Raising animals for food is the number one cause of global warming, the number one cause of animal suffering, and a decisive factor in the creation of zoonotic diseases like bird and swine flu.  While all of this is true, people just aren’t talking about the issue! Author Jonathan Safran Foer addresses factory farming from numerous perspectives: animal welfare, the environment, the price paid by rural communities, the economic costs and how the way we raise animals for food affects human health.  For example, “Breeding genetically uniform and sickness-prone birds in the overcrowded, stressful, feces-infested and artificially lit conditions of factory farms promotes the growth and mutation of pathogens. Our choice is simple: cheap chicken or our health.”  To read more on this issue from Foer’s perspective, click HERE.

Nearly two dozen dogs, mostly Chihuahuas and Yorkshire Terriers, were seized from a northeast Portland facility after the county determined the owner was not providing adequate care for them.  According to Animal Services, the dogs were being cared for in unsanitary conditions.  The owner, Beverly Mathews Simms, has been ordered to keep no more than six spayed and neutered dogs for the next two years and told her the county would be making unannounced inspections to make sure she is compliance with the order. For complete story click HERE.

Jefferson Airplane singer Grace Slick is pushing Congress to adopt a bill that would stop invasive experiments on chimpanzees and free the mammals from small testing cages. Slick is part of a broad effort, led by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, to limit or end drug testing on animals.  Slick has been involved in fighting animal testing for over 30 years and calls animal testing “sloppy science.” For complete story click HERE.

Hard to believe that some people are having sex with animals, likes horses and dogs.  Some might think this is ridiculous or that it doesn’t really happen but more and more cases are popping up all over the country. Many states are pushing to get a bestiality bill on the books and some states are considering a new law that would add bestiality offenses to the sexual offender registry. Studies have shown that 96 percent of juveniles who engaged in sexual abuse of animals also admitted to sex offenses against humans and serial killers have a high rate of animal sexual abuse as well.  It’s important on many levels that all states adopt a law against bestiality so that offenders can be properly prosecuted. For complete story click HERE.

http://www.snugglesproject.org/

Do you love to crochet? knit? quilt? sew?

If so, you will absolutely love the Snuggles Project!

Rae French was devastated at the thought of homeless dogs and cats in kennels with no warmth, no comfort, nothing to dig their little paws into, and that’s when she came up with Snuggles Project. Knitters and crocheters help by making blankets and beds for animals in shelters. This gives the animal something warm and cuddly that they can call their own. Each blanket brings comfort to a homeless animal.

Most shelter animals sleep on cold cement floors and in hard plastic crates, the Snuggles Project brings something cuddly to the frightening world these animals have been thrust into. A small reprieve from a cold cell or kennel.

I encourage you to go to the site and join the cause. Bring warmth to a homeless dog or cat by making them a blanket or bed!

Our little buddy Calvin the clever found a fantastic home as Karen and her husband drove all the way down from northern California to adopt this wonderful creature that had been dumped at the Baldwin Park shelter. Who on this planet would surrender this dog to a high kill temporary holding facility?! Kelly from AAA rescued and fostered Calvin and just after a short week he found the perfect home. This is what Karen, Calvin’s new mom, has recently said about this super dog: “He went to his dog training and was the BEST yet!!  He was such a good boy !! We took him for a little burger after his class he did so good!! what a love bug and a cuddle bug.” The following pictures speak a thousand words as to what Calvin’s life is like now – we wish that more shelter animals had this opportunity and we wish that more people like Karen would give them that opportunity. Have a GREAT life Calvin!

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office raided the Memphis City Animal Shelter today after receiving reports that animals were being mistreated.  Sick and starving animals were found at the location. Investigators with ASPCA and emergency responders with the American Humane Association are assisting deputies.  While deputies are executing the search warrant, the facility won’t be open to the public and incoming animals will be transferred to other shelters. It is very possible that one or more individuals could face criminal charges based on the outcome of the investigation. For complete story click HERE.

Title: Baldwin Park Shelter Volunteer Day
Location: Baldwin Park Shelter – 4275 N. Elton St., Baldwin Park, CA 91706
Description: If participating for the first time, we will be walking, grooming, socializing, and photographing as many dogs and cats as possible, after which we will circulate an electronic flyer to a large distribution group for networking.
You will need to complete the following LA County volunteer application to volunteer at the shelter: LA County Volunteer Application
Please also make sure to wear your county volunteer t-shirt or AAA shirt.
(you may purchase an LA County Volunteer t-shirt for $10 at the shelter following completion of orientation).

Additional Details:

*Please plan to meet around 9:00 a.m. The shelter address is 4275 N. Elton St., Baldwin Park, 91706. From any location west of downtown LA, take the 10 Freeway east, and take the Puente exit (which is just east of the 605/10 Fwy intersection). Turn R on
Garvey and Left on Pacific. Take Pacific to Ramona and make a Rright – stay on left hand lane as you will need to make a Left turn at the second light (after the train tracks) to make sure you are still on Ramona. Turn Left on Elton. Elton is a very small street (almost an alley), so it is easy to miss the street sign. Keep your eyes peeled!
* Wear comfortable shoes and clothing, and be aware that your clothes and shoes WILL get dirty!
* Try to eat breakfast, and bring along an energy bar or snack and some water for lunch, as we normally do not have time to take an extended lunch break

Thank you for challenging yourself to make the time to help wonderful shelter animals!

Start Time: 9:00
Date: 2009-10-31
End Time: 15:00

Margo’s Bark is a great tasting all-natural cane sugar root beer and they donate all profits to help shelter and rescued dogs! So twist off the cap of a nice cold Margo’s Bark and drink a bite!

www.margosbark.com

Animal Advocates Alliance had the incredible opportunity of having the team of Joanna Krupa and Derek Hough from Dancing With the Stars volunteer at an adoption event at the Healthy Spot in Santa Monica. Both Joanna and Derek are great advocates for animals. The segment below aired on Dancing with the Stars earlier this month. We thank them both for their continued support in promoting the adoption and spay/neuter message and we appreciate having them as friends and partners of AAA!