Animals & Religion

ONLINE VIGIL FOR CAYUGA HEIGHTS DEER --- MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21st

pigeonpeace — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:37:57 GMT

Time has just about run out for the beautiful deer of Cayuga Heights, NY. The Board of Trustees is voting on Monday night; details here: http://network.bestfriends.org/groups/religion/default.aspx

There will be an online vigil on Monday night at http://www.peaceanimal.com to hold the vision for hope for the deer. The vigil is set to correspond with the exact time of the board meeting.

Won't you join us? Last time, almost 500 people from around the world participated. Also, it has been reported that the Board is not very fond of the fact that so many people have signed the change.org petition. Wont' you help us get to the 1,000 mark? Visit: http://animalrights.change.org/actions/view/shot_for_a_tulip_say_no_to_cayuga_heights_nys_deer-killing_plan to give your voice to the plight of the voiceless. And please, share this message far and wide. It could be the difference between life and death for the Deer!

LAST CHANCE FOR CAYUGA HEIGHTS DEER!

pigeonpeace — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:36:30 GMT

JOIN MONDAY, SEP 21st ONLINE VIGIL ---YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED!!!

The latest news is that the Cayuga Heights trustees are now lowering the number of deer they will allow to live to as low as 20 (all of whom will be sterilized), and they want to speed up the killing process, killing more deer sooner than their original plan proposed.

A reliable source reports that this is due to their wanting to save money, as they will have to hire a person each year to oversee the process, and if they can kill more deer faster, they can pay out less money to this employee over time. You may have heard that the 10-year projection was that they’d be paying $1 million for their deer-killing plan and as a result, have to raise taxes by 5%. So this is how they propose reducing costs — kill more deer more quickly and allow fewer to live, as sterilization is more expensive than killing. Meanwhile, far cheaper non-lethal approaches to reducing human-deer conflicts exist, and are proven to be successful (see http://www.cayugadeer.org/alternatives.htm ) Yet, the mayor and trustees will not open their minds wide enough to save the tax payers money by trying these alternative approaches, nor have they indicated a willingness to consider changing the fencing ordinance to allow residents to adequately protect their gardens.

Read the latest Ithaca Journal article here:
http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20090914/NEWS01/909140388/1126/news/Cayuga+Heights+wants+to+speed+culling+process

It’s important to understand that this is essentially an extermination plan, and the massacre they are proposing — to be carried out in residents’ back yards -- will be violent, bloody and a disgrace to our community.

PLEASE JOIN US ON MONDAY SEPT. 21st TO PROTEST THIS OUTRAGEOUS PLAN! EITHER IN PERSON OR VIA ONLINE VIGIL (at http://www.peaceanimal.com)

For those in the Ithaca area, the trustees will meet at 7 PM at Marcham Hall, 836 Hanshaw Rd. (across from community corners). Protesters will be assembling a half an hour before the meeting. To all of you who came out last month to protest, THANK YOU! We hope you will join us again this coming Monday. If you have not yet participated, NOW is the time to become active! Doing nothing will result in the death of hundreds of animals and the tacit acceptance of having firearms discharged near homes and roadways, endangering our community and turning Cayuga Heights into a killing field for wildlife.

EVERY PERSON COUNTS! Please don’t turn your back now. Your community, and the inncocents who live amongst us, depend on you to show up. Bring your own sign, or there will be extra signs there that you can hold. And don’t forget to spread the word!

We still have a pressing need for more people to volunteer and become more active in organizing these efforts. Now that we are getting closer to the point where the deer will actually be killed, this effort needs to ramp up and more people need to get involved. Once the killing begins, it will become much harder to stop it. So please contact us if you can help! contact@cayugadeer.org

Information herein was reprinted with the premission of the authors at www.cayugadeer.org. To attend the online vigil, scheduled to coincide with the commencement of the Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees, please visit: http://www.peaceanimal.com .

Posted by Kris Lecakes Haley, Animals & Religion group manager

Cayuga Heights Deer - UPDATE!

pigeonpeace — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 06:09:41 GMT

Almost 500 attend online PEACE MEDITATION and VIGIL!

We are having an impact --- the power of our intention has been felt! Following is a summary of the many fast-moving developments over the last few days, submitted by ITHACANS FOR SAFE, ETHICAL AND RATIONAL APPROACHES TO REDUCING DEER-HUMAN CONFLICT, with their deep gratitude:

Protest at Cayuga Heights’ village hall was a big success--Cayuga Heights trustees reversed their ban on deer comments! More than 20 people participated in the peaceful protest held outside Marcham Hall, as the trustees and other meeting attendees arrived. Here are a few photos: http://www.cayugadeer.org/news.htm

When the meeting began, the protesters brought their signs inside and stood witness to the proceedings. The trustees acquiesced, allowing public comments to be made on the subject of deer under the condition that Cayuga Heights residents were given priority, and the comments went on for no longer than a total of 30 minutes. Many eloquent statements followed by people who are opposed to the killing, who again greatly outnumbered those in favor of it.

