Encouraging delegates to make an ethical lifestyle choice for world health, for the environment and for the animals.

According to a new report from the UN. The report, Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Production and Consumption: Priority Products and Materials from the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP), found that consuming a diet free of meat and dairy will be the best approach to dealing with climate change and its consequences.


So despite all the science pointing to animal agriculture being the largest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, inter-governmental talks do not even include on their agenda the discussion of the meat and livestock industries. The facts clearly demonstrate animal products are unsustainable and truly detrimental.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, GLOBAL WARMING, GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, AND HOW GOING "VEGAN" CAN HELP SAVE THE ANIMALS AND THE WORLD!     http://meatfreecop16.org/

New York City Teams Up with NBA Champion John Salley for the 2010 Walk for Farm Animals

NEW YORK, NY – October 8, 2010 – On October 24, New York City and NBA champion and wellness guru John Salley will host the 2010 Walk for Farm Animals, an annual event taking place in more than 75 cities across the United States and Canada to celebrate and promote compassion for farm animals and raise vital funds to support the lifesaving rescue, education and advocacy work of Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization. This year’s national Walk spokesperson is celebrity trainer and television personality Bob Harper from NBC’s hit show “The Biggest Loser.”


“Farm animals are smart, friendly animals who experience fear, pain and suffering just like cats, dogs and all other living beings do,” says Salley. “The cruel conditions endured by billions of farm animals annually on factory farms all across North America is an issue that affects all of us. As a proud Brooklyn native who believes all animals should be treated with compassion, I am honored to be back in my hometown leading the 2010 New York City Walk for Farm Animals. I encourage all New Yorkers to join me on Sunday, October 24 to spread a critical message of hope for farm animals. I’ll see YOU at the Walk!”

Last year’s New York City Walk was the biggest ever with almost 800 registered participants. This year, attendance is expected to exceed that number. The Walk in scenic Central Park will be led by NBA champion, wellness guru and proud Brooklyn native John Salley, the first NBA player to win four championships with three different teams, and will feature inspiring speakers, including Farm Sanctuary’s President and Co-Founder Gene Baur, a bagged vegan lunch, raffle and special musical performance by singer/songwriter Jenn London.

“Animals raised for food in the U.S. spend their entire lives in filth and darkness, kept in such severe confinement they cannot turn around, lie down or extend their limbs,” said Gene Baur, president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary. “No one likes cruelty and when people learn about the abusive conditions inside factory farms, they are appalled and a growing number are getting active to raise awareness about these intolerable cruelties and put an end to the unnecessary suffering. For nearly 25 years, Farm Sanctuary’s Walk for Farm Animals has provided a forum for people from all walks of life to spread a powerful message of compassion for farm animals in their own cities and hometowns. The exponential growth of the Walks is a very positive sign. This year, we are thrilled to have the support of John Salley as our New York City grand marshal and Bob Harper as our national spokesperson for the 2010 Walk for Farm Animals. Both are as passionate about animal protection as they are about health and fitness, and with their support, the biggest winners this year will be farm animals.”

The 2010 Walk for Farm Animals is sponsored nationally by Boston Baked Bonz.

The New York City Walk for Farm Animals is on October 24 in Central Park. Participants are asked to meet at Merchants Gate (Central Park West at 59th Street). Registration is at 10 a.m. and the Walk begins at 12 p.m. Those interested in registering for the 2010 Walk can learn more at walkforfarmanimals.org. All participants will receive a special limited-edition 2010 Walk t-shirt designed by vegan fashion house Vaute Couture, and special prizes will be awarded to walkers who reach fundraising milestones.

NOTE TO MEDIA: If you would like to attend the Walk and speak with NBA champion John Salley or Farm Sanctuary President and Co-Founder Gene Baur, please contact Meredith Turner at 646-369-6212 or mturner@farmsanctuary.org.

Photos of last year’s NYC Walk for Farm Animals, an approved image of 2010 host John Salley, or 2010 national spokesperson Bob Harper from NBC’s hit show “The Biggest Loser” are available upon request.

Photo: John Salley, courtesy of jsquaredphotography.com.


About Farm Sanctuary



Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.



