A n i m a l W r i t e s © sm
The official ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter
Established
1997
Editor ~ JJswans@aol.com
Issue # 09/26/04
Publisher ~ Susan
Roghair -
EnglandGal@aol.com
Journalists ~ Greg Lawson - ParkStRanger@aol.com
~ Michelle Rivera -
MichelleRivera1@aol.com
Webmasters ~ Randy Atlas - ranatlas@earthlink.net
~ Trevor
Chin -
tmchin@yahoo.com
Staff
~ Alfred Griffith - agriffith@igc.org
~ Andy Glick - andy@meatfreezone.org
~ Sheridan Porter -
Pad4Paws21@aol.com
~ Bill Bobo - RunRun@aol.com
~ Katie Vann - Vann167@aol.com
THE ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE ARE:
1 ~ Chopping Off A Cow's Tail by Robert Cohen
2 ~ The Question of Elephants in Zoos by Karen Dawn
3 ~ LeoBird Magazine
4 ~ FoA Urges End of "Youth In The Outdoors"
5 ~ "Pawprint" Quiz
6 ~ Update: Alabama "Hog-Dog" Fighting Conviction
7 ~ Job Opportunity
8 ~ Look Into My Eyes
9 ~ Memorable Quote
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~1~
Chopping Off a Cow's Tail
By Robert Cohen - notmilk@earthlink.net
http://www.notmilk.com
Oops! The dairy industry has blundered again by
giving up another one of their dirty secrets. The following information was
published in the September 10, 2004 issue of the national dairy farm magazine,
Hoard's Dairyman. On page 558, we find this revealing letter from a California
dairy producer:
<><><><><><><><><><>
"When Cows are Abused
Dear Editor,
The article 'When cows are abused' in your August 10, 2004 issue, page 484,
should be required reading for anyone raising a farm animal.
The author concludes, 'All our public relations efforts are in vain if an
animal rights horror happens in our dairy community and only PETA speaks out.'
Amen. In the nearly 17 years that I have dealt with the animal welfare and
animal rights set of issues, I have witnessed far too many occasions upon which
agriculture has given its power away to the activists by not taking care of
industry blemishes in-house. Downer cows are a prime example: tail docking is
another. Science clearly (not 'sort of') doesn't support docking cattle, and
yet farmers continue to do it. Must we, again, wait until we're forced by
public policy and an embarrassing media expose to do the right thing? I hope
not."
Ria De Grassi
<><><><><><><><><><>
Thanks to Hoard's editors for tipping us off. Any
TV producers or investigative newspaper reporters out there looking for a story
of widespread animal abuse?
Chopping off cow's tails is a common practice in the dairy industry. Why do
dairymen do such a thing? So that they will not get swatted while milking their
cows.
Let me tell you why cows have long tails. The tail was invented by an architect
who recognized that the part of the bovine structure located just below the
tail attracts many different varieties of the common and not-so common fly. A
tail is nature's perfect built-in fly swatter. Without her tail, the cow lives
an uncomfortable life of being eternally pestered and bugged.
Cutting off tails is called docking. To me, docking is what I ineptly do each
time I attempt to return a powerboat to its berth after a day of water skiing
with my kids. To dairymen, docking is chopping off a cow's tail.
Which brings me to Boston. I have been permanently banned from speaking at the
annual Boston Vegetarian Food Tasting because I openly criticize their
sponsors, cheese producers. The conference is October 23, 2004. If you should
go, please avoid the animal products sold by their major sponsors, Annies,
Moosewood, Lightlife, and Smart Foods. Few people have the courage to criticize
vegetarian societies and animal groups for the hypocrisy of serving dairy
products at their conferences. To do so is to not get invited back.
You know what? Animals must die so that AW, AR, and Vegetarian
conferences can promote an event to keep animals from dying. Makes sense to me.
That's sort of like killing Iraqi children today with smart bombs so that they
cannot grow up to kill each other years from now with dumb bombs.
I make no friends when I offer sarcasm towards vegetarian conference planners.