The Ithaca Journal covered the meeting and protest. You can read Krisy Gashler’s story here: http://tinyurl.com/n8ujcf

Against all reason, the trustees approved a “draft” plan to sterilize 30-60 deer and kill the rest
At this stage, having approved the draft plan, the trustees are proceeding with preparation of paperwork for an environmental impact assessment in order to fulfill New York State’s SEQR (State Environmental Quality review) requirements. The next step in this process will have the trustees issuing a form that will, among other things, reveal whether they deem that their plan will have a significant or insignificant environmental impact. If they deem it insignificant, the road will be paved for rapid approval and implementation of their plan. If they deem it significant, they will then need to prepare a full environmental impact assessment and also hold at least one public hearing to collect the community’s input on the environmental issue. Those who wish to learn more about the SEQR process can visit the SEQR pages from New York state. http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/357.html

Deputy Mayor Donner’s bizarre statement
Surprisingly, the only trustee who opposed approval of the draft plan was Deputy Mayor David Donner, who was the original chair of the deer committee and has been a staunch proponent of a killing program from the beginning. But it is not the killing that Mr. Donner objects to. In his strongly worded statement, he objected to the sterilization component of the plan, saying, “Horses and deer are creatures that panic. To trap and hold them for hours or days in cages or nets is inhumane. To subject them to an unnatural and unnecessary surgery is also inhumane. I ask for a swift and honorable death for the deer, just as I do for horses."

It’s interesting that Mr. Donner finds being lured to a bait site along with fellow herd members only to be shot down by high-powered rifles an honorable death for any animal, not to mention a fawn or pregnant doe. He appears to confuse the idea of euthanasia — putting a terminally ill or severely injured animal out of his or her misery for reasons of compassion — with the methodical snuffing out of the lives of healthy animals who most certainly wish to live. Were Mr. Donner or anyone else to perform a mass shooting of healthy young horses in our community, it is hard to imagine anyone describing this as an honorable death, or an honorable act. His statement is emblematic of the contorted reasoning that has surrounded the Cayuga Heights deer-killing program from the start. On the the positive side, perhaps Mr. Donner’s statement opens the door to much needed community dialog about the moral and ethical dimensions of wildlife killing programs.

Financial projections show the plan will cost approximately $1 million over the next 10 years
While their draft plan was approved in order for the required SEQR environmental impact review process to begin, for the first time, the trustees have begun discussing the nuts and bolts of what implementing this plan might mean. $418,000 is expected to be spent in the first three years alone. Here’s the Ithaca Journal article about that: http://tinyurl.com/mkrcag

As they go further and further into the details, the inevitable truths are being revealed: This killing plan is dangerous, divisive, expensive and absolutely unnecessary. But as we all know, it’s entirely possible for such an ill-advised course of action to become government policy. This is why the collective wisdom and moral strength of our community must come into play, to prevent this tragedy from occurring.

To pay for their deer-killing plan, Cayuga Height may have to raise taxes of residents by 5%
It is yet to be seen if those residents keen to have the deer killed are going to be able to convince all the other residents to pick up the tab for them. In light of the news about the tax increase, we cannot help but wonder whether more people will begin to grasp the practicality of simply changing the fencing ordinance to allow those having the most conflict with deer to protect their gardens, and of providing residents with comprehensive education and consulting on plant choices and the use of deer repellents. These techniques are already being successfully used by many residents in Cayuga Heights and the wider Ithaca community who have learned to live in harmony with the deer. Isn’t it more sensible to apply resources directly where the conflict is occurring, thereby saving the tax payers an enormous amount of money, sparing the community the acrimony and division a killing program will produce, and providing immediate relief to those most frustrated by the presence of the deer?

The power of conscience and community is growing—together, we can stop this immoral and ill-advised plan!
To all of you who came out on Monday night to protest, and all of you who stayed late to witness the vote, to all of you who participated in the online silent vigil, and all of you who signed petitions to the mayor and trustees, to all of you who sent us your creative ideas and suggestions, and who put those suggestions into action, and to all of you who kept the deer in your thoughts on Monday night -- you made a difference! As we stood together holding our signs, both outside and within the meeting space, feeling the support of many more who could not be there in person but were with us in spirit, each of us served as the conscience of this community and a palpable feeling of change was in the air.

Our struggle is far from over, but there are definite signs of hope in the midst of so much discouragement we have endured over the past year. If we keep growing our numbers and demanding accountability from the decision-makers, the tide will eventually turn. You could almost feel it beginning to turn on Monday night.

If you have not yet signed the petition, please do --- http://www.change.org (enter the words cayuga deer) ad stay informed via http://www.cayugadeer.org .

Posted by Kris Lecakes Haley, Animals & Religion Volunteer Group Manager

BE A PRAYERFUL VOICE FOR THE CAYUGA HEIGHTS DEER --- PEACE MEDITATION VIGIL PLANNED THIS WEEK

pigeonpeace — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:39:46 GMT

It appears that time is running out for the beautiful deer of Cayuga Heights in Ithaca, New York.

