Petition Tag - animals

Right now millions of helpless animal are being drowned, stabbed, stomped on, crushed, hit, and basically skinned alive, and for what? So some rich woman can wear them as a coat. We need to stop this now!

View petition

Wild animals are still used in circuses and traveling shows across North America. Most are shunted from town to town with no opportunity to live according to their natural biology and behavior. They endure severe confinement, deprivation, hardship and brutality.

Many performing wild animals are also large, potentially dangerous and perform in front of audiences with few protective measures in place. They pose a risk to themselves, their handlers, audience members and bystanders.

Many municipalities have passed by-laws that prohibit circuses with animals from performing in their communities. It is time Barrie bans inhumane entertainment as well.

View petition

H.R. 503 is the bill that's currently sitting on the floor of the US House of Representatives. Its predecessor, H.R. 6598, was not passed by the last Congress.

H.R. 503 will finally make it ilegal to transport all equines (horses, burros, donkeys) across US borders for the purpose of slaughter.

Every day that this bill is not signed, each day it is not law--horses are dying a painful, cruel, vicious, violent death. Greed is the root of this cruelty--soul-wrenching pain is the end result.

The ONLY ones who benefit from the slaughter of horses are the killer-buyers; New Holland and Texas auction houses--and the Ag lobbyists, who make obscene amounts of money working to convince Congresspeople that ending horse slaughter will eventually topple American agriculture.

That's a crock--a lie--a slippery slope of lies. Every check written to an Ag lobbyist is written in the blood of a dead horse.

Please contact your Congressperson, and tell them that you want them to sign this bill, and make it law.

Go to the 'site for Congress, and find your Rep. It will take you TWO minutes to call and tell them that you want H.R. 503 passed.

http://www.house.gov

If you're outside the United States, we need your support, too! Please contact the United States Congress--most notably the office of Rep. John Conyers (Democrat/Michigan)--he's the good man who originated this bill. Please contact his office, via email or phone, to thank him; tell him that you're not an American--but that you're watching what the US is doing. America must be aware that the world is watching--Mr. Conyers cares about the horses, and he should know that you do, too.

(Rep. John Conyers:
Phone: (313) 961-5670
Website: http://capwiz.com/compassionindex/webreturn/?url=http://www.house.gov/conyers)

Gandhi is quoted as saying,
"A society is judged by its treatment of its weakest members," and "A society is judged by its treatment of its animals."

Whichever is the correct quote--the great man was right.

And, that being the case--America, and those horsepeople who are willing to murder their horses for a few bucks--will be judged very harshly, indeed.

View petition

Dear animal lover,

animal welfare society Ärzte für Tiere e.V. creates a forum for stray animals rights in Europe by launching online platform STARS.

In Europe stray dogs and cats suffer tremendous torments each day - they are hunted and maltreated, beaten up and poisoned; they are caught and kept in so-called »animal shelters« that provide no escape: in these camps thousands of stray animals are penned up to meet a cruel death.

Despite the existence of animal protection laws stray animals have become a questionable source of income in many European countries: their capture, custody and killing offer good business opportunities by involving public money originally designated to improve the stray animals situation.

EU parliamentarians Alain Hutchinson, David Hammerstein and Neil Parish have written a declaration on the welfare of pets and stray animals (PDF). The declaration claims hard punishment for abandoning and maltreating pets and stray animals.

EU Member States are requested to commit themselves to regulate the overpopulation of stray animals and to lay sterilization and vaccination down in law and to implement them accordingly.

A vote on this declaration will be held in EU parliament shortly - the time limit to sign this declaration is May 5th, 2009. It is crucial that a majority of the EU parliamentarians’ votes are obtained for this declaration.

Please support us by asking EU parliamentarians to sign this petition! Please forward this petition to friends and colleagues!

View petition

MANIFEST CONTRA LA CAÇA A LES ESCOLES

Amb aquest manifest, les entitats sotasignants volem comunicar-los el nostre més profund descontent, malestar, perplexitat i indignació en conèixer les iniciatives que l'Agrupació de Societats de Caçadors del Pirineu i la Catalunya Central (AGRUPCAT) amb el suport del Departament de Medi Ambient de la Generalitat de Catalunya està portant a terme en algunes escoles catalanes sota el lema de “La caça a les escoles”.



1.-CONTRADICCIÓ D’AQUESTA ACTIVITAT AMB ELS VALORS QUE ES TRANSMETEN A L’ESCOLA

Els arguments per a ser contraris a aquesta iniciativa són variats i múltiples; les i els docents, en la seva la gran majoria, fem un esforç diari per transmetre al nostre alumnat els valors del respecte, l’educació en la pau i la cultura del diàleg i la no violència. Dediquem moltes hores i esforços a transmetre que la violència no ens ajuda a solucionar res, i que la paraula serà l’eina més poderosa per aprendre a resoldre els conflictes d’una manera pacífica. Intentem també educar l’alumnat en el respecte al medi ambient, i els ensenyem pràctiques sostenibles aplicades a la nostra vida diària. Així mateix, mirem d’educar l’alumnat en el respecte per a la diversitat, és a dir, vers tots els éssers vius que comparteixen el món amb nosaltres, intentant que entenguin que de món només n’hi ha un i que no ens pertany, i que hem de tenir cura perquè tots els que l’habiten tinguin un lloc digne, net de contaminació i sense perills.

