For The Love Of Animals

Pet Of The Week

2007-04-27T09:06:00.000-05:00

Introducing This Weeks Pet Of The Week….
Samantha “Sam” Frawley

Samantha was rescued from the pound when she was about a year old.
Breed: Dalmatian mix.
Age: 7 years old
Location: Connecticut, USA
Favorite Toy: Her rope and tennis ball
Funny Trick: Can open the sliding glass door and walk herself
Human: Greg Frawley
Other Pack Members: Buck (Tina’s dog) who is Samantha’s cousin

Do you have a pet you would like featured as "Pet Of The Week"?

Send me an email at tinafrawley06@yahoo.com. (Put "Pet of the week" in the subject line.)
Include a photo, pet's name, name of the pet's humans, breed, age, favorite toy or game, other interesting or fun fact, and a background or story you would like to share.
Try to keep it under 350 words! Then check back every Friday to see if your pet is pet of the week!

Monday's are endangered animal/specie day here at For The Love Of Animals. Each week we talk about an endangered animal and how you can help save them! Be sure to bookmark this site and check back for that as well!

Happy trails and tails!
Tina

Pet Of The Week

2007-05-04T07:44:00.000-05:00

Introducing...... BLUE!

Blue is this weeks Pet Of The Week!

Here is Blue's story according to her human, Tweak.

We got Blue the day after my Great-Grandma passed away, which is why Blue has always been special to my family. She was about one and came from the humane society. The way I figure it, the cutest animals and the most playful ones will be adopted quickly and easily. With this in mind, I’ve always looked for the animals that really need a family, which is also why all of our pets have some sort of story behind them, but I digress.

We saw Blue just sitting in the back corner of her cage. It seemed that all the noise and ruckus, the pound was pretty full at the time, was just too much for her. When we would call her, she would just stay in corner and not come near the front by us. She was the most adorable dog in the pound, but if she wasn’t going to be people friendly, it would be hard for her to find a family.

We decided to take her outside and play with her for a few minutes to see if maybe she would warm up to us. After a couple minutes, she was walking to us when we called her, but still no barking or jumping. In spite of her introverted attitude, she was just too darn cute to leave there, so home she went. It took a little while, but she did warm up to us. I remember the time when she first really barked, it almost scared the rest of the family. We didn’t know what to expect, but since she can’t keep her high, pitched trap shut, we almost wish she’d go back to not talking at all. (Just kidding)

Finding out Blue was blind was one of the scariest moments I remember. She was running around, just fine for the most part. We’d laugh if she bumped into something once in awhile, since dogs do that anyways. When it got to the point that she couldn’t see her treats, but instead, would sniff around for them, then I got really worried. I called my mom at work right away when I thought something was wrong, and the next day she was in the vet. Since most veterinarians are the animal equivalent of general practitioners for humans, the doctor sent us to an eye specialist in Milwaukee. I love my baby girl to death, but it is so hard to get a blind dog to sit down in a car for an hour, that’s for sure.

The eye specialist looked into her eyes for a minute and knew exactly what was wrong. It’s a genetic disease called Retinal Degenerative Disorder, and there was nothing we could have done to stop it. With vitamins, we may have been able to slow it down, but that’s not likely and would’ve resulted in the same ending anyways. I just started crying. I couldn’t help it. The nurse told me most people start crying and blame themselves, but it is really nobody’s fault. I didn’t believe her. Still not sure if I believe there was nothing I could have done, I mean, it is the year 2007 after all. The reason we didn’t notice until she was almost completely blind was because Australian Cattle Dogs are smart and adapt so well, even though dogs in general adapt very well. She’s been going blind and just couldn’t tell us, pretty much.

We still play fetch, I just have to make sure the ball makes enough sound for her to hear, but she’s not much of a ‘favorite toy’ kind of dog. She will growl and gnash her teeth at you, playful, of course, when she playing, it just stings more if she nips you since she can’t see where your hand is. It’s an adjusting period, but she’s handling it much better than we are, so I think she will be just fine. Thanks for the chance to allow me to share Blue’s story with you and your readers.

Thank you Tweak for sharing Blue's Story! If you would like to read more by Blue's human, visit Tweak's Associated Content page.

If you would like your pet to be Pet of the Week, just send an email to TinaFrawley@gmail.com. Be sure to include "Pet Of The Week" in the subject line. Tell us your pet's name, age, location, favorite toy, cool trick, etc., along with the name of your pet's human. You can write 350 words or less about your pet to include! Then check back each Thursday to see when your pet is "Pet of the Week." We WILL get to everyone's pet.....just keep checking back.

Happy Trails and Tails!

Tina, Jerry & Buck (Tweak and Blue)

Veggie Bites - Quinoa

2007-05-10T09:11:00.000-05:00

by Jerry Frawley

This week we delve into the wonderful and lesser known world of quinoa (Pronounced Keen-Wa; say it and you will already love it). Quinoa is a grain, somewhat like rice, and cooks like rice but it has a slight nutty flavor. The Incas, who held the crop sacred, as do I called it “chisaya mama” which means the mother of all grains.

Quinoa’s nutritional value is second to none, for a grain it has an 18% protein ratio which is quite high for a grain. It contains a perfect balance of amino acids, making it one of the most complete foods on the planet. It also has a high fiber value which in our opinion is exactly what is missing from the American diet, because we are fighting a tough battle with the major producers of food are shoving over processed sugar in fancy boxes and calling it grains.

In addition Quinoa is not just for dinner as some side dish, it is easy to prepare and using different ingredients can be a delicious lunch, casserole, or even a great substitute for oatmeal for breakfast.

Finding quinoa is not hard anymore. Most grocery stores will carry it in the rice aisle, if not you should find it situated in the health aisle, where it belongs because it is truly health food. I hope you will go out and buy a box and cook it up tonight. You will need only water or some vegetable broth to prepare it and it will take 15 minutes of your life to make this super food. Below are some examples of what you can, and what I do with it every week.

Quinoa Casserole: (shown below is Inca Red Quinoa made by Jerry!!)

Preheat Oven to 350

1 cup of broccoli
1 can of chick peas
1 can of diced tomatoes (drained of most of its juice)
1 cup of low-fat shredded cheddar
1 ½ cup quinoa (Add to 3 cups of water/broth, bring to boil, turn down to simmer and cover for 15 minutes)
Couple shots of hot sauce (Optional)

Mix together, add to 8 X 8 Casserole dish, and bake for 25 minutes. Makes 8 side dishes or 4 main dishes.

Supercharged Breakfast

1 cup cooked Quinoa
½ cup of Soy milk (Vanilla flavored)
½ cup of your favorite fruit
Microwave for 1 minute and enjoy!!

Keep in mind any rice dish you have replace it with the same ratio of quinoa and you have a different twist on your old favorite recipes.

