Mutilating Dogs for "Beauty"

Posted February 18, 2015 by Kim Johnson

Humans can choose whether or not to have cosmetic surgery, but dogs aren’t so lucky. People choose for them, and they’re often forced to undergo painful and unnecessary procedures such as ear-cropping and tail-docking. Some veterinarians still perform these painful surgeries at the owner’s request, just to make dogs look more menacing or to give certain breeds more “desirable” physical traits, such as stubby tails or pointy ears.

Sugar’s ears were likely cropped at home by untrained individuals without anesthetics. Some people have their dogs’ ears cropped in an effort to make them look more menacing.

Dogs use their ears and tails to express themselves, to communicate with us, and, some say, even to communicate with other animals. For example, dogs put their tails between their legs when they’re scared and wag their tails to show happiness or other feelings. By cutting off part of dogs’ ears and tails, we’re not only changing their appearance but also limiting their ability to express their emotions.

Ear-cropping is typically performed when dogs are between 6 and 12 weeks old, and the sole purpose is to make floppy ears stand up straight. The procedure involves cutting off parts of the ears with a blade or scissors in order to change their shape. The ears are then often put into an upright position and held in place with bandages and tape until they stand up straight on their own. The trauma of this painful procedure can have a negative psychological impact on a maturing pup, and the process of taping and retaping the ears to force them to stand up can be agonizing to the dog.

Because dogs have not been shown to derive self-esteem or pride in appearance from having their tails docked (common reasons for performing cosmetic procedures on people), there is no obvious benefit to our patients in performing this procedure.

—The American Veterinary Medical Association

The idea that dogs are fashion accessories is promoted by the American Kennel Club’s dog shows, and breeders, who believe that “their” breed will be ruined if animals don’t maintain the image handed down by breed clubs decades ago. The AVMA, however, opposes ear-cropping and tail-docking when they’re done for cosmetic purposes and encourages the elimination of both from breed standards. These procedures are so inhumane that they’ve been banned in many European countries. For example, British kennel clubs outlawed ear-cropping a century ago, and in 1993, the U.K. put a stop to cosmetic tail-docking. Many vets in the U.S. also refuse to perform these procedures.

IMG_7000.JPG | John M. | CC BY-SA 2.0

Ear-cropping is so inhumane that it has been banned in several countries.

What You Can Do

• Support legislation that aims to outlaw these cruel practices.
• Love dogs for who they are! Don’t try to alter their appearance to fit in with a trend or to meet an arbitrary “breed standard.”
• Share this info with your friends and family. Spread the word that tail-docking and ear-cropping are painful and that cosmetic surgery on dogs is cruel.
• Like tail-docking and ear-cropping, declawing cats is also painful and unnecessary. Learn how declawing hurts cats and never declaw an animal.

Read more: http://www.peta2.com/blog/dog-ear-cropping-tail-docking/#ixzz3fVmZ33SI

Why YOU Should NOT Support Zoos

Posted June 24, 2015 by Hannah Healy

Here at peta2, we get a lot of questions about animals in zoos. Most people understand that confining a beautiful wild animal to a cage a mere fraction of the size of their natural habitat is wrong. And many were furious after watching the eye-opening documentary Blackfish, which detailed the suffering that marine animals endure in captivity. However, there are many common misconceptions about zoos that make some people question why PETA doesn’t support them. We’re here to answer those questions.

Read more: http://www.peta2.com/blog/zoo-cruelty-questions/#ixzz3fSRWeDOD

Why does PETA say that animals don’t belong in zoos?

Zoos generally regard the animals they keep as mere commodities. They’re regularly bought, sold, borrowed, and traded with little regard for their established relationships. Think about this: One member of a loving family herd could be shipped off to another zoo! Removing animals from established social groups and forcing them to adjust repeatedly to new routines, different caretakers, and unfamiliar cage-mates is disruptive and traumatic for them.

A major reason that zoos choose to breed animals is because people LOVE seeing babies. A new baby can draw in zoo visitors and boost revenue. However, the animals’ fate is often bleak once they outgrow their “cuteness.” Zoos often become crowded, and older animals may be kept in warehouses behind the scenes or shuffled off to shabby roadside zoos, animal dealers, or auctions.

Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals

Even large, well-known, and popular zoos engage in unethical practices, such as dumping unwanted  animals or acquiring them from the wild. The San Diego Zoo and Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo imported a combined 11 African elephants from Swaziland. And accredited zoos in Denver; Houston; Litchfield Park, Arizona; San Antonio; San Diego; and Tampa, Florida, imported a combined 33 monkeys who had been illegally trafficked by poachers in Africa!

Aren’t there laws to protect animals in zoos?

Some countries have no laws whatsoever to protect captive animals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issues licenses to animal exhibitors in the U.S. The agency is supposed to enforce the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA), but licenses are issued to nearly ANYONE who fills out an application and sends in a fee.

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In addition, the AWA only addresses basic issues. It states that animals must be fed, given water, and provided with shelter. However, cages are allowed to have concrete floors, and there’s NO specific requirement for grass, greenery, or other natural vegetation. Cage space regulations are liberally interpreted and require only that the animals be provided with enough room to stand up, lie down, turn around, and move around a bit. Basically, this means that if YOU were only protected by the AWA, you could legally be locked inside a concrete closet.

Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals

Some animals, including reptiles, fish, and other cold-blooded animals, are specifically EXCLUDED from the AWA. Shockingly, even though Congress amended the act in 2002 to include birds used for exhibition as regulated (protected) animals, the USDA has yet to cite ANYONE for neglecting them—even though many birds are obviously suffering and some have died as a result of apparent AWA violations.

Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals

While local authorities do typically have the legal power to enforce state and local cruelty laws for animals suffering in zoos, the vast majority simply refuse to take action, often passing the buck to the USDA. Even though the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) PROHIBITS harming or harassing protected species held in captivity, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (the agency tasked with enforcing the ESA) ALSO typically defers to the USDA’s inadequate enforcement of the AWA.

Aren’t zoos critical to conservation efforts?

The first thing people need to know is that most animals kept in zoos are NOT endangered. Those who are endangered may have their plight made worse by zoos’ focus on crowd appeal.

The second thing you need to know is that animals kept in zoos are almost NEVER being prepared for release back into their natural habitats. It’s nearly impossible to release captive-bred animals into the wild safely. Think about this: How are we going to help save animals from extinction if we’re displaying them in tiny cages and never releasing them to replenish the species? Animals who are reared in zoos live in unnatural environments and can’t learn survival skills—and often, they have little or no natural habitat left to return to because of human encroachment.

Many zoos are holding endangered species primarily as spectacles for tourists. Basically, most endangered animals in captivity are being exploited for the profit of zoos.

Won’t children be deprived if they can’t see animals in zoos?

Sociologists in the U.K. gathered data from children between the ages of 7 and 15, both before and after they visited the London Zoo. The researchers found that 59 percent of children who took an educator-guided tour of the zoo had no positive educational outcomes. That number jumps to 66 percent when the children went on an unguided visit. In many cases, the trip to the zoo even had a negative impact on children’s understanding of animals and their habitats.

Taking kids to the zoo may actually HURT conservation efforts, too! In fact, numerous studies have shown that exhibiting animals in unnatural settings may undermine conservation by causing visitors to believe that the species must not be in jeopardy. This is especially the case for displays in which humans are allowed direct contact with animals. 

What CAN we do to save endangered animals?

Ultimately, we’ll only be able to save endangered species if we save their habitats and stop animals from being hunted and killed—not by breeding them in captivity. Zoos regularly squander millions of dollars erecting statues and amusement rides and building gift shops and concession stands. This money would do far more to help animals if it were spent on habitat-preservation projects.

Read more: http://www.peta2.com/blog/zoo-cruelty-questions/#ixzz3fSS4HIip

If you love animals, it’s only natural that you want to be close to them, but animals shouldn’t have to live in misery because of our curiosity! They don’t belong to us and they’re NOT OURS to confine in zoos. Pledge never to support zoos, and urge your friends and family to stay away, too.

No chains. No cages. No tanks. 

