The Canadian Food TV Network, on their show Top Chef Canada, chose to utilize horse meat. This ignited an uproar across the media and in social media. Facebook has groups, there are posts and comments going around and around. The station issued a statement which, on the surface, seems to indicate sensitivity to the issue but does not actually answer any questions.
I have a singular issue with this and it is this: there are two types of horses going for meat in North America. One group of horses, like cattle, sheep, swine and poultry are purpose bred for meat. The second group are no longer wanted companion horses sold at auction or driven to the plants by owners.
New regulations are supposed to ensure traceabilty for horse meat for the use of non-approved drugs prior to slaughter. CFIA is supposed to ensure humane transport and killing. Provincial authorities are supposed to ensure animal welfare standards are met for the animals.
I don't believe for a minute that anyone outside of a small, vocal group cares that there are two types of horses going for meat. Everyone one sees horses the same and sometimes that isn't a bad thing.
So a horse, is a horse, except for when someone wants to eat it, of course!
When you see a horse being sold at auction you can safely bet it is going for meat.
You can tell when it has been a companion. Would you choose to send a loyal animal friend to a surely frightening end and do it willingly? Many do. Many do it when their horses are sick, old, injured, unable to work and too much bother. The take the out of sight and out of mind position. Once the horse is gone they forget it entirely.
If we are going to accept horse meat as food TV fodder then Food TV needs to accept that their choice isn't supermarket simple. It isn't a clear cut case of protein but often a case of a long, hard trip for an end that is not ensured to be humane at any stage. Not to say that all horses face this end but too many do.
I look at my horses, and I remember the one I couldn't save from slaughter and I won't forget him. He was deserving better of me and I was not in a position to save him. I know if he had to he would forgive me but animals always forgive. Shouldn't we be doing better by them? Yes! We should.
Tell the food shows, tell your friends with hobby horses and acreage companions that they have animals that deserve better. We have to ensure that their lives and their deaths are humane, caring and full of love. We cannot toss aside our animals and forget about our responsibilities to them. In life, and in death. We owe them that for unfailing loyalty and love with no boundaries or limits.
We cannot have a country that claims to care for animals when we toss them away like trash when we are done with them.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Make them Stay
I know it has been a while since there was a Chore Time post, I've been working on other writing and taking a break from the animal rescue community. But today I have to write and I hope you can read, comment and share.
I was reading, once again, about all the animals (dogs, cats and others) who are going to be shot, heartsticked, gassed or lethally injected and the cries from those who would save adoptable animals from being just one more disposable item in an incinerator or landfill. I was reading about volunteers in New York City who go and spend time with animals who are going to die.
It started me thinking about the times I was there while a pet crossed the Rainbow Bridge. The tears, the heart ache and the awesome responsibility of being there for their last breath, their last heart beat. If we care about them we are responsible for them. In life and through to their death.
This isn't new, call it pet recycling if you have to put a tag on it. We recycle and reduce, we reuse and re-purpose. We are being more green, we are being more energy lean and yet we still throw away our animals (and too often our children and elderly but that's another post) like they are trash.
Shelter reform is needed, certainly, but we also need a reform of the heart! We need people to care about the living creatures they call property and consider their rights as fellow citizens of the earth.
We need to remember they freely love us and so often they loyally trust us even in face of repeated abuse. They were made to be our friends, our companions, our blessing. They are not meant to be left behind, dumped off, abused and tortured.
My heart aches for each animal that is killed for not reason other than the unsound reasoning of a person who wouldn't search for other options. Each animal that is dropped off at a kill shelter should have a requirement of the owner to attend their kill session. That's right! I said it. If you dump your adoptable animal you should have to stay with them as they die. You should be required to hold their bodies as they stop breathing, as they relax in death. If they are 'lucky' enough to be injected. If they are at a heartstick or gassing facility you should still have to watch. Understand the choice you are making.
It is a choice. It is a choice for life or a choice for death. It is a choice of not planning or a choice of not caring. It is a choice. Are you choosing for welfare, for life or are you choosing for someone else to have to bring death? If you had to stay, would it change your mind?
