Pet News and Views

U.S. Animal Advocate Makes Impact in China

When Jim Willis wrote Pieces of My Heart—Writings Inspired by Animals and Nature, he had no idea how one essay in the book would impact animal lovers around the world. That essay, How Could You? was inspired by Holly Golightly, a basset hound who was brought to a shelter when her owners moved to an apartment that didn’t allow dogs.

Jim Willis and his rescued American Pit Bull Terrier, Jewel, on a recent cross-country tour. Jim is a passionate advocate against breed-specific legislation and wrong portrayals of “dangerous dog” breeds.

Jim rescued Holly from a local kill shelter on the day she was to be put down. Jim, writer, artist, animal behaviorist, animal rescuer, and the World Animal Day (W.A.D.) Ambassador for the United States, saw something special in her. The thought that someone could dispose of Holly was inconceivable to Jim. It moved him to write How Could You?, one of the most popular essays in his book. How Could You? has been published in over 50 languages–including Traditional Chinese and People’s Republic Chinese versions as the latest.

Animal Rights and China

Most of us know that the Chinese government takes a hard stance against stray dogs and cats. Jim hopes that his essay will have an impact on the people and government in China. “I’m especially pleased that How Could You? has been translated into Chinese,” says Jim. “When it comes to animal welfare, the Chinese government has been so resistant and brutal. In some areas, the police are ordered to club stray dogs and seize family pets.”

“I’ve frequently received messages about animal welfare abuses in China, often with local police or government involvement. I am pleased that W.A.D. recently appointed two Chinese ambassadors. The participation to distribute and use How Could You? has become a people’s effort, not a government or commercial one. Maybe it can change some minds in China, too. A video of How Could You? is also planned.”

The essay must be making an impact. Even before it was translated it was being used by Taiwan’s largest animal shelter, Dog Home, whose Chinese name means “The Garden of Wandering Animals.” Many people in mainland China have read How Could You? and have been moved to tears.

How Could You? Stops Traffic

Holly lived five wonderful years in Jim’s care. At age 14, she suffered a stroke. Her quality of life wasn’t good after that, and Jim decided to have her humanely euthanized. “She never knew that her story stopped traffic. A drive-time radio DJ in Toronto read the essay on the air. Drivers were moved to tears and had to pull over. “And then it was repeated with similar results in other cities,” he says. “Or that it encouraged some people to think, change their minds, get involved, and most importantly, for some to go to the nearest shelter and save a beautiful animal being who didn’t deserve to die. She changed a lot of lives, most especially mine, and I miss her so.”

This is Holly Golightly, who inspired How Could You?

“As much as I would appreciate anyone’s sympathy, what Holly and I would appreciate more is that you download the story she inspired, How Could You?, from the sample writings section, and distribute it where it can do some more good. That’s the greatest tribute we could pay her.”

E-Book

Pieces of My Heart—Writings Inspired by Animals and Nature continues to be one of the highest reader-reviewed animal rights title at Amazon.com. It is so popular that Jim’s U.S. publisher announced that it will be available as an e-book from Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com in July.

Fundraising

Jim’s book Pieces of My Heart benefits animal rescue efforts. The book is offered at a discount to animal shelters who are trying to raise funds. Shelters get a 40 percent discount. For more information about fundraising, click here or order through Amazon.com.

To read samples of this book visit his site.

World Animal Day Ambassador and More

In 2008, Jim was appointed the U.S. Ambassador for World Animal Day. World Animal Day was started in 1931 at a convention of ecologists in Florence as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species. Since then it has grown to encompass all kinds of animal life and is widely celebrated in countries throughout the world. October 4 was chosen as World Animal Day as it is the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.

When he is not working as WAD ambassador or writing, Jim cares for numerous rescued animals and participates in animal advocacy campaigns, including efforts to defeat breed-specific legislation.