"Why not accept money from Burger King and McDonald's," I ask,
"instead of from cheese producers?" Promote cheese and you promote
the most painful form of animal torture. Taking money from cheese producers to
support a vegetarian conference is akin to walking the streets and trading
sexual favors for dollars.
I have a track record of being extremely critical of the dairy industry and
those who promote cheese, for good reason. Medical science points
hundreds of incriminating fingers of blame at milk and dairy being the etiology
for various illnesses. Hundreds of those converging lines merge into one
point. One obvious conclusion: milk does not do the body any good.
If you have became a cheese-eating vegetarian for some misplaced sense of
compassion, please know that the dairy industry creates a lifetime of torture
for cows. There is no debate that an animal born only to be tomorrow's steak or
burger suffers a horrible death. Yet, compared to dairy cows, this gentle
creature's life is tolerable. She eats. She poops. She sleeps. She eats.
She poops. She sleeps. The tailless cows cannot defend their rear flanks.
When the time to die finally arrives, it is a painful relief to a lifetime of
torture.
I found a letter regarding tail docking in the January 25, 2002 issue of
Hoard's Dairyman. On page 90, N.L. from Vermont writes:
<><><><><><><><><><>
"We milk 72 cows. We have been docking tails
for a couple of years. We use an elastrator in the winter when fly populations
are the lowest. (They cut off most of the tail with this device. Imagine
winding a rubber band tightly around your finger until the blood no longer
circulates. The finger slowly dies, then atrophies. So does the tail.) After
about two weeks, we lop off the remaining tail. We dunk the stump in iodine and
watch for infection, keeping a close eye on the wound until it heals. The wound
takes a long, long time to completely heal. My question is: Why not (cut) the
tails when the heifers are small? It could be done with other stress-inducing
procedures like dehorning."
Dr. Ken Nordlund, DVM responds:
"Tail Docking is controversial and has been banned in England and some
Scandinavian countries because of concerns about pain, reduced ability to swat
flies, and potential problems with infection and wound healing. However..."
<><><><><><><><><><>
Folks, the list of "howevers" will break your heart, but to Hoard's
and its readers, it's business as usual.
I've run out of tolerance for the "however" people. I hope that you
are not one of them. Please re-read the letter from N.L. and know that with the
next bite of a slice of pizza or Hershey's Kiss, you must also take
responsibility for extreme pain and suffering to your bovine, a cow dedicated
to your dairy consumption, set aside to produce the cheeses and ice cream,
yogurt and butter, cream cheese, and chocolate that you consume by being a
so-called compassionate vegetarian.
In 1870, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote:
"You have just dined, and however scrupulously the slaughterhouse is
concealed in the graceful distance of miles, there is complicity."
I blame tail docking on farmers. Once you are made aware of tail docking, and
continue to support the consumption of milk and dairy products, you become part
of the problem. There is complicity.
You become the enemy. Animal Rights, Animal Welfare, and Vegetarian groups by
accepting money from dairy manufacturers, or by serving and promoting their
products, support tail docking. Shame on them.
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~2~
DawnWatch: The Question of Elephants in
Zoos
on front page of Washington Post 9/21/04
For
the second day in a row the Washington Post has an animal friendly story on the
front page. The Tuesday, September 21 story is headed, "Seeking a Home
That Fits; Elephants' Case Highlights Limits of Zoos."
The article looks at the Detroit Zoo's attempts to send its ailing elephants to
sanctuary, as the American Zoo and Aquarium Association tries to strong-arm the
zoo into sending them to another zoo instead, threatening loss of AZA
membership if the Detroit Zoo does not comply.
Post reporter Marc Kaufman writes,
"Dismayed, the Detroit zoo this week made the first formal appeal ever of
an AZA elephant placement decision. It is now marshaling supporters to try to
convince the association that, when it comes to elephant care, it's time for
change."
We learn:
"The dispute could have major implications for the way zoos operate and
provide for their elephants, and for the future of elephants in many other zoos.
Already, the controversy is being seen as a defining moment in the broadening
national debate over animal welfare and animal rights."
