Fluffy Friday #29

The Odd Couple. Part One.

I have been doing a lot of Tweeting lately and have come across an awful lot of interesting campaigns and animal welfare organisations in the process.  Which leads me to this weeks edition of Fluffy Friday, thanks to the inspiration at Rescue Animals let's take a look at some of the most unlikely friendships between species.  WARNING, seriously cute images follow...

The bird is the word, says little monkey.

Elephant is feeling sheepy.

I'd love to know what they were discussing here.

Labrador seems to be mothering Bambi.

Raccoon and Skunk dividing their nuts!

Dog seems confused, this other dog is very small and funny looking...

 

This rabbit makes a might good cushion, now keep still.

 

Don't look now but there is a HUGE tongue in the sky and it's licking me, eeeek!

Source

Please boycott "Zookeeper"

I love films about animals and was looking forward to going to see the upcoming film entitled Zookeeper.  This was until I received a message from PETA informing me that the film features a number of captive wild animals and during the production of the film a giraffe named Tweet unfortunately passed away, please see this article for information.  

Also used in the film was an elephant named Tai, provided by a company called Have Trunk Will Travel (HTWT).  Back in May, Animal Defenders International released undercover footage showing Tai being abused along with other elephants by trainers at HTWT.

PETA says that "sadly, many wild animals used for entertainment suffer greatly at the hands of their trainers.  The animals are deprived of everything that is natural and important to them, such as adequate space, appropriate companionship, and proper exercise."

Please boycott this film, as I am also doing, and share the news with your friends and family asking them to do the same.

Thank you.

Seasonal Pet Advice

At the time of writing this I can hardly describe the weather as summery, (it's pouring with rain) however by the time I set it to post I hope it has brightened up and therefore ensures this is a seasonal post!

The PDSA have created an excellent holiday health guide for pets which you can download here. 

Also, please remember to never leave your dog (or any animal) in the car during this hot weather.  Have a look at this excellent article and find out how you can support Dog's Today's campaign.  Make sure you tell your friends as well, especially if they have cars as there are some stickers you can order which are perfect for reminding other drivers to be careful with leaving their pets in cars.

Fluffy Friday #28

What do you get if you cross a donkey and a zebra?

Nose to Nose.

A donkra!  Now, let me get this right... a donkra is an offspring with a zebra mummy and a donkey daddy but this is also referred to as a zebroid.  When a zebra daddy mates with a mummy donkey it is only known as a zebroid.  This adorable donkra (or zebroid?) was born at a wildlife park in Xiamen, China. 

Donkey on top and Zebra at the bottom!

Awww, cuddles.

Read more in this interesting article.

Good News! YES to CCTV in slaughterhouses.

Source.

Excellent news!  Animal Aid has reported that despite the government being reluctant to encourage slaughterhouses to install CCTV, supermarkets Morrisons, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, the Co-op, Asda, Lidl, Tesco, Iceland, Marks & Spencer and the wholesalers Booker, have all agreed to only deal with slaughterhouses that have independently monitored CCTV cameras installed.

Animal Aid is now working with the supermarket chains to ensure that the footage taken is monitored properly and that any incidents that break the law are dealt with effectively.

Do you remember back in November when we were contacting the supermarkets to ask them to consider this?  Isn't it great to have a success!

Animal Aid reports that one slaughterhouse has actually closed down due to their exposé which also resulted into legal action against nine workers and four slaughterhouse operators.  The case was dropped in September 2010 by Defra but most of the workers will not be allowed to slaughter again.

Another positive development is that the University of Bristol are using the footage obtained in order to train vets and Soil Association inspectors and government agencies and veterinary bodies are discussing how to implement changes to improve animal welfare in slaughterhouses.

This campaign has brought the horror of slaughter to the attention of the public and has also encouraged many people to adopt a meat free diet.

Source.

Breaking News: A Black Day for Badgers

Yesterday it was confirmed by the government that they will be going ahead with a badger cull in England.  This means that at least 70 per cent of the badger population could be killed as part of measures aiming to control bovine TB in cattle.

