It's Saturday, so time for a dog song here at Talking Dogs. We're kicking off the holiday season with an early gift of music.
Bobby Wants a Puppy for Christmas by Merle Haggard is a vintage gem! Originally released in November 1973, we think it holds up very well! Sit. Stay. Relax and enjoy this barking good Christmas dog song. Then fetch some more genuine dog song music videos at Talking Dogs. You'll be surprised at how many we've collected over the past few years.
I've lived beyond the sidewalks for many years now and as one friend has said: this is your life's blessing -to be close to the animals.
It will come as no surprise to you if you've read my posts about horse slaughter and puppy mills, that I believe that all animals should be treated with compassion and protected from suffering.
Many was the day I dragged a lawn chair out to just sit in quiet meditation with my cattle herd. There's a zen quality to bovine that is magical. While some of my "cowgirls" would simply continue to browse the grass, some would come and lay beside me. Quietly chewing their cud and gazing off in the distance. Perhaps they were looking inward, like me.
Some of my cowgirls.
Unfortunately, billions of farm animals lack even access to pasture, let alone the most basic welfare protections under the law.
According the ASPCA, more than 99% of farm animals in the US are raised in factory farms - large, industrial operations that raise large numbers of animals for food. There the focus is on profit and efficiency, not animal welfare.
Where did that milk come from that you poured over your cereal this morning? The hamburger you ate last night? How about that pork chop? Or the eggs in your recent omelet?
Probably from animals being raised in extreme confinement, not in those gorgeous pastures shown in commercials and print ads. Those animals have been bred to grown unnaturally fast and large to maximize profit.
Cows belong in fields. Watch the dairy cows below. They've just been released into fresh spring pasture. They remind me of my own "cowgirls." When we moved them from one pasture to another they danced with joy and glee.
Living in confinement, dairy cows ares often injected with BGH (bovine growth hormone) which can increase the incidence of mastitis and lameness. Tails are often docked. A dairy cow is considered "used up" at 5 years of age on average in the United States and slaughtered for human consumption. In a natural setting, cows can live more than 20 years.
Beef cattle usually begin their lives on pasture with their mothers. However, they're soon separated for weaning and by the time they're a year old they on their way to a feedlot. There they're fattened on an unnatural diet unto they reach optimal market weight and sent to slaughter.
Sows (female pigs of breeding age) most often live a life confined to a gestation crate which is only slightly larger than their own body. Their lives are a cycle of pregnancy, birth, nursing and then, finally, slaughter. Each year in the United States, over 200 million male chicks are killed upon hatching because they will never lay eggs. The majority of hens (female chickens) are debeaked and spend their lives in battery cages which usually hold 5-10 chickens with room enough to barely turn around if they're lucky. After a year or two, when egg production declines, those chickens are sent to slaughter.
In addition to the egg industry, chickens raised for meat usually spend their lives confined to warehouse packed with as many as 20,000 chickens. Again, with individual space enough to turn around if they're lucky. They're often slaughtered at only 42 days old.
Eat at restaurants that support the local sustainable food system. Visit the Eat Well Guide to find them near you.
Shop at your local farmer's market.
Check out purchasing a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share. One good resource is Local Harvest.
Explore independent grocery stores and co-ops looking for locally produced meats, eggs and dairy products from traditional farmers.
Look for local farmers online. More and more smaller farms sell directly to consumers via a website.
Become a label reader. Look for "pasture access." "Grass fed" does not necessarily mean the animals were ever on pasture. "Organic" does not mean that the animals didn't spend their lives in confinement on a dry lot/feedlot.
Frankly, the absence of photographs and lots of details is intentional in this blog post. However, I did find this video produced by Compassion in World Farming that is relatively "safe" to watch. Though they're talking about Europe, this rings true of factory farming in the United States, too.
January 15th is Blog the Change Day - a day when pet bloggers and pet lovers come together to blog, read, share and Be the Change for Animals. Bloggers are encouraged to write about pet fire safety in July or about a cause near and dear to their heart. Readers are encouraged to read and share their favorite posts. Join Team BtC on January 15th to Blog the Change for animals.
It's Saturday, so that usually means it's time for a dog song at Talking Dogs. Not today, folks! Instead we have a very special song in honor of National Feral Cat Dat (October 16): Feral Cat Song. Even if you're not a cat lover, your will love this! Feral Cat Song was written by Karen Green and is the musical tale of a feral cat lover, set to the tune of Peggy Lee's famous Fever. Karen is performing the song acapella here at a Best Friends No More Homeless Pet national conference in 2008. Sorry, no cute kitty video or slide show, but I know you're going to love these lyrics. Listen closely. Despite a lengthy web search, I never found the lyrics so I could share them here. Grab a cat to cuddle! Sit. Stay. Relax and enjoy Feral Cat Song by Karen Green. Fetch some genuine dog song music videos at Talking Dogs. You'll be surprised at how many we've collected over the past few years! And be sure to scroll down below today's featured dog song to explore some barking good blogs in today's Pet Blogger Hop.
On Sundays we usually feature adoptable dogs here on the Talking Dogs blog. Today, in a way, we're featuring all dogs currently in animal shelters who are hoping for a forever home. If you're planning to add a canine family member, please consider adopting a shelter or rescue dog. If you can't adopt, please think about fostering a lonely dog for the holidays.
The Animal Cruelty Task Force of the Humane Society of Missouri says they'll be recommending animal abuse charges for a Galina, Missouri animal owner.
