Vermont

Sat., Nov. 14: Justice for the Calves Rally in Montpelier

Sherylcatmom — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:39:08 GMT

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 14, 11:30am-1pm
WHERE: Vermont State House, 115 State Street, Montpelier
WHAT: Peaceful protest to demand justice for calves abused at the Bushway Packing plant in Grand Isle, Vermont

A coalition of concerned citizens and Vermont animal protection groups will be holding a peaceful rally on Saturday, November 14, 2009 in front of the Statehouse in Montpelier, VT (115 State Street) from 11:30 AM-1 PM, to demand justice for the calves abused at the Bushway Packing plant in Grand Isle, Vermont.

The slaughterhouse was shut down on October 30, 2009 by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture and the USDA after the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) released video documenting horrific abuses of days-old calves. The video showed the calves being dragged, kicked, repeatedly shocked with electric prods, and skinned alive. Some of these abuses occurred in the presence of both the co-owner of the plant and a USDA inspector.

The investigation by HSUS began after the plant had already been shut down on three separate occasions for violations of the Humane Method of Slaughter Act, charges which the Vermont Agency of Agriculture said the USDA had not shared with them.

The actions of the plant have been widely condemned by both animal protection groups and agricultural trade groups.

The coalition is asking that Vermont state officials press criminal charges under Vermont state law for aggravated animal cruelty, and that the maximum sentence of imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to $5,000.00 be sought.

All are welcome to attend.

LEARN MORE:

HSUS Video: Abused Calves at Vermont Slaughter Plant

The Humane Society of the United States Releases More Video of Animal Abuse that Led to Shutdown of Vermont Slaughter Plant

More Video of Abused Calves at Vermont Slaughter Plant

The Rutland County Humane Society is hiring!

Sherylcatmom — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:58:16 GMT

RCHS needs:

Full-time shelter cleaners

Animal caregivers

Applications available at 765 Stevens Road, Pittsford, 12-5 Wed-Sunday.
No Phone Calls.

RCHS needs:

A part-time veterinary technician.

-- Previous experience preferred. Flexible schedule required.
Applications available at 765 Stevens Road, Pittsford, 12-5 Wed-Sunday.
No Phone Calls.

If you know of anyone who loves animals, doesn't mind hard work, and is interested please pass on this information!

Thanks,
Gretchen Goodman
Executive Director
Rutland County Humane Society

Resources

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:06:59 GMT

Documents

Links

Animal-Friendly/Eco-Friendly/Humane Living

Emergencies & Abuse Resources

Environmental Resources in VT & New England

Health & Wellness for Animals

Laws, Government, Agencies, & Local, State, & Federal Legislators

Lost & Found Pet Resources

Media for animals! By animals?

Misc fun & informative resources about animals, nature, more

National & International Animal Resources

Pets and the Family

Service & Therapy Animals

Shopping to Help Animals - Feel Good about your Retail Fix!

Spay/Neuter Resources - Vermont & beyond

Transport for Animals

Traveling with pets - resources

Vermont Animal Resources

Vermont Animal Shelters & Rescues

Vermont Media

When Pets Outlive Us - Planning, Lifetime Care, Pet Trusts

Wildlife - Vermont & beyond

Radical Peace

Sherylcatmom — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:24:29 GMT

Radical Peace

~ Sheryl's random internal wanderings~

I believe in peace – radically.

That’s my goal, my heaven. I believe that for radical peace, the ends and means must match. So in working toward peace, I strive to use only peaceful means.

I am traveling far, far away from this mode:

My goal is to find peace within myself and promote peace in the world. I strive daily (sometimes by the minute) to move my thoughts and feelings toward peace, to express myself peacefully with others, and to receive people in peace even if they approach me in another mode.

No nicey-nice: Shunning fake peace

I will not stretch a pseudo-peaceful veneer over angry thoughts and feelings. That’s just violence under pressure. I don’t believe in venting anger on those I (mistakenly) believe are causing my discomfort. Instead, I work to evaporate the causes of my discomfort, my inner triggers that are tripped when someone intentionally or unintentionally steps on them. That way when I am faced with disturbance instead of peace, I am more likely to meet it in peace. Since my goal is peace, I observe the behaviors on my part that are most likely to engender peaceful dynamics.

I frequently encounter my own unloving reactions, thoughts, and feelings. I notice that they evoke similar responses in others. This happens far more often than I’d prefer – and geez, here I am judging myself for it. So I strive to forgive myself. I examine the moments when my warlike tendencies sprang to life in hopes that next time I might recognize and defuse them before they become incendiary. I try to work with myself gently and compassionately, as I would do with any suffering being who is trying to release an unwanted habit.

Verbal attack! Self-defense?

I hope not. I hope I would use "tongue-fu" to transform the energy of attack into neutrality and peace. At the very least, I hope I will de-escalate the discussion and give all parties time to depart undamaged.

