Animal cruelty and abandonment are both detestable and punishable

All 50 U.S. states have laws against animal cruelty, which typically include provisions against animal abandonment and neglect. The detestable part goes without saying. If you caught someone being cruel to an animal, animal lover or not, you would most likely step in and do something. Should you see someone abandon an animal, most of us would contact authorities to rescue the discarded pet. Some of us would do the usual check for ownership and, if none, get a vet checkup and take the animal home. It depends.

The Iditarod is an example of cruelty to dogs, defined as an annual sled dog race in Alaska, also known as the "Last Great Race," which takes place on the Iditarod Trail, a historic trail system connecting towns in inland Alaska. This is what PITA says about the race...

"As many as half of the dogs forced to run the Iditarod will never finish the grueling 1,000-mile race—succumbing to exhaustion, illness, or injury as they are forced to pull heavy sleds through treacherous terrain in freezing temperatures. Some dogs won’t make it back alive."

Another kind of animal cruelty is dog fighting...

In all states, it is against the law (and often a felony) even to attend a dog fighting

 

event, regardless of direct participation. According to authorities, dog fighting is increasingly practiced by gangs, and is linked to other unlawful activities, such as illegal gambling.

These are probably the most serious cases of animal cruelty, along with cockfighting. This "sport"  is illegal in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. territories. It is also a federal crime. More facts...

• 40 states and the District of Columbia have made cockfighting a felony
• 43 states and the District of Columbia prohibit being a spectator at cockfights
•  20 states prohibit the possession of cockfighting paraphernalia

The above is to illustrate that laws are in place to protect animals. The question is, in just how many instances do authorities act? And also, on how many occasions does the cruelty occur in a secluded environment, as an example, the owner ...

• Keeps the animal on a chain, unable to exercise, often in freezing weather
• Doesn't feed the animal to the point of starvation
• Physically/mentally abuses the animal

And then there is abandonment, an act that can be as bad as the worst cruelty. Here are the stark facts...

Each year, 6.5 million dogs, cats, and other former pets are abandoned or lost in the U.S. and end up in shelters. Out of these, only 3.2 million are adopted, and many return to shelters within a year of being rehomed.

This story is from the Calhoun County Animal Center in Michigan that discovered a 16-week-old puppy dumped at the facility in freezing and snowy conditions on the morning of February 19. From CCTV footage, the driver stops in front of the animal center, dumps the dog out and takes off. Tiger was taken into the center and quickly found his forever home. Fortunately authorities were able to locate the abandoner and charges were filed. You can read the article here.

Red, the cat was 12-years-old, a husky orange tabby found walking the streets by a woman

named Alex. She could tell he wasn't just another stray so she took him to a vet and from a chip found his former owner. When Alex contacted the person, she learned they had moved and didn't want the cat anymore. She stepped up to the situation and decided to adopt Red. He shares the house--in a separate bedroom until his health is cleared by the vet--with the family's other cat and a dog and is getting along just great. Read the article here.

According to a surveillance video, this time in Surprise, AZ, a dog was pushed out of the back seat of a vehicle on a dead-end street, when someone is actually heard saying, "Bye-bye." The back door of the car is closed and it speeds off. The dog was taken in by a neighbor and was found to be malnourished. Having a video of the car with its license plate clearly visible, the Surprise Police Department is now looking for the person responsible for abandoning the dog. Read the article here.

We had a stray orange, tabby, male come to our door in California. After checking the best we could in those days, we brought Thoreau--named that because he was so laid back-- in with our other cats. Thoreau befriended everyone, knew no stranger, and was a real calming member of our household. Unfortunately, Thoreau caught feline immunodeficiency virus from a cat brought into our house by a pet sitter. Since then we have taken in more strays since they seem to be attracted to my wife.

I did a post back in February of 2022, People Have More Humanity Toward Animals Today I believe that even more so today when I see the stories on the Internet about every kind of animal you can imagine being rescued by good people. These good samaritans are to be lauded, but as you can see, above, there is still work to be done. I have chosen a selection of my posts on animals over the years you can read here. In the meantime, love and care for your pet like a member of the household. He or she will love you for it.

Have you noticed? People are much kinder to animals lately...

HOORAY! Yes, you can see it all over the Internet with many of the posts reflecting some great incident where an animal is rescued and ends up finding his or her forever home. But, approximately 7.6 million companion animals are given to animal shelters nationwide every year, according to PangoVet. Did you know that only one out of 10 dogs born finds a permanent home? And, 75% of the animals euthanized in California shelters are cats. These are two dismal statistics that point out the plight of animal advocates. More bad news...

In the U.S., 20 percent of cats and dogs are homeless; there are 5.9 million dogs living in the streets, 2.3 million dogs in shelters, 35 million cats living on the street, and 2.1 million cats in shelters.

