Pets or Companion Animals?

via The Daily Mail:  A recent article published in the Journal of Animal Ethics states that the language used to describe animals is derogatory and should be replaced.

The Journal of Animal Ethics, which is published by the University of Illinois Press, has been launched with the goal of widening international debate about the moral status of animals. The journal's editors, who are associated with the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics and Penn State University, state that a change in vocabulary is essential to update our understanding of the relationship between humans and the natural world.

"Our existing language about animals is the language of past thought – and the crucial point is that the past is littered with derogatory terminology," the editors state. "We shall not be able to think clearly unless we discipline ourselves to use less than partial adjectives in our exploration of animals and our moral relations with them."

The editors argue that words such as brutes, beasts, and critters are derogatory terms - and even the word animals is a term of abuse because it doesn't adequately describe a "range of differentiated beings of startling variety and complexity."

 
They also believe that the words pet and owner hark back to a time when animals were seen as property and should be replaced by companion and caretaker.  In addition, they believe wild animals should be called free-ranging or free-roaming because "for most, wildness is synonymous with uncivilized, unrestrained, barbarous existence."

What do you think? Is a change in vocabulary necessary to improve our relationship with animals? Would changing our terminology about our pets help reduce animal cruelty and the number of homeless animals, or is it just an exercise in semantics?

Image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/miyo/

Sponsored Post: Pet Insurance Basics

Image via Pet Insurance Review

Recent surveys indicate that half of pets owners consider their pets to be part of their family, and spending on pet products and services continues to rise despite the current recession. One to the largest growing areas in the pet industry is pet insurance.

Many pet owners, who are concerned about the ongoing cost of providing healthcare for their furry family members, are pursuing this option.

A number of factors should be taken into consideration prior to purchasing pet insurance. Various companies provide different types of coverage (e.g. accidents, illness, tests, medications, dental coverage, and preventative care).

If you are considering purchasing pet insurance, make sure you consider your pet's ongoing needs (both short-term and long-term), and compare various providers. Pet Insurance Review provides a comparison of rates and coverage for the leading pet insurance providers, as well as reviews and opinions from thousands of customers.

Choosing the right pet insurance policy can help you provide the quality healthcare you need to ensure a long and healthy life for your favorite furry kid!

Disclosure: this post was sponsored by www.readersdigest.ca

Wabbit Wednesday - Meet Princess

Princess is the bunny of the week at Western PA Humane Society in Pittsburgh, PA. She is a young spayed female Rex, who was surrendered on April 9, 2011.

Princess is an extremely friendly bunny who has lived with adults, children, and cats. She enjoys being held and cuddled - and she really loves body rubs! Because of her easy-going demeanor, Princess would make a good first-time bunny. She is very social and needs a home where she can interact with her family on a daily basis.

Like all rabbits, Princess should be housed indoors to be kept safe from predators. She needs a cage large enough to stand up in and move around, as well as a bunny-proof exercise area. She has been litter trained, so she also needs a litter box in her cage and exercise area. Her diet consists of water, timothy hay, dark leafy greens, and high-quality pellets.

If you have room in your heart and your home for this lovely young lady, please contact Western PA Humane Society. For other adoptable rabbits, please visit Petfinder.com.

Tell Android to Block Dog Wars

On Friday, April 22, BSL News posted about a downloadable game application called Dog Wars available on Android Market (Android is owned by Google). The game, which was developed by Kage Games LLC, allows players to feed, water, train, and FIGHT virtual dogs.

The developers argue that it is just a game, but this type of media fuels animal abuse and breed specific legislation, which costs innocent dogs their lives.

Dog fighting is a felony across all 50 states.  Dog Wars promotes violence and creates a virtual community for a very real crime.

Like many sites, Android Market's policies don't specifically address animal cruelty, but do state: "Android Market should not be used for unlawful purposes or for promotion of dangerous and illegal activities."

This Monday, April 25, many concerned pet bloggers will be joining together to help spread the word about this application and to put pressure on Android and Google to remove it from Android Market.

You can help by blogging, tweeting, and posting on facebook about this game and by asking your friends and followers to sign the petition at Change.org.

Tell Android and Google to block Dog Wars and stop condoning animal cruelty!

April Pawpawty

This weekend is the April pawpawty, and the theme is the Royal Wedding. The world is abuzz in anticipation of the big event, and as always, the twitter anipals will be celebrating in their own way!

