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animal welfare compassion cruelty News/Blog Promoted

Facing jail for giving pigs water

 

 

torontopigsave
Photo: Toronto Pig Save

Media in Ontario are reporting that an animal activist, Anita Krajnc, is willing to go to jail rather that face fines or a conditional sentence for giving water to pigs being transported to slaughter.

Krajnc is a co-founder of Toronto Pig Save, which holds vigils outside slaughterhouses to draw attention to the plight of pigs and other animals who endure cruel transport and slaughter. She was charged under the Criminal Code with mischief under $5,000 for trying to give water to pigs in a transport truck.  The incident was described by the Burlington Post:

“Krajnc squirted water from a bottle into a transport truck that was stopped at a traffic light at Appleby Line and Harvester Road, just outside the Fearman’s pork plant. A load of hogs inside the truck was being taken to the plant for slaughter.

“Krajnc, the co-founder of Toronto Pig Save, had a member of the organization videotape the incident, which escalated when the truck driver got out of the rig and confronted Krajnc.

TO Pigsave pic
Photo: Toronto Pig Save

“On the video, posted to Facebook, the driver tells Krajnc to stop squirting the liquid inside the truck. She tells him it is water and to be compassionate, that the pigs are hot and thirsty. She continued to give water to the animals. The driver said he was calling the police and got back in his rig. There was no physical confrontation.”

It is a sad day for justice in Canada when a harmless act of compassion can land someone in court, and possibly in jail.  It is no secret that farmed animals in Canada endure horrific conditions when being transported to slaughter. Trying to bring a small measure of relief to suffering animals is something that should be rewarded, not punished.

Toronto Pig Save is to be commended for its efforts to bring attention to this issue and we hope Anita Krajnc receives public support for her courageous and compassionate dedication to helping animals.

Categories
animal welfare compassion Cruelty-free Food and Drink News/Blog plant-based diet Promoted Uncategorized vegan vegetarianism

Meatless Monday Goes To School

Capture

School is back and we at VHS couldn’t be more excited (sorry, kids)! You’ll recall we launched our Meatless Monday program this past spring, which even as the school year was winding down, was well-received by students in the Lower Mainland. Three post-secondary schools (Langara, BCIT and Trinity Western) joined the growing movement and multiple secondary schools expressed interest in bringing the initiative to their cafeterias this fall.

Over the summer we worked with the Vancouver School Board (VSB) to develop a flyer that served as a “how-to” guide for bringing Meatless Monday to school cafeterias. The flyer also draws attention to society’s over-consumption of meat, which has forced animals into factory farms, where their lives are characterized by intensive confinement, cruelty and suffering. Educating and empowering the public through an initiative like Meatless Monday is an important step toward reducing that suffering and creating a more humane society.

As the new school year kicked off, the VSB shared the flyer with every school administrator and teacher across the district! VHS commends this support for Meatless Monday by the VSB, as it provides individual schools the tools and confidence in implementing their own Meatless Monday initiative to better the treatment of animals, the well-being of the planet and of course, the health of the students.

We look forward to helping more students take action to reduce animal suffering by bringing Meatless Monday to more classrooms and cafeterias this year! If you’re interested in implementing Meatless Monday at your school, workplace or in your community, contact Emily Pickett. Don’t forget to take the Meatless Monday pledge and receive a weekly recipe/tip to help you start your week off right!

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Categories
compassion News/Blog Promoted

Furry foes find friendship

Rat on dog 2

Jack Russells don’t usually have rats for buddies. The terriers have been used to hunt rats since the 19th century and are known to be ferociously efficient at their job.  But, as these photos from an animal-loving VHS fan show, sometimes friendship can overcome generations of breeding and a tough reputation.

Pictured above is Chibi giving a ride to his new friend Fizbo, an adorable pet rat. Below Chibi and Fizbo get up close and personal.

Jack Russell & rat

Categories
animal welfare compassion News/Blog Promoted Uncategorized

Iskut from Iskut, helped through McVitie Fund For Animals

iskut from iskut

Guest post by Desiree; activist, animal lover & McVitie fund for animals recipient

This captivating dog was found wandering the streets of a small northern community, Iskut, B.C., all on his lonesome at the age of one month. It was pretty much love at first sight when the two of us locked eyes; him, in search of a mother and I in search of a companion with the most unconditional of love. He literally walked into my life and I’m sure you can understand by looking at his picture, why I couldn’t say no to this face that was longing to be rescued.

