Little things we do to help animals

[thevegantwins]

I thought having a thread like this could inspire and provide ideas for those who aren't ready to march down the street naked :wigglebutt: with anti-fur banners. There are loads of things we all can do in our daily life to help animals (besides going vegan :yea: ). Please post things you have done or suggestions you have to encourage a less-cruel world for ALL!

:hug: :siamese: :doggygrin: :kittypet: :dolphin: :bfish: :fishies: :elephant: :giraffe: :bunny2: :squirrel :sheep: :kangaroo: :dancemonkey: :rabbit: :bcow: :tiger: :peacock: :wigglemonk: :pface: :hummingbird: :luvbird: :butterfly: :bee: :spiderweb: :snail: :bug2: :bug3: :ladybug: :hug:

Today, I threw out a glue trap I found at work in the break room. This will prevent any mice or insects getting their feet stuck in the trap and dying a slow, painful death as they slowly starve to death or they get stamped on by some uncaring human. :grumble: . It's important to remember if doing this to squish the trap so no birds or other critters get caught in it when it ends up in some landfill.

[thevegantwins]

My vegan coworker and I introduced our other coworkers to the delicious cheeseless pizza (Mamma's Pie) from the Italian place across the street. Today, my non-vegan coworker, me and my vegan coworker are splitting 2 pies which means my non-vegan coworker will be having an animal-free lunch and either animal-free dinner for herself or her husband. :yea:

[Oracl]

Lovely idea for a thread, TVT. :colors:

Yesterday at work I caught and then released outside a tiny gecko and a large, slow moving fly. :)

The fly would have been squashed for sure by someone. The gecko is better off out in a more natural environment where there are bugs to eat and less chance of being affected by any "pest" control measures taken by the building managers. :(

These were very small acts of compassion, in a world full of cruelty, but maybe one or two of the people at work, who watched in amusement :rolleyes: while I performed my rescues, will now think a little more about all of the smaller creatures that surround us. :sigh:

[Bowwowmeow]

Though I am grateful that my job involves very little contact with humans, I do regret not having more opportunities to set examples for people. I do catch injured bees at the dog park before the dogs get the chance to eat them or people to squash them, and the only comment I have ever received is "You are so nice! I would have just stepped on it." so I hope this makes people think.

I also had to catch a duck at the dog park. In the mating season, the poor females are subject to gang rapes by unattached males, and they can actually be drowned. They often get completely disoriented, and one poor female landed inside the dog park and didn't know how to get back out. I asked someone to keep the dogs from following me over to the duck, and I actually had to pick her up and put her over the fence. In a moment she was ok, and flew off. But it would have been ugly if a dog had gotten to her before I did.

I do remove rat poison stations that they put out along the paths I walk dogs on. If people don't want rats around they need to change how they live and the rats will move on to greener pastures. I had quite an invasion in my old house once, and I managed to stop it finally by using several different non-harmful means, including reasoning with the little farts. It was more time-consuming and involved a lot of work, but it is possible, although if you are terrified of rats, or are worried about diseases, I guess it can be distressing to have them running up and down your hallway at night.

[thevegantwins]

On Friday, I called 4 state senators requesting that they vote YES on a particular piece of legislation coming up for vote on Monday, it's to ban computer-assisted hunting in this state. I also called and thanked the one senator who came up with this bill. Not that I actually spoke with any senators, just their staff but they seem to write down what you say and ask where you are calling from.

[Bowwowmeow]

...ban computer-assisted hunting in this state.
Good lord, it isn't one-sided enough already, is it. Now they have to use computers??? Why don't they just stay home and hunt for virtual animals then? It'll cut down on hunters shooting each other by mistake. Next they'll start using global positioning systems or something. :hbang: :tantrum: :grumble: :medusa:

[Oracl]

On Friday, I called 4 state senators requesting that they vote YES on a particular piece of legislation coming up for vote on Monday, it's to ban computer-assisted hunting in this state. I also called and thanked the one senator who came up with this bill. Not that I actually spoke with any senators, just their staff but they seem to write down what you say and ask where you are calling from.
Well done, thevegantwins! :yea:

[Tiggerwoos]

I do a bit of voluntary work at a local rabbit rescue that rehomes buns and guineas that have come from all sorts of horrid conditions, such as being an unwanted pet to being dumped.

My worst incident was when I was there on Christmas Eve and the RSPCA came down with 2 rabbits that they had no room for at their rescue that had been dumped on a golf course and were in bad condition. We went there that night but it was too dark to find the others as there had been reports of several other pet rabbits having been released. Anyway Christmas Day my partner and I went down to the golf course and managed to get a black and white dutch who we have since kept and called Benjy! We also tried to get a baby grey one. Luckily by Boxing Day we returned and managed to capture that one and reunite him with his sister and in the next few days a few more were turned into us by the general public. Sadly we think the mum of the baby grey ones was taken by a fox, but all in all we rescued 6 of them.

It makes me so sad that people do that sort of thing and think a tame rabbit will survive in the wild, when it would have no idea how to cope, but on the plus side, Benjy is a lovely bun and we will hopefully be bonding him with a girlfriend when we move house shortly.