I promise once you try quinoa you will never look at grains the same and will never want those sugar laden white grains again. Next week we will look into the humble chick pea. Until then remember, animals belong on our laps, not our bellies!! Happy eating everyone.

Do you have something you would like us to talk about on Veggie Bites? Drop Jerry an e-mail at JerryFrawley@gmail.com and be sure to put "Veggie Bites" in the subject line. You can send a question, topic suggestion, recipe idea, or comments. Be sure to check back every Thursday to see what great meatless information Jerry has to share with us!

Pet Of The Week

2007-05-18T18:28:00.000-05:00

The Pet Of The Week this week is Boots!

Boots, who is about 11 years old, lives in Pennsylvania with his humans Bob and Linda. His siblings are Scooter and Bailey (both cats). Boots was found at the Humane League by his older brother Leo, also a rescued cat. Human Bob brought Leo down to the Humane League and Leo picked Boots to go home with them. When Leo passed away in '97, Boots picked Scooter to come home from the Humane League. Several years later, human Linda moved in with Baily. All three cats get along great!

Boots likes to be lazy, watch birds and sun himself on the back deck. He loves to chase string and anything else that moves!

Do you have a pet you would like to see featured on Pet Of The Week? Send me an email at TinaFrawley@gmail.com. Be sure to include your pets name, age, name of his/her humans, favorite toy, cool trick, or anything else you would like to share with us. Send along your favorite photo as an attachment. Put "Pet Of The Week" in the subject line. We have lots of pets worthy of being the Pet Of The Week so keep checking on Friday's to see if your pet is Pet Of The Week!

Happy Trails & Tails,
Tina & Boots

Never Leave A Pet In The Car...Seriously

2007-07-06T20:28:00.000-05:00

It amazes me….every year there are pets left in cars during the summer. This kills hundreds of pets every year!!! Just this past weekend Jerry and I passed a dog in a car when the heat was at 86 degrees. We did not stop knowing we would pass back by in a few minutes and thankfully the dog and car were gone. Had the car still been there….I won’t lie…there would have been a scene. I can’t stand how people can say they love animals, especially their pets, and then they leave them in the car, in the hot weather.

So please, PLEASE, do not leave your pet in the car. This is especially true in the summer. While I admit I let Buck hang out in the truck once, the truck was running with him locked inside (I took the other key with me) and the A/C was on. I parked the truck so I could see him, and I ran inside Starbucks to get him fresh water and maybe (probably) half of a bagel for being such a good boy at the Veterinarian. It’s the people who park their car and think a cracked window will be okay for 20-30 minutes. The heat in the summer can be atrocious. I know because when Jerry turns the car off to pump gas, I find myself opening the car door sometimes because I can’t stand the heat.

I can’t imagine how I would feel with fur.

Happy Trails & Tails,

Tina

Why Buck Does Not Eat Off The Table!

2007-06-13T13:58:00.000-05:00

Before I met and married my husband Jerry, our dog Buck and I lived at home with my parents and sister. It was a two story house on a quiet street and Buck loved living there. It did not take long to figure out why….

Do you remember in Father of the Bride when George Banks walks into the house and everyone is coming at him with different problems regarding the wedding? George just walked through the house in a daze before freaking out, taking off, and getting arrested because of superfluous hot dog buns…..(you really have to see the movie)

I felt like George Banks the day I came home to have my sister announce “Buck can eat up to 4 hot dogs at one time,” only to have my mother come back with complaints of new holes in her flower bed. Just when I thought I had collected my thoughts and was going to take Buck on a long walk (in case the hot dogs returned and to fill in the dirt holes) my dad walks in and tells me Buck already returned the hot dogs….on my bedroom floor.

Nice huh? The reason Buck was sick was because dogs are not meant to eat human food. When I told this to my mother she had a confession…when she came home for lunch each day she was cooking for two. I looked at her and shook my head. If I was at work, my sister was school, and my dad was also at work, she was cooking for Buck.

Yes, the first few years of Buck’s life included tuna melts and hot dogs, but now he strictly eats dog food and the occasional Frosty Paw (ice cream for dogs). Dogs cannot digest human food like we can. Chocolate can kill them, and dairy is just not digestible.

Because dogs do not know any better, we have to be responsible and not feed them human food. There is one (and only one) exception to this rule….wait….on his birthday he gets cake and pizza crusts….oh and the occasional bagel at Starbucks….but you get the point.

Here is the one time (other than the aforementioned): Dogs who are overweight and need to lose weight may be told by their vets to eat fruits and vegetables to help reduce weight. Buck does love his carrots and grapes, but when he gets those, we reduce his dry food (just a little) and only do this as a treat.

As if health is not the only reason. Who has not been to a friend’s house to have their dog try and take food from you? I have! It’s annoying trying to fight a 135 pound Rottweiler for my dinner…but her humans feed her off their plates, so the dog does not know better (boy was she in for a shock when she stayed with us!)

So, for the sake of your dog’s health and your friendships…please do not feed your dog human food…especially off the table!

Happy Trails & Tails,
Tina
(Jerry & Buck)

Veggie Bites - “The Gout”

2007-06-10T19:55:00.000-05:00

I have always been older then my age. I had a gallbladder issue years ago, and then I had constant bouts with “The Gout”. Now these issues are usually saved for the elder society and I being only thirty was starting to wonder what the deuce?

Doctors were usually unhelpful in this matter, telling me to lose ten pounds, or do not eat shell fish after five pm or some gibberish. In the end it was one dietary change that I made that made “the gout” go away and stay away. I only wish I figured it out before I let those surgeons take out my gall bladder which in my opinion was simply responding to my bad dietary choice and would have probably been just fine after this break through dietary change.

What is this change you ask, or maybe you have guessed already? I became a vegetarian, that’s it! Seems simple does it not? I wish these “doctors” could have spent more than the usual 3 minutes with me, then maybe instead of simply saying lose 10 pounds, they could have suggested the many articles written on how the human body never was meant to eat animals.

In case you are unaware, The Gout is a very painful form of arthritis that affects the foot, in particular the big toe. Uric Acid is the culprit; it builds on the system when you eat foods that have a purine level. People used to think it was only in rich foods, which is true, but when you dissect the rich foods into the ingredients you will find the real problem, animals and animal by-products.

Protein in the form of animal protein such as milk, cheese, and especially chicken are killers when it comes to purine count. I used to eat chicken in at least two meals a day, and wonder why my foot was hurting so much. When I made the switch to the vegetarian I was not even thinking about “The Gout” but it is just another perk that I wanted to share with the For the Love of Animals Gang. Thank you and I hope you find this information helpful.

Next week, we will be back to normal foods, and recipes. Until then remember animals belong in our laps, not in our bellies.

Happy Trails & Tails,
Jerry

The Proof Is In The Puppy

2007-06-04T09:04:00.000-05:00

For years I have been telling my husband Jerry, our dog “Buck” is smarter than he gives Buck credit for….and now I have my proof.