I hate to stay but when my dear old friend or a seriously injured pup needs the ultimate relief from their pain it is my responsibility to be there for them. To be there with them. I keep their collars and one day I'll start a memorial tree for all the empty collars, and make it a foundation and a mission to make sure that no animal is forgotten in their last moments.
Could you do it? Would you do it? If you cannot, do you have other plans in place to ensure that your animal doesn't face it alone?
I was reading, once again, about all the animals (dogs, cats and others) who are going to be shot, heartsticked, gassed or lethally injected and the cries from those who would save adoptable animals from being just one more disposable item in an incinerator or landfill. I was reading about volunteers in New York City who go and spend time with animals who are going to die.
It started me thinking about the times I was there while a pet crossed the Rainbow Bridge. The tears, the heart ache and the awesome responsibility of being there for their last breath, their last heart beat. If we care about them we are responsible for them. In life and through to their death.
This isn't new, call it pet recycling if you have to put a tag on it. We recycle and reduce, we reuse and re-purpose. We are being more green, we are being more energy lean and yet we still throw away our animals (and too often our children and elderly but that's another post) like they are trash.
Shelter reform is needed, certainly, but we also need a reform of the heart! We need people to care about the living creatures they call property and consider their rights as fellow citizens of the earth.
We need to remember they freely love us and so often they loyally trust us even in face of repeated abuse. They were made to be our friends, our companions, our blessing. They are not meant to be left behind, dumped off, abused and tortured.
My heart aches for each animal that is killed for not reason other than the unsound reasoning of a person who wouldn't search for other options. Each animal that is dropped off at a kill shelter should have a requirement of the owner to attend their kill session. That's right! I said it. If you dump your adoptable animal you should have to stay with them as they die. You should be required to hold their bodies as they stop breathing, as they relax in death. If they are 'lucky' enough to be injected. If they are at a heartstick or gassing facility you should still have to watch. Understand the choice you are making.
It is a choice. It is a choice for life or a choice for death. It is a choice of not planning or a choice of not caring. It is a choice. Are you choosing for welfare, for life or are you choosing for someone else to have to bring death? If you had to stay, would it change your mind?
I hate to stay but when my dear old friend or a seriously injured pup needs the ultimate relief from their pain it is my responsibility to be there for them. To be there with them. I keep their collars and one day I'll start a memorial tree for all the empty collars, and make it a foundation and a mission to make sure that no animal is forgotten in their last moments.
Could you do it? Would you do it? If you cannot, do you have other plans in place to ensure that your animal doesn't face it alone?
Friday, October 22, 2010
360 Rescue
The world of rescue is full of roads and like life full of choices. One of the most challenging things for most rescues is making hard choices for very ill or injured animals. For animals whose temperament or age make them unsafe and unhappy.
The other hard choice can be to choose not to pull when the resources are not available. The constant cry for money and fosters, volunteers and adopters gives the impression that rescues live in a constant crisis mode. So often there is a strong need to save them all. Too often this comes at a huge cost to the animals and the rescue. It does not have to be this way. There can be sustainable balance where animals can be saved, the rescue can provide care and there are adoptable animals finding a forever home!
The other hard choice can be to choose not to pull when the resources are not available. The constant cry for money and fosters, volunteers and adopters gives the impression that rescues live in a constant crisis mode. So often there is a strong need to save them all. Too often this comes at a huge cost to the animals and the rescue. It does not have to be this way. There can be sustainable balance where animals can be saved, the rescue can provide care and there are adoptable animals finding a forever home!
As an example, a rescue which is oriented saving the next dog can forget about the dogs which are still needing their care and the fosters and adopters which still need their help and support. Rescue needs to have a 360 view of the world around them, not just a small angle of focus. If you look at it not as a pie chart but as a person who stands looking out the same small window, you may see what I mean.
That small window may only show dogs (for example) who need to be pulled from a kill shelter or it may show a sick animal suffering with no care but it doesn't show the whole picture. It doesn't show the other important jobs of a full rescue. It doesn't show that the animals still need you even after they are saved.
A full 360 rescue not only pulls animals from harm (close to home or via long distance relay transport), they ensure that the animals are treated, assessed and made ready for foster homes and then they work with their fosters to get them ready for adoption. Fosters and volunteers are what makes rescue work, and no one can afford to squander their life blood.