I was so grateful to have received support from the Vancouver Humane Society, through their McVitie fund for animals, upon returning home with him from volunteering. They helped me with his vaccinations, tattoo and a neuter – everything he needed to start this new chapter of his life off right.

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iskutI spent last summer biking 2000 km to this area, Tl’abane, more commonly referred to now as the Sacred Headwaters – the birthplace of the Skeena, Stikine and Nass rivers, some of the most vital salmon bearing rivers in all of so-called North America. It is home to the unceded, unsurrendered Tahltan First Nation who have lived in harmony with the land and water for thousands of years.

Iskut and I began our adventure together exploring the mountains, lakes and rivers in Tl’abane. To this day gallivanting in the great outdoors is our favourite activity. I watch as he leaps and bounds through the forest, down snowy mountainsides, through the shallows of creeks and rivers; I think he has mistaken himself for a deer or rabbit. Nevertheless, his playfulness, quirkiness and endurance are prominent signs of a healthy and happy pup, which was made all the more possible by the McVitie fund. He has touched a lot of lives and every time someone asks about him I get to tell a story that should be shared far and wide. Thank you again to the Vancouver Humane Society for helping me help this special pup!

VHS’s McVitie fund for animals provides low-income guardians of companion animals with spay/neuter assistance, as well as help with unexpected, emergency vet bills. Please consider supporting the McVitie fund. Increase your impact by donating today – all donations will be matched by a generous VHS donor!

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Categories
animal welfare compassion Cruelty-free News/Blog Promoted

Nice Shoes: a pioneer in cruelty-free, compassionate shopping

Joanne Chang and Glenn Gaetz of Nice Shoes
Joanne Chang and Glenn Gaetz of Nice Shoes

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Nice Shoes, Vancouver’s only vegan shoe store, was opened in 2011 by animal advocates Glenn Gaetz and Joanne Chang. The store carries 100% vegan shoes as well as purses, bags, belts, wallets and other cruelty-free products.

VHS supports the growth of cruelty-free businesses and we were interested to find out more about how Nice Shoes is faring in Vancouver’s competitive retail market. Here’s our Q&A with Glenn and Joanne.

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VHS: Can you say a bit about what motivated you to open Nice Shoes?

G&J: As shoppers, we were motivated by the anxiety and frustration we felt every time we walked into a shoe store knowing that the salesperson couldn’t answer our questions about materials – or even cared to try. As activists, we were motivated by our desire to normalize the vegan lifestyle.

VHS: How difficult was it to start a business that was the first of its kind in Vancouver?

G&J: Starting a business was the easy part! Vancouver has a vibrant vegan and animal rights community and everyone is excited when a new vegan business opens. The challenge comes in maintaining a profitable business and growing our customer base.

VHS: How is the business going now and how do you feel about the future of Nice Shoes?

G&J: We think there’s a bright future for Nice Shoes as veganism seem to be going through a growth spurt. We know this because a large portion of our customers are new vegans who have only made the transition within the last couple of years.

VHS: Who are your customers? Is there a predominant demographic?

G&J: Our main customers are vegans and vegetarians, but that in itself encompasses a huge range of people. We see vegans of all ages and professions. We also get quite a few non-veg customers who simply like the styles we carry.

VHS: Some vegan shoes are not cheap. Is affordability an issue?

G&J: Since our main goal is to normalize veganism, we are very thoughtful in selecting brands that are familiar and affordable to most people. We do carry some exclusive vegan brands (which tend to be pricier), but they are a small percentage of what we carry. Most of the shoes in our current spring/summer collection range from $30-$150. We also have great sales throughout the year and a student discount program.

VHS: Do you think the market is growing for cruelty-free products?

G&J: Absolutely! We find that “vegan leather” is now a popular term used proudly by mainstream brands to sell products. And a lot of these brands are rolling out vegan product lines and marketing them as such.

VHS: What do you think needs to happen to encourage consumers to make more ethical choices?