Follow Farm Sanctuary on Twitter: twitter.com/FarmSanctuary

Book Review : The World Peace Diet - by Will Tuttle, Ph.D.

I recently finished reading The World Peace Diet.  I thought it was extremely well written, and very informative.  In this book, Dr. Will Tuttle talks about our relationship with our food from different angles.  Morals, religion, ethics, traditions, etc. and our inter-connectedness we have with the animals that end up on our plates as well as with  other humans. This book describes what changes we can make for ourselves, the animals, and the planet if we open our eyes to a new way of living through a compassionate diet. Whether you are religious or spiritual, if you are vegan, vegetarian, or omnivore, if care about animals, or if you just want a very informative book that will give you quite a few aha! moments that may make you think twice about the foods you serve your family, this book is a must read.  There are also several heart-warming personal stories Dr. Tuttle shares.  I highly recommend this book.

Here is a small excerpt from The World Peace Diet:

"When we cultivate mindful awareness of the consequences of our food choices and conscientiously adopt a plant-based way of eating, refusing to participate in the domination of animals and the dulling of awareness this requires, we make a profound statement that both flows from and reinforces our ability to make connections.  We become a force of sensitivity, healing, and compassion.  We become a revolution of one, contributing to the foundation of a new world with every meal we eat.  As we share our ideas with others, we promote what may be the most uplifting and healing revolution our culture has ever experienced."


http://www.amazon.com/World-Peace-Diet-Spiritual-Harmony/dp/1590560833

Activist Interview - Manuela Rodrigues

Manuela Rodrigues is an animal activist originally from Brazil, now living in the United States.  She is the Assistant to the Director @ Amazon CARES (Community Animal Rescue, Education & Safety).  I first met Manuela via the website Change.org and have become friends in the fight for animal rights.

What got you into activism?
I have been working as a volunteer since I was 16 years old. Back in 1996 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where I used to teach Physical Education classes in poor communities, also helping taking care of abandoned/abused babies in a kindergarten in the slam. In 2002 I adopted my first dog, Biggie. He is still with me today. He was being sold on the streets, and the guy who was selling puppies had just Biggie left... He was going to leave him on the street at only 7-8 weeks old. I could NEVER leave him there, turn my back and sleep well, so I took Biggie to my home to stay with me. That's when I started with animal rights activism. In 2004 I came to live in US and brought Biggie with me. Animal rights activism here is much more intense than in Brazil, and I believe that is because Brazil has so much poverty that they don't think about the animals first. I love anything related to animal rights, and it has become ME, my life.

Are you vegan? If so, what caused the change?
 No. I am vegetarian but not vegan. Also usually I do not consume any milk derivatives, I have a high intolerance to lactose.

Could you tell us about what Amazon Cares does , how you got involved with them and what people can do to help the cause?

Amazon Community Animal Rescue, Education and Safety (CARES) was founded in 2004 by citizens with a desire to protect the countless stray animals that roam the streets and villages of Peru. Amazon CARES has received international recognition as an innovative charity based in the US and operating in the Peruvian Amazon region. Amazon CARES seeks better health and living conditions for ALL living beings of the Peruvian Amazon region. This includes appropriate care, respect, and protection from cruelty and neglect.

I used to help Amazon CARES on Change.org, and I have been working as a volunteer for them since May 2009, and officially as a team member since last month!

Amazon CARES just released a new website (which we are still working on it) - http://www.amazoncares.org/

Anyone who wishes to help can join as a Supporting member (which we are giving a Free membership kit), or if you donate $25 or more you will receive a Deluxe membership kit (including the new 2011 Amazon CARES Wall sized Calendar) - Link: http://bit.ly/cDPFis ;. We are selling the new 2011 Amazon CARES Calendar, for $15 + $2 Shipping, and every dollar donated will be used to continue our journey in rescuing animals from the streets, giving them appropriated medical treatment, and then placing them in a lovely home. Any donation, of any amount, will help.

When you aren't doing animal activism activities, what do you enjoy doing?
 I love outdoor sports, taking my dogs for a long and nice walk in the park, love watching movies - I am a movies addict... I probably have 500+ DVDs at home! I also love cooking, trying new recipes.