6 Newly Confirmed Cruelty-Free Companies

Posted June 3, 2015 by Hannah Healy

The European Union has banned the sale of any cosmetics that have been tested on animals or whose ingredients have been tested on animals, and NO federal law requires that cosmetics companies test on animals in America. In spite of this, many U.S. companies CHOOSE to continue tests on animals! There are dozens of tests in use today that are faster and more accurate at predicting human reactions to a product than the old animal tests EVER were. The continued needless torture of rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, and other animals is nothing short of appalling.

Here’s the good news: More and more companies are seeing the light! Kendo Brands has joined PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies program! As part of its membership in our program and inclusion on our cruelty-free list, Kendo Brands has signed a statement that it will NEVER conduct, commission, or pay for tests on animals for its ingredients, formulations, or products anywhere in the world. This ALSO means that Kendo is putting animals ahead of profits by refusing to sell any products in China until the country lifts its requirement that cosmetics be tested on animals. Meet the six beauty companies it owns whose products are now SAFE for animal lovers to buy:

1. Kat Von D Beauty

Kat Von D Beauty

2. Bite Beauty

Bite Beauty

3. Ole Henriksen

Ole Henriksen

4. Elizabeth and James Nirvana

Elizabeth and James Nirvana

5. Formula X

Formula X

6. Marc Jacobs Beauty

Marc Jacobs Beauty

Cruelty-free items can be found anywhere!

Read more: http://www.peta2.com/blog/kat-von-d-beauty-cruelty-free/#ixzz3fMLxojYb

Longview animal hospital fire 'just devastating'

This hit close to home and this was just devastating to me. This happened a few weeks ago, but many people are still grieving from the loss of their beloved pets. May we all light a candle for the 38 out of 40 animals that died in this horrific fire. Rest In Peace..

 

"Only two animals survived a fire late Tuesday that engulfed Kimbrough Animal Hospital. Officials deemed the Longview veterinary clinic a total loss.

Longview Fire Marshal Johnny Zackary said 40 animals were at the clinic at the time the fire started; 38 animals died.

The veterinarian personally took the two surviving pets to East Texas Animal Hospital, a 24-hour emergency animal clinic on Gilmer Road, for treatment, Zackary said.

The fire department responded about 10:15 p.m. to the fire at the animal clinic, where flames could be seen shooting out of the roof when they arrived. The building collapsed during the blaze, but firefighters worked throughout the night to remove the animals.

"The fire started in the office, the cause has been narrowed down to electrical components in the office," Zackary said.

A crowd that included many of Kimbrough’s longtime clients had gathered out front, watching as the blaze destroyed the building and looking to see what they could do to help.

Christi Lee of Longview said she has been a client of the clinic for the past 20 years.

“I just picked up our dog yesterday,” she said while standing across Judson Road watching the blaze. “I was supposed to drop off two kittens tomorrow. Kenny (Kimbrough) was going to remove the stitches.”

Lee said Kimbrough was great with the animals and with people.

“Kenny Kimbrough is a great man, as well as a great doctor. His staff is so compassionate,” she said. “This is so heartbreaking.”

“It’s just devastating. He is so gentle and kind. Any of his clients would want to help in any way they can,” said Maley, who often boards her two dogs with Kimbrough.

“The thought of the owners hearing this news is just devastating,” she said. “This must be affecting Dr. Kimbrough horribly. I can’t imagine him having to call those families. Dr. Kimbrough is just a part of our family.”

"Everybody's in shock right now. I talked to Dr. Kimbrough. He is just numb right now and in shock," said Hart, who worked as a receptionist at the clinic from 2008 to 2011.

Hart said when she pulled up and saw the flames, her first thought was of the animals.

"All of those animals were precious. We love them like family. Everybody is asking right now what they can do to help. There's really not anything that you can do," she said. "It's heartbreaking. The animals depend on us to take care of them and to protect them. I can't imagine what was going through their minds."

The deceased animals were taken just after midnight to a building next door to the animal clinic for their owners to come and ID them. The animals have been wrapped up, but their heads are shown for the owners to easily identify them and take them home.

  Article By: Bridget Ortigo