A National Pet Owners Survey reports that about 86.9 million U.S. households, or 66% of households, own a pet. This is an increase from 56% in 1988. I'm not saying it should be 100%, but my guess is there are several million homes out there that could take in a new family member from their local animal rescue and give it the forever home it deserves. My wife and I have saved eleven rescues (cats) since we got married. We are convinced, a home without an animal is a home that is not complete.

Now here's the good news of some successful rescues, compliments of PETA...

PETA fieldworkers found Henrietta and six other chickens imprisoned in a cluttered pen belonging to a woman who was moving away but hadn’t made plans for placing them in new homes. PETA took the chickens to a sanctuary, where they enjoy roaming a large meadow and taking dust baths.

PETA volunteers found Blue locked inside a crate outdoors along with the remains of another dog named Dynasty, who had a shattered pelvis and had been starved to death. Blue was malnourished, and his white paws were stained yellow from having to stand in his own urine. He was adopted into a loving home, and his former owner was sentenced to one year in prison for cruelty to animals and was prohibited from owning animals for three years.

Valediction was a horse who had been run on bad legs and was injured during a race. PETA supporter Sam Simon purchased Valediction, and PETA arranged for him to be sent to a beautiful farm in Virginia owned by other PETA supporters. Valediction is now enjoying retirement, and he will never be forced to race for his life again.

Bubbles, Brandi, and Marshall were among about 30 special-needs cats and nearly 50 dogs who were evacuated from severely crowded Gulf-area shelters in the wake of the BP oil spill. Brandi, who had recently given birth to a litter of kittens, was nearly bald from stress and flea allergies. Marshall was missing most of a hind leg and half of his tail. Bubbles was neurotic and jumped at every noise. The three felines are now beloved residents of PETA’s Norfolk, Virginia, headquarters.

After a long and hard-fought battle by PETA, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and concerned citizens, Ben [a bear] was rescued from Jambbas Ranch Tours, an abysmal North Carolina roadside zoo, where he spent six long years locked away in a cage similar to a dog kennel, deprived of even the most basic necessities. Today, Ben is living out his days at the Performing Animal Welfare Society.

Despite the cruelties that prevail, leading up to some of these rescues, we like to hope the outcomes usually result in a forever home for the animal. The term 'good samaritan' is seen regularly in the rescue of animals these days and is the basis for my headline, 'People are much kinder to animals lately. They often come out of nowhere, and provide the help needed to save an animal's life. Right on, folks! We thank you for your efforts and please keep up the good work.

I urge you to look at the PETA site with 35 inspiring rescue stories, including the above,

The two sides to life and living

Maybe you haven't noticed, because of all the hostility in today's politics and this country in general, but there are many good things going on out there that prove we aren't ready yet to throw in the towel. My wife and I were discussing this at dinner last night and it made sense for me to share. Here's an example from Twitter re. the Los Angeles fires...

Los Angeles is a beautiful town filled with generous people and wonderful public servants. The way people came together to help each other over the last few days. With humor, grace and generosity. The way our brave firefighters and police officers risked their lives selflessly despite unfair criticism. We have each others backs and we will rebuild.

And here are some graphics that illustrate compassion between humans is not dead...

 

 

And the most amazing change over the years, people helping animals, supplanting much of the cruelty with good deeds: https://www.facebook.com/Strecci/videos/animals-asking-for-help-from-humans/9630244330320459/

And not to be outdone, animals do help other animals in ways that confirm just how smart they are with the ability to reason: 

A lot of the people in this country deserve better than they have been given in the last several years. It is both unfortunate and appalling to have to say, but the major portion of the responsibility for a divisive United States is with the Republican Party. Look who they just elected to the White House, to prove my point. Look at the GOP lunatics in Congress whose only agenda is self-adornment. And look at the recent suck-ups to Donald Trump from the corporate world and U.S. Congress. It is all pathetic but the current positivity is still conclusive.

There are two sides to life and living and my wife and I definitely prefer the good life.

Jennifer Aniston helps save animals in Los Angeles fires

Jennifer Aniston with her rescue, Lord Chesterfield

Jennifer Aniston, of course, isn't on the scene physically fighting the fires in the L.A. metro area, but she is doing her part behind the scenes urging people to be aware of and help when they can any animal threatened in the ongoing inferno. The Southern California holocaust has been described as the "'most destructive' blazes in modern US history," by Sky News. I lived in L.A. for several years and remember a constant threat caused in part by the Santa Ana winds, which returned this past Saturday.

Here's the scenario...

"The Friends alum joined the wave of celebrities sending thoughts and prayers to those affected by the Palisades Fire, which began tearing through Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Many actors and actresses have been directly impacted by the fires as they faced evacuations and watched their homes burn."

And here's the perspective from Vox...

It’s not just human lives and homes that have been taken and are still at risk. A reporter and a photographer helped a Pasadena woman rescue her chickens from her burning home. Another journalist interviewed two residents evacuating with their horses while surrounded by flames. On social media, people have posted videos of animals like dogs and deer wandering alone amid the fires, confused and distressed.