[Oracl]

That's great work, Tiggerwoos. :thumbsup: :yea: Benji is lucky to be with you! :agree:

[thevegantwins]

Good lord, it isn't one-sided enough already, is it. Now they have to use computers??? Why don't they just stay home and hunt for virtual animals then? It'll cut down on hunters shooting each other by mistake. Next they'll start using global positioning systems or something. :hbang: :tantrum: :grumble: :medusa:
We don't actually have any of those horrible, evil sites in this state but the senator who sponsored the bill was worried we might. Can you guess which state was the first to start with this barbaric activity? Yup, Texas, home of George W. and the great hunter of white Republicans, Dick Cheney. :rofl:

[thevegantwins]

That's great, Tiggerwoos. What lucky bunnies! :yea:

[thevegantwins]

Today I contacted Wegman's, a supermarket chain in this area of the US, to complain about their own egg farm where the chickens are kept in battery cages, in the dark, their entire lives. More information is found here: http://www.wegmanscruelty.com/. I told the customer service rep that I would not be shopping at Wegman's any longer and do not see why Wegman's continues to do this when stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's have banned that practice. The woman was not particularly nice and said I should read Wegman's website regarding their egg farm. Gee, not biased at all. :rolleyes:

Then I called my local Whole Foods and spoke with the prepared food manager regarding the lack of vegan selection, mislabelling (saw a guy put a new dish on the salad bar that contained cheese while he left the vegan label on top of the dish), placing non-vegan items in easily vegan dishes (a seitan dish contained honey) etc.. He said he just took over and definitely wants to cater to vegans! :yea: We shall see..

[Kumem]

Wd everyone for all the fantastic things that you have done.:yea:

I have not done anything fantastic of late, but I did get into an argument with someone who wanted to shoot magpies cos they were making too much noise :rolleyes:

[Oracl]

I did get into an argument with someone who wanted to shoot magpies cos they were making too much noise :rolleyes:
Nice one, Kumem! :)

If we all applied that principle in life, I would have shot a few people who were making a hell of a racket out in the street at 2 am last Thursday. :rolleyes: ;)

[thevegantwins]

I joined a local freecycle group last week (http://www.freecycle.org/) and offered some items. One of the women responded asked me about my email address, which ends with vegantwins.com. She wanted to know if my kids were vegan and how to raise a healthy child on a vegan diet. She expressed a desire to raise her son vegan but didn't know where to begin. I gave her some general advice and referred her to a few books and websites. I also suggested she join the New Jersey Vegan Children's Playgroup that we're a member of so she can meet healthy, happy vegan children. :yea:

[Phoenix]

A couple of days ago - but all in one day - my housemate & I caught 2 spiders, a bee, a fly, a baby lizard & a couple of bugs inside the house and put them all in the garden. Housemate actually tried to take the spiders away from our place but the little buggers refused to get out of the glass until she brought them back to our garden!

Our House & garden is a poison-free zone :agree: and they all seem to know it.

[Oracl]

I really like reading the posts in this thread. :agree: :colors:

[ChenLi]

I look after 3 cats that originally lived down the street but they don't get any fuss or food where they come from so I take care of them.

[Kumem]

Rescued spider yesterday from one of my cats. It was one of those that runs really fast though, so had to keep turning my hand to stop it falling off. Put it in the kitchen :excited:
Spiders Rule!:yea:

Rescued a lady bird today that was on the door mat at work and about to be trodden on. Didn't want to leave my hand to go onto a leaf :excited:

[Gliondrach]

Tiny flies have been breeding in the overflow inlet of my washbasin in my bathroom. They have been there for about 3 years. They are about the size of a pin head. If they come into contact with water they just die. I've tried drying them on paper but they never recover. I catch them in jars and put them outside. In the winter I release them into the kitchen, which is the only room that gets any heat. I can't get rid of the wretches. I liberated seven of them on Sunday.

I now have an infestatiion of tiny beetles in the kitchen. I think they came in a bag of bird food that I bought to feed a baby pigeon. I catch a dozen or more each day and put them outside. They get everywhere. I should have thrown that bag out weeks ago.

Then, there's the infestation of hippos in the bath, but I just leave them there as they are a bit on the large size.

[Ped Ant]

Then, there's the infestation of hippos in the bath, but I just leave them there as they are a bit on the large size.
:speechless:

[BonaDrag]

I rescued a little bee today, not sure what species she was though. :bee:
It was great giving one of the sisterhood back some of the stolen produce she was well into it, :dribble: (strangely enough!) and became revitalised - wahey :thumbsup:

[Phoenix]

It was raining here today and there were lots of snails out and about. :snail: I walk most places - as opposed going by car etc - so I pick up the snails from the footpath and move them to a safer place. Most people think I'm nuts. :crazy:

And late this afternoon I saw a catepillar running across a road so I moved it to the other side. :sid:

[Oracl]

I pick up the snails from the footpath and move them to a safer place. Most people think I'm nuts. :crazy:
I think I can confidently say that no one on this forum does! :colors:

[Candy]

Some years ago I was at bus driver training school and we were told that if a dog ran out in front of our bus we should make no attempt to stop as the safety of all our passengers was more important than one dog. I put my hand up and asked that if a little old lady was crossing in front of the bus would the same principle apply. The instructor said I was being silly. :D

[Oracl]

The instructor said I was being silly. :D He was wrong. :no: It was quite a sensible question, I reckon! :agree: ;)

[Phoenix]

I think I can confidently say that no one on this forum does! :colors:
:yea: Thanks Oracl. :nanakiss: Must be why I feel so "safe" here! :cheer:

[Bowwowmeow]

I was over at my dad's house today, and I fished a ladybug out of his dog's water bowl. :ladybug:

[Dexter]

:)

[Caprita]

It was raining here today and there were lots of snails out and about. :snail: I walk most places - as opposed going by car etc - so I pick up the snails from the footpath and move them to a safer place. Most people think I'm nuts. :crazy:

Then I am just as crazy as you are, Phoenix. I do the same thing. And I have a most polite line for whoever dares laugh at me.:devil2:

My mother rescued a pregnant dog a few years ago. She was stray, so my mum thought she'd take her home. But due to the fact that we already shared our home with Lucy (a Sacred Birman cat), we couldn't keep the dog. So my mother asked her employer if she could keep the dog at the office (the house has a large yard). And he agreed.
This is Beauty (mum named her):
http://usera.imagecave.com/Sophia_Weiss/Image71.jpg

[thevegantwins]

Beauty is beautiful! :) What happened to her pups?

