Ohio Passes Bill Regulating Exotic Animal Ownership
October 18th, 2011 marks the date when 49 innocent animals lost their lives. On that date Terry Thompson of Zanesville, Ohio selfishly released 56 of his personal (exotic) animals. He not only endangered the lives of everyone in the surrounding area, but he also cost 49 of those animals their life. This incident is what inspired me to start this blog. I wanted to speak up for animals and their rights. They are just as important to this world as human beings are, they just don’t have a voice to defend themselves like we do.
Nearly eight months after this tragedy took place, legislation was just passed (on Tuesday June 6th) in Ohio regulating the ownership of exotic animals. According to the Columbus Dispatch, “Ohio has been one of seven states that have no restrictions on private ownership of exotic animals.” This lack of legislation is what allowed Terry Thompson to own 56 exotic animals, including tigers, lions, leopards, mountain lions, bears, wolves and monkeys.
“Gov. John Kasich shakes the hand of Jack Hanna, director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, after signing Senate Bill 310, which regulates the sale and ownership of exotic animals in the state.” (photo and text provided by The Columbus Dispatch)
The Dispatch writes, “The law, which takes effect in 90 days, bans the acquisition, sale and breeding of restricted species in Ohio as of Jan. 1, 2014. However, the mandatory registration of banned species by current owners will begin when the bill takes effect. Owners can keep their animals as long as the animals live if they register them with the state and follow regulations on caging, signage and care. On the restricted list are large cats, bears, elephants, certain monkeys, rhinos, alligators, crocodiles, anacondas and pythons longer than 12 feet, certain vipers and venomous snakes.”
“The law was supported by all zoos in the state, however many private owners blasted the law at a series of legislative hearings, saying it would force them to ‘go underground’ with their animals or move out of state. The Humane Society of the United States, Born Free USA and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals issued statements in response to Kasich’s bill signing.”
“Common sense, rather than tragedy, should drive public policy decisions, but sometimes it takes a high-profile event to focus the attention of lawmakers on issues not in the headlines,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive officer of the Humane Society. “We are grateful to Gov. Kasich and the legislature for standing firm on this issue.”
This legislations does not guarantee that people will stop buying exotic animal, animal trafficking is a huge issue in this country, but I do believe it is a step in the right direction.
Click here to read the article: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/06/06/kasich-signs-ohios-first-exotic-animal-regulations.html
☮ Lindsey
Reusable Bags
Look in your closet or your garage and tell me how many plastic bags you have piling up? There’s an easy solution to that problem… reusable bags! Not only will they help you to de-clutter your house, but they’re also better for the environment!
According to Earth 911 – “As a result of 2009′s International Coastal Cleanup, the Ocean Conservancy found that plastic bags placed second (1.1 million), accounting for one out of every 10 items removed and tallied…. While reusable bag use is on the rise, plastic bags are still churning. About 89 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are used each year in the U.S. Despite increased messaging about the need to recycle the plastic bags Americans do use, only about 12 percent are recycled each year.” http://earth911.com/news/2011/05/02/ditching-white-plastic-bags/
Some cities have gone as far as to ban stores from using plastic bags… “(Last year) Portland became the latest city to ban plastic bags last week, when its city council unanimously approved an ordinance prohibiting large grocery stores and retailers with pharmacies from distributing single-use plastic shopping bags.” http://earth911.com/news/2011/07/29/3-more-plastic-bag-bans-hit-the-west-coast/
Some stores, like Target, reward customers for using reusable bags. They take 5 cents off your total purchase for every reusable bag you bring with you. It’s not a large discount, but at least they are rewarding people for helping the environment!
You can buy reusable shopping bags at just about every store. And they come in fun colors and patterns (like this one!)… much more attractive than those boring brown plastic bags.
There’s no excuse for hoarding those ugly, noisy bags. Yes they come in handy when you’re cleaning your cat’s litter bin or picking up after your dog… but they’re horrible for the environment! (If you’re in need of bags to pick up after your dog, look for special doggie poop bags that are decomposable!) Now, what to do with all the plastic bags you’ve already acquired over the years…. Recycle them! Most grocery stores like Meijers and Krogers have stands where you can recycle your old plastic bags. All you have to do is drop them off… it’s that easy!
Check out http://earth911.com/ for more information on recycling and to find a recycling center near you!
☮ Lindsey
Happy Mother’s Day!
In honor of Mother’s Day check out all these adorable new born babies and their mother’s!