 Here are the facts, also from Vox...

"In just four days, blazing wildfires across Los Angeles neighborhoods have put 150,000 residents under evacuation orders, burned over 30,000 acres, destroyed more than 10,000 structures, and, as of Thursday, killed 10 (now 11) people. Experts say it may be the costliest wildfire in US history. The fires are still ongoing, and the toll of destruction is still far from a final tally."

From High Country News, "Wildlife biologist Miguel Ordeñana explains how blazes push animals into the unknown." The piece continues...

"A family of deer gather around burned trees from the Palisades Fire at Will Rogers State Park on January 9, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California."

There's more...

"NBC LA coverage showed a fawn with singed fur running down the middle of a deserted street in Altadena with no doe in sight as the Eaton Fire burned. Later that night, camera crews from ABC 7 spotted a mountain lion and two cubs running across Topanga Canyon Boulevard away from the Palisades Fire."

 Ordeñana added...

"Bobcats, cougars, coyotes, birds, bats and more all live in the region. Slow-moving creatures like snails and salamanders, wildlife that require specific habitats, nocturnal critters forced to move during the daytime, and animals with young are some of the most vulnerable."

Jennifer Aniston's new childrens book

The latest on Sunday morning shows at least 16 deaths plus more than 10,000 structures either damaged or destroyed. Hollywood celebs like Billy Crystal, Jeff Bridges, Mandy Moore, Anthony Hopkins and John Goodman have either lost their homes or have had fire damage. Sunday afternoon the Santa Anas were expected to strengthen, which everyone who has lived in L.A. knows could spell more disaster. So far, evacuation orders are in place for 105,000 L.A. residents, and 87,000 are in evacuation warning zones.

The largest blaze, the Palisades Fire, has expanded as it moves east and threatens Brentwood, Encino and Westwood. It is only 11% contained. Four wildfires continue to burn, with the Palisades and Eaton blazes still lowly contained. The Santa Anas are expected to be around for several days and that will certainly interfere with firefighters. In case you're interested, here's an explanation of the Santa Anas...

"The Santa Ana winds occur when there is high pressure to the east, in the Great Basin, and a low-pressure system off the coast. Air masses move from high pressure to low pressure, and the more extreme the difference in the pressure, the faster the winds blow."

This churning effect is what makes the winds so dangerous and what has been instrumental in this disaster striking Los Angeles. The fact that it could even get worse is terrifying. As Jennifer Aniston pleads, please keep your eyes open for animals in distress. 

 

 

 

Animal lovers ALERT!

6.3 million domestic animals enter shelters in the United States each year, with 3.1 million being dogs and 3.2 million being cats. 4.1 million animals are adopted from shelters each year, with 2 million being dogs and 2.1 million being cats. But, here's the tragedy...920,000 animals are euthanized each year, with 390,000 being dogs and 530,000 being cats. There were 132,216,000 U.S. households in 2024, 66% of which, or about 86.9 million families, own a pet. Folks, there's room for a lot more.

Abandonment is one of the cruelest of all animal issues, with actual abuse cruelty being the worst. How many times have you seen a stray cat or dog walking the streets and wondered where they came from? Sure, there is birthing going on in the wild, but millions of pets are turned out to survive on their own and, because they have been domesticated with care, it is sometime impossible for them to endure in this way. They end up as prey for larger animals or they starve to death of die from the elements. 

I have collected several examples of animals who have fallen on hard times...

An elderly deaf dog was chained to a fence in Asbury Park, New Jersey, earlier this week and left to freeze, officials said. The dog, who also suffers from arthritis, was "frozen half to death" in the 20-degree temperatures when a good Samaritan called the Monmouth County SPCA's cruelty hotline and officers were able to rescue him, MCSPCA said.

Jaina and Ivy, dedicated rescuers from Cats of San Bernardino, CA, stumbled upon an unusual sight while grabbing coffee. There, at the Starbucks entrance, was a small dog tied up with a sweatshirt knotted around her collar. Terrified and shaking, she was all alone, abandoned by those who should have cared for her. Jaina and Ivy, known for their work with cats, felt an instant pull to help this sweet dog in her moment of need.

Julie Saraceno's video showcasing shelter dogs at the Benton Franklin Humane Society in Washington picking their own Christmas gifts is nothing short of adorable. One now-viral clip, however, highlights one loving shelter pup named Finn who is in desperate need of a home.

Dog Spends 13 Years Waiting for a Home Before Meeting an Adopter Who Wants to Be His 'Best Friend.' Vito was in a shelter looking for a home before moving to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. A man with experience caring for wolves adopted Vito this year and now travels regularly with the dog.

At the West LA Animal Shelter, staff and volunteers are heartbroken for one of their canine residents — Monty, a 3-year-old large mixed breed. Ever since Monty arrived at the shelter back in December 2023, he’s been nothing but a spectator of other dogs’ happy endings. Monty has watched — and continues to watch — other dogs that came after him go home with their new families, while he remains unchosen. He’s so far not gotten a single adoption application, and the reason is soul-crashing: potential adopters consider him “too big.”

