Your Daily Vegan

The CEO for anti-animal cruelty group, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Richmond SPCA), Robin Starr has admitted to leaving her 16-year old blind and deaf dog in a hot car for four hours.  The dog, Louie, later died of kidney failure.

Starr reports that she didn’t realize that Louie was in the car until noon.  Her husband, Ed, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that he had put the dog in her car as his wife was getting ready for work on August 19th, as she often took him with her to work.

According to the National Weather Service, the temperature had reached 91 degrees by noon on August 19th.  The (Richmond) SPCA has come forward to say that they still support Starr, who has been the CEO since 1997.  She does not plan to retire.

It is not clear at this time if charges will be sought in this case.

I feel for that dog.  He died because of human carelessness.  I’m sure that Starr “feels bad” for her “mistake” but that doesn’t bring back the dog.  I believe that she should face charges just like any other person would have to.  As aside from any of that…how could you not know that your dog is in the car?  How unobservant do you have to be?  I view it the same as those folks who leave their children in the car.  If you are that absent-minded then maybe you shouldn’t be driving.

In an ironic twist, the ASPCA website’s front page has information about how to keep pets cool in the “dog days of summer”.  Maybe she’s never seen the ASPCA website….

What do you think?  Do you think she should not have any charges brought against her for animal cruelty?  I know where my vote is….

via usatoday.com

So, the Oregon State Fair officials want to protect their pigs from sick people: “Help us protect the piggies,” (from swine flu).

I think a more real threat to the piggies would be the “pork producing” animal exploiters who torture “harvest” over 100 million of the intelligent animals per year in the United States.

The issue that the pig torturers are fretting over is public perception of swine flu and how it may affect the swine- and therefore their profit margin.  “If you take those big opportunities (state fairs) away, it would have been devastating to the show-pig industry and the breeding industry,” said Darrell D. Anderson, the chief executive of the National Swine Registry.

And this statement, “To keep illness from spreading back to home farms, some fairs discourage farmers from showing any animals that are not “terminal,” due to be slaughtered right after the fair”, is disturbing at best.  Does anyone read this and not think there’s something inherently wrong with systematically killing animals in an industrialized fashion, just for the taste of its flesh?

The “pork producing” industry- the huge agri-conglomerates down to the small “farmer” who raises “prize pigs” for breeding purposes- are only concerned with the health of their piggies as it relates to money earned.  Pure, simple greed, not true concern for the animal’s well being and happiness.

What if this article was about Persian kitties raised for their fur for sale to garment manufacturers?

“And there is the worry of public relations: Would a report of an infected Persian kitty at a fair harm the cat fur industry, already wrestling with economic misery in part because of people’s unfounded fears over fleas and lice in their children’s winter-wear?  To keep illness from spreading back to home kennels, some fairs discourage breeders from showing any Persian kitties that are not “terminal,” due to be slaughtered right after the fair.”

“Still, for some who raise Persian kitties to sell to commercial fur producers, the possibility of a show kitty’s falling ill at a county fair sounded like one more needless horror in a crushing year.  Others wondered if mere talk of safety measures at fairs’ kitty kennels actually scared people more than the measures would spare kitties.  Might reminders to keep kitties safe just plant new, irrational fears about kitty fur in some people’s minds?”

“Terminal.”  Human induced terminal that is.

And pigs, just like kitties, love affectionate attention (even petting and scratching behind the ears!) and are incredibly intelligent little beings.  Pigs, like kitties, like to play and bonds with other pigs.  A pig, in fact, is very similar to a kitty.  The only difference between them would be how you categorize them to your moral self.  But just remember, justifying the death of one animal simply because you classify them as “food” doesn’t make it morally sound.  Indeed, just the opposite.  You are saying that it is okay to kill as long as it benefits a human.  Does it matter what species of animal you are killing?  Non-human or human?  It shouldn’t.  Last time I checked, we are all live, sentient beings.

via newyorktimes.com

Being in prison isn’t easy but life just got a little better for vegan prisoners in the UK.  Prisoners are now permitted to order approved vegan products including nuts, seeds, dried fruits, vegan chocolate bars, soap, shampoo, deodorant, sunscreen, lipstick and facial scrubs from two different eco-outlets.

There are an estimated 800 vegan prisoners in the prison population at any give time and there is an extreme shortage of products in the prison system that can accommodate the lifestyle.  After a 15-year long battle, the Vegan Prisoners Support Group (VPSG) has gotten the Prison Service to allow vegans to order ethical food and toiletries by mail order.  That is, if none are present at the prison shop.  A spokesperson for the VPSG stated that it was “critical” for the prisoner’s health that they have access to vegan (and suitable) food.  For example, vegans would not be able to get enough iodine from a prison diet which could lead to the slowing of their thyroid whereas other inmates would get their iodine from fish or milk.

While the inmates are celebrating the victory with vegan chocolate bars there are others who are less than thrilled with the new ruling.  One source had this to say:

“These guys are crooks. They are in prison to serve time. We can’t be running around making sure they have the right sun cream or that they have the one brazil nut or selection of walnuts to make sure they get enough vitamins.  They gave up any rights to have principals when they robbed the old lady, burgled a house, smuggled cocaine or beat someone up.”

So what do you think?  Should the dietary restrictions of a vegan lifestyle be upheld in the prison system?  Do vegans give up any rights to ethical living because they were convicted of a crime?  Or, should they be treated like any other prisoner in the system?

via www.telegraph.co.uk

Well it is according to LA Times writer, Susan Carpenter.  She starts her article with:

“If you don’t wear animals on your body, chances are you’re loath to smear one on your face. And even if an animal byproduct isn’t used in a moisturizer or a blush, those who don’t eat or wear products of any kind from beings that walk, fly or swim have another concern. They want to know that the goods they use weren’t tested on animals.”

