Saturday, April 11, 2015

Siberian Tigers are Endangered

In our world today, many animals are becoming endangered species and extinct because their fur or bones are in high demand in the black market.  According to World Wild Life, " wild tigers are at an all time low. We have lost over 97% of wild tigers in just over a century".  It is unacceptable in today's society to let extinction happen to such a beautiful, wild animal.

(Picture of a Siberian Tiger)

These animals are being attacked by poachers in parts of India, Thailand, and Japan. Since poaching and wild life trade are illegal, many organizations are coming together to help protect not just the Siberian Tigers, but other animals that are being targeted.  

(Map of where some Siberian Tigers are located)

To show support to these endangered animals and to get more information on how you can help, please visit  http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/tiger#overview.  When it comes to saving animals any type of donation goes a long way. Please help these tigers and other animals stay safe in the wild.  

Other sites to that help endangered species. 


Your donations are much appreciated and will be forwarded to OC Animal Shelter! 
 

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Fight Circus Cruelty

Fight Circus Cruelty

By Tiffany Jin

Have you ever watched a movie called Madagascar 3?

In the movie, Alex the lion and his friends are trying to find their way home to the New York Zoo by joining in a circus. With excellent performing, they finally find their way home and live a happy life in the zoo. It seems like circus animals are happy and willing to perform in the movie. However, in reality, circus animals live in terrible conditions and suffer from both mental and physical injuries.
(tigers forced to jump through fire circles)

Elephants, tigers, and other circus animals are wild animals. Whether they were captured in their native lands or bred in captivity, whether or not they appear docile or at ease around humans, they remain wild at heart. Wild animals used in circuses originate from different parts of the globe and have unique and specific needs for diet, health, vet care, social interaction, stimulation, exercise, movement, living environment, climate, etc. Yet circus animals are all trained similarly, and all live and travel together under the same conditions. It is impossible for the unique needs of every animal to be met. Worse yet, outright neglect and mistreatment of animals in the circus is rampant throughout the industry.


"Performing" animals spend most of their days in boxcars, cages, or chains, and live very differently than they would in the wild. Wild elephants, for example, live in large, social herds and walk up to 25 miles every day. Tigers, lions, and other animals found in circuses are also always on the move in their native habitats. In contrast, circus wild animals are confined to travel trucks or trains about 300 days of each year. Depriving these creatures their freedom to roam and to engage in other instinctual behaviors is inherently cruel.


Over long distance and days at a time, forced to stand in their own waste, animals may be caged or chained, often in vehicles that lack temperature control. You could pass a semi-truck on the highway and never suspect its cargo is elephants and tigers. Many circus travel vehicles are small, dark, filthy, and often in a dangerous state of disrepair. Circuses are repeatedly cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Animal Welfare Act for trailers that have splintering wood and sharp, protruding metal pieces near animals' cages. Animals are born, injured, and die while on the road.


The circus industry would have us believe that the animals in the ring have been exposed their entire lives exclusively to positive-reinforcement training methods. While the show is in progress, the audience may indeed see animals receiving food rewards, praise, and positive feedback. Observant audience members will also notice bullhooks and other devices of domination. The USDA has documented trainers striking elephants and large cats during performances. What the circus industry doesn't want anyone to see is what happens behind the scenes, where the object is to initially "break" the animals and train them throughout their lives so they will perform unnatural tricks.

Common sense tells us that a 7,000-pound elephant or a tiger with 3-inch-long razor-sharp teeth would naturally dominate a human being, and that he could not be forced into doing something he does not want to do. But the circus maxim is "the show must go on," and so it does, whether or not the animals are willing or even able to participate. The tricks that animals must perform are unnatural, frightening, even painful; but they must perform. Only a training method tougher than the animals could command such obedience from them.

The bull hook (also called a "hook" or "ankus") is perhaps the most notorious tool in the animal trainer's arsenal. Used on elephants, the bullhook is a long, thick pole with a sharp metal hook on one end. Though elephant skin is thick, it is also very sensitive. During training with this device, it is not uncommon for an elephant to scream and drop to his/her knees to try to avoid the blows.
In addition to the ankus for stabbing or beating, other training tools and methods used to initially "break" and train animals throughout their lives include lengthy chaining, food and water deprivation, use of whips, clubs and blunt objects, and electric prods.