A dog who was abandoned and left to fend for herself is facing a third straight Christmas without a home to call her own. n some way, Indigo is lucky to be alive. A spokesperson for Kiss My Paws, the non-profit dog rescue located in Las Vegas, Nevada, that first shone a light on Indigo's situation, told Newsweek she was "found in a park across the street from an apartment community." "They did some digging and ended up finding out what apartment and the people had either moved or got evicted and left her behind. She had been there several weeks."

Hearts have broken for a shelter dog who has completely shut down from the world around him. Ollie, found as a stray and brought to a shelter in Madera, California, where thanks to overcrowding, "shelter dogs are not promised tomorrow." In a video to her TikTok account @crittersandcrystals on December 18, which has over 277,000 views, Ollie lies on a concrete floor, ignoring a bed with a blanket, and looks utterly depressed, as Helga described it as "the reality of a dog who knows they lost everything."

Blackjack leaves a hard life on the streets

Stray Cats

Estimates  range from 60 to 80 million stray cats on U.S.streets. They aren't all feral, many have been abandoned by their owner/parents, some 3.3 million each year just in this country. On the human side, there are 653,104 people experiencing homelessness on a single night, and in some cases they curl up with their pets under whatever protection they can find. It is a tragedy and in America, of all the countries in the world, it should not be happening. This piece is about Blackjack who had been on the streets for seven years, 45 in human years.

Blackjack was a black cat who had experienced lots of hard knocks, spending most of his life roaming the streets, until a young woman took him into her home. He thought he had hit the pot of gold, but it turned out to be a hoarding situation. With no help, Blackjack's health worsened and he began to regress. Knowing about the hoarding, volunteers came in and rescued the big black guy, and just in time. Here's the scenario...

"When they found Blackjack, he couldn't open his eyes. He was brought to us in Montreal in poor condition, covered in filth with his nose and eyes blocked due to an infection, Chatons Orphelins Montreal shared. He was treated for an upper respiratory infection and spent most of his time resting and healing."

Still, he wolfed down the food he was given. Somewhat withdrawn, when he did begin to recuperate, his foster family noticed a limp. Back to the vet with this scenario...

"Though he'd recovered from his cold, his eyes remained painful and closed due to entropion, which caused his eyelids to roll inward. Additionally, he had multiple infected teeth that needed to be extracted."

With the help of the Montreal community, Blackjack got all the help he needed, but after his years of struggling, he still couldn't trust people. However, the bunch from Chatons Orphelins Montreal wouldn't give up and even with his damaged leg, he began to play with the other cats. Then they discovered Blackjack was deaf, but apparently this didn't affect his lifestyle in the least. The rescue staff says he has come out of his shell and "has blossomed into a stunning house panther with a fluffy coat."

This is just one story of what must be millions when it comes to the stray domestic animals in this country. PLEASE support your local animal rescue, and PLEASE give all you can in donations to your favorite animal causes. You'll be glad you did.

JOE BIDEN: It's time to fish or cut bait

 

Bden Trump 2024 Debate

To begin with, there is no amount of political strategy that will take away the impressions garnered by those who saw Joe Biden's performance in last Thursday's debate with Donald Trump. In one case it was described as "dead man walking." It is said he had a cold, begging the question, could they have delayed the debate until he was better? Like the next day at Biden's North Carolina rally where the media described him as "energetic," "Jacked up," "re-energized." Still, Joe Biden is a gentleman politician with a fifty-year record as an outstanding statesman. So what does he do?

Since the first lady is his closest and most listened to adviser, and the fact that she praised the President's performance saying, "You did such a great job," negated her opportunity to be honest with her husband, having a realistic conversation with him about what had just happened. The Daily Beast says, "Jill Biden Must Step Up Now to Help Oust Her Husband." Think the word "oust' is a bit harsh, but it is the general feeling of the national and local media across the country that Joe Biden must go. There is an enormous amount at stake and Jill Biden plus his staff must make the President realize this.

Yes, 'it's the cognition stupid,' a line customized often as here, coined by James Carville in 1992 originally as "It's the economy stupid," for Bill Clinton's campaign. The word, cognition, has been around a long time but was brought back forcefully with The Washington Post describing Donald Trump...

"bragged about purportedly acing a widely used cognitive test that was administered to him when he was president, suggesting that the test included identifying drawings of three animals."

When in fact...

"The creator of the test in question, called the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, or MoCA, said it has never included the specific combination of animals described by Trump in any of its versions over the years."

But, of course, this could have been just another of Trump's lies; however, the media chose the more

seductive reason that he was having trouble with cognition. It is a buzz word now that comes up almost daily to describe either of the two men, so often repeated but is completely overlooked or denied by Trump supporters. The fact that Trump saw animals in the cognitive test sounds almost delusional and probably should be analyzed by a psychologist. And back to Joe Biden, Slate put it succinctly...

