Power in activist numbers helps pass life-saving law

Numbers of animal activist-heroes played a major role in NJ’s “trunk-fighting” bill recently signed into law by Gov. Murphy.  Effective immediately, this animal cruelty offense is now a felony of the third degree.   https://tinyurl.com/kee5f5e7

“The underground barbaric practice of forcing dogs into the trunk of a car to fight to the death is cruel and inhumane,” said Laurie Perla, of the Animal Protection League of NJ (www.APLNJ.org).

Once the animals are locked in the trunk, the vehicle is driven around to evade police and gamblers bet on which animal will survive once the fighting sounds stop.

Perla led the drive for passage from the bill’s inception months ago, monitoring its move through legislative committees, then the Assembly and the Senate.  She worked directly with Senator Tom Kean (R-21), who championed the legislation by pushing it through committees and working the political end, along with Assemblyman Ronald Dancer (R-12), whose leadership brought in the Assembly.

The legislation earned widespread bipartisan support (“26 co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle!” Perla exclaimed), moving unanimously through the entire process.  

Perla serves as APLNJ’s legislative liaison and as a regional legislative district director with League of Humane Voters-NJ.  Thanks to her spirited efforts – and those of the myriad animal activists she motivated to speak up against “trunking” and for dogs -- those who gambled on this heinous practice will now face justice.    

“The Animal Protection League of NJ was at the forefront of this legislative effort, and with tenacity, persistence and your help, it crossed the finish line,” said Executive Director Angi Metler. 

She also cited APL’s efforts on other fronts, including black bear protection, subsidizing spay/neuter for community cats, filing lawsuits on animals’ behalf and helping pay vet bills for those in need.  All such efforts are supported by organization members.  

Cats’ dream home

Not just cats, but “cat people” too would love this house, filled with felines!  While the homeowner also has an altruistic reason for this home, the place itself is a dream for “cat ladies” and gentlemen, as well.

Just look at those wall shelves and steps, then look at the walls around you as you read this post: see many vertical benefits for the cats in your life?  Right, I thought not.

It’s the same here: although I can see where wall steps could be placed, it hasn’t happened, and it’s probably just a very lucky thing that Harry and Billy Summers haven’t had play dates in homes like the one featured.  They’d never forgive us.

Twenty-two rescue cats enjoy this stimulating indoor habitat, and you can bet they don’t sleep their days away.  Just think: they can explore their whole house, not just the floor.

It’s all the work of Peter Cohen, of Santa Barbera, CA, who admits to having a never-ending hobby: building more and more walks, cubbies, bridges, tunnels and hideaways. . . for cats.

He also has a “cat cause”: finding a cure for Feline Infectious Peritonitis, or FIP — a rare mutation of a common feline virus that affects only about one in 5,000 cats, is almost always fatal and tends to be more prevalent in environments with multiple cats. 

Now take a house tour . . . and consider how to add to your own – and your cats’ – home!  

https://tinyurl.com/36hv4yee

Poem repeat

After my last post, I learned that the type size for the poem was uncomfortably small for some readers.  For that reason, I’m reprinting “Vanishing” below -- larger, I hope, because it’s too good to miss.

Back next month to continue posting here.  Meanwhile, if you have comments or suggestions, please go to 1moreonce.blogspot.com and let me know!

 

Vanishing

by Brittney Corrigan

 

^{Nearly one-third of the wild birds in the United States 
and Canada have vanished since 1970, a staggering 
loss that suggests the very fabric of North America’s 
ecosystem is unraveling.  
              –The New York Times (September 19, 2019)}

As the world’s cities teem
with children—flooding 
our concrete terrains with shouts 
and signs—as the younglings balance 
scribbled Earths above their heads, 
stand in unseasonal rain 
or blistering sun,

the birds quietly lessen 
themselves among the grasslands. 
No longer a chorus but a lonely,
indicating trill: Eastern meadowlark,
wood thrush, indigo bunting—
their voices ghosts in the 
chemical landscape of crops.

Red-winged blackbirds veer
beyond the veil. Orioles 
and swallows, the horned lark
and the jay. Color drains from
our common home so gradually,
we convince ourselves 
it has always been gray.

Little hollow-boned dinosaurs,
you who survived the last extinction, 
whose variety has obsessed 
scientific minds, whose bodies 
in the air compel our own bodies
to spread and yearn—
how we have failed you.

The grackles are right to scold us, 
as they feast on our garbage 
and genetically-modified corn. 
Our children flock into the streets 
with voices raised, their anger 
a grim substitute
for song.

 

(Copyright © 2021 by Brittney Corrigan.  Originally published in Poem-a-Day on May 8, 2021, by the Academy of American Poets.)

Fish & birds, minus all but human beasts this time

Buffalo

“Beast, bird or fish?”  I recognized the words, but didn’t remember where from.  (Did any readers?)  Only after I decided those three categories describe much of what I write about here in AnimalBeatII, Google officially answered that question, describing a game we’ve probably all played (one that sounds ridiculously easy, btw.)   https://tinyurl.com/2ay8jppy

True, there have been many more “beasts” featured here than fish or birds.  So today’s post ignores beasts (such a negative word to describe what are often majestic and/or magnificent animals) and touches on both fish and birds.

Fish first.  Let’s go with “glowing sharks.”  If you didn’t know sharks can glow, you’re not alone; some of them don’t just hunt; they also lighten up their surroundings.  And “the largest glow-in-the-dark species with a spine – on land or sea” -- was recently discovered off the coast of New Zealand. 

Kitefin sharks, which can grow to nearly six feet in length, emit blue-green light.  Their bioluminescence is far from exclusive, though: a wide array of other organisms—bacteria to fireflies to squid – can also glow.  (So ends this glowing report, for now!)   https://tinyurl.com/h5h8v75s

Despite their robust appearance, manatees are not as healthy as they may look.  In South Florida’s waterways, they are dying in much greater numbers than has occurred over the last five years. 

Why?  Manatees are starving because sea grass, their main source of nutrition, is in short supply.  And why is that?  An ingredient in Roundup, the notorious herbicide, runs off from fields into waterways, where it helps fuel algae blooms that block sunlight from the sea grass, inhibiting photosynthesis.

So, sea grass supplies are dwindling and manatees, however loved by Floridians, are starving.  Still other causes could include sewage pollution from septic tanks.  It’s not a pretty picture. 

https://tinyurl.com/2m4c48fb

Which brings us to birds, in another un-pretty picture that paints the way of the world these days.  This poem sketches the current scene, one the TV newscaster about to show human violence could also warn about: “The images that follow may be disturbing.”

Vanishing

 

by Brittney Corrigan

 

Nearly one-third of the wild birds in the United States  and Canada have vanished since 1970, a staggering  loss that suggests the very fabric of North America’s  ecosystem is unraveling.  –The New York Times (9-19-19) Meadowlark As the world’s cities teem with children—flooding  our concrete terrains with shouts  and signs—as the younglings balance  scribbled Earths above their heads,  stand in unseasonal rain  or blistering sun,   the birds quietly lessen  themselves among the grasslands.  No longer a chorus but a lonely, indicating trill: Eastern meadowlark, wood thrush, indigo bunting— their voices ghosts in the  chemical landscape of crops. Red-winged blackbirds veer beyond the veil. Orioles  and swallows, the horned lark and the jay. Color drains from our common home so gradually, we convince ourselves  it has always been gray.   Little hollow-boned dinosaurs, you who survived the last extinction,  whose variety has obsessed  scientific minds, whose bodies  in the air compel our own bodies to spread and yearn— how we have failed you.   The grackles are right to scold us,  as they feast on our garbage  and genetically-modified corn.  Our children flock into the streets  with voices raised, their anger  a grim substitute for song.

(Copyright © 2021 by Brittney Corrigan. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on May 8, 2021, by the Academy of American Poets.) 

 

 

Cerulean warbler

 

Readers, if you're seeing any truly “pretty pictures” for animal life on earth right now, please share with us!  Go to 1moreonce.blogspot.com.

 

 

 

 

Animals’ music prefs, cicada concert & marvelous moms

It’s said that “Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast.” (Congreve, 1697)  If that’s so, just imagine how much good music must do for a gentle breast.  But don’t simply imagine, look!   

                                 Classic(al) cows                     NYTimes pic

Farm cows’ breasts (very un-savage) were further soothed by music students from the Scandinavian Cello School who perform for them in the Danish village of Lund.  After learning that neighboring farmers like classical music, the school’s founder and his students started weekly performances there.

While some humans attend the recitals, it all began with the cows.  The animals appeared to love the music, rushing toward the musicians when they arrived.  (This fun story comes with terrific images too.)  https://tinyurl.com/3xwbwu2h

Cows aren’t the only animals who prefer classical music.  Cats’ taste for music has been explored in a number of studies, with classical music (“more relaxed response”) coming out ahead of pop (a “meh” reaction), while heavy metal produced “increased respiratory rate and pupil diameter, indicating a stress response,” according to Fear Free Shelters.

However, a different study evaluated how cats respond to classical music compared with cat-specific music (not cat sounds, but music featuring pitch, tempo, and timbre that cats find naturally appealing, like “the tempo of purring, the suckling sound during nursing, and frequencies in feline vocal range, which is two octaves higher than for humans”).

More cats displayed positive responses toward the specialized cat music than the classical selections, and researchers concluded that playing such music in waiting rooms reduces anxiety and increases the quality of cat care in the vet clinic.  https://www.fearfreehappyhomes.com/who-we-are/

Cicadas in concert

As a prelude to what we’ll hear from Brood X, the 17-year cicadas due to surface any day now, I recommend this article-with-sound effects created by cicadas and the human musician-writer, with some musical friends, collaborating with these lovelorn insect visitors.  . . .   https://tinyurl.com/3wtmtp7e

Saluting moms

Finally for this Mothers Day, here’s a collection of videos about marvelous moms in the animal world.  https://tinyurl.com/j8amtf

Pups with wolf mom 
 

 If you’d like to comment, just go to 1moreonce.blospot.com.   

Cicadas & elephants . . . & New Jersey’s black bears

                                                        Wikipedia pic

“Cicadas are coming! Cicadas are coming!”  Hmmmm. . . .  That doesn’t sound as scary as “The British are coming!” does it?  But with or without Brits, we’re bound to  get to know cicadas this summer.  And hear them – by the billions!

“Brood X” will emerge any time now after 17 years in waiting, and they’re desperately in love.  To attract mates, the cicadas will climb trees and make a big racket – some calls can reach more than 100 decibels.  Each.

Their ardor, and noise, will continue for up to six weeks, till they mate and lay eggs that hatch into nymphs who then burrow back into the ground for another 17 years.  That’s it.  

Cicadas don’t bite, sting or damage fields or gardens.  They’re not interested in humans or food -- just starting “families.”  In fact, they themselves serve as food for foxes, birds and raccoons. 

Once the soil temperature is warm enough for them, Brood X will appear in 15 states and DC, including NJ and our neighbors.  Most active between 10 am-5pm, cicadas might accidentally land on people en route to a would-be rendezvous.  Not to worry: they want to move on at least as much as we want them to.  

                      Chicago Sun Times pic

Where were you 17 years ago when we had our last Brood X visit?  I still vividly remember walking into The Princeton Packet building one day when its black-topped entryway was covered with cicadas, like a very bumpy, crunchy rug – that’s how thick they were.  

Take heart: the cicadas are expected to be gone by July 4, appropriately enough, Independence Day!  After that, fans of the red-eyed insects will have to wait till 2038 for another visit.

The website below includes info, photos and a great video that prompts what I’ll call “cicada empathy” – it’s sad!      https://tinyurl.com/264shykk

More on elephants

From small insects to the largest land mammal, here’s a look back at elephant news from the April 24 Wildlife Conservation Expo.  Save the Elephants (STE) reported that in Tsavo (northern Kenya), poachers are no longer the main problem elephants face.

Instead, it’s elephant-human conflicts stemming from in farming and development. Elephants break into people’s mud huts as well as their crop fields, sometimes causing local people to retaliate. 

African elephants

To protect elephants from angry locals -- “to ensure that elephants have a future on our planet,” as The Elephant Crisis Fund (an offshoot of STE) has it – beehive fences are being used to deter bee-fearing elephants.  A smelly elephant repellent is in play, as are elephant watch towers and growing chiles, sunflowers and sisal to keep them away from huts and fields. 

In other news, forest elephants have only recently been determined to be a different species, genetically different from savanna elephants  They have smaller bodies, rounder ears and straighter tusks.

And they are critically endangered, just one step from extinction in the wild.  Sadly, it will be harder to save forest elephants because they wait longer to reproduce (6 years) and many of them live outside protected areas, making them more vulnerable to poachers.  

It’s obvious that conservation efforts for elephants everywhere must expand and continue. https://tinyurl.com/yysd5uhu

Please care for our bears!  

APLNJ.org

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