A new science experiment has shown us dogs are able to do things once thought only done by humans. Dogs are now showing us they can imitate behavior under certain circumstances. This information comes when a multitude of other information shows us dogs have complex cognitive abilities.

Scientists trained one dog to move different objects using either a paw or her mouth. Instinctively dogs prefer to use their mouth to their paws if possible. Other dogs were shown the trained dog to see if they would imitate her. When the trained dog used her mouth, the others imitated using their mouths. When the trained dog used her paws, the other dogs still used their mouths most of the time. Scientists say it is because these dogs are reasoning that the trained dog used her paws because she had no choice. Scientists also reason dogs used their mouths, even after the trained dog used her paw, because they knew it would accomplish the same task, and the test dog would have used her mouth if she could have.

Some scientists argue that humans see a dog doing this and apply human reasoning to why the dog is doing these actions. More research is necessary to prove dogs are using cognitive thought to complete these imitating tasks.

Until then, I will continue to argue Buck is just the smartest dog my husband or I ever met!

For more information click here.

Happy Trails & Tails,

Tina

Veggie Bites - Mushrooms

2007-06-03T08:52:00.000-05:00

by Jerry Frawley

There is much to be said about the mushroom, that I even think those meat eaters out there would want to hear. Mushrooms come in several edible varieties, and can be used in all kinds of cooking styles. Most people see a majority of mushroom used in Chinese and Japanese cooking and think that’s where it ends, but the mushroom is so versatile, you could add it to pretty much anything you want to add a healthy treat to your veggie meals.

Besides tasting good, studies show the mushroom is helping prevent breast cancer, prostate cancer, as well as help prevent heart disease, obesity, and lower blood pressure.

Mushrooms are grown in mushroom farms for the purpose of human consumption. Do not go out and simply pick mushrooms you find in the woods; only an expert can identify the edible mushrooms. The ones you will most likely find in your store are white or button, portobello, shitake, oyster, and enoki.

There are so many things you can do with mushrooms and they all have their own textures and taste. For instance a portabella mushroom can be grilled up like a burger, topped with your favorite toppings and thrown on a hamburger bun; and I promise this would satisfy your pickiest eater.

Also for those people who enjoy a good hearty broth, you can not beat a mushroom broth. It has a deep, strong flavor that makes the moo-cow broth you might have enjoyed in the past seem like dirty water. I believe this so much I will give a quick recipe for you to try with your next soup.

The button or white mushrooms have the least taste but go well in salads raw for a good snap.

The oyster and crimini mushrooms are great for stir fry’s because they soak up the soy sauce with such balance that making a stir fry without them would simply be pointless in my opinion.

Porcini, which you will find in the broth are found mostly dry, but using some warm water they come alive quickly and the broth left over from the soaking is delicious.

Mushroom Broth

1 Medium Onion, chopped
2 Large Garlic Cloves
6 cups of Veggie Broth (The Best you can afford)
1 ¼ cups of dry porcini mushrooms
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1) Sauté garlic and onions until brown in large stockpot
2) Pour in broth and mushrooms
3) Bring to boil
4) Turn down, and simmer for 25-30 minutes
5) Yummy smell means it is done!

Please enjoy this broth, and I hope you take another look at the mushroom, you veggie world will not be the same. Till next time remember animals belong on our lap, not in our bellies!!

Happy Trails & Tails,

Jerry, Tina & Buck

Vegetarian & Vegan Products Please Stand Up

2007-06-02T17:40:00.000-05:00

There is nothing more frustrating than being in a hurry at the grocery store and not knowing which products are vegetarian or vegan. A petition is available and needs your signature. The petition is requesting:

“the food, cosmetic and body care companies voluntarily indicate on their products if they contain any animal by-products at all, that they do not contain animal ingredients except for dairy and egg products or that they do not contains any meat, fish or egg products or whether they are vegan or vegetarian.”

Not only does this help those of us who only want vegetarian or vegan products, but I believe it sends a message to companies not currently using vegetarian and vegan products. By asking for companies to label their products vegetarian or vegan, we are sending the message there is a market for these products. We want companies to know we refuse to harm animals for food, cosmetics and body care products. Will you please read through the petition and then sign it?

To sign this petition, please click here.

Here is the body of the petition:

Marking Vegetarian Products

We are requesting the food, cosmetic and body care companies to voluntarily indicate on their products if they contain any animal by-products at all, that they do not contain animal ingredients except for dairy and egg products or that they do not contains any meat, fish or egg products or whether they are vegan or vegetarian.

Various companies mark their products as Halal or Kosher so why do they not indicate whether their products are vegetarian when millions of people in the USA have this as their extremely strong religious and personal beliefs

For hundreds of millions of people around the world and for millions of people in the USA it is either their strong personal belief or their religious conviction to be a vegetarian and restrict themselves from meat, fish or eggs. Therefore it would be only common decency for US companies to clearly indicate on their products whether they are free of these products. In some countries in the world such as England food companies clearly indicate that they are vegetarian, so should not also US companies follow this compassionate path.

Also we request food, cosmetic, and body care companies to not indirectly lie to potential customers about the ingredients in their products by stating that they do not know what is in their products exactly, that it is not required by the FDA that they state what natural flavorings are, or that they cannot tell you if a product is vegetarian or not because of proprietary rights to protect the ingredients of their products. It is actually best for companies to be totally honest about which of their products are free of animal ingredient as any strict vegan or vegetarian will immediately not eat any food that they are not sure of.

In addition, as many people have health problems with meat, fish, egg and dairy products it would greatly help the public to know if these ingredients are in company products. Companies who hide these ingredients from the public or do not indicate these ingredients in their products because of technical rules should know that not only are they harming animals unnecessarily but that they can often cause great health problems with human being.

On our website at www.vegetarian-restaurants.net we are clearly indicating what products are free from meat, fish, eggs and dairy and most companies give us this information honestly and sincerely, so it would be the next major step for food, cosmetic and body care product companies to clearly mark this on all their products.

Please take a moment to sign this petition.

Happy Trails & Tails,

Tina

Today in Animal History

2007-06-02T07:46:00.000-05:00

Avon - first company to stop animal testing (1989)

June 2, 1989 was the day when Avon (cosmetics) became the first company to stop animal testing for their products.**

Avon is the proud recipient of the CAAT (Centre for Alternatives to Animal Testing) Award from John Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health. In 2005, Avon was also given an award from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) for the “Best Cruelty-Free Cosmetics” category.

Thank you Avon for being a leader and the first to step up for what is right for animals!
Congratulations on twelve years of animal testing free production!

** It is important to note the difference between companies who do not test on animals and do not use products from other companies who do not test on animals, versus companies who use products from other companies who DO test on animals. Be sure to check this information carefully when purchasing cosmetics.