“Rhinoceros offspring, Mala, lies next to its mother, Mana, in their compound at the zoo in Magdeburg, Germany, on January 28.” (Photo and text provided by today.msnbc.msn.com)
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/47160914#.T684JI5ZUUV
☮ Lindsey
Whale Wars
Two summers ago I begin watching Whale Wars on Animal Planet and it’s not an exaggeration to say that I am now addicted to the show. The show follows The Sea Shepard Conservation Society as they try to stop Japanese ships from killing hundreds of whales every winter in the waters of Antarctica. The Japanese claim they are killing the whales in the name of research. Writer, Cristen Conger explains, “The whaling fleet is operated, in fact, through the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) in Tokyo. Formed in 1987, a year after the moratorium on commercial whaling went into effect, the ICR kills a set quota of whales each year to study them. Anti-whaling governments, such as Australia, and environmental groups have been vehemently opposed to the ICR since its formation; they claim that the ICR is a cover for Japan slaughtering whales for commercial profit.”
Why do the Japanese kill whales for research? According to Animal Planet: “Each year, a small fleet of Japanese vessels hits the high seas in the western North Pacific and around Antarctica in the Southern Ocean to kill and collect a set number of samples under the International Whaling Commission’s sanctioned scientific permitting program. Their targets are predominantly minke whales… Japanese researchers are hoping to get a better understanding of include natural whale mortality and reproductive rates, the effect water pollution has on the whale population, how overall whale populations wax and wane over time, where whales migrate geographically, how different whale species compete with one another, and what and how much individual whales eat.”
How do the Japanese kill the whales? By harpoons. I’ll spare you most of the bloody details and graphic images, but as you can imagine it’s not a pretty sight. I can’t describe how angry and sad it makes me to see these amazing, innocent animals being killed in such a barbaric way. According to Animal Planet, “What’s it like when a whale isn’t killed instantly? According to some volunteers from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, it’s not pretty. When members saw a whale harpooned in 2009, they claimed it took 25 excruciating minutes for the animal to die (and they say that when managed poorly, it can take much longer). The process was reportedly heartbreaking for them to see. We won’t get too specific with the details, but according to them whales can scream, and when they’re harpooned they do so. Loudly, and at length. They also, according to the group, thrash about in apparent agony, while they’re continually blasted with additional shots. According to that account, harpooned whales may indeed suffer.”
The Sea Shepard’s Mission Statement: Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an international non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organization. Our mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species. Sea Shepherd uses innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately-balanced ocean ecosystems, Sea Shepherd works to ensure their survival for future generations.
Is the SSCS successful in stopping the killing of whales? The answer is YES!
According the the Sea Shepard’s website “During the past six campaigns, we have saved the lives of over 1,900 whales and exposed illegal Japanese whaling activities to the entire world. Last season, we were able to save more whales than the Japanese whalers were able to kill. Five hundred and twenty-eight (528) whales are alive and swimming in the sea because you enabled us to intervene by supporting our ships and crews.”
The SSCS not only works to protect whales, but also sharks, dolphins, seals, blue fin tuna and animals native to the Galapagos Islands. They are also the organization that is responsible for exposing a massive dolphin slaughter that takes place yearly in Taiji, Japan. “The slaughter of 20,000 dolphins, porpoises, and small whales occurs in Japan each year. Starting on September 1st and usually continuing through March of the next year, fishermen herd whole families of small cetaceans into a shallow bays and mercilessly stab and drown them to death.” “The Cove” is a film about this dolphin slaughter and it won an Oscar at the 82nd Annual Academy of Arts and Science Ceremony where Director Louie Psihoyos won for Best Documentary film. (http://www.seashepherd.org/commentary-and-editorials/2010/03/11/shepherding-the-cove-to-an-oscar-104)
The Sea Shepard’s have taken on another challenge. To end whaling in the Faroe Islands, which are located in the North Atlantic Ocean between Scotland and Iceland. “The Faroe Islands are a self-governing Danish Territory of 50,000 people — descendants of Vikings, bound by proud tradition who have fished these waters for thousands of years. But there is a dark shadow over this beautiful land. Every year, Faroese people gather to herd pilot whales to their shallow shores to be killed for their meat, which is a food source.” This challenge has been turned into a five part series that started last Friday night (April 27) and will air Friday nights at 9 pm. Just like Whale Wars, Whale Wars: Viking Shores is guaranteed to be bloody, upsetting and nerve-racking. You can read the review of it by the New York Times here: http://tv.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/arts/television/whale-wars-viking-shores-on-animal-planet.html
To me, The Sea Shepard organization is my hero. The people that man these ships are volunteers and most give up their jobs and their families to try and help save innocent animals’ lives. They are brave and fight for what they believe in. Not everyone sees them as heros; they are often referred to as pirates. Do they take extreme measures? Yes. They use prop fowlers and high-power water guns and throw butyric acid (which is harmless, but has a foul odor.) But I believe that extreme measures are needed to win this fight because nothing else has worked and thousands of animals have died because of it. I encourage you to make the decision for yourself… pirate or hero.
