PETA- People for the ethical treatment of animals

Neolia is one of the brands that washes and moisturizes, and does not test on animals > http://www.neolia.com/values .

more details > here .

WSPA Canada’s newly launched report What’s On Your Plate? The Hidden Costs of Industrial Animal Agriculture in Canada is revealing the frightening truth about factory farming to Canadians. This week’s coverage in the National Post (and many other newspapers) is pushing this important issue to the forefront of everyone’s minds, including our law makers. But we need [...]

Ban All Animal-Tested Cosmetics in the EU! overview letter Target: European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek Sponsored by: Care2.com In 2009, the European Union pledged to ban the sale of all new animal-tested cosmetics in the EU by 2013. Three animal tests are still allowed until that deadline, including: - repeat dose toxicity, in which rabbits or rats eat, [...]

Read more : >  Rabbit fever: some celebrate the Chinese New Year by buying bunnies, others by eating them . > Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit . > Chinese girl sitting on rabbit (it’s time for China to start acting on animal abuse)

I've been considering the theory that a "known history of aggression" as applied to one creature is a basis for elimination.

These numbers from 2004 are a little outdated, but I doubt they've declined significantly since.
Number of murders 16,137
Number of forcible rapes 94,635
Number of robbery 401,326
Number of aggravated assaults 854,911

Perhaps we should ban humans, as they seem to have a known history of aggression. Should we ban them all or just certain ones? I could go deeper and narrow it down to number of male perpetrators and see if that defines them as being significantly more aggressive overall setting them apart. Or by race? Or creed? Or color? What is the word for that? When we persecute one group based on genetics?

Or wait, do we only execute those proven guilty, with unreasonable doubt, convicted and sentenced to capital punishment?

So when do you shoot the dog? How does all this tie together? It's unfortunate that a police officer felt so alone and in danger that he opted to dispatch 2 dogs (although one survived) with a shotgun. Would he have felt that danger facing any other dog than a 'pit bull'? How about a GSD? Or lab? Or Shih Tzu?

You can argue the power, and "history of aggression", in Pit Bulls. We as humans have those same traits. Power, aggression, indiscretion. Police regularly face those elements in humans as part of their job. They are trained to deal with it, be prepared for it, diffuse it, resort to deadly force only in the last possible moments. They even have the advantage in that humans speak the same languages, and have higher functioning thoughts process. Yet still, officers may have to kill another human to save their own life. No officer wants to discharge their weapon in the line of duty. It is the last resort.

Would it be unreasonable to offer training, mandate it even, for all officers in how to recognize dog signaling? How to approach a cornered dog, or dog reaching an aggressive state? Would we not want to offer that level of protection to our police that may face aggressive animals in their duties?

Dogs and humans do not speak the same language. "Freeze!" means nothing to a dog. "Stop! Police!" means nothing to a dog. The spoken word will no more protect that animal, officer, or bystander in an emotionally charged moment.

Do I fault the officer for shooting the dog? No.

If he really believes he was in imminent danger, really believes he could not wait out the animal, not subdue it, not coax it, not protect himself or the public with out shooting that dog, then I can't fault him. I weren't there. He was.

Was he pre programmed to fire sooner because of the look of the animal? Or a personal unfavorable history with dogs? I don't know. He does.

It is he who goes to bed tonight knowing he fired upon, and killed a living thing. A living thing that yesterday had a multi species family that may have loved and cared for it. A living thing that did not understand why it was being chased. A living thing that did not know it was committing a crime. A living thing that did not know it was about to die. I don't have to live with that. He will.

It is about the breed. It's also about education. It's about time we made sure both make the news and that's when we make a difference.

Double HP Horse Rescue out of Crooks, SD is hosting their charity rummage sale this week. August 28th & 29th you can stop at 2517 S. Main in Sioux Falls, check out some bargains and support the rescue. Also available at the sale are copies of the 2010 Unbridled Beauties calendar. Buy 2 get 1 free!

Also mark your calendars, in early October the rescue is hosting a horse clinic with speaker Kinsey Risty. I will keep you posted as more info comes available on this event.

Please help get the word out! Print the above poster and share with your family and friends.

August 26th is National Dog Day! How are you going to celebrate the bond you have with your dog this year?

Get the whole family involved! Kids can show their love of their dogs with artistic expressions from Crayola.

Mom and Dad this is a great day to call your local veterinarian and schedule a fall check up. Make sure they are current on shots, talk to your vet about the right fall/winter diet for your dogs age & activity level.

The entire family can enjoy a walk in the park, and adults can take dogs to the dog park for a day of play with other canine friends.

This is also a great time to give your dog a spa day! Find a trusted groomer in your area & have your pet bathed, cut, brushed, and dressed to the nines. Ask your groomer to care for your pets teeth & nails, and have them ready for the season change.

The best thing about National Dog Day is that you can celebrate it right on your couch if you'd like. Your canine companion just wants to be with you, any where, any time. For them it's National Owner Day all year long!

We need a voice for change in South Dakota. We need you to speak up now, and encourage our state legislators to make animal cruelty a felony in South Dakota.

Will I show you pictures of wounded animals to make the case? Tell stories of the dogs or cats that didn't make it? No, I will let the stories of people like:

Patrick Sherrill, Earl Kenneth Shriner, Brenda Spencer, Carroll Edward Cole make the case. Who are they? Much like Jeffrey Dahmer and Albert DeSalvo they are known rapists or murderers who had began with animal victims before escalating to human victims.

Even kids like Kip Kinkel, Luke Woodham, Eric Harris & Dylan Klebold had histories of animal violence. They went on to shoot and kill their classmates in school shooting sprees.

The time is now to bring a change in South Dakota. We need to encourage harsher penalties for offenders against animals. Their actions against voiceless victims may be an indicator of their capability for violence. We must stop them now, and treat them as the threat they are.

Please contact your district Senators and Representatives now. Ask them to consider making animal cruelty a felony in South Dakota in 2010. To find out who and how to contact them visit:

http://legis.state.sd.us/who/index.aspx