Editor’s Note: Jim was inspired to study veterinary medicine, especially after reading the best-selling books written by a Yorkshire veterinarian under the pen-name James Herriot, but in an ironic twist, reviewers have regularly called Jim “the new James Herriot.” Jim’s a great guy, and I’m honored that he is my friend. I think the power of his words will make a difference in a lot of lives–both human and animal.

And here’s a reminder; you can still enter the contest.

Win A $300 Gift Card to A Pet-Friendly Best Western

With the summer travel season on the horizon, Pet News and Views, GoPetFriendly, Doggy Bytes, and Doggie Stylish have teamed up with Best Western to offer one lucky winner of our joint contest a $300 travel card good at any Best Western in the U.S. or Canada. The $300 card value can be applied to your hotel stay and meals. Click here for details.

Contest: Win a $300 Best Western Hotel Travel Card

Best Western is pet-friendly. Enter the contest to win a Best Western gift card.

You should know that Best Western is pet friendly. And with 1,900 Best Westerns to choose from, you are sure to find one that is close to a destination of your choosing. To make your hotel search even easier, Best Western has a handy search tool to identify all of their pet-friendly hotels within the Best Western chain.

How the Contest Works

The contest starts on June 16, 2010 (yes, today!) and ends on June 28 at 11:59 EST, and you get FOUR CHANCES TO ENTER:

At Pet News and Views, subscribe to the blog via e-mail or RSS feed. Just click on the subscribe app near the top right hand side of the screen. In case you are new to Pet News and Views, this site focuses on pet and wildlife stories—mostly posts about people who work with and for animals.

At GoPetFriendly, sign up to become a member of the website. GoPetFriendly is a great resource for traveling with your pets. The site lists a broad range of pet friendly accommodations and activities in the U.S. and Canada. You can even book your hotel reservations through GoPetFriendly.

At Doggy Bytes, sign up for the newsletter. Jim McBean of Doggy Bytes is the expert on raw meaty diets for dogs.

At Doggie Stylish, sign up for the newsletter. If you love crafts, Doggie Stylish offers easy-to-follow how-to steps on making everything from blankets to collars for your dog. These fashionable items are also functional. Plus, there’s an online store for shopping for pet goods.

Twitter Contest Entries

But wait … there’s more! You also get FOUR EXTRA CHANCES PER DAY to win by simply tweeting that you are entering the contest! Just tweet the exact phrases below with the #hashtag and we’ll take care of the rest.

I just entered a contest hosted by @michelechollow to win a $300 Best Western gift card. Visit http://bit.ly/bETY5v for details #winBWGC

I just entered a contest hosted by @GoPetFriendly to win a $300 Best Western gift card. Visit http://bit.ly/cQELdn for details #winBWGC

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I just entered a contest hosted by @DoggieStylish to win a $300 Best Western gift card. Visit http://bit.ly/bEc4M5 for details #winBWGC

Contest Rules

1. The contest starts June 16 12:01AM EST and ends June 28 at 11:59 PM EST. The winner will be announced on June 30. You must be 18 years or older to enter.

2. The Best Western Travel card is redeemable at any Best Western Hotel within North America and has NO cash value. It is only redeemable for Best Western Hotel stay and meals.

3. All contest entries will be assigned a number and the winning number will be picked by www.randomizer.org.

4. The decision of the judges is final. The winner has 3 days to claim the prize. If the prize is not claimed by the winner within 3 days, an alternate winner will be chosen from the pool of entries. The gift card will be mailed to the winner directly from Best Western Corporate.

5. The winner of the prize is responsible for any and all applicable taxes to the prize.

6. Employees and relatives of GoPetFriendly.com, PetNewsandViews.com, DoggyBytes.ca, and DoggieStylish.com are ineligible to enter the contest.

A Champion for Pit Bulls

A few weeks ago, I wrote a series of posts about Pit Bulls. One of the most popular posts was written by Mary Harwelik, founder and director of The Real Pit Bull. Mary is working tirelessly to change the perception of this much maligned dog.