2.-CONTRADICCIÓ DE LES ACTIVITATS DELS CAÇADORS AMB ELS VALORS QUE DIUEN PROMOURE

La presentació dels caçadors a les escoles, els quals defineixen la seva activitat com a lúdica, amb la qual s’aprofiten de recursos naturals per a satisfer unes aficions particulars (divertir-se matant), es presentada d’una manera absolutament manipuladora de la innocència dels infants als quals es dirigeixen aquestes xerrades. L’alumnat reconeix com a vàlides les pautes que els adults, i més si és dins l’entorn educatiu, els donen. El nostre alumnat, els nostres fills, imiten les conductes observades en els adults, assumeixen els rols viscuts a les seves cases, a les escoles i al carrer i els reprodueixen fidelment. De la mateixa manera interioritzen la valoració que aquests rols adquireixen a la societat. Les armes, amb les quals els caçadors maten les seves preses, estan sent posicionades dins el pensament dels més petits com quelcom tàcitament acceptat i per tant bo. La violència que porta implícita l’acte de matar, està sent justificada i acceptada pels nens i les nenes, i això possibilita que, en el futur, la violència i la llei del més fort es constitueixin com la base de les seves possibles relacions. Volem crear consciència sobre el problema de la violència, el menyspreu per la vida, l’ús de les armes, donat que en el futur les conductes de violència de gènere, les injustícies dels conflictes armats, la poca consideració social sobre la vida dels animals... deriven del posicionament moral que tenim de les armes i de la violència en si. El més fort (qui té l’arma) triomfa, i a més “és el bo”. Matar i morir es presenta com quelcom normal i bo, i aquest fet comporta el menyspreu per la vida. A les escoles no permetem que l’alumnat porti al centre joguines bèl·liques (espases, pistoles, escopetes...) perquè entenem que aquestes joguines fomenten i porten implícit que la violència i la guerra són un instrument vàlid per a solucionar els conflictes. Amb la iniciativa de “La caça a les escoles” tot el que fem perd el seu sentit. Com justificarem la contradicció d’estar educant per la Pau, a favor del diàleg, per la desmilitarització, quan els caçadors van armats per la muntanya i se’ls porta a l’escola com si fossin uns herois de la protecció dels animals i del medi ambient? Amb quina cara ens mirarà l’alumnat quan els diem que hem de protegir i defensar els animals, si acte seguit ve algú a explicar-los que anar pel bosc matant-los està bé? L’argument dels caçadors, que ajuden a conservar la diversitat, i que la caça és un aprofitament legítim dels recursos naturals és absolutament falsa i perversa. La caça és una manera de divertir-se nociva, agressiva, violenta, contaminant i perillosa, malgrat estigui regulada per llei, una llei que, tot s’ha de dir, no es modifica des de l’any 1970.

