Help stop the slaughter of innocent animals!

I know this is a site dedicated to dogs, but I also know that if you are a dog lover then you have to be an animal lover.  So that is why I am posting this news letter here, to try get a little more awareness out there to everyone about what is actually going on in our world.  Maybe when you read this you might join peta and just give your signature now and again to stop the slaughter of innocent animals.  Remember " We are their voices".

The annual seal bloodbath, the largest slaughter of marine mammals on Earth, is scheduled to begin in just a few weeks' time. Up to 388,000 baby seals, most of whom are in their very first weeks of life, will be bludgeoned and shot to death and then skinned for coats that no one wants or needs – no one, that is, except the babies themselves! Their mothers, who are spared because fur traders don't want their pelts, will mourn and wail as their babies are killed right in front of them, their bodies left to rot on the ice.




Last year, with the help of PETA supporters and members like you, we dealt a devastating blow to the sealers and anyone who profits from the seal-fur industry. More than 110,000 letters and e-mails were sent to Members of the European Parliament informing them of the horrors facing Canada's seals and urging them to vote for a ban on the import and sale of seal products within the EU.

As a direct result of our work and that of other animal protection groups, the seal product ban passed.

Your support of PETA has been critical in bringing about substantial change for animals all around the world. Please help us do even more by making an online donation today.

Canada may seem far away, but we know that Canada's sealers felt the effect of the actions you took as the price for seal fur plummeted and the slaughter became less profitable for them.

We also know that Canada's seals felt it too, as almost two-thirds of the government's quota – more than 200,000 seals – were spared from the violence of the sealers' swinging clubs.

Together we have achieved so much, but there is still so much more to do. Please join PETA's campaign to end all forms of animal abuse.

Already the seal-fur traders are searching for new markets for their bloody wares and are seeking ways to raise the price of seal fur once again. We must act now to block these attempts to find new buyers in countries such as China.

Tens of thousands of people have been mobilised to send letters of protest against the killing, and dozens of high-profile press events and demonstrations have been organised outside Canadian embassies around the world.

The public outcry against the seal slaughter is growing, but we cannot rest for a minute – the lives of Canada's seals for years to come are depending upon us.

Put simply, PETA needs you. This year's slaughter of baby seals is due to begin any day now. And the time to protest against that abomination is now.

Very truly yours,

Ingrid E Newkirk

Founder

Puppy pleasures!!

Just 5 more minutes please???????

THE INSPIRATIONAL BLIND SLED DOG - ISABEL

Check out this video brought to us by dogster.com about a blind sled dog.  Truly inspirational!
http://dogblog.dogster.com/2010/02/26/videos-inspirational-blind-sled-dog/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DogsterForTheLoveOfDogBlog+%28Dogster+For+The+Love+of+Dog+Blog%29

STOP KILLING DOGS IN SOUTH KOREA

The following was taken from an email I received from uniteddogs.com 27th February 2010. Excluding the excerpt from Wikipedia. I know we can make a difference in the lives of dogs in South Korea if we just help by signing these petitions.

Over 2 million dogs are brutally killed in South Korea every year.

That's over 5,000 dogs a day who get strangled, burned, electrocuted or beaten to death for their meat.

The South Korean government has accepted Animal Protection Laws which make animal torture illegal, but those laws have never been properly enforced in the country. The dog meat industry continues to thrive and the officials are reluctant and indifferent to ban it. Oh, sorry, except during the 1988 Seoul Olympics and 2002 FIFA Cup when dog meat restaurants were forced to shut down temporarily in fear of bad impressions of South Korea.

Although forbidden to advertise themselves on main streets or in English, over 6,000 restaurants today serve dog meat in South Korea. And they don't get closed down.



I have taken this excerpt from Wikipedia –Dog Meat Consumption in South Korea. At http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_meat_consumption_in_South_Korea

“History

Korean people had mostly depended on crops for diet for millennia, not raising many pigs, chickens, or any other meat animals. Cattle had been valuable working animals for farming. Therefore, Koreans had had limited sources of animal protein, and the most affordable and available animal meats usually had come from dogs.