Would I defend myself if physically attacked? I’m uncertain. I believe I would come to the defense of another being who was under attack, my only goal being to protect the one being attacked. Marshall Rosenberg, teacher of Nonviolent Communication, calls this the protective use of force.

For verbal attacks and other uncomfortable (but not dangerous) situations,

Aikido experts believe that aggressive energy comes from a wounded place in the other person, and that it dissipates if you really connect with that person's true center.

A career counselor put it this way: "The way I speak to an audience that doesn't seem to be in agreement with me is to be in agreement with myself, in touch with myself, and the fact that I'm okay."

~ from Be Heard Now by Lee Glickstein, founder of Transformational Speaking

Peace within and without

In yogic teachings, the niyama of nonviolence (ahimsa) can be expressed as:

In the presence of one firmly established in non-violence, all hostilities cease.

OR

By abiding in nonviolence, one’s presence creates an atmosphere in which hostility ceases.

Yogic teachings are not directives. They are not an Indian version of the Ten Commandments. They are "if . . . then" statements. They describe goals, such as peace, and offer ways to reach them, such as embodying nonviolence internally and externally. The proof for me is that the more peaceful I become within myself, the more others respond to me with peace, and the more I am able to appreciate the peace within others -- even when they seem unable to see it in themselves and refuse to see it in others.

Buddhism, A Course in Miracles, and other peaceful teachings promote this:

? In the material world there is only love and fear
? They are opposites
? Choosing one means denying the other

When I’m working for a cause and its opponents behave unlovingly, I realize that they are fearful. The angrier they are, the more fearful they must be. Could I really “win” a “contest” over someone who is already living in a self-created hell of fear? Would I want to? The flip side: When I’m working on a cause and its supporters behave unlovingly, do I want to inhale and then emanate their suffering, even (especially!) on behalf of something I believe in?

When I use adversarial language, I find that I engage in adversarial relationships. If I say that someone is victorious, even (especially!) if the “victorious” someone is me, then I place someone else in the loser’s position. This brings me discomfort.

A Course in Miracles, p. 338 paragraph 5 says:

There are no triumphs in love. Only hate is at all concerned with the “triumph of love.” The illusion of love can triumph over the illusion of hate, but always at the price of making both illusions. As long as the illusion of hatred lasts, so long will love be an illusion to you. And then the only choice remaining possible is which illusion you prefer. There is no conflict in the choice between truth and illusion. Seen in these terms, no one would hesitate. But conflict enters the instant the choice seems to be one between illusions, but this choice does not matter. Where one choice is as dangerous as the other, the decision must be one of despair.

Every time I hear the cliché, “Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?” it awakens me like a Zen koan. It reminds me of a Rumi poem that I’ve recited to a decade of yoga students, and at the 1995 funeral of my cousin who died in a motorcycle accident at age 25, on the very the same day that “Superman” Christopher Reeves had the horseback riding accident that left him quadriplegic:

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field. I'll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase "each other" doesn't make any sense.

~ Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi - 13th century

I have a long, long way to go to reach that field. Occasionally I catch a glimpse, a fragrance. I am grateful to be on the journey.

Helping New England animals - VT, NH, MA, ME, RI, CT, & parts of NY : Dog-Friendly Chow Mix Seeks Forever Home (NY/NJ) – Please Cross-Post!

veganmarcy — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:40:30 GMT

Smokey is an active and healthy 6-years-young Chow/Shepherd/Rotti mix. He has been with 11th Hour Rescue for over 2 years. He is currently at our shelter, but is occasionally fostered by a volunteer with 6 other dogs. If you want a buddy for your dogs, Smokey’s the best! You can see a video of Smokey at: http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=11162966

Smokey LOVES other dogs (he knows to be gentle with smaller ones) and is great with his foster parents, however he has “guarding issues”. Trying to “protect” his home and owners has lead to biting. He has NEVER gone after his fosterers and trusts them 100%. His caregiver can take food away from him; check his teeth, paws, mouth; give him a bath…pretty much handle him however they want. He is also crate-trained and housebroken.

Smokey is a “big puppy” who lives to play with and meet new dogs. Yard time is fun time for Smokey! His wariness about trusting people stems from low self-esteem and past abandonment. He does not show outwardly aggressive body language when nervous, which means that he would require a dog savvy home. Once Smokey bonds with you, he would never go after you – and he bonds quickly. His forever family would increase his confidence and trust as a “nervous aggression” dog. Someone who knows when company visits, he must be crated or put in another room to avoid the “guarding” behavior.

He is a great dog that deserves a chance at having a loving home, because he has so much love and loyalty to give to you!

Smokey is neutered and up-to-date on his vaccinations.

Please contact his fosterer tammy.probst.smith@gmail.com for more info.