The Real Pit Bull is an education and advocacy organization dedicated to the American Pit Bull Terrier. The nonprofit’s mission is to serve as advocates for the breed, provide information to the public; and educate those who impact the lives of Pit Bulls. They host training classes specifically for Pit Bull owners, free breed lectures, foster and adoption programs, and The Real Pit Bull Forum, an online community for information about this breed.

I am quite bothered by all the misinformation about this breed, and I should point out that the media, legislators, and many others incorrectly use the term Pit Bull to describe several breeds and types of dogs including American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Bull Terriers, American Bulldogs, and mixes of these breeds. According to Mary, the term “Pit Bull” refers to the American Pit Bull Terrier breed. “This is a purebred recognized by the United Kennel Club and the American Dog Breeders Association,” she explains. “Understandably, many people are confused about what a “Pit Bull” actually is, since the popular public definition is so wide and the breeds above actually share similar history and physical characteristics.”

Following is a Q&A with Mary about the breed and her organization.

Pet News and Views (PNAV): Do you own Pit Bulls?

Mary: I currently have one American Staffordshire Terrier named Luca. He is 12 years old and a professional cuddle muffin. I’ve had him since he was an itty-bitty 10-week old puppy.

PNAV: Why were you moved to start an organization to protect Pit Bulls?

Mary: When I first got involved with Pit Bulls, I researched the heck out of the breed. It didn’t take me long to get clued into all the problems surrounding them—the legislation, the irresponsibility of humans, the total misunderstandings about what the breed is. When you love something so much, you want to protect it; I love Pit Bulls, and it was really like how could I not become an advocate. I started by just trying my best to be an educated breed spokesperson working to educate others and starting a website. That website was the catalyst for The Real Pit Bull, Inc. (RPB).

PNAV: Tell me about your training classes?

Mary: I teach classes for RPB through our “Pit Bull School” program. They are basic manners and breed education classes that are meant to help the dogs learn to behave around distraction, other dogs, and just have the opportunity to grow into good canine members of society. We use clicker training, which is all about using rewards for good behavior. The dogs really enjoy it, and they learn fast with this method.

PNAV: I see you are looking for foster homes, what requirements are needed?

Mary: An application is required for potential foster homes. Some things we look for in our foster homes are residency in the North-Central NJ area, ability to attend Pit Bull School classes, and some breed experience. Foster homes also have to be accepting of the fact that we are very hands-on with our fosters, and very much a part of the foster dog’s life in his temporary home.

PNAV: Where are classes held?

Mary: We are based out of Union County, NJ, and that is where our classes are held. But we attend events and give lectures all over NJ. Our general range is within 90 minutes of Union County, which means you may find us in NYC or Philadelphia periodically as well.

PNAV: Is this a full time job for you?

Mary: No, I have a day job that pays the bills. RPB is my passion and I do it for the love of the dogs.

PNAV: How do you keep the Real Pit Bull funded?

Mary: We are a 501(c)3 publicly funded charity, so we rely on the generosity of people who care about the work we do. We hold various fundraisers throughout the year, have collection jars at events, and receive a percentage of the purchase price of various dog-related items through affiliate programs we belong to. The easiest way for people to donate is through PayPal and by using our e-mail. All donations are 100% tax deductible.

Ten is the New Five

By Carol Bryant, guest blogger, and blogger at Fido Friendly

How often have we been told that 40 is the new 20 or that 60 is the new 40? With all of the advances in nutrition, supplementation, veterinary medicine and, of course, the human-canine bond—10 certainly has become the new 5 in the canine world.

Teach your dog hand signals while he can hear well.

As with his human counterparts, a dog’s sense of hearing is one that threatens to diminish with aging. Solution? Turn back the hands of time by using hand signals. Teaching Fido to “come” in association with a hand signal, reinforcing “sit” with a finger point and asking Fido if he needs to “go potty” with another hand signal will be invaluable should a hearing deficit develop. Hand signals can be taught and reinforced in conjunction with verbal commands while a dog’s hearing is intact and throughout his life.