A company can say they do not test on animals and while this statement is true, the companies who supply ingredients and supplies may still test on animals. Avon and their suppliers do not test on animals.

The Stupid Things Pet Owners Do

2007-06-01T19:17:00.000-05:00

I must share something with you, dear readers, which makes me very angry. It takes a lot to make me angry, until it comes to animals. If someone so much as looks at an animal the wrong way, I get upset. There is one person who summer after summer does something I must put a stop to. I am just waiting to find the right time.

When my husband and I were married in October 2003, we bought a condo in a small town in Connecticut. Like any small town, it has its quirks. The people in this little town are far from friendly and some, far from intelligent. I have a problem with people who own pickup trucks and put their dogs in the back (the bed) of the truck and drive around. I have to turn the other way when I see someone do this. Buck (our Yellow Lab) rides in the back seat of our pickup truck (it is a 4 door…which we bought….just for Buck….)

Buck has a seat belt for the truck and is in the safest place in the truck. If someone hits the truck from behind, there is 6 feet of bed to go through to get to him, and likewise from the front. The truck is pretty high up, so I feel safe bringing him with me. Still, I drive more cautiously with Buck in the truck and worry more for his safety.

Here is the problem I am having….

In this town, a woman who drives a convertible brings it out each summer. She has a dog, a Pomeranian she likes to bring with her all around town. I never see the car without the dog (in the summer) and the top down.

The top down is not my problem….

My problem is the woman allows her dog to stand up on the back of the convertible. If this woman slammed on her breaks, get rear ended, or the dog lose his/her balance, the dog could be killed. I cannot tell if the dog is on a leash (which if the dog goes flying off the car would kill it by choking it)

I see the woman driving around town a few times a week; the problem is I am always in my truck. Usually she is going the opposite direction. I have not had the chance to speak with her, but believe me I will!!! I do not know what exactly I am going to say but it has to stop. This woman drives around being a show off and thinking (I assume) this little stunt of hers is entertaining. Maybe she even thinks the dog likes it, but how would she feel if the dog were killed? I have no knowledge of any laws requiring pets to be belted in like children are required to be. There should however, be such laws.

What do you think? Please feel free to voice your opinion by replying to this post. Am I overreacting? Or does this woman need to be strapped on the hood of her own car for a spin? Tell me what you think!

Veggie Bites - “The Converters”

2007-05-24T15:51:00.000-05:00

There is a lot of babble I hear every day about how hard it is to stop eating meat and usually I roll an eye or two, however where is the spirit in that right? Why not help these poor animal eaters make the transition. I will admit I spent the better part of thirty years eating meat and never considering doing anything else until I started reading the facts and watching the videos showing how my burger was made and I never looked back. The thing was I never thought it was that hard, but I can understand how some meat eaters might have some trouble. Therefore, I want to show some great meat like products I use weekly that really help when your friends who have not been animal free converted yet and are having their holiday BBQ you will have some great choices.

First off, there is the chicken issue. “But I could not live without chicken.” I hear this once a week and I always point out two products: One is a company call Quorn (http://www.quorn.com). They make several different faux chicken products made out of a mushroom protein. It taste and looks basically like chicken with no weird fake chicken aftertaste that older veggie products sometimes have. Their breaded chicken is awesome and I do not miss the “real stuff” at all. All their products are great; they even make a turkey roast for Thanksgiving.

Next product I suggest is Morningstar farms products: (http://www.seeveggiesdifferently.com). In particular I would like to focus on the hot dogs. For me hot dogs with chili and cheese were my all time favorite comfort food. When I made the switch to the veggie lifestyle, hot dogs were the one thing I began to miss, and I went through many different fake hot dogs and mostly they taste like mush warmed over, not very appealing. Then my wife, the owner of this blog found Morningstar Farms hot dogs in the freezer and brought them home to me. I already found the best Vegan chili in the world in Amy’s Spicy Chili (http://www.amyskitchen.com) so all I needed was a hot dog. I cooked them up, got ready for more mush, but when I took a bite there was a snap, a hot dog snap, and it tasted awesome. I was very happy and I know you will be too.

All three of these companies make a plethora of products that I think would help any meat junkie convert. Check out these sites and just look at all the ways these products can help you change your eating habits. Below is my new comfort food recipe:

Chili Cheese Dog

2 Morningstar Farms Hot Dogs
1 Tablespoon Mustard (spicy)
1 Slice Veggie Cheese
2 Whole Wheat Rolls (I use Potato Rolls- a little smaller)
¼ cup of Amy’s Chili

1) Butterfly hot dogs and cook in pan with a little spray oil. They are already cooked so just cook until hot
2) Cut “dogs’ in half, place on rolls
3) Top with mustard, chili, and cheese
4) Microwave for 25 seconds
5) Enjoy the best chili dogs ever!!

Till next time, remember there are plenty of options for the meatless eater, you just have to look and I will be happy to help open the eyes of anyone out there that disagrees. Thank you for reading and remember that animals belong on our laps, not our bellies.

Do you have a topic or question for Veggie Bites? Feel free to contact Jerry at JerryFrawley@gmail.com. Be sure to put “Veggie Bites” in the subject line. Check back every Thursday to see if your question has been answered or topic covered. Remember, Friday is Pet of the Week and Monday is Endangered Specie Day.

Happy Trails & Tails,
Tina, Jerry & Buck

May 20-26, 2007 is National Dog Bite Prevention Week

2007-05-20T19:12:00.000-05:00

Through education and awareness, most dog bites can be prevented. An estimated 4.7 million Americans will be bit by a dog in 2007 alone. Most dog bite victims are children. An average of a dozen people will die this year from a dog attack. About 1 million people will require medical attention.

Here are some things everyone (this includes non-pet owners) should know about dog bite prevention.