This month, we will be supporting Animal House Shelter, a nonprofit no-kill shelter located in Huntley, IL. Animal House Shelter rescues abused and neglected dogs and cats and rehabilitates them mentally and  physically in order to place them with the best new family.  Since opening in June 2002, they have rescued, rehabilitated, and placed over 15,000 dogs and cats into loving forever homes!

We hope to raise funds for this great organization, as well as having some fun in the run up to the Royal Wedding.  The pawty starts this Saturday, April 23 at 2:00 PM Eastern. As always, there will lots of food, fun, music, and prizes to win.  You can RSVP using twtvite.

Best wishes to Prince William and Kate Middleton on their upcoming nuptials. Someday my prince will come...

 

Leaping Bunny Promotes Cruelty-Free Products

This week's Be the Change for Animals cause is the Leaping Bunny Program, administered by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC).   Established in 1996, Leaping Bunny serves both consumers and companies by certifying cosmetics, personal care, and household products as cruelty-free.

Leaping Bunny operates a strict standard backed up by audits to ensure its companies are not testing on animals in any stage of product development. In addition, it offers the Compassionate Shopping Guide with the most up-to-date list of cosmetic, personal care, and household product companies that are not engaged in animal testing.

Here's how you can help:

• Take the leap! Make a commitment to eliminate animal testing by pledging to only purchase products certified as cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny.
• Request a free Shopping Guide and support only those companies committed against animal testing.
• Spread the word - like Leaping Bunny of Facebook, follow them on Twitter, and post videos or ad banners on your blog or website.

Your support of the Leaping Bunny Program will help drive more companies to go cruelty-free, sparing the lives of countless animals!

Pet Hero Program Supports Animal Welfare Organizations

  
The number of homeless pets in the United States is staggering - the ASPCA estimates that 5-7 million animals enter animal shelters each year. The Humane Society of the United States estimates the number is closer to 6-8 million.

Thankfully, there are thousands of individuals, rescue groups, and organizations out there who work to promote the proper care of animals, decrease pet overpopulation, and find forever homes for animals in need. These people and organizations are true pet heroes.

VetDepot wants to do its part to help these pet heroes continue their admirable work and support their effort to better the lives of animals in our community.  Through its Pet Hero Program, VetDepot rewards organizations, individuals, shelters, and rescues that contribute to the welfare and proper care of animals.

If you or someone you know is a pet hero, contact VetDepot at pethero@vetdepot.com. Please include the following information in your email:

• Name of your organization
• Website URL
• Contact name
• Contact email address
• Contact phone number

Upon acceptance into the Pet Hero Program,  you will receive a web banner code to add to your website. By placing the banner on your website, you will be automatically entered to win ongoing cash prizes and product donations.

Bunny Blog Hop

Today is the first ever Easter Rabbit Adopt-a-thon and Bunny Blog Hop founded by my friend Carrie Boyko at All Things Dog Blog. In addition to being a dog lover, Carrie also has a rabbit named Robby who has been helping her readers learn how to prepare for adding a house rabbit to their furry families.

Rabbits are popular Easter gifts, but many people purchase them on impulse without taking the time to learn about a rabbit's special needs. Once the novelty of having these cute critters has worn off, many former Easter bunnies end up in shelters - or worse, turned loose. Domestic rabbits do not have the survival skills to adapt to living in the wild and ultimately become lunch for a predator.
 
If you would like to add a rabbit to your family, first do your homework! Rabbits make wonderful house pets, but they are different than owning a dog or cat. I recommend you visit the House Rabbit Society website, which is a great resource for prospective rabbit owners. I also recommend reading the House Rabbit Handbook by Marinell Harriman, which I used as my go-to guide when I first got BJC.

Once you've learned about the proper care and feeding of house rabbits, make sure you have a safe place to keep your new bunny. You will need a cage big enough for your rabbit to stand up and move around, but bunnies can't constantly be kept in a cage. Your rabbit needs at least 3-4 hours of exercise daily. You will need to bunny-proof an area to make sure there are no electrical cords or other hazards that your rabbit can get into.

Bunnies love to dig and chew, so make sure you have appropriate toys! You don't need to buy toys - BJC loves to play with cardboard boxes, paper towel rolls, brown paper bags, tissue paper, phone books, newspaper, etc.