Where do you see the animal rights movement in 10 years?
Great awareness in many countries about animal abuse, cruelty and neglect. Hopefully spaying and neutering will become more and more accessible, so less stray dogs and cats on the streets. Last but not least - people becoming less and less meat eaters.


What is the one thing you are most proud of?
I am proud of people whom fight for animal rights, and for those whom fight for good and needy causes - It surely is making a huge difference in the world!


It was my pleasure to have Manuela featured on my blog, as the first Animal Activist Interview!  She is a very passionate activist that I am proud to call my friend.  Thank you Manuela, for your time to do this interview, and for all you do to help animals all over the world.


Manuela, with a few of her best friends!







Animal vet Esther, with "Manuela", who was abandoned
in front of the Amazon Cares shelter.
The cutie was named in Manuela's honor.













 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For more information: Amazon CARES:


Blog - http://amazoncares.blogspot.com/

Follow us @AmazonCares on Twitter

Facebook Fan Page @http://www.facebook.com/AmazonCARESFans

On Causes Facebook: http://www.causes.com/causes/122522

Change.org http://www.change.org/amazoncares

Support animals whenever you shop online! We-Care Reminder Turns Shopping Into Giving. http://www.amazoncares.we-care.com

Ellen DeGeneres Urges Public to Save a Life This Thanksgiving by Adopting a Turkey Instead of Eating One

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – October 1, 2010 – Thanksgiving is a time of great warmth, gratitude and the comfort of being surrounded by family and friends — unless you’re a turkey. That’s why beloved talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres is stepping up to serve as the 2010 spokesperson for Farm Sanctuary’s Adopt-A-Turkey Project, an annual program, launching today, that seeks to end the misery of commercially-raised turkeys by offering a compassionate alternative for Thanksgiving.


Says DeGeneres, "Save a life this Thanksgiving, and join me in starting a new tradition by adopting a turkey instead of eating one through Farm Sanctuary's Adopt-A-Turkey Project."

Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization, has organized the annual Adopt-A-Turkey Project since 1986. This Thanksgiving, with Ellen’s help, thousands of families will save turkeys, instead of eating them, by adopting a feathered friend who lives at Farm Sanctuary’s New York or California Shelter. For a one-time donation gift of just $30, adopters will receive a special Adopt-A-Turkey certificate, featuring a color photo of and fun details about their new friend, and the great feeling of knowing they are sponsoring the care of a turkey who has been rescued from cruelty. These donations help Farm Sanctuary educate and advocate for turkeys, and other farm animals, everywhere. This year’s “adoptable” turkeys include: Velma, Daphne, Kima, Harley, Reese and Jordan.

Through the Adopt-A-Turkey Project, Farm Sanctuary has rescued more than 1,000 turkeys, placed hundreds into loving homes through their annual Turkey Express adoption event, educated millions of people about the plight of these friendly, intelligent birds on factory farms and provided resources and recipes for a plant-based holiday. The organization also hosts two Celebrations FOR the Turkeys at their New York and California shelters where the birds are the guests of honor and are treated to a buffet of squash, cranberries and pumpkin pie. Compassionate guests come from all over the country to attend these popular sanctuary events.

“We are thrilled to have Ellen’s support as this year’s Adopt-A-Turkey spokesperson,” says Gene Baur, president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary. “Through her trademark blend of humor and warmth, she is reaching millions of people with a critical message of compassion for all animals that is as contagious as her laughter and her dancing. Ellen’s positive energy and zest for life make her the perfect ambassador for these charismatic birds, who also possess a strong desire to enjoy life. The important thing to realize about the Adopt-A-Turkey Project is that it’s not about giving anything up — it’s about embracing your deepest values and celebrating in a way that is consistent with those values. No one likes cruelty to animals, and when people learn about what happens to turkeys on factory farms, the decision to skip the turkey in favor of compassionate plant-based options, is an easy one to make.”

