Why I Don't Like the Zoo

Yes, parents take their children to the zoo to show them all the beautiful animals, just like they take them to pet stores to pet the puppies. It sounds like a great idea, but it just doesn't make sense. Why don't they take their children to the slaughterhouse to show them where their hamburgers come from? If I sound a bit curt, it is because I am. We pick and choose the things that give us the warm and fuzzies, without any regard to the animal on the other end. WHY should an animal live its life in hell, so that we can see it or show it to our children. Is THAT social responsibility to enslave one animal to benefit us? Are we so ignorant? Tigers, lions, sea animals and YES elephants suffer tremendously in captivity. Elephants are wandering creatures covering hundreds of miles in their journeys, yet we lock them up in concrete cages, depriving them of their natural instincts and desires. We do not allow them to wander or live in families or groups. We deprive them their basic needs so our entertainment needs can be met. As guardians over the animals we should strive for humanity. Only a person of ignorance would disagree that it is cruel to deprive an animal its basic needs in order to entertain us.

Lets take some responsibility and make the right choice. Billy is an elephant at the LA Zoo. There is currently a motion in LA to permanently close the LA Zoo's Elephant exhibit and take Billy to a sanctuary where he can live out his life in happiness, not torture.

This has got to be one of the saddest stories I can imagine. Please contact Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at mayor@lacity.org or call 213-978-0600 and speak up for Billy, a prisoner who has committed no crime. Close the elephant exhibit and save the $40MILLION expansion that would NOT provide the necessities elephants need. Do not allow them to filter in another elephant after Billy dies to show our kids how elephants live a tortured life in captivity. Billy is LA's last living elephant. He lives alone at the Zoo. He is denied companionship. All the other elephants have either died or been transferred. Imagine, just for a moment the isolation and loneliness an animal faces being the only one of its species. This is especially cruel done to an animal that travels and lives in large groups. Imagine a person living among rats or giraffes. No other humans to interact with. Anyone would agree that this is wrong.

If you want your children to understand how elephants live, turn on Animal Planet and let them see how elephants are supposed to live.... In The Wild. Save the city $40million and do the compassionate thing.

Seond Life Concert to Benefit Real Life Dogs

There's a great event happening this weekend to benefit Smiling Dog Farms. We all know that Jay and Ricky care for the dogs that no one else will take... NO ONE. They are dead dogs without the love and attention that Jay and Ricky provide. This weekend Second Life and Grateful Stryker, a personal friend of mine is holding the second annual "Day for Lucas." Lucas was my first rescue ever, an old pitbull - sharpei mix that was discarded at the LA shelter. I was determined to save him, and only Jay stepped up. Jay cared for him and allowed the old man to die with dignity in Jays own bed. For this alone I will always be grateful to Jay.

Please check out the event.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Real Life Meets Second Life; A WEEKEND FOR LUCAS BENEFIT for THE SMILING DOG FARMS November 29^th and 30^th.

With the innovation of the Internet comes the virtual world, Second Life. Second Life is a 3d virtual world environment that allows people from all over the world to meet and chat and interact. It is becoming very popular and well known throughout the country and the world. Corporations like Intel, Cisco, CNN, IBM, and many others have placed in world locations in the virtual world.

The live music scene in Second Life has become something of it’s own innovation. Music companies are looking and listening. Several musicians have actually signed contracts and the talent is incredible. It is amazing to have musicians from all over the world be heard by others in a unique forum such as Second Life. There are 3d venues and people come as if they were attending a real world concert.

November 29^th and 30^th is the big day called “A WEEKEND FOR LUCAS”. Thirteen hours of live music each day with some of Second Life’s best musicians. We start 10:00 am to 11:00 pm pst, on Saturday and Sunday. To listen; simply paste this url into your browser http://38.96.148.45:8906 . You will get a shoutcast menu and then choose listen.

Lucas was a dog that was rescued from certain death over a year ago by Robert Cabral from www.boundangels.org. Lucas was abused and neglected most of his life. Finally, Jay Hellerich from The Smiling Dog Farms, was contacted and agreed to take Lucas. Lucas sadly passed away since but we know that his last days were his best ones. In his honor we have created this wonderful event. All proceeds going to www.smilingdogfarms.com.