We need less crisis mode rescue and more 360 rescue where the animals are not just saved but also cared for until the end of their life. No one can survive in crisis mode for long.
360 rescue and those who see the whole rescue picture understand that you are not successful if you are only focussed on one area. It has to be more than the pull, the dramatic save it has to be the day to day animals are being placed with the right people, the fosters and adopters have someone who is available to help them and they know they are not alone.
All animals, not just special needs animals, should have the fosters and adopters staying in touch with each other for support and help. Fosters need respite, they need breaks so they don't burn out. Volunteers need to be heard and those who are adopters need to feel a sense of community. As a rescue you need to be there for the easy animals and those who are more challenging.
When a foster or adopter calls to say they are lost and don't know what to do you need to be there for them and not be focussed on the next pull, next crisis, the next __________. You made a choice to save that animal you need to keep helping that animal.
Fosters make it easier for animals to be adopted - build supports for fosters!
Adopters make a choice to adopt not shop - built supports for adopters!
Volunteers give of their time and resources - make every bit count!
Rescues make choices about the animals they save and the resources they use - they need to be accountable for each animal.
From the time you pull to the time they have their last rest. That may mean making hard choices in a time of crisis. It may mean doing things differently or facing challenges in other areas. That could mean choosing for the animal and not for the human self.
Animals only know quality of life not quantity of life. People put the quantity on things, forgetting that there are times when quality counts more. That may be hours, days, months or years. All they know is now is good, or bad.
Could you choose for the animal when that choice meant stopping their suffering? Or do you have to have the save? Can you picture how many could be helped if you didn't need the save?
Join the discussion about 360 Rescue here at Chore Time!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
NO Designer Dogs!
Manitoba Voice for Animals http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed-breed_dog
This is an excellent wiki article about mixed breed dogs - there are times when we do deliberate crosses, there are times to keep the bloodlines pure bred but to bring in new genetic material to avoid inbreeding and there are many times where by accident or design a dog is mated for the sole purpose of puppies. These dogs are often labelled "Designer Dogs" when they are anything but!
When you purposefully mix dog breeds you are looking to maximize on the good traits of both parents (often purebred) so that you have a calm demeanor in a working animal (for example). What a responsible person does not do is combine animals who have traits that are not desirable and magnify them - mixing dog breeds who both have genetic tendencies towards breathing problems, for example. Or combining breeds that both have high drive without considering what their purpose, their job is going to be.
Mixing large and small breeds can lead to physical challenges such as a small framed animal with the gains of its larger breed counterpart. This is an animal with health issues from the start.
When petstores and online ads market "Designer Dogs" they are combining a cute mix of names from most often 'guessed' at breeds in the parent dogs. This 'chidoodloor' is a random breeding of two intact animals for the sole purpose of making money. With a high cost to the buyer, to the shelters and vets who end up caring for these animals when their health and temperament deteriorates.
The breeders of 'designer dogs' can be puppy mills and backyard breeders who do not take proper care of the health of the animals, they do not provide proper socialization, remove puppies too early from their dams, they do not give adequate attention to the physical needs of exercise, healthy food and clean water and proper shelter for these animals. They breed indiscriminately, they breed many times and when they no longer can do this they are dumped, killed or left to die.
Stores who can bring in 'designer dogs' are deliberately feeding the market of ignorance and providing the unsuspecting public who has a tendency to trust pet stores with animals that wont' be what they want or pay for.
I have seen ads for 'designer dogs' that go from $900 and down...!
By educating people we can stop this trend. Just because it has a 'designer' name doesn't mean it was a well thought out or good idea. Most often, if you look at the runways of Paris and New York, you see things that are strange, unwearable and quite dangerous. The same holds for so-called 'designer dogs' - they are strange, they are often not able to be a long term, healthy family pet and sometimes their health and temperament can create dangerous situations for the families, the vets and the shelters where they eventually get dumped.
Do your part, next time you hear someone talking about 'designer dogs' educate them, when you see ads for them, report it to the site owner and post educational information. If you know a store which sells these dogs ask them to stop, put them in contact with a reputable rescue to learn where their dogs go and give them an option to actually help dogs instead of adding to the problem.