3.-PROBLEMÀTICA PER AL DESENVOLUPAMENT INFANTIL Igualment considerem que les institucions que promouen aquesta iniciativa no tenen formació en psicologia infantil, ja que passen per alt que els infants i joves tenen una especial connexió empàtica amb els animals (biofilia), i aportar-los aquesta informació “matar-los està bé” els desorienta, amb el consegüent neguit i problemes emocionals. Segons John Burroughs, primer cal cultivar l’amor, i sobre aquesta emoció, el coneixement intel·lectual: Entre els tres i set anys els infants descobreixen el que es defineix com a “ego ecopsicològic” o percepció harmoniosa del “jo” en relació el món natural. Degut a que l’home ha evolucionat formant part de la naturalesa, tots naixem capacitats per desenvolupar un vincle afectiu i psicològic amb ella, o tendència innata a la biofilia. La manera de potenciar l’empatia vers el món natural és cultivant relacions amb els animals. El contacte amb els animals és una escola d’educació emocional pels infants. És normal que els i les nenes els tractin amb afecte i respecte, senten una proximitat especial amb les cries dels animals, despertant-los sentiments de tendresa i protecció. Promoure la caça a les escoles és una activitat profundament irrespectuosa amb el desenvolupament natural dels infants normalitzant-los les actituds violentes i negant-los la necessitat innata de construir un món harmoniós i pacífic. Els humans poden matar altres éssers vius quan bloquegen tota relació empàtica amb la víctima. Només podem agredir quan ens distanciem emocionalment de la víctima, i aquesta és l’arrel de tota violència. L’equilibri emocional d’un infant requereix, com un dels seus pilars bàsics, la capacitat empàtica vers els altres. Si una criatura pot posar-se en el lloc de l’altre, (empatia) com podrà disparar-li? I si ho fa, o participa del fet, patirà un conflicte intern que pot arribar a destruir el seu equilibri psicològic. A l’escola treballem com a objectius prioritaris aquesta capacitat empàtica, com a mitjà per a obtenir un món harmoniós i solidari, on el respecte per l’altre no vingui donat per la pertinença a una ètnia, gènere o col·lectiu cultural, o espècie. El respecte es donarà per la consideració moral de cada ésser individual capaç de sentir i de patir. El Principi 10 de la declaració Universal dels Drets dels Infants diu que: “L’infant ha de ser protegit contra les pràctiques que puguin fomentar la discriminació racial, religiosa o de qualsevol altra mena. Ha de ser educat en esperit de comprensió, tolerància, amistat entre els pobles, pau i fraternitat universal, i amb plena consciència que ha de consagrar les seves aptituds i energies al servei dels seus semblants.” Quin sentit té iniciar els infants en l’ensenyament de valors violents? Segons Wilson y Kellert “Un infant que creix envoltat d’agressió contra qualsevol ésser viu, té més probabilitats d’abusar, maltractar o matar quan sigui adult” Aquesta lamentable iniciativa s’oposa a la LOE, que s’inspira en “l’educació per a la prevenció de conflictes i per a la resolució pacífica d’aquests, així com la no-violència en tots els àmbits de la vida personal, familiar i social”, i s’orienta a la consecució de la formació per a la pau, el respecte dels drets humans, la vida en comú, la cohesió social, la cooperació i solidat entre els pobles” Trobem adequat afegir els resultats dels estudis i investigacions del Dr. en Psiquiatria Luis Rojas Marcos, el qual es pregunta si la violència és una força intrínsecament biològica – programada en els nostres gens– o sorgeix com a reacció a l’impacte dels avatars de la vida. “La violència no és instintiva, sinó que s’aprèn”, sosté l’autor. “Ningú neix amb un temperament hostil ni es torna cruel si no es pren el temps necessari per aprendre’n. La infantesa, en aquest sentit, és l’etapa vital en què més sovint es generen les futures conductes violentes”, sosté el psiquiatra. “Les llavors de la violència es planten en els primers anys de la vida, es desenvolupen durant la infantesa i comencen a manifestar-se i a donar fruits durant l’adolescència”, explica. La violència és una xacra social que s’aprèn. Tota la bibliografia especialitzada ens indica que la violència s’aprèn i es transmet i un dels principals factors de predicció que una persona serà violenta es que hagi viscut violència al seu entorn més pròxim tant a nivell micro com macrosocial: família, escola, grup d’iguals, lloc al que viu, festes del poble…. El fet de normalitzar i naturalitzar la violència, tal com s’està fent amb el programa “La caça a les escoles” estem abonant el terreny per a futurs maltractadors.

4.-DADES ESTADÍSTIQUES Com que pensem que els caçadors no aporten totes les dades que fan referència a la seva activitat, n’afegim unes quantes a continuació, són dades prou significatives i importants per a incorporar a les xerrades: ACCIDENTS, FERITS i MORTS PER TRETS Segons les dades de la Mútua dels caçadors (Mutuasport), l’any 2007 van haver 21 persones mortes i 863 ferits per trets de caça, dels quals 13 van patir amputacions o danys oculars a conseqüència del impacte. L’any 2005 en nombre de ferits va elevar-se a quasi 2.000. L’any 2002 van morir 23 persones i el 2004 en van morir 18. Segons la mateixa Mútua, la mitjana anual és de 2.585 accidents de caça, amb més de 24 morts per trets i 2.448 ferits. Malauradament, no tots els morts i ferits pels trets de caçadors tenen per víctimes els mateixos caçadors. Sovint, des de excursionistes fins a pagesos, passant per animals de masies són perjudicats per aquesta activitat. Per tant, en temporada de caça, és altament perillós practicar senderisme, BTT, cicloturisme o simplement habitar a prop d’on es caça. La pràctica de la caça suposa un risc seriós per a la vida dels mateixos caçadors i altres persones. Així mateix, l’any 2008 van morir 10 dones i 1 home per tret d’escopeta, víctimes de la violència de gènere. El perill que suposen els caçadors es veu incrementat si tenim en compte que molts d’ells consumeixen alcohol abans o durant la sortida a la muntanya, amb la disminució de reflexes i capacitat de reacció que això comporta. CONTAMINACIÓ PER PLOM Es calcula que els caçadors disparen 200 milions de cartutxos cada any a l’estat Espanyol. Cada cartutx conté 30 gr. de plom en forma d’uns 250 perdigons (que poden anar entre 68 a 1170, segons el seu diàmetre). Així que d’una manera molt ràpida podem calcular que a Espanya es dispersen cada any unes 6000 tones de plom en forma de 50.000 perdigons. Com a conseqüència d’aquesta contaminació massiva, més de 50.000 aus aquàtiques moren cada any víctimes del “plombisme” en confondre els perdigons amb les petites pedres que necessiten per a fer la digestió. A l’estat Espanyol aquesta és la primera causa de mort d’animals per intoxicació. Aquesta situació és molt més greu a les zones humides o pantanoses, ja que cada any 50 tones de plom van a para allà. Espanya té el lamentable rècord estadístic de ser un dels països amb les concentracions més altes de plom en zones humides. El plom metàl·lic és resistent i s’estima que pot trigar entre 15 i 300 anys en desaparèixer totalment, però les aus continuen ingerint-lo encara molts anys després d’haver estat disparat. Un altre dels problemes greus derivat del plom és la contaminació del sòl i de les aigües. El plom es transforma en compostos químics solubles i biodisponibles per les altres formes de vida, inclosa la humana. Només 1 perdigó de 120 gr de pes dissolt completament pot contaminar 12.000 litres d’aigua, que arribarien al nivell crític de 10 micrograms per litre, valor fixat per la UE i la OMS a partir del qual no es considera apte pel consum.