Between 250 to 300 million turkeys are raised for slaughter every year in the U.S. — more than 46 million alone for Thanksgiving. Birds are typically packed by the thousands into dark, filthy factory farm warehouses, where they are allotted approximately three square feet of space in which to live. Debeaked and detoed without any pain relief, these birds are bred to reach a crippling weight at an unnaturally fast rate. When turkeys reach only 14 to 18 weeks of age they are transported to slaughter, often under harrowing conditions. Because turkeys and other birds are specifically excluded from the Humane Slaughter Act, which requires that animals be stunned prior to slaughter, their deaths are a brutal end to a miserable existence.

You can learn more about Thanksgiving’s toll on turkeys here.

To join Ellen DeGeneres in starting a new tradition by adopting a turkey instead of eating one, visit adoptaturkey.org or call the Turkey Adoption Hotline at 1-888-SPONSOR.

To speak with Farm Sanctuary President and Co-Founder Gene Baur, receive images of this year's “adoptable” turkeys, as well as industry b-roll and images, please contact Meredith Turner at 646-369-6212 or mturner@farmsanctuary.org.

When you sit down at Thanskgiving dinner this year, do so with compassion.  Spare the turkey!  There are many other options to consider.  Tofurky has a vegetarian feast and Field Roast has a celebration roast that is too yummy for words!  Try one and see that you can still eat delicious food, without the suffering of animals.  Thanks!










About Farm Sanctuary

Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.


Follow Farm Sanctuary on Twitter: twitter.com/FarmSanctuary

Attention Non-Vegans : Viva! Vegan Basics Guide

If you are a non-vegan, please look at this very informative guide to the basics of veganism.  It's definately something that may make you reconsider trying veganism.  This guide is filled with information and great recipes to get you started on a new way of eating that will be healthier for you, the earth and definately the animals!  If you learn anything from this, please email me or send a comment.  I would love to hear from you.  Thanks!


Viva Vegan Basics

“Biggest Loser” Star Bob Harper Makes Record-Breaking Gains for Farm Animals

In an Exclusive Interview with Farm Sanctuary, 2010 Walk for Farm Animals Spokesperson Bob Harper Proclaims “…we can no longer have blinders on...”


WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – September 21, 2010 – On “The Biggest Loser,” celebrity trainer Bob Harper helps people lose weight and break the bad habits that are holding them back. But as the first-ever celebrity spokesperson for the Walk for Farm Animals, a national event to celebrate and promote compassion for farm animals and raise money to support the lifesaving rescue, education and advocacy work of Farm Sanctuary, he has become the biggest gainer for farm animals. Thanks in part to his star-power, the annual event has gained a record-breaking 78 participating cities across the U.S. and Canada (up 10 from last year) and a steadily growing list of registrants (nearly double last year’s participants), making the 2010 Walk for Farm Animals the largest organized North American event for farm animals in history.

With eight Walks already down in Michigan, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Missouri, Delaware, New Jersey, Tennessee and Florida, and 70 more still to go throughout the remainder of September and October (including a virtual “No Walk” Walk), the 2010 Walk is proof that the cruel treatment of animals raised for food has become an issue of national concern. This year’s addition of Harper as celebrity spokesperson, a first in the event’s nearly 25 year history, further demonstrates the mainstreaming of a movement that began in large part with the factory farm investigations and legal reforms initiated by Farm Sanctuary’s President and Co-Founder Gene Baur.

“The astounding growth of the Walk for Farm Animals is an encouraging sign that we are getting closer to the day when agribusiness’ treatment of living, breathing animals like unfeeling machinery is a thing of the past,” said Baur. “Through the vast resources of the Internet, undercover investigations, public education campaigns and popular films like ‘Food Inc.,’ people are learning in record numbers about the intolerable abuse, neglect and confinement endured by billions of animals raised for food on factory farms throughout North America, and they are increasingly rejecting these abhorrent practices in favor of mercy and compassion. No one likes cruelty to animals and the Walk provides a terrific opportunity to spread a message of hope for farm animals in your own hometown.”

Farm Sanctuary recently sat down with Harper on the set of “The Biggest Loser” in Los Angeles, where he credited the Walk with “getting people to think” and for initiating a “conversation that sparks change.”