"The president got absolutely lost during Thursday night’s debate while attempting to make a point about … something, possibly Medicare enrollment, and it looked terrible."

The Financial Times says, "It is not too late for Joe Biden to go," an opinion by Edward Luce, who comments...

"The best that can be said of Joe Biden’s stumbling debate performance was that it took place in June. If he were pressed to step down as nominee there would still be two months to go before the Democratic convention. For Biden’s loyalists, who have always moved swiftly to shut down any hint of dissent about his candidacy, Thursday night was a moment of truth."

ABC News reported, "Biden addresses poor debate performance, attacks Trump at Raleigh rally," saying that...

"A senior campaign aide told ABC News that the president is "absolutely" not considering dropping out of the race after stumbling with answers and is committed to a second debate."

"The crowd constantly shouted, "Four more years," during the event which also included remarks from first lady Jill Biden."

These are the major considerations in Joe Biden's current predicament, and we're still experiencing the fallout. In post-debate comments, Donald Trump called President Biden "grossly incompetent." In a Washington Post article four years ago, by Daniel W. Drezner, he wrote about, "The unique incompetence of Donald Trump in a crisis," where he compared the missteps by the Obama administration in the 2014 Ebola crisis with Trump's 2020 inept handling of the Corona virus...

"The bureaucracy — composed of the experts dedicated to solving the problem — royally screwed up its initial handling of the crisis."

Biden spent the weekend at Camp David with family and close allies to discuss the situation. We may be surprised by what we hear from the White House today or later this week. One can only hope the right decisions are made. 

 

People Have More Humanity Toward Animals Today

 

That's why they call it a "humane shelter," because animals deserve considerate and merciful treatment just like us humans. I cannot understand why someone would abandon their family pet, much less abuse them. It is unconscionable and there should be more laws affecting their well-being. They are innocent, loyal, and all they really want is to live. That's right, something we take for granted but in the case of most animals, something they have absolutely no control over.

But there seems to be hope, if the amount of space on the Internet devoted to animals is any indication of the public's awakening to the fact that they do have rights. The enactment of animal protection laws has been slow but it is showing promise in several states across the country. The Animal Legal Defense Fund has ranked U.S. states in their order of protection based on 20 different categories of protection.

It seems that a lot of southern states, which also have low ratings in the care of their human populations, also neglect their animals. These, along with other states like Alaska, Wyoming, Utah and Idaho make up what is called the "Bottom Tier" of protection. The "Top Tier" includes states like California, Washington, Illinois, Colorado and eleven more. The in-between "Middle Tier" has Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii plus others.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund: All Our Clients Are Innocent...

The number one state for animal protection is Maine; number fifty is New Mexico. Here's the scenario...

"The disparity in various jurisdictions’ animal protection laws demonstrates the unfortunate reality that, in many places, the law significantly underrepresents animals’ interests. However, the Rankings Report also presents an opportunity to improve laws everywhere. New animal protection laws continue to be implemented around the country by motivated lawmakers and their constituents — just like you."

Some notations from ALDF...

Maine maintains its top rank

New Mexico ranked last for third year in a row

 Most improved: Maryland

Major trends: Animals included in protection orders and laws prohibiting sexual assault of animals

But, yes, I feel, at least from Internet activity, that the public is becoming more conscious of the rights of animals. And they are finding out just how much love and affection pets can contribute to your household. They become family and hope they have found their forever home. We cannot let them down! 

 

Animals Abandoned Becoming A Crisis

 

How could anyone just abandon their pet on a street curb, even if they left food? Close to a car wash that had been feeding her and even after sleeping almost non-stop for two days, she was still so tired from waiting when a rescue came to help. This is not only spreading nationwide, but is also becoming more prevalent in the media, publicity which animal lovers are thankful for. It's beyond shaming those who give up their animals; we need a national fix.

Some time ago I posted on Twitter and Facebook that it would be great if some millionaires/billionaires would step up and fund a huge animal sanctuary centrally located where these deserted animals could go. They could coordinate with Pilots N Paws, an organization that flies pets to locations where they are wanted. This would be a great move by those with means and help a lot of animals that have lost their forever homes.     THINK ABOUT IT!       READ MORE...

News Catch Up Time

 

'This defines the Roberts Court': Chief justice's wife earns millions placing lawyers at firms that argue cases...Since SCOTUS has gone conservative, it has also gone corrupt. First, there was Justice Clarence Thomas' wife, Ginni, now Chief Justice John Roberts' spouse can...

make millions of dollars recruiting attorneys who are placed into top law firms that argue cases before it?

Dozens of dogs left freezing to death in cold...A northwest side of San Antonio is only one U.S. city where over a dozen dogs were left out in the cold. Texas weather has been brutal and animals can freeze to death in a short while. PLEASE bring your pets in from the cold and report any strays. It could mean their life!

