Rational Animal

Artivist Film Festival's Animal Advocacy Showcase, NYC

2012-01-29T07:29:00.000-08:00

By Rational Animal intern, Nicole Mak

Edited and with contributions by Courtney Kistler

On January 26, 2012, in its eighth annual film tour and visit to New York City, the Artivist Film Festival and Artivist Awards showcased three films focusing on animal advocacy at Columbia University’s Miller Theatre. Founded in 2003, the Artivist Film Festival uses film to raise awareness for international human rights, children’s advocacy, environmental preservation, and animal advocacy. Each film sought to convey to its audience issues of the animal industry and why vegetarianism and veganism were necessary responses to these atrocities.

The first featured was Together: Dancing with Spinner Dolphins, a short film showing spinner dolphins and their curiosity of the unknown. Only a few minutes long, the film sought to evoke a smile from the audience as they witnessed a dance between a snorkeler and three spinner dolphins. This film reminded us how beautiful we perceive animals in the wild to be, and in comparison to the next two films, eased us into the idea of living peacefully and sustainably with animals.

The second film was called Farm to Fridge by Mercy for Animals. For me personally, it is the most graphic animal rights video I’ve ever seen. As a former omnivore converted pescatarian, I have seen my share of animal rights shock and awe videos. This one, however, didn’t hesitate to bombard the audience with clip after clip of animals on American farms (most of them were factory farms) being castrated, crushed, beaten and hacked in the most inhumane and nauseating ways imaginable. Narrated by
Oscar-nominee and TV actor, James Cromwell, this film takes you on an eye-opening exploration behind the closed doors of the nation’s industrial poultry, pig, dairy, and fish farms, hatcheries, and slaughter plants – revealing the often-unseen journey that animals make from the farm to the American fridge, and eventually to the serving plate.

View entire film online; order free copy.

As I looked at the viewers’ heads in my line of vision, I saw many were looking down. Gasps and whispered cries could be heard all around me as the film revealed that it was common to smash piglets to the ground—headfirst—as a way to euthanize them.

Five minutes into this film I told myself I would become a vegan.

Seeing so much gore when you don’t expect it can be very mind altering. I don't think anyone in the audience left that theater feeling unaffected by that film. It made you hypersensitive. Suddenly you couldn’t help but think about all the animal related items you’d seen that, prior to this experience, you wouldn’t have giv

en a second thought about. As the film played, my stomach felt cold and empty, and I wanted to look away. What convinced me to keep watching was that all of this is real. By looking away we are denying what we, as Americans, demand. The only way to change these horrific animal practices is to face the music. It was obvious what the film was asking us to do: become vegan.

While the first film closed off amidst smatterings of chitchat, the second film left the audience dead silent. The last film tried to comfort and then engage the audience. Vegucated sought to

bring back humor and warmth to the theatre. Filmed in 2005 New York City and at various spots in New England, this 80-minute film is about three omnivores who volunteer (for no compensation, other than several delicious meals, field trips, and life-changing learning experiences) to undergo a complete vegan transformation over the course of 6 weeks. The writer and executive producer, Marisa Miller Wolfson, starred in the film as the provider of this “vegucation” and as intermittent narrator. Similar in tactic to Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, Wolfson educated Brian, Ellen, and Tesla and the viewing audience on how to start from the ground up to become vegan.

Marisa definitely made the education fun by taking them to places like Moo Shoes in downtown NYC and Ooh Mah Nee farm animal sanctuary. At one point, the crew spontaneously decided to stop off at a factory farm property and walk right up to one of the buildings. Surprisingly, not one person came out of that building or surrounding area to ask questions. Just outside the building, they discovered an open truck wagon containing the carcasses of two pigs. On the rest of the drive home, the dialogue between Tesla and Brian was heated and passionate. They were truly embracing the facts and sad reality about farm animals in America.

I liked that the film showed each volunteer’s drop in blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight after the mere 6 week period without overemphasizing these metrics. The main focus, really, was to de-alienate veganism. In choosing volunteers who fit the majority of meat and dairy eating Americans and mentioning popular American foods that were already vegan (chocolate frosting??), the film allowed the audience to reconsider their mainstream perception of the vegan next door. Marisa interviewed people on the streets of New York in the beginning of the film, asking them if they could go vegan, and getting pretty much the same response from each one: "No.", "Nah." or "I don't think so." This film took a clever, creative approach and truly broke down that resistance, as exemplified by the three different people who took on the vegan challenge.

After watching From Farm to Fridge, I wanted to be vegan. Watching Vegucated brought encouragement. By seeing the small steps that the volunteers were taking, I realized that I was already taking those steps. The film left me feeling good. Happy for the newly converted vegan and vegetarian volunteers in the film, it gave me a sense that I could do it too. That’s why I’m starting on my road to veganism!

"Artists with Animals" Mini-print Notecards for Every Occasion

2012-01-24T13:34:00.000-08:00

Article by Nicole Mak, Rational Animal intern

Last month, Rational Animal issued a unique set of 10 mini-print notecards featuring black and white photography of music legends with animals. Through a partnership with the Morrison Hotel Gallery, the premier rock photography distributing company and studio, legendary photographers and their estates have donated their high quality images to this special set. Photographers include Terry O’Neill, Henry Diltz, Robert Whitaker, Curt Gunther, Timothy White, Neal Preston, Herman Leonard, Frank Stefanko and Ken Regan. Musicians in the photos include John Lennon, Brigitte Bardot, Billie Holiday, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant, The Beatles, Patti Smith, Neil Young, and Nelly.

Each box contains 10 notecards and 10 envelopes and costs just $20 per box. Our goal is to sell all 2,000 sets of notecards, and we need your help! We have sold 300 so far, so please consider buying a set for you, for a loved one, for a co-worker, or anyone who loves animals and appreciates these rock legends and the brilliant photography that captures the special

moments with all different kinds of animals. They are useful all year round – gifted as a complete set or mailed individually, you use these cards to bring a smile and a chuckle to someone’s face. Write a brightly colored message on the front, fill the inside with confetti and a witty caption; say a thank you or sorry with animal welfare swag! Need to send thank you cards to everyone that gave you holiday presents? These notecards are the perfect solution, especially for those who love rock legends and animals.

The note card set is completely exclusive to Rational Animal, and 100% of all sales will go directly to supporting our media campaigns and programs that educate the public, inspiring positive action for the benefit of at-risk animals.
Buy at the Morrison Hotel Gallery’s SoHo Store, located at 124 Prince St. (between Greene and Wooster St.) in Manhattan or buy online here.

2012 is going to be a big year for Rational Animal – we have lots of programs up and running and some special events and campaigns in the works! Please consider supporting our work for animals through the purchase of these notecards. With your donation you too are helping to promote awareness for our best furry friends!

Again, to buy these cards you can come either to the Morrison Hotel Gallery’s SoHo Store, located at 124 Prince St. (between Greene and Wooster St.) in Manhattan or buy online.

Rounding Out 2011 with a Big Gift to NYC Shelters

2012-01-16T07:07:00.000-08:00

By Nicole Mak, Rational Animal intern

On December 4th, 2011 Rational Animal Founder Susan Brandt and members Salem Krieger, Christine Hahn, Maggie Hurley, David Glicksman, Thira Goldfinger, and Courtney Kistler delivered handmade beds and cat toys to the Brooklyn Animal Care and Control (AC&C), a municipal kill shelter housing 200 orphaned cats and dogs. All of the professionally shot pictures from this day can be seen here.

Through its Mother’s Comfort Project, Rational Animal once again recruited volunteers to make handmade beds for these lonely animals, in an effort to make them feel more at home. Often the shelter only provides towels for the animals to sleep on, nothing compared to a comfy bed sewn by loving hands! This delivery is just one of many that Rational Animal has been responsible for. Since the project's start in 2008, over 3,500 beds and 2,000 toys have been made and delivered to the AC&C shelters.

One of three throughout the city, the Brooklyn AC&C is home to animals who, if not adopted or placed in a foster home by one of the city's small animal rescue groups, will be euthanized. Because of the short adoption window, the shelter only provides its animal residents with very basic amenities. Housed in small metal cages, without toys or a human touch, it can be easy for AC&C’s orphaned animals to become overly stressed and sick.

The Mother’s Comfort Project was created as a tribute to the late Fannie Shapiro, an animal lover and grandmother of Rational Animal founder Susan Brandt. Having grown up seeing her take in strays, Susan keeps her grandmother’s love for animals alive through Rational Animal’s mission and this project. A picture of Fannie Shapiro with a Baltimore Oriole serves as the Mother’s Comfort Project’s logo, which Rational Animal made into a patch which is sewn onto every shelter bed.

The Mother’s Comfort Project seeks to bring attention to the AC&C shelters as well as educate those on the plight of animal homelessness in New York City. Student clubs are welcome to volunteer. It’s never too early or too late to help an animal in need! Sewing beds allow first time volunteers and veterans to help fight animal homelessness without the emotionally draining effect a shelter visit can bring about.

If you or a loved one would like to donate to this project please visit www.rational-animal.org/get-involved/donate. If you would like to get involved and sew some beds, pleasecheck back here for the next up coming date. Beds are usually sewn every month, at Flirt, Brooklyn, in Park Slope.

If you don't feel you can commit to sewing beds, here are other ways how you can help make 2012 a little warmer for New York’s orphaned animals:
• Provide transportation – we need a van for each sewing event: from Chelsea to Park Slope and back, for bed delivery to an AC&C shelter, and from Chelsea to one of the three shelters (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island)
• Donate fabric/batting (bed stuffing) – contact maggie@rational-animal.org to donate!
• Be a sponsor – your company or brand can sponsor this project, giving you added exposure through our press releases and both web and social media pages. Plus you'll be helping immensely to make unlucky animals in our shelters feel warm and loved.
• Become a project manager – help organize and recruit volunteers for sewing and delivery events. We need help getting funding, transportation and volunteers. Help us get the word out!

For more information and pictures please click on the following links:
• Video of our August 14th Sewing Session and BELOW
• Pictures of our delivery by Salem Kreiger, on Facebook

• Learn more about AC&C and adopt an animal today! www.nycacc.org

Whiskers In Wonderland: NYC's Largest Pet Adoption Event!

2010-12-15T07:26:00.000-08:00

Rational Animal will have a table at "Whiskers In Wonderland" a collaborative shopping and adoption event by the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals and Best Friends Animal Society! Come volunteer or stop by and join the fun!!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Saturday 12/18
10:30am-12:15pm: (2 people) Loading and transportation from storage unit (West 23rd St.) to Metropolitan Pavilion (West 18th St.), then set-up table
12:00-3:30pm & 3:30-7:00pm: (4 people each shift) - man the table, keep tabs on sales, hand out Trails to Tails, and invite event-goers to come check out our table, take pictures

7:00-8:30pm: Breakdown table, transportation back to storage unit

Sunday 12/19

8:30-10:15am: (2 people) Loading and transportation from storage unit to Metropolitan Pavilion, then set-up table
10:00am-1:30pm & 1:30-4:00pm: (4 people each shift) - man the table, keep tabs on sales, hand out Trails to Tails, and invite event-goers to come check out our table, take pictures

4:00-5:30pm: (2 people) Breakdown table, transportation back to storage

For more information, CONTACT ckistler@rational-animal.org

Animal Care and Control Center of Staten Island Needs Immediate Help

2010-12-06T13:15:00.000-08:00

PLEASE HELP: Staten Island Animal Care & Control needs blankets and beds for their animals asap. Please donate if at all possible and help spread the word TODAY by forwarding this blog post, or by sharing our Facebook message.

To make a donation (please make sure items are clean), go to the shelter at 3139 Veterans Road West, Staten Island, NY 10309; they offer directions here.

Forks Over Knives Official NYC Screening

2010-12-02T12:43:00.000-08:00

Forks Over Knives, a documentary featuring T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D. author of The China Study and Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., M.D., the two doctors behind Bill Clinton's switch to a plant-based diet, is being released in NYC on Monday, Dec 6th!

The film examines the claim that most degenerative diseases can be controlled or reversed from adopting a plant-based diet, and rejecting animal-based foods.

Screening proceeds will benefit Farm Sanctuary!

Vegan hors d'oeuvres from Candle 79.

For more information, click here

Spread the News: Tell President Obama to sign the bill to BAN cruel animal "crush" videos

2010-11-24T10:02:00.000-08:00

From the Humane Society of United States "H.R. 5566 will ban the creation and distribution in interstate and foreign commerce of obscene videos showing animals being impaled, crushed, drowned, burned, or suffocated -- often by women in stiletto heels -- for the sexual titillation of viewers."

These "crush" videos show high-heeled women crushing kittens to death or lighting rabbits on fire for sick entertainment and profit.

Now that this bill has passed both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, the next step is to urge President Obama to sign this bill into law.

It's easy to take action! Click here to help ban these horrific videos!

Give Thanks, in a Humane way!

2010-11-19T07:13:00.001-08:00

If you're cooking for vegans/vegetarians this year, you're in luck! We now have a plethora of options to choose from, as grocery retailers nationwide are carrying many traditional Thanksgiving foods, sans dairy and meat!

Our friends over at Vegan Babe posted some great tips for meatless Thanksgiving options, check 'em out here!

As Vegan Babe reminds us, it's not too late to enter to win a free full-on vegan Thanksgiving meal, for those of us who are not as well equipped in our kitchens!

Click here to enter VegNews Thanksgiving giveaway!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Hey New Jersey!! C'mon and Join the Rally!

2010-11-12T15:01:00.000-08:00

NJ Rally for Black Bears: "STAND UP FOR US, OUR LIVES ARE WORTH SHARING!"

On the evening of New Jersey's first bear hunt in 5 years, animal activists are standing out in opposition of this cruelty. Oppose this cruel "sport" of Bear Trophy Hunting, and come show your support!

Where: 95 East Main St.

Mendham, NJ 07945

When: Saturday, November 20th

Come for an hour or two! We appreciate your help!

For more information on the Rally meetup, click here

Can't make the rally on Nov 20th?
Call Gov. Christie at 609.292.6000 to oppose this bear hunt

For more information on this cruel "sport", click here

and also check out the recent NBC New York Story

Buy Jewelry, Help Animals

2010-11-12T10:18:00.000-08:00

What: Holiday Jewelry Show and Sale to Benefit Rational Animal
When: Thursday, November 18, 7-10:30pm
Where: Jerry Sibal Studio, 164 West 25th 5th Floor (between 6th and 7th)

Artist Guenevere Rodriguez is once again generously hosting a benefit in honor of Rational Animal. Come on out, do some holiday shopping, and support a great jewelry artist and a great cause (...if we do say so ourselves)!

Gimme Shelter: Blues & Rescue 2010!

2010-10-20T14:55:00.000-07:00

UPDATE November 12, 2010

Due to some exciting developments in our talent lineup, we're moving our annual Rock and Rescue benefit concert to late winter - exact date TBA. Stay tuned for additional information, including announcements of some very special guests!

Another thing to look forward to this Holiday season!

Gimme Shelter 2010: Blues & Rescue Featuring the Tangiers Blue Band

What's it all about?

A benefit for Rational Animal and the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals Picasso Veterinary Fund

What's in store?
Tangiers Blues Band rockin' the night away

Complimentary bar and non-alcoholic beverages

Gourmet vegan and vegetarian food

Silent Auction with items including artwork, spa treatments, dinners, luxury goods, and more

For ticket information and details, click here

"Missouri's Dirty Dozen"

2010-10-15T13:41:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, Missouri is well-known among the animal community as being a state filled to the brim with horrible puppy mills. If a person buys a puppy from a pet store, chances are the puppy came from a Missouri mill. These mills are inhumane and need to be closed.

The Humane Society of United States released a "Dirty Dozen" report on Missouri's worst puppy mills.

"Violations included sick or dying puppies who had not been treated by a veterinarian; dogs found shivering in temperatures as low as 9 degrees; and dogs so emaciated that their bones were visible through their skin."

The Dirty Dozen

Brandi Cheney and Diana Stephenson, S & S Family Puppies, Milan

Beverly Fields, B & B Kennel, Galt

Shannon Plymell, Windsong Kennels, Pattonsburg

Diana and Floyd Miller, Bar M Ranch Kennel, Spickard

Paul and Pollie Gingerich - Gingerich Farms, Bogard

Mary Ann Smith, Smith’s Kennel, Salem

Cox, Marsha - Mar-Don Kennel, Chillicothe

Peggy Ryan, For Heaven’s Sake Kennel, Reeds Spring

Robert Dukes and Robin Dollins, Tiny Tails, Edgar Springs

Bill and Sandra Sackrey, S K’s Kennel, Brookfield

Brenda Walter, Hidden Valley Farms, Greencastle

Jesse and Sonja Miller – Walnut Creek Kennel, La Monte

Click here to read the full report

Remember, ADOPT!! Do not support puppy mills!

If you're considering adding a furry friend to the family, look at PetFinder for your next pet!

October 10 is Orange Ribbon Day

2010-10-08T08:01:00.001-07:00

Did you know that animals have their own advocacy ribbon? It's orange and it's official!

Wear the orange ribbon on October 10 and throughout the year to show your support for animals. Need a ribbon? Contact maggie@rational-animal.org for individual ribbons, or ckistler@rational-animal.org to bring the orange ribbon campaign to your community.

You can also browse our online store for orange ribbon tshirts and more.

Fall Fiesta: FREE Spay & Neuter surgery

2010-10-01T12:07:00.000-07:00

Fall Fiesta, Saturday October 2nd, from 9 am - 3 pm!

Central Park West at 110th Street and Lenox Avenue

If you don't have your pet spayed or neutered yet, come on by to the Mayors Alliance for NYC's Animals FREE spay and neuter Fall Fiesta, Saturday October 2nd!

FREE stay / neuter surgery on a first come / first served basis, encouraged to show up early!
FREE microchips for the first 100 pets!
Entertainment & Fun
Adoptable Pets!
Ask-Expert booths

For more information, contact

Mayors Alliance for NYC's Animals

Annual "Blessing of the Animals" Service is back!

2010-09-29T09:01:00.001-07:00

What:

In honor of St. Francis Day, many Catholic churches nationwide offer an Animal Blessing Service, where animal lovers bring their pets to be blessed by a Priest, and to share in a magical blessing of animals from rescue shelters and farms!

Where:

The Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Soho offers a beautiful service to honor St. Francis of Assisi. This year, Rational Animal will be there to hand out Trails to Tails maps & Orange Ribbons! Come stop by our table & say hi!

When:

Sunday, October 3rd. Service starts at 1 pm.

For more information, contact:

The Church of St. Anthony of Padua

154 Sullivan St

New York, NY 10012

212-777-2755

Buy Art to Help NY Animals in Need

2010-09-22T13:54:00.000-07:00

What: Gala and silent art auction whose proceeds go to five wonderful New York City nonprofits working on behalf of animals

When*: Thursday, October 21, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Where*: 3rd Floor, 548 Broadway, New York, NY 10012

*Or bid in advance

The event will benefit the following organizations: A Tail at a Time, Bideawee, Ready for Rescue, Stray from the Heart, and Waggin' Train Rescue, all of which are participating organizations of the Mayors Alliance for Animals, which also generously supports Rational Animal.

The art on auction is all dog- or cat-themed, and was donated by New York City artists. To view the art in person before the gala and auction, go to PetHealthStore, located at 440 Amsterdam Avenue (at 81st Street) in Manhattan.

For more details on the event, read the press release.

You're 2 clicks away from voting to build New York City's 1st Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

2010-09-14T17:12:00.000-07:00

Can you believe that New York City is the only metropolitan city in the US that doesn't have a wildlife rehabilitation center? You can vote to change that!

The Pepsi Refresh Project has $1.3 million in funding to distribute across good causes with the most votes!

The Wild Bird Fund treats over 1,000 wild birds & animals in New York City each year, and they're running out of space. With your votes, The Wild Bird Fund could receive $250,000 to build New York City's first Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Center in Manhattan!

