REMINDER! Action for Chimps.

We have until the end of today to contact the Fish and Wildlife Service to give all chimpanzees (captive and wild) full protection under the Endangered Species Act.  Please click here and fill in a few details before hitting send to remind the Service that giving chimpanzees full protection under the Act would show that the U.S. is committed to conservation of this amazing, intelligent species. 

Thank you.

Seasonal Safety ~ Part I

It’s my favourite time of year!  We are in the thick of a beautiful and so far, mild autumn.  The shops are full of Halloween novelties and already I can hear the distant sounds of Christmas Bells coming nearer.  Now is a good time to start planning on how your pets are going to cope over the coming seasonal festivities.  

Although the most traumatic time for animals will be Bonfire Night with the loud bangs and crackles, Halloween is also a time to be vigilant.  Paw-rescue.org reports that every Halloween, vets see pet injuries that could have been avoided.  Here are some top tips to ensure your pets are happy this Halloween.

Top Tips for a Happy Howl-Free Halloween

Walk your dog before it gets dark and the Trick or Treaters begin to call.  This will hopefully tire him or her out a little.  This is to avoid lots of strangers wearing costumes which could possibly frighten your pets.

Keep all animals indoors during the Halloween period.

Before opening the door to Trick or Treaters make sure your pets are safely secured inside, in a quiet room with their bed and favourite toys.  The further away from the front door, the better.  In case your pet makes a break for it, always make sure that your pet is micro-chipped and wearing an up to date I.D. tag.  Ensure that everyone in your household is aware not to let your pet outside. 

 Keep the sweets for Trick or Treaters only, do not under any circumstances let your pet have any sweets or chocolate and make sure that this doesn’t happen accidentally either.  Sweets and their wrappers can cause choking and obstruction so ensure that you dispose or wrappers safely.  Chocolate is poisonous and can cause nerve damage and potentially death.  If your pet has eaten any sweets or chocolate and you notice a problem, consult your vet immediately.  Ensure that you explain this to all members of your household – especially children.

Halloween costumes are not suitable for pets.  Yes, I know they look adorable but they can really frighten and annoy animals.  It is unsafe if animals are unable to see, hear or breathe and if the costume is too tight it can cut off circulation.  Basically, costumes can be a recipe for disaster and it isn’t fair to assume that your pet wants to join in with the festivities.

When walking your dog around the Halloween period, be careful to avoid any left over sweets, chocolate and wrappers.  It is a good idea to pick up and dispose of any you do find in order to help out other pet owners.

Check out The Animal News in a few days time for Part 2 of Seasonal Safety.

In the meantime, 

Rhinos in South Africa Under Threat ~ Please Act Now.

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Rhinos in South Africa are under threat and needing our help due to a rise in demand for rhino horn in the illegal Chinese medicine trade.  Earlier in October HSI delivered a petition containing 31,000 signatures to the South African authorities.  The government has now launched an official consultation prompting HSI to ask for our help in convincing them that the protection of the declining population of rhinos is vital.

 

HSI reports that in South Africa alone (home to 70% of the world's remaining rhinos) 333 rhinos were killed in 2010 by poachers, this number is expected to exceed to over 400 by the end of this year and South Africa continues to issue permits to trophy hunters allowing rhinos to be shot legally.  Almost 150 permits have been issued this year, so far.

Even though it was suggested by the government that a suspension on hunting be considered, no action has been taken as yet and the public consultation just published neglects to mention introducing this measure.

The deadline for our comments is Sunday 30th October which leaves us very little time, we need to act immediately.  Please follow this link to be taken to the HSI site where you can enter a few details to the readily prepared correspondence to the South African Government.

Thank you.

Fluffy Friday #33

Welcome to the World gorgeous!

Happy Fluffy Friday all.

Source and Article.

Update on... RUSTY!

A few of you have said you miss hearing my personal stories about Suki and Rusty and there is an awful lot of catching up for you all to do.  I am going to try and start running Suki's Serene Sunday again as soon as I can lay my hands on a new camera (unfortunately I lost my camera over the summer).  As Suki has her own feature on The Animal News I would like Rusty to have a regular feature as well but so far I can only think of Rusty's Rules or Rusty's Recipes and Rusty neither follows rules or recipes!  If you think of anything please let me know by commenting in the box below, posting on the Facebook page or sending me a Tweet.

