We’ll fight the law . . . and this time it won’t win!

turkey farm (detail) 

November has been a bad month for animals.  Think, for starters, of the myriad turkeys raised and slaughtered just for Thanksgiving (such a cruel misnomer where animals are concerned).  Then there were the smaller birds drafted into duty when family holiday gatherings were downsized (for the good of people, not turkeys).   

Of course, in NJ, the rest of this month has had to do with animal advocates’ efforts to persuade Gov. Phil (”My hands are tied!”) Murphy to call off part 2 of the bear hunt that starts Monday, Dec. 7.  By now, it looks as if the week of killing will happen, replete with out-of-state hunters flocking here for trophies more easily “won” by bear-baiting – as wholly inhumane, disease-spreading and destructive as it is, still a permissible practice here. 

 

In fact, only Alaska, the land of shooting animals from planes, joins NJ in the heinous practice of bear-baiting.   https://defenders.org/sites/default/files/publications/aerial_hunting_q_and_a.pdf

 

The Animal Protection League of NJ (aplnj.org) urges animal advocates to save these dates for bear-hunt protests: Dec. 5, 7 and 12.  Follow APL on Facebook for the latest info: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalProtectionLeagueNJ.  

 

Bear cub                                                HSUS pic

Moving right along to December, a concerted fight for our wildlife is underway between the state Fish and Game Council – seeking complete control over the Game Code -- and animal activists – hoping to comment despite the FGC’s efforts to suppress public comments on that code.  To stop the FGC’s attempted power grab, APLNJ has mailed thousands of informative postcards and offers Zoom sessions tonight and Tuesday night.  During each one, activists will be coached on how to submit comments “in support of our bears and all of our wildlife.”

 

We do not want the Fish and game Council to be in charge here! 

Seabirds 

Which brings us to the latest federal government incursion into nation-wide animal welfare.  That would be the feds’ gutting of “a long-standing federal protection for the nation’s birds,” despite objections from seemingly every (expert) quarter.  The rollback could take place within 30 days, negatively affecting birds ranging “from hawks and eagles to sea birds, storks, songbirds and sparrows,” the AP reports.

Right now, industry operations kill 450 million to 1.l billion birds annually, out of around 7 billion birds in North America.  They are electrocuted on power lines, knocked from the air by wind turbines or they die in oil field waste pits filled with toxic water.

But instead of prosecution authority for the deadly threats migratory birds face from industry, the revamped act would apply only to birds killed or harmed intentionally.  (Good luck with that.)

Chipping Sparrow

I’ve read what the president-elect plans to do and un-do on his first day in office, and I hope the current administration’s four-years of assaults on animals have been carefully noted so they too can be un-done asap starting in January.

Locally, today’s Times of Trenton includes a story about New Jersey’s numerous suits against the current administration in the interests of “millions” affected by a range of issues (think: regulation rollbacks creating more air and water pollution). For instance, in the last three years, this state has filed 24 complaints against the US Environmental Protection Agency (talk, again, about cruel misnomers!), at least some of which benefit animals.

Add those complaints to others for at least 73 total suits against the federal government, some filed alone and many with other states.  (You go, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal!)

Pandemic or no, there’s lots to keep up with and lots for us to do for New Jersey animals right now.

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What are you thinking and doing on all these issues?  I’d like to know!  Please comment on this post, or any earlier one (suggestions for relieving food insecurity perhaps?). Just go to moreonce.blogspot.com.  

Thanksgiving: still alive, still grateful

                                                                                           HSI pic

It’s nearly Thanksgiving – a blessedly non-sectarian holiday-invitation to think about all we’re grateful for.  This year, it could be very simple: we’re still alive!   

An added benefit is looking at ourselves and others with heightened appreciation.  What were annoyances before (say, dentist appointments) suddenly become welcome distractions from precautions and worry.  Other living creatures are even more cherished because we’re here to cherish them.  Life goes on. 

And may it long continue, so we may continue to be thrilled by the kinds of animal-world marvels described here. 

