Animal Rights

Is Golf More Important to San Francisco Than Endangered Animals?

categories: Activism and Actions, Endangered Species, Wildlife/FreeLiving Animals

Published November 16, 2009 @ 01:57PM PT

Um, no. I'm guessing most residents of the San Francisco area would say no.

But the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department apparently didn't get the memo. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, the department is supposed to be figuring out how to restore habitat for the San Francisco garter snake and red-legged frog in Pacifica's Sharp Park, but instead, the department is pushing for the option that least considers the animals: an 18-hole golf course, which will push habitat restoration to "the margins of existing wetlands."

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Willful Slow Food Ignorance and the Pain Animals Feel

by Stephanie Ernst

categories: Animal Emotions, Farm Animals, Slaughter

Published November 16, 2009 @ 06:59AM PT

You know what bothers me? When a person or movement purports to be presenting an argument based in honesty and logic, to be coming from an objective place, concerned with fact and evidence -- but then conveniently pretends that any evidence that doesn't support or reinforce what he selfishly feels and wants even exists.

My respect for the Slow Food organization hit a low this weekend when I read Friday's editorial in the Huffington Post by its president Josh Viertel, in response to Jonathan Safran Foer's Eating Animals. There is much in the essay I find bizarre and self-serving -- including, for example, Viertel's seeming pride in holding back lambs from their mothers and participating in the slaughter and his ludicrous insistence that "everyone's values are different, but the truth is anyone's values will do," as long as people live their values; it seems someone needs to explain to Mr. Viertel what we would be obligated to tolerate and support if this were true. Perhaps he's familiar, for example, with the values of violent racists, sexists, and homophobes and the ways they consistently "apply" their values in their lives? But the following extract was why I felt compelled to respond:

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On Oreo, Mabel, and Killing Abused Animals

by Stephanie Ernst

category: Companion Animals

Published November 14, 2009 @ 09:22AM PT

I somehow didn't know the story of Oreo, the 1-year-old pit bull or pit bull mix who was repeatedly abused before being thrown off the roof of a 6-story building this summer, until today -- when I read about what happened to her yesterday: though she survived the traumatic fall that broke her two front legs and more and was physically recovering, she was killed yesterday by the ASPCA, which insisted that she was too aggressive to be adopted. The ASPCA told reporters that as she began healing from her injuries, she simultaneously began showing aggression -- "growling, lunging and trying to bite people who came too close." To her reactions, I say, big surprise. And to how long the ASPCA gave her to recover, I say, meet Mabel.

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Friday Food: Apple Entrees and Desserts, Burgundy Stew, and More

by Stephanie Ernst

categories: Food and Recipes, Friday Food

Published November 13, 2009 @ 04:35PM PT

Sorry for publishing this week's edition late, folks. My day was derailed by a lost neighborhood dog (but no worries -- he's safely at home with his family again). And Friday Food is ready to go!

(Raw) Apple Medallions with Fennel and Sage Stuffing from -- and photo at left courtesy of -- What the Hell Does a Vegan Eat Anyway?

Burgundy Stew from Vegan Dad

Cabbage Amaranth Soup from Rants & Recipes

Apple Tart from Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes

Gingerbread French Toast from Happy Herbivore

Raw Thai Veggie Wraps with Green Curry Coconut Lime Sauce from The Voracious Vegan

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Judge Rejects Plea Deal for Animal Activist, Uses "Terror" Rhetoric

by Stephanie Ernst

categories: Activism and Actions, Green Scare, Politics and Law

Published November 13, 2009 @ 06:12AM PT

Utah is full of unpleasant animal news these days, from the upcoming protest issues mentioned yesterday to the University of Utah undercover laboratory investigation (which we've yet to discuss here) to this: yesterday a U.S. district judge rejected a plea bargain made between the prosecution and a defendant animal rights activist who released several hundred minks last year -- because he believed the plea deal didn't punish the defendant enough for "terrorizing" the man who makes his money terrorizing (no quotation marks) animals.

So what did defendant William Viehl do? Did he try to kill someone? Burn down the owner's house? Hold him hostage at gunpoint? Poison his water supply? Because you'd think he would have had to do something like that for the judge to insist the fur farmer had been "terrorized." Of course, Viehl did no such things. He and his codefendant released animals and spray-painted a barn. He cost the so-called victim money.

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No More Elephants in India's Circuses and Zoos

by Stephanie Ernst

category: Animals in Entertainment

Published November 12, 2009 @ 07:51PM PT

In Defense of Animals has just sent out word of good news for elephants in India. Recognizing that zoos and circuses can't possibly, even in the best of circumstances, meet these animals' needs, the Central Zoo Authority has ordered the release of 140 captive elephants in the country. They will be moved to "semi-free ranging conditions" near national parks and on protected wildlife reserves.

Veterinarian, wildlife biologist, and IDA's executive director Dr. Anand Ramanathan makes excellent points in IDA's press release, asking how the United States can still fail to step up when India can recognize the problems inherent to captive breeding of elephants and the failure of captive programs to aid in real-world protection of species in their natural habitat.

If a country such as India, which has thousands of years' experience managing elephants in captivity, can make such a forward-thinking decision, then certainly the United States can take a stand against circuses that exploit elephants and sub-optimal zoo exhibits that cause elephants to suffer and die prematurely.

To be clear, this ban does not affect any other animals held captive in circuses and zoos. But it certainly is good news and progress for elephants. What's the holdup, America?

Helping Donald the Crippled Rooster and Harvest Home Sanctuary

by Stephanie Ernst

categories: Farm Animals, Sanctuaries

Published November 12, 2009 @ 03:02PM PT

It seems that once every couple months, I learn about another growing or small animal sanctuary that I previously didn't know existed. And this is always a lovely surprise. This time, it's the Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary in California, which I learned about via Marji of Animal Place Sanctuary (and of the Animal Place blog).

One of Harvest Home's residents (you can meet the others here) needs surgery. His name is Donald. He hatched into a first grade classroom as a project -- and he emerged from his egg with deformed legs. When Harvest Home first met him, "one of his legs was splayed at a 90 degree angle, while the other leg was supported with curled toes." He was only four months old, yet "his daily routine was a struggle. A struggle to reach food and water. A struggle to stay clean. A struggle to move without thrashing around." So Donald needs surgery, expensive surgery.

Sanctuaries, especially new, small, or not-well-known sanctuaries, are not awash in money. But that doesn't change how much the animals for whom they care need and deserve help and the best medical care possible. If you'd like to help this growing sanctuary -- if you'd like to help raise the funds that will allow Donald to get his surgery -- you can donate here. I know that there are far more individual animals in dire need of help than I could document here -- than scores of us could document here -- even if every hour of the day were devoted to that task. But it's good to acknowledge them, and help them, as individuals whenever we can. Best of luck, Donald.

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Photo courtesy of Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary