MS Senate committee votes YES to Animal Cruelty Bill

Mississippians who commit acts of cruelty against dogs or cats could face up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, based on a state Senate committee’s action Tuesday, January 26th.

Members of Judiciary B approved the decision to send the Senate a bill that would make it a felony on first offense to “torture, mutilate, maim, burn or maliciously starve, disfigure or kill any domesticated dog or cat.”

“It was great,” said Audrey Orek, MS-FACT contact person for Clay County. “I took leave from work to attend the committee hearing with other members of the organization. We were not disappointed.”

MS-FACT, or Mississippi – Fighting Animal Cruelty Together has about 2,600 members.

Next Tuesday is the deadline for committees to report general bills and constitutional amendments originating in their own chamber. If the full Senate approves Senate Bill 2623, it will go to the House, where members of the MS-FACT are confident the bill will pass early this year.

“It was a unanimous outcome,” said Orek about the committee vote.

The author of the measure, Sen. Billy Hewes, R-Gulfport, said there is “pretty broad support for it.” According to Hewes, supporters of tougher animal cruelty laws have been lobbying for action for several years.

Mississippi is one of four states where animal cruelty is a misdemeanor instead of a felony. Here, the maximum penalty is a six-month jail sentence and a $1,000 fine.
“That is simply a slap on the wrist,” said Lynda Koch, a member of MS-FACT. “Being labeled a felon would prevent offenders of vicious crimes from working in child care facilities and with the elderly.”

Koch also believes that most people who oppose Bill 2623, do so because they don’t fully understand it. The bill specifies domesticated dogs and cats only and lists exclusions.

“They think we are attempting to change the laws that apply to farmers and agriculture,” Koch said. “That is not the case. This bill is strictly for dogs and cats.”

Hewes agreed saying, if passed, the new legislation would not impact hunting and fishing activities and dog-handling practices. The bill also excludes medical research. But at least first steps are bring taken to get cruelty on the books as a felony.

Citing studies advocates of tougher penalties say animal abusers often become people abusers. “From a mental health standpoint, I believe this is a huge issue for protecting people,” said Nancy Goldman, vice president of MS-FACT and a psychiatric mental health clinical nurse specialist.

“Serial killers often have a history of animal cruelty. There is also a link between animal cruelty and domestic violence and child abuse.”

Visit http://www.ms-fact.org/

VOTE FOR THE HORSES POSTPONED BUT WE CAN STILL CALL FOR REPS TO CO-SPONSOR!

ALERT - VOTE ON FEBRUARY 2ND FOR THE HORSES HAS BEEN POSTPONED!


We all need to make our voices heard now more than ever! Please note that the vote on February 2nd has been postponed. Congressman John Conyers was scheduled to bring up bill H.R.503 in Congress for a vote on February 2, 2010. This does not mean we cannot continue to flood Congress with calls for our representatives to co-sponsor the bill. The horses need us more than ever.

We need to flood the phone lines of our Congressmen and Senators and tell them how strongly we feel collectively that this bill come up for a vote, pass, and becomes law once and for all. It can only pass with all our voices coming together.

It will only take a few minutes of your time, but it will mean so much to all the horses whose destiny is the unthinkable...slaughter. Please make your phone call today! And pass this information on to all your friends and family and spread the word. It only takes but a few minutes. We can all agree the horses deserve that time from us. Call and email if you can do both and ask everyone you know to do the same.

Unfortunately, votes are continually postponed and some continually stand in the way of reform every year. Advocates, horse guardians/owners, veterinarians and animal lovers must continue to fight for America’s horses and push toward the passage of H.R. 503, the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act.

Contact your rep today! Together we can make our voices heard in unity for the beloved horses. Let's make 2010 the year for the horses! Visit http://www.congress.org/

Protect Pets From Pollutants

by Susan Thixton

A recent study proves our pets are exposed to chemicals and toxins in far greater amounts than people. In a ground breaking study, Environmental Working Group found dogs and cats to be contaminated with 48 different chemicals – 43 of which were at higher levels typically found in people. Most people try their best to protect the four legged loves of their lives. Yet thanks to lax or non-existent regulations, a new study has proven that our pets are becoming polluted with chemicals. EWG released a unique study earlier this year finding 48 different chemicals in the blood and urine of dogs and cats.