FURTIVISME L’índex de delictes a Espanya relacionats amb el furtivisme és dels més elevats dels països de la UE, segons la guàrdia civil. Segons ells, la poca consciència ecològica dels espanyols en seria la causa. L’any 2007 van ser detingudes pel Seprona 65 persones per delictes relacionats amb la caça major, 44 per caça menor i 33 per atemptar contra la fauna, comptanthi espècies protegides. Avui en dia hi ha moltes caceres il·legals, darrere les quals s’oculten autèntiques màfies organitzades, les quals mouen grans quantitats de diner negre i que operen sense escrúpols per tal d’obtenir la peça desitjada. Algunes espècies, com el gall fer estan en perill d’extinció per culpa de la pressió furtiva. El furtivisme està contemplat con un delicte al codi penal però encara hi ha molta condescendència amb el delinqüents per part de la judicatura. Igualment, cada any hi ha incomptables víctimes de trets intencionats, per practicar punteria, entre aus i altres animals que no son “peces de caça”. MALTRACTAMENT ANIMAL Els 90% dels gossos dels caçadors pateixen una vida indigna i miserable, vivint dins de gàbies minúscules cada dia, amb la mobilitat limitada per la manca d’espai, a mercè de les inclemències del temps, i sense cap possibilitat de socialització. Molts d’ells són malferits pels senglars o reben trets per error, i molts caçadors ni es dignen a curar-los i els deixen agonitzant al bosc o bé (en el millor dels casos) els rematen d’un tret. Les gosses de caça són obligades a reproduir-se sense parar, i els cadells que no són bons són eliminats de forma o abandonats sense més (només cal anar a les protectores i comptar els gossos de caça que hi ha), incrementant d’una manera significativa les dades d’abandonament de gossos.

Un 70% dels gossos abandonats i recollits a les protectores són gossos de caça. En virtut dels arguments exposats, reclamem que aquest programa sigui aturat immediatament i que els alumnes que han rebut aquesta informació tinguin la oportunitat de rebre algun tipus de xerrada compensatòria per aquest fet lamentable, antieducatiu, desequilibrador de la salut mental dels infants i potenciador de la violència i l’ús de les armes. Atentament: Junta directiva A Barcelona el 20 de març de 2009 (S’adjunta recull de premsa i fotografies) Per veure el reportatge sobre “La caça a les escoles” : http://www.tv3.cat/videos/965299 Vídeo gossos caçadors: http://elrefugioescuela.com/no-olvides-dont-forget/

View petition

I am blessed to live in a beautiful neighbourhood, a peninsula with a hill surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, lots of trees, many wild living animals, peacocks, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, skunks of course and many more.

Two days ago I came home and noticed an Animal Control truck stopping behind my car in front of a neighbour’s home. The Animal Control officer took a cage and went into the home’s back yard. Shortly after he came back out with a little squirrel in the cage. Out of curiosity and because my inner voice told me to, I asked the officer, why he had the squirrel in the cage. This is what he told me:

The woman living on this property trapped the animal, because she was bothered by it. She then called Animal Control to send a truck for the pick up of this little critter. At this point I had to ask, what would happen to the squirrel now and was then told, that it would be brought to the Animal Control station to be put down.

I took a deep breath and asked if there was anything wrong with the squirrel, maybe it was sick or so. The officer then said, that there was nothing wrong with it, the woman just did not want the squirrel in her back yard and so, according to Los Angeles County policies, it had to be put down. I looked at the woman still waiting to see the animal go and she quickly closed her gate.

At this point I did what I had to do and started negotiating for the poor squirrel’s life. If this officer wouldn’t have released the squirrel in a park in the neighbourhood, I may have ended up in a straight jacket that evening. This lucky squirrel is still alive today but many other wild living animals, trapped by mean and selfish residents, who obviously still don’t understand the importance of a healthy ecosystem, are not anymore.

Thanks to the City of Palos Verdes, California, which allows residents to trap wild living animals. L.A. County offers support by renting traps to people for a fee, which also includes education and training on how to trap wild living animals properly. People then call Animal Control, they come, pick up, take along and kill.

A decision of the Board of Supervisors of L.A. County and the permission to trap make it possible.

We desperately try to save this planet and an ecosystem, which can collapse at any minute and this country fights the worst economy since the last depression.