And we read how different life in one of the sanctuaries, either the 100-acre
elephant range in California or the 2,700-acre facility in Tennessee, would be
for the elephants, compared to life in a concrete zoo. The opportunity to
roam is not the only issue:
"In the sanctuaries, the animals are largely allowed to do as they
choose. In addition, keepers and the animals never come into direct
contact, and keepers use only positive enforcement methods to encourage the
animals to behave. In many zoos, elephant keepers still have direct access to
the animals inside their enclosures, a practice that requires some level of dominance
and physical intimidation to train the animals and protect the keepers.
"One of Kagan's objections to moving Winky and Wanda to the Columbus zoo
is that the facility -- acknowledged to be one of the nation's best for
elephants -- nonetheless uses dominance techniques."
There is a lovely quote from Ron Kagan, director of the Detroit Zoo:
"We just don't see how threatening or punishing an elephant can be ever
okay."
Kaufman mentions the similar situation in San Francisco, as that zoo attempts
to send its elephants to sanctuary and comes up against the AZA. There is
a nice quote from Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United
States:
"AZA is finding itself not just trying to contain a brushfire, but seeing
the blaze break out all around the country."
That is an encouraging statement!
Kaufman goes further, "In resisting calls to send Wanda and Winky to a
sanctuary, the AZA is also trying to stave off difficult questions being raised
about keeping any elephants in captivity -- questions that could easily
mushroom into a broader debate about rhinos or lions or other big
mammals."
You can read the full article on line at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36782-2004Sep20.html or on
the MSNBC website (the shorter link might work better) at:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6058403/
It presents a great opportunity for appreciative letters to the editor
questioning the practice of keeping wild animals captive for human amusement.
The Post takes letters at: letters@washpost.com and instructs, "Letters
must be exclusive to The Washington Post, and must include the writer's home
address and home and business telephone numbers. Although we are unable to
acknowledge those letters we cannot publish, we appreciate the interest and value
the views of those who take the time to send us their comments."
Shorter letters are more likely to be published. But even unpublished letters
serve a vital function -- they let editors know what kinds of stories (animal
protection stories, for example) generate a lot of interest.
Yours and the animals',
Karen Dawn
(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues in the
media and facilitates one-click responses to the relevant media outlets. You
can learn more about it, and sign up for alerts at http://www.DawnWatch.com.
To unsubscribe, go to www.DawnWatch.com/unsubscribe.php. If you forward or
reprint DawnWatch alerts, please do so unedited -- leave DawnWatch in the title
and include this tag line.)
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~3~
LeoBird Magazine
LeoBird
Magazine is a new intelligent online journal about Science, Art and The
Passionate Life, inspired by the example of the vegetarian Renaissance hero
Leonardo da Vinci. LeoBird Magazine will follow da Vinci's example by exploring
the latest developments in science and the arts while taking a compassionate
stance in support of animal liberation.
We are currently seeking terrific new nonfiction articles and personal essays.
We are unable to offer any fees to our contributing writers and artists, but we
can offer you exposure in an excellent online journal, and will give you a
prominent byline, copyright notice, a short bio including any books published,
and a link to your website.
For full submission guidelines go to www.LeoBird.com or send a query letter to
LeoBirdSubmit@yahoo.com
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~4~
FoA Urges End of "Youth in the Outdoors"
Give
Children A Chance To Reach Their Best Potential Friends of Animals calls
upon West Virginia Governor Bob Wise to discontinue "Youth in the
Outdoors," a hunting program for children between the ages of 8 and
17.
Priscilla Feral, president of Friends of Animals, stated: "At any age, to
kill a living, conscious being and call it sport is one of the most troubling
ideas modern society has yet to come to grips with."
Wildlife officials are not teachers. Their salaries depend upon the sale of
hunting permits and taxes on guns and ammunition. In the midst of a
nationwide decline in hunting, it is not surprising that these officials tap
into an increasingly younger base to sell the idea of hunting.
When it comes to defining the key values to pass along to children, Governor
Wise should follow instead the example set by state education officials. In
West Virginia schools, any form of violence is unacceptable. Firearms and dangerous
weapons are prohibited as a matter of state policy.