The following story is adapted and reprinted with the permission of its author, James LaVeck an award-winning documentary filmmaker (The Witness & Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home) and a 20-year resident of Ithaca, NY. He is one of the co-founders of CayugaDeer.org, Ithacans for Safe, Rational and Ethical Solutions to Deer Human Conflict. The original opinion piece was published in the Ithaca Times on June 24, 2009.

UPDATE --- Dates and times are set for the PEACE MEDITATION and SILENT VIGIL for the Cayuga Heights Deer --- both of which are ONLINE observances. Join the ONLINE PEACE MEDITATION FOR THE CAYUGA DEER on SUNDAY, AUGUST 23rd @ 8:00pm EDT, 7:00pm CDT, 6:00pm MDT & 5:00pm PDT (& AZ) and then rejoin us the next day for an ONLINE SILENT VIGIL FOR THE CAYUGA DEER on Monday, August 24th @ 7:00pm EDT, 6:00pm CDT, 5:00pm MDT & 4:00pm PDT (& AZ) --- as we, in spirit, stand alongside those who, at the very same time, are actually attending the town meeting that may decide the Deer's fate. Each event may be accessed at http://www.peaceanimal.com . We ask for nothing more than your welcomed presence to silently read the Meditation and Vigil documents at the times noted above. If you have friends or acquaintances with whom you feel this message would resonate, we enthusiastically encourage you to invite them. The Mayor and Trustee have silenced the voices or the voiceless --- our hope is to inspire them with the power of silence when many come together, in PEACE, for a common purpose. We'd be honored to have you join us!

Cayuga Heights -- a village embedded within the larger community of Ithaca, New York -- has been said to have the most Ph.D's per capita of any municipality in America. Yet its trustees are about to approve a dangerous, immoral, and frankly bizarre plan that would call for every single deer in the village to be either violated or killed. It seems these human-habituated animals’ appetite for tulips, heirloom tomatoes, and ornamental shrubbery has, in the minds of the current mayor and trustees, created a situation so dire and unacceptable, that action of the most extreme sort is not only justified, but urgently required.

The first phase of their plan involves capturing 30-60 female deer, surgically sterilizing them, then puncturing their ears with numbered tags and encumbering their necks with radio collars. These are the "lucky" individuals. The intended fate of every other deer in Cayuga Heights, including pregnant does and fawns, is to be shot dead at bait sites at undisclosed locations and times. This annually performed massacre will be carried out by out-of-town contractors who earn their living exterminating wildlife.

The ethical grotesquery of this plan appears to be lost on those who conceived it, who seem to be oblivious to the mental and emotional torture that will be experienced by the few deer chosen to survive, not to mention the many people who care about these gentle animals. Year after year, deer in and around Cayuga Heights will be lured by piles of corn into the kill zone, and those marked for survival will watch as their herd mates are brutally killed right in front of them. Were such a sadistic policy to be carried out against dogs or cats, or horses, an outraged crowd would spontaneously rise up to stop it. But the deer, ironically, because they live free of direct human control and are no individual's private property, are somehow seen as unworthy of moral consideration.

The plan was just announced in July, yet the village trustees voted to BAN ALL PUBLIC COMMENT about their deer-killing proposal at their August and September meetings, during which they are expected to approve this controversial proposal. Because those who have tried to be voice of the voiceless have been silenced themselves, we need people around the world to contact these legislators and demand that they let voices on all sides of the issue be heard, and that they adopt proven, non-violent alternatives to the outrageous killing plan they have proposed.

Do we really want to live in a society where bureaucrats meet behind closed doors to arbitrarily decide how many of each species are allowed to live, then send technicians out to mark the few chosen to survive as ornamental reminders of a bygone era, doomed to move among us as freaks festooned with the trappings of their utter domination by humans? Do we want to cover the eyes and ears of our children as unsuspecting animals are methodically executed in our neighbors' backyards?

There are many people in and around Cayuga Heights who, through wise plant choices, and skillful use of fencing and deer repellents, enjoy beautiful gardens without causing harm to anyone. Mass killing and extreme control of the area's indigenous wildlife is neither necessary, nor ethical, nor safe. And if it is scientific at all, it represents science at its most twisted.

Everything about this plan is emblematic of the mindset that is destroying our planet. Because the trustees of Cayuga Heights have rejected proven and practical non-violent approaches to reducing deer-human conflict, because they refuse against all reason to allow residents to erect fences high enough to safeguard their plantings, because they have silenced public comment on their controversial proposal -- should the rest of us just sit back and do nothing? Should we accept armed men firing deadly weapons in residential neighborhoods, to protect tulips? Or is it possible, with all the brilliant, creative and compassionate people living in Cayuga Heights and the Ithaca community, that a more sensible approach can be found?

WHAT YOU CAN DO!

IMPORTANT NOTE: If the links in the Animals & Religion (or other network) articles about the Cayuga Heights Deer do not work, PLEASE cut and past them into your browser to reach the desired URL. We apologize for the technical difficulties but please don't let them discourage you. It is likely that the future of the deer will be decided on Monday night --- we need your help! Thanks!