Because children make up almost two-thirds of all dog bite victims, never leave children alone with a dog or dogs.
It is important to register your dog with the town you live in. This allows the town to keep track of the neighborhood dogs and ensure everyone is properly vaccinated and cared for. Your town should provide an identification tag and/or certificate proving you have registered with the town. Place the tag on your dogs leash and keep the certificate in a safe place.
Some towns provide you with a sticker to place inside your mailbox when you register your dog with them. This alerts postal carriers to a dog or dog(s) on the property. Be sure to place this sticker on the inside of the mailbox (or as instructed), on the door the mail carrier pulls down to place the mail inside the box. If your town does not supply you with this sticker, purchase a sticker, or make one alerting the postal carriers to the dog on the premises. Even if your dog is friendly and has never bitten anyone, it is better to let people know about your dog before something happens. This also helps substitute postal carriers who are not expecting Fido to bark when they are trying to bring your mail.
If your dog barks loudly or does not like people he or she does not know (as well as former attack dogs or retired police dogs) place a “Beware Of Dog” sign in a visible place for everyone to see. Even if your dog is friendly, these signs will alert people to the dog on the property.
Some dogs, including certain breeds and older dogs do not appreciate rowdy children in their presence. Place a fence around your property if this is the case. Small children do not understand boundary and property lines, and might walk right into your yard without warning. Protect yourself and others by putting a fence (not the invisible kind) around your yard.
Always supervise your pets when they are outside. Chaining a dog to a tree or other object is cruel to begin with, but an unsupervised pet is asking for trouble. Even if your pet is friendly, someone else can walk into or pass by your yard and upset your pet. Keep an eye on your pet and children. Bring everyone inside when you go inside.
Always obey leash laws, no matter how well your dog is behaved.
Neuter your dog. It has been proven that neutered dogs are less likely to bite.
Keep your dog healthy and current on his or her vaccinations. If a dog is not feeling well, it could cause him or her to become annoyed and bite someone it would otherwise be friendly to if your dog felt better.
Train your dog to obey commands and listen to you. A trained dog who respects his or her owner is less likely to bite a human.
Always properly socialize your dog. Socialization will make your dog feel relaxed around other dogs and people and reduces their chance of adverse behavior.
Teach children to never approach a pet (other than their own) without asking the owner first. Supervise them as they approach the dog. Show them how to let the dog smell them first and how to gently pet a puppy dog. Let children know it is not okay to pull ears and tails (no matter how much fun it might look like.)
If you are threatened by a dog, do not make eye contact, do not run, and do not scream. Stay as still as possible until the dog realizes you are not a threat and leaves.
If you or your family members are ever attacked by a dog, fall to the ground, curl up in a ball and protect your face. Seek medical attention immediately. If you know the dog or owner, be sure to let the police know about the incident.

Remember, even though Dog Bite Prevention Week is once a year, it is important to practice these tips all year long.

Happy Trails & Tails,
Tina

Endangered Specie of The Week

2007-05-21T17:21:00.000-05:00

This Weeks Endangered Specie of the Week is the Zebra

Zebra Fast Facts:

There are three (3) breeds of zebra
They live 25-30 years
Zebras live in groups called “herds” with an average of 14 members
The zebra grazes on grass for food and spends much of its day grazing
Hails from Africa
A mother zebra gives birth to one foal after 13 months of gestation (pregnancy)
Baby zebras are born in spring and summer (from May until August)
The most popular zebra is the “Grevy Zebra.”
The two other breeds are the “Plains” and “Mountain” zebras
Zebras on average are 4.5 to 5 feet tall
Zebras on average weigh between 800 and 1,000 pounds
Each zebra has its own distinctive set of strips, much like human fingerprints

The beautiful zebra is an endangered specie. The reason for their endangered status includes humans raising livestock in their natural habitat, slowly pushing them out. Another reason for their endangered status is poaching.

How you can help save the zebra.

Adopt a zebra. Your monetary contribution to wildlife organizations will help their work to save the zebras.
Purchase Endangered Species chocolate (see the link under “Cruelty Free Shopping” on the right side of this page for “Mother Nature.com”)
Read all you can on zebras and endangered species, then go to local schools and libraries and give educational presentations. Raising awareness and educating others is the key to saving endangered species.

Veggie Bites - The Humble Chick Pea

2007-05-17T15:14:00.000-05:00

by Jerry Frawley

If you are looking for a food item that packs a wallop nutrition wise, while also being so versatile it can be used in pretty much everything you now make to make it even better, the humble chick pea is your item.

Also known as Garbanzo beans these buttery little beans are a vegetarian masterpiece offering a good source of fiber, protein, significant amounts of folate (which leads to lower cholesterol), and they are virtually fat free. They have been proven to lower risk of heart attacks and what a yummy way to take of the ticker.

People who are thinking about making the shift to vegetarians or ignorant meat eaters always say the same thing “What about protein?” Well the humble chick pea is one answer to that question. The chick pea already is a good source of protein, but if you want to rival animal protein naysayer’s combine the chick pea with a whole grain rice or pasta and you have a dish full of protein. A dish that did not have to come from any animal source! Your body will thank you because the fiber in the chick peas help your digestive system, and your body will not have to work so hard digesting animal fats that it was never meant to digest.

Chick peas have a light buttery nut flavor that accentuates many meals. They come in all kinds of colors, but the common yellow ones will be the ones you find most often. They come in dry and canned varieties. The canned varieties have virtually the same amount of nutrients so I personally prefer them to dry which takes several hours to overnight to get ready to eat. Just make sure you strain them and rinse the salt off of them before consuming.

As I said before the chick pea is very versatile, so much so that Middle Eastern food uses chick peas in almost everything, probably since they were the ones to first cultivate them back around 3000 BC.

Add them to:
- Salads
- Chili
- Tacos
- Soups
- Veggie Burritos
- Dips (Hummus Recipe Shown Below)
- Casserole (See Quinoa Casserole Recipe from last week’s Veggie Bites)

The humble chickpea is such a great product; a whole book could and probably has been written about it. I hope you pick up some today and try them in your favorite recipes- you will not be disappointed. Here is a simply yet delicious hummus dip. I use hummus on everything; to me it is my #1 condiment. I spread it on sandwiches, dip pita bread in it, use it instead of cheese on crackers, etc. It is awesome stuff.
Hummus

2 cups of chickpeas
Juice of one lemon
2/3 cup of Tahini (Health food section)
5 Tablespoon of Olive Oil (as needed)
3 Cloves of Garlic – chopped

Mix everything except the oil in a blender or food processor, then start adding oil until mixed completely- it should be a thick consistency, like a good dip. There you have it- easy as can be and filled with yummy nutrition!

Well that is this week’s Veggie Bites. Join me next week for the somewhat forgotten fruit that is usually mistaken for a veggie; The Tomato. Until then remember animals belong on our laps, not in our bellies!! Take care!

Have something you would like Jerry to cover on Veggie Bites? Have a question, comment or recipe to share? Drop Jerry an email at JerryFrawley@gmail.com, then come back and read Veggie Bites each Thursday on For The Love Of Animals.

Happy Trails & Tails,
Tina, Jerry & Buck

Buck's Bill

2007-05-14T08:14:00.000-05:00

Today instead of the endangered specie of the day, we are going to talk about another matter. Don’t worry, the endangered specie of the day will return next week.

Today we are going to talk about “Buck’s Bill.” Now many of you know Jerry and I own a Yellow Lab named Buck (who has nothing to do with the name of the bill by the way). Instead of having children, we have Buck. He is our “baby.” Buck is what completes our small family (also called our “pack.”) One of my biggest fears is something happening to Buck. Nothing makes me sadder than hearing about someone losing a dog. When we drive down the street, I cannot look at “Missing Pet” signs because it makes me feel horrible for the people who are looking for their lost Fido or Fluffy.