Smiling Dog Farms is a private animal sanctuary that survives solely on donations. Their efforts to save lives is truly rare in this day and age

This is a wonderful newsworthy story that needs to be told. To bring the efforts of a virtual world to the real world in a positive way can make a difference.

The true hope is that this event can raise awareness not only at the local levels but the national levels as well. We urge all of those receiving this press release to please respond.

Jay Hellerich is available for interviews and any specific information you may need

Concerning The Smiling Dog Farms. Grateful Stryker is available in Second Life to answer all your questions and anything specifically you need.

A Bad Plan For California Animals

So I just read the latest plan by Gov Schwarzenegger is to impose a tax on vet care in California. This tax is to be used to make up for the budget shortfalls. So my question is why do the animals have to suffer. I see countless animals dumped in the shelter because people can't afford the vet care as it is now. This will make it even worse. With the current housing situation, we need to do everything to make owning and keeping pets a priority. We need to be compassionate to pets and their human companions. Imposing an unfair tax is WRONG. Please write to the governor and urge him to rescind. This is a bad plan all the way around. If we are going to add taxes add it to luxury items, expensive cars, alcohol, cigarettes, etc. No one can argue that if you have the funds for these items a few extra bucks won't hurt. But not on the CARE OF OUR Companion animals.

Its also important to note that this tax is not to be applied to other healing arts. Which leads me to wonder, is caring for out pets suddenly a luxury?

Please follow this link to the California Veterinary Medical Association and make your voice heard for the animals.... And Governor Schwarzenegger, please open your heart and your mind to those who care for the animals in our state and show some compassion to them.

This Makes it All Worth It

Hi Robert,

Just wanted to send you a quick e-mail to tell you how great Zeus is doing. It feels like we have had him since he was a puppy. He is fitting in really well and seems to be very comfortable here. He is definitely my dog, he comes in whatever room I am in and when Tim or Joey call him he looks at me like, "what do you want me to do?". He is great with both of them, but considering I walk him about 3-4 times a day, feed him and take him for rides in the car (his absolute favorite thing to do...I don't know if it is the ride or just the fact he gets to be with us). He is such an awesome dog, it is just amazing that you were able to know this when you saw him at the shelter. We just can't thank you enough for everything you have done for him! He will certainly have a very special spot in my heart forever!

Take care and thank you again for giving us such an awesome dog! Even Joey told me today that he doesn't worry now when I go for my walks at night because he knows Zeus would never let anything bad happen to me. He is truly a wonderful dog and as many times as I have looked at his video, I will never know how you knew that he was worth what ever it took to save him...as he is truly a real sweetheart but I would have never known that from the start of his video. In fact I am sure I would have been very intimidated by him had I seen him in the shelter! He really is a great dog and we couldn't be happier!

THANK YOU!!!

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Just how I knew, I don't know.... but I knew. It was a feeling in my heart and in my soul. Zeus called out to me when I walked by his kennel. I was there to save 2 other dogs, both of which I did save. Getting someone to step up for Zeus was more challenging. Bound Angels covered his boarding for almost 3 weeks and I trained and socialized him every day. When Lori and Tim contacted me, I knew this would work... How did I know... the same way I knew that Zeus was the special creature he has turned out to be. Thanks for making this possible.

When Our Heros Become Villains...

Please read the following story from the LA times. As a person who understands dogs, I can honestly tell you that if a dog "grabs" your hand and has not severed a finger, it is being "mouthy." Misha, the dog I recently rescued did this. She was a young German Shepherd under a year old. Being mouthy is not being aggressive. This man is a firefighter, a person to protect, the man that goes up the tree to get your cat down, not the thug that breaks the jaw of your dog and bashes the dogs brains out with a rock.

This is disturbing and disgusting. I am angered by this and can only hope that justice will be served. I don't feel that justice is a "paid leave."

Read for yourself. This man is a thug and should be treated as a criminal. Demand the same justice as if it were any other thug.