The consumption of dog meat can be traced back to antiquity. Dog bones were excavated in a neolithic settlement in Changnyeong (창녕), South Gyeongsang Province. A wall painting in the Goguryeo tombs complex (고구려 고분군; 高句麗 古墳群) in South Hwangghae Province, a UNESCO World Heritage site which dates from 4th century AD, depicts a slaughtered dog in a storehouse (Ahn, 2000) [1]. The Balhae (발해; 渤海) people also enjoyed dog meat, and the Koreans' appetite for canine cuisine seems to have come from those days.[2]

Approximately In 1816, Jeong Hack You (정학유; 丁學遊), the second son of Jeong Yak-yong (정약용; 丁若鏞), a prominent politician and scholar of Choseon dynasty at the time, wrote a poem called Nongawollyeonga (농가월령가; 農家月令歌). This poem, an important source of Korean folk history, describes what ordinary Korean farmer families did in each month of a year. in the description of August, the poem sings about a married woman visiting her birth parents with boiled dog meat, rice cake, and rice wine, thus shows the popularity of dog meat at the time (Ahn, 2000; Seo, 2002).

In Dongguk Seshigi (동국세시기; 東國歲時記), a book written by a Korean scholar Hong Suk Mo (홍석모) in 1849, contains a recipe of Boshintang including a boiled dog, green onion, and red chili pepper powder. [3]

Current Situation

Selling dog meat has been illegal in South Korea since 1984, as manufacturing and processing of dog meat have been outlawed. This is because South Korean Food Sanitary Law (식품위생법; 食品衛生法) does not include dog meat as a legal food ingredient. Also, dog meat has been categorized as 'repugnant food' (혐오식품; 嫌汚食品) under a regulation issued by Seoul Metropolitan Government, of which using as food ingredient is not legally permitted, making the use of dog meat as a food ingedient illegal at least in Seoul Metropolitan Area. [4] [5] However, the laws are not strictlly enforced and some portion of South Korean population still consume dog meat. The primary dog breed raised in dog farms for meat, the Nureongi (누렁이), or Hwangu (황구; 黃狗), differs from those breeds raised for domestic pets.[6]

Even though a fair number of South Koreans (anywhere from 5 to 30%) have tried it before, only a small percentage of the population eats it regularly.[citation needed] There is a large and vocal group of Korean people that are against the practice of eating dog meat.[7] There is also a large population of people in South Korea that do not eat or enjoy the meat, but do feel strongly that it is the right of others to do so.[7] There is a smaller but still vocal group of pro-dog cuisine people in South Korea who want to popularize the consumption of dog in Korea and the rest of the world [7], claiming it is a traditional culture of Korea with long history worth preserving.

Although it is technically illegal to sell dog meat in Korea, some restaurateurs still do so even though they risk losing their restaurant licenses. In 1997 one dog meat wholesaler in Seoul was brought up on charges of selling dog meat illegally. [8] BBC claim that, in 2003, approximately 4,000-6,000 restaurants served soups made from dog meat in Korea.[9] The soups cost about US$10 while dishes of steamed dog meat with rice cost about US$25. The BBC claims that eighty-five hundred tons of dog meat are consumed per year, with another 93,600 tons used to produce a medicinal tonic called Gaesoju (개소주).[9]

Dog meat is often consumed during the summer months and is either roasted or prepared in soups or stews. The most popular of these soups is Gaejang-guk, a spicy stew meant to balance the body's heat during the summer months. This is thought to ensure good health by balancing one's "ki" or vital energy of the body. A 19th century version of Gaejang-guk (개장국) explains the preparation of the dish by boiling dog meat with green onions and chili powder. Variations of the dish contain chicken and bamboo shoots.”



You can help us change the life of millions of dogs.

International support against dog torture and dog meat consumption is the only way to put pressure on the South Korean government to protect animal rights for real and ban the dog meat industry in all forms. This petition will be presented to the Korean officials in Seoul by the Korea Animal Rights Advocates when at least or more than 1 million signatures have been collected.

This petition is different from any other petition made in support for Korean dogs because of its great scope. People across the world are able to see the "Stop Killing Dogs" page in English, French and in many other languages, and understand that it is not a harmless ancient tradition or anything inevitable.





You can change that. Here is how.



Go to http://www.uniteddogs.com/stopkillingdogs and sign the Stop Killing Dogs petition. The petition will be given to government officials of South Korea by KARA (Korea Animal Rights Advocates) once we gather 1 million signatures.