According to the Human Society of the United States, approximately 18,000 dogs and cats are picked up and sold to laboratories and university research labs. The people who do this are called “Class B animal dealers.” Most of these cats and dogs are found through flea markets and “Free to good home” advertisements, since these turn the biggest profits and are easy to come by. In the process however, lost pets are picked up and sold without the owner knowing anything about it.

Buck, who the bill is named for was a black hound who was seized from a “Class B” dealer in 2003. While in foster care, Buck died. The Human Society is supporting legislation called “Buck’s Bill” which would ban “Class B” dealers from using illegal practices to obtain the estimated 18,000 animals sold to labs.

Check back Friday for more information on this story and to find out how you can help support this bill and help these animals! Do not forget, Friday is also Pet Of The Week day! If you would like to see your pet be Pet Of The Week, send me an email at TinaFrawley@gmail.com. Please put "Pet Of The Week" in the subject. Include your pet's name, age, favorite toy, trick, or game, along with location, breed, human and anything else you want to include. Be sure to attach a photo!

Happy Trails & Tails,
Tina, Jerry and Buck!

Pet Of The Week

2007-05-11T09:09:00.000-05:00

This weeks Pet Of The Week is......Hunter

Hunter's photo is coming soon.....(we are experiencing technical difficulty....we are working on the problem now)

A few words from Hunter:

I am the coolest cat in the northern hemisphere!! Maybe the world!! I am nine years old. I love to play “mouse” where the human throws my felt mouse and I fetch it and bring it back for hours of fun (for me anyway!!)

My human is Judith McMahon

My mother thinks that I am beautiful and a fabulous kitty!!

I was rescued three years ago from the Collier County Animal Rescue. Once I got home, I purred so loudly that everyone knew I was happy!!

I live in Fort Myers Florida and my wish is to get out of this screened porch and catch some lizards!!

Do you have a pet you would like to be pet of the week? Send me your pet's photo, name, age, breed, favorite toy or game, who his/her humans are, and anything else they would like to tell us to TinaFrawley@gmail.com. Check back on Friday's to see if your pet made Pet Of The Week!

Introducing the 4th “R” to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle…REMOVE

2007-05-08T07:43:00.000-05:00

Helping the Animals & Environment

The key to helping animals is to help the environment. By preserving the environment, we preserve the habitat of the animals we love.

We all have heard the old adage “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” right? I am all for the three R’s, but I would like to add one more….Remove.

Every day I stop at the mailbox on the way in the driveway, only to pull out 10 pieces of junk mail for every 2 pieces of real mail (and usually those are just bills!)

Because I live in a condominium, I get my mail in a mailroom. People walk in; get their mail out of their box, and then stop at the garbage can. The routine here is to set your mail on top of the garbage pail cover and sort through the mail, tossing all the junk in the garbage. This does not get recycled…it goes in the dumpster. The trash can fills up quickly around here. I can only imagine how much we throw away, just in our little condominium association.

I counted the amount of junk mail my husband and I received for two weeks. The dog only got 1 postcard from the vet this month, so we did not include his statistics. We averaged about five pieces of junk mail a day (with more on Monday’s to make up for Sunday).

If each of the 312 condo units (ranging in family size from 1 to 4) where we live gets only 5 pieces of junk mail a day, it adds up to 1560 pieces of junk each a day. Multiply this by 301 days in a year in which we receive mail (subtracting 12 Federal Holidays and 52 Sunday’s), our condo complex in small town Connecticut gets 469,560 pieces of mail a year. Try and picture this…we are talking about tons of trees being killed and tossed in the trash.

It is frustrating to me to go through the mailbox, pull out all this junk mail, and recycle it. Even recycling the mail is upsetting because the damage has already been done. We are recycling trees which have already been killed. They did not need to die.

Since some of those junk mailings contain personal information, (i.e., my name, maiden name, last 4 digits of my social security number, date of birth, spouse information, etc.) it has to be shredded before being recycled. We are talking about quite a process here! A process most people are not willing to go through. There are ways we can stop this madness!

So what to do? It is not enough to reduce the number of mailings by stopping the newspaper and reading it online. It is not enough to reuse magazines by sharing with a neighbor. It is not enough to just recycle the junk mail, (though all of these ideas are good ones).

This is where we add the fourth “R,” Remove. You can remove your name and address (along with the names of everyone who lives with you) by joining the National Do Not Mail List. The idea works much like the National Do Not Call list. You add your name to a list, which is shared with companies who send direct mailings. While it might seem counterproductive to give out your information, those lists are matched against lists companies already have. If your name appears on both lists, the company must remove your name and not send you direct mailings. *Note: this is for direct mailings, not including line of credit offers. In addition, the National Do Not Call List is a government service. The National Do Not Mail List is not.

Sound good? It gets better! You can go online and register your name to stop pre-approved credit cards. There are three major credit reporting companies who may be sharing your information, generating pre-approved credit offers. To stop those, you can go online and add your name to an opt-out list which will cover all the major credit reporting companies.

Over the next few weeks, look closely at your mail. Take a mental inventory of what types of mail you receive. After you add your name to the opt-out lists, you should slowly see the junk mail cease. If you do not, write to the individual companies sending you mail, asking them to remove you from their list. Contacting the company directly should stop the mail immediately.

The next step is to watch your name. Once someone entered my name wrong and gave me an extra initial. Slowly but surly my new initial started creeping onto other lists and the junk mail I received. I now knew who was selling or renting my name and address to other companies. If you can find the original culprit, write them a letter and stop your name from being sold and rented.

The final step to removing junk mail and the needless killing of trees is to tell everyone you know about the National Do Not Mail List. Encourage them to add their names and addresses to the list. It is one small thing you can do to stop the junk mail and help the environment!

Happy Tails and Trails!
Tina

https://www.directmail.com/directory/mail_preference/

https://www.optoutprescreen.com/?rf=t

Save The Leatherback Sea Turtle

2007-05-07T17:55:00.000-05:00

Today’s Endangered Specie is the Leatherback Sea Turtle

Leatherback Sea Turtle Fast Facts:

Can weigh 500 to 2000 pounds
Can be 4 to 8 feet in length
Female leatherbacks lay about 100 eggs at a time, 8-12 times a year
Are actually “soft-shelled”
Those that are left can be found in the U.S. and Virgin Islands
Skin is black/dark brown with white spots
Can dive over 4,000 feet deep
Its favorite food is the jellyfish
Males never leave the water
Females only leave the water to lay eggs

These gentle giants are slowly disappearing thanks to poachers, marine debris, propeller wounds and the destruction of their nesting habitat.