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Reprinted from the LA TIMES

November 8, 2008

A Riverside teenager who left home to run an errand came home 20 minutes later to find paramedics, police and a firetruck outside his home. A neighbor took him to see the family dog, beaten and bleeding under a bush.

The female dog, a 6-month-old shepherd mix named Karley, allegedly was beaten by a neighbor, Los Angeles County Assistant Fire Chief Glynn Johnson, who was placed on administrative leave Friday while the incident is investigated.

Johnson reportedly told investigators that he had acted in self-defense.

Karley was euthanized a few hours after the incident, which occurred about 4:30 p.m. Monday.

Karley apparently had run across Johnson's yard and into the next yard.

Travis Staggs said he started walking the dog home from his yard when Johnson offered to take Karley home.

"Then something in his head snapped and he started beating the dog," Staggs said.

Johnson allegedly punched Karley with a closed fist about a dozen times and then beat her with an 11-inch rock, Staggs said, adding that he tried to stop Johnson but was pushed away.

Authorities received two calls from the 17000 block of Armintrout Drive: one from a woman who said her husband was attacked by a dog, and another from a man who said his neighbor had beaten a dog, Riverside County Sheriff's Sgt. David Barton said in a statement.

After Brandon Toole, 19, saw the injured dog, his 17-year-old sister, Heather, rushed the animal to a veterinarian, and later an animal intensive care unit.

Karley was euthanized because she was so badly injured, said Jeff Toole, the teenagers' father.

"I can't describe the way [Karley] looked and the pain she was in," Brandon Toole said.

Police said Johnson was taken to a hospital for wrist and thumb injuries.

Jeff Toole said the thumb puncture occurred when Johnson grabbed Karley's mouth and broke her jaw.

Johnson told his bosses about the incident, which he described as self-defense, said Los Angeles County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman.

"The Los Angeles County Fire Department is deeply concerned with allegations regarding Assistant Chief Glynn Johnson's actions in the beating of his neighbor's dog," Freeman said in a statement.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department is investigating. Malicious and intentional injuring of an animal is a felony.

The Toole family said Karley was a well-behaved dog.

"We are going to have to find another place to live," Jeff Toole said.

Wagner is a Times staff writer.

james.wagner@latimes.com

Murdered in Corpus Christi Texas

Its not like I don't get these cases all the time, I just try to keep moving.  Here's one I'll share.  The dog in the above photo was tied up and starved to death in Corpus Christi Texas.  This happens across our country all the time.  People have little regards for animals and they are considered property.  That means, for the most part, murder is not murder.  At most the perpetrators face is a small jail sentence compared to if this was a child.  Many will scream out, "children are different than dogs or animals."  Perhaps, but suffering is suffering and none of it is right.  Elected officials, police and judges often look the other way and focus their attention at the cases that will lead them to political victory or prominence...  animals don't vote, so therefore, they don't really count.  Its not until taxpayers and voters make their voices heard for these animals who can't speak for themselves that things will change.

This is where you can help.  Stand up and speak out.  Forget signing petitions, in my opinion this is a waste of time, get on the phone, write a fax or email or a letter and let people know that you will not stand for it. Write to your local paper and demand justice.  People who do this to animals should be ashamed and live their lives in fear that the law may change and that they should be made to pay for the suffering they inflicted.  Studies have shown those that abuse animals have the propensity to abuse people...  Take note if you know someone who is unkind to animals.

You can help promote some justice for this dog in Corpus Christi Texas.  Here are some addresses to write to and call.

City Council Offices

Main Line - (361) 826-3105

1201 Leopard St., 78401

nelda@neldamartinez.com

Fax Line - (361) 883-1403

 Mayor Henry Garrett   : (361) 826-3100

cell...(361) 850-3113

lindale@cctexas.com

City Council Offices

1201 Leopard St. 78401

Main Line.....826-3105

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Nueces County district attorney

Carlos Valdez

901 Leopard, Rm 206

Corpus Christi, Texas 78401

Phone: (361) 888-0410

Fax: (361) 888-0700