And here Los Angeles County pays to kill wild animals that have done nothing wrong, not hurt anyone and are no danger to anybody - just because these animals are unfortunate to call their home some mean resident’s back yard, who has nothing better to do than to destroy our environment. Squirrels too are part of a sensitive ecosystem and so are raccoons, opossums, skunks, rattlesnakes, insects and many others.

California is bankrupt and our tax money is spent on Animal Control officers, having to go, get and kill. Did the L.A. Board of Supervisors get too much of the Californian sun before they came up with this?

I intend to fight this insanity, if you agree with me, please help and sign.

You can also help by investigating your own City/County’s policies to find out, if there are more such rules in other places. Together we can make a difference. It may take an effort and it may be inconvenient, but it is worth it. Not acting and accepting a madness like this is not an option for me. Hopefully it is not an option for you either.

Let’s get the ball rolling!

View petition

I've always known about the problems in China, and how they use cats and dogs in there meat. I know that not all Chinese are for this and that many are against it but it isn't enough. Only SOME of the vival things that are happening are: -Cats and dogs are locked up in tight cages, squeezed together. -Live cats and dogs are being cut up (without neutralizes, not that if there were neutralizers it would be okay, its still very wrong) -Cats and dogs are being inhumanly abused and even pets are taken of the street and abused to make Chinese food.

View petition

The vast majority of Australia’s egg laying hens today spend their short lives warehoused with hundreds of thousands of others. They are confined in cages, smaller than the size of an A4 piece of paper, in which they are unable to exercise the bulk of their natural behaviours such as preening, nesting, stretching their wings and even turning around.

There are more compassionate alternatives such as free range!

View petition

The citizens of Richibucto and surroundings are finally banding together to help the lost, abandoned, abused, and injured animals in our community and surrounding areas of Kent County.

With urging from the Kent County Veterinary Hospital, and like-minded friends, I am now pulling together a group of caring citizens for the purpose of:

1. Helping each other help the animals;

2. Building our own shelter right here in Richibucto to serve all Kent County. Even the most caring individuals can only foster so many animals at one time – so the need for a shelter is great.

As you probably know, the nearest SPCA shelter is over an hour away – and is always full. We're not aiming for elaborate – merely functional. This could be a long process. But until we begin, we cannot finish.

Will you help? Your sponsorship or donation will be a building-block on the way to assuring that like Rex, Charlie and many more ( see pictures ) can be rescued, given veterinary care, and placed in loving homes.

If anyone wants to donate visit the Credit union or you can also mail in a donation small or big everything helps 39, Chemin Pointe du Mirage Aldouane, N.B. E4W 5C7. Please make the check out to Kent County Animal Rescue.

I am sad to report that we don't have the funds yet to build a shelter. But we are doing different things to raise funds but this is just helping us in providing care for the animals, which is great but it is very difficult to place these animals in different homes...

We have proven that we can save animals lives and place them in loving homes but we need our shelter built and we are going to show this petition to the political leader of our area...

View petition

The issue is that we are losing trees at a very fast pace. Without trees we can expect more runoffs of topsoil, the temperature of the earth to change, extinction of animals that rely on tree’s to live, and irregularities in the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen.

Some might think that this won't affect us, but it can/will create a reaction on the earth that will affect other resources in the area. By saving the trees we are creating a better future for ourselves and our future children.

View petition

Canada’s seal hunt is a cruel and inhumane way to kill and hurt an innocent animal, and like many people, I want to put an end to it. Each year, baby seals are killed for their fur. Since, for every bullet hole, 2 dollars are taken off, most people prefer not to shoot them. Instead, they use clubs with metal hooks on the end to hit the seals with.

In fact, in 2001, an independent team of veterinarians studied the hunt and saw that the normal regulations and basic animal welfare rights weren’t being followed. Some of the seals had even been skinned while they were still alive.


Even when the hunting goes above the limit, the government doesn’t do anything to stop it. And if you’re wondering, stopping the seal hunt wouldn’t hurt Canada’s economy since it’s an off-season activity. Yet the government still provides thousands of dollars for the development of seal products. A lot of taxpayer money can go into this, too.

Hundreds of thousands of seals are killed each year. In the 2006 hunt, the government allowed a lot more than 350 000 seals to be clubbed and shot. The last time seals were killed like this, the harp seal population went down by almost two thirds. The actual number of seals killed is probably higher than this since many seals are wounded and left to fall into the water, where they die and are never recovered.

Nearly one million seals have been killed in the past the three years alone, and there’s more to come.

View petition

Now, I'm sure you've seen stories on the news about how somebody died from a pit bull attack. But what the media never said was how it was the owners fault. There is something wrong with the way this breed gets bad reputations just because of a few bad "seeds" in the bunch. Yes, I understand that it was the dog who killed/hurt/maimed the person it attacked, but pit bulls are vicious if trained to be!

There is a new bill that democrats want to get passed called SB 861. It's mainly in San Fransisco, California, but where will it strike next? Texas? Colorado? New York? It's unthinkable how ignorant people want to ban a certain breed of dog because of their "viciousness". In a way, this is like genocide.