And finally, rabbits are social animals. Your bunny will be very unhappy if constantly left alone. They need daily interaction with you. Take time to get down on the floor and play with your bunny on a daily basis. I also spend time each day combing and brushing BJC, which helps remove excess hair. Unlike cats, rabbits cannot cough up hairballs. An intestinal blockage is extremely dangerous and can result in death.

Once you're ready to get your bunny, remember to adopt - don't shop.  Many, many rabbits are available at animal shelters, and there will be even more after Easter when people who purchased bunnies on impulse begin to regret their decision. Do yourself and your bunny a favor - wait to make sure that you are prepared to make a 8-12 year commitment, then visit your local animal shelter or Petfinder.com.

Here are just a few bunnies available on the Petfinder site:

Spanky is a small, adult female Dutch available at Animal Friends in Pittsburgh, PA.

Felicia is a young, female American Agouti available at the Animal Rescue League in Pittsburgh, PA.

Chloe is a 5 year-old female Checkered Giant available at the Western PA Humane Society in Pittsburgh, PA.

PAWS Program Helps Protect Pets and Families

I was recently asked by my friend Vicki Boatright (aka Bztat) to contribute to her blog Okey's Promise, which addresses the connection between animal cruelty, child abuse, and domestic violence. And while I was familiar with this connection in theory, the issue was quickly brought home to me when a twitter friend asked for help finding temporary housing for two dogs who were being displaced due to a domestic violence situation.

Research indicates a strong connection linking animal abuse and domestic violence. Studies have also shown that upward to 48 percent of women refuse or delay leaving an abusive home out of fear of leaving their pets or livestock behind.

The Pets And Women's Shelters (PAWS) Program was born out of the need to provide safe housing for pets along with their families. The program, which began at the American Humane Society, is the first and only national initiative to address this need, providing a manual of guidelines to help family violence centers provide safe housing for pets.

When the program began in 2008, only four family violence shelters were known to provide on-site housing for pets. Currently, approximately 60 shelters provide on-site housing, and the program continues to grow. But with 2,500 domestic violence shelters across the country, more needs to be done to keep families with pets safe.

While no longer housed at the American Humane Society, the PAWS Program continues to work with several national domestic violence organizations. The program also collaborates with United Animal Nations, an organization that helps provide funding for victims of domestic violence and their pets through their Crisis Relief for Individuals grants program.

If you or someone you know is in a domestic violence situation, please visit the Okey's Promise website for a listing of emergency resources available to families with pets.

Cat Yoga

Feeling a little stressed? Try cat yoga to help you relax. It's guaranteed to put a smile on your face!

Animal Rescue Corps

Animal Rescue Corps (ARC) is a nonprofit animal protection organization whose mission is to end animal suffering through direct and compassionate action, and to inspire the highest ethical standards of humanity towards animals.

ARC takes direct action in three ways. First, they conduct rescues of animals who fall victim to abuse and natural disaster. Second, they create public awareness of animal suffering. Third, they offer training and assessments for animal shelters, professionals and volunteers.

ARC works closely with government institutions, law enforcement agencies, other animal protection organizations, and communities to improve and strengthen relationships between humans and animals.

Animal Rescue Corps seeks to inspire a fundamental idea: that our responsibility to animals is vital, and all lives have value.
 
The establishing members of Animal Rescue Corps have more than 40 years of collective experience in animal protection. Founded by Scotlund Haisley, a 20-year veteran in this field, ARC provides expert animal protection services throughout the US and beyond.

ARC brings the professional expertise, human resources, tactical equipment, and financial backing necessary for its rescue operations, including investigations and permanent placements. ARC works with communities that don’t have the resources to confront the cruelty themselves, especially when large numbers of suffering animals are involved.

ARC further addresses animal cruelty by generating public awareness, training volunteers, increasing community involvement, and other measurable actions. Ultimately, ARC works within the legal system to affect lasting change from the inside out.

Animal Rescue Corps is unique because of its streamlined internal structure and its well-proven methods of external operations. Efficiency, effectiveness, and expertise make ARC a leader in rescuing animals and serving communities.

For more information on ARC, please visit their website, Like their Facebook page, or follow them on Twitter.

A Rant about Rants

 
This post will not win me any friends - and in fact I may lose a few - but it's something that's been on my mind for a while.

I've noticed that some of my dearest online friends have been using their blogs as a platform to rant. Not about big, earth-shattering things that really matter - but about small, little, picky stuff.