The voices for the voiceless in Cayuga Heights and Ithaca have been silenced. Help them be heard! Sign this petition, which will also send an automatic email to the Mayor and two key members of the board of trustees: http://tinyurl.com/r7nopp

Join the ONLINE PEACE MEDITATION FOR THE CAYUGA DEER on SUNDAY, AUGUST 23rd @ 8pm EDT, 7pm CDT, 6pm MDT & 5pm PDT (& AZ) and then rejoin us the next day for an ONLINE SILENT VIGIL for the CAYUGA DEER on Monday, August 24th @ 7pm EDT, 6pm CDT, 5pm MDT & 4pm PDT (&AZ) --- as we, in spirit, stand alongside those who are actually attending the town meeting that may decide the Deer's fate. We ask for nothing more than your presence to silently read the meditation at the times noted above. Both activities may be accessed at http://www.peaceanimal.com . In the meantime, please visit http://www.cayugadeer.org/#ActionItems for a full list of action items.

Post Conscience Cards of the decision makers on your web site, Facebook page or MySpace page. Learn more here: http://www.cayugadeer.org/conscience/gilmore.htm

Finally, if you can find time in your daily meditation, prayer or time of reflection, for the innocent Cayuga Heights Deer, please include them and those who are fighting so diligently to save their lives. Time is running out.

Posted by Kris Lecakes Haley, Animals & Religion Volunteer Group Manager

More Than Swallows Fly in Capistrano --- A Fledgling Animal Kinship Minstry Takes Flight!

pigeonpeace — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 06:41:24 GMT

With a vision to expand our awareness of our Oneness with all life, knowing that all creatures are loved and respected, the Animal Kinship Ministry of the Center for Spiritual Living in Capistrano Valley is a lovely new force of compassion to be reckoned with!

Established in September, 2008, the group's intention --- To honor and support the unique human-animal bond in our spiritual community through prayer, education and service --- was beautifully evidenced recently when it hosted the R.E.A.D. Dogs from the Delta Society's Pet Partners Program, during national Be Kind To Animals Week. The R.E.A.D. program improves children's reading and communication skills by employing a powerful method: simply reading to a dog --- but not just any dog --- each dog in the R.E.A.D. program is a registered therapy animal. The R.E.A.D. dogs spent treasured time visiting the Center's Youth Church, whose young charges all had a chance to participate in this powerful and enlightening opportunity.

The Animal Kinship Ministry of Capistrano Valley's Center for Spiritual Living, which is led by Rose Tingle, is one of many Animal Kinship Ministries blossoming in churches and faith organizations across the country. Typical offerings include prayer and grief support, resource information and many hold annual events such as Animal Blessings where partnerships with local shelters yield a significant number of adoptions. The group also has a lovely and important monthly “focus” where it highlights a cause of the month. For July, the focus is on Marine Animals with collections being taken throughout the month to support the rescue efforts of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach. For more information about how you can help with the AKM’s monthly focus collections, and to learn more about the Animal Kinship Ministry of Capistrano Valley’s Center for Spiritual Living, visit: http://www.cslcv.org/news.shtml and to contact Rose, click here: http://www.cslcv.org/programs.shtml --- she would be delighted to hear from all kindred spirits --- human and non-human animals alike!

Resources

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:06:59 GMT

Documents

A RELIGIOUS PROCLAMATION FOR ANIMAL COMPASSION

ARTICLES, PUBLICATIONS & OTHER READING

BLESSINGS & SERVICES

RSPCA - A Church Service For Animal Welfare.pdf

BOOKS

BF AAR Booklist - 4-7-08.pdf

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

COMPASSIONATE CELEBRATIONS FOR RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS

MINISTRIES & CLERGY

Animal Ministry Resource List - Episcopal Network for Animal Welfare.pdf

Miscellaneous Documents

H.R. 6202 - Farm Animals Anti-Cruelty Act.pdf

SERMONS & MESSAGES

STORIES

STUDENT TOOLKIT

Links

ARTICLES, PUBLICATIONS & OTHER READING

BLESSINGS & SERVICES

BOOK REVIEWS

CAMPAIGNS

EDUCATION

MINISTRIES & CLERGY

ORGANIZATIONS, GROUPS & WEBSITES

PRAYERS & PRAYER CIRCLES

SERMONS & MESSAGES

WORLD PEACE DIET FREE TELECONFERENCE

pigeonpeace — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 05:53:36 GMT

Join Dr. Will Tuttle as he discusses the interconnectedness of all life...

You are invited to a *FREE* Teleconference featuring Dr. Will Tuttle --- Author of The World Peace Diet

Dr. Will Tuttle is an award-winning speaker, educator, author, and musician. His music, writings, and presentations focus on creativity, intuition, and compassion. Dr. Tuttle’s paradigm shifting book, The World Peace Diet, has been called the most important book of the 21st century: the foundation of a new society based on the truth of the interconnectedness of all life. Incorporating systems theory, teachings from mythology and religions, and the human sciences, The World Peace Diet presents the outlines of a more empowering understanding of our world, based on a comprehension of the far-reaching implications of our food choices and the worldview those choices reflect and mandate. The World Peace Diet suggests how we as a species might move our consciousness forward so that we can be more free, more intelligent, more loving, and happier in the choices we make.

