When you think about it…what has horse racing done for horses ?

Horses are majestic creatures that deserve better lives than what the racing industry gives them.

Horse racing enthusiasts look forward to the Triple Crown of thoroughbred horse racing—the Kentucky Derby (May 5), the Preakness Stakes (May 19), and the Belmont Stakes (June 11). Yet, there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of races going on around the country during this same period of time. They receive little or no attention except for local coverage and maybe not even that.

Along with the little attention they get, there is less attention paid to the horses who are euthanized following break-downs either during or immediately after a race. Or to the jockeys who are severely injured or killed.

Horses are majestic creatures that deserve better lives than what the racing industry gives them. Few are turned out to graze on fresh grass. Few get a long “foalhood” during which their young bones can fuse and mature before hard work. Few make it long in the racing industry. Yet, many die trying. While on the circuit, many wind up being raced beyond their capacities and often under the influence of a wide variety of drugs—legal and illegal—all to win a purse, no matter how large or small.

But what of the wannabe race horses? The ones born into the industry but who never make it to the track? Many of them are sold for slaughter.

When you think about it…race day has nothing to do with horses and everything to do with some people’s desires to control a living, breathing, sentient being—even if it kills themselves and their horses.

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The New York Times
When you think about it…maybe it should be called the Triple Injury Race instead of the Triple Crown.

When you think about it…a genetic replica is not the same.

If you really miss your Fido or Fluffy, visit your local animal shelter and save a life that is already here.

You love your companion cat or dog. You are grief stricken when you get the news—your companion has cancer, no hope for a cure. You want to preserve every moment possible with your companion. You want to never let go of him or her. You hear about pet cloning and wonder if this is the way to keep your irreplaceable friend by your side.

Some grief-stricken companion animal owners think that cloning Fido or Fluffy will keep alive the companion they so loved. However, according to an article on pet cloning, “…cloning remains an experimental technology with an extremely high failure rate, causing hundreds of animals to suffer to produce each cloned cat or dog. In addition, numerous cloning attempts have demonstrated that a cloned animal is unlikely to resemble the original physically or behaviorally….”

If you really miss your Fido or Fluffy, visit your local animal shelter and save a life that is already here. Bring home a shelter dog or cat and give that animal the best life you possibly can. You may find another friend who will never replace the animal who died but who will find a new place in your heart and home.

When you think about it…trying to replace a beloved friend through cloning dishonors the friend and puts other animals at risk. Honor your companion animal by saving lives, not destroying them.

When you think about it…staying safe in the woods is often a matter of common sense.

When entering the woods, use common sense to keep the animals there wild and safe.

Have you ever taken a walk in the woods and seen wild animals? You might see squirrels and of course loads of birds, some snakes, and insects. Snakes can be dangerous; but for the most part, the creatures you see are not going to harm you as long as you don’t try to harm them.

In some sections of woods, however, there are animals who might not like us visiting their homes. Bears, cougars, mountain lions, wolves, elk, fox, and other wild creatures are not to be toyed with. They are unpredictable and often much swifter of hoof than we are. During mating and birthing seasons, wild animals are apt to be more, well, wild, than usual. Mothers, especially, must protect their young and will do so with a ferocity rarely seen when they are not caring for their brood.

When you decide a walk in the woods is just right for you, plan ahead. Know what wildlife exists in the area you are going to visit. Learn their habits so you can be alert to signs of their presence. The websites for local state and federal parks can provide all of this information.

As you hike along trails, make sure you are not leaving a trail of your own. Food stuffs can attract wild animals. And, of course, don’t try to feed them either by tossing them food or trying to approach and hand fee them. Your hand may become their meal. And any wild animal who has lost his or her fear of humans is likely to be killed.

As well planned as your venture into the woods may be to ensure your safety, you might still find yourself watching a bear amble by. Don’t run. You may become prey and many predators love a good chase, whets their appetite for the meal they’re about the capture.

When you think about it…a walk in the woods should be enjoyable for all—inhabitants and visitors alike. A few moments of caution and common sense can create a delightful afternoon.

When you think about it…we all have some control over what species survive.

There are many ways we can share our skills and talents to help protect animals.

We may not be able to, with the stroke of a pen, save endangered species; but we can sue to protect species that are endangered. According to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), individuals are allowed to sue the government to enforce the law. Called “citizen-suit,” the provision gives public-interest groups and individuals the right to petition and sue the government to make sure the act protects species as it was intended to do.

The ESA has helped many species, including the American bald eagle, gray whale, and peregrine falcon, among hundreds of others. About 1,400 species of plants and animals are listed as endangered or threatened in the United States, but there are as many as 250 species awaiting listing. For some, their time may run out before the government takes action.