Here are highlights from Farm Sanctuary’s exclusive interview with Bob Harper:

On getting involved with Farm Sanctuary and the Walk for Farm Animals:

“Well, I’ve got to tell you, when I was first approached about Farm Sanctuary, I was very, very excited. I knew that this was going to be a movement that I wanted to be a part of. It just all made sense to me. The lifestyle I live right now, my history, where I’ve grown up – so me being able to be a part of Farm Sanctuary is like having a badge of honor. I wanted to be able to talk about what I know and be a part of an organization that I believe so wholeheartedly in.”

On going vegan:

“It was actually pretty seamless. I was on vacation a couple of years ago and a friend of mine gave me a book called Skinny Bitch, and that started the ball rolling. But it wasn’t until I read T. Colin Campbell’s The China Study that my life absolutely changed. And bringing in the connection of ‘you are what you eat,’ that old adage our mothers have always taught us, it just started to make even more sense.”

On how his life has changed since going vegan:

“Well, it’s interesting because one thing I’ve really been able to do is talk to so many people about what they eat and their diet, for lack of a better word. I’ve worked with overweight Americans for such a long time and it’s about a stepping process … every day is a step because I get people I’ve worked with before saying to me now “What? Are you just going to take out all my meat and dairy?” I want to say “yes” immediately, but I know it’s about getting them to take steps. It’s a process for all of us, but I just get very excited about the platform I’ve been given and the information I now have to give out.”

On myths about vegan nutrition:

“I’ve really had to do my homework because my work is all about informing people and giving them the right information. One thing that I’ve realized is that, yes, our bodies need protein, but we don’t need as much as all these websites out there tell us that we do. And there are definitely ways to get all your nutrients within a plant-based diet.”

On how growing up on a cattle farm in Tennessee shaped the way he views farm animals:

“I have to tell you that because I grew up on this cattle farm it was just the way of life then. On the farm I grew up on the cows were treated relatively respectfully. They had pastures, they lived a good quality of life, of course until their death. To me there was more compassion back then because now … the thing that really pains me … is that these factory farms are just treating these animals like they’re light fixtures, like they’re not real and don’t have blood running through them. It’s just shocking to me.”

On the egregious abuses of modern farming:

“Well, I think the biggest thing is that animals are treated like they are not real. But these animals have emotions; they can be afraid; they can be happy. It’s like people tend to forget about that and that scares me when I think about slaughterhouses and what goes on in these places. When I started getting more and more informed about farm animals and how they were treated it made me feel like I needed to do whatever I could to help.”

On how people can make a difference for farm animals in their daily lives:

“They need to get involved, get informed and get their voices heard. To me, that is the number one step. One thing I tell people all the time when it comes to going to the grocery store, it’s like you are making a vote. Everything you get is a vote … it’s all about the foods you are eating. And I think you got to know what is going on out there … because we can no longer have blinders on; we can no longer just think ‘okay, well it doesn’t affect me,’ because these issues affect us all.”

The full interview can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/user/farmsanctuary1#p/a/f/1/UaNM40MDjhM

Bob Harper’s PSA for the Walk for Farm Animals can be viewed here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/farmsanctuary1#p/a/u/0/Uux88tB1D18

In July, when Harper was first named national Walk spokesperson, he spoke about the added health benefits of farm animal advocacy. “Getting and staying physically fit is a lot easier when you have a powerful motivation, and I can’t think of a better reason to get moving this fall than to raise vital funds and awareness for farm animals,” said Harper, who states that since he adopted a plant-based diet he has felt “more clear headed and strong” and that his genetically high cholesterol dropped more than 100 points. “When I think about the billions of sensitive, intelligent beings who are confined and mistreated on factory farms to produce foods linked with obesity, heart disease, cancer, and stroke — that is all the motivation I need to make healthier, more conscientious choices. I am honored to be the national spokesperson for Farm Sanctuary’s 2010 Walk for Farm Animals.”