Ex-colleague of chief justice's wife makes ethics claim...More confirmation on SCOTUS Chief Justice John Roberts' wife, Jane, for unethical behavior.

A comprehensive list of Florida’s freedoms...NOT! This article illustrates just

how far the Fla. Gov. Ron (the despot) DeSantis' wrecking ball has gone, as an example...

Books. Specifically books that make students feel uncomfortable in any way, so that their parents need never endure a more complicated discussion than “tendies or nuggies?”

A homeless mother left a note with her dog for whoever found her. An animal shelter reunited them...Finally, a good news story for both the homeless and a    bandoned animals, in this case with no choice. Heartwarming!

Nearly Two-Thirds Say They’re Worse Off Than Two Years Ago...And it's not all Republicans. Some Democrats agree. With wages and the economy up and the unemployed down, am I missing something?

Judge suggests abortion might be protected by 13th Amendment despite Supreme Court ruling...SCOTUS Judge Samuel Alito is guilty of ramroding the repeal of Roe v. Wade and the country has been sorry ever since. And I think pro-abortion will find a way.

Missouri dog euthanized after grooming; family calls for accountability...A mistake like this is unconscionable. In fact, any euthanization of animals should be illegal. We MUST work together; the public, animal shelters and local governments, to curb the uncontrolled populations of pets. Then, the feds can pass a law to make Euthanization against the law.

100 gun deaths a day, about half suicides, most of them men...Gun sales go up and the natural result is more gun violence. Fortunately the NRA is in its drmise so we no longer have these sayings like, 'Guns don't kill people, people kill people.' #1, ban assault weapons; #2, beef up background checks; #3, eliminate concealed and open carry unless necessary; #4, pass tougher gun control laws. And do it before gun violence kills more innocent people.

How 'the most lawless jurist in the country' could ban medical abortions 'in all 50 states': journalists..."In less than three years, Kacsmaryk (the lawless jurist) has seized control over border policy, repeatedly defied the Supreme Court’s decision protecting LGBTQ employees, and restricted minors’ access to birth control." The journalists point out three massive flaws in the case...

First, none of the plaintiffs "have a remotely plausible claim to standing," or "ability to sue in federal court."

Second, the "substantive arguments are ridiculous."

Third, a federal judge has never banned a drug "by wholly revoking FDA approval."

There's one more...you thought demonstrations were bad before, just watch if this moron takes away the abortion pill. 

MORE LATER...

We Cannot Let The Needless Execution Of Animals Continue

 

The Oklahoma City Animal Shelter euthanized 34 dogs on Tuesday because they didn't have enough room for them. The animals shouldn't have been there but that's another story. Not being familiar with the Oklahoma City shelter, I don't know if they made an attempt to use Pilots N Paws, an organization that provides free transportation of animals to locations where there is either more room or there is a potential adoption. By the way, Pilots N Paws endures through donations.

But there are other ways to help control this situation like spaying and neutering. The ASPCA says...

By spaying or neutering your pet, you’ll help control the pet homelessness crisis. Millions of healthy dogs and cats are euthanized in the United States each year simply because there aren’t enough homes to go around. There are also medical and behavioral benefits to spaying (female pets) and neutering (male pets).

Agreed, a lot of folks out there are still struggling with their finances but if you are able, please foster an animal. which helps take the load off shelters. And there are always donations that can help these organizations to care for more animals and provide better aid to the general population. Finally, if you have the time, volunteer. You cannot believe the joy just a visit from someone brings to a caged animal. If you love animals, please do your part today.

READ MORE...

Pets should not be given as presents

 

The Jacksonville, Arkansas animal shelter says it right: "Getting a dog is a lifetime commitment, not a Christmas gift." But hundreds of animals will be given this year at Christmas and hundreds will end up in shelters in 2023. Here are some numbers from PETA...

• A shelter in Fargo, North Dakota, reports that in its area, more than 700 animals are turned over to shelters right after the holidays every year.
• An adoption group in tiny Edinburg, Texas, gets more than 400 animals. It says that the surrenders normally start with a phone call from someone saying, “I got this [animal] for Christmas…and I can’t take care of it.”
• A humane society in Reading, Pennsylvania, says that most of its post-Christmas drop-offs are puppies and kittens. They’re dumped soon after the holiday when training them requires too much time.
• By January 4 last year, one Georgia animal shelter was posting on Facebook begging for adopters because of the onslaught of returned dogs it was bombarded with.
  

Here's the scenario from Jamie Parker, supervisor of Jacksonville Animal Shelter...

"Some of them get adopted and they stay. But a lot of them end up coming back to us, and a lot of them find themselves back in the kennel with no one that can play with them all day."

PETA says you should never give animals as Christmas gifts. It does sound like a

good idea and the expectation of those faces when they receive their new pet makes the giver think they have done something great. Apparently they haven't...