Interested in learning more about Whale Wars and the Sea Shepards? Here are some links to check out: (Please be aware that there are graphic images of dead whales on several of these websites.)
- http://www.seashepherd.org/
- http://www.facebook.com/WhaleWars
- http://animal.discovery.com/tv/whale-wars/
☮ Lindsey
Happy Earth Day!
Here are some helpful Green Tips to try out today and everyday!
☮ Lindsey
10 Disappearing Destinations Worth Visiting
Check out this article highlighting 10 amazing places that may disappear due to habitat loss, global warming, and deforestation.
My recommendation: The Great Barrier Reef. I had the amazing experience of snorkeling here when I visited Australia in 2007. Coral reefs are disappearing around the world because of pollution and high levels of carbon dioxide. "The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest reef system and one of the most complex ecosystems on the planet. Here you’ll find more than 1,500 species of fish, 500 species of seaweed and some of the world’s most endangered creatures, from sea turtles to blue whales."
Place I'd like to visit: Okapi Wildlife Reserve located in the Congo. This reserve is home to elephants, leopards, chimps and okapi. I've learned a lot about these amazing animals from working at the zoo and I would love to see them in the wild or at a reserve. "Okapi are found exclusively in the dense rain forests of Congo. Its closest relative is the giraffe...The reserve’s rich biodiversity is threatened by deforestation, slash-and-burn agriculture, poaching, gold mining and an ongoing armed conflict that has ravaged the country for decades."
My other top pick: Polar Bear Habitat in Manitoba, Canada. Polar Bears are majestic animals and the largest land carnivores in the world. Sadly, due to global warming melting the ice form which they hunt, their numbers in the wild are dwindling. "An estimated 1,200 bears migrate to the shores of Hudson Bay from October to November, congregating along the coast in search of seals before the bay freezes up. For wildlife enthusiasts, a tundra safari via enclosed buggy is a chance to see these massive creatures up close. However, if current warming trends continue and the sea ice on which the bears live and hunt melts, scientists predict that two-thirds of the world’s polar bear population could disappear by 2050."
Here’s the link to the entire article: http://www.bing.com/travel/content/search?q=10+Disappearing+Destinations%3a+Everglades+National+Park%2c+Florida&FORM=TRSSPG
Which is your dream destination?
☮ Lindsey
Eco-Friendly Finds
I am a big fan of Coastal Living (even though I am totally envious of all the gorgeous beach houses they showcase.) I was pleasantly surprised to find an entire section dedicated to eco-friendly products and tips on their website. They list everything from home products like candles and bedding to vegan shoes to wines!
"Blue Tangier Vegan Classics shoes by TOMS ($54) They're constructed with recycled and sustainable materials, and every time you buy a pair of TOMS they give a pair to a child in need."
Eco-friendly Wines. Drinking and saving the environment... what could be better!?
Check out the Environment section on Coastal Living’s website for the complete list of eco-friendly products, places and tips! http://www.coastalliving.com/lifestyle/the-environment/
☮ Lindsey
Earth Hour 2012
Tomorrow, Saturday March 31st at 8:30 pm join the World Wildlife Fund in EARTH HOUR 2012.
“We only have one planet. You can help protect it. Participate in the world’s largest single campaign for the planet: Earth Hour. It starts by turning off your lights for an hour at 8:30 pm on March 31, 2012 in a collective display of commitment to a better future for the planet. Think what can be achieved when we all come together for a common cause.”
It really is as easy as turning off your lights for one hour… WWF isn’t asking for money, just a simple act – turn off your lights for 60 minutes! Check out their website for more information on the event and sign the pledge. Log onto your facebook or twitter and share this event with everyone you know! http://www.earthhour.org/
☮ Lindsey
Beach Goers Save 30 Beached Dolphins
Watch the video to see how people on a beach in Brazil helped to save 30 dolphins from being stranded on the beach.
Beach Goers Save 30 Beached Dolphins
☮ Lindsey
Animal Friends
I absolutely LOVE hearing about unusual animal friendships! There is a great book titled Unlikely Friendships and it shares 47 different stories about animals befriending or taking care of other animals… and I’m not just talking about a cat and a dog lounging around together. How about a dog and an elephant becoming best friends or a Macaque and a dove cuddling (shown in the picture below)? Each animal’s story is a couple of pages long and also includes pictures of the friendly duos.
If you can’t wait to get your hands on this book, here is an article that highlights some of the unusual animal friendships: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/02/23/cat-and-rat-drink-milk-together_n_1296258.html#s695028
☮ Lindsey
Peace, Love & Animals 