Old Dogs and New Tricks

Who says an old dog can’t learn new tricks? Hide-and-seek is a perfect year-round game for dogs of all ages. Not only does this game work perfectly on rainy and snowy days, but it heightens Fido’s sense of smell in a fun and rewarding manner. This game requires two people initially. One person stays with the dog in a room while the other hides. When ready to be sought, the “hidee” lets out a sound to initiate the game. As Fido scours room to room, occasionally let out a verbal signal. Once found, praise him like he just won an Olympic medal and reward with a treat. Repeat. One caveat: be sure to remove grandma’s heirloom plates from the end tables.

Those Pearly Whites

Yes, you can brush your dog's (and cat's) teeth.

Your canine’s canines need not lose their sparkle. It only takes a few minutes a few times a week; yet proper canine dental hygiene is pivotal. Many kidney, cardiac and liver diseases are directly related to gum and tooth disease. Be certain to use Fido-friendly toothpaste along with a dog-comfy toothbrush (i.e. toddler-size). Long-term results mean no more doggoned bad breath as well as disease prevention; it’s a win-win.

Canine CPR

Breathe in, breathe out, and repeat. Canine CPR and first aid classes are available throughout the country, both in person and online. Check with a local chapter of the American Red Cross for more information or do a simple Internet search for canine first aid classes. Knowing what to do if Fido is choking, in shock or is injured can mean the difference between life and death, as precious seconds count. Classes often feature canine replica models to learn CPR and the Heimlich maneuver.

Dog lovers, unite. We can’t stop the hands of time from ticking forward, but we can play some magic tricks on the motion they take. Abracadabra—these techniques do work. It’s up to us to tap the magic wand and set the stage for a lifetime of canine happiness.

Carol Bryant writes the popular blog Fido Friendly and the print magazine of the same name. Now in its 10th year, each bimonthly issue of FIDO Friendly includes hotel and destination reviews along with health and wellness topics, dog training advice and the latest fashion trends. FIDO Friendly can be found in Borders, Barnes & Noble, Hastings and Fido-friendly hotels nationwide or by subscription.

Animal Hoarders

According to the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS), nearly 250,000 animals are victims of animal hoarding each year. What makes this crime different from other types of animal cruelty is that most animal hoarders believe they are helping, saving, or rescuing the animals they imprison.

Tina Tessina

I interviewed Tina B. Tessina, PhD, psychotherapist and author of It Ends With You: Grow Up and Out of Dysfunction, to get a better understanding of animal hoarders. Following is a Q&A with Tina:

Pet News and Views: Is there a particular trait that identifies hoarders?

Tina: We all have two minds we operate from—the rational and the emotional. Hoarders are operating out of the emotional, and have difficulty seeing things rationally. They’re only registering their emotional response, and not thinking logically about consequences.

PNAV: What makes someone hoard dogs and cats?

Tina: Often, they love animals; they may identify with strays because (correctly or not) they feel abandoned by society, family and friends. Once they identify, they can’t say no to taking in cats or dogs. Animals are easy companions. All they really require is being fed and watered, and they’ll stay around. Anyone who loves animals and has been to a pet shelter knows the pull to help all the doomed animals there. Hoarders just can’t resist the pull.

PNAV: Do they start out loving dogs and cats and then lose control?

Tina: Almost always. They take in the animals with the attitude of a child “Oh isn’t it sweet?” and don’t consider the larger picture. If they don’t get the animals spayed or neutered, they don’t even have to take in more to have their hoard grow. In the case of some animal hoarders I know, if people find out, they start ‘dumping’ unwanted animals at the hoarder ’s place. The whole thing becomes completely overwhelming, because they didn’t take care of business in the first place.

PNAV: How can they be helped?

Tina: Someone needs to notice this happening early on, and take control, forcing the hoarder to limit the number of pets and take proper care of them. Unfortunately, there’s no legal basis for this, unless you have someone declared incompetent by law. If you know Aunt Sally is getting a bit overrun with cats, and you have a good relationship with her, you might be able to persuade her to take proper care, get her animals spayed, and notice when she has adopted a new stray. Veterinarians would be in a good position to help guide pet owners, but often by the time it’s a problem, the person isn’t contacting a vet.