I called 911 (emergency services) on Sunday morning about a dog someone left in their car in our apartment complex. It was already 75F and sunny, the car was in the sun and the window was only cracked about 1/4 inch. The police eventually came but wouldn't do anything because the window was open! :mad: At least the police got the owner's attention and they came out and took the dog inside :D

[Caprita]

Thanks :)

Ah, I'd forgotten about the pups. She had seven or eight pups, I can't remember exactly. I had seen them, though. I will have to ask my mum. They were given away to loving 'parents', fortunately. :)

[Dexter]

sweet :)
Beauty sure looks grateful for your and your mum's kindness :)

and no, it's everyone else who is crazy, hurting their fellow creatures - not us :)

[dreamer]

I never feel like I do enough. Of course, the biggest thing is being vegan and trying to do the least harm possible to all animals--human and non-human:) But little things...I feed birds that eat sunflower seeds, keep the bird bath full of water, have a couple of bluebird houses up (which usually gets at least one brood of birds a year), am avoiding poisons as much as possible to keep them out of harms' way, and take care of my companion animals to the best of my ability. I also take bugs out of the bird bath when I notice, so far I haven't seen any dead bugs in there:yea: In the past, I have many times stopped to move a turtle off the road--toward the direction he was traveling obviously--and have stood up to people squishing bugs (though it didn't stop them). I even tried to convince my mom not to poison rats that she's seen on her property (she has NO compassion for rats), as I pointed out it would also kill her chipmunks, probably some squirrels, and maybe the racoon that's been visiting.

Right now I feel I'm a bit of a let-down with the companion animal part as I just found out that my cat not only has a severe UTI, but also a bladder stone that they're probably going to have to surgically remove:bmoon: I feel bad because the new vet I'm going to found it, but I reported red urine to the "old" vet in December and was just told it "might be something she ate."

[thevegantwins]

Right now I feel I'm a bit of a let-down with the companion animal part as I just found out that my cat not only has a severe UTI, but also a bladder stone that they're probably going to have to surgically remove:bmoon: I feel bad because the new vet I'm going to found it, but I reported red urine to the "old" vet in December and was just told it "might be something she ate."
:comfort: Sorry about your cat, dreamer but you're not a vet so you couldn't have possibly known it was something else. You do your best. Good luck.

[Dexter]

sorry dreamer.

good luck to the kitty
:)

[dreamer]

Thanks for the positive energy, thevegantwins and Dexter. I just usually do "research" on my own because I don't totally trust vets or doctors...I just take "good news" often w/o doing research, so that's why I felt stupid about it. Hopefully this new vet will get her all fixed up...I love my kitty so much I can't stand to think of losing her or her having to suffer:whiteflag:

[Bowwowmeow]

Oh I am sorry to hear about your kitty, dreamer. If you are comfortable with trying alternative remedies, put about 1/4 tsp. ascorbic acid (powdered vitamin C) into her water bowl each day. Many cat foods are not pH balanced, and the resulting ash from a too-alkaline diet causes the formation of stones which can block the kidneys or bladder, and irritate the urinary tract, leading to infection. The acidic Vitamin C will help dissolve these stones. I did this with my Queen 13 years ago when she had blood in her urine, and it cleared up and never came back. I did this immediately upon seeing the blood, though. A more severe case will need veterinary attention. I also changed her diet.

I hope your kitty gets well soon. :comfort:

[dreamer]

Thanks Bowwowmeow for the comfort and suggestion. If the stone isn't gone Monday, the vet wants to do surgical removal because of its size and so that she can test it to be sure what kind of stone we're dealing with. Some stones are because of too alkaline pH (so the suggestion you give might work) while others are too acidic (so more acid would make it worse). I pray the stone will pass on its own, but it's doubtful because it's relatively large for her urethra. If we have to do surgery and I find out what kind of stone it is, then I'll consider various alternative remedies and diet change. I appreciate postive energy/prayers about it:friends:

[Bowwowmeow]

I am thinking good thoughts for you and your kitty, dreamer. :smallheart:

[Oracl]

Positive thoughts coming from me too, dreamer. :)

[Caprita]

Count me in. Praying for the kitty's health. ^^

[dreamer]

Thanks you guys:nanakiss: I know this was a bit off topic, but I just had to vent my worry somewhere:(

[thevegantwins]

I know this was a bit off topic, but I just had to vent my worry somewhere:(
Helping your kitty get well is certainly not off topic! :)

[dreamer]

Thanks...I just saw that some people were talking about more animal activism and thought my posts a bit more "narrow" in scope:o I do try to take care of my companion animals, regardless of the emotional and financial costs that occur. They're more than worth it. I know I've been showering her with loads more attention since this problem cropped up (my jealous poodle doesn't like to "share" me).

[Caprita]

I do try to take care of my companion animals, regardless of the emotional and financial costs that occur. They're more than worth it.

I know exactly how you feel. I had to pay a lot for Lucy' (http://usera.imagecave.com/Sophia_Weiss/lucy.jpg)s surgery last year, but it was 100% worth it.

[dreamer]

Well, I didn't get to take her to the vet to be x-rayed today. I took her in on Saturday and now she has a respiratory virus on top of her UTI:crying: We have to wait until she recovers to even think of dealing with the bladder stone. She's just been laying around and doesn't feel good (though I don't when I have a "cold" either), but she's eating and "eliminating wastes" OK:sigh:

[Bowwowmeow]

Oh no. Poor kitty. :(:hug:

[Peas'nHominy]

Poor little kitty! :( I'm praying for her to get well soon!