Think about this; imagine you are a Jewish person, being killed because you are a Jew. Now, place yourself into the pit bulls paws and imagine that you're in a loving home, getting fed regularly, having some kids play with you and then BAM! You hear the words "I'm sorry girl/boy. You have to go." and then you're put to sleep. And it's because you look "dangerous."

Is that fair? No. It's not. Think of all the families that are being torn up because their best friend is a pit bull or pit bull mix.

Pits, pit mixes and other dogs that look like like pits are feared because of bad media. People will actually raise pit bulls to be fighting dos and they'll train them to fight other pit bulls to the death. Bets are placed on the two dogs, the owners take them off their chains and let them go. The dogs go at each other, biting, clawing, ripping into each other until one f the dogs drops dead from the wounds or having their throats ripped out.

Hence forth, a reason pits get bad reputations. Another reason they get bad coverage is because people are too ignorant to see the truth that it is not the dog's fault, but whoever raised them's fault instead.

View petition

Countless amounts of domestic animals die each year in the United States from animal cruelty and abuse. Animals will always be a subject to abuse and cruelty, but we can lessen the numbers. Animal torture is caused by humans who are ignorant or mentally unstable, and should go through a minimum of ten years of prison.

This sentencing is not in the least bit harsh for the crime committed. In reality, domestic animal cruelty is only a step lower than human cruelty. This does not mean, however, that it is less important or not as sick minded. To carry out such a crime, these individuals clearly are in a lack of vital human characteristics such as compassion and the fact that these people are out on the streets with no more than a fine and/or a maximum of five years in prison as a punishment is not only exceedingly disturbing but it is also worrisome. It is evident that these unlawful citizens need medical help, but we cannot rely on their insanity as an excuse for the painful murder they commit. For this reason, the penalty should be doubled in hope of ending the suffering.

However, this will have no effect if the public remains uneducated on the actual laws. The difficulty with today’s society is many of us are ignorant and uninformed, and consequently insensible to the subject. There are currently regulations in every state stating that the unnecessary killing, harming, torturing, beating, neglecting, and abandoning animals, or depriving them of suitable food, water or shelter is illegal and the owner can be charged in court for these crimes. Citizens are oblivious to these federal laws and do not see that it is a crime. The penalty of murder, for instance, is known all over the world as death or a life sentencing and, hence, the crime is not so often carried out in the world. If more people knew about domestic animal cruelty and that it is considered as a federal offense, less people would commit the deathly felony. The preliminary step towards ending the aggression is to let people know it is a federal crime and there is a punishment.

Humans are defined to be superior to all other beings on earth. Many people argue that since animals are not at such a high intellectuality they are, therefore, inferior. This makes animal cruelty acceptable for many. What needs to be understood, however, is that though animals may not be as intelligent as humans (so we believe), they can feel pain just as well as humans and they are living, feeling beings. It is therefore by no means tolerable to purposely inflict pain on these living beings.

Nevertheless, numerous pets are being tortured daily. The sentencing, however, is inefficient and quite mild most times. For instance, on October 21, 2007 a 22-year-old North Dallas man set his dog on fire because he was angry by the fact that she would not mate. The sentencing was a meek four years of prison. The dog suffered before dying ten days later.

Domestic animal abuse is a problem not many people think about. In truth, it is morally wrong, disturbing, illegal, and it occurs daily. If we raise the court ruling to a minimum of ten years, we can get that much closer to the end of animal cruelty. Animals cannot speak for themselves or be understood, but we know they are in pain from the mistreatment. It is part of our duty as citizens of the world to help their silent voices be heard and make the earth a better place for tomorrow’s children to come, human or not.

View petition

Greek version – English version follows:

Κάθε χρόνο, δεκάδες εκατομμύρια κουνέλια και 40-50 εκατομμύρια άλλα ζώα σκοτώνονται για τη γούνα τους. Τα περισσότερα από αυτά εκτρέφονται κάτω από φρικτές συνθήκες. Εγκλωβισμένα σε συρμάτινα κλουβιά και εκτεθειμένα σε ακραίες καιρικές συνθήκες, τα ζώα υποφέρουν από έντονη κατάθλιψη και στρες, παρουσιάζοντας εκτός των άλλων νευρωτική, επαναλαμβανόμενη συμπεριφορά, όπως επιτόπιους βηματισμούς, ατελείωτους κύκλους γύρω από τον εαυτό τους, αυτo-ακρωτηριασμό, ακόμη και κανιβαλισμό. Στο τέλος, τα περιμένει ένας φρικτός θάνατος που περιλαμβάνει μεθόδους όπως ηλεκτροπληξία στον πρωκτό, κρέμασμα, κτυπήματα στο κεφάλι και εισπνοή τοξικού αερίου για να μη καταστραφεί η γούνα. Σε κάποιες περιπτώσεις, οι μέθοδοι αυτοί δεν είναι άμεσα θανατηφόροι και μερικά ζώα έχουν τις αισθήσεις τους όταν τα γδέρνουν. Εκτός από τα ζώα εκτροφείου, άλλα ζώα παγιδεύονται στο φυσικό τους περιβάλλον, όπου τα περιμένει ένας αργός και βασανιστικός θάνατος.