Click here to vote daily until Sep 30th!

How you can help NYC Horses

2010-09-07T15:39:00.000-07:00

For over 100 years, horses have endured unnatural circumstances in Manhattan to keep the carriage-ride industry profitable. Year after year, NYC horses work year-round long hours, live in uncomfortable and inadequate urban housing quarters, and are forced to tolerate the crowded, chaotic streets of Manhattan.....all because people are still paying for a ride around Central Park. This is another example of how humans exploit animals for their own entertainment. Horses belong in pastures, not on an island full of 8+ million people. Fortunately, there are animal-rights groups that work tirelessly to help raise awareness about this cruel industry and to provide help to the horses.

In early 2010, Intro 35 was passed,which grants horses 5 weeks vacation per year. Stables are becoming more regulated, however the ultimate goal is to ban this industry forever. Intro 86 is a new legislation that plans to phase out New York City's horse carriage industry and replace it with an ecofriendly horseless carriage. This will ultimately not only be best for the horses, but also for the streets of New York. This means less crashes, more money for NYC through these tourist vintage car rides, and much happier lives for horses. Two strong supporters of Intro. 86 are the ASPCA (American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and NYCLASS (New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets).

How you can help

If you live in New York City, contact your Councilmember and ask him or her to support Intro. 86.
Click here to submit an email to NYC Council members to support Intro 86
"Like" NYCLASS on Facebook and spread the news to your friends
Watch this documentary "Blinders: The Movie" to educate yourself about the cruel horse-carriage industry
Report horse abuse. If you're a witness to abuse, call 212-876-7700 to report it!

My Dog Tulip at Film Forum

2010-08-25T06:19:00.000-07:00

J.R. Ackerley never considered himself a dog lover. Then, in middle-age, he adopted a beautiful, yet difficult 18-month-old German Shepherd. To his surprise, she became the love of his life.

Ackerley recorded his man-and-beast love story in a 1956 memoir, which filmmakers Paul and Sandra Fierlinger have brought to life in "My Dog Tulip," an animated interpretation of Ackerley’s story. "My Dog Tulip" will have its world theatrical premiere at the Film Forum from September 1-14 before going into wide release. Click here for tickets and showtimes.

Join Us
Rational Animal will be on hand during weekend screenings to inform and educate filmgoers about shelter animals in need, and will have pets available for adoption from Animal Haven. Volunteers will also be handing out copies of our popular Trails to Tails map, a guide to dog parks, shelters and low cost animal care and services in all 5 boroughs.

More About the Film
Christopher Plummer gives voice to the unflappable, wry Ackerley and the late, great Lynn Redgrave is the sister who comes to share his flat and vie with him for the dog's loyalty. Isabella Rossellini is Tulip's sensitive and sensible veterinarian. The Fierlingers' animated designs combine naturalism and visual wit; their profound feelings for both dog and man are unmatched by conventional doggie cartooning. "My Dog Tulip" is the first animated feature to be entirely hand drawn and painted, utilizing paperless computer technology. It was an official selection of the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival.

Related Link:
Still Life With Animated Dogs, a previous film by Paul Fierlinger

Support Gulf Animals and Wildlife

2010-08-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

PATH (People Protecting Animals and Their Habitats) is partnering with the wonderful vegan restaurant Candle 79 to raise money for animals and wildlife affected by the Gulf oil spill.

5% of your bill will directly support PATH's response and rehab efforts throughout the Gulf area.

What: PATH's Save the Gulf Night
When: Wednesday, August 25, 5:30-10:30pm
Where: Candle 79, 154 East 79th Street (at Lexington Avenue)

Reservations are recommended. Call 212.537.7179 or reserve via OpenTable.

Thinking about getting a furry friend? Consider adopting.

2010-08-14T11:12:00.000-07:00

Did you know there are between 3-4 million dogs and cats that are euthanized annually in the United States alone? Statistics do the talking here. Between 6-9 million dogs and cats are brought into shelters across the Unites States each year. Many people purchase dogs and cats on impulse without considering the responsibility of being a pet-owner, and unfortunately many of these pets end up in shelters. Adopting your next pet is not only the smart choice, but you are also saving a life!

Here are the top 10 reasons to consider adopting, and not shopping for your pet:

1.) Dogs and cats from pet-stores often come from puppy mills, where they are treated inhumanely, and are often ill.

2.) Dogs and cats that come from shelters are almost always de-wormed, vaccinated, and spayed/neutered....On the contrary, dogs and cats from pet-stores or breeders are often not spayed/neutered or vaccinated, which means you will have to carry this expense.

3.) It's cheaper to adopt! Most shelters charge an adoption fee of anywhere from $50-300. However, buying a pet from a pet store or through a breeder can cost several hundreds of dollars, and sometimes thousands! (Not to mention having to tack on additional expense of vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and de-worming, often included in the cost of adoption!)

4.) 3-4 million dogs and cats die each year in the U.S. because of pet overpopulation. Instead of contributing to this problem, instead contribute to the solution and adopt a shelter pet who is spayed/neutered and cannot reproduce (thus saving more pets from ending up in shelters!)

5.) You'll have a beautiful story to tell your family and friends! Out of the shelter, and into your home!

6.) You are supporting a shelter. Shelters are often non-profit groups who work tirelessly to care for animals and ensure adoptable animals are placed in loving, "forever" homes. (Not just dogs and cats, but all sorts of animals, from hamsters to horses and even rabbits & pigs!)

7.) Pets are not products. Sadly, the pet-industry treats animals like any other inventory. Often, puppy mills are under-regulated and pets live in horrific, dirty, cramped spaces with lack of proper nutrition, exercise, and care. Do your research, you'll be amazed. Instead of contributing to an industry that treats pets like product-inventory, consider adopting to support a great cause!

8.) Statistics are going in the right direction. Help to support this direction! 20 years ago, there were an estimated 17 million dogs and cats that died annually in the shelters. We're moving in the right direction, let's keep going with your help!

9.) Pets that are in shelters have what many people call "sad eyes." Some were strays that were trying to survive on the street, others were abandoned by former owners, and some were left behind after an owners death. They need homes and love. Once they're adopted, chances are they will be loyal to you like you've never experienced loyalty before! You'll be able to see them come out of their shell and blossom beautifully! Shelter pets make the best pets, in our opinion!

10.) You are saving a life! If you adopt, you are sparing this pet from potentially being euthanized.

So, have we convinced you yet? Small dog, large cat, young, old, gerbil, hamster, rabbit, snake, you name it, you can adopt it!! Even if you're looking for a certain breed, chances are you can find the breed you're looking for through adoption!

If you're not quite ready to make the commitment of being a pet-owner, consider fostering! Fostering is a great way to help out shelters in your area by temporarily providing a home for a pet, until they are adopted! It's a great way to see if you're ready to adopt & learn more about caring for pets. Many shelters in your area have "Fostering & Volunteering" sections on their websites, where you can download a foster application. Many times, the shelters will cover expenses for food and supplies while you foster.

To learn more about adoption, check out:

√ The Shelter Pet Project: http://www.theshelterpetproject.org/

√ www.PetFinder.com

√ Do a Google search for your local shelters. Many of them have adoptable pets on their website, where you can see their photos and read their bios (if available)

√ Do a Google search for local adoption events in your area, often held on weekends

√ If you're in New York, pick up a Trails to Tails map, where you can find shelters across all 5 boroughs! Trailstotails.org

Please consider adopting a pet, and help contribute to the solution, not the problem!

Delivering a Mother’s Comfort – Part 2

2010-06-29T14:05:00.000-07:00

It can be tough to provide comfort and help to the animals that may need it most. While there are many that need our love and care, those with behavior problems or ailments pose a particular challenge. They may not be readily adoptable, but they shouldn’t be ignored.

Helen Shen learned this recently with us. “I was one of the volunteers for Rational Animal's Mother's Comfort Program Part 2,” she wrote to us recently, “delivering beds and toys to dogs and cats at the Animal Care & Control of Manhattan.” This wasn’t Helen’s first visit, but on previous occasions, she stayed with the dogs that had higher hopes for adoption.

The Mother’s Comfort Program consists of two parts. Before the phase in which Helen participated came Part 1, in which volunteers donated time and effort sewing beds and toys. They were distributed to the animals in the second phase of this effort.

Noting the chaotic environment, not to mention her personal concerns about dogs with particularly stressful histories, Helen explained that she was reluctant to reach out to these animals. Later in the day, however, she realized that, even though these dogs were a bit more challenging, they still needed “the same kind of comfort that other more docile dogs were given.”

She continued:

“I can only imagine that they have never received that type of comfort and wondered if they were like humans deprived of a mother's love. In another ward, there was a dog that was so hyper and stressed from being in a cage that he bit his tail. I stood there helpless without knowing how to calm him. I could only alert the shelter's staff to his injury. It is really heartbreaking to see these animals in such an anxious and frightened state. From my understanding, animals learn the behavior they exhibit and can only get better through steady training which they will never receive due to the shortage of resources. Ultimately, I knew that these dogs would be euthanized.”

Helen stepped forward into an extremely emotional environment, and she quickly made a difference. Every animal that is abandoned presents a new tragedy for us. It’s easier to help some, but they all need our attention.

Get your Tickets Now for the 2nd Annual Friends of Animal Rescue Boat Cruise!

2010-06-22T09:39:00.000-07:00

The second annual boat cruise to benefit the Friends of Animal Rescue is coming up … so get ready for a great night for a good cause. As we sail along the Hudson on a private yacht, we’ll know that our pure enjoyment will also help animals in need, making a fun evening out even better!

This year’s silent auction on the cruise is packed with incredible lots. Dinner at Rao’s, a weekend in North Fork, artisan jewelry and wines by the case will all go under the silent gavel. Rational Animal is contributing artwork: a jumbo 3D “New York Is” piece by Charles Fazzino.

Ticket cost only $100 (where can you have fun for that little in Manhattan, right?) and include all food and beverage for the three-hour event. The boat will remain docked until 9 PM at The Water Club, on E. 30^th Street and the East River, at which point it will get under way.

For tickets, visit www.foar.org (Events tab)

See you on board!

Celebrating National Pigeon Day

2010-06-21T09:28:00.001-07:00

The pigeon certainly isn’t the most popular of natural creatures, especially here in New York. Woody Allen referred to them as “flying rats,” and these living beings suffer regular abuse, including trapping, poisoning and simply being chased and kicked. Take a second to remember that these are animals; they live and feel pain … and they endure all the city throws at them with a certain amount of grace.

So, let’s look back on National Pigeon Day and remember that we share the streets and the skies with these birds – and that they deserve respect.

June 18th Fundraiser for NYC AC&C / Rational Animal donating advocacy merch for event

2010-06-10T21:29:00.001-07:00

Rational Animal will provide Trails to Tails maps and Orange Ribbon for Animals merchandise at AC&C Fundraiser, June 18th

Contact sbrandt@rational-animal.org if you want to help us give out our Trails to Tails and Orange Ribbon for Animals merchandise.

Full details at TastingNYC - click here.

Date: Friday, June 18, 2010
Time: 6:00pm - 11:00pm
Location: BLVD, 199 Bowery (btwn Spring St. and Rivington)

Drink Special: $5 Bud/Bud Lights and $5 wine!
Admission: FREE!
BLVD is dog-friendly!
If you're on Facebook, click here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=128556493826163

The event is co-hosted by one of the top names in New York radio, Maria Milito of Q104.3. C
heck out Maria's blog.

PEARL JAM FUNDRAISER FOR RATIONAL ANIMAL MAY 20-21 DURING THEIR 2 NIGHT STINT AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN!

2010-05-13T19:48:00.000-07:00

Since Eddie Vedder helped Rational Animal raise funds by selling concert t-shirts at a Pearl Jam and Buzzcocks concert at Madison Square Garden in 2003, the Wishlist Foundation (a Pearl Jam fan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) continues to support Rational Animal's work by hosting pre-concert fundraisers to celebrate Pearl Jam's two night stint at Madison Square Garden.

Please join us May 20 AND May 21 from 2-6PM

at Irish Times Pub

31^st Street between 7^th & 8^th Avenues NYC

Attendees will be able to make donations of clean linens, unopened pet food and gently used, non-destructible dog toys. For financial donations, fans will receive items like Pearl Jam inspired t-shirts, posters, wristbands, mouse pads and ticket albums and can enter a raffle to win fan-donated Pearl Jam memorabilia. There will also be a silent auction that features autographed items donated by band members!

Photo of Eddie Vedder and rescued dog Celo featured on his tshirt by Rick Edwards

Contact sbrandt@rational-animal.org with questions.

Please join us to deliver and sew beds for shelter animals

2010-03-23T19:36:00.000-07:00

Saturday March 27th - we need your help delivering beds to the Staten Island AC&C. We will leave from West Chelsea late morning and return late afternoon.

Contact sbrandt@rational-animal.org to get involved!

Then NEXT weekend we are making more beds!

Saturday, April 3rd from 12-4pm

...at Flirt, Brooklyn (www.flirt-brooklyn.com) Home Ec Studio in Park Slope

303 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11215

Where is this? Click here!

Contact sbrandt@rational-animal.org or call (917) 239-9229

More about Mother's Comfort Project at http://www.rational-animal.org/campaigns-projects/mother-s-comfort-project

LAUNCH EVENT on MARCH 4th for Trails to Tails 2010

2010-01-28T11:21:00.000-08:00

Celebrate the unveiling of Trails to Tails 2010 on Thursday March 4th in SoHo

Eat, drink and be merry while celebrating the release of NYC's quintessential guide to animal adoption, low-cost spay and neuter, purebred rescue groups as well as a fold out map of all of NYC's dog friendly parks.

WHERE: Doggy Style
73 Thompson St. (between Spring and Broome St.)
WHEN: 6:30-9:00pm
WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU:
** FREE adult beverages, courtesy of Tito's Vodka and Heineken USA.
** Meet some canine cuties from area rescue groups who are looking for their furrever home.
** Buy an extra toy or collar for your dog from Doggy Style -- a % of sales will go straight to Rational Animal!
CONTACT: Courtney Kistler, ckistler@rational-animal.org or call (212) 933-1688.
Please forward this link to your friends, family, and fellow animal lovers: www.rational-animal.org/events/upcomingevents.

Thank you to the sponsors and partners of Trails to Tails 2010:

Special thanks to our event drink sponsors:

Still plenty of time to enjoy 2010 with vintage rock photography right at your desk

2010-01-21T10:30:00.000-08:00

Rational Animal's new website makes it easier to learn more, support our projects, and get the coolest calendar of the decade!

Check out http://www.rational-animal.org/calendar where you can still order our vintage photography calendar, In Perfect Harmony: Music Legends and their Animals RIGHT NOW!

Now is the BEST time to buy your 2010 calendar from Rational Animal

2009-12-26T17:31:00.000-08:00

Now is the BEST time to buy your 2010 calendar from Rational Animal!

If you missed the great party at The Eldridge on December 18th, you missed a great party but not your last opportunity to get a great deal on your copy of Rational Animal's 2010 calendar just in time for the new year!

Rational Animal has seen continued coverage in media for its unique 2010 calendar project, "In Perfect Harmony: Music Legends and their Animals", which pairs vintage rock photography from the archives of the Morrison Hotel Gallery, with Rational Animal's mission for increasing public awareness of at-risk animals.

Founder and Director, Susan Brandt, was interviewd at KLOS radio in on December 9th then with Q104's Shelli Sonstein on December 16th, with an additional mention by the radio station's Ken Dashow on December 24th.

"In Perfect Harmony" was also covered in the December 19th issue of the New York Daily News and in Us Weekly online.

The calendar even made the Rolling Stone online gift guide, which was a tremendous achievement!

Why is NOW the best time to get this one-of-a-kind gift? A promo code has just been opened up to the public. Through December 31st only, use "Q104" at checkout here, www.rational-animal.org/calendar and get 2 for every 1 purchased!

Rational Animal End-of-Year Bash in NYC

2009-12-16T14:47:00.000-08:00

Rational Animal presents a fabulous year-end bash!
Friday, December 18th
10:00pm
The Eldridge
247 Eldridge St.

(between E.Houston and Stanton St.) New York, NY

SUGGESTED DONATION: $25: gets you in the door and an "In Perfect Harmony: Music Legends and their Animals" 2010 calendar + bonus gift.

SPECIALTY DRINK: The Eldridge Mixologist will be making the "In Perfect Harmony" cocktail.

GUEST LIST: PLEASE REPLY TO reservations@theeldridge.com.

With support from The Eldridge and Amici della Cultura Italiana clubs.

Order calendars here: www.rational-animal.org/calendar.

Questions? Email info@rational-animal.org.

News about Rational Animal 2010 Calendar + December 18th Benefit

2009-12-04T11:16:00.000-08:00

We are thrilled to report that we have earned more media coverage for the 2010 calendar, "In Perfect Harmony: Music Legends and Their Animals". Check us out on Rolling Stone online!
Other coverage includes:
-aCurator
-Radar
-About.com

We are also now listed on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Music-Legends-Their-Animals-Musicians/dp/B002VKI8K6. Do some holiday shopping, and put this unique calendar in your shopping cart -- all sales go directly to Rational Animal for our continuing projects to raise public awareness of at-risk animals.

Recently, the FIT Italian Club sold dozens of calendars for Rational Animal. We are very grateful for their efforts and are pleased to announce that they are also throwing us an end-of-year benefit.

Friday, December 18th

10pm (until about 12am)

The Eldridge, located at 247 Eldridge St. (between E. Houston & Stanton St.)

Celebrate with Rational Animal as we close out another year of awareness projects focused on at-risk animals and animal welfare issues and rescue groups. We will have give-aways for you and your four-legged friends and plenty of "In Perfect Harmony" calendars for sale ($25 each).

MUSIC! DJ Phresh will start spinning tunes at 10pm.
LIBATIONS! The Eldgridge is offering discounted drink specials.
FREE STUFF! Rational Animal will have some sweet give-aways.
BONUS! Rational Animal will throw in a special extra gift with each purchase of the 2010 In Perfect Harmony calendar.
It's FREE but we appreciate any donations, and we'll have lots of In Perfect Harmony calendars for sale!

Check out our Facebook Event listing where you can also invite all your friends!!

ABOUT THE CALENDAR: The calendar, titled “In Perfect Harmony: Music Legends and their Animals” appeals to music, art, photography, and animal lovers everywhere. Recently featured in Rolling Stone, the New York Post, Radar, and aCurator.com, “In Perfect Harmony” includes fine art prints of music legends including Michael Jackson, Sting, Billie Holiday and John Lennon enjoying time with an animal friend. Each month a beautifully reproduced photograph includes the photographer's first-hand story behind the photo, as well as animal holidays and animal-themed quotations. Contributing photographers include: Janette Beckman, Pattie Boyd, Danny Clinch, Henry Diltz, Lynn Goldsmith, Herman Leonard, Neal Preston, Frank Stefanko, Barrie Wentzell, and Robert Whitaker.

**order calendars here: http://www.rational-animal.org/calendar

ASPCA/NYCLASS Statement on the closing of Shamrock Stables

2009-11-09T13:00:00.000-08:00

RE-POSTING. Rational Animal's stance on the carriage horse industry in NYC is in line with that of the the ASPCA, NY CLASS, and the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages. Right now NY CLASS is a great alternative, and we hope to see their plan happen some day soon.

____

November 4, 2009

ASPCA, NYCLASS Issue Statement on Future Closing of Carriage Horse Stables
Officials Say Alternative to Antiquated Industry is "Past Due"

NEW YORK--The ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and NYCLASS (New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets) issued the following statements after learning of the impending shut-down of some carriage horse stables to make room for affordable housing:
"We have said time and time again that neither the New York City environment nor current law provides carriage horses with the fundamental necessities to ensure their safety and well being, and this latest development further underscores the limitations that 21st century New York City has to offer such an antiquated industry," said ASPCA President and CEO Ed Sayres.

