Tails from a Compassionate Planet

Demand Collars Not Cruelty in the Fight against Rabies

Every year, 20 million dogs are brutally killed around the world - most commonly by poisoning, electrocuting or shooting. That’s 38 dogs every minute of every day, and one of the main excuses for this cruelty is rabies control.

 

WSPA is on a mission to stop this.      

Only widespread vaccination is scientifically proven to stop rabies in dogs, long term. Our Collars Not Cruelty campaign calls on governments to stop killing dogs, and instead run effective dog vaccination programs.

 

We want every vaccinated dog to be fitted with a red collar as a symbol that they - and their communities - are protected against rabies. Worldwide, these collars will become a symbol of vaccination, protection and hope.

You can support Collars Not Cruelty by: 

• Reading more about our campaign
  
• Watching our campaign video
  
• Donating to our campaign
  
• Joining our virtual dog march
  
• Watching Leona Lewis voice her support for Collars Not Cruelty
  
• Adding a Twibbon to your profile picture
  
• Reading our successful case studies from Bali and Sri Lanka

Ending Farm Animal Cruelty in “The Bay State”

Farm animals in most U.S. states are kept in extreme confinement, forced to live in spaces so small they can barely move. Massachusetts is no different.

Tens of thousands of farm animals – including egg-laying hens, veal calves and female breeding pigs – are kept in confined cages and stalls throughout the state. But, earlier this year, Sen. Robert L. Hedlund (R-Hingham) and Rep. Jason M. Lewis (D-Winchester) introduced The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act which, if passed, would end the cruel confinement of these farm animals by 2015.

We’re encouraging all WSPA Massachusetts supporters to contact their State Senator and Representative today, and ask them to co-sponsor The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act – the first step in moving this act forward through the State House. (If you don’t reside in Massachusetts, please pass this on to family or friends who live there!)

Several other states, such as Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Maine, Michigan and Oregon, have already passed similar legislation. It’s time for Massachusetts to join the national movement and take action to end the cruel confinement of farm animals!

Japan Dolphin Day and 6 Things You Can Do to Help Dolphins

Our thoughts continue to be with the people and animals affected by Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami earlier this year. Sept. 1 is Japan Dolphin Day and the perfect opportunity to celebrate the triumphant spirit of this nation and its animals.

In light of recent films like The Cove and A Fall from Freedom, we wanted to share some easy, positive and powerful ways that you can all help dolphins around the world:

• Learn more about dolphins and why they should not be kept in captivity;

• Vow to never buy another ticket to a dolphin show or a “swim with the dolphins” facility;

• Sign petitions and support campaigns like Saddest Dolphins, which aims to free 25 wild-caught dolphins that will be used at Resorts World’s spa in Singapore;

• Spread the word: tell your friends and family about the plight of captive dolphins and encourage them to support humane wildlife-watching tours rather than captive dolphin programs;

• Write to travel companies, tourism boards and governments in countries with captive dolphins: explain why they should not keep dolphins and vow never to visit these facilities;

• Join an event in your city to celebrate Japan Dolphin Day or consider organizing an event (for more information on how to do this, check out Ric O’Barry’s blog post on SaveJapanDolphins.org).

A Whale of a Problem in the Faroe Islands

A new documentary, The Whale, executively produced by Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johansson, is premiering in the capital of the Faroe Islands tomorrow in an attempt to raise awareness about the cruel pilot whale hunts that take place in the islands every year.

During these hunts, people herd pods of dolphins (also called pilot whales) into shore using noises and  splashes to scare the whales toward the land. By the hundreds, whales are then “secured” using steel hooks  and - often while still fully conscious - hauled ashore. After being pulled through bloody waters, among dead and dying members of their social groups, they are killed with sharp knives.

Traditionally, these whale hunts in the Faroe Islands met a subsistence need – this is not the case anymore.

There is no reason to continue these inhumane, horrific dolphin hunts. Please consider writing to the Faroese Government, Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Faroese Tourist Board today to explain your concerns about the hunts and why they need to stop.

Contact details:

Prime Minister's Office
Løgmansskrivstovan
Tinganes
P.O.Box 64
FO- 110 Tórshavn
Faroe Island
Tel: +298 306000
Fax: +298 306015
E-mail: [email protected]

Faroe Islands Tourist Board
(Undir Bryggjubakka)
17 - Box 118
FO-110
Tórshavn
Faroe Islands
Tel: +298 355 800
Fax: +298 355 801
E-mail: [email protected]
web: http://www.visitfaroeislands.com/

Ms Lene Espersen
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
2, Asiatisk Plads
DK-1448 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Tel. +45 33 92 00 00
Fax +45 32 54 05 33
E-mail: [email protected]

Thank you for helping to save these pilot whales!

 

Eat Humane During Boston Restaurant Week!

It’s that time of year again… Boston's Restaurant Week is taking place August 14-26! Once again, we are excited that several restaurants in our Eat Humane restaurant guide are participating, including:

• Flora Restaurant 
• Henrietta's Table at Charles Hotel
• Lumière
• Rialto at Charles Hotel
• Taranta
• The Beehive
• The Fireplace

If you are taking part in Boston’s Restaurant Week, be sure to check out one (or more) of these restaurants!

Not in New England? Search our guide for restaurants near you that offer humane food options. 

Happy humane eating!

Explaining "What's Wrong with Eating Dog Meat?"

Some of you may have seen the article on CNN.com today, “What's Wrong with Eating Dog Meat?” which discusses the dog meat trade in South Korea. While it's great that this issue is garnering more media attention, we felt the need to address a few points in this article.

The article states, “They were… going to show videos of farms raising dogs under sanitary conditions — something, they will tell you, that would become a more ubiquitous practice were the industry legalized and regulated.”