Bears, elephants, tigers, and other animals do not voluntarily ride bicycles, stand on their heads, balance on balls, or jump through rings of fire. They don’t perform these and other difficult tricks because they want to; they perform them because they’re afraid of what will happen if they don’t. What we can do is simply say NO to animals in circuses. 
PETA(PEOPLE FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS) is an organization that has fighting for end animal use in circuses for years. To support them, click Sign for End circus cruelty today!


Be sure that all of the donations collected here will be going toward saving animals at OC Animal Shelter!

Monday, March 30, 2015

SeaWorld places blame on PETA for spamming its #AskSeaWorld campaign

While looking up articles related to  animal abuse, we came across an interesting article about PETA sabotaging Sea World's outreach campaign.


According to an article on Marketwatch.com Sea World is accusing PETA for interfering with their campaign called #AskSeaWorld. The article states that PETA created several spam accounts in order to ask questions pertaining to the treatment of animals at Sea World. 


Many of the questions have been focused on the treatment of Sea World's Orcas and other types of whales that were featured in the documentary Blackfish. Due to the fact that PETA has been spamming their campaign, people with real questions haven't been given the opportunity to ask them. 


Sea World has referred to these people from PETA who have created the spam accounts as "trolls" and has repeatedly tweeted to their audience that they are trying to "weed through the troll accounts". 
Senior Vice President of PETA, Colleen O'Brien fired back and stated that the accusations of trolling are false. So far up until this point the only questions that have been answered by members of Sea World are questions having to do with the Orca tanks, the death of trainers and the overall health of the whales. 

For more information about PETA and SeaWorld's #AskSeaWorld Campaign check out the website link below! 



We cannot express our gratitude over the internet, but we can say THANK YOU for your generosity. 100% of the funds raised will go to OC Animal Shelters!
 

Saturday, March 21, 2015

End Bear Bile Farming in Asia

End Bear Bile Farming in Asia

By Tiffany Jin


Last summer, I went back to China to visit my grandpa. He had just come back from the hospital after a surgery on his knees. The doctor said he had to continually take what was called Bear bile powder to reduce pains and rebuild bones. At first, I thought Bear bile powder was artificial because I believed that bears are dangerous and it's almost impossible for people to raise bears on their own. However, after I done some detailed research, I was shocked by how cruel the truth could be. 
(Bear bile powder in China)

According to Animal Asia, a bear rescue organization,  more than 10,000 bears – mainly moon bears, but also sun bears and brown bears – are kept on bile farms in China, and just under 2,000 in Vietnam. The bears are milked regularly for their bile, which is used in traditional medicine. Bears are confined in cages which vary from agonizingly tiny "crush" cages to larger pens, all of which cause terrible physical and mental suffering.
In China, Bear bile has been used as an traditional Chinese medicine for over 3000 years. It has been used to cure various ailments, such as fever, gall stones, liver problems, heart disease, and eye irritation. "The active ingredient in bear bile is ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), which is more abundant in the bile of bears than in any other mammal. Bile is excreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, where it is released into the stomach to aid in digestion. The average bear produces 2 kilograms of dry bile powder per year. The price of bear bile varies by location, but investigators have found that bile sells for about US$410 per kilogram in China, an average wild bear gall bladder sells for US$33 per gram in Japan, and a whole bear gallbladder sells for about US$10,000 in South Korea. [Because there is now a surplus of bear bile, bear farmers have begun producing shampoo, wine, tea, and throat lozenges containing bile."(animallaw.info)
A group of journalists made documentary "The Moon Bear" in China 2012, the documentary discovered the dark secret of bear farming in China:



These Bears Need Our Help!


Animals Asia is devoted to ending the barbaric practice of bear bile farming and improving the welfare of animals in China and Vietnam.Today,  Animals Asia has rescued over 400 bears, caring for them at its award-winning bear sanctuaries in China and Vietnam. From its small beginnings in Hong Kong, Animals Asia has grown into a respected international NGO with over 300 staff and offices in Australia, China, Germany, Italy, the UK, US and Vietnam. 

Visit www.animalsasia.org to see more information!
 

Sunday, March 15, 2015

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
By
Erin Sledge

On a lazy afternoon whilst browsing Youtube, I came across Cory Williams’, a.k.a DudeLikeHELLA, video that showed his visit at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

During this video, I was able to see him interact with some of the animals, feed bears, porcupines, and baby musk oxen, and see the beautiful and wild scenery of Alaska. The guide in the video informed him and the viewers of releasing animals, like elk, back into the wild, the local donated food, and the adoption and rehabilitation of injured animals. His visit inspired me to talk about this wonderful, non-profit organization and to eventually visit the AWCC.

