Most Humane City in America

San Francisco is America's most humane city, according to a study released by The Humane Society of the United States. The HSUS ranked the 25 largest metropolitan areas according to criteria such as the number of vegetarian restaurants per capita and Congressional leadership on animal issues. Seattle came in second and Washington D.C. rounds out the top three.

New York ranks 12th out of 25 Humane Index cities.
* Despite its top-tier ranks for electing humane lawmakers (#2) and shunning puppy mill cruelty (#2), New York is dragged down by having more fur retailers -- by a long shot -- than any other city in America (#25).
* New York’s award-winning media (#25) could help out by deeming more animal issues fit to print.

Find out the rank of your city and what you can do to improve its rating.

Dalai Lama on Mahatma Gandhi; Ahimsa

I just read a Newsweek article by Dalai Lama on the value of pilgrimages.

He mentions a visit to a spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated and that he felt sad that he did not get to meet Gandhi.

The new term I learned from the article is Ahimsa - doctrine of nonviolence. I googled it and according to wikipedia "it is an important part of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism, first appearing within the Hindu scriptures called the Upanishads, the oldest of which date to about 800 BCE." Once again it made me wonder why such a wonderful concept is taking such a long time to spread. On the other hand, maybe it is just another reminder, that change has to start with me.

Shepherd Mix Lucy Needs Home

Lucy, a beautiful Shepherd Mix needs to find a loving, forever home.

Lucy’s person is seriously ill and can no longer care for her beloved pet. This sweet girl is accustomed to apartment life in the Big City. She doesn’t mind if her new person works during the day. Lucy is content to hanging around home while her person is out. She would be a great companion for a working person or a retired person, or someone who just wants to share their love and hugs with a dog who needs a new, forever friend.

Lucy is a healthy 10-year-old who doesn’t demand a lot, but she gives so much. She is very affectionate with people, and gets along well with cats and small dogs.

Lucy is currenlty located in NYC area.

Gorgeous and Jimmy Need Home

From Best Friends Animal Society:

Liz contacted us about Jimmy & Gorgeous who were adopted by an elderly woman who passed away last year. Her roommate, Colin has been living in her rent controlled apartment since then but he is being forced to leave and he cannot take the cats with him. So Jimmy and Gorgeous need a good home or homes now!

Jimmy, a ‘big red’ shorthair tabby, was adopted as a kitten. He is 11 years old & in very good health. He is very much the ‘alpha’ male, loves attention & will get in your face for it in a very sweet way.

Gorgeous, a beautiful tortoiseshell shorthair, was adopted around the age of 1, she was taken out of an abusive situation & is a little shy at first but responds to affection with the same. She is 8 years old & also in good health.

Since they’ve lived their entire lives together, it would be wonderful to keep them together if possible. What’s most important is that they find good forever homes soon. If Gorgeous and Jimmy are the cat companions of your dreams, please contact call Colin at 212-252-2321or email Liz at braneded@hotmail.com .

You can also help Jimmy and Gorgeous by passing on this message and flyer and asking your personal contacts to forward it and post the flyers wherever they can. We appreciate your good wishes and anything you can do for these two so that they can once again be someone’s beloved companions.

Good news!

Couple of weeks ago I've read about the 10-year-old shepherd mix Merlin and how unhappy he was living with his current caregivers after his original owner died of cancer. Some members of the family could not stand him and wanted him to be an outside dog which was very hard on him as he is very social.

Best Friends Animal Society sent out an e-mail asking to help Merlin find better home and apparently they were overwhelmed with offers to help! Merlin will be with a couple in Delaware who had recently lost their 14-year-old dog. Their 8-year-old dog has been very lonely ever since, and they felt that Merlin would make a good companion for all of them. I hope that Merlin would get extra love and care for the six years that he spent with somebody who did not really want him.

Rocky needs a good home.

Rocky was found in the Kingsbridge area of the Bronx, just below Van Cortlandt Park. He's got a classic Boxer face and is about 10 months old. He is at Animal Care & Control shelter (kill shelter) - please help find home for him.

Recycled Envelopes - Where Are You?

Envelopes is something that I throw away (into recycling pile) within seconds of getting my mail. It makes perfect sense for product with such a short life span to be made out of recycled paper.

I am now on a mission to buy recycled envelopes in NYC (buying online is not very environmentally friendly). Who knew it would be so hard? I bet there is a tiny stationary store somewhere that carries them but I am having trouble pinpointing where to go exactly.

Staples store I went to does not have any in stock and only has a box of 500 online - it would take me three lifetimes to use that up.

Office Depot has Ampad EnviroTech kind, but online only.

These Hemp Heritage Envelopes would do (tree free!), but I can't get info on who carries them in NYC.

I will stop by at indie stores I know tomorrow and see if they carry such a thing.

Here is an interesting blog on related subject - finding recycled notebooks.

Satya Magazine

I just learned that Satya Magazine is not going to be published anymore. I read my first issue this year and was considering subscribing. How sad - it's been around for 13 years. Does anybody know of a magazine similar to Satya in content?

Perfect city dog

Wolfgang comes from Queens. He lost his home when his previous owner died. He's living with a foster family, but he'd like to find something more permanent. Wolfgang is gentle, quiet, and friendly. He's a nice compact size. In sum, a classic city dog.

3 Cats in Bergen County, New Jersey

A home is needed for three cats who are "'tweeners" - a little too feral to be friendly house cats and a little too friendly to be relocated to another colony. The cats can no longer live at their colony because the business owner's lease is expiring and the landlord does not want anyone feeding cats on the property.