No need to RSVP! We’ve reserved room for the first 150 attendees, so don’t be late! We'll save time for questions at the end!

TeleConference Details

Date: Thursday, June 18, 2009
Start Time: 4:00 PM Pacific/Arizona Time, 5:00PM Mountain
Time, 6:00 PM Central Time, 7:00 PM Eastern Time
Length: 60 – 90 minutes with time for questions

Dial-in Number: 1-605-475-6333
Participant Access Code: 623895

Just dial in at the corresponding time for your area, follow the directions and enter the Participant Access Code --- and we’ll see you there!

About the Author
Will Tuttle has a master’s degree in humanities from San Francisco State University and a Ph.D. in the philosophy of education from the University of California. A professional pianist and teacher, he has for the last thirteen years toured progressive churches, vegetarian and macrobiotic conferences, and intentional communities throughout the country. He trained in Korea as a Zen Buddhist monk and has worked extensively in Tai Chi, yoga, massage, and dance and movement. Read more about Dr. Tuttle and Madeleine Tuttle at http://www.worldpeacediet.com/ and http://www.willtuttle.com

PEACEANIMAL is dedicated to expanding the concept of PEACE to include all species http://www.peaceanimal.com

Photo courtesy of Dr. Will Tuttle
Posted by Kris Lecakes Haley, Best Friends Animals & Religion Volunteer Community Manager

PLEASE NOTE: While there is no attendance fee for the teleconference, the dial in number is not toll free, so customary long distance/minutes charges will apply.

California Animals & Religion Conference a Success!!

pigeonpeace — Sun, 10 May 2009 10:41:24 GMT

Read On For An Inside Perspective ---

On Friday, April 24, 2009, I attended a conference at the Fish Interfaith Center of Chapman University entitled , “Do Unto Others . . . A Conference on Animals and Religion”. The conference, the first of its kind in Southern California, was put together by a group of scholars who have taken on the name of "Interreligious Voices for Animal Compassion", including Zandra Wagoner(a co-author of Best Friends' Religious Proclamation for Animal Compassion), Beth A. Johnson, and Ronald L. Farmer.

The conference was a wonderful experience, and I sincerely hope that this one will be the beginning of an annual (at a minimum) tradition.

Some Highlights

The facility itself, particularly Wallace All Faiths Chapel, was certainly conducive to the kind of thoughtful discussion and contemplation that the day provided. Beginning at 9:00am, this hall was filled with wonderful harp music that began the day and was interspersed between speakers for the first hour.

Introductory speakers provided some background regarding how the conference came about as well as quotes and a series of personal statements pertaining to animals in the context of spirituality. These speakers were followed by a first keynote speaker, Jay McDaniel, Director for the Steel Center for the Study of Religion and Philosophy at Hendrix College in Arkansas and author of numerous books, including the classic Of God and Pelicans: A Theology of Reverence for Life.

Jay's talk not only set forth a number of powerful intellectual insights regarding animals and how they are viewed in the world's major religions but also allowed glimpses into his personal experiences related to animals and how these experiences have shaped his own world view of the value of life. Jay has a knack for being able to address high philosophy and self-effacing humor simultaneously, which made his presentation a delight that went by too quickly.

In between the morning events, participants mingled with representatives from a number of different animal-related organizations, including Animal Acres founder and Farm Sanctuary pioneer Lorri Houston. The Christian Vegetarian Assocation had a display providing a wide variety of literature, as did Peta, and the conference organizers also provided display copies of about forty key books in the field.

After breaking for a vegan lunch, conference-goers chose two out of six different one-hour workshops to attend consecutively during the afternoon. I personally attended a session called "Inside the Trenches: An Evangelical Looks at Animal Compassion," which was led by Presbyterian Minister Reverend Michael Bruner (another Proclamation co-author), and "Schweitzer and the Animals", which was led by Dr. Marvin Meyer, Chair of the Religious Studies Department and Director of the Albert Schweitzer Institute at Chapman. Both sessions were excellent, and I wished I had been able to attend all six.

Thereafter, the conference reconvened as a single group for a panel discussion featuring McDaniel, Johnson and Wagoner. This portion was one of my favorite parts of the day, since the flexibility of the format allowed for a great deal of spontaneous discussion and Q&A between the conference-goers and featured speakers.

That evening, we all gathered for a vegan feast in a different location on the Chapman campus. The dinner was fabulous, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to meet the people at my table. We shared light-hearted stories regarding being vegan in a world that eats dead animals as well as discussed strategies on how to get the word out about the pervasive cruelty in our culture. I found it encouraging and uplifting to be around like-minded folks.

Batting clean-up hitter for the day was the vivacious Karen Dawn, author of , "Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the Way We Treat Animals," which has received numerous accolades, including that of being among the "Best Books of the Year" according to the Washington Post. Like Jay, Karen is somehow able to discuss grave--and sometimes heartbreaking--matters and yet remain fun, witty and charming while doing it.