 The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, located in Girdwood, Alaska, is a 200-acre reservation that houses animals and educates visitors about Alaskan wildlife. The AWCC cares for various animals such as bears, musk oxen, moose, eagles, elk, caribou, Sitka black-tailed deer, foxes and lynx, and will release them back into the wild; if an animal is too injured, they have a permanent and secure home at the AWCC.



The AWCC is currently working on the Wood Bison Restoration Project. Their goal is to bring the wood bison back into Alaska, since this type of bison has been extinct in Alaska for a while. They have taken a few wood bison from a herd in Canada and have been breeding wood bison at the AWCC.

The AWCC also provides internships to students that are majoring in biology, zoology, and veterinary science. The students will have the chance to care for animals, maintain the facilities and learn to educate visitors about the AWCC.


Click here to learn more about the AWCC and donate http://www.alaskawildlife.org/



Credits:

  
The official Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center website http://www.alaskawildlife.org/

Saturday, March 7, 2015

This week we would like to inform our readers about Leash Animal Rescue. Browsing the web and enjoying the “Before & After Pictures” the recue posted from their work with dogs, we were happy to see dogs being as happy as they are. It takes time and effort to make a stray and/or abused animal to trust humans again, but every try is worth the effort. Notice the difference in the pictures before and after which we extracted from Leash Animal Rescue's website.

Do you think it is worth every penny and try in helping animals? We would say YES, without a doubt - YES.

In the members' of Leash Animal Rescue words, "LEASH Animal Rescue is a 501(c)3 non-profit animal rescue organization...Our rescue follows a no-kill policy and is operated solely by volunteers with an emphasis on foster homes, until we are able to have physical rescue facility."

Exploring their website, we noticed Leash works not only with dogs and cats, but they help ANY animals in need of help. The pictures at the end of the blog are of the resident horse, Cody, at Leash Animal Rescue. Cody is not for adoption, yet we can still help Cody have a good life as a horse while being blind, by supporting him with our donations as low as $5.00 one time or re-curing.

Link to donations for Leash Animal Rescue:

http://www.leashanimalrescue.org/makeadonation.htm


And don't forget that "All donations go directly towards the animals!"
CODY
We see in the first picture how scared Cody was of the woman approaching him. Cody was born blind and had no human contact for the first 7 weeks of his life; therefore, he was labeled as being a feral horse.
With patience and effort to make Cody human friendly, the staff at Leash Animal Rescue were successful. We quote a touching line from Leash website, "Cody is proof that horses of visual disability can lead extremely happy and healthy lives, can play and have fun, and can love and trust their handlers."


Below is the link which will take you to the "Cody the Blind Horse" story:

http://www.leashanimalrescue.org/codytheblindhorse.htm

As well as Cody's social media, Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/codytheblindhorse

AND LASTLY, BUT NO THE LEAST we thought it would be easier to decide if anyone is able to help Cody and/or any other animal at Leash Animal Rescue by providing the monthly cost of care breakdown for Cody:


Partial cost breakdown for Cody's care:

Feed (hay and Mare & Foal): $122 per month

Farrier care: $30 per every 4 weeks

Vet call out fee: $75 per visit

Vet exam: $60 per visit

Gelding surgery when 1 year old: $250

Shots: $70 per every 6 months

Teeth floating (when old enough): $125 approx. once a year

Sheath cleaning (when old enough): $50 approx. once a year

Shavings: $7 per bag, 1-3 per week

Fly mask: $25-$30 per mask”


Happy animals are our motivation! 

Friday, February 27, 2015

Mistreatment of Elephants in Thailand

Mistreatment of Elephants in Thailand


By Erin Sledge



I had the opportunity to go on a trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand. I was so excited to taste amazing food, learn the history and culture, see traditional dance performances, walk through temples and, especially, see the elephants. Seeing the elephants in Chiang Mai is a big tourist attraction so I followed the “tourist crowd” and signed up for an elephant performance and ride excursion.

I watched the elephants draw pictures, do handstands, carry people around, and play soccer. Although it was impressive, it greatly saddened me as the other audience members fully enjoyed it without feeling remorse for the elephants.

My experience has taught me to research before participating in mainstream/tourist activities and has also inspired me to inform others of the elephants’ situation in Thailand, prevent one from supporting hurtful causes, and teach people how we can help these animals.