This week I will start by giving you an update on Rusty as it has been a long while since I last posted about the little rascal.  Things for Rusty have been mostly good over the summer, long days of sun bathing followed by evenings snuggled up on the bed.  Now myself and my Sister have moved out of home she can take her pick of beds.  Last time I was home for the weekend she glared accusingly at me as she wanted to sleep in my bed but I was in there, instead she lay on the window sill shooting exasperated glances in my direction.  

I say things have been mostly good because she has had a few bad experiences over the past few months, as well as having conjunctivitis and a bug that made her very sick and involved a trip to the vets she was left at a cattery for a week whilst we went on a family holiday.  It was even more upsetting for poor Rusty as we took Suki with us, I can imagine she was seething!  When she came home from the cattery she seemed to be quite spooked by the whole experience, she hid under my sister’s bed for a time before wolfing down as much food as she could manage.  We noticed that all her fur was quite matted and it took her a few days to acclimatize to being home.  It’s not that I think she was badly looked after but I think she could have been distressed by the whole experience.  Last time she stayed at a cattery she was with her sister Dusty and together they had a whale of a time together and barely noticed we’d gone.  

I’m told she is doing very well now and has settled back into her routine of leaving the house at the crack of dawn, spending the day chasing leaves and sleeping all night.

Go Cage Free!

Source.

We have the ability to save 107,000 hens each year from the cruelty of living in cages.  In order to do this, we need to ask the government to go cage free.

Sustain are running a campaign called "End Cage Cruelty" which is calling on the government to change the buying standards and make government departments, prisons and parts of the armed forces go "cage free" with their eggs.  Government Buying Standards are compulsory so if the standards were changed it would save 107,000 hens per year. 

(Figures from Sustain, 2011)

Did you know that caged hens spend their lives in less space than an A4 sheet of paper which inhibits them from behaving in their natural manner and is extremely cruel.

If you reside in England, please can you click on this link in order to fill in a few details and contact the government asking them to go cage free.  

Please share this with your friends on Facebook, Twitter or by any means necessary.  

Thank you.

Full Protection for Chimpanzees

Deadline for this Action: Monday 31st October 2011 

The Humane Society of the United States has informed me that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing a rule that allows chimpanzees to be used for entertainment, experiments and as exotic pets, despite their status as an endangered species.  This rule has been around for decades.  

We have until 31st October to contact the Fish and Wildlife Service to give all chimpanzees (captive and wild) full protection under the Endangered Species Act.  Please click here and fill in a few details before hitting send to remind the Service that giving chimpanzees full protection under the Act would show that the U.S. is committed to conservation of this amazing, intelligent species. 

As I have mentioned in a previous post, myself and my other half were given a fantastic birthday gift, a Zoo Keeper for a day experience at Dudley Zoo in the West Midlands.  We were able to get up close and personal with animals such as chimpanzees, lions, penguins, giraffes and tapirs to name but a few.  I was amazed by the fierce intelligence of the chimps and how astounding they really are, it is an experience I will never forget.  Please do all you can to help protect them.

Remember, tell your friends!

URGENT Help Needed ~ Beagle Breeding Facility Planned

The lovely Beagle, Tess.

Not only do we have an Intensive Pig Farm to contend with, but now representatives of  "animal farmers" Bantin & Kingman Universal Ltd have applied to build a factory farm in Yorkshire in order to breed beagles.  Originally, the East Riding Council Planning Committee rejected their request but B&K have now taken their case to the Planning Inspectorate.

I used to have a beautiful beagle named Tess, I can't imagine how she would have coped with spending her life in confinement.  No animal should spend their life in a cage, only to eventually be killed for food or in the name of research.  Dogs are meant to run, play ball (and in Tess's case really enjoy their food!) they are extremely loyal and rewarding pets.  In fact I agree wholeheartedly with this quote below:

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." ~ Roger Caras

Please spare a moment to click here, enter your details and take action against this cruel planning application which could sentence beagles to a life in prison.

Can you also remember to let your friends know please?

Thank you.