"The use of carriage horses in New York City is not only a safety hazard to city residents, tourists, pedestrians, motorists and the horses themselves, but horses must often work seven days a week in heavily congested traffic and extreme temperatures."

"It's time for New Yorkers to demand an alternative to carriage horses, specifically "green" (eco-friendly) replicas of antique cars—a proposal that would also keep carriage drivers from losing their jobs," added Jared Rosen, Executive Director of NYCLASS. "Housing such vehicles in New York City would be easier and less expensive than providing lodging for horses, which also requires storage for hay, feed, carriages and other equipment. Vehicles don't require the kind of maintenance that a horse does, and they would not have to be kept close to Central Park."
"Presently, the carriage horses inhabit prime real estate that could be used for more affordable housing for people, which the city desperately needs," Rosen continued.

The ASPCA and NYCLASS lauded the recent Comptroller's Follow-Up Audit Report on the Licensing and Oversight of the Carriage-Horse Industry, which detailed numerous infractions and violations on behalf of the industry as well as poor oversight on behalf of the City's Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DoHMH).

"The ASPCA, a privately-funded agency, continues to voluntarily—and at its own expense—do the city's job, monitoring activity and enforcing the regulations that govern horses' housing, care and welfare," Sayres said. "The city's taxpayers (knowingly or unknowingly) are subsidizing the very industry the city should be overseeing by allowing them to work out of city owned property, and revenues from their business are not subject to sales tax.
"The ASPCA and NYCLASS urge the City Council and Mayor's office to push for the much-needed and past-due phase-out of the carriage horses and the implementation of a safe, humane, environmentally friendly and economically viable alternative."

# # #

Media contacts: Anita Kelso Edson, 646-522-5056; anitae@ASPCA.org
Jared Rosen, 212-626-6990; JaredR@NY-CLASS.org

About the ASPCA®
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and serves as the nation's leading voice for animal welfare. One million supporters strong, the ASPCA's mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501 [c] [3] not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit. For more information, please visit http://www.aspca.org.

About NYCLASS™
New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets™ is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization dedicated to improving New York City's quality of life through education and advocacy. As New York has evolved in the 110 years since the five boroughs united, the issues facing our citizens have also changed. We believe that the challenges facing New York in the 21st century demand a fresh approach to the way city government operates, rather than a stale reliance on existing orthodoxies. NYCLASS researches public policy issues and offers sensible solutions to the critical needs of New York City in the 21st century, such as reducing traffic, improving sanitation, and protecting workers. NYCLASS seeks to improve the city's civic fabric and raise the level of public discourse on these issues by building public support for our initiatives. For more information, please visit www.ny-class.org.

Rational Animal's got the PERFECT holiday gift!

2009-11-03T14:52:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is upon us!! And Rational Animal has the perfect gift for you or for someone special in your life. The "In Perfect Harmony: Music Legends and their Animals" 2010 calendar is being sold online and in stores for only $25.000 at http://www.rational-animal.org/calendar and in the Morrison Hotel Gallery Prince St. and Bowery locations (http://www.morrisonhotelgallery.com).

Your donation will help us continue our important work in humane education and animal awareness and protection.

Rational Animal has seen more press coverage too -- check us out in the New York Post, Radar, and Rolling Stone.

Buy the calendar for yourself, your friends, colleagues, and family memebers. Each month features a fine art piece from the Morrison Hotel Gallery's vintage collection, the photographer's first-hand story behind each photo, animal holidays, and a carefully slected animal-themed quote, such as this by Ray Charles: "Whether they be the musician cats in my band or the real cats of the world, they all got style."

What do you do with the calendar after each month has passed? Each month's phot is unmarked and can be detached and used to decorate your home interior or office. Now that is a gift that keeps on giving!!

Pass on the link to help in the fundraising efforts: www.rational-animal.org/calendar. All sales go straight to Rational Animal to help fund our animal awareness and humane education projects, including the nationwide Orange Ribbon for Animals campaign and the Gimme Shelter Rock and Rescue 2010 benefit concert for animal rescues in NYC.

Contact info@rational-animal.org if you want to help sell the calendar or know of stores and venues for RA volunteers to sell inside business locations in the NYC area. Email Rational Animal with your own sales and retail ideas.

Previews of "In Perfect Harmony: Music Legends and their Animals":

Rational Animal Celebrates Pit Bull Awareness Day in NYC

2009-10-28T14:07:00.001-07:00

Rational Animal teamed with the NYC Pit Bull / Pit Mix Meetup group, headed by Amy Calmann and, Pattie Smith, who she adopted from AC&C, for Pit Bull Awareness Day. The rain postponed the festivities from Saturday to Sunday, October 25th, but that did not deter the crowds from coming out with their pitties and posing for some great pictures.

Rational Animal was also promoting the Orange Ribbon for Animals "Animal Guardian" campaign and handed out orange ribbons to all the pit parents.

Further inside the park was a costume and agility contest for dogs, with supporters such as Happy Pants and Friends of Animal Rescue in attendance with info tables.

Rational Animal gave out copies of New York Tails Fall issue, which features a cover story about the pit bull ban in public housing (there is a ban on pit bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, and dogs over 25 lbs) as well as an informational flyer as well; contents below:

_____________

Pit Bull Awareness Day in New York City

October 25, 2009

Tompkins Square Park

Rational Animal and the NYC Pit Bull and Pit Mix Meetup Group thank you for coming out today. Enjoy the pitties and their people, and continue to help educate others about responsible animal guardianship.

Thank you for your support and advocacy for this misunderstood animal. Though many of us have met or had our own pit bull and pit mix dogs, not everyone gives them the chance they deserve and sometimes these dogs are exploited and abused by humans right here in New York City.Continue to spread awareness about the many positive aspects of pits and the importance of spaying and neutering to prevent more unwanted pits from ending up in our overcrowded Animal Care & Control shelters.

Spay/neuter programs specifically for pit and pit mix dogs in NYC:

Out of the Pits “Fix-a-Bull” Program: www.outofthepits.org/Fix-A-Bull.html

NYC AC&C Love Your Pit free and low-cost pit bull spay/neuter service: www.nycacc.org/loveyourpit.html

*** If you know of more FREE spay/neuter services for pit bulls, email ckistler@rational-animal.org.

Suggested websites and Resources:

NYC Anti-animal Fighting Campaign: www.ua4a.org/AntiDogFighting.html

The Real Pit Bull: http://www.realpitbull.com/

Liberty Humane’s Bullies Are Deserving Dogs: http://baddogs.libertyhumane.org/

Animal Farm Foundation: http://animalfarmfoundation.org

Bad Rap, nationally recognized pit bull rescue in the Bay Area of California: http://www.badrap.org/rescue/index.cfm

Pit Bull Rescue Central – Where Education Meets Rescue: http://pbrc.net

Dispelling the myths – from realpitbull.com:

Pit bulls have locking jows – FALSE!

Pit bulls have the strongest jaws – FALSE!

Pit bulls turn on their owners – FALSE!

A higher percentage of pit bulls attack people than other breeds – FALSE!

All pit bulls are aggressive – FALSE!

Pit bulls are only good for fighting – FALSE!

_____________

NEW WAY TO SUPPORT RATIONAL ANIMAL -- and get some cool stuff for yourself!

Rational Animal's now have a new opportunity to express their opinion of the Eagles hiring of Michael Vick and to help Rational Animal at the same time.

Were you angry when the Eagles NFL team signed Michael Vick to their roster? Show it and support Rational Animal!

Express your opinion of the Eagles hiring of Michael Vick and help Rational Animal at the same time. Go to http://www.vicktee.com and use promo code: "rational" (type in the promotion code box during check out).

When you shop at www.vicktee.com, for every t-shirt purchased Rational Animal will receive 15% of the purchase price, and for every bumper sticker purchased Rational Animal will receive 20% of the purchase price.

Just be sure to put "Rational" in the promotion code box when you are entering your billing and shipping information.
Feel free to forward to anyone you think would like this merchandise and to help Rational Animal's work for animals and the protection of them.

National Feral Cat Day - TODAY October 16th, EVENTS THIS WEEKEND

2009-10-16T13:05:00.000-07:00

It is National Feral Cat Day!

Recognized nationally by Alley Cat Allies

Events going on in New York all weekend and beyond...

--
Please remember the people that work tirelessly to PREVENT the births of unwanted litters of cats around the country.

Consider donating to a rescue group that does TNR services -- this is one of the best ways to bring the feral cat population down and prevent abuse and the needless killing of animals.

A message from Alley Cat Allies:
"National Feral Cat Day (NFCD) is your opportunity to help protect and improve the lives of cats around the county!
We know how much you care about cats and want to help protect them. Now you can celebrate NFCD by reaching out to others with the message that feral cats are healthy and happy outdoors and that Trap-Neuter-Return improves cats' lives. Get involved and show your support for stray and feral cats by distributing educational materials or hosting local events like workshops, fundraisers, or special neuter clinic days."

In New York City, the NYC Feral Cat Initiative is celebrating their work and the work of others dedicated to TNR and changing the harsh stereotypes of feral and homeless cats.

EVENTS THIS WEEKEND

TONIGHT
Friday, October 16, 2009

Feral For Life in Brooklyn:
6:00–10:00 pm
Washington Commons, 748 Washington Ave. (between Park Place and Sterling Place).

More Info: Contact lulumomma@gmail.com, or visit the Feral for Life web site: http://www.feralforlife.com/2009/10/national-feral-cat-day.html.

---

----

--
TOMORROW

Saturday October 17, 2009

Feral Cat Winter Shelter Building Workshop, Demonstration & Sale (CLOSED FOR RESERVATIONS)
Noon–12:30 pm
Shelter Building Workshop & Demonstration
1:00–2:30 pm – Pick-Up Pre-Built Shelters
South Ozone Park, Queens (address will be sent upon RSVP)
In honor of National Feral Cat Day and New York Week for the Animals, come and learn how to build a winter shelter for feral cats! You can observe a demonstration for free, or you can pay a discounted fee of $60 to participate in the workshop. The fee covers all necessary provided materials. We'll walk you through the construction process (and do all the drilling), and you can take your new shelter home that day. If you'd prefer, you can instead order a discounted pre-built shelter for $60 ($10 off regular price) and pick it up that day. If you are not able to transport your shelter home, we can arrange to have it delivered for free (for a limited number of people).
Sponsors: NYC Feral Cat Initiative, ASPCA
More Info: Contact the NYC Feral Cat Initiative at events@NYCFeralCat.org.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY
October 17 & 18, 2009

Adopt-a-Cat
10:00 am–5:00 pm

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, 655 West 34th Street, Manhattan

This year's Adopt-A-Cat will be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, in tandem with the AKC/CFA's Meet the Breeds event. Adopt-A-Cat is one of the major events in New York City during the first annual New York Week for the Animals. Don Loprieno, author of The Stony Point Whisker Club, will be signing copies of his book on both days and donating a portion of his book sales to the Mayor's Alliance.
More Info: Contact the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals at (212) 252-2350 or info@AnimalAllianceNYC.org, or visit http://www.animalalliancenyc.org.

Seminars and courses on TNR and managing feral cat colonies continue year-round. Check here for details.

And just out this week: Crazy Cat Ladies, an interesting and informative article by Kiri Blakely, a reporter for Forbes and ForbesWoman, and also long-time volunteer with KittyKind.

--

If you are blessed enough to have a cat, dog, or other companion animal in your family, give them some extra love this weekend and please spread the word about the importance of spaying and neutering. Animals are not property to be discarded or garbage to be kicked aside, but until there are no more homeless animals roaming our streets, the voiceless innocent animals are at risk of injury, abuse, and death. We are obligated to care and to do something, because we, humans, are the ones who have contributed most to creating and perpetuating this problem.

Loving animals is good for the soul... Love an animal today and help educate others on how to help animals and combat overpopulation.

Investigative reporting on the NYCHA breed ban and lowered weight restriction

2009-10-12T11:06:00.000-07:00

An exclusive investigative report for Rational Animal's media partner, New York Tails:

New York City's Pit Bull Problem, and Why You Care

Writing and Reporting by Courtney Kistler

Edited by Diane West

Large dogs are a common in New York City's projects, but a new provision may change that. Residents and others speak out about how this new law will change, or has already changed, their lives and the lives of their dogs. But citywide, New York City's already overburdened shelter system may feel the effects of a flood of these now 'banned' dogs being surrendered by New York City Housing Authority residents (NYCHA) who fear of losing their apartments.

East River Houses resident Samuel* walked his two Rottweilers, 'Addy' and 'Nelson', from 105th Street and First Avenue to another nearby development, the George Washington Houses, one recent summer afternoon. Once there, he let the two large, seemingly tame dogs off their leashes for some exercise in the courtyard. Almost immediately, a woman begins arguing with him. She is afraid of the dogs and demands Samuel put them back on their leashes.
Samuel refuses. His dogs have never hurt anyone, he tells the angry woman, and they're under control. After a few more minutes of arguing she walks away cursing.

"I can't win," Samuel shrugs. By his own admission, he is an intimidating sight. Six foot five, dark skinned, tattooed, and flanked by two large dogs, he says he's an 'easy target' for both public housing residents and police officers alike.
"Kids as young as ten years old, looking to become Crips or Bloods, flash red or blue bandanas and threaten to 'blast' me because they think I'm a cop. And the cops? They think I'm fighting my dogs and doing other bad things, and they won't leave me alone."
Add to the kids and the police one more group who will have Samuel and other public housing residents under a more watchful eye-The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).

On May 1st, the Housing Authority, which is responsible for overseeing some 178,489 apartments throughout five boroughs, imposed a 25-pound weight limit on family dogs, almost half of the 40-pound weight limit instituted seven years ago. Additionally, the new rule specifically bans pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Doberman Pinchers from public housing, period. Residents may either have one pet dog or one pet cat but not both. All pets living with public housing residents must be registered with NYCHA. And, like all dogs in the city, they must also be licensed.

Dangerous Dogs

The new weight and breed rules do not apply to service dogs or to residents of Section 8 subsidized apartments, which NYCHA does not manage. But those who have had dogs over 40 pounds since 2002 and did not register them with the housing authority at that time may now face eviction. Some residents have already been told to remove their dogs.

"Over the years, we had been getting an increasing number of complaints about problems associated with dangerous dogs; dogs that are used for fighting, dogs that are attack dogs, and dogs that are not being handled and trained properly by their owners," says NYCHA spokesman Howard Marder when asked what prompted this latest change.

Many New Yorkers, NYCHA and non-NYCHA residents alike, were taken aback by the public housing authority's seeming haste to put the new weight and breed bans into effect. In addition to some initial glaring missteps, like the publication of a list containing the names of 27 so-called 'dangerous breeds' (which included the likes of Boston Terriers) the new rules seemed to contradict a New York State law which has long prohibited state municipalities from making laws which ban the ownership of specific dog breeds. To that, Mr. Marder says, "NYCHA is not a municipality. Therefore the rule does not apply." However, he says, NYCHA met with city animal advocacy organizations prior to implementing the new rule because "we didn't take [this] change lightly."

Residents, Animal Groups Taken By Surprise

"In no way shape or form did they [the Housing Authority] consult with us prior to coming up with this list, and we categorically reject breed discriminatory legislation," says an angry Jane Hoffman, President of the Mayor's Alliance For NYC's Animals and founding member and Chair of the NYC Bar Association Committee on Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals. "They only put out a notice to their tenants about a month before May 1st, and it came to our attention when residents started calling us in a panic."

The Mayor's Alliance and other city animal rescue organizations have a strong interest in the potential repercussions of NYCHA's weight-and-breed ban. Since its founding in 2002, the Mayor's Alliance has been the recipient of millions of dollars in grant money from Maddie's Fund, a national animal rescue fund created by software developer David Duffield in memory of the family's Schnauzer, Maddie. The Mayor's Alliance anticipates spending (and raising) a total of $24.4 million by 2016 to help reach their stated objective: reaching the day "when no New York City dog or cat of reasonable health and temperament is killed merely because he or she does not have a home."

"We are concerned from a policy standpoint, as we're trying to make New York a no-kill city," Ms. Hoffman says "We knew this [NYCHA] policy would cause an increase in shelter intake and the 25-pound weight limit would make it difficult for public housing residents to adopt from Animal Care and Control (AC&C). Seventy percent of dogs who come into the shelter system, according to the AC&C website, are pit bulls--one of the three breeds now banned from NYCHA projects.

It is impossible to say exactly how many animals have already ended up at the AC&C, the city's animal shelter system, as a result of the new NYCHA rules. But if early predictions are correct, the number of dogs turned in could be substantial.
According to Debora Bresch, ASPCA's Legislative Liaison in Government Relations, six percent of all dogs available for adoption from the AC&C were adopted by public housing residents between January and April 2009, a total of about 172 dogs. Under the May 1st NYCHA rules, 107 of these 172 dogs - over 60% - are not supposed to be there, making them prime candidates to be returned to the city's shelter system.
Early attempts to discourage city housing residents from surrendering their animals before knowing what their rights are under the new rules include the distribution of a memo in several languages at each of the city's shelters. (The English version of the memo can be accessed here:

www.animalalliancenyc.org/ press/memo2009-06-08-English.pdf ).

There were 4,656 dogs and 1,264 cats registered as pets of housing authority residents when the May 1st policy went into effect but, Mr. Marder says, NYCHA did not keep records of them by breed. However, he says, NYCHA will use its "limited resources to address lease violations such as this as well as all other lease violations or Quality Of Life infringements or crimes as it is made aware of them."

Pitbulls in the Projects

Public housing residents are among the first to admit pit bull fighting and animal abuse are common within certain housing projects and must be stopped. But several interviewed for this article feel the new NYCHA rule is too broad and unfairly affects people and pets who never have, nor would, do anything criminal with animals.

One of those fighting against NYCHA's new pet rule is 26 year-old Marquis Jenkins, community organizer for a tenant advocacy group called the Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES). Mr. Jenkins has been circulating and gathering thousands of signatures for a petition against the new policy. At the crux of his efforts is a request that NYCHA "halt any and all evictions in association with the [new] pet policy".

Supported by Councilwoman Rosie Mendez, Chair of the New York City Council's Subcommittee on Public Housing, Mr. Jenkins asserts that nearly all the dog owners that have joined the fight against the policy with GOLES have received a letter from NYCHA-- the first step of the eviction process. Some have refused NYCHA management's request to remove their pets. Their next step is to schedule a hearing at the NYCHA head offices at 250 Broadway.

Back uptown at the George Washington Houses, 70 year-old resident Gladys and her seven year-old pit bull, "Dream", say they've had run-ins with NYCHA long before the May 1st rule went into effect. When Dream was still a puppy, Gladys says, a resident complained to the Housing Authority that Gladys' dog was vicious. Gladys found herself not only having to prove allegation false in order to keep Dream, but to keep her apartment as well.
"So I took pictures of her playing with people, with children, and I got a petition, because all [the] people are crazy about her." Eventually, NYCHA ruled in her favor. A public housing resident for 38 years, Gladys says she's received a written notice in the mail regarding the pet policy change but is unconcerned. Dream is registered, spayed, with vet certification, and although over 40 pounds, is exempt from the weight limits because she is considered a type of service/ therapy dog for Gladys.
Gladys says she took Dream as a four-month old puppy from her niece, because "I didn't want her to fall into the wrong hands. My niece was being offered hundreds of dollars for this puppy." People willing to purchase Dream at such a large price, she believes, were looking to either breed her or use her for fighting - or both.

Gladys' friend, Moncit*, agrees. She's witnessed firsthand what she believes were people training dogs for fighting. "Last Summer, right there," Moncit recounts, pointing to a large tree in the courtyard, "is where I saw a rope hanging. A pit bull was holding onto it with his jaws, swinging from this rope, while a man was whipping it with his belt over and over again.