G&J: Consumers want nice looking things that are decent quality at a reasonable price. If the products can match what they are looking for, they will switch without even trying. We have a few loyal non-veg customers who might not even know that our products are vegan. By offering alternatives that look great and are equal to, if not better than, their animal product counterparts, we are lowering the barrier of entry to a vegan lifestyle. All things being equal, who wouldn’t choose the cruelty-free option?

VHS: How do you stay positive in a world where animal-based products are still so predominant?

G&J: We’ve been vegan for 18 & 20 years. In that time we’ve seen a lot of change. Twenty years ago, vegan shoes were horrible plastic things that looked atrocious and felt like cardboard. When we look at the selection and the quality of products available nowadays, we can’t help but smile. Animal products may still be predominant, but the alternatives are gaining ground every day.

VHS: What’s your most popular product?

G&J: Since the weather is getting nicer, women’s sandals are flying off the shelves. And hiking shoes are in high demand as people are starting to hit the trails.

VHS: What do you find most rewarding or satisfying about running Nice Shoes?

G&J: Nothing makes us happier than getting a positive feedback from our customers – it really makes all the hard work worth while. And of course, all the adorable dogs who visit us in the store.

Nice Shoes is located at 3568 Fraser Street (between E 19th & 20th) in Vancouver.
Tel: 604-558-3000
info@niceshoes.ca

Categories
animal welfare compassion cruelty News/Blog

Bearing witness to factory farm cruelty

Sow Puratone 2012

This month, Mother Jones Magazine ran a harrowing account of animal cruelty on an American pig farm. The article, an excerpt from a new book on factory farming by journalist Ted Genoways, focuses on an undercover investigation by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which exposed farm workers meting out savage beatings to helpless pigs.

The story and an accompanying PETA video are, of course, deeply disturbing. They are much like other factory farm exposés by many animal rights groups over the years.  The recent investigation of an Alberta hog facility by Mercy for Animals Canada found similar cruel beatings by employees.  The humane community believes these and other cruel practices are widespread in animal agriculture here and around the world.

The media coverage of these investigations is vital in bringing these horrific abuses to light, but there is a nagging question in the minds of animal advocates: Are the people who need to see this paying attention?  After all, articles like the one in Mother Jones make for unpleasant reading and the video is stomach turning.  We’ve all heard the refrain from meat-lovers: “Don’t tell me.  I don’t want to know.”

Here at VHS, we wonder how much factory farm horror people can take.  Will the endless repetition of these accounts ultimately encourage people to just stop listening?  The answer, most likely, is to balance the horror stories with positive information about progress and practical advice, such as how and where to find alternatives to meat.

Yet, we are convinced of the importance of bearing witness to the suffering of animals on factory farms.  Yes, the stories are hard to read, and the videos hard to watch, but if they are not produced, distributed and shared who will know the truth?

That’s why we urge our supporters to read and watch at least some of the disturbing evidence of cruelty emerging from factory farming.  More importantly, we urge people who care about animals to share this evidence with friends, colleagues and family members who don’t know (or say they don’t want to know) the truth about what happens on factory farms.

Ted Genoways’ article is a compelling example of that truth. We urge you to share it widely.

 

 

 

Categories
animal welfare compassion cruelty Cruelty-free fundraising News/Blog

Buy an Animal Cruelty Awearness Band and support VHS

Awearness bandVHS is partnering with Animal Rescue Crusade (ARC) in its effort to bring attention to animal issues through International Animal Cruelty Awearness Bands – cool wristbands with a message.

Just visit the ARC/VHS partner page to purchase a band.  For every awearness band purchased, VHS will receive $5.00 toward our work to help animals.

The mission is to bring awareness to all animal cruelty issues. These bands were created to inspire others to speak up and be a voice for animals by wearing awearness bands wherever they go.  By purchasing a band you’ll help VHS and animals everywhere.

Categories
animal welfare compassion News/Blog rodeo

Thank you to the compassionate people who stand against animal cruelty at the Calgary Stampede

 

little girl and calf

VHS would like to thank everyone who has supported our ongoing efforts against cruelty to rodeo animals at the Calgary Stampede.

Another Stampede is over and two more animals are dead – a chuckwagon horse and a steer.  The steer is the third to die in the steer-wrestling event in the last five years. More than 80 animals have died at the Stampede since 1986.