Για την παραγωγή μιας και μόνο γούνας χρειάζονται δεκάδες ή και εκατοντάδες ζώα. Επιπλέον, εκτός από τον αδικαιολόγητο βασανισμό και θανάτωση των ζώων, απαιτείται 15 φορές περισσότερη ενέργεια για την παραγωγή γούνας από γουνοφόρα ζώα από ότι για την παραγωγή μιας συνθετικής γούνας. Στην Ελλάδα λειτουργούν 35 εκτροφεία γουνοφόρων ζώων και πολλές βιοτεχνίες που ειδικεύονται στην επεξεργασία και παραγωγή γούνινων ενδυμάτων και αξεσουάρ, τα περισσότερα από τα οποία προορίζονται για πολίτες των χωρών της Ανατολικής Ευρώπης.

Καλούμε όσους/όσες επιθυμούν να φορέσουν γούνινο ρουχισμό, να επιλέξουν συνθετική γούνα και να κοιτούν τις ετικέτες πριν αγοράσουν γούνινα ενδύματα ή αξεσουάρ για να βεβαιωθούν ότι δεν πρόκειται για γούνες από ζώα.


Παρακαλούμε πληροφορείστε όσους μπορείτε για τη φρίκη της γούνας, υπογράψτε τη διαμαρτυρία και στείλτε faxes και e-mails στις ακόλουθες διευθύνσεις:

Υπουργείο Αγροτικής Ανάπτυξης και Τροφίμων
Γραφείο Υπουργού
Fax: +30 210 5237904
Email: mrdsmin@otenet.gr

Γραφείο Υφυπουργού
Fax: +30 210 5245482
Email: ax2u165@minagric.gr


Υπουργείο Ανάπτυξης

Γραφείο Υπουργού
Fax: +30 210 6969604
Email: info@khatzidakis.gr

Γραφείο Γενικού Γραμματέα Εμπορίου
Fax: +30 210 3803422
Εmail: gen-sec@gge.gr

Θεματική Ομάδα για τα Δικαιώματα των Ζώων
ΟΙΚΟΛΟΓΟΙ ΠΡΑΣΙΝΟΙ


Every year, tens of millions of rabbits and 40-50 million other animals are killed for their fur worldwide. Most of them are raised in fur farms under terrible conditions. These animals, cramped in wire cages and exposed to extreme weather conditions, suffer from intense depression and anxiety and display neurotic behavior, such as pacing, turning in endless circles, self-mutilation and, even, cannibalism. Finally, a terrible death awaits them, which includes methods such as anal electrocution, hanging, beatings on the head, and inhalation of toxic gas. In some cases, these methods are not 100% effective and some animals “wake up” while being skinned. In addition to farmed animals, other animals are trapped in their natural environment and await a slow, torturous death.


It takes tens, or even, hundreds of animals to produce a single fur coat. Moreover, besides the suffering of countless animals, a fur coat from farm raised animals, takes 15 times more energy to be produced than it does to produce a fake fur coat.

In Greece, there are 35 fur farms and many companies that specialize in fur production. Most of the fur products are intended to be used by citizens of Eastern European countries.

We invite all those who wish to wear fur clothing to choose faux fur and to read the labels of fur clothing and accessories carefully in order to verify that it is fake fur.

Please, inform as many people as you can about the horror of fur production, sign this petition and send faxes and e-mails to the following addresses:

Ministry of Rural Development and Food
Minister’s Office
Fax: +30 210 5237904
Email: mrdsmin@otenet.gr

Deputy Minister’s Office
Fax: +30 210 5245482
Email: ax2u165@minagric.gr

Ministry of Development

Minister’s Office
Fax: +30 210 6969604
Email: info@khatzidakis.gr

General Secretary of Commerce
Fax: +30 210 3803422
Email: gen-sec@gge.gr

Thematic Group on Animal Rights of
THE GREEK GREEN PARTY - ECOGREENS

View petition

I am Starting a Survey to Save Animals ! and love for you to look.

View petition

The aim of this petition is to acheive a significant adjustment to the proposed course of the AWPR, so that it would no longer threaten the valuable work of Blaikiewell Animal Sanctuary.

please see:
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/924994

As currently planned the route would take 20 acres away from the sanctuary, land which could not be replaced. This would bring about a large reduction in capacity and effectively it would mean the beginning of the end for Blaikiewell.

Currently the environs of Blaikiewell are quiet with clean air, ideal for its many elderly equiine residents. This would all change if the road were built as proposed.

Background

Blaikiewell Animal Sanctuary is a small charity based on Lower Deeside, Aberdeenshire. The first 2 horses were bought on impulse at a mart in 1977 to save them from meat traders. The charity itself was set up in 1997.

Blaikiewell is currently home to over 70 horses and ponies, 2 jersey cows and 6 pigs.