"This used to be a breeding ground for pit bulls," says Marietta, who has lived in public housing for 52 years and currently lives at the Washington Houses. Up until about two years ago, she says, the problem was easy to see. "They used to fight dogs wherever - it did not matter. In the street, on the sidewalk, right here in this yard," she says. She is standing in front of the same area Samuel had let his Rottweilers run earlier that day.

The housing authority's ban on pit bulls and other breeds often favored by dog fighters does have some unlikely supporters, however. One of them is Emelinda Navarez, a life-long resident of the South Bronx and founder of Earth Angels Canine Rescue. Over 45 years, Ms. Navarez estimates she's rescued over 6,000 pit bulls in and around her neighborhood. Another is Stacy Alldredge, a Chelsea resident who has a dog training business and has worked at animal shelters as well as been involved in animal rescue for more than two decades. Both Emelinda in the Bronx and Stacy in Chelsea think the NYCHA ban on pit bulls may be the right thing to do.

Other advocates, who don't support the ban, nonetheless acknowledge there is a problem, problems which have not necessarily ceased since implementation of the new policy. On July 8th, police called to check out a disturbance at the Stanley Isaacs Houses East 94th Street shot and killed a pit bull during the melee, according to a Daily News report. Weeks later, a 19 year-old boy was arrested for throwing a young pit-bull mix off a roof in Brooklyn's Red Hook housing development. And on September 29th, a trial will begin against seven men who were arrested during a police raid of an East 179th Street building where the basement and yard was allegedly used to carry out an organized dog fighting operation. (See the homepage for the NYC Anti-animal Fighting Campaign (

http://stopdogfightingnownyc.wetpaint.com) for more details.)

As residents have attested, there is no doubt that mistreatment, recklessness, and irresponsible behavior when it comes to animals in public housing take place and causes quality of life issues. Whether or not the NYCHA ban on pit bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, and dogs over 25 pounds will put a damper on these things, which have created the problems that Mr. Marder says residents have complained about, remains to be seen. As the 90 day grace period has just past, New York Tails will keep a close eye on NYCHA's enforcement of its new policy and its effect on the city shelter system, as well as progress by those who are part of the effort to repeal the rule.
As for Addy and Nelson, just a few weeks after being interviewed for this article, Samuel relinquished the pair to Manhattan AC&C on 110th Street, saying that he is trying to save up money to move away from New York and cannot do so while also providing for the animals. Luckily, the pair were removed from the shelter by a Rottweiler rescue group and eventually found a new home in Vermont.

* Only first names of public housing residents have been provided to protect their privacy.

_____________________

Life is the Pits -- The NYC Pit Bull and Pit Mix Rescue Meetup

By Laura Osanitch

Chelsea resident Amy Calmann, adopted her pit bull 'Patti Smith' from the New York Center for Animal Care and Control in 2003. She became so enamored of her warm and wiggly new friend she created the NYC Pitbull and Pit Mix Rescue Meetup, a group where pit bull owners could come out of the canine closet and show their love for their breed of choice. Today, 586 happy members gather all over the five boroughs.

Meetup member Cris, who requested her last name be omitted, joined the Meetup partly in response to comments made like that of a former boss, who noticed her dog's picture on her desk and chastised her for owning a pit bull. Shocked, Cris still remembers her eyes watering up as she hid her precious pet's photo in a drawer.
"It hurts my feelings when people react so angrily or frightened towards my dog, whom I love," Cris says, who was thrilled to meet likeminded people through the Meeutp.

Other members feel the same way. Ingrid and Francisco Rodriguez of Bushwick adopted their pit bull, 'Blanco' in September 2008. Abandoned, Blanco was in need of a hero, and the Rodriguez's answered the call. Since adopting 'Blanco', however, Ms. Rodriguez says she's found herself in situations she never bargained for, including what she describes as "thugs expressing their admiration," for her dog and a "dicey" bodega employee who, upon sighting Blanco, released a mistreated pit bull from a basement in what Ms. Rodriguez thinks was an attempt to incite a fight. The Rodriguez family is glad to have found the Pit Bull Meetup, where they feel they can make friends and create positive experiences for their precious pooch.

Jon Bozak, author of graphic novel, Demo-The Story of a Junkyard Dog, is also a member of the NYC Pitbull Meetup and is the owner of two pit bulls; 15-year-old "Demo" and two-year old "Brinx." Mr. Bozak says his dogs and his book have served as a catharsis for his views on many issues, including judgment on appearance. He suggests: "People today are short on time and can't be faulted for forming fast opinions. But they should learn what they are forming opinions on. Be open to discussion."

Rational Animal Kicks off the First Annual "New York Week for the Animals" with Orange Ribbon for Animals Day Celebration at Bark in the Bark

2009-10-10T14:25:00.000-07:00

Rational Animal Kicks off the First Annual "New York Week for the Animals" with Orange Ribbon for Animals Day Celebration at Bark in the Bark

October 11, 2009
11am-3pm
Liberty State Park
Jersey City, NJ

Come out and enjoy a beautiful Fall Sunday in Liberty State Park for the Liberty Humane Society's Bark in the Park. Rational Animal will have a table and will be fundraising and also celebrating the anniversary of the official registration of the Orange Ribbon for Animals (http://www.orangeribbonforanimals.org).

On October 10, 2006 Rational Animal made the Orange Ribbon the official awareness ribbon for at-risk animals. It is registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office by Rational Animal – the orange ribbon is officially listed as "for promoting public awareness of at-risk animals". Today we celebrate the Orange Ribbon for Animals as well as the first day of the New York Week for the Animals.

Tomorrow, October 11th, Rational Animal will participate in Liberty Humane Society’s “Bark in the Park”, in Jersey City, where we will be giving out the orange ribbons to visitors and friends as well as selling our new calendar, sponsored by the Morrison Hotel Gallery: www.rational-animal.org/calendar.

For more information on Bark in the Park: http://www.libertyhumane.org

For more information on New York Week for the Animals: http://www.newyorkanimals.org

Rational Animal

217 Thompson St., Suite 420
New York, NY 10012
(917) 239-9229

http://www.rational-animal.org
http://www.orangeribbonforanimals.org

Slow Improvement Seen in Regulation of Carriage Horses in NYC

2009-09-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

Slow Improvement Seen in Regulation of Carriage Horses in NYC

New York Times, City Room
September 21, 2009
Jennifer Lee

City oversight over horse-drawn carriages has improved since an audit two years ago by the city comptroller’s office, but the two agencies that oversee the business have acted too slowly in putting reforms into effect, a new report has found.
The new report, from the office of Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr., is critical of the two agencies: the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which is responsible for the well-being of the animals, and the Department of Consumer Affairs, which licenses the horses, drivers, carriages and stables.
In the new assessment, the comptroller’s office found that the two departments implemented 7 of the 11 recommendations made in the 2007 audit, including a key one that to create an advisory board first proposed two decades earlier.
However, it found that the Health Department had acting too slowly on the recommendations made by the advisory board and for failing to find new ways, other than tagging, to identify horses. Effective identification is considered important in keeping track of the horses and ensuring their safety.
The horse-drawn carriage business, while modest in its size, has generated fervent protests. The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages wants the business to be outlawed in New York City, as it has been in other metropolitan areas around the world. A 2008 documentary, “Blinders,” which some people criticized as being selective in its use of evidence, documented some of the problems in the business.
Fueling their arguments is the continual drumbeat of accidents, including one over the weekend, in which a horse-drawn carriage and a taxi collided on the Upper East Side when the cabdriver reportedly suffered a seizure.
The new report did find signs of progress since the last audit. For well over a year, for example, the Department of Consumer Affairs has completed the required inspections of every carriage on schedule. There are currently about 200 licensed horses, 280 licensed drivers and 70 licensed carriages. Nearly all of them operate in or around Central Park.
One of the ongoing issues is how a method other than tag numbers can be used to identify working horses. The 2007 audit found a startling inconsistency: the paperwork for at least 57 carriage horses described different animals from year to year, including changes in color and sex, while the license numbers did not change. The advisory board recommended the use of microchips, a practice that has been adopted in other cities.
However, the Health Department responded that the main problem is a requirement in the city’s administrative code that horses to be branded on their hooves. Until that is changed, the department said, the city cannot being requiring the use of microchips to identify the horses.
The Health Department said on Monday that its commissioner, Dr. Thomas A. Farley, was “following up on the work of his predecessor,” Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, and that Dr. Farley had “received the recommendations of the Rental Horse Licensing and Protection Advisory Board and is reviewing” them.
Carolyn Daly, a spokeswoman for the Horse and Carriage Association of New York, said, “The industry has always been committed to implementing stronger measures to ensure the safety of our drivers, horses and passengers. We appreciate the Mayor’s office intensive efforts over the last two years to review all operations and issues and look forward to real improvements being implemented soon.
However, animal-rights activists said nothing short of a ban would be sufficient.
Dan Mathews, a senior vice president at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which is part of the coalition to ban the carriages, said in a statement:
"The comptroller’s audit shows that the city is incapable of even addressing the ongoing problems with the carriage horse trade, much less enforce the weak regulations that exist. After 25 years the city is still trying to figure out how to identify horses properly so that drivers don’t illegally double-shift them. They don’t even touch on other issues, such as compelling drivers to keep the horses in stables when freezing weather or violent storms are forecast, or to document the many accidents involving horses that don’t make news. We hope this report convinces the city to go the way of Paris, London, Toronto and Beijing and conclude that big city traffic and easily spooked large animals don’t mix. The horse-drawn carriages need to be banned outright."

FAQs for Animal Adoption

2009-09-04T16:54:00.000-07:00

FAQs of Pet Adoption...

This Fall there are an impressive amount of adoption events as we near New York Week for the Animals, Halloween, and more holidays. With that in mind, there are some things that we should remember as we look to save a life and adopt our new best friend:

What is required to complete adoption of my new furry family member?
Most shelters and rescues will require the following:
Proof of identification Reference(s) Payment - adoption fees vary and are essential in helping shelters cover care and medical costs. Proof of pet allowance in apartment buildings may be required as well.

I have allergies and can only tolerate specific types of dogs / cats. How do I still adopt?
The best solution to situations of allergies is to speak with a medical doctor as well as a veterinarian to find out exactly the types of animals you can and can’t be around. There are myriad pure breed rescue groups with the breed of dog that will not trigger your allergies, but you must be patient in searching for the right animal in your area rescue group that fits with your needs. If you are allergic to all cats and dogs, you may be able to take certain types of allergy medications that will allow you to live with a new pet without issue. Consult a doctor and a veterinarian to be sure.

How do I know what organization to adopt from?
Just like with any business, there are certain standards that experienced and successful rescue groups and shelters abide by. Be sure the organization you are adopting from charges an adoption fee which covers vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, and microchip for dogs (sometimes for cats too). You should speak with an individual that can be candid about the animals you’re interested in and also about the organization. Feel free to ask questions too, so that you feel assured of your decision and the animal you match with.

Does the city shelter euthanize animals?
Yes. New York City Animal Care and Control shelters are required by the City of New York to take in every animal that is brought in or relinquished to them. This includes exotic and farm animals, as well as all shapes and sizes of cats, dogs, and rabbits. Occasionally Animal Control officers will pick up stray animals, but they will not respond to calls about feral cats or requests to pick up stray dogs or cats. The Animal Care and Control shelters have too many animals than kennels, foster or adoptive homes, therefore, they must put animals to sleep in order to accommodate the flooding of animals they experience every day. It is a sad reality – but you can do your part by adopting, fostering, and encouraging others to do the same. Remember – ADOPTION IS THE ONLY OPTION!

What is the process?
A reputable, reliable rescue or shelter organization will have an adoption application and adoption fee, which allows them to screen people and ensure their animals are going into loving, safe homes – and will not fall into the wrong hands. The adoption application and the adoption usually do not take place on the same day, as adoption reps must read the applications and check references first before letting an animal out of their hands for good.

Why so many questions? I’d make a great pet parent!
You will probably be asked a lot of questions, but that is a good thing! All involved need to make sure the new home is a sure thing, not a whimsical thought that will change the day after Fluffy or Scruffy come home. Remember, you may be a pillar of your community, but not everyone is. Think of it as a job interview. Are you the right fit for Max or Maxine?

Some questions may include (in random order): (1) where do you work? what are your work hours?, (2) do you have screens in your windows?, (3) can you afford a standard vet visit, which can add up to hundreds of dollars?, (4) will you get pet insurance? are you interested in more information about pet insurance?, (5) what will you feed the animal?, (6) how many times a day will you walk the dog?, (6) will you or a walker walk the dog?, (7) do you have pets?, (8) do you have a spouse or roommate?.

Some agreements may include:

-no declawing of cats

-return of animal ONLY to adoption/rescue group; do not give to other shelter or organization.

The transaction of adoption holds no guarantees, but the steps along the way greatly increase the chances of a positive and forever rewarding experience. The better you understand the care with which a good rescue group places their animals and the importance of it, the better equipped you will be to bring a new companion animal into your home and your life.

Why do they have to visit my home?
A good organization will care where their rescued animals are going to live, so some may ask to do a home check. Don’t be offended! It’s only for their liability standards and peace of mind and for the safety of all the animals and the people who want to adopt them. While your home may be a great place for a dog and/or cat to live, another’s may not be, and the only way for the rescue group to know the difference is to ask a lot of questions and, often, see the home themselves.

Why such a laborious process? I want to bring Fido home today!
All great things are worth the wait. Same-day adoptions are rare and even frowned upon in the rescue community. Adopter and adoptee want to avoid the pitfalls of the “impulse buy”, which can result in a bad experience and a return of the animal – this takes up time and energy on everyone’s part and ultimately leads to a sad outcome for the animal. If a person is truly committed, they will follow the adoption process and wait until their new best friend is ready to come home.

I just got home and things aren’t going well. What do I do?
Just like with humans, animals require space and time to adjust to major life changes. Some shelter experiences are very harsh for animals, and they may express their confusion and apprehension in odd ways. It’s no one’s fault – and it’s completely normal. Give your new pet at least 48 hours to adjust fully before making a real assessment of how things are going.
The adoption rep should give you advice on animal care and provide a contact name, phone number/email address that you can use for questions or concerns.

What is fostering? How do I do it?
Fostering is one of the best ways you can help animals and those who work tirelessly for them. By giving a homeless animal a temporary place to live, you are committing to the care of the animal but understanding that the animal is still up for adoption and will be placed in their forever home at some point. The length of fostering varies depending on the needs of the animal and the rescue group, so be sure you know what will work for you and what you can commit to. While fostering, you can take pictures and give updates to the rescue group so they can post it on an animal adoption portal such as petfinder.com or adopt-a-pet.com. You may also be required to bring the animal to adoption events, so be sure to discuss that and all other details before you commit to fostering.

I just adopted my new pet, and I love her! But I want to continue to help. What can I do?
Congratulations. You’ve just made a huge difference in the lives of, not just your new furry family member, but of the people who rescue and care for homeless animals. Plus, by being another example of the rewards and virtues of pet adoption, you have helped the animals still awaiting homes by showing those around you how awesome adoption truly is.

Here’s what else you can do:
Send in your story. The organization you adopted from can post online or in a newsletter their happy endings which encourage more people to adopt and also keep everyone motivated in the mission to save animals’ lives.
Volunteer. If you like manual labor, get on over to a shelter, because they want YOU! Cat cages need cleaning, dogs need walking, and all the animals need fresh food and water multiple times a day. You can also write accounts and anecdotes about your favorite animals. The shelter can post them so potential adopters can learn a little more about the individual animals needing homes.
If you have special skills such as writing, marketing, fundraising, design, photography, event planning, etc., inquire about joining a committee that can utilize such skills.

Check out http://www.animalalliancenyc.org/ for lists of rescue groups, including pure bred dog and cat rescue groups, rabbit and reptile rescue groups, and bird rescue groups in the area.

See http://www.newyorktails.com/ for a COMPLETE list of Halloween pet events in New York City.

Sadie, rescued pit bull of Rational Animal Pit Ambassador namesake needs home!

2009-08-23T13:01:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, Sadie Blackstar is Rational Animal's pit bull ambassador. Well, there is another Sadie who probably came from a similar background as our little Blackstar. A pit with somewhat distended glands under her belly, Sadie probably had puppies recently and was thrown away. She was rescued from the euthanasia list not the day of but the HOUR of what would have been her death. A couple I am friends with had seen her at the Brooklyn AC&C a few days prior and inquired with me last Saturday night. I was shocked, because I knew she was to be put down the next morning -- less than 12 hours from the time I learned they were interested in her. When I told them that she was to go down, they decided to foster her.

Through United Action for Animals, I was able to put a hold on Sadie; she was spayed Monday morning and I picked her up on Monday evening. Turns out the couple's landlord objected, even though he had said they could have a dog in their apartment not long before.

Thankfully, two roommates that live on the Upper East Side were able to step in for the couple, who are good friends of theirs, and foster Sadie. She is doing well, getting along with other dogs, even was fine around my cats.

Here is Sadie's Petfinder link and bio:

"Sweet Sadie is an American Staffordshire, about 2 years old and approximately 38 pounds. Can you believe someone dumped this adorable girl in a high kill shelter?? To make matter worse Sadie later found herself on the euthanasia list due to shelter over crowdedness. Thankfully she is now safe with her foster parents, but still needs a "furever" home. Sadie is great on a leash and terrific with other dogs (small and large). She is even fine with cats. Sadie is able to remain calm and collective amidst city noises and distractions, so she would be a perfect city/apartment pup. Sadie requires exercise and would be a great running partner for someone. Her sweet nature attracts many a dog lover at the park who also comment on her pretty face and loving eyes To meet Sadie, please contact United Action for Animals at 212-249-9178 or info@ua4a.org. Our adoption fee is $150. Sadie is up-to-date with routine shots and spayed/neutered."

If you are interested in Sadie, contact United Action for Animals. Remember that a dog is a big responsibility and requires monetary resources as well as energy devoted to his/her life. Adoption is not an impulse buy- the process is exactly that -- a process. For the safety of the rescue group, the animals, and the adopters, an application and interview are pretty standard.

Please spread the word about Sadie, and always -- always! -- ADOPT, don't shop.

Exec Director of NYC Animal Care and Control to depart

2009-08-20T14:46:00.001-07:00

The Executive Director of NYC Animal Care and Control, Charlene Pedrolie, will not be renewed in October, according to a New York Tails breaking news story.
Some rescuers and volunteers signed a petition, which was started by Laurie Bleier, Director of Brooklyn Animal Foster Network, which called for her firing or resignation. Bleier used to be heavily involved with Animal Care and Control, taking on the "Animals Didn't Do Anything" advertising campaign which used mug shots of dogs and cats at shelters to advocate for adoptions from AC&C. Though it remains unclear why, Bleier and BAFN no longer are a part of the community of rescuers that may pull animals from AC&C. Bleier has been outspoken, but it seems media have had a hard time getting rebuttal from AC&C, by the way this Brooklyn Paper article reads. On the other hand, Bleier has been accused of having a less-than-perfect track record according to other media.
The deal on Charlene is mixed, though, in my experience with rescuers and advocates in the city, she was not liked by many, but she did have a couple fans within AC&C, who I know. At this point, energies should be directed at the odd pairing of government entity and non-profit within one body that is NYC AC&C. Like changing the GM of the Mets, until the house is sorted out inside, doesn't matter who's at the healm.

The problem really lies in the job itself and the way AC&C functions -- which is as both a city-run entity AND a 501(c)(3) non-profit. That means that, although it is a high-kill shelter, the city, the top management, and staff are under pressure to paint a picture of functionality and improvement in order to get the desperately needed donations from the public. One group, Dogs in Danger, tried to post animals at AC&C that were on the euth list, and they succeeded until, the blog says, Pedrolie came aboard and said no, because it was bad for the AC&C image. Luckily the New Hope Program sends alerts out to hundreds of rescuers every day with animal pictures and their bios, in hopes that they can be saved. In addition, people on this email list cross post to outsiders, on social networks such as Facebook, and on Craigslist. It seems that the image issue concerning going public with the pleas for saving soon-to-be-euthanized animals has dissipated. I believe this is a good thing. If more of the public really understood what a crisis level we are at in terms of animal homelessness and euthanasia, they may opt to walk past the pet store and straight up to 110th Street to the Manhattan Animal Care shelter.