                                                                         NYT pic

Humans recently discovered another proof that ancient people were as much into cats as we are.  A huge feline figure about 40 yards long and thought to date back to 200 BC-100 BC was found on a hillside in Peru.  

It joins numerous other larger-than-life geoglyphs portraying myriad animals, spiders to alpacas to fish. Together, they comprise what are known as the “Nazca lines,” first discovered in 1927.
 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/19/world/americas/peru-cat-nazca-lines-nasca.html?               campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20201020&instance_id=23299&nl=the- morning&regi_id=20760274&section_index=2&section_name=the_latest_news&segment_id=41591&te=1&user_id=a360dad7b26df61ea65737080d3deedd

Bring on Thanksgiving, so needed this year.  Much as the CDC urges people not to gather in groups for their health’s sake, the ASPCA warns against four harmful foods for pets this holiday season: (1) onions and garlic, (2) animal bones, (3) bouillon and (4) baked goods.  Worst case, an animal poison control center number is included.  

 https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/4-harmful-thanksgiving-foods-pets?utm_campaign=Tox%20Insider&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=99627958&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8_W5dMGX2otP-nJw6rexte3J24i01irvTLrQa1qYVkQvnkWj0QFOGPZCNpchFuf2gkV2nU19dg9HVNx-2cAZkc_33rEg&utm_content=99627640&utm_source=hs_email

“Freeing turkeys” (or “pardoning” them – ha! when it’s people who need pardoning for raising them to be eaten, and then doing so) is a nice-enough but minimal good deed.  Here’s another approach to freeing these sentient beings from the holiday feast:  https://dawnwatch.com/turkey-rescue/

That link leads to “DawnWatch Turkey Rescue,” where you need only to click on the video at the top: “DawnWatch Guide to Holiday Turkey Preparation.”  Prepare to be amazed.

Major Biden

Dogs & cats

My last post featured Champ Biden, one of the two family German shepherds the Bidens will bring with them to the White House.  I’ve since found a good image of Major, the younger dog, who will be the first shelter dog ever to live in the president’s mansion.  (canine poetic justice!) 

Please remember that November is “adopt an older cat month.”  It’s a great time to bring a homeless cat home for the holidays – and beyond!

Hippos au naturel

“The hippo has long been an enigma: an aquatic mammal that cannot swim, a vegetarian that is also the most dangerous animal in Africa.”  That sentence alone was enough to get my attention and prompt me to watch Hippos: Africa’s River Giants (PBS, Nature), a 55-minute documentary narrated by David Attenborough.

Hippos

Although hippos are “utterly dependent on water,” they must somehow survive when the deep floodwaters they move through gradually dry up.  The film features aerial tracking of hippos in Botswana, moving along watery channels they create by traveling through grasses around the nearby river.

No, they don’t swim through those channels – they walk or run underwater along the paths, and from above resemble swift dark torpedoes.

William

Hippos includes how they protect their families and fight their enemies.  It also shows that these animals are not lovely in any traditional way!  Any resemblance between them and “William,” the blue faience hippo who’s the unofficial mascot of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, is purely coincidental.

Animal sightings

Recently spotted: two creatures I’ve rarely seen.  First, early one morning, a hawk sat on our backyard fence, looking straight ahead– very much in charge, very understandably frightening to smaller birds and creatures.  S/he quickly flew off, maybe seeing my movement at the window.

Next was a pheasant – not seen in years -- on a school’s wooded property.  Fewer kids around may mean more pheasants. 

Albino squirrel

Finally, a second-hand sighting reported by a friend who sent a photo: an albino squirrel who lives in Burlington County, NJ.  (Wonder whether s/he likes peanuts too.)

 

 

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If you’d like to comment on this or any post here, please go to 1moreonce.blogspot.com.

Relieving ‘food-insecurity’ & savoring good animal news

                                                         Catster pic

TV newscasts show long lines of cars and pedestrians waiting in line for help at foodbanks.  Volunteers stand outside supermarkets collecting food contributions for area charities.  Countless people are out of work, and in fearful numbers, they and their families are hungry. 