The RSPCA believes that the government has made the wrong decision and the cull will contribute nothing to the goal of eradicating bovine TB but will wipe out a large number of badgers most of which are completely healthy.

How to Help:

Please join the RSPCA's Facebook Campaign.

The League Against Cruel Sports article on the sad news.

Please sign the League's petition here.

Update: Thursday 21st July

Check out this excellent site from the Badger Protection Leage.  It has numerous ways to help including a petition, so well worth a visit.

Please don't forget to spread the word!

Whaling Round Up

Source.

This year's International Whaling Commission takes place this month and it is an ideal opportunity for our friends at WDCS International, IFAW and HSI to plead with the US government on behalf of the wales.  Representatives from 89 countries (both pro whaling and pro whale protection) gather in Jersey for this meeting.

News from WDCS

WDCS is currently asking for signatures on a petition which urges the US government to impose sanctions on Iceland for its out of control whaling.  So far, 200,000 people have protested leading WDCS to expect an announcement from President Barack Obama's administration at some point soon.

Please add your name to the protest here.

What about the EU?

WDCS is working to ensure that if Iceland joins the EU, it must give up whaling.  The Dutch and German parliaments have already passed resolutions making Icelandic whaling a "zero tolerance" issue. 

News from HSI

At the top of the IWC agenda is whether to create an ocean sanctuary for whales in waters neighbouring the Caribbean.  Unfortunately, four Caribbean island nations continue to vote against protecting whales each year, thus voting against a proposition that would be both a blessing for the whales and their own region.

Please click here and enter a few details to write to these nations asking them to support the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary.


News from IFAW

IFAW reminds us that Japan, Iceland and Norway continue to kill hundreds of whales.  Japan slaughters three different species of whales under a disguise of "scientific research".  Iceland and Norway are harpooning hundreds of minke whales and defying the global ban on whaling.  These three countries will target over 1,700 whales this season.

IFAW are encouraging government officials to join the global consensus for the conservation of whales.  More pressure is needed though so they are asking us to tell the UK Government to take action in order to end whaling.

Following these links and entering a few details can really make a difference, please remember to spread the word.  Thank you.

Fluffy Friday #27

Smile!

Meet the black Macaque Monkey who has a talent for photography.  The female who lives in a national park in Indonesia helped herself to a camera and took a rather charming self portrait!

Read the fascinating story.

Stop Shark Finning!

Source.

When you picture a shark you may think of the film Jaws, and have an image of a huge, toothy, blood lusting beast.  In actual fact many sharks are now the victims of violence in the form of shark finning.  Shark finning is a nasty practice so if you are likely to be upset by reading my brief description of this please skip the next few lines...  it involves catching sharks and then cutting off their fins and tails before the shark is thrown back into the water, still alive.  There really aren't words to describe how despicible this is.

Due to shark finning and overfishing several shark species are at risk of extinction.

Have a look at this website dedicated to stopping shark finning which will advise you on how to support the cause.  Please be aware that there are some graphic images on the site but if you steer clear of the homepage you won't see any of them.

Also...

Join this Facebook page

Intensive Pig Farm Application Resubmitted

Source. 

A year on from this post about the Midland Pig Producers' (MPP) application to Derbyshire County Council asking for permission to build a prison for up to 25,000 pigs and the subsequent withdrawal, the application has once again been resubmitted. 

Pigs are highly intelligent animals who are more at home foraging in woodlands, so being subjected to life in a factory farm is nothing short of torture.  It is anticipated by MPP that 2,500 breeding sows would be kept in the facility and that 1,000 per week would be transported for slaughter.  This amount of pigs confined together in one location will mean even more disease, infection and injury than alreadys exists within normal factory farms.  This type of intensive farming contributes to the spread of diseases, such as swine flu, to the human population.

Please click on this link and fill in your details in order to ask Derbyshire County Council to reject MPP's proposed pig prison.  If you have time you are able to add your own comments to the ready prepared message, don't forget to tell your friends!

 

Thank you.