Liza Ordeiro, Communications Director of the West Virginia Department of
Education, told FoA Representative Bill Dollinger via telephone, "We see
the value in teaching children to respect all life." Ordeiro
cited the West Virginia Student Code of Conduct section, which
states: "Students will demonstrate compassion and
caring."
Most children have a natural affinity for animals. Urging young people to
suppress that feeling, to choose to cause death, and even to associate all of
this with a day's outing, is not sound public policy. It prepares children to
engage in violence, while stunting their potential to seek more creative
futures.
West Virginia's gorgeous mountains, parks, and forests offer so many healthful
and exciting opportunities. The state's outfitters are known nationwide for
supplying the best in backpacking, hiking, rafting and kayaking, biking, rock
climbing, canoeing, team-building trips, and the skill-building sport of
orienteering.
Friends of Animals asks Bob Wise to discontinue plans for encouraging child
hunting, and instead support positive activities that enable the children of
West Virginia a chance to reach their best potential, indoors and out.
Bill Dollinger
Washington, DC Director
Friends of Animals
2000 P. Street, NW, Suite 415
Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: 202 296-2172
Fax: 202-296-2190
Email: bill@friendsofanimals.org
Web site: www.friendsofanimals.org
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~5~
"Pawprint" Quiz
THE
HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES "PAWPRINT" QUIZ SHOWS
HOW LIFESTYLE CHOICES AFFECT ANIMALS
WASHINGTON (September 8, 2004)-How do the choices you make in everyday life
affect animals? During its 50th anniversary year, The Humane Society of the
United States (HSUS) asks people to take the quiz to discover their
"Humane Living Pawprint."
The 21-question on-line quiz (www.humanepawprint.org)
inquires about a range of everyday choices we make that can have an affect on
the welfare of animals. Shopping, pet care, recycling, home products, yard
landscaping and vacation choices are just some of the topics explored in the
quiz.
The success of the organic foods industry and the demand for cosmetic and
beauty products not tested on animals show that people are becoming
conscientious in their choices. Compassion for animals is also evident in the
number of U.S. families who have pets. Dogs are at home in more than 40 million
American households and cats cozy up in more than 35 million U.S. homes.
"We make choices every day that impact animals. In most cases we’re not
even aware of that impact. The Humane Pawprint shows people that even simple
changes can make a big difference," says Patricia A. Forkan, a senior vice
president for The HSUS.
The quiz gets people thinking of how they make an impact on the world. It
provides suggestions to help animals and the environment.
"We know that there are a lot of compassionate consumers out there who are
looking to make their lives and the world around them even better and we hope
we’ve given them a valuable tool," Forkan said.
In the spirit of the Olympics, quiz-takers will receive a gold, silver or
bronze rating depending on their chosen answers. Answers will lead the
quiz-taker to learn more about humane issues and alternatives that benefit
animals, people and the environment —and ask them to retake the exam after
they’ve made some changes and try to improve their score. The last question
encourages people to share their comments or stories about the choices they’ve
made that have a positive impact on animals. These stories will be displayed on
The HSUS Web site at www.hsus.org.
The Humane Living Pawprint quiz will be accessible from the first week of
September through The HSUS’ 50th Anniversary on November 22, 2004. Quiz-takers
in the Los Angeles area will be invited to attend the Spotlight Humane event
(see www.spotlighthumane.org) on
October 10, where fashionable, cruelty-free products will be highlighted.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal
protection organization with more than eight million members and constituents.
The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion
animals and equine protection, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in
research and farm animals and sustainable agriculture. The HSUS protects all
animals through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and
fieldwork. The non-profit organization, which is celebrating its 50th
anniversary in 2004, is based in Washington, DC and has 10 regional offices
across the country.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Karen L. Allanach (301) 548-7778
kallanach@hsus.org
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~6~
Update: Alabama Hog-Dog
Fighting Conviction
http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/109472140963140.xml
We are happy to report a victory in the animal cruelty case against Johnny
Hayes, a Clarke County man who conducted hog-dog fighting events on his
property. On Thursday (9/9), Hayes was found guilty of animal cruelty for
organizing competitions where trained hunting dogs viciously attack penned,
feral pigs for the entertainment of spectators. At sentencing (stay tuned
for the exact date), Hayes faces 30 days in jail for his misdemeanor animal
cruelty conviction.