Share this petition with your friends and family through e-mail, Twitter or Facebook. Join our Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-Killing-Dogs-supporters-page/235848430651 and ask your friends to join as well. If every person helps who has signed the petition, we'll reach our goal much, much faster.



Show that you care! By ordering the official petition bandana and the badge (for you and your best friend) you can express your support in a stylish way. For each set sold, we donate €1 to KARA (Korea Animal Rights Advocates).



All bandanas for pets are red and bundled with a gray badge. For people, we have two sets to choose from - the red set (includes a red bandana and a gray badge) and the white set (includes a white bandana and a red badge).

To order go to -

http://www.uniteddogs.com/stopkillingdogs/shop/

"Wisdom of wolves"

I have taken an excerpt from a book that is available from Simple truths.  The book is called " Wisdom of Wolves" written by Twyman Towery and it is definitely food for thought.

"It's a society where teamwork, loyalty and communication are the norm rather than the exception. Sound like utopia? Actually, it's already present in nature - in a wolf pack. The wolf pack knows who it is. Those in the pack exist for each other.

Twyman Towery, Ph.D., a professional speaker and consultant who studied the lessons of leadership in nature, has captured them in a new book for Simple Truths called Wisdom of Wolves. Twyman shares the parallels between the wolf pack and human behavior...in business life, family life, and personal life.

Today, I'd like to share a chapter from Wisdom of Wolves. Who knew that the key to success might just be patterning your attitude after that of a wolf? "

The Introduction from


Wisdom of Wolves

by Twyman Towery

The attitude of the wolf can be summed up simply: it is a constant visualization of success. The collective wisdom of wolves has been progressively programmed into their genetic makeup throughout the centuries. Wolves have mastered the technique of focusing their energies toward the activities that will lead to the accomplishment of their goals.

Wolves do not aimlessly run around their intended victims, yipping and yapping. They have a strategic plan and execute it through constant communication. When the moment of truth arrives, each understands his role and understands exactly what the pack expects of him.

The wolf does not depend on luck. The cohesion, teamwork and training of the pack determines whether the pack lives or dies.

There is a silly maxim in some organizations that everyone, to be a valuable member, must aspire to be the leader. This is personified by the misguided CEO who says he only hires people who say they want to take his job. Evidently, this is supposed to ensure that the person has ambition, courage, spunk, honesty, drive - whatever. In reality, it is simply a contrived situation, with the interviewee jumping through the boss's hoops. It sends warnings of competition and one-upmanship throughout the organization rather than signals of cooperation, teamwork and loyalty.

Everyone does not strive to be the leader in the wolf pack. Some are consummate hunters or caregivers or jokesters, but each seems to gravitate to the role he does best. This is not to say there are not challenges to authority, position and status - there are. But each wolf's role begins emerging from playtime as a pup and refines itself through the rest of its years. The wolf's attitude is always based upon the question, "What is best for the pack?" This is in marked contrast to us humans, who will often sabotage our organizations, families or businesses, if we do not get what we want.

Wolves are seldom truly threatened by other animals. By constantly engaging their senses and skills, they are practically unassailable. They are masters of planning for the moment of opportunity to present itself, and when it does, they are ready to act.

Because of training, preparation, planning, communication and a preference for action, the wolf's expectation is always to be victorious. While in actuality this is true only 10 percent of the time or less, the wolf's attitude is always that success will come-and it does.

If you would like to order this book you can find it at – www.simpletruths.com

Table scraps or Human Foods your dogs should never eat.

Being a dog enthusiast I am always researching everything to do with dogs and keeping them as healthy as possible. So I can tell you that there are countless things out there that are said to be dangerous for dogs to eat. I personally believe that most things in moderation are safe for dogs as they are for humans, excepting the really well known no-no foods that are proven to be poisonous to dogs even in small portions. So here is a list of some of the dangerous foods you should avoid feeding your dog…


Avocado – never give this to your dog as it contains a chemical called Persin which is very toxic to most animals, causing vomiting and diarrhea.

Alcohol – Any alcohol or foods containing alcohol because alcohol has the same effect on a dog's liver and brain that it has on humans. But it takes far less to do its damage. Just a little can cause vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system depression, problems with coordination, difficulty breathing, coma, even death. And, the smaller the dog, the greater the effect.