The key problem for AC&C is that the system is grotesquely underfunded, and I believe that this government/private non-profit contruct is at the crux. I have met at least one person who will not give money to a kill shelter. I think that is ludicrous. Any municipal shelter that must take in animals brought to it must euthanize -- it is a necessary evil. By neglecting the operations there by either not volunteering or not giving donations, hurts only the animals.

The ASPCA dumped the AC&C on the City in 1993, and the Department of Sanitation was the part of City government that took control. Power was transferred over to the Department of Health, however, as the City deemed it in better taste. DOH has had full control of the Board for AC&C as well as the appointment of Executive Director and other top management. The DOH oversees all, and many activists for shelter animals here in the city have taken issue with that, calling for a specific department for domestic animal and wildlife, apart from the DOH. Given that the animal shelters used to be controlled by Sanitation and moved to Health, this perhaps is a natural progression as the country learns just how critical the fight against overpopulation and neglect and cruelty is today.

At one point, a crew of proactive New Yorkers operated a reform committee called the Shelter Action Reform Committee, whose mission statement is "To improve conditions and accountability in the New York City animal shelter system through education, lobbying, legislative initiatives and legal action." It is uncertain whether or not the SARC is still active in its mission, but those who started it, including former President of United Action for Animals, Gary Kaskel, have moved on.

Stay tuned to New York Tails for more...never a dull moment!

Young leader for NYCHA residents uses petition to give pet owners a voice

2009-07-15T09:44:00.000-07:00

Young leader for NYCHA residents uses petition to give pet owners a voice

The New York City Housing Authority’s new pet policy is in effect, but one young leader from Jacob Riis Houses is trying to prevent the drastic rules from affecting him, his neighbors, and more residents of public housing. Seven years after officially allowing pets in residences, NYCHA revised the rules for pet owners, lowering the weight limit on dogs by nearly half and banning pit bull, Rottweiler, and Doberman Pinscher dog breeds. Marquis Jenkins, a 26 year old Community Organizer for the neighborhood housing and preservation organization, GOLES (Good Old Lower East Side), began a petition to repeal the new policy, stating that “these regulations unfairly discriminate against responsible dog owners who reside in NYCHA and serve only to brand public housing residents and their pets as vicious and out of control”.

An animal lover and owner of a rescued pit bull (Star, pictured here), Marquis fears this is “just another way for NYCHA to try to evict people.” Having garnered over 3,000 signatures via a grassroots campaign, with the help of GOLES and leadership of Council woman, Rosie Mendez, whose name is on the petition, Marquis feels positive that suggestions on the petition such as to “revoke the bans on specific dog breeds” and “halt any and all evictions in association with the pet policy” will be taken seriously.

Most recently, he and NYCHA residents, Kanille Hernandez and Christina Lopez, spoke at a NYCHA Town Hall meeting, as did Council woman Mendez, regarding changing or revoking the new pet policy. Marquis also presented the stack of signed petitions to the NYCHA board in front of hundreds of residents, including Tenant Association Presidents, from all five boroughs. “We definitely got our message out,” Marquis said.
Now it is just a matter of waiting to see if these efforts have paid off.

View entire contents of the petition below:
--
GOLES: Good Old Lower East Side, Inc.
169/171 Avenue B, New YorkNY 10009
info@goles.org, (212) 358-1231

New York City Housing Authority
Ricardo Morales Elias -- Chairman
250 Broadway
New York, NY 10007

CC: Rosie Mendez, City Council Member
Chair of City Council Public Housing Sub Committee

Dear Chairman Morales,

We, the Undersigned, oppose the manner in which NYCHA's amendments to the Pet Policy was implemented. We oppose arbitrary and condescending rules against particular breeds. We oppose weight restrictions on dogs. These types of regulations unfairly discriminate against responsible dog owners who reside in NYCHA and serve only to brad public housing residents and their pets as vicious and out of control.

Additionally, the manner in which residents were notified was sub par in even the most generous assessment. Mail notification did not occur in many developments; NYCHA's newsletter Journal only announced the policy change on the 11th page of its April issue; and most distressingly, the sparse notification that did exist was only distributed in English. Spanish and Chinese-speaking residents, among others, could not read the notice announcing the policy change -- let alone follow it.

To rectify these problems, we feel your offices need to:
1-Extend the May 1st deadline to May 1st, 2010.
2- Revoke the bans on specific dog breeds.
3- Conduct a full Authority review of the pet policy with the participation of NCYCHA tenants who are pet owners. We must create a real solution to he issues that having pets bring to the public housing community.
4- Halt any and all evictions in association with the pet policy.
5- At the Town Hall and final presentation of the Draft Annual Plan, solicit resident suggestions on a more rational pet policy. These suggestions should be the basis of the final pet policy to be implemented on May 1, 2010.

Sincerely,
The Undersigned

Mother's Comfort Project testimonial: sewing cage comforters

2009-07-07T22:02:00.000-07:00

Please see below another testimonial for the Mother's Comfort Project.

We still need a sponsor for 2009-10, so help us out so that we can continue this great project and bring more awareness to animals in need, especially those at the Brooklyn AC&C.

From Jeri, after the April 2009 sewing session:

“Do you think there really is a rescue gene?” I ask Susan. She has just told me that the woman’s face on the Mother’s Comfort patch is that of her grandmother, the woman who passed down her love of animals.

This is the kind of banter that goes on while we sew. We learn about one another: our names, our hobbies, our diets, our schools, our families. We discuss our different experiences with service dogs, pets, and rescue organizations.

You see, we did not know each other before we united on this stunning April day. We are women as young as 14 and as old as 51. Some of us are blonde, some auburn, some grey-haired. Some of us wear dresses, others wear Abercrombie tees or shorts. Some look like supermodels and actresses, others more like grandmas. One of us is even canine: Susan’s pet and our mascot, Sadie. However, there is one thing we have in common: the desire to make life a bit softer and a tad brighter for the homeless animals of New York City.

We are here in Flirt Home Ec, a chic boutique cum craft class cum sewing shop in Park Slope Brooklyn, helping to make animal toys and beds. Today, we are cutting various donated fabrics, snipping and stuffing batting, adding pinches of catnip, or operating sewing machines (some of us for the very first time).

Next month, other volunteers will repeat our work. And then in June, Susan and some of her supporters will visit the [Animal Care & Control] shelter in another part of Brooklyn, to deliver the beds and toys, each one adorned with an orange awareness ribbon.

This is the second year of the Mother’s Comfort project. It is one of many innovative ways Susan Brandt and her Rational Animal organization publicize homelessness and enhance animal welfare around the City. After taking part in this event and being lavished with Sadie kisses, I have to say my own life was enhanced too.

-JERI DAYLE

[Jeri Dayle is a freelance writer, a keystone volunteer of Loving Touch Rescue in Queens, and an ardent supporter of Rational Animal. This is the 9th Rational Animal event--including two Gimme Shelter concerts, a Gingerbread Homes display and a Barking Arts gallery—that she has attended.]

NYCHA new pet policy investigation leads to chance meeting of an unexpected history

2009-07-04T10:28:00.000-07:00

NYCHA new pet policy investigation leads to chance meeting of an unexpected history.

Over the last couple months, I have been interviewing many people living in public housing, and whether they have pets or not, every individual I've spoken with has an opinion about the latest revision to the Housing Authority's "pet policy", which was first made public via appearing on the last page of The Housing Authority Journal, April 2009 issue.

An investigative story incorporating first hand experiences and feedback from residents in various housing developments, from East Harlem to the Lower East Side, this story has allowed me to meet people I never would have had a conversation with before, because I never would have had a reason.

Last week I happened upon a woman named Regina. A resident of the George Washington Houses, Building E, she has a 7 mo. old pit bull named Sparks, who is registered as a service dog. She also has a cat and a rabbit, but her cat just had three kittens. Disappointed to hear this, I realized she was another animal lover who did not fully understand the importance of the various housing rules, including mandatory spay/neuter. But for some reason, that was a side thought in the conversation, as she told me about how she was on the cover of National Geographic, for a piece by journalist, Jere Van Dyk, titled "Growing up in East Harlem".

The story came out in May 1990, so nearly 20 years ago. Although she now has lupus and arthritis, she still exudes a lot of energy and has very strong opinions about animals and humane treatment of them. I don't mean to sound cheesy or cliche in my remarks -- I certainly wish she would neuter her pit bull and stop her cat from having more babies. It wasn't my place, for the purpose I was trying to achieve that day, to say my opinion. It didn't matter at that point, nor did it with any of my conversations with these residents.

In fact, I asked very few questions and just listened to her, as she also told me about a cat she and other residents take care of. I don't know what this cat's name is, so I just refer to him as Survivor Kitty.

This cat was actually a stray and a victim of cruelty, when some kids -- residents of Regina's building, though they are long gone -- wrapped a lot of rubber bands around his tail, forcing the hair to fall out. The same kids, Regina told me, threw fireworks at this cat, and one exploded near his face, blowing off a part of his mouth. Although these injuries are horrific, the cat is strong, now at least 15 years old (but who's counting). Regina and others I met that day feed the cat, let it inside to the basement in the Winter, and protect him from others. Regina made it very clear to me that she would not tolerate any cruelty in her neighborhood. If she saw it, she said, she'd have to 'kick some ass', as she put it.

As I watched the cat eat some food a couple older residents opened and put out for him, Regina said she had to go to the store, and she left.

Only after this conversation did I research and finally see the cover photo -- of her cradling a puppy. It all made sense!

I looked high and low and finally tracked down a back issue I could order and have shipped to me. I plan to return to Regina's building and show her the cover. I think it would bring a smile to her face. Maybe that would be my in to talk about spaying and neutering...

The piece has become more layered than I anticipated, which is exciting. Should be out in a couple weeks. I certainly feel rewarded for having had the close interactions I did with so many different people. It's a tough economy -- and who am I to complain when I'm talking to some people who have very little. Aside from the assignment and my quest to find out not only how people feel about pets in housing, the rules or if they know what they are, and the way animals are treated by the good and not so good people, I only take interest in what is going on in their lives, because I know nothing about it but feel it matters if I am to be an informed writer and New Yorker.

SPOTLIGHT ON: Emma (A816658). Blind pittie that is a lovely joyful gal!

2009-06-25T11:00:00.000-07:00

At Manhattan AC&C is a very special lady...

Emma (A815558), 4 yr old female pit – one of the sweetest and fearless pits I’ve ever met. She just wants to meet everyone. She’s constantly wagging her tail and making friends. She is quiet in her crate and when she comes out she is actually fairly good at getting around...this leads us to believe her vision is limited to shadows…or she has been blind all her life and has developed a strong enough sense of surrounding to be able to feel her way through things. I can’t say enough great things about her personality, cheerfulness and beautiful temperament. She is always eager to please and is a true joy to be around. It’s impossible to be around this dog and not feel happy!

AC&C VOLUNTEER WROTE: Sweet as sugar, confident in her blindness. Emma, who is blind, was found wandering the streets on 6/23/09. This volunteer has had two blind dogs of her own, but neither was as confident and trusting as Emma. She's willing to find her own way around, but is grateful if you lead her, too. She loves people and wants to kiss you -- all the time -- to show you her love. We figure she's around 4 years old. We don't know what caused her blindness, but nothing has dimmed the lightness of her soul. She's a joy.

---
Contact me (Courtney) if you're interested in Emma or any animal for adoption.
We REALLY need more foster homes.
Find ALL adoptable dogs and cats here: http://www.nycacc.org/adoptionsearch.htm
A-number is for AC&C to better help you meet the dog you are interested in. Please use it if you contact AC&C directly or visit the shelters.

---
ATTENTION ANIMAL LOVERS! BROOKLYN NEEDS YOU!
AC&C in Brooklyn really needs more volunteers!! Contact ckistler@rational-animal.org if you can help. Every little description, personal testimonial for an animal drastically increases their chance for adoption.
AC&C Brooklyn
2336 Linden Blvd (East New York)
3 train to New Lots; walk up New Lots four blocks to Essex, make a right, walk two avenue blocks to Linden Blvd, and see shelter between Essex and Shepherd Ave.

Food, Inc.

2009-06-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

FOOD, INC.

Filmmaker, Robert Kenner, lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA.

Released nationwide on June 8th, Food, Inc. sets out to inform to public on what it has no way of knowing. Like any investigatory documentary, these directors and producers conducted interviews with key players and also were ignored or got the door slammed in their face by those purported as the perpetrators of some of the food crises our country has experienced, as well as the several risks consumers are putting themselves at with each bite of food.

My quick thoughts...
It's really good, although, I initially found it disturbing that the Director and Pollan and others still eat burgers, etc., despite their supposedly vast knowledge. The messages at the end ask the public to write to their senators/reps, know where their food is from by asking and checking labels, yet the whole movie is about how you can't trust the FDA/Agri government regulators and food industry heavyweights that control everything, because they're all bed fellows and all lie. So why they don't then promote veganism is odd, but I'd guess it's because they were also trying to help food growers, including organic animal food farmers.

I would say to someone who's seen it and is still on the fence about eating meat, to just go vegan in order to be on the safe side.

-------

From Gene Baur, Founder and Director of Farm Sanctuary
June 22, 2009

"I was able to see Food, Inc. over the weekend, and it was great to see that the theater was packed. The film’s popularity suggests we’re in the midst of a burgeoning food movement in the United States as consumers are finally learning about the abuses of factory farming and the importance of making informed food choices. Food, Inc. doesn’t explicitly promote a vegan lifestyle, but it does urge consumers to make a difference “one bite at a time.” Among several recommendations, the film urges citizens to plant a garden (even a small one) and to shop at farmer’s markets. The movie shows footage of chickens, pigs and cattle kept on industrialized farms, along with other affronts to animal welfare. A non-industrialized farmer is interviewed and criticizes factory farming. He describes how confined animals are more likely to be contaminated and diseased, and that people who mistreat animals are also more likely to mistreat humans. Ironically, he’s making these comments while chickens are being slaughtered at his farm and he’s pulling out their guts on camera. The film also talks about how agribusiness bullies farmers and citizens who challenge the status quo, including through costly litigation and promoting laws to make it illegal to take photos at factory farms. Factory farming requires secrecy to continue as it has, but Food, Inc. is helping promote more discussion and awareness. That’s a very good thing."
---------

COMMENTS:

BR: I want to go but fear I will have to see more animals abused, if there is any of that in there, I will choose not to go? Is there any does anyone know?

CK (me) : @BR -- Yep, there are images of animal abuse but only as a necessity to inform not necessarily shock, as other films do (for good reason). I'd encourage you to see it, though, as it may affirm your convictions against cruelty and for a vegan diet (hopefully). It is never easy to watch any living creature be abused, but this movie is educational in its depictions of the reality of the way animals are treated, in addtion to the way the poor farmers working for the monstrous food corps are, in a way, imprisoned.
-----

You can learn a lot on your own here, at the site for the Center for Food Safety. Interested in veganism? Educate yourself first, as I did, to be sure you are making a decision you will not back out on, you can defend to others that will inevitably question you and your choices -- and, normally, I get tons of questions, because people are curious, want to know, maybe are considering a veg diet themselves.

I learned that I had no choice, if I was to uphold one of my core values, which is to act and be in consistent with my beliefs, one of the strongest being that animal cruelty is wrong and I will not contribute to it. Eating animal food, consuming products, such as clothing, made of animals, contributes to animal cruelty. It's very simple, however not easy to put into practice, so give it time, if this is something you would like to transition toward -- that being a cruelty-free lifestyle.

As for the film, it's incredibly scary that our food can so easily be poisonous to our body. I have looked up green markets in NYC, so that I can purchase more locally grown foods. Check this out, find one near you: http://www.cenyc.org/files/gmkt/map.pdf

Dogs Deserve Better - an expert's treatise on "outside" dogs

2009-06-18T21:06:00.000-07:00

...on the negative effects of keeping a dog outdoors. Bottom line- dogs should not be treated this way. Dogs -- all household animals -- deserve to be inside with their family. Be kind to animals, don't use them, don't exploit them. Be kind. It serves you and the world.

OUTDOOR DOGS
By Dennis Fetko, Ph.D.
Reprinted from August 1995 issue of Whiskers & Wags
Halifax Humane Society Newsletter

I'm familiar with hundreds of dog breeds, but what's an outside dog? Unless you're medically intolerant of the dog (and therefore can't take care of him in a medical emergency, so you shouldn't have the dog anyway), making a dog stay outside is a costly waste. If he's for protection, what do you think I want to steal -- your lawn? When you leave, do you put your valuables and your kids out in your yard? Just what is the dog protecting out there? Most dogs kept outside cause far more nuisance complaints from barking and escaping than any deterrent to intrusion. Such complaints cause teasing, antagonism, release and poisoning. With your dog a helpless victim, it's no laughing matter.

If I'm a crook and your dog is out, your fence protects ME, not your possessions or your dog. If I just open the gate, 9 out of 10 dogs will run off! I can safely shoot, stab, spear, poison, snare, strangle them, or dart through the fence and you just lost your dog AND everything I steal!If he's tied up and I keep out of reach, he's useless. He'll bark, but outside dogs bark so much, they're usually ignored. But let a dog hit the other side of a door or window I'm breaking into, and I'm GONE! I can't hurt the dog until he can hurt me, and nothing you own is worth my arm. Deterrence is effective protection.

Protection and aggression are not the same. Protection is defensive, reactive, often passive, and threatens or injures no one. Aggression is active, harmful and offensive, threatens all and benefits none. Yard dogs often develop far more aggression than protectivity because everyone who passes by or enters has already violated the territory that dog has marked dozens of times a day for years. That's not protection, it's not desirable and it overlooks two facts of life today:First, property owners have implied social contracts with others in the community. Letter carriers, paper boys, delivery people, law enforcement, emergency medical personnel, meter readers and others are allowed near andat times on your property without your specific permission. And sure that ten-year-old was not supposed to jump your fence after his Frisbee; but neither you nor your dog are allowed to cause him injury if he does. Imagine this: A neighbor looks into your yard or window and sees you, your wife or child laying on the floor in a pool of blood. They call 9-1-1 and your dog prevents paramedics from assisting! Should they shoot your dog or just let you die?
Great choice.

Second, even if the intruder is a criminal, few places allow you or your dog to cause physical injury to prevent property loss. Convicted felons have sued the dog's owner from jail and won more in the suit than they ever could have stolen!
Appalling? True.

And don't be foolish enough to believe your homeowner's insurance will cover the loss. Now you see why many feel that an outside dog is a no-brainer.

The more a dog is outdoors, the less behavioral control you have. It's easier to solve four or five indoor problems than one outdoor problem. The reason is valid and simple: The more you control the stimuli that reaches your dog, the more you control the responses. You've got a lot more control over your living room than you do over your entire county! When your dog is bored, but teased by every dog, cat, bird, squirrel, motorcycle, paperboy, airplane, firecracker and backfiring truck in the county, OF COURSE he'll dig, chew, and bark.

Would you sit still all day everyday? Do you want unnecessary medical and parasite fees, especially as the dog ages?When a dog is alone indoors, you are still 30% there because your scent and things he associates with you, constantly remind the dog of you and your training. When he's out, your dog is alone whether you're home or not. Do you really expect him to keep YOU in mind while the entire world teases, distracts and stimulates him?

The media is full of stories about the family dog saving everyone's life during a fire. How many people, including children, would be dead today if those dogs were kept outside? SURE - you ALWAYS get up to investigate everytime your yard dog barks. And I've got this bridge.

An outdoor dog has an address, not a home. Dogs offer real value as companion animals. Stop behavior problems and start enjoying real protection and companionship. Bring your dogs inside.