On October 16, 2012, they worked in cooperation with the Stone County (MO) Sheriff's Office to rescue 10 horse, 15 dogs, 5 cats, a chicken and a duck from a property west of Galena, Missouri in Stone County. Humane Society Animal Cruelty Investigators and Stone County Sheriff's Department detectives had been working for several months with the owner of the animals to encourage proper care for the animals. With little to no improvement made, the sheriff's office determined that a warrant should be obtained to inspect the property with the possibility of removing animals at risk. At least seven of the horses are severely underweight and have had little access to food, fresh water, adequate pasture or veterinary care. One horse was more than 600 pounds underweight and so weak he could barely get on and off the trailer.
The cats appear thin and many of the dogs were tethered outside with little to no access to adequate food or clean water. Two recently deceased horses and a recently deceased dog also were found on the property. The live animals were removed at the recommendation of a veterinarian for the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
According to Kathy Warnick, President of the Humane Society of Missouri:
Life for Sid, a 4-year-old West Highland Terrier mix, has been anything but easy. Our Animal Cruelty Task Force found him living in filth -- the floors covered with trash, animal waste and grime. Fleas crawled all over him, and so much of his hair was missing that it was difficult to determine his breed. We watched as he paced around the room, scratching his poor body against walls, couches, recliners; whatever was available that might provide a little relief.
Sid was in terrible shape. Neglected. Underfed. Without proper veterinary care. And he wasn't alone.
Walking through the rest of the house, we discovered a Bassett Hound whose nails were so long they had grown into his paw. And it was Sid who alerted us to a third dog, and the biggest heartbreak of the rescue. There in the bathroom lay a Beagle. Sid stood beside his friend and desperately tried to nudge him awake. But it was too late. The Beagle had died from heinous abuse and neglect. It was a heart-wrenching sight, and one we won't soon forget. Today the rescued dogs are receiving care at the Humane Society of Missouri. Sid is suffering from sarcoptic mange, fleas, a double ear infection and he has a heart murmur. Our expert veterinary and shelter staff are doing everything they can, but his recovery will require weeks upon months of care.
The rescued horses, duck and chicken were transported o the Humane Society of Missouri's Longmeadow Rescue Ranch in Union, MO. The rescued dogs and cats were taken to the Humane Society of Missouri Headquarters in St Louis, MO. A disposition hearing to determine custody of the animals is scheduled for later this month in Galena, MO. If custody is awarded to the Humane Society of Missouri, as many of the animals as possible will be made available for adoption.
Igneous is a 2 year old male terrier mixed breed dog. In person he's as solid and handsome as the photo to the left. He has an amazing head that he loves to have rubbed. And who could ignore that ear-to-ear grin.
Igneous wants to be a lap dog, even though it would take a big lap to hold his 64 pounds. He loves people and craves human attention. He would do best as the only dog in the home.
A playful guy, he like to release some of that energy through exercise. If you need a physical fitness buddy, someone who is guaranteed to get you off the couch and into the outdoors, Igneous is your dog.
Igneous is currently living at Stray Rescue of St Louis's Pine Street animal shelter: 2320 Pine Street, St Louis, Missouri. Call them for more information about Igneous at 314-771-6121.
Founded by Randy Grim, Stray Rescue's sold purpose is to rescue stray animals in need of medical attention, to restore them to health, and then place them in loving adoptive homes.
View the video below to learn more about Randy Grim and Stray Rescue. As Randy notes, East St Louis is probably second only to Detroit in being very mean streets for homeless dogs. 50% of the animals rescued have been victims of gunshots.
Within hours of tornadoes that struck the Branson, Missouri area this past week, the Humane Society of Missouri Disaster Response Team was on site. The video below shows the horrible conditions they found and tells a bit about their animal rescue efforts.
Given the high anxiety levels of our pets when we took cover from the same storm, I find it hard to imagine what these newly homeless pets and their owners are going through.
The Humane Society of Missouri has been named by the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency as the lead animal welfare agency in response to disasters and other emergencies in Missouri. HSMO's Disaster Response Team is traned and experienced in all kinds of animal rescue situations including tornado rescue.
Video of the first puppy mill rescue made as a result of the new Missouri Canine Cruelty Prevention Act.
The Office of the Missouri Attorney General and the Missouri Department of Agriculture partnered with the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force to rescue 73 adult dogs and puppies from a breeding facility in Monett, Lawrence County, Missouri.
On June 28 a temporary restraining order was issued against the owner, Linda Brisco, for violations of the Animal Care Facilities Act and the newly enacted Canine Cruelty Prevention Act.
According to inspections by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Brisco's facility:
failed to provide adequate veterinary care to animals in obvious medical distress
failed to clean and sanitize the facility, allowing excrement in food receptacles and dirty, muddy drinking water
failed to keep sick, aged, or young animals in indoor or sheltered housing facilities
failed to equip housing facilities with disposal and drainage systems in order to keep animal waste and water eliminated so the animals stayed dry
failed to provide shade for the dogs
failed to collect and remove animal waste - in some places feces had accumulated to the point that it was indistinguishable from the flooring
failed to provide housing that protected the animals from injury
In addition, the owner routinely used a gunshot as a means of euthanasia, also in violation of the law.
On July 14, 2011, Brisco agreed to surrender all animals to the Humane Society of Missouri, surrender her Missouri Department of Agriculture commercial breeder license and will not operate a dog breeding facility for at least the next 6 yearts.
Missouri House members got an earful last week as they considered repealing Missouri's new law targetin puppy mills. As you'll remember, three bills were on the agenda of the Missouri House's Agriculture Policy committee. Advocates on both sides of the issue spoke out during this two hour public hearing in the Missouri state Capitol in Jefferson City.