“Food insecurity”: an ominous and most unhappy term.  But in these days of Covid-19 and economic crisis, it’s a reality for innumerable people – and their pets.  When people must struggle to feed themselves, it’s a safe bet they’re also struggling to feed their family pets.

Catster online magazine reports that “The ASPCA recently released new data showing that more than 4.2 million pets in the U.S. are likely to enter poverty in the next six months because of COVID-19. . . . and the total number of animals living in poverty with their owners could rise to more than 24.4 million dogs, cats, horses and other animals -- a 21 percent increase in the number of animals living in poverty compared to pre-COVID estimates [in February 2020].”

In short, according to an ASPCA official, “The number of families who may be struggling to care for their pets is staggering.” 

       Alley Cat Allies pic

What to do?  First of all, if you are one of the many people experiencing food insecurity, don’t be embarrassed to look for help feeding your beloved pets.  This situation is real and it’s happening all over.  To find resources, the ASPCA advises starting by searching for food pantries (google “pet food pantry near me”).  Some local shelters run food banks and pantries, and veterinarians can also make suggestions. 

Check the aisles in pet stores like PetSmart and Petco for samples to stock up on.  Those stores may also have coupons you can use.  And/or, phone your favorite cat food vendor to ask about coupons and free samples. 

Pet-related “organizations are here to help,” the ASPCA says.  That’s what they’re all about.  (Readers: If you have more suggestions for food-insecure people and their pets, please share them by commenting here!) 

https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/how-to-feed-your-cat-if-youre-food-insecure?utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=Catster%20Ful%20List90%20Day%20Engaged%20and%2010%20Day%20New%20Signups&utm_campaign=CED20201030

White House dogs

There’s enough good animal news around to savor and lift our crisis-depressed spirits for a while.  So let’s “accentuate some positives.” 

Champ Biden

First of all, get ready to meet Champ and Major, who will move into the White House in January.  German Shepherd members of the Biden family, they’ll be the first dogs in residence since the Obama administration.  Champ’s the older one (12), while Major’s a young adult (2) and will be the first shelter dog to live there. 

Maybe Major’s special status will encourage more people to “adopt, not shop.”  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/08/us/politics/biden-dogs.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20201109&instance_id=23933&nl=the-morning&regi_id=20760274&segment_id=44007&te=1&user_id=a360dad7b26df61ea65737080d3deedd

And on the subject of adopting, November is “Adopt a senior cat month” – an idea that’s both wise and humane.  Typically, senior cats are already trained and they are who they are, so no wondering what a kitten may grow into.  Seniors are often more needy; they may have been abandoned or suffered the loss of previous owners.  And for lack of someone to adopt and love them, they may be threatened with euthanasia instead of being able to enjoy their “golden years.”  

Save-a-swan

                         NYT pic

Here’s a hypothetical animal-in-need problem for you: In the midst of a bike ride, you come upon a swan who is clearly ill and needs medical attention asap.  How can you possibly help her?   

As with the young woman in the story below, it’s an easy decision to help.  Then, with the swan (uncharacteristically docile) wrapped in her jacket, she traveled 23 miles by foot, car and subway to get her to help.  Holding on to her bicycle throughout the trip! 

“At the end of the day,” the swan was being cared for at an animal rehab center and the woman was happy to have spent the day enjoying nature – and saving a life.  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/10/nyregion/swan-jamaica-bay-rescue.html?campaign_id=2&emc=edit_th_20201112&instance_id=23996&nl=todaysheadlines&regi_id=20760274&segment_id=44281&user_id=a360dad7b26df61ea65737080d3deedd

Kitten rescue

New York’s subway ridership may be a bit thin these days, but it’s been swelled lately by the swan mentioned above and a rescued stray kitten being bottle-fed.  Here’s the Dodo story about a  man who saved the kitten, then matter-of-factly took care of her. 

Saluting people who become animal heroes! 

                                                                      Dodo pic

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With suggestions for food-insecure pet-owners or with other thoughts to share, please comment at  1moreonce.blogspot.com.