Dennis Fetko, Ph.D.
http://www.drdog.com/

Bloomberg wants to gas the geese: Urban Wildlife Coalition bringing protestors together; Kinship Circle with ways to get your voice heard

2009-06-15T12:08:00.000-07:00

From the Urban Wildlife Coalition...

ASK THE PORT AUTHORITY to STOP this SENSELESS KILLING.

Join us and various animal groups to speak out and PROTEST on Tuesday, June 16 to Stop Mayor Bloomberg from Gassing to Death thousands of GEESE in NYC.

PROTEST:
Where: Port Authority Headquarters – 225 Park Avenue South (between 18th and 19th St.) When: Tuesday, June 16th Time: 12:00PM - 2:00PM

This premeditated heinous killing is very much characteristic of what Mayor Bloomberg's tolerance and support of animal cruelty is all about. He's always saying that public safety comes first at the expense of wildlife but he never thinks or looks into peaceful non violent life affirming solutions at all for animals and the public at large. He never shows respect for any animal species because he never wants to save the life of any animal. His draconian thinking is unacceptable and intolerable.
He's very gun-ho on solving any animal issue with the gun. The FAA has stated that it was MIGRATORY BIRDS and not resident geese that brought down UA AIR 1549. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 is never enforced and enacted either and these birds need protection also. The resident geese are molting and are going to be gassed to death at their their most vulnerable time.

Interested in protesting? Here's all the details:
Where: Port Authority Headquarters – 225 Park Avenue South (between 18th and 19th St.)
When: Tuesday, June 16th
Time: 12:00PM - 2:00PM
----

From Kinship Circle:
NYC To Kill 2,000 Canada Geese, June-July 2009
Please send a few e-mails today!
New York City is contracting with the USDA to kill Canada geese from about 40 parks, wastewater treatment plants, and city properties within five miles of JFK and LaGuardia Airports. Articles dated 6/12/09 say roundups are to begin by Monday, 6/15/09. The killing is to occur through July.
The organization GeesePeace has researched this extensively and proposes a plan for non-lethal geese population control which involves oiling the eggs to prevent hatching and then using repellents and landscape modifiers to dissuade geese from inhabiting key areas.
You can see the full plan on their website: http://www.geesepeace.org/integratedsolutions.html

Send some e-mails, and faxes, and make some phone calls. A sample letter is reprinted below. For the City Council and USDA, we have e-mail addresses below - cut and paste them into your e-mail. For some contacts, like Mayor Bloomberg, we only have a web form, so you'll need to fill out the form at the sites indicated below, or, better yet, send a fax and make a phone call!

Contact:

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
City Hall; New York, NY 10007
ph: 311 (or 212-788-3000 outside NYC); fax: 212-312-0700
web form [300 word limit]: http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html

USDA-APHIS, Wildlife Services State Director
1930 Route 9; Castleton, NY 12033
ph: 518-477-4837; fax: 518-477-4899
Allen Gosser: allen.l.gosser@aphis.usda.gov
Martin Lowney: martin.s.lowney@aphis.usda.gov

The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
225 Park Avenue South; New York, NY 10003
ph: 212-435-7000; InspectorGeneral@panynj.gov
web form: http://www.teb.com/feedback.php

NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
avella@council.nyc.ny.us, baez@council.nyc.ny.us, brewer@council.nyc.ny.us,
comrie@council.nyc.ny.us, ecrowley@council.nyc.gov,
deblasio@council.nyc.ny.us, dickens@council.nyc.gov,
emdilan@council.nyc.ny.us, mathieu.eugene@council.nyc.gov, felder@council.nyc.gov, jferreras@council.nyc.gov, LFidler@council.nyc.gov,
foster@council.nyc.ny.us, garodnick@council.nyc.ny.us,
jgennaro@council.nyc.gov, vgentile@council.nyc.gov, agerson@council.nyc.gov,
gioia@council.nyc.ny.us, gonzalez@council.nyc.ny.us,
Ignizio@council.nyc.ny.us, rjackson@council.nyc.gov, ljames@council.nyc.gov,
katz@council.nyc.ny.us, okoppell@council.nyc.gov, lappin@council.nyc.gov,
liu@council.nyc.gov, mviverito@council.nyc.gov, martinez@council.nyc.ny.us,
darlene.mealy@council.nyc.gov, rmendez@council.nyc.gov,
kmitchell@council.nyc.gov, nelson@council.nyc.ny.us,
palma@council.nyc.ny.us, recchia@council.nyc.ny.us,
rivera@council.nyc.ny.us, jsanders@council.nyc.gov,
seabrook@council.nyc.ny.us, sears@council.nyc.ny.us,
vacca@council.nyc.ny.us, avann@council.nyc.gov, weprin@council.nyc.ny.us,
twhite@council.nyc.gov, yassky@council.nyc.ny.us

Sample Letter (but please use your own words!)

Dear Mayor Bloomberg, Port Authority of NY & NJ, and USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services State Director:

I oppose New York City's plan to kill up to 2,000 Canada geese this summer. Please implement non-violent ways to safeguard airplanes from collisions with birds. I hope public outrage will convince you to cancel this misguided initiative.

The recently formed NYC Wildlife Hazard Management Steering Committee to Promote Aviation Safety within the Metropolitan Area should devise a better solution than mass killing. I urge Mayor Bloomberg, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, and the USDA-APHIS-WS State Director to employ non-lethal management of Canada geese. A sweeping eradication shows no long-term commitment to reduce flock growth.

When geese are killed without modifying landscapes and waterways that attracted them in the first place, replacement geese soon fill the void.

There are seven GeesePeace chapters in New York. All specialize in population stabilization and site aversion. GeesePeace relies on integrated strategies that are long lasting. They demonstrate how to recruit and train community volunteers to find nests, addle/oil eggs, use repellents and other applications on a scale that solves conflicts with resident Canada geese.

It is particularly inhumane to ambush geese when molting and flightless. Yet that is how goslings and adults will be trapped on municipal properties surrounding Kennedy and LaGuardia airports.

Communities nationwide have successfully used non-violent tactics to significantly reduce flock growth. I urge airport biologists, elected officials, and the Port Authority to ramp up bird-radar and scare tactic programs at airports - but leave the killing out of it.

Thank you,
(your name)

Victory for Dogs and Advocates yet More Delays in Vick-like Dog Fighting Trial, Bronx, NY

2009-06-13T07:55:00.000-07:00

Victory for Dogs and Advocates yet More Delays in Vick-like Dog Fighting Trial

Bronx, NY

The case was last heard on June 11, 2009 before Judge Steven Barrett (Docket #02688-2008). Two of the defendants with misdemeanor charges, Israel Cuevas and Alterik Mason (they were spectators, not dog fighters) were hoping to plea out but thankfully the Judge and ADA Jacob Kaplan rejected their plea and confirmed that their case would go to trial with the others.
Jennifer Panton, President of United Action for Animals and Director of the New York Anti-Animal Fighting Campaign, a partnership with UAA and NYC Animal Care and Control, said “It will be interesting to see what Cuevas and Mason receive. I feel it’s important to mention that currently NY state is rated nearly the worst (48th) in the country, yet NJ is rated the best.”

Summary of New York State charges for dog fighting:
(1) Dogfighting: Felony, Max 4 years, Max $25,000
(2) Spectator at a Dogfight: Misdemeanor, Max 1 year, Max $1,000
(3) Possession of Dogs for Fighting: Max 1 year, Max $15,000

You can click here to see state rankings for dog fighting laws – note the stark difference between ranking for New York and for our neighbor, New Jersey. Please note that on June 2, 2009, an amendment to the current law passed. For the full details, refer to an earlier post about this.

On June 16, 2009, Alexander Estephane, Juan Toledo, Lauritz Acoy, who received felony charges for dog fighting (and Cuevas, Mason misdemeanor charges as spectators), will face the same hearing, where final charges will be made official. They already do not have a chance at plea deal. In other words, all five defendants will be charged with the maximum crimes – no charges have been or will be reduced.
There is a sixth person, Rashan Johnson, who Panton believes is AWOL and is waiting from the ADA for confirmation.

Delay in setting trial date

While the news about the charges is good for the prosecution and advocates showing up to each hearing, making their presence known for the ADA and the Judge, the bad news is that there are more delays in establishing a trial date.
Judge Steven Barrett (Docket #02688-2008) who set another hearing date of July 8th to establish a trial date for all 5 defendants also calendared July 27th as an estimated trial date for all defendants. The ADA, thankfully, had requested that both misdemeanor and felony defendants to stand trial together rather than separate trials. However, after the hearing finished on Thursday morning, ADA Kaplan told us that the July 8th hearing was merely to “discuss” a trial date, admitting that because there are six attorneys involved (including himself) there will be conflicting trials and summer vacations to contend with, and, therefore, the July 27th tentative date will likely will get pushed back.

Petitions and letters to Judge help uphold the no-plea deal

Kaplan thanked us for the help with the plea option, and by that, Panton says, “I think all the letter writing to the judge and [online] petition helped”.
See below her letter to Judge Barrett.

--
From Jennifer Panton, United Action for Animals
Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Dear Judge Barrett,

Please see the attached document which contains over 1,500 signatures from a petition regarding the Bronx Dog Fight Case (Docket #02688-2008). This petition and signatures can also be view at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/126/stop-animal-fighting-in-new-york-city

We would like to express to you that the defendants should be given no plea deals and have a speedy trial date established at their June 11th and June 16th hearings, as these alleged crimes were committed over a year ago with overwhelming evidence (i.e. one dog died on the way to the shelter that night).

Regarding the two defendants, Israel Cuevas and Alterik Mason, that were already lucky enough to dodge felony charges due to current law, please note that on June 2, 2009, the NY Senate’s Agriculture Committee unanimously passed S.3926, to increase penalties for spectators at animal fights as well as for persons possessing animals for the purpose of fighting (please see press release attached for your reference).

Additionally, please keep in mind that animal fighting does not occur in a vacuum. Animal fighters are violent criminals that engage in a whole host of peripheral criminal activities. Many are heavily involved in organized crime, racketeering, drug distribution, or gangs, and they arrange and attend the fights as a forum for gambling and drug trafficking.

Thank you for your time.

Jennifer Panton
President
United Action for Animals
P.O. Box 635
New York, NY 10021
Tel: 212-249-9178
www.ua4a.org

--
The online petition was exported into a document, which Panton references above. She says, “our petition elaborated about our stand – that New Yorkers want these criminals punished to the max for these heinous crimes and to rid animal fighting out of our great City.

Please sign this petition – we need as many signatures as possible for continued letters and evidence that we are not going anywhere, that we represent a large constituency of voters and influentials that stand strongly for the prosecution and conviction of people who commit dog fighting.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/126/stop-animal-fighting-in-new-york-city

Official Summary of Case:
--
INDICTMENT
Supreme Court of The State of New York
County of Bronx
__________________________________________________
People of The State of New York -Against-

Alexander Estephane, Docket # 36626C-2008
Lauritz Acoy, Docket # 36624C-2008
Juan Toledo, Docket # 36622C-2008
Rashaan Johnson, IBNA
Israel Cuevas, Docket # 36625C-2008
Alterik Mason, Docket # 36623C-2008
Defendants.
__________________________________________________
Indictment # Grand Jury # 43788/2008
COUNTS
Prohibition of Animal Fighting
Agriculture and Markets Law § 351 (2)(a)
(count one)
Prohibition of Animal Fighting
Agriculture and Markets Law § 351 (2)(d)
(count two)
Prohibition of Animal Fighting (four counts)
Agriculture and Markets Law § 351 (4)(b)
(counts three – six)
A Panel, 8th Term
August 1, 2008
A True Bill

ROBERT T. JOHNSON
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
_______________________
FOREPERSON

FIRST COUNT
The Grand Jury of the County of the Bronx, by this Indictment, accuses Defendants Alexander Estephane, Lauritz Acoy, Rashaan Johnson, and Juan toledo of the Crime of Prohibition of Animal Fighting, in violation of Agriculture and Markets Law § 351 (2)(a), committed as follows:

Defendants Alexander Estephane, Lauritz Acoy, Rashaan Johnson, and Juan toledo, acting individually and in concert with each other, on or about June 14, 2008, in the County of the Bronx, for amusement or gain, caused any animal to engage in animal fighting.

SECOND COUNT
The Grand Jury of the County of the Bronx, by this Indictment, accuses Defendant Alexander Estephane of the Crime of Prohibition of Animal Fighting, in violation of Agriculture and Markets Law § 351 (2)(d), committed as follows:

Defendant Alexander Estephane, on or about June 14, 2008, in the County of the Bronx, permitted animal fighting to occur on premises under his control.

THIRD COUNT
The Grand Jury of the County of the Bronx, by this Indictment, accuses Defendant Israel Cuevas of the Crime of Prohibition of Animal Fighting, in violation of Agriculture and Markets Law § 351 (4)(b), committed as follows:

Defendant Israel Cuevas, on or about June 14, 2008, in the County of the Bronx, was knowingly present as a spectator having paid an admission fee or having made wager at a place where an exhibition of animal fighting was being conducted.

FOURTH COUNT
The Grand Jury of the County of the Bronx, by this Indictment, accuses Defendant Alterik Mason of the crime of Prohibition of Animal Fighting, in violation of Agriculture and Markets Law § 351 (4)(b), committed as follows:

Defendant Alterik Mason, on or about June 14, 2008, in the County of the Bronx, was knowingly present as a spectator having paid an admission fee or having made wager at a place where an exhibition of animal fighting was being conducted.

FIFTH COUNT
The Grand Jury of the County of the Bronx, by this Indictment, accuses Defendant Rashaan Johnson of the crime of Prohibition of Animal Fighting, in violation of Agriculture and Markets Law § 351 (4)(b), committed as follows:

Defendant Rashaan Johnson, on or about June 14, 2008, in the County of the Bronx, was knowingly present as a spectator having paid an admission fee or having made wager at a place where an exhibition of animal fighting was being conducted.

SIXTH COUNT
The Grand Jury of the County of the Bronx, by this Indictment, accuses Defendant Juan Toledo of the crime of Prohibition of Animal Fighting, in violation of Agriculture and Markets Law § 351 (4)(b), committed as follows:

Defendant Juan Toledo, on or about June 14, 2008, in the County of the Bronx, was knowingly present as a spectator having paid an admission fee or having made wager at a place where an exhibition of animal fighting was being conducted.

Scheduled Arraignment Date: September 8, 2008

Arraignment Part: Part 60
Other Associated Indictments: None

Completed: August 1, 2008
A.D.A. Jacob Kaplan
Rackets Bureau
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Protests, showing up to court, media, buzz...
While most of our court advocacy has been just showing up to court (sitting in the audience), at each of the seven hearings, to make the judge, ADA, and defendants know that we are watching them and supporting the voiceless victims, Jennifer and several others have led one protest and there will be more such activism once the trial starts.

Personally, and I wrote Amy Sacks of the New York Daily News this, I know that my goal, which I'm sure Jennifer and others share, is to make an example out of this case, as a local Michael Vick case, the Vick wanne-be being, of course, Alexander Estephane. The extent to which the accused had set up their training facility in the basement of the Tremont, Bronx, house is not unlike that of the Vick compound – only it was indoor and a small backyard, a more confined space (it's New York City, after all...). According to the Daily News article which came out the day after nine men were arrested, "They [NYPD] found an animal house of horrors filled with bite sticks used to separate dogs during jousts, syringes, painkiller medication, weigh-in scales - and a 9-by-9-foot fighting pit, police sources said. Rusted metal and wooden cages heaped with dog waste were found in the backyard of the E. 179th St. building. One dog, showing fresh injuries from a recent battle, died while being rushed to a shelter [NYC AC&C] for treatment."

The mindset of these people, their will to torture animals and watch them writhe in pain, to gamble and live outside the law, is all the same. Should people in New York who really followed the Vick story turn their eyes on a nearly identical case happening in their own city – the support on our side, media coverage, and buzz surrounding it would have far reaching implications, including that of educating people, inspiring teachers and parents to talk to their children about animal fighting cruelty, cruelty in general, open more eyes of the NYPD so they take reports of fighting and cruelty more seriously, etc.

The movement behind this case has the potential to be characterized as a local version of that behind the Vick story. Hopefully a larger grassroots effort will build within Jennifer Panton's NYC Anti-animal Fighting Campaign and we can really show New York that they can't turn away from it anymore, because it is happening here and it's that bad.

See link here to today’s Daily News article, quoting Jennifer Panton, regarding this case, coverage for which I helped facilitate and will continue to do so for all media as much as I can. Media coverage for the trial is especially important, and I’m committed to working hard to get it. We need the media to reach New Yorkers, inform those who don't know about the case as well as affirm the compassionate supporters trying to help.

Television coverage is especially important for Day 1 of the trial. More exposure means more access to the public, more people will pay closer attention to this potentially precedent-setting case.

If you are a member of the media or have a media connection, please contact me to get details on the latest with this story.

Courtney Kistler, ckistler@rational-animal.org, 212.933.1688

Mother's Comfort Project...a volunteer's viewpoint

2009-06-10T12:08:00.000-07:00

From a volunteer of Rational Animal's Mother's Comfort Project...

Jen B., a volunteer for the Mother's Comfort Project, participated in our April sewing session. She had a great time and then came along with us for the delivery on June 6th, just this past Saturday.

Having experienced this great Rational Animal project from the inside out, she had these kind words to say about it:

"Thanks so much for letting me come with you to the shelter this past weekend. I really felt good about the experience and would like to continue being involved in the Mother's Comfort Project.

I have always been an animal lover, so when I saw an article in Time Out New York about the Mother's Comfort Project, I thought that would be a good way to help. I had never volunteered before. Making the beds was a great experience, and it made me want to help distribute them as well. I had never been to a city shelter before, and I think my perception was that the animals would be sick or aggressive, it would be depressing, etc. When I got there, I was amazed to see how many GREAT, affectionate animals there were. The dogs came to the front of their cages and wagged their tails when we walked by, and the cats started meowing as soon as we walked in. They also weren't all strays as I assumed, there were animals whose owners had passed away, or whose owners simply decided they no longer wanted to have or pay for an animal.

Whether they were strays or owner surrenders, they just seemed to be looking for some love and attention. Unfortunately there were a lot of them, and the shelter had its hands full, so it made our job even more worthwhile. The animals are held in cold steel cages, and something as small as a bed, toy, or pat on the head really does make a difference in their quality of lives. I can vouch for this first-hand.

I think we can all find excuses and reasons NOT to get involved, but I can truly say that I am so happy that I chose to follow through and do it, because the feeling you get back outweighs the excuses tenfold. Mother's Comfort is making a direct impact, and these animals really do deserve it."

----
Thanks, Jen!! We appreciate our volunteers' work for our projects. As we all strive to help animals and empower more people to be aware, educated, and make informed decisions. We know this contributes to prevention -- which is key. We seek to prevent some of the problems we deal with in the animal rescue and awareness realm, such as the high incidents of owner surrender and breed/puppy shop buys, as well as cruelty in dog fighting and general neglect.

It's so great to hear one of our volunteers express that she feels she is making a difference.
We feel we are -- and we will not give up!

Why are the rules different for animals? Can we answer this?

2009-06-09T19:45:00.001-07:00

If we choose to treat each other humanely and remain intolerant of violence on our fellow man...why are the rules different for animals?

Remember a time you felt total utter fear or anguish, and imagine that was your entire life day in and day out...

Goldfinger's John Feldman wrote this song for PETA, who put together this footage; there are two versions in existence, one concentrates purely on factory farms, this one covers a number of industries that abuse animals for money, including the farming industry.

------

There is a reason the animals struggle and fight and/or try to escape when humans in factory farms, laboratories, fur farms, or an American household threaten, hurt, torture, abuse, and try to kill them. Humans react the same way.