Overall, the event was a smashing success. I hope there are many more to follow.

Posted by Kris Lecakes Haley, Volunteer Community Manager
Reprint permission and photo of Jay McDaniel, courtesy of Shelley Harrison

For more information about the Interreligious Voices for Animal Compassion, contact Dr. Zandra Wagoner at: wagonerz@ulv.edu. To contact Shelley Harrison, visit http://www.humaneparty.org

"DO UNTO OTHERS" --- A Conference on Animals & Religion

pigeonpeace — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:52:18 GMT

Do Unto Others…A Conference on Animals and Religion.

by Kris Lecakes Haley, Animals & Religion Volunteer Community Manager

“Do Unto Others” is Southern California’s first interreligious conference focused on animals and religion. The purpose of the conference is to promote greater kindness and compassion toward animals by engaging with a variety of religious, ethical, and spiritual perspectives that extend compassion beyond the human species and empower faithful action.

The conference will be held on Friday, April 24, 2009 at Chapman University in Orange, California.

The conference features two keynote speakers: Jay McDaniels, prominent eco-theologian and writer, will open the conference with “You Purr Therefore I am: The Role of Animals in Human Spirituality,” and Karen Dawn, author of the popular book Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the Way We Treat Animals, will provide the closing address at the upbeat vegan banquet. The program also includes workshops and panels, an interreligious ceremony, exhibits and a bookstore.

For more information and registration, please visit the following website: http://www.chapman.edu/chapel/animalconference/

FREE PUBLIC RELATIONS TELECLASS!

pigeonpeace — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:20:13 GMT

Animal Lover Offers Advice To Benefit Animal Groups

by Kris Lecakes Haley, Animals & Religion Volunteer Editor

Are you a Rescue Group, Shelter or Volunteer who’d like to know how to have your 'cause' stand out in a crowd? Are you a faith group introducing a new Animal Ministry to your outreach offerings? Attracting the right exposure for your organization or cause can mean the difference between diving or thriving!

So imagine--- What if…Your organization was regularly featured in the media? What if people could easily navigate to your group on Google or the other search engines? What if print and online journals exposed you to hundreds of thousands of readers? Imagine the animals who could be helped in the process!

Such absolutely priceless exposure attracts customers, new revenue opportunities, and strategic community partners.

Noted animal lover extraordinaire, Sherry Butler, has decided to share her 'secrets' with the animal community in a FREE PR Strategies Teleclass and she invites you to join her as she and her colleague, Maria Simone, successful business development expert and multi-business owner share their secrets this Thursday January 22, 2009 at 6pm pst, 7pm mst, 8pm cst and 9pm est

"People in the animal community frequently have to work on a shoestring, said Butler. A little effective PR can go a long way toward increasing their visibility and helping their cause." Butler attributes her generous nature to her beloved dog, Rumi. "He has brought so much joy to my life, this is my small way of giving back!"

Sherry Butler's goal with this teleclass is to help attendees get spectacular results in 2009 by learning what works…and what doesn’t. She promises that her free Teleclass will, "positively sizzle!"

Dial in and find out for yourselves! **If you can’t make it, sign in anyway and you’ll receive a playback link!

To sign up for the class, visit: http://mariasimone.com/prteleclass.htm

To contact Sherry Butler, visit: http://www.slbcom.com

Photo of Sherry Butler and Rumi, courtesy of Sherry Butler

Animals Honored On 2009 National Day of Service

pigeonpeace — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:10:16 GMT

Monday, January 19th, ONLINE PEACE MEDITATION FOR ANIMALS!

by Kris Lecakes Haley, Volunteer Editor, Animals & Religion

As part of its, "Renew America" campaign, Michelle Obama, the wife of President-elect Barack Obama, has issued an invitation to the nation to participate in the 2009 National Day of Service on Monday, January 19th.

Mrs. Obama invites all Americans to participate in --- or host --- service-oriented activities of their choice, to commemorate the day. It appears no coincidence that National Day of Service falls upon the commemoration of Martin Luther King Day, honoring a man whose life was his message of service. And it appears that this is just the beginning of a campaign to encourage Americans to begin to incorporate a service-minded model more fully into their activities.

The National Day of Service website can guide you to innumerable exciting opportunities to be of service this Monday. There is one opportunity to participate in an ONLINE PEACE MEDITATION FOR ANIMALS. What better way to be of service than to honor animals?

Remember, even if all you do is stop for a moment, sometime on Monday, and hold the vision for a world of kindness and compassion for animals --- well --- that's the highest level of service of all!

WHAT YOU CAN DO

To learn more about the January 19th National Day of Service, visit: http://www.usaservice.org

To learn more about the ONLINE PEACE MEDITATION FOR ANIMALS, visit: http://www.usaservice.org/page/event/detail/4j4zg

Photo reprinted with permission of PEACEANIMAL http://www.peaceanimal.com

RE: Prayers for placements

marla — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 06:05:35 GMT

Re Could you post that prayer here for all of us?
Thanks marla

RE: Prayers for placements

CookieG — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:12:09 GMT

In one of the televised episodes, there was a prayer that was said over a grave....my husband and I thought it was a wonderful sentiment and would like to have it. Could you please send it to cookiegreenlee@sbcglobal.net?

