Obama Helping Animals Already

The Interior Department under Bush had announced plans to remove gray wolves from the Endangered Species list in much of the northern Rocky Mountains.  As soon as he was sworn in on Tuesday however, Obama’s order to suspend the plan took effect.  Had the wolves been removed from the list, they would have been exposed to harm and slaughter.  By taking this action, he has saved many wolves; it’s estimated that as many as two-thirds of of the gray wolf population would have been affected by the plan-  1,000 out of only 1,500 wolves would have been in danger.  Obama has definitely led a good start, and the future for animals is looking much brighter.

Be Compassionate- Choose Only Humane Traps

It’s winter which means uninvited guests in the house, seeking warmth and shelter, such as bugs and mice.  Before you go out and buy another glue trap or traditional snap trap, however, you should really think about making a more compassionate choice by buying a humane trap.  There are many (inexpensive) varieties currently available; the one shown above is available from the PETA catalog for only $11.  With most humane traps, the mice are caught alive and unharmed and can then be released outdoors.

“Kill” traps cause a lot of unnecessary pain and suffering for mice.  The purpose of snap traps for example is to instantly kill the mouse after it sets it off trying to reach the bait.  They sometimes fail to do this however, and go off on the mouse’s tail or leg, causing it great stress and suffering before it eventually dies of starvation, dehydration, etc.  Glue traps are one of cruelest pest-control devices on the market today.  Animals who get stuck to them suffer for days before they finally die of starvation, self-mutilation, dehydration, and shock.  Patches of skin, feathers, or fur are torn from their bodies as they struggle to escape the adhesive.  Many animals resort to chewing off their own limbs in a desperate attempt to free themselves from the traps, and others get their noses, mouths, or beaks stuck in the glue and suffocate.  Other animals routinely fall prey to these cruel devices too, such as birds, squirrels, and even companion animals. 

With a humane trap, the mice are guaranteed to not be harmed.  They are effective, safe, and can be reused over and over again, unlike some kill traps.  And with most varieties, the trap is composed of swinging door that can be simply pushed open to release the mouse (and there’s no need to touch it.)

Helping Animals One Step At a Time- New Mexico

Good news for animals!  For more than a year, commissioners of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, have been in debates over improvements to their animal control ordinance.  However, last Tuesday the bill was approved by a 4-0 vote.  The county now bans cat and dog sales at pet stores and goes one step further to give farm animals better living conditions.

According to the bill, pet stores will no longer be allowed to sell cats or dogs, and breeders who try to make a profit off kittens and puppies won’t have it so easy either.

The new bill cuts the license fee in half for a spayed or neutered animal companion and bans the chaining of backyard dogs.  The legislation also states that animals on farms must be given food, water, veterinary care, and shelter.

This is certainly great news for animals of New Mexico, and it also shows that things are being done to improve the lives of animals.  Fortunately, little by little, animals are getting the rights they deserve.

San Francisco SPCA Opens Holiday Windows for Adoptable Pets

Today marks the opening of the San Francisco SPCA’s 22nd Annual Holiday Windows at the Macy’s in Union Square.  Last year the event contributed to the adoption of 277 animals and $34,000 in donations for the SF/SPCA.  The 2007 Holiday Windows was one of the best the SPCA has ever had and marked the 40,000th adoption since the event began 21 years ago.

The theme of this years window design comes from the famous letter written by eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon to the editor of the New York Sun, and Francis Pharcellus Church’s reply, which was printed in the paper on September 21, 1897.

SF/SPCA representatives are available during the event (November 21, 2008 through January 1, 2009 during Macy’s store hours) to answer questions.  Every animal is medically and behaviorally screened, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered and comes with a 30-day gift of pet health insurance, a free advice DVD, leash and collar (for dogs), discounts on most SF/SPCA training classes, and a goodie bag filled with other gifts and treats.

Each day, as many as 20 animals are on display and about half are adopted. SF/SPCA staff and volunteers carefully monitor the animals and rotate them frequently. Any animal that appears stressed or unhappy is immediately taken out of the window and all of the animals that are not adopted are shuttled back to the shelter at night in order to rest.

Volunteers are still needed so if you’re currently living in the San Francisco area and want to make a difference, you can click here for more details and to sign up for a two-hour shift.  Or you can call Norma Wood Metcalf, volunteer services manager, at (415) 522-3543.

Find Cruelty-Free Companies and Products

Most of us would agree that animal testing is wrong.  If you don’t want to contribute to the cruelties of animal testing, click here for products and companies that don’t do testing.  You can search for companies that do or do not test, or cruelty-free companies by product type.  Cruelty-free living is just a click away.

Next Page »