Imagine someone tore you from your family and threw you in a cage...for the rest of your life. Your time out of the cage is spent strapped to an uncomfortable, painful apparatus you do not understand or know is going to get worse or ever stop. Back in the cage you suffer from the same fear, anguish, and mental deterioration that prisoners in solitary confinement do. The only difference is that prisoners get out of solitary confinement and often out of prison altogether.

Why? Because they have rights.

Imagine you are torn from your family at birth and put in a small crate for the first few years of your life. You cannot turn around, your muscles do not develop properly, you are injected with foreign substances, and you cannot express to anyone the pain and discomfort you are feeling day in and day out. Imagine then that you are so crippled by the unnatural environment that you are left to stumble in a pen, hit and abused by unknown beings who are doing it purely for their own amusement, because you are no good to them, your price tag is gone, you are nothing except an object of abuse...for no reason. You cannot get away, you try to fight, through your pain, your fear, but you can do nothing. You cannot express that what is happening to you is wrong and someone needs to help you. You cannot ask another to punish those who torture you.

Why? Because you have no rights.

---------
Do we have a right to live? Yes.
Do you have a right to be free from fear and oppression and harm? Yes.
You are lucky.

Animals have a will to live...the creatures you see in this video don't want to die, and they want to be free with others of their kind. That's what we feel and do.

How is it different for these animals?
Why do we rob them of the things we take for granted for our own lives and which are protected by laws, by each other?

What is the reason these animals are subjected to such suffering? The reason is the humans just do it. Humans abuse animals for fun, but mostly humans abuse and exploit animals for money, and they don't hold back.

Animal protection laws are not working; they are not being abided by; they are not being enforced.
What can you do?

Do not give money to industries that harm animals. Try transitioning to a vegan diet, do not buy clothing made from animal products such as leather and wool, and try to learn more about the products you buy, such as Splenda, made by Proctor and Gamble, a company that tests its consumer products on animals.

Check out this list of companies that test on animals, and try to avoid purchasing products manufactured by them. Opt for products by companies that do not test on animals -- search by category here.

It's not easy -- we strive to conserve, waste less, recycle...if we are seeking to help our planet, why shouldn't we also seek to help the animals we share it with? We are all here on the same ground, breathing the same air, and while we have rights...we have obligations. For those that do not have rights, we are obligated to protect them by making informed decisions and helping to educate our peers.

The next time you need a hug, you call a friend for help, you breathe a fresh breath of air in the comfort of pure freedom...remember those who do not have even the simplest of things such as that. When you hold your cat, walk your dog, or enjoy watching animals in their natural environment, remember those who were robbed of this.

---
After watching this and other videos like it, remember that it is okay to feel sad, angry, and sick...

but even if you cannot answer these questions, know that you are not helpless.

Alleged Dog Fighters Go Back To Court, Bronx, NY, June 11th and June 16th

2009-06-09T11:13:00.001-07:00

Alleged Dog Fighters Go Back To Court, Bronx, NY, June 11th and June 16th

PLEASE HELP YOUR FELLOW ANIMAL LOVERS AND PIT BULL ADVOCATES SUPPORT THE PROSECUTION OF THE BRONX MEN WHO RAN AN ORGANIZED DOG FIGHTING RING

Bronx, New York, June 9, 2009

Join United Action for Animals in court this Thursday, 6/11/09 and next Tuesday 6/16/09 for the 16 victims with no voice.
Please be there at 9:00 am @ Bronx Court, Hall of Justice, 265 East 161st Street (4 train to Yankee Stadium), Bronx, NY. Be prompt so you don't miss the hearing, as there is a long security line at the entrance.
More info and location details here.
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This is a heinous crime -- Estephane's basement was used as a training facility for fighting dogs, not unlike Vick's property was. These were not amateurs, and they'd been running the fighting ring for some time, as was Vick, before his place was finally discovered. So, essentially, my goal is to help make an example out of this case for bringing attention to NYC dog fighting crime, as the large orgs and media did for the Vick case for bringing attention nationwide to the crime of dog fighting in general.

Please show you will NOT tolerate dog fighting in your city! This type of animal cruelty needs more exposure so that children will learn that this is a crime and not take after those who may tempt them into participating, even watching, animals tear each other to shreds in order for humans to make money.

-------
BACKGROUND:
Five alleged dog fighters and spectators will go back to court in New York City at Bronx Court, Hall of Justice, 265 East 161st Street, Bronx, NY, on charges related to a Bronx dog fighting bust last summer.

The cases were last heard on May 13, 2009 before Judge Steven Barrett (Docket #02688-2008) who set the following hearing dates:
(1) Thursday, June 11: Judge will make a decision in regard to requests by both Cuevas and Mason to plead out. If the judge rules against them, they will be included in the trial with the other three men.
(2) Tuesday, June 16, a trial date will be set for Alexander Estephane, Lauritz Acoy and Juan Toldo on felony dogfighting charges.
-Isreal Cuevas and Alterik Mason will face misdemeanor charges because they were spectators, not dog fighters, unless they are allowed by the judge to plead out.

Almost exactly one year ago, on June 14, 2008, NYPD, acting on a tip from the New Jersey state police, rescued 16 pit bulls and two roosters from the back yard of a house at 108 East 179th Street in the Tremont section of the Bronx that doubled as a dog fighting ring. One of the dogs, that appeared to be badly hurt, died on the way to a shelter. Officers recovered $2,000 in cash and syringes used to inject the dogs with stimulants.Police arrested seven men from the Bronx and New Jersey. The suspected ring leader, Alexander Estephane, 44, lives in the Bronx building that neighbors have long believed housed the inhumane and illegal blood sport. The other men were identified as Lauritz A. Acoy, 41, and Eric A. Boyce, 33, both of the Bronx, and Israel Cuevas, 34, Juan Toldo, 38, Alterik Mason, 29 and Darnell Walker, 34, all of New Jersey.

The next day, in a separate matter of animal cruelty, Israel Cuevas was charged by the New Jersey SPCA with failure to provide food and water to animals residing at his home, 5 adult pit bulls and 12 pit bull puppies, in North Brusnwick, New Jersey. Cuevas, a senior correction officer at the New Jersey Training School for Boys, in Jamesburg, New Jersey, pled guilty to the charges and was fired from his job. Charges against Boyce and Walker were dismissed.

United Action for Animals (UAA), a New York City non-profit humane organization, has created an Anti-Animal Fighting campaign to assist with court advocacy, awareness, animal foster care and pro bono legal assistance for the Animal Care and Control of New York City, the shelter that cares for the victims.

For more information see:
www.ua4a.org/AntiDogFighting.html
http://stopdogfightingnownyc.wetpaint.com
http://www.petabuse.com/cases/13875/NY/US
http://www.nycacc.org

Contact:
Jennifer Panton, President
United Action for Animals
P.O. Box 635
New York, NY 10021212-249-9178

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Many of the pit bulls that cruel people try to use for dog fighting end up at Animal Care and Control.

Brooklyn AC&C, bed delivery for Rational Animal's Mother's Comfort Project (Jan 11, 2009)

This little guy was so sweet. You can see his ears have been cropped -- he was probably used for dog fighting (had scars on his face and legs), and often the ears are cropped (as in literally the top half is cut off when the dog's a puppy) to make the head look bigger or to not get in the way when another dog is attacking its head.
Dog fighting is plain, abominable animal cruelty, and it's illegal.

And many of the dogs -- the lucky ones -- like this guy are still sweet, loving, adoptable companion animals that don't have a fighting bone in their body...which is often why they are dumped out on the streets.

Race horses, a staple in international trade

2009-06-06T16:43:00.000-07:00

Race horses, a staple in international trade

Horse racing is animal cruelty, but is not relegated only to the race track and practice fields and trainer room with hormone and steroid-filled syringes.

PETA went inside Japan's largest horse slaughterhouse in early 2009 to expose a little-known fact about horse racing. When horses can no longer perform, many are sent to slaughter.

Beyond the race track, the breeding farm, the jockey...prize-winning horses are shipped to Japan for slaughter every year, where they live the last few weeks of their life in fear, constant anxiety, cold, neglect, only to then face the stench of death and heartless strangers just waiting to kill and dismember them. That is the TRUE American race horse industry.

Would bonnet-wearing, julip-sipping spectators buy tickets to this?

PETA undercover investigators have recorded exclusive footage in a Japanese horse slaughterhouse, in which 4,500 horses are killed and cut up each year—many of them racehorses—to be made into food for dogs and humans.

Slaughterhouses such as the Kumamoto Shokuniku Center, which was exposed by investigators, are often the last stop in a system that routinely produces tens of thousands of "surplus" thoroughbreds each year because there is no plan for what to do with them after their racing or breeding days are over.

All these horses want is to live freely and be with each other.

News! NY State's tougher laws against animal fighting

2009-06-04T10:23:00.000-07:00

New York State's tougher laws against animal fighting

GREAT NEWS!!
On June 2, the New York State Senate’s Agriculture Committee unanimously passed S.3926, sponsored by Sen. Toby Stavisky, D-Flushing, to increase penalties for spectators at animal fights as well as for persons possessing animals for the purpose of fighting.

S.3926/ A.6287a: Animal Fighting
While dogfighting and cockfighting are felonies in New York, possessing animals for the purpose of fighting is only a misdemeanor and attending a fight is just a traffic-ticket style violation and misdemeanor. This makes it more difficult for law enforcement officials to effectively prosecute animal fighters. Moreover, these anemic provisions tend to attract criminals from other states to engage in illegal activities in New York.
This bill would make it a felony to be a spectator at a dogfight or a cockfight, punishable by a maximum fine of $25,000 and/or up to four years of imprisonment. The Assembly version of the bill, A.6287a sponsored by Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, D-Brooklyn, also passed the Assembly’s Agriculture Committee unanimously in April.

Couple more steps to go...

The new animal (not just for dogs) fighting bill that passed unanimously this month by the Senate Agriculture Committee now has to go through Senator Eric Schneiderman, Chair of Codes Committee and Senator Malcolm Smith, Majority Leader. The ADA for the dog fighting case we have been covering and helping bring attention to mentioned that these proposed laws are actually an improvement than what they were before.

And don't forget to get the latest on the New York City Anti-animal Fighting Campaign, started last year as a coalition between NYC AC&C and United Action for Animals.

We will be attending the Bronx Criminal Court again on the morning of Thursday, June 11th, in support of the prosectution of nine men charged with operating an organized dog fighting ring in the 179th St. area of the Bronx. Full story and to sign the petition to show you will not tolerate animal fighting here.

When Animals Answer to a Kosher Power

2009-06-03T06:57:00.000-07:00

IN AMERICA, KOSHER MEAT PROVES JUST AS CRUEL

Got a message the other day..."My friend Katie is Jewish and said that Kosher meat is all regulated by the rabbis and humanely slaughtered"

KOSHER HUMANE?
So I checked with my friend who works at Farm Sanctuary and is covering the farm industry day in and day out as part of her job. She is a savvy one too, who knows fact from exaggeration and the ineffectiveness of the latter. I also looked up the definition of "kosher", and it seems rather open to interpretation, as methods for 21st century slaughter are derived from the descriptions of what is "clean" and "unclean" meat. The Torah states which animals Jews can and cannot eat, and beef, chicken, and fish, of course are permitted, and pork is not. Methods of slaughter are very specific, however, which is problematic in the context of the business of churning out animal product for profit. Since the Kosher meat we typically find in grocery stores is from large-scale meat plants and slaughter houses, the chances that such specific, fine-tuned instructions are followed to the tee and are also overseen by the appropriate entities is unlikely.

In America, therefore, Kosher meat is some of the cruelest meat available. Despite the intentions in some scripture to make the process a certain way, which some may deem humane, given the economy of America when it comes to our mass consumption of meat products and the profit opportunities in meat processing, the intentions are often lost and cast aside. That said, however, I understand the intent behind the Kosher slaughter laws, but in practice the one instrument, one slice method is actually very brutal. They are not shocked with a head bolt to render them senseless, which is what is supposed to happen on factory farms. So Kosher farm workers have to develop other methods of how to make death quick for animals like cows and chickens. The laws governing how animals are slaughtered is that it should be quick, with a sharp knife to slit the throat and esophagus.

Despite the humane intention and spirit of the Jewish dietary laws, there are no standards to ensure that Kosher slaughter is any less cruel than conventional slaughter. The problem is that like most slaughterhouses, profit is maximized. Which means that as many animals are killed as quickly as possible. This is what leads all slaughterhouses to be brutal, because if they miss (it is, after all, a two thousand pound animal, writhing in fear for its imminent death) then they don't do over. It continues on the chain.

MEAT CRUELTY
Even if Kosher slaughter sometimes is more effective at rendering the animal senseless quickly (there is still pain involved), it doesn't change the fact that all animal agriculture in this country exists with cruelty. The feedlots, the unnatural diet, the constant cycles of impregnation, the environmental disaster, the warehouses of factory farms, the neglect of illness and injury, the downed animals left to suffer. Animals are commodities and are treated as such every day, in every part of the world, by people of every religion.

GREED AND VIOLATIONS IN FOOD INDUSTRIES AND BEYOND
And managers of meat and meatpacking plants, Kosher or not, can equally succumb to greed as well. Late last year, an Iowa plant, Agriprocessors, Inc., was raided for hiring children, undocumented workers, and for dangerous work environments -- it was a Kosher plant. This facility was documented for seven weeks by a PETA investigator, and the atrocities against the cattle they slaughtered one after another, in bulk quantity, day in and day out, are gut-wrenching. Check out the Rabbis overseeing this type of slaughter (read quotes from rabbis and video on left side), and let me know if you think what they do is humane.

Bear in mind that no organization or business other than an animal or other rights org will distribute video like this. PETA, the Humane Society, WSPA, and others like them shoot the undercover footage at factory farms. At animal testing labs, like the one of the New Iberia Research place in Louisiana, the Humane Society footage was shot by an HSUS person who worked at the lab undercover. There's a reason why these images aren't disseminated freely by the businesses and people in them. You can also bet that when one bit of footage comes out, there is the same activity going on behind closed doors all over the country. It's not easy to do these investigations, let alone actually prove the violations of various sorts. That said, we actually don't know the extent to which the AWA and municipal animal protection laws are egregiously violated. Like with illegal hand gun possession, drug rings, and muggings, we only know about it when perpetrators are caught and charged.

COMPASSION FOR ANIMALS IS IN THE HEART OF THE CULTURE
Jewish culture widely expresses compassion for animals and animal life, in the phrase tsa'ar ba'alei chaim. It is not surprising then that prominent Jews who were also vegetarian spoke about it and about the humane issues behind it.

Jewish leaders, such as Yiddish writer Isaac Bashevis Singer (1904-91),winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1978, who witnessed slaughter in Poland at a very young age, which is when he decided to never eat meat, including fish, ever again, advocated for vegetarian diets but even moreso for humane treatment of animals. He has also unofficially been quoted as saying, "There will never be any peace in the world as long as we eat animals."

Albert Einstein migrated to a vegetarian diet toward the last years of his life, which he remarks on in a letter written to Hans Muehsam, and dated March 30, 1954, which was about 1 year before Einstein died: "So I am living without fats, without meat, without fish, but am feeling quite well this way. It always seems to me that man was not born to be a carnivore." He has also unofficially been quoted as saying, "If a man aspires towards a righteous life, his first act of abstinence is from injury to animals."

This is a great site for exploring Jewish culture's possible advocacy for vegetarianism: http://www.jewishveg.com/. Any scripture or holy literature is open to interpretation, so neither meat-eating or meat-avoiding is the hard and fast dietary rule in Judaism, among many other religions.

Testing 1-2-3...an on-going debate.

2009-06-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

Animal testing...starting with 1-2-3: http://www.stopanimaltests.com/feat/testing123

I posted this on my Facebook to spark a debate, which it did, thankfully, and even more thankfully, brought into the conversation a med student that did research on rabbits at Rush Hospital in Chicago a couple years ago. She is on one side, I am on another. It's great, and it's one of the best ways to stay informed and educated on any issue for which you speak for or against.

My position: If you or anyone you know is in the medicine field (including in school for), please watch and pass this on and tell others to stand AGAINST animal testing. It is unscientific research yet proven animal cruelty. More info at http://www.pcrm.org/.

Counter: I think that it is difficult to learn the facts about animal testing from an extremist video. One fact, you cannot video tape or take pictures of the animals in the lab unless you have explicit permission and can prove that it is pertinent to the research. So, I would just question where those images came from, not that they aren't horrifying. However, if you really want to learn the facts about animal testing and then decide what should be changed, go to http://www.aalas.org/index.aspx or http://www.iacuc.org/index.htm.

Rebuttal: The most likely source of the footage is an employee of the lab(s) where animals are tested. No one else has access, to your point. Bear in mind that PETA and the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (which produces iacuc.org -- they are the same org) or schools like Columbia (http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/research/animal/research.html) both have an interest in making you believe they are right. The difference is that one is defending a practice that is regulated only as far as animal protection laws are enforced behind closed doors by parties interested in the progress of the research, not in questioning and challenging its practices – including third parties hired by the lab or by the government (http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/pubs/noawicpubs/educ.htm), an entity that has been known for and charged with atrocities on animals for research. Does Columbia put out pictures of their tests for the public? No.

Without pages of essay explaining the enforcement gap, these images depict in a concise, poignant manner what pro-vivisection scientists do not share with the public, as they divulge information that depicts full compliance only. Even with PETA’s efforts (over two decades’ worth), there is still an amazing amount of cruelty in the name of science – so I can’t imagine how animals would be treated if people were not invited to be shocked at least once so that they question animal testing. It is an unconventional regulatory method that US legislation and regulation cannot, by design, ever employ.

The bottom line is that it is 2009, we have alternatives, and society should employ a zero-tolerance standard. Because we cannot rely on existing regulatory bodies to prevent or stop animal cruelty in this sector, there is always the chance that animals are suffering, despite laws against it. Therefore, if one is against animal cruelty, one should be firmly against all animal testing.

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Not surprisingly, National Anti-Vivisection Society was not listed under "Links" on the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science website. It's the oldest entity of its kind, yet for some reason, the pro-testing organization the Counter suggested omitted it: http://www.navs.org/.

We cannot get our information about animal testing from a NON-biased party. It is impossible at this stage because it is science and money against ethics. Very tough dynamic to carry out debates in, without ultimately arriving at the "agree to disagree" ending.

NAVS supplies some interesting numbers, though, on number of animals used in research.

Alternatives to animal testing at AltWeb and more at In Defense of Animals for methods such as in vetro, computerized simulations, epidemiology, and more.

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A PRO-animal testing protest, no pun intended...but they intended it and to protest: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2009/04/22/vo.pro.animal.testing.cnn?iref=videosearch. They may or may not have seen this HSUS footage from the New Iberia Research Center. This is just one of many dozen research centers conducting the same types of tests on chimpanzees and baboons. That the other centers are violating the AWA and other protection laws goes without question. This is a perfect example of the enforcement gap and how undercover video is, as of yet, the only way for the public to know that there is animal cruelty going on in this country in the name of science -- illegal cruelty.

Short...reminder about the reality of euthanisia.

2009-06-01T20:14:00.000-07:00

It's 2009...and when it comes to companion animals, there are three rules:

ADOPT! SPAY/NEUTER! LIFE-LONG GUARDIANSHIP!

Please help PREVENT the overload of homeless animals in shelters. How?

(1) Save
ADOPT
-That's right, no breeders, no shops -- a cool guy or gal adopts!!

(2) Care
SPAY/NEUTER and get regular vet check-ups
-A healthy pet is easy on the wallett! and on shelters taking in unwanted litters caused by escaped, unfixed pets and irresponsible backyard breeders.
-Cats and dogs that go unfixed are also at much greater risk for certain types of cancers and other infections --preventable via spay/neuter surgery.

(3) Love
COMMIT to caring and protecting your animals for their entire lifetime.
-Do your research, consult a shelter/rescue group adoption rep, ask questions, be honest in the adoption process, and know what you're getting into.
-Dogs and cats can live up to or over 20 years! and they'll need your love and protection for each one of them.