Thankfully, these cats were rescued from a hoarder.

How to Help

While animal cruelty laws vary from state to state, laws state that pet owners must supply adequate food, water and shelter for their pets. In cases with hoarders who are unwilling to accept help and the conditions are not deemed cruel by the law, you can contact your local fire department regarding fire code violations; health departments can also intervene if disease is an issue; and county zoning boards can step in regarding the number of animals a person may keep.

HSUS recommends sentencing convicted animal hoarders to psychological evaluation and treatment, and that they be restricted to owning a small number of animals—such as two. HSUS also suggests that hoarders must agree to unannounced visits from animal control officers to ensure compliance. In extreme cruelty cases, where animals are visibly suffering, HSUS favors jail time for hoarders.

If you suspect someone is hoarding animals, contact your local SPCA or county zoning board for help.

10 Tips on Finding the Perfect Pet Sitter

By Diane Pomerance, PhD, Rescue Dog Specialist & Pet Expert

Many people would not dream of taking a vacation without their pets. However it is not always practical or possible to bring our pets with us. In order for us to be happy on our vacation we want to be sure our pets are happy, healthy and safe while we are away.

Before you go on vacation make sure your dog and your pet sitter spend time together.

As creatures of habit, our animal companions fare best when adhering to their regular daily routines regarding diet, exercise and sleep. An experienced and reliable pet sitter can keep our pets happy and healthy while we’re away. But just how do we go about finding this magical being to be entrusted with the care of our beloved pets? Following are 10 tips to find the perfect pet sitter:

1) Make a list of everything you need in a sitter and a list of the needs of your pet. Will the pet sitter simply need to exercise, feed, provide fresh water and play with your pet? Does your pet require any medications? Do you have plants that need to be watered, mail and newspapers to be taken in and other household duties that need to be discussed?

2) Get recommendations from friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Ask what functions they have their pet sitter perform while they are away. Are these consistent with what you will require?

3) Seek recommendations from your veterinarian and vet techs. Some provide pet sitting services or they may be able to recommend a reputable pet sitter.

4) Contact NAPPS (National Association of Professional Pet Sitters) for referrals. NAPPS offers a certification program for qualified prospective pet sitters.

Make sure your pet sitter spends time with your playful kitten or cat.

5) Speak with employees of your local pet store for recommendations. They may offer dog socialization and obedience classes, and the trainers themselves may be available to pet sit or know of qualified people to do the job.

6) Your local animal welfare or rescue organization may know of capable, caring, professional people who pet sit.

7) Meet with a potential pet sitter before you go on vacation. Familiarize him with the pet(s) he will be caring for as well as your home. Watch how the pet sitter takes to your pet an d how your pet takes to him or her.

Write down detailed information about his responsibilities so that he can refer to them whenever necessary. Also provide him with contact information, phone numbers and addresses of your vet, friends and neighbors who can help out if necessary.

9) Make sure he is licensed and bonded and has excellent references and experience.

10) Make certain he is able to handle an emergency and is aware of the phone number and location of the nearest veterinary emergency hospital as well as your vet’s office.

Animal Behavior Expert Diane Pomerance, PhD, is author of the new book, Our Rescue Dog Family Album. She works closely with the SPCA of Texas, K-9 Friends Visiting Therapy Dogs of GTDOG, and the Alaskan Malamute Assistance League.

Editor’s Note: And if you do want to take your dog with you on vacation, check out Go Pet Friendly, a travel site for people who travel with their pets.

Allergy Sufferers: Keep Your Pets

By Jacob Maslow of Allergy Be Gone, Guest Blogger

Whether he or she is named Fido, Luna, Max, Chester, or Rin Tin Tin, pet owners love their pets. Pets prove to be loyal and loving companions to many. But, uh oh, what happens when you or a family member becomes allergic to this cherished family member?