I love it.  It’s one of the first times that I’ve read a mainstream article that the author seems to really get veganism.  The article has some good information about what conventional makeup has in it that isn’t vegan, as well as links to vegan companies that specialize in vegan cosmetics.  My favorite line of the article?

“Our skin absorbs 60% of what we put on it, so it’s just as important as the food we eat.”

Yes, yes it is.  Thank you for pointing that out.  Click here to read it for yourself.

via latimes.com

Photo: Animal Planet

Captain Paul Watson recently sat down to talk about the food served to his crew.  The entire crew eats vegan while out at sea with meals served up by chef, Laura Dakin.  He has this to say about his choice:

“I run my ship as a vegan vessel. It’s not for animal rights reasons but to set an example and to try and get people to think about the connection between what they eat and what we’re doing to the oceans, because it’s quite simple, really. I personally feel that it’s the most important cause on the planet; more important than anything else for the simple reason as this – if the oceans die then we all die. And we’ve removed 90% of the fish from the oceans.”

Alright, I’m confused.  On one hand, he wants you to make the connection to what you are putting in your mouth to what we are doing to the oceans.  But on the other hand they don’t eat vegan for animal rights reasons.  I would think that eating fish is not much different than eating a cow.  Both are animals that their habitats and lives have changed because of human intervention.  They are both exploited.  To say that you are a conservation group that eats vegan to make a point – but you draw the line at being called an animal rights group – is really an oxymoron.  Animal rights and conservation efforts are really in line with each other, or at least they should be.  You can’t conserve resources without thinking of the impact of factory farming, whether that farm is on land or in the middle of the ocean.

(more…)

Here’s what we’ve got our eyes on today…

• Seitan fails to impress on Top Chef – “why use seitan when you could have used the real thing” blogs afire today. Of course.

• Learning more than just a great recipe, Centro Latino serves up vegan tamales with a side of education. Awesome!

• Hey Pittsburgh vegans, here’s a run down of veg friendly local restaurants in your area.

• Project Runway returns and Tim tells us about the behind-the-scenes vegan drama in past seasons.

• Skinny Bitch wants to eat with you.

Photo: BARCROFT

The dog who won Britain’s Ugliest Dog contest in 2005, Mugly, was found in a public park being attacked by a gang.  Apparently the passer-by saw the dog being hit with a stick, kicked and being punched.  And just for the record, the dog is about the size of a cat so it’s a very small dog.

The owner of the dog, Bev Nicholson, says that Mugly escaped from a ground floor window and that the passer-by recognized the dog from posters she saw around the neighborhood.

Nicholson says:

“They had pulled out a little tuft of hair he had on his neck…It was the only hair he had and they even managed to take off one of his eyebrows. I can’t even work out how they would have done that.  He’d never gone missing before and you worry about letting him out because of what he looks like and the fact he’s so friendly.  You just can’t think why these people would do such a horrible thing. Part of me thinks they might not have even realised that he was a dog because of him having no hair so they just bullied him.  It’s horrible because he loves people so much he probably thought it was just a game and all they were interested in was hurting him.  He was really shaken and cowered in to me when he got back to me. He was swollen and bruised around his face and rear end.”

Adela Navarro, a local vet, said: “He had a few cuts and was bruised and a little shaken up.”  A little shaken up?  The poor guy is probably going to have issues with humans in the future and who could blame him?  What kind of people beat up a small innocent dog?

But then again, we live in a world that it’s not okay to abuse a dog but it IS okay to abuse and slaughter billions of “other” animals a year.  Maybe that contributes to the confusion about the rights of animals, what do you think?

via telegraph.co.uk

Your Daily Vegan WTF moment is brought to us today by Boost Mobile, a division of Sprint Nextel.  Their advertisers seemed to think that a video containing cannibalism would be perfect for selling mobile phones.

Let me ask you this – would this commercial be appropriate if two humans were featured in lieu of the pigs?  If you said no, ask yourself why you put pigs in a separate moral category than humans.  Both live, have families, fear, and can feel physical pain.  Both are intelligent.  If you said yes, and you have Sprint or Boost Mobile, you should ask yourself if you want to be associated with this type of … company.

And for those who would like to voice their opinion to Sprint Nextel themselves, click here to email them.

Get your forks ready.  The Twin Cities chapter of EarthSave is holding its monthly dine out event on August 22, 2009 at 6pm.  This months meet will be held at Sen Yai Sen Lek (Big Noodle Little Noodle) located at 2422 Central Avenue NE in Minneapolis.  The restaurant specializes in Thai rice and noodle dishes and offers a vegan menu in addition to its regular menu.  You can try dishes created with tofu or mock duck (I’ve never had duck – mock or otherwise – it sounds…interesting)

But you must RSVP to attend so leave a message (by 2pm) on Saturday at EarthSave’s info line, 952-930-1205.

EarthSave hosts meetings and events where vegans (or vegetarians) can meet others that choose a plant-based lifestyle.  They try veg-friendly restaurants or share recipes at potluck dinners.

From EarthSave Twin Cities Chapter website:

“EarthSave encourages a plant-based diet for personal and planetary health out of respect and compassion for all beings with whom we share the earth.”

EarthSave Twin Cities is the local chapter of EarthSave International, established in 1988 by John Robbins, author of The Food Revolution.  You can find out more information by clicking here.

via twincities.earthsave.org