Well, I was mowing the yard this morning and a grasshopper jumped right in front of the mower and wouldn't move! I had to stop and help him get out of the way. It was a cute little thing.

Not a very big story really. I was thinking that was pretty lame, but probably not to the grasshopper.

Also, a bird made a nest in my dryer vent, and Leia told me there's a baby in it. I couldn't see it; Leia might just think the little adult bird is a baby or she could be right. Anyway, I'm going to leave them be. Ugh. I think for next spring I'll put up a bird house nearby and place a screen over the vent hole.

[BabaGhannooj]

I saved 2 of these little bug things (not sure what they are!) They don't want to climb onto the paper--it takes a few minutes to catch them!

As you all know-I ADOPTED A DOG!!:dancepuppy2:

Oh my gosh--what is THIS???:pee: WHY is the dog peeing on the dancing banana???

[Dexter]

sorry Dreamer..

best wishes from me as well..

[dreamer]

I'm certain it wasn't lame to the grasshopper! I know I always feel good when I take an insect out of the house or avoid stepping on one or anything where I am consciously aware of another being enough to find its presence not only of interest, but of consequence:) I feel sorry for people who wouldn't think twice about running over that grasshopper or smashing a bug, as they see it as "insignificant." I personally am saddened when I (usually unintentionally) kill anything, even when I see a bug smash on my windshield driving down the road, I feel sorry for what I've done:sorry:

Thanks again for the positive energy about my kitty. I get stressed when bad things happen to my furbabies...hopefully this will all be over soon and she'll be running around like her "old" self:)

[dreamer]

I think my kitty is almost 100% over the respiratory virus...she still sneezes on occasion, but otherwise seems OK. I'm still going to give her about a week to recover before I take her back to see if she needs surgery for the bladder stone:(

[thevegantwins]

Great news, dreamer. So glad she's doing better.

[xwitchymagicx]

I saved a teeny teeny fly which was only about this size . from being burnt in the microwave. Yeah took a while for it to decide it didn't want to be burnt though lol and I didn't think moving along would help i mean i must have looked like a giant as it was!!

[dreamer]

I tried to take this tiny little orange bug outside that was on my hand, but I'm not sure it was OK when I did...I put my hand up against the side of my eggplant plant and encouraged it to go onto the plant, but I'm not sure it was OK then:crying:

[Caprita]

Hope the buggie was okay, Dreamer!

I convinced my mother to save any bugs she can find, and she saves caterpillars too. :)

Anyway, I wanted to brag about my awesome English teacher (and a good friend as well, whom I visit for private classes). She rescued a tiny, tiny homeless Russian Blue cat, now named Josephine. She gets along well with my teacher's older tomcat, Max, who is three times her size. The little one is just fine, she eats anything she's given and she is very friendly. I hope I'll be allowed to take her picture one of these days. :hyper:

[Bowwowmeow]

Aw, Josephine is such a cute name for a kitty. You do have an awesome English teacher! :yea:

[Bubbles]

You sound like a real sweetie Caprita. If only you were a bit younger...

[Caprita]

You sound like a real sweetie Caprita. If only you were a bit younger...
???

[Gliondrach]

Well, I saved a spider from the bath this morning. Just a few minutes after I had put one of my tiny fly friends outside. These live in the bathroom. I also put many tiny beetles outside every day. They are all over my kitchen. I have to keep everything tightly sealed. I had to throw out porridge, soya flour, oatcakes and many other things a few months ago because they were infested by these wretches. They seemed to have disappeared but have come back again. There were also three women banging on my door last night, pleading with me to open it. They were making so much noise that I had to let them out eventually.

[dreamer]

Thought I'd give you guys a quick update on my kitty...since you were so supportive about it before:hug: Anyway, I just had her x-rayed again and the bladder stone is completely gone:yea: Now I just have to hope that my poodle's knee recovers and my bunny's ringworm goes away, then maybe no more vet visits for a while:crossfingers:

[thevegantwins]

Good news, dreamer! :thumbsup:

[Gliondrach]

That's good, Dreamer. Glad to hear it.

[Oracl]

Pleased to hear that, dreamer. :)

[Bowwowmeow]

That's great news about your kitty, dreamer! I too hope your poodle and bunny get better soon. :hug:

[dreamer]

Thanks everyone:blinkwave:

[Tiggerwoos]

Am so glad to hear the good news about your kitty Dreamer.

[Keykeypie]

Today, I threw out a glue trap I found at work in the break room. This will prevent any mice or insects getting their feet stuck in the trap and dying a slow, painful death as they slowly starve to death or they get stamped on by some uncaring human. :grumble: . It's important to remember if doing this to squish the trap so no birds or other critters get caught in it when it ends up in some landfill.

Oh I HATE those things so much! And I'm sorry to say I used to use a special type of paint thinner to free them....BUT....I learned from someone
recently on another board that the best thing is sesame oil. Much less harsh.

So I bought some to be ready if I need it.

Also.....on another forum & if I remember correctly it was Bowwowmeow [ using another name] who came up with a really brilliant idea.

I was saying how years ago, walking through a street fair I heard someone yelling
......"Why don't ya go help children, steda worring bout dumb animals"
and THAT was what got my attention. I walked over, took a pamplet
and it convinced me to go vegan.