Although elephant circuses and elephant rides are main attractions for tourists, many are unaware of the cruel ways that the elephants are treated in order to entertain. Capturing elephants for the tourism industry is driven by the fact that tourists want to ride and see elephants perform tricks (Karsten). In order to train elephants to perform in shows, trainers break the spirit of the elephant at a young age by confining them and tying them up in a small space, starving them, and beating them with a sharp metal object called a bullhook (Nagle). As I was on an elephant during the elephant ride, I saw that the elephant rider held a bullhook and I also noticed open wounds and scars on the elephant’s shoulders and head. Elephant trainers use bullhooks to control elephants with the fear of punishment (Nagle). About 5% of Thailand’s elephants are wild and have laws that protect them; this leaves the rest of the domesticated elephant population to be abused (Nagle). Since logging became illegal due to the destruction of forests, elephants are now forced to tourist attractions and street begging by owners that are not familiar with the old knowledge of traditional elephant training (Nagle).



The Elephant Nature Park is a 250-acre sanctuary located in Chiang Mai, Thailand that cares for elephants and other animals like cats, dogs, and buffalos. Their goals are to care for their animals, restore the environment, preserve their culture, and educate visitors. This park also provides various volunteer opportunities to work and care for the elephants.
Click here to learn about them and donate to support this wonderful foundation http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/

The Asian Elephant Foundation’s goals are to promote education and awareness, solve human-elephant conflicts, and be involved with the well being of elephants. This organization supports many other projects that spread awareness and raise money to provide for the care of elephants such as Elephant Parade, which auctions and sells art pieces.

Click here to learn more on their website and contribute to this cause http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/

Information Sources:

Why You Shouldn’t Ride Elephants in Thailand
By Matthew Karsten

The Scandal of “Elephant Shows” in Thailand
By Gabrielle Nagle

Pictures:




Thursday, February 19, 2015

Throughout a period of one-year, OC Animal Care takes in more than 30,000 stray, abandoned, and unwanted dogs, cats, bunnies, and other animals including exotic birds and reptiles. Most of the people who abandon their pets do so because they are not able to care for them due to medical conditions the pet may develop and/or special care that the pet needs such as special diet and administering medications. Animals, like humans, have illnesses and conditions that scare people away from the ownership of that pet. These reasons are why our group decided to promote pet adoption from animal shelters and rescues vs. buying a pet from a breeder.

One of our group members experienced the battle with the medical issues her kitten had when she adopted a homeless (stray) three-month old kitten. The kitten's name is Love and she is two years old now. She is an indoor only pet. When she first arrived to the group member's home, Love had allergies to regular cat food, fungal skin disease (ringworm), dry eye condition, conjunctivitis, tapeworms and some other issues. With the loving care and persistence of her owner, Love is now a happy young cat who turned out to be the best roommate and cuddle buddy.

With that said, adopting a pet is not always cute and furry. It takes commitment and time in case the pet needs medical attention or any other special treatments such as a special diet. However, giving a pet a loving home, that is adopting a pet from shelters or rescues, is the most rewarding move someone can make. In most cases, the person adopting also saves that pet's life from being euthanized. As we mentioned above, OC Animal Care receives approximately 30,000 animals a year. If one household takes in one animal during that year, most likely all of those animals would have loving homes and would still be ALIVE.

The link below shows the accumulated statistics of the OC Animal Care for the year of 2013:


Our hearts break when we see the cat euthanasia rate of 50% for the year! Like we mentioned above, Love is the best cuddle buddy and can be called self trained service cat who keeps the home of our group member happy with her loving and affectionate personality. 

The link below takes you to the adoptable pets page of OC Animal Care:


Below link will guide you to the "4 Easy Steps" to adoption from OC Animal Care:

http://media.ocgov.com/gov/occr/animal/adopt/steps.asp

In case you are not ready to befriend one of the furry or exotic friends, the link below is for OC Animal Care donation page where every penny goes to a GOOD CAUSE:

http://media.ocgov.com/gov/occr/animal/involve/donate/default.asp


Meet Clarice!!!!!! 



Clarice is a 10 year old female feline who has been selected to be a pet of the week at the OC Animal Care by its volunteers. She has some issues which their veterinarian is currently treating. According to the volunteers, she is very affectionate and lovable. All she wants is someone to "cuddle up with on the couch and spend some quality time". 

YOU CAN BE THE ONE TO GIVE CLARICE A LOVING HOME!