Briefly the EWG report (www.ewg.org/reports/pets) tested 20 dogs and 37 cats. In dogs, seven chemicals tested at least five times higher than typical human levels and another seven chemicals showed levels up to five times the amounts in people. In cats, 25 chemicals averaged at least five times higher than human levels and another 18 averaged up to five times the typical level found in humans.

EWG contributes these startling findings to sources including contaminated pet food bags, pet food cans, toys, house dust, stain-proofed furniture, pet beds, and more. It´s frightening to consider the toll these contaminants are taking on our pets, and overwhelming to know what to do about it.

Here are some suggestions that I follow for my own household – home to two dogs, one cat, and two birds. First and foremost, feed your pet the absolute best food you can. Proper nutrition empowers your pet´s body to fend off toxins. Dogs and cats alike need a pet food made from a human grade/quality meat (not by-products; by-products are not meat), no added chemical preservatives or dyes, and no Chinese imports. Many of the better pet food lines also provide pets with antioxidant supplements and added probiotics. Antioxidants have been proven to fend off the damages from ´free radicals´ in humans and pets alike.

A highly tested antioxidant supplement to look for in your pet´s food ingredient list is ´grape seed extract´ (grapes are toxic to pets – grape seed extract is not toxic). I store my pet´s food in an air tight, pet safe container; placing the container in a dark, dry pantry. Exposure to air, light, and heat can cause a naturally preserved pet food to lose its nutritional value quicker. I also feed my pets twice per day; two meals a day for adult dogs and cats is optimal. Only feeding once per day is challenging for the pet to properly utilize the nutrition over a 24 hour period.

Next, make sure your pet stays active. Daily exercise plays an important role in keeping our pets healthy. For dog owners a daily walk around the block or tossing the toy in the yard each day; for cats-a daily workout with a toy of choice provides necessary physical and mental stimulation. Provide your pet with only natural materials for their toys and bedding. And for cats, try to use natural cat litters.

Limit the amount of flea treatments to your pet and to your lawn. For my own pets, a daily once-over with a flea comb is the flea ´treatment´ that I prefer for my group. If you must treat the lawn with fertilizers and pest control, make sure the products are pet-safe and completely dry before your pet goes onto the lawn. Supervise your dog or cat in the yard to prevent eating chemically-treated grass. All household cleaning products should be ´green´ – pet friendly – and limit your pet´s exposure to them.

When you consider the short lifespan of our pets, the effects of exposure to toxic chemicals are magnified when compared to that of human exposure. Natural pet foods with health promoting ingredients, toys and bedding made from 100% natural materials, and limiting exposure to cleaners, pesticides and fertilizers will help to protect your pet from toxins and hopefully add years to their life.

Susan Thixton is internationally recognized as the pet food expert helping humans understand how to find the safest and healthiest dog and cat foods and treats. Susan Thixton's 'truth' will help you find a safer, healthier dog or cat food that could add years to your pet's life. www.TruthAboutPetFood.com

“PAINTING EQUINE MESSAGES”

By Debra Saum, Animal Communication Artist

We all have a sixth sense…animals, humans, we’re all born with it. There’s no difference between an animal’s sixth sense and a human’s intuition. Animals are just more trusting of theirs. When we allow animals to show us their intuitive nature, we allow ourselves to return to our own divine nature.

My “Talking Art” is a way for me to portray the many positive and inspirational messages that animals have for all of us. Happiness, balance, peace, unity…these are the lessons that they want to give us.

Equine intuition is particularly potent. Horses are dialed into their sixth sense because as herd animals, their very survival depends upon it. Known for their uncanny ability to ignite psychic awareness in humans, horses have a powerful way of reminding us to follow our hearts and trust our intuition.

Horses have graced us with their strength, loyalty and wisdom for eons. Some say that the horse domesticated the human, not the other way around. Could it be that horses brought us into their inner circle of intuitive grace and power in order to teach us how to be better stewards of the planet?