So anyway......Bowwowmeow [ using another name] comes up with the GREAT idea of BYOH [bring your own hecklers] along to attract attention ......is that brilliant or what???:highfive;

[Oracl]

So anyway......Bowwowmeow [ using another name] comes up with the GREAT idea of BYOH [bring your own hecklers] along to attract attention ......is that brilliant or what??? :highfive;
She does have brilliant ideas. :lightbulb: :agree: She is one clever person. :thumbsup: But don't tell her I told you that or she'll become all smug and self-satisfied. :shh: ;) :D

[Keykeypie]

She does have brilliant ideas. :lightbulb: :agree: She is one clever person. :thumbsup: But don't tell her I told you that or she'll become all smug and self-satisfied. :shh: ;) :D

Why no....we surely wouldn't want THAThttp://img126.imageshack.us/img126/6591/shockedjb1.gif (http://imageshack.us)

.....so my lips arehttp://img162.imageshack.us/img162/9844/zippybd8.gif (http://imageshack.us)

[Oracl]

Why no....we surely wouldn't want THAThttp://img126.imageshack.us/img126/6591/shockedjb1.gif (http://imageshack.us)

.....so my lips arehttp://img162.imageshack.us/img162/9844/zippybd8.gif (http://imageshack.us)
:D Great smilies, Keykeypie! :lol:

[maddie]

This is a great idea for a thread and you guys have some wonderful ideas here. Last night we took our dog for a walk in the park and we came across a stand with free newspapers. I put leaflets inside some of the free newspapers. I'm guessing that wasn't very proper, but.......I just had to do it. Also, we stopped to help a turtle find his way who was in the middle of the road. We do that all the time though. It seems that after a heavy rain there are a lot of turtles in the road. Why is that?? I thought that perhaps their homes get flooded so they seek a new home?

[thevegantwins]

Just sent of 2 emails to the governor of the state and the head of the department of environomental protection regarding this year's bear hunt. The emails were professional but I was vocal in my opposition and reasons why.

[thevegantwins]

I just got January 8th off of work as a vacation day and me and my vegan coworker will be transporting a rescued pit bull 300 miles to her new home at Out of the Pits. Cha Cha (http://www.outofthepits.org/adoptions.html) is the dog we're going to transport and she needs a home if anyone is interested.

[Bowwowmeow]

Ah, she is so beautiful! :colors: What a great way to spend a day off, vegantwins. I hope she finds a home. :crossfingers:

[NYC Rocker]

ChaCha is beautiful! And those little pit puppies on that page... OMG... :beatingheart: :beatingheart: :beatingheart: !!!!!!!!!

[Gliondrach]

Well done, TVT and friend. And good luck to Cha Cha. She deserves to find happiness.

[Oracl]

That's fantastic, TVT! :thumbsup: Cha Cha looks like a real sweetie, I'm sure someone will want to take her on. :agree:

[Bowwowmeow]

I went to the home of a customer who prefers to hide their key, rather than have me keep a copy. I lifted up the plant, and saw what I first thought was a rather large earthworm. I couldn't put the pot back down for fear of squashing him, so I set it close by, and realised that he was a small salamander! I love salamanders! I haven't seen one in years, as they prefer very cool, moist environments like those surrounding my customer's home in the hills amonst the oak trees. I had to tickle him with a leaf to wake him up and get him to go back under the pot, where he would be safe out of the sun. He was hard to wake up! :smallheart:

[Oracl]

We don't get salamanders here. I would love to see one, they look beautiful in pictures. :)

[Bowwowmeow]

This was a very small one, which was why I mistook him for an earthworm. We have big ones in Petaluma, about six inches long. Once when we were cleaning up the yard there, I found a baby. He was only an inch long! I put him on my finger, and carried him to a place of safety under the house. I don't know how I managed to see him in time to save him from being raked up with the leaves, but I'm glad I did, and I have never forgotten how perfect his tiny fingers were. They couldn't have been much bigger around than a human hair! :smallheart:

[Gliondrach]

The only salamanders I've seen are the small newts. But they were a dull brown in colour, with a pale belly. Was the one you saw brightly coloured or stripey?

[Bowwowmeow]

He was solid black.

[thevegantwins]

I volunteered to help on a local Net & Bolt Campaign (www.netandboltcruelty.net) by calling all the residents of Millburn Township, educating them about Net & Bolt and completing a survey form for those who are against it. A few things I've learned during the last week making these phone calls is A) I hate making these phone calls but it's for a good cause so I will keep doing it and B) humans are an apathetic bunch. The majority of the people I spoke with are against Net & Bolt but feel something needs to be done about the deer (not the humans :rolleyes:) but don't want to get involved in coming up with alternatives or pressuring the local politicians to look at alternatives.

And I have mentioned that I really hate talking on the telephone?

[Gliondrach]

Keep up the good work. You might make a few people think. Well done.

[Oracl]

Good for you, TVT! :thumbsup: :cheer:

[thevegantwins]

Last night, Mr. TVT, me and the kids attended a dinner sponsored by NJ Animal PAC (Political Action Committee). The Animal PAC must be scaring the hunters now, it was founded in 2004 and has quite a following around the state. The hunters just formed their own Hunting PAC :laughingdevil:. This dinner was to meet and greet 2 state assemblymen, Mike Panter and a woman's whose name I forgot. There were also a few other state politicians there. Mike Panter gave a rousing speech in which he spoke out against vivisection, factory farming, animal cruelty and consumption and best of all, mentioned how the general public likes to view us as animal rights whackos when we just care that animals are not abused and exploited. He and the woman mentioned how the press was lambasting them for being vegetarian and speaking out for animal rights in NJ. I told him afterwards that I appreciated how he did not separate himself from the rest of the people present at this event and he said that he never does that, he's part of this community. There were probably at least 50 at this event from all over the state. After most of the people left and it was just board members of NJARA and a few friends, we had a karoake sing-a-long while the kids played with the other 2 vegan kids there. This event really inspired me again. I was getting so down about the Net & Bolt phone calls. I only called maybe 60 people and then several personal issues happened that prevented me from making the calls but I had a nice chat with the woman who is not only running the Net & Bolt campaign but she recently took over running the BEAR group. I'm going to get back to the phone calls ASAP.

[Bowwowmeow]

:cheer: :cheer: :cheer:
That sounds more like a big thing you are doing for the animals!