Helping New England animals - VT, NH, MA, ME, RI, CT, & parts of NY : ChipIn TODAY: Jane the pug needs life-saving surgery!

Sherylcatmom — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 05:45:38 GMT

Jane the pug came to Vermont after being rescued from Indiana in November 2008. Jane is only 3 years old and is now in need of life saving surgery!

On Friday, Jane's adoptive family learned Jane's diagnosis: a contortion of the lower lobe of her left lung -- a very unusual condition that appears suddenly, without warning. Jane's vet said she had never seen one in 30 years of practice. Poor little Jane, her chest is collecting fluids and she needs surgery or she will die.

Jane enjoys the company of her human and other family members

Jane needs to see a specialist and this surgery is estimated just shy of $3000.00!!

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Save Our Strays of Huntington, VT, has created a ChipIn page to help Jane's adoptive family with this large unexpected expense during these hard economic times.

Please click here to read Jane's story and make a ChipIn donation to help save her life.

On behalf of Jane, thank you so much.

Caring people like you can help Jane live and continue enjoying outings with her canine companions!

Vermont volunteer opportunities : Church St., Burlington, April 25: Table for Earth Day with Green Mountain Animal Defenders!

Sherylcatmom — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 23:46:22 GMT

In honor of Earth Day 2009, Green Mountain Animal Defenders is hosting a table on Church Street in Burlington, Vermont on Saturday, April 25,11AM – 3PM.

The goal of this outreach event will be to promote all the personal, humane, and environmental benefits of a healthy, meatless lifestyle and to promote other ways to help the planet.

GMAD tablers will hand out informational brochures, free recipes and discount coupons from companies who sell vegetarian products to encourage people to try the vegetarian food options that they may not usually think of sampling.

Volunteers Needed

Volunteers are needed to help staff GMAD’s table. If you are available to volunteer on April 25th, please contact Ashley Dubinsky, through email or by phone, and let her know what hours you will be available.

Ashley Dubinsky, Event Coordinator, Student Intern
Green Mountain Animal Defenders
adubinsky@smcvt.edu
(860) 208-1363
NOTE: Please also cc Sharon at: smatgmad@aol.com

SHIFTS:
10:30am -1:00pm
1:00pm-3:30pm (including take-down)

If you cannot table for those specific shifts, just name the hours that work for you, and GMAD will try to tailor the shifts to your schedule.

Please enjoy the outdoor air on Church Street while spreading GMAD's mission of "Working to Protect Animals and the Environment."

If we cannot fill the time slots, the event may need to be shortened, or canceled, so PLEASE sign up for a shift to help animals and the environment!

RE: I nominate Dawn

Sherylcatmom — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 05:24:27 GMT

Oh, do share, Suntan! I felt an awful thrill just thinking about new scary cat antics on this forum. C'mon, thrill me some more! Sammy dares you.

Join the Sammy the Serpent Fan Club by posting your devotion to Sammy & other scary kitties here! : I nominate Dawn

removed_Mooko_man — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:58:56 GMT

I think Dawn needs to be inducted into the Krazy Kat club. She may be rivaling Maggie, Squeaks, and {{{shudder}}} even Sammy himself. We may need more info to see.

Suntan, I hope you can join along in the fun.

RE: RE: RE: Iowa, Spencer Public Library: Dewey the Cat Dies in Librarian's Arms

SavannahFluffanella — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 01:51:21 GMT

I am reading the book now and nearly at the end. I would totally recommend it to animal lovers and perhaps read it to children by chapters.

RE: RE: Marley the cat's passing inspires his grieving mom to start a fund for FIV/FeLV awareness and education

MarleyFund — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 01:39:21 GMT

Hi! Thank you for writing such a nice article about me and Marley, I am truly honored. For more information, please visit www.marleyfund.com. Thanks so much!

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Marlee and the Nurse

Snickersmom — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:14:16 GMT

I laughed hysterically!! Sorry I'm coming late to the party, but I'm always known for being late anyway. I'm planning on being late to my funeral...

My in-laws' aren't really cat people. They have had cats over the years, but having seven in the house is a little much for them. In fact they had a great big, bad looking German Sheppard who used to bring kittens home. He would carry them around until he couldn't carry them anymore because they were too big for his mouth (he never hurt them, he doted on them). The cats were all very well taken care of, but not in the house and spoiled rotten. They are always hinting that we should reduce the number of cats in the house, especially with the Nuts around now. But I have noticed my father-in-law laughing at Mongo's antics (jumping at shadows) and snickering at Snickers when she beats up on Mongo, who weighs three times what Snickers weighs. When Night died and we were down to 6 in the house, I know they were kind of relieved that we had one less. Well wouldn't you know that Gizmo, one of my semi-ferals who has been outside for most of her 13 years, decided that the color balance was off in the house. Since Night was black, and Gizmo is mostly black, I guess she thought we needed her inside to maintain the balance. Fortunately they knew that I had 5 semi-ferals/ferals outside, and they had met Gizmo on several occasions (she is best known for leaving decapitated mice on your doorstep and since they live just through the woods, they have had their share of decapitated mice in their shed). I was worried that they would think I had replaced Night with a new cat (not that I could ever replace Sir Night).