As an animal intuitive, it is my commitment to speak for the animals I paint by capturing their magnificent spirits on canvas. I believe that all animals are our teachers. Horses in particular, are here to help us remember our inner qualities of grace, kindness and peace. Using my communication skills, I have many conversations with the animals while creating their portraits. Whether meeting them in person, or using a photograph of them as reference, I begin by asking each animal what I can do to help paint their message. With deep reverence and respect, I ask them to talk to me about their essence, their heart, their feelings and what it is they want to say with their portrait. Then, as a self-taught artist, I use my instincts to help guide me through the entire process.

Having painted for nearly 20 years, I have found that by using close-up compositions, emphasis on large, soulful eyes and a slow process of building layers of color onto the canvas, I can create a vibrant rendition of each animal’s spirit. It is my experience that the canvas captures the essence of the many hours of communication I have had with each animal. Existing within each acrylic painting stretched on canvas is the memory of those communications.

As quantum physics states, we are all just energy organizing itself into various forms. There is no real difference, for example, between the basic energy of thought and the energy of a paintbrush. When creating paintings of horses, I have found that this energy transfer can be especially profound. I have come to know the energy of horses as saint-like, so very comforting , familiar and soulful. They are one of our most powerful teachers.

Perhaps it is because of the incredible sacrifices that horses have given to the human race that we are curious to get to know them. Or perhaps it is because they have so humbly allowed us to use them for our own advancement that they continue to invoke in us a sense of awe and wonder. We continue to be drawn to them as they continue to allow us into their mystical, natural world. They give us their unconditional love, their loyalty and their ever-present wildness. We are forever drawn to their essence and on some level, we yearn for their inherent connection to all things divine.

It is my hope as an artist to convey the profound messages of The Horse. I believe they are here to help us listen with our hearts; to be reminded of the power of love; to live our lives with the same grace, simplicity and beauty that has helped The Equine Spirit survive for centuries.


Debra Saum is an Animal Intuitive and nationally recognized, self-taught artist who lives in Southern California. Known for her revolutionary style of expressing Animal Communication through Art, her vibrant animal portraits invoke strong emotions. “Oh, you completely captured his spirit” is a common statement. Committed to raising awareness about the power of animals and their ability to ignite unconditional love, Debra regularly donates her art to Animal Organizations and projects that help promote compassion and kindness to all species.


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5 African Animals We Don't Want to Lose

By Mark Bottell

Animal conservation work is growing in popularity, with many people taking adult gap years where they work with animals in Africa. It is a fulfilling way to give something back to nature, and you will take the experiences you had on your gap year for adults with you forever.

Africa, the continent known for its abundant wildlife, now has many of its animals on the list of endangered species. It is essential that conservationists continue with the work that they are doing, and that others get involved too.

Here are some African animals that can be found on Africa's endangered list.

#1 African Wild Dog
The African wild dog is a medium-sized canine which traditionally lives in packs of 15 and preys on smaller grazers such as impala. The African wild dog can be found in the savanna woodlands of Sub-Saharan Africa, but its numbers are dwindling due to it being shot by farmers, and it now has a place on the endangered species list. Conservation work is necessary to restore original population numbers, and the animal is now a protected species.

#2 Mountain Zebra
The mountain zebra can be found in the mountainous regions of South Africa; a beautiful striped, herbivorous animal, eating mostly grass, leaves, shrubs and bark. One of its sub-species, the Cape mountain zebra, has a population of only 600. The numbers of these animals are dwindling due to hunting and the effects of drought. Conservation projects have been put into place in protected areas, to try and manage this dwindling population.

#3 Leopard
The leopard can be found in many different places across the world, and in Africa, it can be found all across the Sub-Saharan regions, and west of the Kalahari Desert. It has been known to prey on farmers' livestock, and the resultant hunting has begun to pose a threat. Other factors placing this animals on the endangered list are loss of habitat and loss of prey populations. Animal conservation workers have begun putting conservation projects in place, and the leopard population is being managed with a fair amount of success.

#4 Chimpanzee
On the African continent, the chimpanzee can be found in grasslands, rainforests and open woodlands. But human expansion is depleting these natural environments, and the chimpanzees' habitat is being diminished. For some time now, wildlife conservation projects have focused on chimpanzees, but more animal conservation work is needed to manage the dwindling chimpanzee population.