How we can help the Leatherback (and all…) turtles:

Do not buy products made from turtles
Do not walk or drive of beaches
Do not plant anything on the beach
Do not litter
Visit this website http://www.leatherback.org/index.htm (Special thanks to Jody Johnson!)
Tell others about the Leatherbacks and this website
Alert an official person if you see someone mistreating a turtle (or any animal)
Volunteer for a beach monitoring program
Adopt a turtle
Write letters to Congress
Send a Letter to the Editor
Save all of your soda cans and other recyclables and turn them in for cash, then donate the cash - you will have helped the environment and the turtles

Veggie Bites - Omega-3's

2007-05-03T18:32:00.000-05:00

Omega-3’s and why they should be all the rage in your diet

Omega 3 Fatty Acid is starting to become the “it” word in the nutritional circles and for good reason. Now that we are starting to pull out of the fat free world, and even slowly forgetting the low carb nonsense people are starting to realize we need all three macronutrients in their diet, it is simply determining the best kinds of fats, proteins, and Carbohydrates to get.

I want to focus on fats; especially the wonder that is Omega 3’s. Lets begin by discussing what is being discovered about Omega 3’s and it’s health benefits, then I will tell you how to incorporate it easily into your everyday nutrition, and will end with a couple quick recipes I use almost everyday.

First off, in order to lose weight, have a normal functioning metabolism, and smooth running body, your body needs fat. In the 80’s and 90’s a fat free crazy swept the nation and turned overweight people into… Well more overweight people. The reason was basically because everyone started making fat free products but in order to make them edible and tasty they added a bunch of sugar. The fact is fat is not making us fat, it’s a combination of eating the wrong foods and not getting enough exercise, but that’s another blog entry.

Back to fats.
The key to eating the right fats is simply avoiding consuming more then 5% of fats from the saturated side which include your candies, cakes, and fried foods, and eating more unsaturated fats. This is where Omega 3 comes in. Omega 3 are found most commonly in fish such as sardines, salmon, and tuna, and that is what is being advertised for the most part, but we at For the love of Animals want you to know that it does not stop at fish. Alpha-Linolenic Acid or LNA turns into Omega 3 in the body and this is found in many staples of the vegetarian diet such as soybeans, tofu, walnuts, and flaxseed.

Now why bother with this you ask? How many people out there want to either lose weight, have greater concentration (including a drug free option for ADD and ADHD), prevent heart attacks or lower blood pressure? I bet everyone who reads this would like to do one or all of these and while this is not a super pill that will allow you to drink beer, and watch Simpsons all day and never worry about your diet again, it will have greater effect on your overall health, and that is something we all want.

Here are some quick ways to add Omega 3’s into your daily nutrition:

Eggs- if you eat eggs look for the ones fortified with Omega 3

Tofu- If not a fan of texture, buy the extra firm, lightly egg and flour and cook in a tbls of olive oil until golden brown, add brown rice, and some veggies and stir fry has a new look.

Soybeans or Edamane- these little pods are really good and they pack a whole lot of nutrition as well. Besides containing LNA which I covered turns into Omega 3 fatty acid in the body, they also contain a large portion of protein proving that yes you can get plenty of protein without murdering a defenseless animal. Cook them according to directions and only eat the pea like veggie inside, the pods are chewy and not really edible. Add them to salads, stir fry’s, or simply pop them in your mouth as a snack.

Flax Seed- Buy the ground up version (either cereal aisle or health food aisle). Add it to things like yogurt, cereal, smoothies, and pasta sauce. It adds a slight nutty flavor.

Flax Seed Oil/ Udo’s Oil- These are my two favorite choices because I make a great salad dressing out of them, which is tasty and healthy. Udo’s is a blend of Omega 3,6,9, which makes it almost a superfood. You can get it in most organic stores, but I get mine from www.bulknutrition.com, they have a great price that I have not seen rivaled yet. You can add this to smoothies, or make a salad dressing, just like you would with olive oil. Take 1 part oil to 2 parts acid. For example here is my Cider Dressing:

1 Tbs- Udo’s/Flax
2 Tbs- Cider Vinegar
3 shakes of Red Hot (Optional)
Pepper to Taste

Combine, and shake or whisk together, add to salad and enjoy. It will keep in the fridge as well but you will need to shake again before using.

Using the same amount of oil also try adding 2 Tbs of lemon juice, or balsamic vinegar. They are all good!!

Remember with the oils to always keep them in the fridge or they will go rancid and that will not be good eating.

Well I hoped I help you find a gem in the nutritional world that might have gone undiscovered. Feel free to email us at JerryFrawley@gmail.com with any questions.

Next week we will cover Quinoa (Pronounced Keen-Wa), which is one of my favorite things to say and eat.

Happy Eating everyone, lets all show animals belong in our laps, not in our bellies!

Veggie Bites

2007-04-26T18:23:00.000-05:00

Starting next week we will have a guest blogger on Thursdays! Allow me to introduce the most intelligent man I know...my husband, Jerry Frawley.

Jerry, a fellow vegetarian and animal lover will be visiting us each Thursday with his column "Veggie Bites." He will share his vast knowledge of foods and nutrition for animal loving vegetarians.

If you have anything you would like to see covered in his post, feel free to contact Jerry at:
JerryFrawley@gmail.com. For more articles and information by Jerry click here!

Save The Polar Bears

2007-04-30T09:22:00.000-05:00

Today’s Endangered Specie is the Polar Bear*. Thanks to global warming, pollution, and poaching, scientists say Polar Bears could be extinct before the end of the century.

Melting ice as the result of global warming has caused many Polar Bears to drown looking for a place to rest.

Poaching has taken many lives. Polar Bears are killed for their fur, meat, and their gall bladder. Gall bladders are sold in the black Asian market as medicine.

Pollution in their environment has caused these fuzzy mammals to decrease in number. Oil spills cause Polar Bears to swim in crude oil water before ingesting it and making them sick. Other animals, such as the seals Polar Bears eat are also forced to swim in oil infested waters, making them sick, before the Polar Bears eat them.

In 2006, scientists estimated only 22,000 to 27,000 Polar Bears are left in existence.

Fast Polar Bear Facts

Cubs are born in November/December and do not emerge until March/April.
During this time cubs live off their mother’s milk.
Mothers do not eat or drink during this time.
Cubs stay with their mother until they are about 2.5 years old.
Polar Bears live in Canada, Russia, Denmark, Alaska, and Norway.
The only enemy of the Polar Bear is humans and occasionally other polar bears.
The job of the Polar Bear is to prevent the over population of seals in the wild.
Adult male Polar Bears can be 8-10 feet tall and weigh 550-1,700 pounds.
Adult female Polar Bears can be 6-8 feet tall and weigh 200-700 pounds.