"By January, many of those “present” animals will have joined the more than 6 million who enter shelters in the U.S. every year. Some animal shelters even get in on the craze, offering discounted or free adoptions and encouraging people to give animals away as gifts. Their intentions may be good, but they likely don’t realize that they’re exacerbating the homeless-animal crisis."

Other reasons not to do this include the fact the holidays are full of a lot of people having fun; a great deal of frivolity in the household; noise and commotion a new animal doesn't understand and most likely will be frightened of. The house is filled with strangers coming and going. But the worst thing are the things left around from gifts like ribbons, ornaments, electrical cords, and sweets as well as other foods and drinks.

PETA also warns...

"When shelters offer animals up for a pittance (or for free), they devalue them and encourage impulse adoptions by eager people who haven’t considered whether they or their gift recipients are ready to invest the substantial amount of money, commitment, and care that the animals will need. And animals can be acquired as cheap gifts by people who can’t afford to care for them. After the holidays, many of these “present” animals end up back at the shelter or, worse, sentenced to a life of isolation on a chain or in an outdoor pen or dumped on the street."

I, nor PETA, nor all the animal shelters and rescues nationwide don't want to discourage the public from adopting pets, at Christmas or the rest of the year. But you must want that animal to become a member of your family and realize the responsibility of caring for them. It's not easy but oh so rewarding. I know, my wife and I have taken in eleven rescues and we've had the time of our lives. Merry Christmas to you and your pets and to the rescue animals all over the world.

One euthanized animal in a wealthy America is too much

 

In case you haven't heard, animal shelters around the U.S. are loaded beyond capacity. The public decided they can no longer keep their pets so they just dump them at the local shelter. There are hardships where this is necessary but too many use this as an act of convenience even where the family has had their animal for several years, a forever home? I've said this before but it bears repeating...would you give up your human child in similar circumstances? I think not.

There are reasons for these actions, according to The Hill...

"Animal advocates cite the decline of virtual work, a national housing shortage and the rising cost of kibble, among other factors."

Packed with pets: how you can help struggling animal shelters...

This all coincides with the coronavirus pandemic where people began an influx of adoptions. But some apparently weren't really animal lovers. As the headline indicates, "the number of cats and dogs facing possible euthanasia stands 100,000 higher this year than last." This is incredibly insane for both the animal advocates (should do a better job of spay and neutering) and a portion of the American population that considers pets "just animals," whatever that means.

The word is out and here are just some of the numbers...

New York’s municipal shelter system has seen a 25-percent increase in surrendered pets, a trend driven by rent inflation and pet-averse landlords.

An Atlanta shelter designed to hold 80 animals has been running nearly 300 dogs over capacity. Another in Montgomery County, Texas, has housed more than 400 dogs in space designed to hold 180. At an overcrowded facility in nearby Brazoria County, “we’ve started stacking crates in the bathroom.”

100,000 dogs and cats facing euthanasia as people return adopted pets to animal shelters...

 Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society, said, “Nobody’s job description should have killing animals as one of the things on the list.” Yet someone has to do it...or do they? Volunteers are needed as this is certainly not a for-profit industry. Anyone who can spare any amount of your time, please contact your local shelter to let them know you are available. This would allow them to do more spay, neuter and release projects which helps to control the animal population.

On the other side, I would like to see a massive education program, funded by grants and/or animal lover donors, which details the fun and satisfaction of having a pet in your home. It should emphasize the love and affection that results and the times your animal(s) will literally lift you out of the doldrums. They will be there for you and you should be there for them. Please read this article in The Hill. You'll be glad you did and so will the animals in the shelters.

The love of animals...

 

Immanuel Kant feels that people can be judged by the way they treat animals. I worked for a guy once who was a complete jerk, but one day I learned how much he loved his cat, often discussing with me his care of the animal because he knew we had cats. After this I realized I couldn't fault the man altogether and our relationship improved measurably. But treatment of animals by some results in abuse, even cruelty, an area requiring new laws. 

But have you ever taken the time to see that lovin' look in your pet's eyes that says they adore you. And, of course, you adore them too. The connection to our animals has grown over the years to where they are now one of the family. And that's the way it should be as most of us consider them our children, most especially when you don't have human kids. These households treasure their pets and some families spend large sums on their animal for toys and miscellaneous things. 

The main thing is you must keep them healthy making regular trips to the vet. Find a caring doctor for your species, dog, cat, horse, etc. Depending where you live, housing is important. As an example, you should never leave a cat outside for the simple reason they are easy prey for predators. Dogs are better able to defend themselves but should be in a fenced yard high enough to keep out all other animals. Climate change has made some desperate and they are on the prowl.

Animal lover and vet, James Herriot, draws a comparison between animals and

humans, contrasting the souls of each, and animals come out on top. The traits Herriot emphasizes are love, loyalty and gratitude, three qualities that many humans are sorely missing. There is a saying that I use regularly in my blog: "All I Want is to Live." Animals don't ask for much but the least we can give them is a loving family and a forever home.