Two of my inside girls are still sorta feral (at least with people they don't know) but here lately, they have been coming out when my in-laws are here to help me with the Nuts on the nights that David works. When Topaz (the more skittish of the two) jumped up in my mother-in-law's lap, I almost lost it. She has come out of her shell so much in the 3 years we have been in the new house. She never really liked men, until we moved. Now she is David's lap cat (until she digs her talons in and he has to extricate himself from under her) and she reaches out to him every time he walks by.

It is so much fun to watch the reaction of non-cat people. There is cat evidence everywhere in the house and then comes the unavoidable question, "how many do you have?". I bet the nurse did have nightmares... I look at it this way, the cats are cleaner than some people I know, and better company!!

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Welcome to the new support group for humans who adore Krazy Katz!

atuttle32 — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 18:39:37 GMT

Owie!!!

RE: RE: RE: RE: Lisa and Roy Haynes of Save Our Strays report this excellent news about Stanley

KathiJo — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 07:42:10 GMT

Yea, but you have to get to them early. Once they pick up bad habits, they are really hard to re-train!

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Welcome to the new support group for humans who adore Krazy Katz!

Sherylcatmom — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 03:42:49 GMT

LOLOLOLLLLL!!!! (Because it's not ME being propelled on. Propelled off? Either way!) Does Bob need a blood donor?

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Welcome to the new support group for humans who adore Krazy Katz!

removed_Mooko_man — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:56:04 GMT

LOL-I needed that, especially the photo!

It also reminded me of a new game that Maggie has come up with. Luckily, she plays it only with Bob (that why the photo of Sammy with your husband triggered the memory). After she is done with whatever destruction she has planned for the evening, she comes under the covers to rest and also clean our armpits while we sleep. You know how cats like to lay on their backs and propel themselves upside down along sofa edges? Well, Maggie has decided that this would be a fun thing to do, replacing the sofa with Bob's body!

Basically she starts at the top grabbing on to his arms and propels herself down to the toes, which of course need a quick bite. It is important that you maintain human skin contact during the upside down body propel transferring without loss of contact from arm to leg to toe!

RE: Charity

removed_Mooko_man — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:38:46 GMT

Amelia,

Love the photos of Charity! How are you and Miss Tootie doing?

Leslie

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Welcome to the new support group for humans who adore Krazy Katz!

Sherylcatmom — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:51:08 GMT

Well, we've had another Sammy Incident so perhaps this will help.

Yesterday someone stopped by our home business to buy a gift certificate. As always, a few cats scuttled in to stand in her purse and stick their butts in her face. One look at majestic Sammy sitting on the bench beside her, so tall that they were nearly face to face, staring into her eyes with his big liquidy greens, and the client was smitten.

I quickly explained that this was Sammy the Serpent and she should be cautious. She poo-poohed this and reached to pet Sam.

Thing is, when Sammy is sitting upright and you reach to scratch his chin, it's very easy for him to whip a giant paw around the arm reaching for him. Which he did. Holding her hand with his paw, he gave her hand a couple of licks. This caused any defenses she might have had to dissolve completely.

I knew this lick, this apparent kiss, was a prelude to a massacre. Before I could yell to our client to withdraw her hand, Sammy's giant maw opened wide and instantly closed on her fingers. He wrapped both his paws around her arm. He grabbed her arm with both paws and his claws extended farther than any claws should.

It's really, really lucky that we're in the middle of a freezing winter. The customer was wearing a thick jacket and her arm was protected. At first, she did not sense danger. She giggled because people who are attracted to Sammy tend to enjoy a friendly mauling from Krazy Katz. But when Sammy's claws got stuck in her sleeve and he hissed viciously, she looked to me for help.

Putting my life in danger, I scruffed Sammy. He was so outraged that he released the client, although one claw remained stuck and I had to extract it from her coat. Once free, he bolted.

When considering whether to pursue this kind of relationship with Sammy, I recommend noting that he can get his mouth around my husband's thigh:

RE: RE: How do you handle stress?

Margaret — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 07:35:48 GMT

Aw, poor baby! My heart filled with pity at the photo of him with the diaper on. He seems like a real trouper, though (and so do you!). Great photo-story/series.

RE: How do you handle stress?

removed_Mooko_man — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 05:42:51 GMT

Sam, I just love this story. I have been following on PHS but this is too funny!

Leslie