There’s an additional provision in the act that provides direct protection of habitat that species need to survive and recover. It’s called the “critical-habitat provision.”

The ESA is a critical tool to protect endangered and threatened species in our country. Since its enactment, few species have gone extinct once they have been granted protection under the act. The goal of the ESA is to increase species that are endangered or threatened to fully recover and eventually be delisted. When you think about it, we all can help preserve plants and animals before we lose any more. We can join environmental groups, local and national, and share our time, talent, and money with them as they work to protect the endangered species of our country.

 

When you think about it…domestic violence hurts people and animals

Children in violent households often imitate the abuse they witness.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Of those that make it to women’s shelters, 84 percent report that their abusers also hurt their animals. Sadly, only a tiny percentage of domestic violence shelters are equipped to handle pets. Lack of funding and facilities often limits their ability to accept animals. As a result, up to 40 percent of women in abusive situations choose to either stay with their abuser or live in a car.

Families need access to safe housing in times of crisis. A study by Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing shows that after access to shelter services, there is a 60-70 percent reduction in both the number and severity of assaults by abusers. Also, children need to be removed from violent, negative environments for their own mental health. Children may begin killing or maiming their own animals either in imitation of the abuse they witness or to protect the animal from more violent attacks. Removing children from such situations helps stop the cycle of continuing violence.

Because most Americans consider their animals to be a part of the family, they also need accommodations in places of refuge. In stressful situations, women and children may depend on the love and comfort provided by companion animals. Also, animals left behind are often killed or beaten by the abuser as a tool of control over other family members. Community awareness is needed to ensure that all members of the family have a safe place to turn to. Women’s shelters would benefit from donated kennels and other emergency housing for animals.

When you think about it…protecting pets in violent situations is necessary not only for the animals but also for the people who love them.

When you think about it…do animals belong on the silver screen?

Animals in film often suffer during the training process.

Every year sees its line up of Hollywood blockbuster films that focus on animals. There was National Velvet, Seabiscuit, and now War Horse—just a few films associated with horses. Of course, there have been many others films depicting animals in zoos, circuses, as wild beasts of the jungle, etc. Then there are the television shows and commercials that use live animals as characters in the story or to push a product.

Whether the depictions are realistic or stylized to fit the producer’s and director’s image of what an animal should look like in a movie, television show, or commercial, there is one overriding issue we might all want to consider—what are the lives of these animals like away from the studio and the bright lights?

The American Humane Association (AHA) gives out the “no animals were harmed” stamp of approval to films and television shows that meet its standard, but all that means is that an AHA representative was present while the animals was performing before the camera. No AHA representative checks behind the scenes, is present when the animal is in rehearsals, or visits the location where the animal lives.

With all the modern technology we have today, animals can be depicted in the media without actually having to use a live animal. Of course, the depiction should be realistic, not stylized, and should support the humane treatment of animals in general.

When you think about it…humans make the best actors…nonhuman animals should appear only on the stage of their natural habitat, not on one in downtown Burbank.

When you think about it…what is the true cost of fast food?

Hamburger

Travel anywhere in the world and you can almost be certain to see a fast food restaurant. Whether it’s the golden arches, the late great Burger King mascot, or any of a dozen other symbols of fast food, we are assured that a once purely American way of eating has made its way around the globe.

What isn’t seen is the environmental devastation fast food has caused. In Central America the rainforest is being clear cut at an alarming rate just to create grazing land for cattle. In many parts of the world, monoculture farms of soy beans and other grains are planted not to feed starving humans but to feed cattle, pigs, and chickens who will be slaughtered to fill the massive need of the fast food industry. Nor will you see the amount of water used to raise these animals, or the tons of antibiotics fed to them to keep them healthy long enough to reach slaughter. You won’t see the pollution engendered by the amount of waste generated by cattle, pig, and chicken factory farms—but if you live near one, you will see, and smell, it.

How did we wind up here? How did we decide that fast food is an appropriate way to eat and that exporting the concept and the chains was good for the rest of the world? To make cars more affordable, the assembly line was created. That same assembly line idea was translated in the mid-1900s to mass producing many products, including food. Before the advent of fast food, the average person might eat small amounts of meat and rarely more than once a day, if that. Today because the cost of mass production brought down the price of meat products, we can eat them three times a day, every day.

We may pay only $.99 for a quick bite, but what do we pay in hidden healthcare costs, what does our planet pay in terms of environmental degradation, and what do the animals pay in terms of lives lived in horrid conditions? When you think about it…fast food costs far more than $.99.