Just think about these stats from the ASPCA...

Approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.1 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats.

Each year, approximately 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized (390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats).

Approximately 4.1 million shelter animals are adopted each year (2 million dogs and 2.1 million cats).

Why not go to your local animal rescue, shelter or humane society today and take one, or more of those statistics with you to your forever home.

Abandoned After Seven Years, Jodi is Sad

 

Jodi is a little girl dog in Georgia living with what she thought was her forever family. She had been there for seven years when she was surrendered to The Little Guild. Staff says she was really scared and just wanted to go home. According to The DoDo, Jodi didn't know what was happening or where her family had gone. 

Here are some facts from the ASPCA...

Approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.1 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats.

Each year, approximately 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized (390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats).

If those numbers don't make you think twice about abandoning your pet, then you need to look deep inside for more compassion. As ardent animal lovers we have considered our gang of eleven rescued cats as part of the family. Eating, sleeping, drinking and their healthcare are all a part of our family program. I know you have heard it before...they are our children. Jodi has become more confortable at The Little Guild but it took time to build her trust.

Jodi hasn't been adopted yet, which suprises the shelter staff, since she has become so lovable and outgoing. But they feel strongly that it will happen. The little girl is lucky but look at the above stats and think of the awful consequences if you decide to abandon your pet. PLEASE!

Should We Cancel Thanksgiving This Year? NO but...

 

Starting with the corruptive enigma that almost brought down this country, Donald Trump has decided to run for President again.

I, and millions more can't be thankful for that.

I am not thankful for the amount of animal abuse and cruelty that is going on in the U,S, and in the world. In this country an estimated 115 million animals in science labs are killed every year for chemical, drug, food, and cosmetics research. Every 60 seconds, one animal suffers abuse; Every year, more than 10 million animals die from abuse in the US alone; There are over 10,000 puppy mills in the United States.

Millions are definitely not thankful for this. And I do not see how anyone could abuse an innocent animal; it takes a sick human being to do something like this.

Next, the idiot Elon Musk, a leader in electric vehicles, recently bought Twitter and is slowly but surely dismantling one of the best social medias the world has known.

Again, myself and millions can't be thankful for that.

A number of viruses, infections, new variants and most recently a deadly fungus threaten the U.S. population. How did it start and then spread so fast?

Once more, millions recognize that beginning with the pandemic and continuing with the current onslaught of calamities must, to some degree, be blamed on anti-vaxxers that we certainly can't be thankful for.

A recent blue tsunami in the November election is something to be thankful for, but the GOP although barely winning the House, does open the door to idiocies like the Hunter Biden investigation being planned by Jim Jordan.

Certainly nothing to be thankful for on either side of the aisle.

And then there are Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert, the shallow and brainless Bobbsey twins that barely tip the meter of double-digit IQs.

If you really searched high and low, there is absolutely no way to be thankful for these two idiots. 

Look at gun violence. With two recent incidents of mass shootings at the Univ. of Virginia and another at LGBTQ Club, Club Q, eight are dead along with multiple injuries. There have been 39,005 gun violence deaths so far this year and 34,706 injuries from gun violence.

No one should be thankful for the National Rifle Assn. and its head, Wayne LaPierre, as well as the minions that serve him. Also, those gun nuts out there who have blocked responsible gun legislation.

Perhaps the most pressing problem the world has ever had, climate change is drying up lakes that are critical for reservoirs in the U.S. and causing weather calamities that are changing lives around the world. Although the Republicans take the lead in the denial of this issue. the Democrats have also dragged their feet. WHO estimates that half of the world’s population will be living in water-stressed areas by 2025.

How could anyone possibly be thankful for this.

The U. S. has a Supreme Court that has moved so far to the right there are calls for impeachment for at least two judges, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. In the court's recent decision to in effect repeal the abortion act, Roe v. Wade, millions of women have been compromised, and they are mad as hell. They showed their anger in the recent election by turning back the expected red tide.

Yes, there are millions who are not thankful that the right to control their own bodies has been taken away from them.

Democracy is slowly dying, made possible by the autocratic government of Donald Trump's administration in the White House, supported vigorously by the Republican Party. 

Who could want their rights taken away from them and end up living like basketball star Brittney Griner has been forced to do? But this is the way they do it in a fascist government.

And the last entry leads to the question of whether Americans could live without their right to vote. If Republicans have their way vote will be restricted for some constituents; as an example, the black vote.

I am not thankful for the many laws the GOP has managed to pass and the new drawing of voting districts just to favor the right.

There are more I know but this is enough for now. 

Back to my original question, NO we shouldn't cancel Thanksgiving. What we must do is be thankful that we still have the right to fight tyranny and make it a 2023 resolution to try and mend the fences that have been erected by both the Republicans and Democrats, and return to the use of the two words negotiate and compromise. Without them, we are a lost nation.