[Gliondrach]

It's easy and natural to get disheartened with so much cruelty in the world. Especially if you talk to any idiots on the 'phone. But you are doing great work and it will bear fruit. And, as a vegan, you can speak with more authority and congruence than most. You are on the front line in this war.

[Oracl]

Good for you, TVT! :thumbsup: :yea:

[my3labs]

We just hired a guy in our San Diego, CA office. He has three rescue dogs which I thought was cool and today I found out that he was one of those amazing people that went to New Orleans during Katrina to help the animals that were left behind. He set up an emergency shelter at an elementary school and did what he could. He told me that he still has nightmares about it and that it forever changed his life.
He's not vegan (I know - I've had lunch with him) but I'm impressed by what he did and went through to help the animals of Katrina.

[Bowwowmeow]

Maybe he'll see the light someday. Its hard to imaging people being so changed by an experience like what he must have gone through, without continuing to change throughout their lives.

[my3labs]

Maybe. I'm going to see him in a few weeks so I'm sure I'll get some more insight into his thought process.

[Oracl]

You might be just the catalyst he needs to make the change to veganism. :rubchin: :crossfingers:

[my3labs]

That sure would be nice. I've thought that several times with many different people and it never seems to happen. I've almost given up hope on ever "converting" anyone. It's so frustrating.

[Gliondrach]

They might not see the light immediately - it could come to them years later when they connect something you say with something else.

[my3labs]

Sarah was sharing with me today, some of the vegan victories she's had recently. The one she was most proud of was a conversation she had with a fellow student about why it is not natural for cats to eat fish.
At some point she said "when's the last time you saw a cat jump into the ocean to dive down and catch a tuna?"

Rock on Sarah!!

[Gliondrach]

Has she thought about going into politics?

[Gliondrach]

I was sent this:

Animal Rescue
Hi, all you animal lovers. This is pretty simple... Please tell ten friends to tell ten today! The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota of getting free food donated every day to abused and neglected animals. It takes less than a minute (how about 20 seconds) to go to their site and click on the purple box 'fund food for animals' for free. This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising.

Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

AGAIN, PLEASE TELL 10 FRIENDS!!!

-----------------------
They don't ask for your details. You just click.
There were 4627 bowls after I'd clicked.

[Oracl]

9,568 bowls after my click! :)

[Gliondrach]

16,074 for today, so far.

[Gliondrach]

I have forgotten in recent days to click on the animal rescue site. When I do and am then taken to the screen which shows their sponsors, I always click on one of the advertisements. I choose a non-charity one. These organisations pay for advertising and every time someone clicks on them they have to pay. It might be one-tenth of a cent or it might be 20 cents. They will only advertise for as long as they are getting clicks from that site. So, I click on one of them. As I said, not the charities because they have to pay for every click they get, too.

[Oracl]

Good thinking. :agree: I just clicked. :)

[thevegantwins]

NJARA (www.nj-ara.org) is having their annual tricky tray tomorrow. Last year, they raised $13,000 at the tricky tray. There is no nice way to say it but the general attendee of the tricky tray are rednecks and white trash. They want junk food, lots of it so NJARA asks for volunteers to bake. So far, I have made 60 sugar cookies, 20 peanut butter cookies and there are 20 chocolate brownie cookies in the oven. If I am motivated, I might made a double batch of the chocolate brownie cookies. Fortunately, Mr TVT took the kids to his grandma's so I could get the baking done without their "help". :rolleyes: Tomorrow, I have to take my 5 dozen and pick up another 6 dozen 1/2 hour away that my friend baked and drop all the cookies off another 45 minutes away at the location. :phew:

[Gliondrach]

Well done, TVT! I hope your group makes much more this year.

[Oracl]

Well done, TVT! I hope your group makes much more this year.
:agree: :thumbsup:

[thevegantwins]

NJARA raised $19,600 last night at the tricky tray! :yea: That is after they deducted the costs for supplies. That's the most ever raised. :excited: Alot of animals in this state will be saved this coming year.

[Gliondrach]

:yea:

[Phoenix]

NJARA (www.nj-ara.org) is having their annual tricky tray tomorrow. Last year, they raised $13,000 at the tricky tray. There is no nice way to say it but the general attendee of the tricky tray are rednecks and white trash. They want junk food, lots of it so NJARA asks for volunteers to bake. So far, I have made 60 sugar cookies, 20 peanut butter cookies and there are 20 chocolate brownie cookies in the oven. If I am motivated, I might made a double batch of the chocolate brownie cookies. Fortunately, Mr TVT took the kids to his grandma's so I could get the baking done without their "help". :rolleyes: Tomorrow, I have to take my 5 dozen and pick up another 6 dozen 1/2 hour away that my friend baked and drop all the cookies off another 45 minutes away at the location. :phew:

Sorry for the tangent, but I should know better than to read your posts when I'm hungry, TVT. :hungry:

I bet your goodies are / were a hit. :yum:

[Oracl]

NJARA raised $19,600 last night at the tricky tray! :yea: That is after they deducted the costs for supplies. That's the most ever raised. :excited: Alot of animals in this state will be saved this coming year.
Brilliant! :cheer: :yea:

[Soynut]

I went to our local animal shelter today with dog beds, towels, jackets (whenever I go there the tiny dogs are freezing, poor things, so I got them clothing). I spent very little money on this, but I think it will be highly appreciated.

[Oracl]

Good for you, Soynut. :cheer:

[thevegantwins]

I went to a meeting on Saturday night to discuss the possibility of culinary activism. There were 5 of us present but we hope to get more volunteers. What we hope to accomplish is once or twice a year, offer an upscale vegan dining experience-around $70 per person for several courses-and donate all the proceeds to an AR group. The first event's proceeds would be donated to NJARA. We had some good ideas and we hope to move forward with this. I'm emailing a friend of mine, a vegan chef, who is already doing this for Tibet next month in order to pick his brain.

