unnecessary and
barbaric. Bears are the only mammals to produce significant amounts of
the bile acid -- ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) -- which has been used in
traditional Oriental medicine for some 3,000 years.
In the farms, bears with catheters surgically implanted into their gall
bladders are confined in restraining cages so that bile can be extracted. But
the surgery to insert the implants is crude and unsanitary and many of the
bears die as a result. The animals that survive spend the rest of their lives
suffering a confined existence in tiny wire crates, where they cannot even
stretch, enduring painful daily extraction of their bile.
It is a lucrative practice for the farmers. Bear bile sells for as much as $10
a teaspoonful. It is used for by Chinese to treat a variety of maladies, such
as fever, liver illnesses and sore eyes. But animal-rights activists say
bear bile can be replaced by herbs or synthetically made substances.
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Warning: Mushroom Alert
Crossposted with permission - Author unknown
My 6 year old Sheltie, Mendi, had a normal day, I
fed her and her sister at 5pm, and at 5:30 let them outside. Fifteen
minutes later they came in, and Mendi started throwing up violently, one after
the other. Her breathing was hard and labored. I noticed her ruff
was full of saliva, and it was just rolling out of her mouth. I called
her vet, just then realizing she couldn't swallow.
The vet told me to pick up my keys and my dog and get her to the Emergency
Hospital, now. Before the end of the call, she was in shock. At the
hospital, they started IV's and X-rays for foreign objects, which were
negative. The blood test results indicated a toxin, and her liver was shutting
down, with all other body functions failing as well. Toxins and poisons
like arsenic, etc. had all been ruled out. Mendi by now was vomiting
blood and had blood gushing from her rectum. I went home to check the
yard, the weather had changed from warm rains of the last few days to sleet.
I found nothing in the yard. Mendi continued losing blood, and blood test
results became more grim. My husband in a conference call with me, the
hospital and her vet, said what about mushrooms? I rushed home to look,
and found one small mushroom that was now frozen. The vet began calling
University docs, CDC, and poison control. They all said yes, the way her
case presented, it was very possibly caused by poison mushrooms. They
made recommendations for treatment. For the next 76 hours, there was no
improvement, and she continued to vomit blood and her intestines were still
bleeding out from the rectum. The vet continued to consult all over, and
was on-line to VIN network. A vet in Maryland recommended she start on
Milk Thistle (an herb), and SAME, an antioxidant. At that point there
were no more options.
She was started on those, and within 24 hours showed some slight improvement in
one test. The next 48 hours were touch and go, then finally, after 6
days, she lifted her head, although she still did not respond to my
voice. On the seventh day she suddenly got better, and they kept her on
IV's and treatment.
Late that night I was able to bring her home, and now, two days later, she is
eating and going out although she is weak. Now...the mushrooms.
They were the kind that shoots up suddenly in your grass after rains. Being
overprotective, I had for many years checked for them at least twice a day, and
removed them. The day it happened was very stormy, and I hadn't
checked. It seems that 80% of the time, those mushrooms are very
poisonous. The ordeal was a total nightmare....please warn other pet
owners.
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Soynog, Vegan Eggnog
by VegeTexan@aol.com
Why not make this yummy substitute for the
traditional holiday bovine secretions and bird placenta. Your friends who
are used to the taste of the original nasty stuff will be amazed.
1 pkg Mori-Nu low fat firm tofu
1 cup vanilla soy milk
1/4 cup turbinado sugar or equivalent substitute, brown rice
syrup works well
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon rum or 1 teaspoon rum extract
pinch, about 1/8 teaspoon turmeric
nutmeg to taste
Blend all ingredients
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Corey's Saga ~ A Trilogy
©1996 (Part 1)
The Pet Store ©1996
by KYLPTTY44@aol.com
My name is Corey
And here's my story.
Just outside town -
Don't know which one -
I was born
On a Sunday morn.
One day while playin'
Beside my mama,
A man came by
Took my brothers and I.
He brought us to town,
And he gave us
To a man who paid
To take us away.
Brought to a mall -
Somewhere, USA.
A pet store I was told -
To be bought and sold.
I stayed there a while
'Til Winter came.
I learned the ropes -
Be cute and have hopes.
My brothers all left
One by one,
And I was alone
At night, how I'd moan.
Then, one day
As I was lookin' sad,
A man looked at me
And said, "How much is he?"
I was taken from my cage
And put into a box.
As we drove, I fell asleep
Dreaming of the home I'd see.
I dreamed of children
And a bowl with my name.
A backyard to run
And playin' in the sun.
COREY'S SAGA ~ A Trilogy ©1996 (Part 2)
The Gift ©1996
My name is Corey
And here's my story.
I was bought at a store
Where pets are sold.
I traveled by car
To somewhere - not far.
I was taken from
My box with holes
And placed on the floor
With papers, which I tore.
The door was shut
To my little room -
Dark and lonely -
Alone he left me.
I started to whimper
To no avail
And slowly dozed
'Til the sun rose.
Again, he came
And put me in a box -
With bow and ribbon trim
And a tag that read "TIM".
We went in the car
And drove away.
We stopped after a while -
Maybe a few miles.
Lookin' through a hole, I see;
We went into a house.
On the floor I go - PLOP -
And someone lifted the top.
"Merry Christmas!" He said.
As I sprang from my box,
I wagged my tail
And barked and wailed.
Meanwhile, the man
Who brought me had left,
Leaving me with them
And their little boy, Tim.
COREY'S SAGA ~ A Trilogy ©1996 (Part 3)
The Pound ©1996
My name is Corey
And here's my story.
Christmas came
And Christmas went.
A gift to Tim
But not for them.
"No" and "Don't" - they say;
So, I bark at them
"But I'm just a puppy!" -
They misunderstand me.
They sat Tim down.
"We can't keep him, Son,"
One of them said -
Words I would soon dread.
"What can we do;
Where will he go?"
"He'll go to the pound
Back in town."
They put me back
Into my box
And drove me away.
I couldn't stay.
When we stopped,
There was a sign - "SHELTER".
They gave me to a lady;
She said, "Another gift, I see".
They tried to explain -
I wouldn't learn.
What a lie
They didn't try!
The lady took me;
Said I'll be OK
As she put me in a cage
With another my age.
I asked "Buster"
How he got here.
He said, "Same old story -
Christmas gift, Corey".
I told him my story
He said he knew.
I said, "I tried -
Why did they lie?"
Buster says,
"Folks give pets as gifts
'Cause their kids are happy
Holding a kitty or puppy".
"When they've had enough,
They bring us here -
To look cute, hope and wait
Now who knows our fate."
Buster says the pound
Is like a pet store.
Only when it's your time,
You cross the Line.
The Line - the doorway
To the room of no return.
Gone for eternity -
But I'm just a puppy!
Written by: Robyn L. Stacey
Date: January 1996
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Quote To Remember
"This
is dreadful! Not the suffering and death of the animals, but that a man
suppresses in himself, unnecessarily, the highest spiritual capacity -- that of
sympathy and pity towards living creatures like himself -- and by violating his
own feelings becomes cruel.
~ Leo
Tolstoy, author
War and Peace,
(1828 - 1910)
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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=-
&
Advisory Board Member, Animal Rights Network Inc.,
not-for-profit publisher of The Animals' Agenda Magazine
http://www.animalsagenda.org/
The Animals' Agenda Magazine: WebEdition
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»
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