Onions - Onion in all forms - powdered, raw, cooked, or dehydrated - can destroy a dog's red blood cells, leading to anemia. An occasional small dose is probably safe but I stress the word OCCASSIONAL. But just eating a large quantity once or eating smaller amounts regularly can cause onion poisoning. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, little interest in food, dullness, and breathlessness.

Caffeine - Caffeine in large enough quantities can be fatal for a dog. And, there is no antidote. Symptoms of caffeine poisoning include restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, fits, and bleeding. In addition to tea and coffee - including beans and grounds - caffeine can be found in cocoa, chocolate, colas, and stimulant drinks such as Red Bull. It's also in some cold medicines and pain killers.

Grapes and Raisins - Although it isn't clear why, grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. And, just a small amount can make a dog ill. Repeated vomiting and being hyperactive are early signs. Within a day, the dog will become lethargic and depressed.

Milk and dairy products – milk and other dairy products can cause diarrhea and other digestive upsets and also set up food allergies which might manifest in itchy skin.

Nuts – Nuts can be lethal to your dog. As few as 6 macadamia nuts can be fatal to your dog causing illness, muscle tremors, weakness or paralysis of hindquarters, elevated tempreture, rapid breathing and possible kidney failure and death.

Chocolate - The toxic agent in chocolate is theobromine. It's in all kinds of chocolate, even white chocolate. The most dangerous kinds, though, are dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate. It can also cause abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, and death.

Persimmons, Peaches and Plums - The problem with these fruits is the seeds or pits.The seeds from persimmons can cause inflammation of the small intestine in dogs.peach and plum pits contain cyanide, which is poisonous to both humans and dogs

Raw Eggs - There are two problems with giving your dog raw eggs. The first is the possibility of food poisoning from bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli. The second is that an enzyme in raw eggs interferes with the absorption of a particular B vitamin. This can cause skin problems as well as problems with your dog's coat.
Raw meat and fish - Raw meat and raw fish, like raw eggs, can contain bacteria that causes food poisoning. In addition, certain kinds of fish such as salmon, trout, shad, or sturgeon can contain a parasite that causes "fish disease." If not treated, the disease can be fatal within 2 weeks. The first signs of illness are vomiting, fever, and big lymph nodes.
Sugar and sugary things – can lead to obesity, diabetes and dental problems.
Salt – TOO MUCH salt can be bad causing the dog to drink large amounts of water and urinate frequently and lead to sodium ion poisoning.

Jock of the Bushveld.

Jock of the Bushveld.

I have recently done a review of a movie called ‘Jock of the Bushveld’ which was an adaptation of a book by the same name by author Sir Percy Fitzpatrick. This was a true story accumulated through Sir Percy Fitzpatricks travels during the mid 1800’s in Transvaal South Africa during the gold rush era. The book focuses on his dog and best friend – Jock, a Staffordshire Terrier.

Sir Percy Fitzpatrick rescued Jock from being drowned in a bucket of water shortly after he was born as he was considered to be the runt of the litter, and this was where the great friendship started.

Jock was Percy’s constant companion and he learned everything he needed to know to do the job that was expected of him in the Eastern Transvaal bush of the time. He had many miraculous feats for a dog of his size, he brought down buck and even Kudu which are very large buck measuring at about 150 cm and weighing between 180 – 250 kg. Jock even once fought and killed a Baboon. Unfortunately it was a kudu that kicked jock in the head on one occasion that caused him to go deaf. He still traveled with Sir Percy for a while after that but it became very dangerous for Jock as he couldn’t hear approaching horses and so on to move out their way. So Sir Percy had to make the difficult decision of taking Jock to live with a friend who happened to be the same man whom he got Jock from in the first place Tom Barnet. He had to leave Jock there as it was a safer environment for him. It was here that Jock met his death when Tom Barnet accidentally shot Jock mistaking him in the dark for one of the wild dogs who regularly ate his chickens.

Jock became an Icon in South African history and is still fondly remembered. There is currently a statue of Jock in front of the city hall in Barberton South Africa, and in 1983 the Lowveld diggers and Transport Riders Society erected bronze plaques on rocks wherever Jock’s original routes crossed the present day roads.