[Gliondrach]

Good idea. Will it be for vegans or non-vegans?

[thevegantwins]

We're hoping to appeal to the fuzzy-wuzzy animal-loving yuppies who might be dietary vegans or interested in veganism but unsure about the food. We figure a subtle approach for people who can afford a meal like this. Maybe some entertainment that happens to be vegan rather than a vegan lecturer.

[Gliondrach]

I could put on a juggling show. I can nearly juggle two balls at once.

[Gliondrach]

fuzzy-wuzzy

Will Corporal Jones be there?

[thevegantwins]

Will Corporal Jones be there?
No idea who Corporal Jones is. Some obscure Brit-reference?

[Gliondrach]

Jack Jones from Dad's Army. He often mentions fighting the Fuzzy Wuzzies.

[thevegantwins]

So I was right, an obscure Britference. :uhuh:

[thevegantwins]

The kids and I were just at the waterfront playground. There were 2 pieces of excrement AKA teenage boys throwing stones at seagulls so I called the police. I wanted to approach the boys myself to tell the to stop but I was worried for the kids' safety. The police did show up and sat there watching the boys who, by then, had began to innocently play basketball. We left over an hour later and the cop was still sitting there watching them which was good but I hope the cop at least said something to those nasty boys.

[Gliondrach]

It's good that the coppers take seagull safety so seriously.

[thevegantwins]

Tomorrow night, I'm doing a home visit for a canine rescue group to a family who want to rescue a dog and already have a dog so I'm basically making sure that the application they complete with the group is truthful and interviewing their current dog to determine that dog's temperament. I hope the dog doesn't lie to me. :)

[Gliondrach]

If their current dog is a Yorkie you'd better be careful. They are accomplished actors.

[thevegantwins]

Their current dog is a Golden Retriever.

[Gliondrach]

They can usually be trusted.

[thevegantwins]

That's what I figure. We'll shake paws and get to know each other but I'm sure he will be a fine companion to a rescued pup. The only thing I want to clarify with the humans is that they wrote on their application that they would get rid of the rescued dog if the dog was aggressive to their 2-year old daughter. I want them to define their view of aggression. When I was a teenager, my horrid niece, who was 2 at the time, sat on my dog Archie's back and pulled his ears. Archie turned around and said, "grrrr" and my evil sister-in-law started screaming how Archie was aggressive and was going to attack my horrid niece. She insisted she wouldn't come over to my parent's home if Archie was not locked up in a room. Archie, the sweetest English Springer Spaniel on the earth, never even bared his teeth at that horrid child. From then on, he was banished but I voluntarily banished myself with him.

[Gliondrach]

I hope so. Good luck to everyone concerned. :thumbsup: :crossfingers:

[Gliondrach]

But not leaking secrets.

[Oracl]

I hope so. Good luck to everyone concerned. :thumbsup: :crossfingers:
Yes, hope it works out! :agree:

[thevegantwins]

I did the home visit last night. I wasn't overly impressed that the family had an NRA (National Rifle Association) sticker on their front door but overall, they were nice. Their dog, Ruger, was a huge, loveable golden retriever. They claim he weighs 100lbs but he must weight at least 150lbs. They answered all my questions satisfactorily and I got to see how their dog interacted with their 2-year old. I sent an email to the rescue last night giving my approval for the adoption of a beagle mix puppy. If all goes well, the beagle will be out of the shelter by Saturday and in her new home.

[Gliondrach]

Well done. I hope the puppy is happy there.

They named their retriever after a make of gun!

[Oracl]

Good news. :)

[Gliondrach]

I saw this post on another site and decided to post it here in case anyone knows anyone who can offer a home:

----------
Please help..
I want to find marshmallow a home :(

I know probably not a lot of you will care about this, but I recently rescued a dog from the street, he was nearly ran over by a few cars and I cared for him for a few days while trying to find his owner, sadly I was unable to find his owner and I could not keep him because my mother is terrified of dogs having been attacked by one when she was younger. I have been an animal lover my entire life but have never had a dog before, when I went to bring Marshmallow,(that's what I named him) to the Friends of homeless animals so they could find him a loving home, I broke down crying and have not stopped since. Marshmallow is the sweetest most loving dog I've ever met, he's young(about a year or so) he's house broken doesn't chew on anything except his chew toys and just loves everyone. All I am asking is that if you or anyone you know lives in the Orange County area in California and is looking for the most amazing loving dog in the world to consider adopting him. I want him to have the best home in the world and to be loved and cared about. here's a link to the website of the people I gave him too. Marshmallow he looks MUCH cuter in real life and his loving and beautiful personality makes him even cuter.

Thanks so much and I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

http://www.fochp.org/_availabledogsdetail.asp?pkDog=1582

[Gliondrach]

Bird feeding advice from the RSPB

Bird seed mixtures
There are different mixes for feeders and for birdtables and ground feeding. The better mixtures contain plenty of flaked maize, sunflower seeds, and peanut granules.

Small seeds, such as millet, attract mostly house sparrows, dunnocks, finches, reed buntings and collared doves, while flaked maize is taken readily by blackbirds. Tits and greenfinches favour peanuts and sunflower seeds. Mixes that contain chunks or whole nuts are suitable for winter feeding only. Pinhead oatmeal is excellent for many birds. Wheat and barley grains are often included in seed mixtures, but they are really only suitable for pigeons, doves and pheasants, which feed on the ground and rapidly increase in numbers, frequently deterring the smaller species.

Avoid seed mixtures that have split peas, beans, dried rice or lentils as again only the large species can eat them dry. These are added to some cheaper seed mixes to bulk them up. Any mixture containing green or pink lumps should also be avoided as these are dog biscuit, which can only be eaten when soaked.