Many thanks

RE: Animals and the LDS Faith

Alecheim — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 07:47:38 GMT

I am a new member to Best Friends, and just signed the petition. I joined the Church in November of 1991, and even before that I believed that animals had spirits and would be with us in the eternities. Josh, I really appreciate all that you had to say.
Emma

RE: RE: RE: The Souls of Animals

Meeka — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 01:30:25 GMT

Lucky for us that a pastor living and preaching in Kanab can sum up the spiritual importance of animals in three simple words: no eternal value.

Doug Hounshell, a fundamental Baptist minister, placed an advertisement in the November 26, 2008 issue of the Southern Utah News entitled, “What If Vick’s Dogs Were Children Instead?”

In this ad Pastor Hounshell says, “If only Vick had been a doctor killing off unborn babies instead of doggies, he wouldn’t be sitting in the jail right now, but rather living life large off the blood money of the innocent!”

Regarding the time and money spent rescuing Michael Vick’s dogs, Hounshell says, “We need to direct our financial resources from causes with no eternal value to a cause that God values dearly: innocent human life!”

Reverend Hounshell’s advertisement lists his contact information as: Cliffview Chapel Baptist Church; P.O. Box 186, Kanab, Utah 84741; Email: answers@cliffviewchapel.org.

Quote of the Week- Love the animals...

michelle — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:02:27 GMT

Perceive the divine mystery.

“Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love.” ~ Fyodor Dostoyevsky

What you can do:

1. Reach out and show love to those around you and to those lives whom you will touch today.

2. Sign the Proclamation for Religious Compassion.
Click Here

4. Visit the AAR Resources page for ways to become involved for the animals on a greater and deeper spiritual level.
Click Here

3. This week, November 2-8, is National Shelter Appreciation Week. Take time to send a card, make a donation and/or adopt a homeless animal from your local shelter. Click Here

Posted by Michelle Buckalew, Best Friends Multifaith Outreach Program

Faithful Ferals

pigeonpeace — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:01:52 GMT

Learn More About How to Help Churchgoing Cats!

by Kris Haley, Manager of Multifaith Outreach, Best Friends

Lately, we've been receiving a number of emails from many of our Animals & Religion Network Community members telling us about feral cat colonies who have taken up residence at their faith organizations. What to do??? Perhaps these Foraging Felines have figured out where to go to get help. Well, we'll help YOU help those Kindred Kitties!

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Following are some GREAT ideas about what you can do to help feral cats:

1. National Feral Cat Day was October 16th, but you can get a head start by organizing some events in your community right now so that next year, you'll be an amazing resource on Feral Cat Day 2009! Click here for some ideas: Click Here

2. Check out Best Friends Feral Cat Resource Page for more information on how you can make a difference: Click Here

3. Recruit some faithful feral lovers from your faith organization and partner with your local animal shelter to support their efforts. Or consider partnering with them to stage a joint event --- talk to your faith leader and get the OK to invite some frisky feline adoption candidates over after your next service; perhaps they'll find a home with one of your faith organization's members!

4. Join the Best Friends Feral Cat Program and make a difference for the feral cats in your community! Click here for more information:
Click Here

5. Join Best Friends Animals & Religion Network Community and participate in our monthly, online Prayer Circle for the World's Animals...including Feral Cats! Click on the yellow tab on the upper right to JOIN THIS NETWORK COMMUNITY so that you can receive notifications about this and other exciting opportunities!

Join us Thursday, Nov. 6th for Animals & Religion Monthly Animal Grief Support Conference Call with Rev. Dr. Mitzi Lynton

michelle — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:28:07 GMT

from Kris Haley, Best Friends Multifaith Outreach Program Manager

Please join us this Thursday, November 6th for Animals & Religion
Monthly Animal Grief Support Conference Call with Rev. Dr. Mitzi Lynton

If you are grieving over the loss or illness of a beloved animal companion or experiencing grief about the plight of the animals with whom we share the planet, please make plans to join Rev. Dr. Mitzi Lynton this Thursday for this supportive and non-judgmental online grief support meeting.

The call is free and all are welcome --- so please feel free to forward to friends, family and even your faith leaders.

Date: Thursday, November 6, 2008
Please find your time zone so that you won’t miss this very important call!

*3:00 Pacific
*4:00 Mountain
*5:00 Central
*6:00 Eastern

What you can do:

One Easy Step: Dial 1-800-704-9804 AND ENTER: Participant Code: 364772# (don’t forget the ‘pound’ sign # at the end of the participant code!)

NO NEED TO RSVP! Just mark your calendar and join us!

See you there and please use the handy Time Zone converter below for times:
http://www.timezoneconverter.com/cgi-bin/tzc.tzc

Photo: Reverend Dr. Mitzi Lynton

Posted by Michelle Buckalew, Best Friends Multifaith Outreach Program

Quote of the Week---Being Compassionate Toward Animal Life

michelle — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:13:02 GMT

by Rabbi David Rosen, former Chief Rabbi of Ireland

"Being compassionate toward animal life is not just a matter of being responsible for animal life, which we have very clearly laid down in the Torah, expounded by our sages, but is a matter of imbuing ourselves with the right kind of values.