Participating Walk cities are: Albany, NY; Amsterdam, NY; Ann Arbor, MI; Asheville, NC; Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Bangor, PA; Berkeley, CA; Boston, MA; Buffalo, NY; Calgary, AB; Cape Cod, MA; Charleston, SC; Charlotte, NC; Chattanooga, TN; Chicago, IL; Chico, CA; Cincinnati, OH; Claremont, CA; Cleveland, OH; Denver, CO; Door County, WI; Durham, NC; Fort Wayne, IN; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Glasgow, DE; Halifax, NS; Hartford, CT; Ithaca, NY; Jacksonville, FL; Johnston, RI; Kalamazoo, MI; Kansas City, MO; Kingston, ON; Lancaster, PA; Lisbon, CT; Long Beach, CA; Louisville, KY; Milwaukee, WI; Minneapolis, MN; Nashville, TN; New Orleans, LA; North Augusta, SC; Northport, NY; New York City, NY; Orlando, FL; Ottawa, ON; Palm Springs, CA; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland, ME; Portland, OR; Princeton, NJ; Rehoboth Beach, DE; Richmond, VA; Rochester, NY; Sacramento, CA; San Antonio, TX; San Luis Obispo, CA; Santa Monica, CA; Sarasota, FL; Seattle, WA; State College, PA; St. Catharines, ON; St. Louis, MO; Syracuse, NY; Tampa, FL; Toronto, ON; Truckee, CA; Tulsa, OK; Vancouver, BC; Ventura, CA; Washington DC, Wichita Falls, TX; Wilmington, NC; Youngstown, OH.

The 2010 Walk for Farm Animals is sponsored nationally by Boston Baked Bonz, a unique company of imaginative artisan/bakers offering tasty and healthy baked goodies and gift baskets for the wonderful doggies that share and enrich our lives.

To learn more about the 2010 Walk for Farm Animals and register for the Walk nearest you, please visit walkforfarmanimals.org.

If you would like to speak with Farm Sanctuary President and Co-Founder Gene Baur, please contact Meredith Turner at 646-369-6212 or mturner@farmsanctuary.org.

About Farm Sanctuary

Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.

Follow Farm Sanctuary on Twitter: twitter.com/FarmSanctuary

My First Animal Rights Video Slideshow

Hundreds of Animals Seized From Research Facility - By: Elise Roberts

GREENSBORO — Guilford County's Animal Shelter is housing 19 animals seized from the Professional Laboratory and Research Services facility. The Greensboro shelter has been at capacity for quite some time but staff pulled together to find space after learning of the animal abuse.


"We knew it was the right thing to help the animals in Gates County. When the Humane Society of the United States called and asked us to help, we knew that we could not say no," said Executive Director Marsha Williams.

The animals came from a testing site in Gates County. The research center was supposed to be using the cats and dogs to test different products. But undercover video shows that the center was doing much more than that.

"These animals were being abused by the staff at the lab," said Williams.

An undercover PETA investigator shot video showing employees of PLRS abusing some of its animals. It is abuse that shelter leaders say may have scarred these animals for life.

"They are skittish, they are afraid that every time we put our hands on them that we are going to do something to harm them," said Williams.

For nine months the PETA representative worked inside the research facility that tests insecticides and other chemicals used in animal products. However, the investigation found that the cats and dogs were abused and neglected which caused a number of health problems.

"We see a lot of parasite, worms, ear infections because the ears need to be cleaned but our main concern is the condition of their paw pads where they have infection and they are beginning to swell up and get red and raw," said Williams.

PETA's investigation and complaint to the USDA forced the Gates County Company to shut it's doors for good, sending hundreds of animals to a number of shelters across the country.

For the rest of the story and video, please click here : http://charlotte.news14.com/content/local_news/charlotte/630545/hundreds-of-animals-seized-from-research-facility

Video Spotlight : Reel Life at Farm Sanctuary - Ep. 2: Chicken Nutrition

National Shelter Director Susie Coston answers a commonly asked question: What do we do with our chicken residents’ eggs? Watch now to meet a few of the happy hens who reside at the New York Shelter and learn more about the nutritional needs of our feathered friends.

Please visit farmsanctuary.org

Backyard Wildlife Series : Raccoon

This beautiful raccoon was climbing a tree in the backyard this morning.  I am guessing it is a nursing mother foraging for food.  Although I wanted to get closer, I kept my distance as to not scare her.  She climbed a tree and was reaching for the newest leaves to nibble on.  When she was finished, she came down the tree and posed for a few pictures before she wandered back into the bushes and disappeared.  Nature is beautiful when we leave the animals alone.