When you think about it…dogs really aren’t all that different from us

Those of us in the rescue community have all seen it: the dog from a scary situation who can’t seem to relax, whose “fight or flight” kicks in at the sight of a specific trigger. The dog may be reacting to past traumas, desperately trying to avoid a painful or frightening experience. Behavior specialists are noticing these behaviors in military dogs and are diagnosing it as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the same condition that challenges some humans on a daily basis.

The diagnosis is part of a slow movement in the scientific community to recognize the similarities between humans and other animals. Like us, it seems dogs and other animals are deeply disturbed by violence. Researchers are finding that dogs and humans react to PTSD in the same ways. Like us, some dogs react with aggression, some cower, others become hyper vigilant. Some sniffing dogs stop alerting their handlers to scents despite appearing to be working. These dogs are treated with time off and lots of playing and obedience training. Some also receive desensitization training. Still others will never return to work, their traumas being too great.

It is saddening that human war takes its toll on so many generous animals, but we can learn some lessons from these traumatized dogs. For one, we must realize that animals are emotional beings in the same way we are. Cruel actions hurt an animal just as they hurt a person. Every animal deserve kindness and care because, while dogs and others may live in the moment, like us they never completely forget. On the other side of the coin, ascribing “human” mental conditions to animals can legitimize our own troubles. Knowing that Spot is also able to suffer from PTSD can help a human patient realize that it is not “all in his or her head.” From what we know of animal psychology, a dog’s troubles are, in a way, pure. Spot cannot read about PTSD and, therefore, cannot add to or enhance his or her symptoms. Diagnosing animals with these disorders can only make them even more real. Lastly, we hope the effort our military puts into helping these dogs overcome their disorder can be translated to the many animals we rescue and rehabilitate every day. Any new technique that will help our dogs overcome their pasts and become happier and more adoptable will be a welcome advancement.

It’s not surprising to hear that dogs suffer from PTSD. As we continue to learn more about the minds of animals, we will doubtlessly learn that their thoughts are more complex and sensitive than we ever thought. And really, we shouldn’t be surprised because, when you think about it…we aren’t at all that different.

When you think about it…knowing how food is grown and raised is as important as knowing how to prepare it.

While few of us may give up eating animals completely and turn to a vegan way of life, those of us who continue to eat animals or animal products should educate ourselves on what the various labels on our animal products mean.

For example, what exactly does “free-range” mean? It could mean the animal lives outdoors in his or her natural setting or it could mean the animals aren’t confined to cages but live in filth inside dimly lit and poorly maintained farm buildings.

There are few labels that are universally accepted as having set definitions, so buyers need to know what ones are sanctioned by third parties and what ones are there to induce them to purchase one company’s product over another’s product.

Third-party certifiers, for example, Humane Farm Animal Care , focus on the welfare of the animals. They believe outdoor time in a natural setting, where the animals can engage in natural behaviors, combined with access to shelter and food the species was evolved to eat should be the norm in raising healthy animals for the dinner table. In addition, these growers also eschew hormones, growth promoters, and non-therapeutic use of antibiotics.

However, when you think about it, with so many labels to read when shopping nowadays and so much competition to get you to buy animal products, maybe it’s just easier to go vegan .

When you think about it…horse slaughter is a symptom of greater concerns

Now that Congress has passed an appropriations bill that will allow for the inspection of horse meat in the United States, many in the humane field are debating the best way to protect horses. There are many answers to the question of how to protect horses from slaughter; but like the cat and dog overpopulation issue, the long-term solution is in changing the attitudes of those who breed, train, own, or work with horses.

In the horse community, many horse owners do not consider the purchase or adoption of a horse to be a life-long commitment. Many complain they cannot afford to keep multiple horses and don’t want to pay board for a horse who is no longer showable or needs maintenance to stay sound. So, the old horse must go to make room for a new, competitive mount. These owners may delude themselves into thinking someone else will care for their aging equine in his or her retirement. The mythical home that just wants to trail ride or admire and groom the old horse is just that, a myth. Just as with dogs and cats, it is important to remember that we must care for our horses their whole lives, not just during the fun parts. All companion animals deserve it; especially those that carry us on their backs or pull our carts.

Providing such equestrians with their fresh, young mounts are the many breeders and horse registries, including those for Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Arabians, Appaloosas, and others. While many registries carefully manage their breed, others promote the mass production of horses, without care to overall hardiness, overpopulation, or the ethics of individual breeders. Unbeknownst to many of their members, some of these organizations even lobby for the reinstatement of horse slaughter. To them, it is an easy outlet for the glut of horses bred every year. United Horsemen, an organization that promotes legal horse slaughter in the United States, has published a list of industry groups that also want to see horses slaughtered in the country.

When you think about it…the real solution to horse slaughter is in changing the way we think about our relationship to horses. Those of us in the horse community need to work to establish a new tradition of lifelong care, even if it means skipping a few seasons of horseshows.