Hayes' conviction is significant because it is the first animal cruelty
conviction in Alabama for hog dog fighting and it makes it clear that this
barbaric activity is illegal in the state. The repercussions of the Hayes conviction
are already being felt. Just one day after the conviction, a major hog-dog
fight operation, "Double-P Catch Pen," took down its promotional
website.
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~7~
Job Opportunity
JOB DESCRIPTION OUTREACH COORDINATOR
The Outreach Coordinator for the American Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS) is
responsible for working in partnership with the Outreach Director in educating
the public about the goals of AAVS. AAVS is a nonprofit organization
whose mission is to work to end the use of animals in testing, education, and
research and oppose all other forms of cruelty to animals. The Outreach
department accomplishes this goal through advertising, verbal and written communication
with grassroots groups, and production of literature.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
<> Work as a team with the Outreach Director and Senior Policy Analyst on
various activities including writing and research for all AAVS publications,
updating the website, and creating and maintaining research files.
<> Work with Outreach Director to develop and maintain media contacts,
including advertising.
<> Respond to correspondence and determine resource needs of grassroots
groups regarding AAVS programs, including presentations to groups.
QUALICATIONS:
<> Knowledge of and commitment to anti-vivisection; familiarity with
other animal protection issues.
* Bachelor's degree with preferred area of study
in communications/public relations.
* Demonstrated ability in public speaking,
written, and oral communication.
<> Knowledge of media and knowledge of communications industry.
<> Knowledge of marketing and advertising plans.
<> Experience with computer operations including basic HTML, website
design, and flash animation. Proficient in Microsoft Office.
<> Investigative library and internet research skills.
<> Mature, independent, resourceful, and energetic.
Please forward cover letter, resume, and writing samples to:
American Anti-Vivisection Society
801 Old York Road, #204
Jenkintown, PA 19046-1685
Phone: (215)887-0816
Fax: (215)887-2088
jsinnamon@aavs.org
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~8~
Look Into My Eyes
By Scott Robinson M. D.
From anmlrts@indy.rr.com
Please look into my cage
Please look into my eyes
Please don't turn away
And tell yourself more lies
Look at what's become of me
Please look at what they've done
Then look into my eyes
And tell me why I am the one
Now here come distant footsteps
This time please be a friend
But they pull me from my prison
And stick me once again
And if this is essential
Forgive me for my doubts
Seems ends now justify the means
So what is life about?
They speak of evolution
And the origins of men
But my suffering bespeaks
That they've forgotten where they've been
Seems we are enough alike
To pry my spleen or brain
But then that's where the likeness ends
If you ask about my pain
Please look into my cage
Please look into my eyes
Please don't turn away
And tell yourself more lies
Look at what's become of me
Please look at what they've done
Then look into my eyes
And tell me why I am the one
They talk of tough decisions
It's your life they're trying to save
The cruelties sad necessities
To keep you from the grave
And if their work should bring them wealth
Why should others care?
So what if they are better off
While I'm the worse for wear
Their deeds now done so thoughtlessly
Their hearts not unlike stone
They use me as they choose to
Then leave me here, alone
If once they cared about me
The feelings didn't last
The days of silly sentiment
Lay rotting in the past
Please look into my cage
Please look into my eyes
Please don't turn away
And tell yourself more lies
Look at what's become of me
Please look at what they've done
Then look into my eyes
And tell me why I am the one
Their games have left me crippled
As the pain has left me old
And never to run freely
Soon my body will turn cold
But the toll that time has taken
On their souls they can't disguise
I've seen it all so clearly
For I've looked into their eyes
Please look into my cage
Please look into my eyes
Please don't turn away
And tell yourself more lies
Look at what's become of me
Please look at what they've done
Then look into my eyes
And tell me why I am the one
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~9~
Memorable Quote
"The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his
patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and
prevention of disease."
~ Thomas A. Edison
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Susan Roghair - EnglandGal@aol.com
Animal Rights Online
http://www.oocities.org/RainForest/1395/
-=Animal Rights Online=-
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»
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