#5 Dama Gazelle
This elegant animal can be found in Saharan Africa, where it usually either lives in solitude or in a small group. It primarily feeds on shrubs, acacias and desert dates. Sadly, dama gazelle numbers have dropped by about 80% in the last decade, making them a prime subject of conservation projects. The rapid decrease in population numbers is due to hunting, habitat destruction and drought. It is imperative for animal conservation workers to implement projects to prevent these animals from becoming extinct.

Mark Bottell is the General Manager for Worldwide Experience, an online tour operator offering extended breaks for adult gap years, an exciting opportunity to get involved in animal conservation work. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Bottell

Christian Veterinary Mission Serving Haiti Since 1981

Christian Veterinary Mission has served in Haiti since the early 1980s and has set up a dedicated fund for earthquake relief. They currently have three long-term fieldworkers on site, all of whom have checked in as safe. They have also trained more than 1,000 village-level animal health workers.

The fieldworkers are "working with the Haitian people to assess the damage, respond to the immediate needs, and understand how to help once again," CVM Executive Director Dr. Kit Flowers said in a statement.

Christian Veterinary Mission seeks to help veterinarians serve others and live out their Christian faith through their profession. We seek to change lives and communities by improving the care of livestock and other animals.

Donate to the Christian Veterinary Mission Haiti Earthquake Fund.
Plese visit http://www.cvmusa.org/Page.aspx?&pid=183

Albert Schweitzer... January 14, 1875-September 4, 1965

Remembering Albert Schweitzer

Born on January 14, 1875 in a country village in Alsace (then part of Germany; later part of France), Albert Schweitzer was the son of a Lutheran pastor. Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) was an accomplished theologian, musicologist, organ technician, physician and surgeon, missionary, philosopher of ethics, lecturer, writer and the builder and chief force of the famous hospital at Lambarene, in Gabon, the former French Equatorial Africa.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952. He is known for his compassion and respect for animals. During his life he stated, “We need a boundless ethic which will include the animals also. The ethics of respect for life makes us keep on the lookout together for opportunities of bringing some sort of help to animals, to make up for the great miseries men inflict on them.”

In 1949 Albert visited the United States and in 1952 he received the Nobel Peace Prize to add to such other recognitions as the Goethe prize of Frankfurt and numerous honorary doctorates awarded by many universities.

Another reflection from Schweitzer, "The time will come when public opinion will no longer tolerate amusements based on the mistreatment and killing of animals. The time will come, but when? When will we reach the point that hunting, the pleasure in killing animals for sport, will be regarded as a mental aberration?"

The monies associated with the Nobel Prize were expended towards the accomodation of persons afflicted with leprosy at Lambaréné.

Albert Schweitzer died September 4, 1965 and was buried in the grounds of the medical mission to which he had devoted his life. He was ninety years of age at the time and had remained actively involved in the medical mission at Lambaréné for almost fifty years.

There is a hospital in Haiti named after this incredible man: Hôpital Albert Schweitzer in Deschapelles, Haiti. Hospital Albert Schweitzer Haiti, founded by Larry Mellon and Gwen Grant Mellon in 1956, is an integrated rural health system that provides medical care and community health and development programs for 300,000 impoverished people in the Artibonite Valley of central Haiti. Larry Mellon was inspired by the life and philosophy of Albert Schweitzer to dedicate his life to the creation of this hospital.The hospital is located in Deschapelles. Email hopitalas@hashaiti.org Also visit http://www.friendsofhas.org/

There is also the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambaréné, now in Gabon, west central Africa (then French Equatorial Africa.)

Schweitzer said, "As long as I can remember, I have suffered because of the great misery I saw in the world. I never really knew the artless, youthful joy of living, and I believe that many children feel this way, even when outwardly they seem to be wholly happy and without a single care.I used to suffer particularly because the poor animals must endure so much pain and want. The sight of an old, limping horse being dragged along by one man while another man struck him with a stick -- he was being driven to the Colmar slaughterhouse -- haunted me for weeks."

Albert Schweitzer wrote the following prayer for the animals he so loved:

Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our friends, the animals. Especially for animals who are suffering: for any that are hunted or lost or deserted or frightened or hungry; for all that must be put to death. We entreat for them all thy mercy and pity, and for those who deal with them, we ask a heart of compassion and gentle hands and kindly words. Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals and so to share the blessings of the merciful.

Albert Schweitzer quotes: http://www.unitedearth.com.au/schweitzer.html