If you know someone personally who is breeding 'designer dogs' or is a backayard breeder contact us and we'll give you some resources to help educate them. If you know of a puppy mill report it, and if you know where they sell to, share that with us.
This is an excellent wiki article about mixed breed dogs - there are times when we do deliberate crosses, there are times to keep the bloodlines pure bred but to bring in new genetic material to avoid inbreeding and there are many times where by accident or design a dog is mated for the sole purpose of puppies. These dogs are often labelled "Designer Dogs" when they are anything but!
When you purposefully mix dog breeds you are looking to maximize on the good traits of both parents (often purebred) so that you have a calm demeanor in a working animal (for example). What a responsible person does not do is combine animals who have traits that are not desirable and magnify them - mixing dog breeds who both have genetic tendencies towards breathing problems, for example. Or combining breeds that both have high drive without considering what their purpose, their job is going to be.
Mixing large and small breeds can lead to physical challenges such as a small framed animal with the gains of its larger breed counterpart. This is an animal with health issues from the start.
When petstores and online ads market "Designer Dogs" they are combining a cute mix of names from most often 'guessed' at breeds in the parent dogs. This 'chidoodloor' is a random breeding of two intact animals for the sole purpose of making money. With a high cost to the buyer, to the shelters and vets who end up caring for these animals when their health and temperament deteriorates.
The breeders of 'designer dogs' can be puppy mills and backyard breeders who do not take proper care of the health of the animals, they do not provide proper socialization, remove puppies too early from their dams, they do not give adequate attention to the physical needs of exercise, healthy food and clean water and proper shelter for these animals. They breed indiscriminately, they breed many times and when they no longer can do this they are dumped, killed or left to die.
Stores who can bring in 'designer dogs' are deliberately feeding the market of ignorance and providing the unsuspecting public who has a tendency to trust pet stores with animals that wont' be what they want or pay for.
I have seen ads for 'designer dogs' that go from $900 and down...!
By educating people we can stop this trend. Just because it has a 'designer' name doesn't mean it was a well thought out or good idea. Most often, if you look at the runways of Paris and New York, you see things that are strange, unwearable and quite dangerous. The same holds for so-called 'designer dogs' - they are strange, they are often not able to be a long term, healthy family pet and sometimes their health and temperament can create dangerous situations for the families, the vets and the shelters where they eventually get dumped.
Do your part, next time you hear someone talking about 'designer dogs' educate them, when you see ads for them, report it to the site owner and post educational information. If you know a store which sells these dogs ask them to stop, put them in contact with a reputable rescue to learn where their dogs go and give them an option to actually help dogs instead of adding to the problem.
If you know someone personally who is breeding 'designer dogs' or is a backayard breeder contact us and we'll give you some resources to help educate them. If you know of a puppy mill report it, and if you know where they sell to, share that with us.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
How Many Stand Silent?
How Many Stand Silent?
How many stand silent,
Watching as you quietly die?
How many stand silent,
Watching as you are abused?
One, a dozen, the whole world.
What if no one spoke for any of us?
Would you speak if the hand raised,
was raised against you and yours?
How many stand silent,
Knowing who deals death
Just beyond their door?
How many stand slient,
Knowing cruelty lives and thrives
Just beyond their door?
One, a dozen, the whole world.
What if no one looked at any of us?
Would you cry out or would you cower away,
if the cruelty was coming through your door?
How many stand silent,
Waiting for someone to speak?
How many stand silent,
Believing the lies, "I've changed"?
One, a dozen, the whole world.
What if we stopped believing them?
How many stand silent...
How many stand silent waiting for...
Just one person to say, "Stop! Enough!"?
How many stand silent...
How many stand silent waiting for...
Someone else to make the world change?
copyright Shanyn Silinski 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Messages we give kids
*disclaimer: Luke and Anna are playing...he knows how to get out of the crate,
indeed he was the one that put them both in there with water, snacks and a bed...
Messages, we get them daily. We send them daily. We either get them or we don't. Do we actually think about them? I mean really think about the message, the intent and the actual outcome?
Two stories come to mind today that really bring this home, and I mean right where you live home.
1: Ad posted on-line: please come get our mama cat and her two day old kittens or my boyfriend will kill them.