"Sanitary conditions" or not, the deliberate cruelty inflicted on these dogs - during capture, transport and farming - is appalling. The slaughter methods used (which include clubbing, throat-slitting, hanging, electrocuting and blow torching) are purposely designed to intensify and prolong the suffering of the animals, under the misguided belief that torturing a dog before its death results in better quality meat.

In no way, shape or form should such actions be legalized.

The article then poses the question, “So, what's really wrong with eating dog? Just because we don't do it in the U.S. doesn't seem to make for a very good argument.”

While dogs are seen as family members or best friends in some cultures, we understand this is not necessarily true in others. That being said, culture is dynamic, and the inhumane treatment of animals is never excusable. 

All in all, the unnecessary, appalling cruelty associated with the dog meat trade industry is reason enough to end it. Other areas of the world - such as Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore and Hong Kong - agree, and have taken a progressive stance by completely banning the consumption of dogs and cats, in response to public concern. Furthermore, WSPA research in China and Korea suggests that the consumption of dogs and cats is reducing in popularity, especially within the younger generation.

For more information on ending the dog meat trade industry, click here.

National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day

WSPA would like to extend our deepest sympathies to all those affected by the recent disasters that have caused so much destruction and tragedy in the US and across the world.  These disasters continue to remind us how fragile life can be sometimes, but also how compassionate the human spirit is, and how resilient both people and animals really are!

Now more than ever, it is so important to include animals in our emergency plans.  Many of us have pets whom we consider to be members of the family, but how many of us are actually prepared to keep them safe during an unexpected catastrophe?  

This Sunday, May 8, is National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day,  and we encourage all animal owners out there to make sure they include their pets and livestock in all of their emergency plans.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has some great resources on its website for pet/livestock owners.  A few tips we really like:

• Keep an animal emergency supply kit on hand (think pet food, bottled water, veterinary records and first aid materials);
• Make EVERY possible effort to bring your pets with you if you need to evacuate (most evacuation centers don't allow pets, so do some research to find out which hotels/motels in the area you are evacuating to allow pets);
• Develop a buddy system with neighbors, friends and relatives in the event you are unable to care for your pets or must evacuate without them;
• Always make sure your pets' ID tags are up to date and securely fastened to their collars, and keep current photos of them on you for identification purposes;
• Talk to your veterinarian, local animal shelter or animal control office for additional advice and information.

We hope all pet owners take these small but necessary steps to ensure their pets safety in an emergency - they could end up paying off in a big way down the road!

Humane Easter Egg Options by the Dozen!

Decorating eggs is a favorite spring pastime for many families, and with egg sales soaring during the Easter season each year, WSPA encourages all consumers to add these easy-to-find, "humane" egg brands to their grocery list:

1. Born Free (Certified Humane and Cage Free and USDA Organic)
2. Cyd's Nest Fresh (Certified Humane)
3. Egg Innovations (Certified Humane and Cage Free)
4. Eggland's Best (American Humane Certified)
5. Eggology (Certified Humane and Cage Free and USDA Organic)
6. Giving Nature (Certified Humane)
7. Go-Organic Omega 3 (Certified Humane and Cage Free and USDA Organic)
8. Land O'Lakes (Cage Free and USDA Organic)
9. Nellie's Nest (Certified Humane and Cage Free)
10. Pete & Gerry's (Certified Humane and Cage Free and USDA Organic)
11. Phil's Fresh Eggs (American Humane Certified)
12. Sunrise Fresh (Certified Humane and Cage Free)

These brands are marked with 'Certified Humane,' 'American Humane Certified' or 'Animal Welfare Approved' claims -- meaning the eggs came from chickens who were humanely raised, instead of those raised on unhealthy and cruel factory farms.  By simply choosing to buy these egg brands, you can make a powerful difference in the welfare of animals and the environment!

For more humane eating tips, visit EatHumane.org. Happy Spring!

Life's Not Peachy for Dolphins in Georgia

As reported by USA Today and other media outlets, the Georgia Aquarium - the largest aquarium in the world - recently unveiled a new dolphin theatrical show, AT&T Dolphin Tales. Multiple shows sold out almost immediately as families rushed to the exhibit… but what these animal lovers fail to understand is that dolphins – who are are highly intelligent and socially complex animals – suffer greatly in captivity.

Read related blogs on dolphins in captivity here and here.

Most of the dolphins at the Georgia Aquarium were born in captivity; however, all dolphins are wild animals and share the same physiological and psychological needs. No aquarium or captive facility can simulate vast ocean and coastal habitats, regardless of how large or well-constructed.  Add to that the artificial social groupings, transport between facilities and inability to escape other animals or human observers, and it’s no wonder why dolphins suffer extreme stress and fear, leading to chronic illness and even death while in captivity.

Dolphins are among the most charismatic creatures on the planet and it’s understandable what people are drawn to them. Sadly, animal-lovers who pay for these encounters only perpetuate the suffering of these amazing animals. The admission fee may be small, but the dolphins pay a much steeper price.

We recommend that anyone in the Atlanta area skip this attraction and check out other exciting experiences Atlanta has to offer.

Boston Restaurant Week, Humane-Style!

Here in New England, we are gearing up for Boston's Restaurant Week, March 6-18. This year, we are especially excited that several restaurants in our Eat Humane restaurant guide are participating, such as:

• Flora Restaurant
• Henrietta's Table at Charles Hotel
• Lumière
• Rialto at Charles Hotel
• Taranta
• The Beehive
• The Fireplace

Be sure to make reservations at one (or more!) of these restaurants if you are taking part in Restaurant Week.

Not in the New England area? Search our guide for restaurants near you that offer humane food options. 

Bon appetit!