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It is 2009, and we are in a crisis situation. There is no excuse for buying from breeders, if one knows about adoption, if one knows where their shelter is, if one watches the news...
There is also no excuse for turning a blind eye. Talk about the issues, encourage your peers and friends to "stray" from buying and look into adoption.

You do not have to look very hard to find evidence in your community of the reality of overwhelmed shelters, rescue groups, and deaths of healthy, adoptable animals in all of America.

One of the things that will never cease to bring tears to my eyes is thoughts of the reality of euthanasia in the U.S. Today our citizens continue to put money into breeders and mills, usually because they believe they must have a certain look in a dog or cat, a certain breed, a popular breed, or just a puppy or kitten for the day. Such motivations and intentions are wrong when dealing with live animals -- thoughts like the above apply to inanimate objects and products, not to cats, dogs, rabbits, horses and other animals that families typically keep as so-called pets... who can't speak up and say "Look, I know you may not want me anymore, but I need you. Please don't neglect me because you've changed your mind. Please don't take my home away. Please don't let me die".

It is still way too easy to buy an animal and it is too easy to also get rid of an animal. While that probably won't change any time soon, we must advocate for adopting as well as being responsible and showing love for household animals for their entire lifetime.

To those who feel they must have the dog their friend has, the dog they saw in a movie, the one their friend has or a celebrity shows off on TV... it is not always about what YOU want, but what animals need.

Saving a life, caring for an animal that needs you far outshines buying an animal that looks like the product you want or what everyone else has.

YOU are the only one that makes these decisions. Think about YOUR decisions only, do not feel that you need to change the minds of others. You cannot single-handedly stop the gassing of cats and dogs who have outlived their stay at shelters and die in metal boxes like this one pictured here. You can contribute to saving lives by making the right decision for yourself. Individuals buying from shops and breeders or having their animals give birth, and others who give up their animals to shelters have slowly contributed and helped build up the problem we are facing right now. In the same fashion, we can all do our part to reverse this and reduce, eventually eliminate, the market for buying and selling animals.

Again, the best way to do your part is to make the right decision for yourself -- adopt, spay/neuter and vaccinate, and commit to lifelong guardianship of your animals' lives. Be proud of doing something good for our communities. Others will take after you and reap the same rewards. If you have children, your children will learn something you cannot teach them with books or words.

Don't forget -- Euthanasia is NOT a solution to overpopulation. PREVENTION is the SOLUTION. Millions of cats, dogs, rabbits, and other companion animals are sentenced and put to death every year.

AND if you think death is quick and painless for unwanted animals... watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0KucYppXO0.

We do not need to deal with this sadness, these feelings of helplessness, if we take steps to prevent it and educate others to do the same.

The Mother's Comfort Project - FAQ

2009-05-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

UPDATE on The Mother's Comfort Project

We made 40 beds yesterday (Saturday) with HEART (Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers) and some awesome volunteers, along with 20 new cat toys! In the picture here you'll see HEART coordinators, Gage, a 7-yr old student, and Sadie, our Director's adopted pit bull, who she met on a delivery trip for the Mother's Comfort Project last year!

Delivery of our beds and toys from yesterday and from our April public event is set for next Saturday, June 6th. We're so excited!

Having delivered over 700 beds to the Brooklyn Animal Care and Control shelters, we're very proud of our work and diligence in making shelter life for animals a little more comfortable. We add a touch of love to every bed and cat toy, and we believe each animal we bestow these gifts to feels it.

The Mother's Comfort Project was recently featured in Time Out New York as "Cause of the Week"!!

Here are some things Sharon Steel of TONY asked me and my answers to them. The below gives an insider's insightful view of the real meaning behind the project.

What has the experience meant to you -- both in terms of sewing the beds themselves, and delivering them to the shelters for the animals in need?

I like the social aspect of it- we talk about a lot of animal awareness and related issues while at the sewing and fabric tables. We share funny stories about our dogs and cats, and it's also a great way to meet potential volunteers for our other media and outreach projects. In addition, Patti Gilstrap, co-owner of Flirt, has been amazing in hosting the monthly event and helping everyone with the sewing machines. We would never have had nearly the success we've had if it wasn't for Flirt and the owners there.

Visits to the Brooklyn AC&C to deliver the beds is the best part of this project. I have cats but love all animals, so I welcome the chance to interact with the dogs, in addition to cats. When I see dogs with scars on their face, head, body, and I can tell it is from dog fighting, I am reminded that this form of animal cruelty is still very much a reality and must be stopped...and then it just amazes the heck out of me that they are also the sweetest animals, full of vitality and personality. It is not what most people expect but that's the reality. Dogs are truly amazing animals!

I also know that many of the dogs and cats we meet will get a chance at a better life in a new home with a new family. Some cage signs will have "Adopted" printed on them, so going to the shelter and seeing that is really rewarding since so many of us and others in rescue and awareness work so hard to educate people on shelter and rescued animals and that adoption is the only option.

So in summary, the bed delivery gives us a chance to see the reality of the homeless animal population first hand and to also see that the animals for adoption at the AC&C shelters are beautiful, wonderful companions that would thrive in a person's home. I take that with me, use these personal experiences in conversation with others whenever I can.

One specific anecdote would be wonderful. For example, did you develop special bonds with any of the animals you brought beds to?

When Susan and I went a few months ago, we saw a chicken. He was in one of the cages (a different room from the dogs, cats) and looked like he was in rough shape, pretty sad. We gave him a bed, though. I have always loved farm animals as well as cats and dogs, so I was glad to have an opportunity to show a little love to one. All animals should be treated well, taken care of, including farm animals, of course.

Some volunteers also feel compelled to adopt after they see the animals. Has that happened to you as well?

Not really -- I know I have a full house, and my main focus is on the public, people who want a pet and may not know much about adoption, where to go, or may be susceptible to going into a puppy/kitten shop. Some day I'll have a house and a big yard, and then I will definitely adopt a big dog!We take many pictures every time we go and we can share them with people via the website or other online mediums. I think it helps for the public, including our friends and family, to see pictures of people just like them interacting with animals in a shelter, especially larger dogs which may seem intimidating to some people at first. I think photos like this can help shift one's image of a city shelter, which is certainly part of what we do.

Finally, why do you think TONY readers should care and get involved, perhaps donating their time to delivering beds or their own sewing skills to the project?

There is no other project like this around NYC -- draws on people's creativity and compassion for animals. Plus each bed is made by an individual -- so it's like a gift from you, if you were to participate, to a shelter animal. It's very personal, and we always take tons of pictures so everyone can see how their work is directly helping animals -- and people. The beds are a great contribution to the staff and volunteers at AC&C. They can wash and reuse the beds, and they do not have the budget to purchase such durable quality beds for the animals. They are very grateful and express it every time we're there.
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More BSL conversations...

2009-05-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

Breed specific legislation...continues in body of law and mind.

Earlier today, I called the Toledo Animal Shelter. I have been trying to reach them to inquire about pit bulls. I have noticed they never have any up for adoption. Finally, I got someone on the phone, and she explained to me that their insurance will not allow them to house pit bulls in their facility. The insurance company views them as vicious. I didn't get the name of the insurance as I was transferred to the Lucas County Dog Warden, but I'm sure whatever it was, it's not the only company that insures shelters therefore determines a lot of their rules.

So, I talked with a woman at the Lucas County Dog Warden, a department of Lucas County, of the state of Ohio. I grew up here (Toledo, OH), and I know that the city, even the entire state is not progressive in the animal awareness and rescue realm. I would say that I had a great conversation with Tom Skeldon, Toledo's Dog Warden. And the more I hear the pro-BSL side of the debate, the more I learn about how so many dogs, mainly pit/pit mixes, are exploited, abused, and ultimately discriminated against, and at the expense of their lives.

I also know that Skeldon is skilled at speaking to people like me, who are advocates for breeds such as pit bulls, which are often sentenced to death simply for being "at large", as Skeldon puts it. That is a municipal-ish word for stray. Skeldon has convinced members of the public that pit advocates are 'cults of personality' who have little backing. Skeldon wields power only because his father, Ned Skeldon, after whom Toledo Mud Hens field was once named, gave him a job. He knows Toledo, and he knows how to talk back to those challenging him on his anti-dog views. He need not speak truthfully, only convincingly.

In Toledo, pit bulls have been made out to be a public enemy, not because of pit bulls but because of cruel animal abusers. People like Skeldon convince the ignorant public that the dogs are the enemy simply by nature. Toledo remains ignorant.

Because someone lets loose a pit, rendering it homeless and out on the street to fend for himself, the dog is then sentenced to death if not claimed by the rightful owner. Now, unlike NYC, a rescue group may not pull the pit bull from the city shelter, and find a foster and eventually new home for the dog. Like Toledo Animal Shelter's insurance company, Skeldon, the city of Toledo, have a policy that all pit bulls must be put down if not claimed, and they may not leave the shelter except with their proven owner or in a body bag.

---

While I am writing the article on BSL in public housing here in New York City, I am concerned for other communities as well, where the rescue movement and pit bull, rottie, etc. advocacy initiatives are weak, compared to those in New York. Toledo is an example of a city where animal rescue groups advocating for pit rescue are categorized by ignorant people who hold on to this notion that all pits are bred and born to savagely rip apart people and small animals.

Although he did tell me on the phone that "PETA is in my camp. They are in favor of a ban, because they say that pit bulls are among the most abused animals in this country". When I asked, he agreed that pit bulls were the most "abused" breed of dogs. Somehow, though, he was not making the connection between the abuse and the way a dangerous pit bull behaves. PETA stands firmly behind mandatory spay/policies, and they also agree that bans on pit bulls can prevent an enormous amount of suffering (read full stance here). Those words never entered the conversation with Skeldon, only that pit bulls are dangerous.

Instead of going after the abusers, who Skeldon has admitted exist, he goes after the dogs in an attempt to rectify the "dangerous dog" problem. I think there is a dangerous PEOPLE problem, and I know I'm preaching to the choir here...

Tom Skeldon also pointed out that a woman named Bonnie Yoho, a pit rescuer, who took many of these types of dogs to supposed homes, was caught for dog fighting last year. A set back for pit advocates, but I have yet to find more than this from the Cleveland library, substantiating this claim. I'll keep looking...

To the main stream media, he implies something that anti-BSL individuals like me think is a ridiculous stance. Skeldon has been quoted as saying, "[The owners] all think that these pit bulls are nice sweet animals, but by the time they get to be a year and half or two years old, they're pretty intent on what they're bred to do and that’s grab a hold of things and shake it until it's dead." That is ignorance, sorry Skeldy. I wish he could meet Tilly, Stella, Gordy, and the dozens of other pits I know who are amazingly sweet and do not have a vicious or fighting bone in their body.

No pit bull these days are born knowing how to "shake" anything or fight -- people who aim to use them as weapons, these loyal dogs that are hardwired to please their owners no matter how much pain and anguish they suffer, are at fault. Why is there not animal exploiter-specific legislation? My theory is that dogs are EASY to control. Drug dealers with illegal hand guns are not. Skeldon has an easy job and he can easily catch and euthanize pit bulls to fulfill his duties.

In my interviews, conducted in two NYCHA housing projects on Tuesday and Wednesday, I was told that the people who engage in formal dog fighting are the same people dealing drugs and keeping illegal guns. If police tried harder to crack down on dog fighting, who is to say they would not inevitably crack (no pun intended) on drug dealers? Again, people with pit bulls are easy targets. Dog fighters behind closed doors are harder to find, and they are much more dangerous people in the community. Make a new policy banning pit bulls -- looks like the authorities are taking action to protect the people. But that is where the action ends. Enforcement of even the existing laws in public housing, such as mandatory spay/neuter, registration and $25 fee, and dogs on leash at all times -- ALL TIMES, even in fenced in grass areas in the courtyards of some of these housing squares -- are not enforced heavily enough, according to residents I spoke with.

Gladys, who has had Dream, a 7 yr old pit, since Dream was four months old and her niece was trying to find a home for her, has concured that there is also a problem with people not picking up after their dogs and also allowing them to relieve themselves in the elevators and hallways of their buildings. She has lived in public housing for 38 years and complains of lack of enforcement on drug dealers in her building. She said these are the same people who are responsible for the vicious dogs people are afraid of and that if people did not mistreat pits, such as those like Dream, they would not harm people and have the reputation they do. She took Dream in because she said she feared the pup would end up in the wrong hands.

Samuel, resident of East Rivers housing at 100th and East End has had pit bulls and rottweilers in the past, two of the three breeds now banned in public housing. He said that these dogs can become a weapon if in the wrong hands, just like a gun can be in the hands of a corrupt cop. He says that he knows of incidences where drug dealers harbor dogs who they have trained through cruelty and fear tactics to be weapons, and they have thrown their dog(s) at the cops when they enter the house to attack them, while they try to flee. In instances I personally have heard of, dogs have been shot and killed by the police, purely as a means to protect the police persons' lives.

Will banning pits, rotties, and dobermans (who I have not seen at all, on the sidwalk or in dog parks, anywhere, in over three years) in the projects stop the criminals from using these animals as weapons? Will it stop crimes such as dog fighting rings? which not only violate animal cruelty laws but also organized gambling laws. Will it stop people from breeding pits in the public housing projects?

This debate, as far as whether or not laws focused on animals, not peoplem, will go on for a very long time, but it is essential that everyone who cares about the issue listen to both sides. That pits are the most abused and exploited dogs in America cannot be debated -- it is a consensus among all parties of all opinions. It is sad and in the end the dogs suffer the most, and people are left to walk the streets, having abused and killed dogs only for money.

My article on the policy won't be as subjective as the above. I look forward to getting printed the statements from many different people from all sides of the topic, including rescuers who are in favor of the ban.

Please spread the word if you know a pit bull and his/her owner who are heroes and ambassadors for the breed. Same goes for Rottweilers!!

Below is Rational Animal's pit bull ambassador, Sadie Blackstar, who's mother, Susan Brandt, is the Director and Founder of Rational Animal. Sadie is an amazing creature. Despite the scars on her body and legs, she remains cool and sweet around other dogs and people.

My phone call with Tom Skeldon ended when he told me that he had just been called out to go tranquilize a pit bull. Snide and immature, but what do you expect?

Pet-so-heartless...Petsmart profits off animal cruelty

2009-05-14T14:41:00.000-07:00

Pet-so-Heartless:
Petsmart profits off animal cruelty

OK here's another one to put on your DNS list (do not support :-). http://www.petsmartcruelty.com/

Don't support Petsmart!! They make money off animal cruelty every day and also propagate the small animal and bird trade, which is more or less on same plane as the puppy mill industry, as far as the factory-like conditions and inadequate care and transportation systems. Not many people realize this!

Check this photo gallery to find out what happened to this poor rat and read stories and see documentation of individual cruelty cases PETA uncovered.
These animals are absolutely helpless and the public that purchases Petsmart products is clueless!!
While Petsmart may not be involved in the terribly, utterly cruel puppy and kitten mill industry, like chain stores such as Petland and Brooklyn's Pets Unlimited are, they too contribute to a mill-like industry -- one involving birds and small animals such as rabbits, gerbils, rats, and hamsters.

HERE'S WHAT TO DO: Shop at small, honest neighborhood pet supplies stores that do not sell animals or any living beings at all!

Did you know that you can adopt a rabbit, a gerbil, a hamster, a bird, even a snake?

In New York City, check out Sean Casey Animal Rescue in Brooklyn, who have an adoption facility and pet supplies shop:
THE HAMILTON DOG HOUSE
155 E. 3rd St., Brooklyn, New York
Between Caton and Ft. Hamilton
718-436-PETS

... and Social Tees in Manhattan's East Village (owner Robert, pictured here), who have also have an adoption facility and pet supplies shop:
SOCIAL TEES ANIMAL RESCUE
124 East 4th St.
New York, NY 10003
1-800-200-7338

Elsewhere, check petfinder.com and also explore your local rescue groups to help connect you to the wonderful people in your community or close by that help rescue these animals -- which often go unnoticed in the campaign to end homelessness and euthanization of animals across america.

Check out these to learn more about small animal adoption:
Metropolitan Guinea Pig Rescue
http://www.mgpr.org/
House Rabbit Society
http://www.rabbitsinthehouse.org/

And before you decide to bring a small animal into your home, do your homework!! It's very important that you commit to protecting and caring for any animal in your home for their entire lifetime.

Kitten Mills...what you may not know!

2009-05-05T09:46:00.000-07:00

Most of us know about puppy mills...but...cats and kittens suffer from these cruel practices as well. Please don't forget about the millions of cats that suffer at the hands of cruel people every day.If you care about the puppies and their breeder moms, you should be inclined to care about and help spread awareness of the kittens and cats that are abused in the same way puppies and dogs at puppy mills are.
The best way to show you care is to adopt -- never buy from ANY breeder -- and encourage others to do the same.
Please PLEASE always adopt. I have rescued cats, and my life is forever enriched because of them.
http://www.petfinder.com/
If you use facebook, please join this Group page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2231723482#/group.php?gid=59671486684&ref=mf
Here you will find more hard facts and information about the feline side of breeding mills. The bottom line is that the best way to stop this cruelty is to not support it. Over the years, we have seen increasing numbers of mill busts by groups like the Humane Society of the United States, Rescue Ink, and Companion Animal Protection Society. But there are tens of thousands of these mills across the country and in other countries as well, including suburban areas in Canada, where mills churn out puppies and kittens (and rabbits, for some) to be sold not only in Canada but in the United States as well. Because there is still demand, stores that sell animals, particularly puppies and kittens, are making significant profit off animal cruelty. The aforementioned groups are making significant inroads on combatting this problem, but it's a huge industry and we need more people to be educated and take actions on their confictions that animal cruelty is wrong and should NOT be tolerated anywhere.
If you want to take your stance against animal cruelty one step further, don't buy ANY products from stores that sell these animals. I recommend buying your pet food and supplies at smaller boutique and neighborhood stores that tend to carry the higher quality food, such as Wellness, Weruva, Blue Buffalo, and Halo, to name a few. I personally would prefer people make the choice to buy their pet good from these smaller stores that do not sell any living beings of any type -- not bird, gerbels, or even fish.
Remember -- you can empower yourself and reaffirm your stance against animal cruelty by making informed choices and not giving money to any business that exploits animals. It's up to you!
For more information about the kitten/cat mill industry and how you can help, see below:

What can you do to help?
1) NEVER BUY A CAT OR KITTEN FROM A BREEDER. Always adopt from your local shelter or rescue organization. Find the perfect cat or kitten in your area here: http://www.petfinder.com/.
2) BECOME INVOLVED WITH A CAT RESCUE ORGANIZATION. These organizations save lives every day by rescuing unwanted cats and kittens from local shelters and helping to find them homes. Many also provide low or no-cost spay and neuter services that help curb feral cat populations without killing. This is some of the most important work that can be done.
Join Stray Cat Alliance.
WEB http://www.straycatalliance.org/
FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=59671486684#/group.php?gid=38783974284&ref=ts
Join Alley Cat Allies
WEB http://www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=191
FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alley-Cat-Allies/37899252087?sid=66d31e438b18fb0697fa04d1d967c75c&ref=s
Join Kitten Rescue
WEB http://www.kittenrescue.org/home.php
FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kitten-Rescue/115219435429?sid=b9e79643375723ef5ce0161bde38a1e5&ref=s
PLEASE DONATE YOUR TIME OR MONEY TO AN CAT (OR DOG) RESCUE / AWARENESS GROUP.
Your help is desperately needed, and every little bit helps.
In New York City, please go to http://www.animalalliancenyc.org/ to find a group in your neighborhood or that you're interested in volunteering for or donating to.

Contact ckistler@rational-animal.org to find out how to get involved with our awareness campaigns aimed at shutting down breeding mills and fighting other cruelty issues, including educating the public and engaging people to be active in supporting kindness to animals and efforts to lower homeless animal populations.