If we are insensitive towards animal life, then we desensitize ourselves as human beings. And therefore a truly sensitive human being, compassionate towards other human beings, should be compassionate towards animals."
~Rabbi David Rosen, former Chief Rabbi of Ireland

What you can do:

1. Visit the AAR Resources page to learn how to become involved with Best Friends Animals and Religion program.
Click Here

2. Consider a diet with more vegetables and less, or better yet, no meat. Visit the ShalomVeg website.
Click Here

Posted by Michelle Buckalew, Best Friends Multifatith Outreach Program

The Quality of Mercy

michelle — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:58:28 GMT

by Bianca Rothschild, World War II concentration camp survivor

Animals have always been part of my life. I love them with a passion. But one special "angel animal" will remain in my heart forever.

I am a lady in my mid-seventies who has an amazing story to tell. It's recorded in my testimony for Steven Spielberg's collection of Holocaust stories. He's recorded testimonies of survivors and liberators and righteous gentiles who, at great risk to themselves, helped people in need during those terrible times.

These stories come from all over the world and bear witness to man's inhumanity to man as well as the capacity for great courage and honor. Another collection of these stories can be found at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. which has exhibits, including a boat from Denmark used by Danes to smuggle people to Sweden from Poland and a cattle wagon like the one which transported me with fellow prisoners to Germany.

Born in Poland, I was a teenager when World War II began. My family always had pets. All of us loved them dearly. When the Nazis forced us to leave our home to be put into prison, we entrusted the animals to friends for safekeeping.

By 1945 I was separated from my family and imprisoned in the Ravensbruck, Germany concentration camp. Starving, dressed in only a flimsy uniform, I had to work in the bitter cold. Every day prisoners at the camp congregated in early morning and waited outside to be counted. One day exhaustion and cold overwhelmed me and I fainted. Although my two friends stood in the long row on either side, they couldn't help me.

When the Nazi soldiers saw me lying on the ground, they took one of their large German shepherd dogs off of his leash, removed the dog's muzzle, and commanded him to attack. As the dog ran toward me, the prisoners looked in horror, fully expecting the animal to rip me apart.

But something miraculous happened in that moment.

When the huge dog reached me, he stopped in his tracks. Then he smelled me. To everyone's amazement, the dog, instead of attacking me, licked my face until I revived.

Everyone in the line stood frozen with fear. The soldier who had sent the dog to kill me looked incredibly puzzled. After a minute, I staggered to my feet. Shocked that the dog had allowed me to live, the soldier called the animal back to him.

Those many years ago, an animal befriended me in an insane world of human hatred. I am alive today because a dog disobeyed the command to destroy me and instead showed compassion. Was it fate? Was he an angel? I will never know. But till today I have never forgotten the dog's act of mercy. For the rest of my life I have done whatever I could to save all living creatures.

About Bianca Rothschild

Bianca is a wife, mother, and grandmother who loves animals, nature, and music. She used to speak before many audiences about her experiences as a concentration camp survivor. The story she shares above shows an angel animal who went beyond training to show wisdom and love.

What you can do:

1. Visit Allen and LInda's wonderful website, Angel Animals, where they share inspirational and spiritual inspiration about animals and people. Their book, Angel Animals: Divine Messengers of Miracles, from where this story is published, can be ordered.
Click Here

2. Sign the Religious Proclamation for Animal Compassion
Click Here

3. Visit the United States Holocaust Museum website.
Click Here

Posted by Michelle Buckalew, Best Friends Multifaith Outreach program

Animals & Religion

ONLINE VIGIL FOR CAYUGA HEIGHTS DEER --- MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21st

LAST CHANCE FOR CAYUGA HEIGHTS DEER!

Cayuga Heights Deer - UPDATE!

BE A PRAYERFUL VOICE FOR THE CAYUGA HEIGHTS DEER --- PEACE MEDITATION VIGIL PLANNED THIS WEEK

More Than Swallows Fly in Capistrano --- A Fledgling Animal Kinship Minstry Takes Flight!

Resources

WORLD PEACE DIET *FREE* TELECONFERENCE

California Animals & Religion Conference a Success!!

"DO UNTO OTHERS" --- A Conference on Animals & Religion

FREE PUBLIC RELATIONS TELECLASS!

Animals Honored On 2009 National Day of Service

RE: Prayers for placements

RE: Prayers for placements

RE: Animals and the LDS Faith

RE: RE: RE: The Souls of Animals

Quote of the Week- Love the animals...

Faithful Ferals

Join us Thursday, Nov. 6th for Animals & Religion Monthly Animal Grief Support Conference Call with Rev. Dr. Mitzi Lynton

Quote of the Week---Being Compassionate Toward Animal Life

The Quality of Mercy

WORLD PEACE DIET FREE TELECONFERENCE