Allergies, including allergies to pets, are on the rise. There are a number of factors contributing to this unwanted occurrence; the primary factor being pollution. However, when you or a family member becomes allergic to your pet, it becomes personal and much more problematic.

If you suffer from dust mites, you can remove your carpets and draperies. Simply replace them with products that do not create a breeding ground for the little varmints. And, you can easily use allergen protective covers for you bedding. You take whatever means you can to get rid of the allergic trigger. When it’s your pet, what do you do? Pet allergy sufferers not only suffer with their allergy symptoms, they have the added concern of possibly having to give their pet away. Hold on though, don’t panic. There’s plenty you can do to reduce symptoms from pet allergy triggers, otherwise called pet dander.

10 Steps to Reduce Your Exposure to Pet Dander

1. Keep your pet out of the bedroom.

2. Use air purifiers in the bedrooms and other rooms you spend time in, such as the living room and/or playroom.

3. Use a HEPA filter in each air purifier and a high quality filter for each air conditioner in your home. HEPA filters are specially designed to trap and eliminate 99.7% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. The more allergens trapped, including pet dander, the less allergens in your home.

4. Vacuum carpets and upholstered furniture regularly, and make sure you use a HEPA vacuum cleaner filter. Again, these filters drastically reduce the allergens in your home.

5. Dust regularly, a least once a week, using a microfiber cloth/duster, or a damp cloth.

6. Do not run your ceiling fans. Dust, including pet dander, collects on the blades. If you turn it on, the allergens in the dust become airborne causing allergy symptoms in the allergy sufferer.

7. If possible remove carpets and heavy draperies and replace with products such as wood or tile flooring and blinds.

8. Wear an allergy mask when dusting and vacuuming.

9. Use HEPA filters on your heating system.

10. Place filters over your air vents.

While there are even more strategies you can use to keep your home allergen-free and reduce your allergy symptoms, these 10 steps will get you headed in the right direction and certainly help reduce exposure to your pet’s dander.

One last note, consulting with an allergist and possibly getting allergy shots is also another avenue you can look into. The shots help your body to tolerate the allergy triggers that are bothering you, including pet dander.

Allergy Be Gone is a family company owned and managed by an allergy sufferer. The founders, Marc and Allen Barsano, have always been concerned with helping people who suffer from allergies. For this reason, Marc and Allen are dedicated to providing useful and regularly updated allergy avoidance information. Their blog is updated daily, and their Allergist Directory is quite popular.

Peter Shankman on Animal Nonprofits and Social Media

Best known as the founder of Help A Reporter Out (HARO), a website that matches thousands of journalists with sources for their stories, Peter Shankman is also known as an author, speaker, skydiver, cat owner, and animal lover. He found his two cats Karma (age 12) and NASA (age 11) on the streets of New York City when they were six weeks old.

Karma with Peter.

I read his blog and while I glean information about social media, marketing, and public relations from it, I enjoy the fact that he occasionally mentions Karma and NASA.

I first heard Peter talk at an American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) luncheon. He spoke about HARO, social media, his cats, and the animal charity he supports. He really liked their work, so he sent them a donation. A few weeks later a coffee table book arrives in the mail. “I don’t own a coffee table,” he says. “Most people my age don’t own coffee tables. It’s a beautiful book, however, it was going to go on my bookshelf and no one will see it.”

“So, I got on the phone and called the public relations person at the animal charity. I thanked her for the book, and told her that I’m sure most of the donors—at least the ones in my age group don’t have a coffee table in their homes. I suggested she upload videos to YouTube. It costs less than a full color coffee table book to produce, and it would reach a large audience.”

Peter went on to talk about social media and why we need it. A few days, later, I contacted Peter to ask him how animal nonprofits can use social media to their advantage. “When it comes to social media, there is no difference between animal charities and Fortune 500 companies,” he explains. “Both have to reach out to their audience and find out how their audience wants to be reached. And the easiest way to do this is through social media.”