If you want more information on raccoons, please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raccoon

Milk Recall

NEW YORK -- Milk sold in five Northeastern states has been recalled because it might not have been properly pasteurized.


New York regulators say the milk was marketed under the brand names Midland Farms, Corrado's Market, Jersey Dairy Farms and Trade Fair Premium. It went in sizes from pints to gallons to stores in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island.

Inspectors found failed pasteurization equipment at the Midlands Farm plant near Albany on Sept. 7. The company agreed to the voluntary recall as a precaution against bacterial contaminants like listeria and salmonella. There have been no reports of illness as of Thursday.

Consumers should look for the plant code 36-1661 and a Sept. 24 date code. Milk should be returned to the place it was bought

AND AFTER YOU GET YOUR MONEY BACK FOR THE COW PUS, BUY SOY OR ALMOND MILK! :)

Lion Attacks Trainer At MGM Las Vegas

I did not put the news report with this video.  Simply because the attack would not have happened if the animals were not used as an attraction in captivity.  GO VEGAN and leave the animals alone!!!



Lion Attacks Trainer At MGM Las Vegas - Watch more Funny Videos

A Crow and a Kitten...Best of Friends?!

This is just a beautiful story of two very unlikely friends...A crow and a kitten.  We humans can learn something from these natural enemies. 

Website Spotlight : Animal Legal Defense Fund

For more than three decades, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has been fighting to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. Founded in 1979 by attorneys active in shaping the emerging field of animal law, ALDF has blazed the trail for stronger enforcement of anti-cruelty laws and more humane treatment of animals in every corner of American life. Today, ALDF’s groundbreaking efforts to push the U.S. legal system to end the suffering of abused animals are supported by hundreds of dedicated attorneys and more than 100,000 members. Every day, ALDF works to protect animals by:


Filing groundbreaking lawsuits to stop animal abuse and expand the boundaries of animal law.

Providing free legal assistance to prosecutors handling cruelty cases.

Working to strengthen state anti-cruelty statutes.

Encouraging the federal government to enforce existing animal protection laws.

Nurturing the future of animal law through Student Animal Legal Defense Fund chapters and our Animal Law Program.

Providing public education through seminars, workshops and other outreach efforts.

In addition to our national headquarters in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Animal Legal Defense Fund maintains an office in Portland, Oregon.

If you care about animals and the rights that they should have as sentient beings, please join the Animal Legal Defense Fund today and let's make it a better world for the animals!   http://www.aldf.org/index.php


Watch a short video about the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

Try a Non-Dairy Milk, and Help Farmed Animals!

These days, milk can be made from almost anything — soy, rice, almonds, hemp, oats, coconut, the list goes on and on — and with so many healthy and delicious nondairy milks available for purchase in mainstream supermarkets, more and more Americans are making these cruelty-free choices. Now through September 30, Oregon-based natural foods company Turtle Mountain, a pioneer in the creation and production of natural dairy-free products, has teamed up with Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization, to ensure that every creamy, delicious sip will go even further toward ending the abuse of farm animals by donating $1.00 (up to $5,000) to the nonprofit organization for every UPC that is cut out and sent to them from any flavor of So Delicious™ Dairy Free Coconut Milk.

What a great deal.  Pick up one of these delicious non-dairy milks and send the upc in. That's DOUBLE the compassion! 

Bob Barker and Mercy For Animals Exposes Veal Industry

Newly released hidden camera video secretly shot by an investigator with Mercy For Animals at one of the nation's top veal producers exposes baby calves covered in feces and chained by their necks in narrow stalls, where they cannot even turn around or walk.


The covert footage was recorded at Buckeye Veal Farm in Apple Creek, Ohio, and reveals baby calves chained inside 2-feet wide wooden stalls – so narrow they cannot turn around, walk, run, play, socialize with other animals, or engage in other basic natural behaviors. In such tight confinement, the animals are unable to lie down comfortably, breathe fresh air, see sunlight, clean themselves or bond with their mothers.

Sadly, the majority of calves raised for veal in the United States are subjected to this harsh and intensive confinement for their entire 18 to 20-week lives.