Follow up: a good, dear friend who is also an animal rescue friend, went to get them. A child, around 10, told her, "Thank you for taking our kitties, I was so sad that they were going to get killed. I'm happy they get to live and have a good home."
Questions: what sort of lesson is this young girl learning about why things get killed (someone doesn't want or value them anymore) and about caring for those around us (kill it if you cannot give it away). what sort of lesson is she learning about being responsible for not only herself but for those animals? What sort of value does her mother's boyfriend have for her? Is she as expendable as a mama cat and kittens?
2. Woman at a dog park with her children, they are playing rough with their dogs, but the woman is 'proud' that her kids can kick the dog, pull its tail and poke it in the eye. "See it doesn't even mind if you throw it down!" she states proudly.
Follow up: a friend, who works with dogs and other animals, is concerned. She asks why this woman is proud of her children's bad behaviour. Then she asks what happens if the dog finally has 'enough' and snaps? Of course the dog will be gone because it broke the biggest rule of all - do not do unto others. The dog will die, they will get another, and the cycle will start all over again.
Questions: what sort of lessons about respect, caring for others and physical safety are those kids learning? Are they learning that dogs CHOOSE not to bite us? Are they learning they are responsible for their animals? Are they learning that causing hurt is wrong? Are they being taught to treat others as they would like to be treated?
3. A neighborhood watches as yet another dog dies of neglect in a yard. The neighbors are not unaware of what is going on, they talk about it, they know who is doing this and it isn't the first dog. Won't be the last. No one is sure what to do, so they say nothing, hoping that someone comes up with a miracle, life saving plan.
Follow up: the owner gets pressured to take the dog to the vet, refuses help and no one knows what happened to the dog. No one knows when the next dog will come to that yard. Everyone knows what will happen to it. The families who talk about it, know about it and stay quiet are teaching their children not to get involved. They are teaching their children to be silent in the face of abuse.
Questions: Would they be silent if it was a child being abused? What about an elderly person? Would they stay silent if they knew they were teaching their children to be quiet in the face of abuse? What if it was them being abused, would they want someone to speak up for them?
Three tough situations - varying degrees of lessons being taught. What would you do? What would you say? Would you speak up or remain silent?
What lessons are you teaching your children? What lessons do you see being taught that you remain silent about?
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Empty Collars
Up on a hill, surrounded by rolling grassy slopes and wild flowers, watered by a spring of sweet water, stands a great old tree. The branches are gnarled and twisted with age, the leaves grow in rich shades of green. The trunk is wide and offers many roots for climbing, sitting and shade.
This is no ordinary tree, it is a memory tree. Each branch is hung, not with fruit, but with collars and tags. There are old ones made of rope, some braided twine, others of fine leather or other material. The tags are shiny, they are old and worn, some metal, some plastic, some twinkle and some are empty rings. Each one holds the memories of a dog that has cross The Rainbow Bridge.
Their people come here, to hang the collars, to leave their memories with the tree. Of little puppy teeth chewing, of old grey muzzles snoring softy, of a working dog's first successful job, of a service dog's last task. The memories hang from the tree, with each push of the wind the collars shift and softly sound. With each movement the wind brings memories to the people left behind.
We remember a cold nose, soft ears, toe nails ticking on hard floors, puppy barks and old dog mumbles.
We remember wagging tails, first confident steps, tripping over toys and soggy chewies.
We remember first glances filled with love, we remember puddles and poopsciles.
We remember first glances filled with love, we remember puddles and poopsciles.
We remember our dogs, those who wore the collars that hang from the tree, and we love them still.
The memories they leave in our minds also leave paw prints upon our hearts.
We never forget their first moment with us, nor do we ever forget their last. That last breath, that last heartbeat, that last living look. Those who lived long lives or those who were barely here - if they were with us long enough to touch our hearts we can rest knowing we also had them long enough to show them our love.
I never forget: Whiskey, KK, Kahula, Jessie, Voodoo, Andy, Sparkie. See you at The Bridge!
(this post is dedicated to the memory of the dogs I've loved and those I love still...feel free to change dog for cat, collar for halter, and remember your animal friends who have crossed The Bridge. The love is the same, no matter who we loved, how or when.)
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