Favoring Facebook

“Every animal nonprofit should have its own website and blog and should be on Facebook and Twitter,” he says. “Being on Facebook and Twitter doesn’t cost anything—except time. And in order to grow a nonprofit or any organization, you have to invest time.”

Peter favors Facebook because it gives people “an ability to foster relationships,” he says. “It’s a great place to learn about your friends and followers. On Facebook, you can learn about your donors and potential donors. Sign up with Facebook and open a Twitter account and talk to the people you want to reach. Use these tools to listen to people. If you feel that your organization doesn’t have time, find time. This is marketing basics, you need to be on these sites to get your message across and to reach your targeted donors.”

Profile Pages

Spend time developing your profile page. “When people look at a profile, they want to know what you do, where you are located and what you like,” he explains. “Try sharing information and don’t worry about privacy. There are no secrets in social media, and besides you want to disclose as much information as possible about your organization. Be open and honest—that is what we all respond to.”

“Remember the ’social’ in ’social media.’ For every time you tweet abuot yourself, tweet five times about things that are helpful, interesting or that thank someone else.”

Learn from those You Admire

He also suggests copying from the best: “Look at other companies and watch how they are using social media. You can always hire interns if your budget is tight—as with most animal nonprofits.”

“Go on Facebook and search for animal charities to see what they are doing. Check out their websites and blogs. Note what you like and what you don’t like, and learn from that. Use their site as a template to learn and create your own site. And when you are on Facebook, ask questions. Ask your donors how they like to be reached. Listen, really listen to the people you meet on Facebook and other social media sites. Engage them in conversation and be patient and honest.”

Enjoy the Holiday

Pet News and Views will not publish this Friday or Monday. The next post will be on Wednesday. I’m planning to unplug for a few days outdoors.

For all of you celebrating the Memorial Day weekend, enjoy. If you don’t celebrate the holiday, have a great weekend.

Jackie Chan on Saving Endangered Tigers

I’m usually not star struck, but when it comes to Jackie Chan, I am a big fan. I think everybody likes Jackie Chan. And now, I like him even more. He is using his celebrity to educate the public about the illegal tiger trade.

Jackie Chan speaks out against illegal tiger trade.

“I have acted as Conservation Ambassador for many different kinds of animals, and had tried to help rescue many different species such as elephants, rhinoceros, and pandas,” he says. “I have always liked tigers because tigers have very elegant bodies. I think tigers are the king of animals and should be able to live in the forest freely. I think if some animals become extinct, it would be a huge regret for the human race.”

“I believe that Chinese are too superstitious in their belief of tigers’ medicinal value, and there are products such as Tiger Bone Wine, Tiger Medicine, and Tiger Cream. When I was young, I used to use Tiger Bone Wine when in fact a lot of medicine can be made using advanced technology. Some people say that eating the gallbladder of a bear is good for you when in fact they are all marketing strategies from merchants. I remembered watching how tigers are brutally killed in documentaries, with their bones taken to be ground into powder. It is extremely inhumane. I want to urge the public to protect nature and animals facing extinction.”

Jackie wants everyone to stop buying tiger products. He and other top actors and Olympic athletes, including Yao Ming, Amanda Beard, Tara Kirk, and Maurice Green will be featured in 30-second public service announcements (PSAs) that will be aired in Asia. These PSAs are produced and created by WildAid, a global nonprofit dedicated to ending the illegal wildlife trade, and Metan Development Group LLC, an entertainment content and media company.

“If you stop buying tiger products, they will stop killing the tigers,” says Jackie. “Let’s all save the tigers, especially during the Year of the Tiger.”

Pet News and Views

Categories

U.S. Animal Advocate Makes Impact in China

Contest: Win a $300 Best Western Hotel Travel Card

A Champion for Pit Bulls

Ten is the New Five

Animal Hoarders

10 Tips on Finding the Perfect Pet Sitter

Allergy Sufferers: Keep Your Pets

Enjoy the Holiday

Jackie Chan on Saving Endangered Tigers

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