Fluffy Friday #32

Fluffy Friday is back!

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This week's Fluffy Friday is not only brightening up your Friday with animal pictures to coo over, we're allowing you to do this AND giving you the opportunity to contribute to a good cause whilst having a bit of fun (all without moving from the spot you're sat in!).

On a serious note, did you know that today 20 dogs will be taken on their last walk?  Rescue Centres are full of unwanted dogs and some centres are being forced to run waiting lists for animals waiting to be cared for by the centre until (hopefully) they are re-homed.

Click Here to Take lovely dog Ripley for a Virtual Walk and Pedigree will donate £1 donated on your behalf to The Pedigree Chum Adoption Drive.  Read more about the campaign here and also check out the star of the show, Ripley.  The website also allows you to tell your friends on Facebook and Twitter.

Enjoy!

Good News for Dogs in Europe?

Suki is pleased!

The European Parliament has been busy, not only are dabbling in the Animal Testing for Cosmetics procedures, they are also considering an extremely useful proposal which could improve the way that dog populations are managed within Countries belonging to the EU.  The RSPCA reports that the European Parliament are aiming to stop inhumane methods of collecting and killing dogs and start a mandatory method of dog identification.  This could also mean good news for dogs in Britain as we don't currently have mandatory dog licensing or identification.

In order to succeed, the proposal needs the support of 369 Members of the European Parliament.  At the time of writing to me, the RSPCA had 140 signatures and needed to increase this before 6th October.  Although, it is way past that date now the action is still live on the RSPCA webpage so it is well worth clicking here and contacting your MEP and asking them to sign the declaration to improve the welfare of dogs in Europe.

Please spread the word by telling your friends and sharing this post on Facebook and Twitter, also the RSPCA site enables you to e-mail your friends with the link to the action.

Thank you!

Quick Action Needed!

MP's are discussing the issue of irresponsible dog ownership in Parliament tomorrow (Wednesday 19th October) so it is vital that you take this action here TODAY in order to contact your MP in time and ask them to attend.

Irresponsible dog ownership means stray dogs, dangerous dogs and out of control breeding.

The RSPCA reports that:

Dog fighting has increased dramatically over the last few years, 

More than 6,000 people were admitted to hospital with dog-related injuries in the year 2010/2011.

Over 75 million pounds is spent each year picking up after irresponsible dog ownership.

Please spare a moment to click here and contact either your MP, or the Minister in charge of dangerous dogs - Lord Taylor of Holbeach CBE and ask them to attend the debate and take action now.

Can you please remember to spread the word to your friends?  There is a "Share on Facebook" button on the RSPCA site, or you can share this page.  Thank you!

Stop the Delay (Petition Bonanza!)

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My hiatus has been a lot longer than I anticipated, and I hope you will forgive me for this.  We have relocated again to the Big Smoke and this has been my first real chance to sit down and get cracking on The Animal News (and there is lots of it!) 

Back on 3rd August 2011 I posted about an EU Directive regarding lab animals being implemented into UK law threatening current standards, read it here.

Testing on animals for cosmetics is not only cruel and unnecessary but also selfish, is lipstick really worth the life of an animal?  

Back in 2003 it became illegal to test on animals for cosmetics within Europe.  Then in 2009 a ban on the sale of cosmetics that had been tested on animals came into effect.  By early 2013 every shop and Internet supplier must be free of and no longer market animal-tested cosmetics, the deadline for this is March 2013.  The bad news is that the EU is considering delaying this deadline for years.  This risks removing any motivation for companies to work on developing alternatives and condemning tens of thousands of animals to suffer and die.

Please can you spare some time to sign the petitions below calling for the European Parliament to adhere to the original 2013 deadline.  Members of the public are against animal testing in cosmetics on ethical grounds therefore it is important that the government listen to the overwhelming majority European citizens .

When you have signed each petition (it takes less than 2 minutes) please take advantage of the links provided and share the petitions on Facebook or Twitter, as well as e-mailing your friends.

To Do List

Please sign Peta's Petition here.

Please sign BUAV's Petition here.

Please sign HSI's Petition here.

Please sign Care2's Petition here.

P.S. Ladies, if you do wear make up I can recommend a good non animal testing brand in Urban Decay.