Black sunflower seeds
These are an excellent year-round food, and in many areas are even more popular than peanuts. The oil content is higher in black than striped ones, and so they are much better. Sunflower hearts (the husked kernels) are a popular no-mess food.

Nyjer seeds
These are small and black with a high oil content. They need a special type of seed feeder, and are particular favourites with goldfinches and siskins.

Peanuts
These are rich in fat and are popular with tits, greenfinches, house sparrows, nuthatches, great spotted woodpeckers and siskins. Crushed or grated nuts attract robins, dunnocks and even wrens. Nuthatches and coal tits may hoard peanuts. Salted or dry roasted peanuts should not be used. Peanuts can be high in a natural toxin, which can kill birds, so buy from a reputable dealer, such as our online shop, to guarantee freedom from aflatoxin.

Bird cake and food bars
Fat balls and other fat-based food bars are excellent winter food. If they are sold in nylon mesh bags, always remove the bag before putting the fat ball out – the soft mesh can trap and injure birds. You can make your own bird cake by pouring melted fat (suet or lard) onto a mixture of ingredients such as seeds, nuts, dried fruit, oatmeal, cheese and cake. Use about one-third fat to two-thirds mixture. Stir well in a bowl and allow it to set in a container of your choice. An empty coconut shell, plastic cup or tit bell makes an ideal bird cake ‘feeder’. Alternatively, you can turn it out onto your birdtable when solid.

Cooking fat
Fat from cooking is bad for birds. The problem with cooked fat from roasting tins and dishes is that the meat juices have blended with the fat and when allowed to set, this consistency makes it prone to smearing, not good for birds' feathers. It is a breeding ground for bacteria, so potentially bad for birds' health. Salt levels depend on what meat is used and if any salt is added during cooking.

Lard and beef suet on their own are fine as they re-solidify after warming and as they are pure fat, it is not as suitable for bacteria to breed on.

Polyunsaturated margarines or vegetable oils
These are unsuitable for birds. Unlike humans, birds need high levels of saturated fat, such as raw suet and lard. They need the high energy content to keep warm in the worst of the winter weather, since their body reserves are quickly used up, particularly on cold winter nights. The soft fats can easily be smeared onto the feathers, destroying the waterproofing and insulating qualities.

Dog and cat food
Meaty tinned dog and cat food form an acceptable substitute to earthworms during the warm, dry part of the summer when worms are beyond the birds' reach. Blackbirds readily take dog food, and even feed it to their chicks.

Dry biscuits are not recommended as birds may choke on the hard lumps. It is sometimes added to cheaper seed mixtures for bulk. Soaked dog biscuit is excellent, except in hot weather as it quickly dries out. Petfood can attract larger birds such as magpies and gulls, and also neighbourhood cats. If this is likely to be a problem, it is best avoided.

Milk and coconut
Never give milk to any bird. A bird's gut is not designed to digest milk and it can result in serious stomach upsets, or even death. Birds can, however, digest fermented dairy products such as cheese. Mild grated cheese can be a good way of attracting robins, wrens and dunnocks.

Give fresh coconut only, in the shell. Rinse out any residues of the sweet coconut water from the middle of the coconut before hanging it out to prevent the build-up of black mildew.

Desiccated coconut should never be used as it may swell once inside a bird and cause death.

Rice and cereals
Cooked rice, brown or white (without salt added) is beneficial and readily accepted by all species during severe winter weather. Uncooked rice may be eaten by birds such as pigeons, doves and pheasants but is less likely to attract other species.

Porridge oats must never be cooked, since this makes them glutinous and could harden around a bird's beak. Uncooked porridge oats are readily taken by a number of bird species.

Any breakfast cereal is acceptable birdfood, although you need to be careful only to put out small quantities at a time. It is best offered dry, with a supply of drinking water nearby, since it quickly turns into pulp once wetted.

Mouldy and stale food
Many moulds are harmless, but some that can cause respiratory infections in birds, and so it is best to be cautious and avoid mouldy food entirely.

If food turns mouldy or stale on your birdtable, you are probably placing out too large a quantity for the birds to eat in one day. Always remove any stale or mouldy food promptly. Stale food provides a breeding ground for salmonella bacteria, which can cause food poisoning. At least one type of salmonella causes death among such species as greenfinches and house sparrows. Large quantities of food scattered on the ground may attract rats and mice. Rats can carry diseases that affect humans.

Last modified: 15 December 2009

What to feed garden birds Video on the site.
15 October 2008. Length: 65

Our wildlife adviser Ian Hayward passes on some tips on what to feed birds, and suggests some other ways to attract wildlife to your garden.

rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/feeding/whatfood/index.aspx

[Bowwowmeow]

I've been sponsoring Georgia at Best Friends (http://news.bestfriends.org/index.cfm?page=news&mode=entry&entry=ABDDE29F-1231-3F02-49E5CC6413CA0D39) since January. She's one of Michael Vick's ex-fighters.

They emailed me last week. Someone out in my area wants to adopt a dog from their sanctuary, and they need someone to do a home visit, so they asked me. I contacted the woman, and I have an appointment on Friday to go look at her house and yard. I've never done anything like this before. I'm kinda nervous!

The dog she wants to adopt is named Henryetta. Fingers crossed that this woman has a nice place to keep a dog so Henryetta can have a forever home folks!

[Gliondrach]

Just treat the visit as if you were going to see a new client about dog walking.

Good luck to Henryetta!

[Bowwowmeow]

The visit was a success. The woman has a very nice place for dogs, and already has two happy healthy well loved labs. Henryetta is a lucky dog!

[Gliondrach]

:yea: I hope Henryetta is very happy there.