Several days ago I attended a regional fair and festival. Like most such events, livestock was part of the event. As I was leaving I noticed four animals housed separately from the rest. There was a steer, a goat, a sheep and a pig. The banner above read “Grand Champion Market Animals.” I snapped a photo of each but the meaning did not register at the time. It was not until later when I was editing the photos for a story did I realize the significance. The photo above is the picture of the “winning” pig. I’m guessing as I write this he is sitting on someone’s plate as bacon or carnitas or loin roast. I can only hope each of these four animals met their fate from a butcher with mercy and not one that subscribes to the methods of our factory slaughterhouses. Look into this pig’s eyes. He knows the fate that awaits him. To read the rest of the story, click here.
by AdministratorDave and Buzz For the past few days, the Southern California rescue community, along with compassionate people from around the country, has watched a potential tearjerker unfold. A man was arrested on outstanding traffic warrants and possible other charges. His dog was taken to the San Bernardino City Shelter in California’s ‘Inland Empire’ as a ‘stray.’ The police knew the dog had an owner but chose not to tell shelter staff. The dog was a pit bull mix (more shepherd than pit) and as a stray stood zero chance of getting out alive. With an owner, a hold would be required; without, the dog could be killed in 72 hours. A local photographer and animal advocate, Maria Sanchez, noticed a man, weeping at the dog’s cage. He asked about getting his dog back but all he had was $6. The cost for the impound was about $400. To read the rest of the story, click here.
by AdministratorLast year animal welfare workers from throughout Southern California appeared before the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to beg for help with uncooperative Devore Shelter managers who are hell-bent on dissuading adoptions of healthy animals and killing animals while rescue workers are in the lobby filling out paperwork to pull them. Instead of then-Chairman Josie Gonzales thanking these volunteers for caring so much about the county’s animals, she chastised them for volunteering in “my county” and not first helping homeless people. Gonzales went so far in her attempt to intimidate volunteers that she required each speaker to publicly state their home address for the record, a direct violation of California’s Brown Act. Several attendees have reported retaliation since the meeting. To read the rest of the story, click here.
by AdministratorI am writing for another site now and I am also one of the state leads (2nd) for California for an animal political action committee. The site launched a little earlier tonight. I have a few stories posted, put here is the only original one. I would appreciate the clicks. I don’t get paid for it, but I would like to have the most clicks! Animal Welfare Reform: the Pieces of the Puzzle By:SHARON GILBERT 8 days ago Some days in the world of animal welfare work, seem like have little or no effect. For every animal saved, ten more die and for every puppy or kitten prevented from being conceived, a dozen are born. Animal activists must have emotions of steel and hearts of gold to deal with what they witness each day. The pain and suffering simply never ends and never will if we don’t change paths. There are few who don’t believe we need to work towards a no-kill solution. But getting there has been a battle, not because there is not a want among animal welfare workers but because there is not a want among shelter managers and those that are responsible for shelter funding. In other words, a majority of our elected leaders would prefer to spend the money killing rather than saving lives. It is the easy way but not the moral way nor the cost-effective way. To read the rest of the story, click here.
by Administrator