It is frustrating for all those who care about the suffering of rodeo animals that the Stampede has refused our call to end calf-roping and suspend the chuckwagon race, pending a review by an independent panel of experts. These are reasonable requests that, if met, would help the Stampede evolve toward a more humane form of entertainment.  But they refuse to listen or compromise.  We are now also officially calling for an immediate end to steer-wrestling. Enough is enough.

While media reports focus on the deaths of rodeo animals, the other key issue is the blatant cruelty inflicted on them. They are subjected to fear, pain and stress for the sake of entertainment.  That is perhaps even more immoral that putting them at undue risk of injury or death.

The Stampede has made a number of changes aimed at improving the safety of the animals but these clearly have not gone far enough.  Animals are still dying every year.  It does show, however, that the Stampede feels the pressure of public opinion.  That pressure must be kept up until real, meaningful change happens.

This year, thanks to your support for our campaign, VHS was able to draw substantial media attention to animal cruelty at the Stampede.  More than 80 media outlets in Canada quoted VHS on the issue.  We also used social media to raise awareness of what really happens to rodeo animals and we enlisted the support of many more people in the fight against the abuse they suffer.  Our e-campaign encouraged more than 3300 people to email the Stampede directly to call for an end to calf-roping.

VHS is not giving up this fight.  Not as long as animals continue to suffer at the Stampede and in rodeos across the country.

We appeal to you to continue supporting our efforts, and the efforts of other animal groups, to keep the pressure on the Stampede. They must be held to account.  We can’t let the animals down.

Again, thank you to everyone who is standing with us against rodeo cruelty.

 

 

Categories
animal welfare compassion fundraising News/Blog

The animals need you

Dogs and other animals need our help

It’s the end of the year.  We hope all our supporters and animal lovers everywhere are having a great holiday season.

We’re looking forward to helping all the animals who, sadly, are not having such a great time.  We’re going to help the sick and injured ones and we’re going to speak out on behalf of those subjected to cruelty and abuse.

Whether it’s animals suffering on factory farms or in rodeos or in zoos, we’ll be there fighting for them.

We hope that today, this last day of 2013, you’ll help make the New Year a better one for animals by supporting VHS’s work.

If you can afford to help, please donate now.  You’ll make a big difference to the lives of animals. Remember, the animals need us.  Without compassionate, caring people to protect their interests they would risk greater neglect, suffering and abuse. We hope you are one of those people.

From everyone at VHS, thank you and Happy New Year to you all.

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Categories
animal welfare compassion News/Blog

A special cat is home for Christmas

Christmas cat

Tucker is a feisty gray and white cat who found his forever home with Lindsey four years ago. They are best friends and more – Lindsey has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and this is how she describes Tucker:

“He is the sweetest cat, he loves me so much and sleeps right beside me on my pillow every night. He always greets me at the door when I get home and is always so happy to see me. He’s like my sidekick – when I’m not feeling well he knows and comes and sleeps right on my belly. It’s nice to have the company because lying in bed all day can be super boring especially if I can’t read or watch TV, which happens sometimes when I get optic neuritis and my vision becomes blurry. He’s also really funny and I think laughter is good medicine!”

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Tucker 1 When Tucker began vomiting, Lindsey was desperate. Because of her MS, she can only work part-time and that leaves her with little money left at the end of the month. She rushed Tucker to the vet, but she only had enough money to pay for the diagnosis – a severe intestinal blockage. It looked like Tucker had eaten the cuff of a sweater and it was now lodged in his intestine. That was when someone recommended she call VHS.

Our McVitie Fund is always stretched to the limit, but we knew we had to help Tucker.  The surgery took place that night and the first few days were rough, but Tucker finally began to get better and, thankfully, he pulled through. Lindsey now makes sure that Tucker has lots of safe toys to keep him busy and she keeps her sweaters under lock and key!

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Tucker 2While we’re sure Tucker appreciated the help he received during his stay at the vet’s, he’s looking forward to enjoying a safe and peaceful Christmas at home!

If you’d like to help needy animals like Tucker, your donations will be much appreciated! Better yet, if you donate before January 15, 2014, your donation will be doubled by a generous donor.  Thank you for caring about animals like Tucker!

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