Things like you didn't spell my name right. You didn't personalize your email. Your approach was all wrong.

Or maybe it's about the misconception that all pet bloggers are over 50 crazy cat ladies who wear beige cardigans. Whatever...

Now I realize that it's been a long winter, and many of us are still weeks away from seeing warm weather or anything green. We're tired, we're worn-out, and we're cranky.

But come on folks - is this the best we can do?

The people I love are the ones I remember from BlogPaws - the ones who are fired-up, motivated, and committed to Being the Change! So let's reach deep and see if we can find that again within ourselves.

And remember - I love you guys! xoxo

Patrick the Miracle Dog

By now many people are aware of Patrick, the emaciated pit bull who was found in the trash at a Newark housing complex by an employee on March 16. The employee contacted the City of Newark Animal Control, and the Animal Control Officer rushed Patrick to the Associated Humane Societies.

Their veterinary staff put Patrick on intravenous fluids and covered him with heating pads and blankets. After a brief time, he was sent by ambulance to Garden State Veterinary Specialists, a referral hospital for 24 hour emergency care. Patrick has amazed everyone at the hospital - and around the world - by surviving and thriving with the care he has received there.

Patrick has shown his determination to survive and has continued to beat the odds. Although he has a long road to recovery, there is every indication that he will eventually be a happy and healthy dog. If you would like to make a contribution to the fund for Patrick's care, please click here.

Rescue Chocolate Helps Support House Rabbit Society

A few weeks ago, I wrote about Make Mine Chocolate, a public awareness campaign, which was started in 2002 by the Columbus House Rabbit Society to discourage giving live rabbits as Easter gifts.

The goal of this campaign is to educate the public about the challenges of properly caring for rabbits and encourage them to purchase chocolate Easter bunnies or stuffed animals rather than live rabbits.

Since its inception, many rabbit rescues across the United States and in the U.K. have promoted the Make Mine Chocolate campaign to help increase awareness and reduce the number of unwanted former Easter bunnies.

Rescue Chocolate, a company which donates 100% of its profits to various animal rescue organizations, has named the House Rabbit Society  in Richmond, California,  as its April beneficiary. That's right - the more chocolate you buy, eat, and give as gifts, the more you will increase the company's donation to HRS!

So visit Rescue Chocolate's website and order your chocolate bunnies today. Everything is vegan, kosher, handcrafted by artisan chocolatiers using traditional Belgian techniques, and packaged in eco-friendly materials.

What a great way to celebrate the holiday and help bunnies too!

Double BAD RAP Donation from Honest Kitchen

via BtC4animals.com - BAD RAP (Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls) is a small nonprofit organization of pitbull owners, trainers, educators, rescuers, and supporters based in Oakland, California.

BAD RAP has been instrumental in the evaluation, rescue, and rehabilitation of the dogs in the Michael Vick case, providing vision and hope for these dogs, as well as many other dogs from high-profile federal dog fighting arrests.

The Honest Kitchen, makers of dehydrated, human-grade whole foods for dogs and cats, will donate a percentage of their online store profits to BAD RAP this month, and they pose a challenge for us all.  BAD RAP’s donation will double if The Honest Kitchen reaches 40,000 Facebook fans this month!

Here's how you can help:

• Like The Honest Kitchen on Facebook
• Post this status on Facebook and Twitter: Support pit bull education from BAD RAP with just a click! Here’s how: http://bit.ly/gpXztI
• Visit BADRAP.org, Like BAD RAP on Facebook, and follow @BADRAPorg on Twitter

You can help dispell the myths and fear surrounding this misunderstood breed. Please watch this PBS episode of Need to Know called “The dogs are alright: The Vick dogs make a comeback” for more about the challenges BAD RAP founders Donna Reynolds and Tim Racer faced and the success they’ve achieved.

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month

April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, and each year, the ASPCA urges their supporters across the country to Go Orange for Animals in honor of signing their charter in 1866.  This year is their 145th anniversary, and you can help by showing your support and increasing awareness about animal cruelty. 

In addition to Going Orange, you can also support the ASPCA's efforts by:

• Learning How to Recognize Animal Cruelty

• Pledging to Fight Animal Cruelty

• Helping Animals in Your Own Community 

Please join this month-long celebration and help continue the fight against cruelty to animals!