Ways you can help the Polar Bear by stopping global warming:

Recycle
Bring Cloth Shopping Bags for Grocery Shopping
Turn down The Thermostat
Buy a Thermostat with Timers and Digital Controls
During The Winter, Weather Strip around Doors and Windows
Use Energy Efficient Appliances
Wash Clothes In Warm Water
Use Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Turn Off Your Televisions, Stereo, or Other Appliances When You Are Done
Turn Off Your Computer, Or Put It On “Hibernate” When Not In Use
Drive A Hybrid Car (Or Electric)
Take Public Transportation
Walk Or Ride Your Bike
Keep Air In Your Tires

For more information visit:
Polar Bears International

*Polar Bears are not listed on the United States Endangered Species List, however many countries do list them as endangered. In the U.S.A. Polar Bears are listed as potentially threatened animals.

Happy Trails & Tails!
Tina, Jerry, & Buck (the dog)

Protecting Pets From Lyme Disease

2007-04-25T10:47:00.000-05:00

It is that time of year again...warm weather is here and it will be with us until the late fall. If you live in New England (USA) where I live, you know why warm weather is scary for our pets.
Lyme disease is a concern for pet owners, especially in warm weather and wooded areas.

Prevention Tips:

Try to avoid heavily wooded areas or tall grass. Of course if you have a Lab like we do, he will go where HE wants on a walk (it is easy to forget who is walking who!). Always be sure you check as soon as you are done with your walk for ticks. In our family we do a "tick" check before getting back in the truck. Everyone investigates themselves for ticks and then we look at Buck (our yellow lab).

Be sure to be thorough when looking. Check in places your pet cannot get at such as the back of the head and neck. Remove any tick(s) you find promptly and dispose of them properly. In our house we send all ticks for a royal flush or down the garbage disposal. (More on tick removal in a minute).

Use a topical formula such as Frontline to help keep ticks from "digging in" to your pet. Frontline is a formula which was developed in France for children with head lice. Knowing it was developed for humans should make you feel comfortable about putting it on your pet.

Apply the product to the back of the neck where the pet can not lick it off or get its paw up to scratch and then lick and ingest. Your vet (or a veterinary technician) can help you put this on or show you the first time. There are also instructions in the package. It is easy to apply and should be applied monthly.

The only potential down side to this is you may find dead ticks in your house. It has not happened to us yet, but some people who I know use the product say they have had it happen. Frontline does not allow the tick to penetrate the skin. Instead it kills the tick and the tick falls off. I would much rather find a dead tick than have one bite my puppy dog!

Instructions for removing a tick:

If you find a tick on your pet, get a pair of fine-nosed tweezers to remove it. In our house we have a set of tweezers dedicated to tick removal. Wash the tweezers with warm, soapy water before and after use. Wash your hands as well.

Have someone hold Fido or Fluffy so they do not get distracted and move on you.

Grasp the head of the tick as close to the skin as possible. Do not squeeze the body of the tick! You want the nose, not the body.

Pull the tick straight out. You may have to be firm when you pull. This is okay and should not hurt your pet.

Put the tick into a small jar of rubbing alcohol (to kill it). One of the best ways is to take an old medication container (the kind you get from the pharmacy) and put a little alcohol in that. It is the right size for what you are doing and the lid is tight when capped. Then dispose of it. You can also flush it (the tick, not the medicine container) or run it through the garbage disposal with hot water.

Rub the area with a little alcohol to kill germs, and petroleum jelly (if it is not in an area where your pet will just lick it off) to sooth the area. You should not use petroleum jelly to remove the tick. Some people might also want to use a match to remove the tick….again, not the best idea. You could catch your pet’s hair on fire and someone could get burned.

If you notice a rash or anything red, blotchy, itchy, etc., call your vet and make an appointment to have your pet checked.

Happy trails and tails!

World Week for Animals in Laboratories - April 22 - 28, 2007

2007-04-22T17:22:00.000-05:00

This week is World Week for Animals in Laboratories. First let me explain why this is important to animal lovers and then I will tell you how you can help. I want to thank my friend Lynne for bringing this week to my attention.

Living in rural Connecticut, I had the opportunity to attend an agricultural high school (sometimes referred to as an “ag” school). Ag high schools are just like any other high school except some students take vet science, horticulture, equine studies, or dairy management, as an elective class. We took regular classes such as math and English, but while some students played instruments, took art or a foreign language, some of us took “ag” classes as our elective.

After high school I was working in a veterinarian hospital when a letter arrived from Yale University, about 45 minutes away. They had gotten my name from my high school as someone who was an “ag” student. All students who passed through the program were mailed a letter from Yale, who had job openings.

Excited at the thought of working for Yale University, I called for my interview. At the time I did not put much thought into what the job would entail, and the vague letter should have been my first indication something was amiss. Being seventeen and assuming they would know I was an animal lover, I never thought I would be asked to work in a lab where hundreds of animals were used for testing.

I arrived for my interview and everything was going great until the “tour” part of the interview. I still had no idea what I would be doing, and I enthusiastically followed my interviewer. We wondered through long halls, most of which were underground, lined with doors leading to rooms of animals. I must have seen a million or so mice, a hundred rabbits, and twenty primates. The animals were never touched unless it was for an experiment. I was shown the animals through the small window in the thick metal doors. Except for the “tick” room, where only authorized personnel could enter and see them, animals are only viewed through the window.

I finally realized what was going on…they wanted me to be a part of animal testing. Their idea of “animal care specialist” meant transporting animals to and from testing, assisting in the lab, and cleaning up after the animals that did not make it through the experiment. I wanted to run from one room to the next, letting all the animals free, but I did not even know where I was. If I could not get out, they could not either.

Needless to say I did not take the job. I did not take it when they called a year later asking me again to take the job. I wanted to be as far away from there as possible. I later learned Yale reported about 200 primates being held on the premises for research and lab testing that year. Many of the animals Yale has are deprived of food and water during experimentation. From personal experience, I know the “housing” they use is not housing at all, but small metal cages in small dark rooms in the basement of Yale University. Last time I checked, primates live in the jungle where they climb on trees…not the basement of Yale University where they try and climb the small, cold, metal cages they are in; if they can climb them at all.

Primates are not the only animals being tested on. Dogs, cats, mice, rabbits, pigs and sheep also are used in experimentation. These animals are sometimes born in a lab, raised in a lab, and never see the light of day. These animals are never shown love, walked in the park, given scraps of pizza under the table or spend a lazy afternoon sunning themselves and napping.

These animals are starved, beaten, tormented, breed with deformities, used for testing, and killed when they are no longer needed. There is no reason for this to happen and it has to stop. As part of World Week for Animals in Laboratories, here is how you can help:

Visit www.all-creatures.org for World Laboratory Liberation Week events. You can search for events in your area, or find out how to host your own event.

Educate yourself by researching companies who use animals in labs and avoid using the products they produce. (See the “Cruelty-free shopping” links to the right of this article and at the bottom of this site).

Write a letter to the editor. Visit http://www.wwail.org/editor_letter.html for a sample letter.

Encourage friends and family to do these things as well.