After viewing the footage, Dr. Marc Bekoff, an animal behavior expert at the University of Colorado, Boulder, stated: "Frankly, the treatment of these calves is disgusting, horrific, and reprehensible."

Yet, Costco and Giant Eagle grocery stores around the nation continue to sell veal from calves raised in this inhumane manner.

Due to its inherent cruelty, the American Veterinary Medical Association opposes chaining calves in restrictive crates and five U.S. states, as well as all 27 countries in the European Union, have outlawed their use.

Sickened by the conditions endured by these baby animals, Bob Barker, Emmy Award-winning host of Price is Right and longtime animal advocate, is joining MFA in urging consumers nationwide to boycott dairy and veal and Costco and Giant Eagle to immediately end the sale of veal – much of which comes from the facility investigated.

In letters sent to CEOs of both companies, Mr. Barker wrote: "As a civilized society, it's our moral obligation to prevent needless animal cruelty. Chaining baby calves in crates where they cannot even turn around is abusive and totally unacceptable."

While veal production represents one of the most abusive forms of animal agriculture, animal suffering is also widespread throughout the meat, dairy, and egg industries. Undercover investigations by MFA at dairy farms, pig farms, egg farms, hatcheries, and slaughterhouses have all exposed cruelty and violence to farmed animals.

Compassionate consumers can end their direct financial support of farmed animal abuse by rejecting veal, and other animal products, and adopting a vegan diet.

mercyforanimals.org


Please go vegan.

9 Year Old Activist Says LET LOLITA LIVE! (LLL)

Save Lolita!  Please join the cause!

Trevor and Capt. Watson of the Sea Shepherd

"The reason I started this page was because I watche a video of Lolita and I thought that no more whales should be treated like crud anymore! And I thought of the protest in Seattle that I am going to with my mom and brother and sister and dad, and I wanted to make sure she lives, so I thought of LLL which stands for Let Lolita Live! so please help Lolita live with her family!"

These were the words of a nine year old boy, Trevor, who "gets it".  Animals that are wild, should be left alone in the wild. Save Lolita!  What an amazing young activist.  Please join his facebook page HERE, and please help Lolita by visiting WWW.SAVELOLITA.COM

Blood Dolphins: Return to The Cove - Animal Planet New Series

Ric O'Barry is back! Animal Planet picks up where the Academy Award-winning documentary "The Cove" left off as Ric and his son Lincoln expose dolphin hunting in Japan and around the world.

Please follow the link to see a preview of this new series that I certainly hope, along with the documentary, "THE COVE" will help bring about change!


http://animal.discovery.com/videos/blood-dolphins-return-to-the-cove.html


And if you are unfamiliar with "THE COVE", please see my previous post here:

http://avoice4animals.blogspot.com/2010/06/action-alert-take-part-to-save-dolphins.html

Ohio Animal Caretaker Killed During Bear Feeding

Ayinde O. Chase - AHN News Editor

Columbia Station, OH, United States (AHN) - An Ohio animal caretaker was mauled to death while feeding a bear. The victim, 24-year-old Brent Kandra, was an employee of Sam Mazzola, an exhibitor of exotic animals.

Investigators are looking into the incident to ascertain what may have provoked the attack.

However it appears the bear was out of its enclosure for the feeding and police were reportedly told that was routine. After the attack authorities were able to get the bear back in its cage without further incident.

News of the attack reached the Lorain County Sheriff's Office about 7:30 p.m. on Thursday via a 911 call. Hours later a spokesman for the Cuyahoga County Coroner confirmed Kandra died Friday morning at MetroHealth Medical Center.

Mazzola was also rushed to a medical care facility after the attack to be treated for an unspecified medical condition.

Previously he's come under fire from animal-rights groups for his unconventional business practices.

PETA went after Mazzola 4 years ago for his practice of letting paying customers wrestle his
black bears according to reports.

Also an inquiry by the Department of Agriculture led to Mazzola losing his license to exhibit exotic animals. Additionally he faced a $13,950 fine for his bear-wrestling act since he didn’t have the proper licensing


Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7019657385#ixzz0xGvdrxHH

Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7019657385#ixzz0xGvTqzqn