It would be helpful if James, Jake and Pastel could end up in the same household or placement as they have been colony mates for some time. Staying together will minimize the stress of their transition. All of them need a stable home without excitable children or other animals. They would be great cats for a family who would have the patience to let them become friendly on their own terms.

Keep fighting for those who can’t

I was reading Feb 07 issue of Satya magazine today and "In Memoriam" article about Virgil Butler really inspired me, especially these words he quoted in his blog:

"Keep fighting for those who can’t and don’t ever—ever—give up!

Might does not make right.

Love and light do.

One tiny candle conquers a whole LOT of darkness...

Keep on lighting them, folks.

I will, too."

Sometime I wonder if my tiny efforts are worth anything in this universe, but his words give me another reason to keep on speaking out and reason to try to become an example to others as Gandhi said: "We must become a change we wish to see in the world."

Virgil worked for years on the kill floor of a Tyson slaughterhouse in Arkansas, but had a profound change of heart, and subsequently dedicated his life to educating others about the horrors of factory farming.

Save Pit Bull Duke from death row! Urgent action needed!

Duke’s story gave me goose bumps. The pit bull was accused of biting a dog and a horse three years ago and is going to be put to sleep. I was shocked to find out that there is such law in New York – euthanasia for dog biting another dog.

In some ways, legal experts say, Duke represents a new class of death-row dog. New York is among a dozen states that have changed laws over the past 10 years to make it possible to seize dogs from their owners and order them euthanized for biting other dogs.

Ledy VanKavage, director of legislation for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said the stricter provisions reflected several factors: the rising numbers of pet dogs in American households, a growing concern about highly publicized vicious dog cases, and what she called the “evolving human-animal bond.”

“The thinking goes: ‘My dog is a member of my family. If you attack my dog, you are attacking my family,’ ” she said.

But Ms. VanKavage said this was flawed logic, noting, “Dogs are predators, after all.”

Duke has his last chance in court this month. Please write letters in his support.

Here is my letter to Appellate Division:

Good afternoon,

I am writing in support of Duke and the Appellant Denise Menendez.

I just learned about Duke’s trial from news stories. I was shocked to hear about existence of law that would order animal be put to sleep for biting another animal. Have you ever seen dogs playing in the dog run? Bites happen all the time – that’s what dogs do – they play bite and bite if they feel threatened.

Now, I can’t say who is right or wrong in this particular case. Could Duke’s owners have been a bit more careful or do they have a neighbor that dislikes them so much that they would find pleasure in this punishment, one can’t tell without actually witnessing the incidents, but to punish Duke so severely seems way to harsh.

As an owner of adopted dog who does not get along with other dogs at all, I would love my dog to be given a second chance in similar situation. We are really careful about her not getting near dogs, but we can not control everything (like dogs being off leash when they are supposed to be on) and accidents happen, and as long as they are not serious, I hope to find understanding and compassion from dog owners.

I did blog search about the case and was happy to find http://titanicbugle.blogspot.com blogged about this also.

Pointer mix needs a good home

6 month old male pointer mix Sasha needs a home. He is at NYC Animal Care & Control Shelter (kill shelter). Please spread the word so this puppy gets adopted asap.

Animal Program Funding Is Saved

ASPCA reports:

The New York legislature restored funding to two crucial animal welfare programs during last-minute negotiations to finalize a state budget by the April 1 deadline. The budget now awaits Governor Spitzer’s signature!

- The Senate and Assembly agreed to restore $150,000 to the Animal Population Control Program, which provides low-cost spay/neuter services to low-income New York pet owners and to state residents who adopt their pets from shelters and humane societies.

- Both houses also agreed to restore $100,000 to the pet dealer licensing program, which oversees licensing and inspection of pet stores and “backyard breeders” in New York State.

Governor Spitzer’s proposed budget would have diverted these funds to instead pay the salaries and fringe benefits of state employees.

Council Member Rosie Mendez

I am happy to report that I live in a district represented by council member Rosie Mendez! I e-mailed to thank her for introducing the bill that would ban circus animals from NYC (see previous post).

Other cool things she stands for according to her e-mail newsletter:

"On March 30 Rosie joined civil liberties activists and cyclists at the first Critical Mass ride since the NYPD’s new parade permit rules went into affect on February 25. Under the new parade permit rules, groups of 50 or more law-abiding citizens need police permission to ride or walk together on the public streets. The rules affect gatherings of pedestrians, vehicles, and cyclists alike, including gatherings in the parks. At the press conference before the ride, the Councilwoman proclaimed, "I ride tonight in Critical Mass not just to promote alternative modes of transportation, but more so because it is my constitutional right to participate and assemble in this manner. To criminalize the behavior of individuals assembling in groups over 50 is arbitrary and unconstitutional, and I vow to fight the NYPD's published rules, and to introduce a bill that would protect our right to assemble.” Rosie rode in a pedicab to demonstrate her support for this environmentally friendly method of transportation."

And how about this? I was actually considering going to Saigon Grill on Union Square...

The delivery workers at Saigon Grill need your support. The owners of the restaurant, which operates on the Upper West Side in addition to its store at Union Square, allegedly fired those workers who were trying to organize in protest against unfair wages, unsafe conditions and constant abuse and harassment at the hands of their employer. The fired workers claim the owners paid them as little as $1.60 per hour and demanded that they sign contracts saying they were being paid minimum wage. Those who refused to sign were fired. The workers also allege that their employer would fine them for minor infractions on the job, including for taking time off when they were sick. Show your support by emailing the owners at info@saigongrill.com or by calling their restaurants at 212-875-9072 (Upper West Side) or 212-982-3691 (Union Square)

Coming soon, I will tell you about somebody I am not so proud of: council speaker Christine Quinn.