Ethos

The ethos of Blaikiewell is to turn away no horse or pony that would otherwise be homeless or put down. If possible the horses and ponies are rehabilitated for very light work in the associated small riding school. Otherwise they live out the remainder of their natural lives in familiar fields with their friends. They are never sold or moved away.

Value to the Community

Blaikiewell provides much needed sanctuary spaces in a situation where most sancturies are full to bursting. Scotland cannot afford to lose the spaces at Blaikiewell.

Blaikiewell is also valuable to the humans involved, providing much interest and friendship. A young woman with learning difficulties sponsors one of the horses and comes quite regularly to feed and groom him. She gains much from the sense of responsibility this gives her.

Please help us to save Blaikiewell.

View petition

Animals are part of our world and deserve to be considered and cared for in a responsible and compassionate way. If parents and educators teach care and compassion for all living creatures to the children and the youth, we will create more humane generations for the future. This will improve conditions in general. It is a well known fact that people who care for animals, also care for people.

Compassionate leaders like Mahatma Ghandi and Albert Schweizer and Saint Francis of Assissi all agreed that you can judge a nation by the way it treats its animals and its children.

View petition

Manatees are magnificent marine mammals. However, they are very fragile. We need to do more to protect the manatees. It is estimated that 25% of all Florida manatee deaths are due to boating accidents. That is unfathomable.

There needs to be more signs to steer boaters away from manatees. If there is an area that is frequently inhabited by manatees, then that area should prohibit any boaters from entering. No more “Caution” signs. There are way too many reckless boaters out there that, if cautioned, would still be too inattentive. All caution zones should be changed into no entry zones.

Way too many manatees are dying due recklessness and it needs to stop!

View petition

Animals shouldn't.t be tested for cloning, or no mutilations.

View petition

I bought a kitten from a pet shop the kitten turned out to be only 4 weeks old was riddled with fleas and extremely underweight all confirmed buy a vet. This should not be allowed.

View petition

Everyday, there are animals out there being abused, neglected, and tortured. People are skinning animals alive just for their fur. I am here to say that it needs to come to an end. Animals should be loved and cherished, not abused and tortured.

These creatures are so helpless and innocent to the abuse to endure each day. They can't say "stop", because they don't have a voice. But together, we can be their voice.

View petition

Are you sick of plastic bags that only cause bad to our environment? Do you hate that no one can't just stand up and say i want plastic bags banned?

Well, if you are that person, please sign this petition as it is very important for us. We want a well-treated environment, not bags all around.

So I now say, let's make a difference now or never!

View petition

Sometimes they take animals and kill them.

View petition

I've recently watched Earthlings and came up with the idea to do a petition to make meat illegal as we think that would solve the world's problems including global exploitation and abuse of animals for pet, food, hunting, clothing industries, animal experimentation, species extinction, world hunger and war.

Would you be interested in working on this with us?

Peace,
x

View petition

Dear Hon. Premier Alan Carpenter

We, the undersigned, have written to express our concern over the incomplete implementation of animal welfare laws and a deteriorating situation relating to responsible pet ownership.

We, the people of Australia are committed to animals and the indispensable value they provide us with. We are dependent on them for our agricultural production, trade and consumption, and we rely on our family pets for companionship and emotional wellbeing. The Animal Welfare Act of 2002 has achieved some great feats in increasing the penalties for torturing, mistreating and otherwise causing unnecessary harm to animals.

Furthermore, we commend the action the State government has taken to monitor the situation by the hiring and training more animal welfare inspectors. As is regularly the case though, enforcement is a huge problem, as signified by the overload in animal cruelty complaints experienced by animal welfare groups (namely the RSPCA) and the closed-door nature of procedures that occur within animal warehouses and illegal operations.

Despite the 11 000 calls fielded by the RSPCA WA inspectorate in 2007, which led to 2,896 animal cruelty investigations; prosecutions were implemented against just 42 people. Although we appreciate that not all complaints can be dealt with due to legal limitations and rules of evidence; the backlog of complaints themselves, and the insufficiency in conducting successful investigations and prosecutions leaves a lot to be desired. I myself launched a complaint about 2 separate offences by the same individual that were overlooked by the RSPCA, most likely due to lack of resources or evidence.

The offender drowned my friend’s cat on his first offence, and slashed her kitten’s throat on his second offence. Two of her other cats are also missing and I presume also killed. We think it’s unacceptable that an individual can get away with killing someone’s family pet, and have written to take action against such cruelty. Moreover, recent cases such as the string of severe animal related offences in QLD (reported in the Brisbane Times) highlight the urgent need for increased investigation resources, and deterrence through the implementation harsher penalties for animal cruelty.

Furthermore, another alarming matter that requires immediate thought and desperate action is the increasing number of pets who are being neglected, abandoned and allowed to breed limitlessly. In 2006/2007, the RSPCA WA Animal Shelter recorded a 26% increase in dogs received and a 68% rise in the number of cats taken in. Moreover, up to 80 unwanted kittens were being put down per day at the Shenton Park Cat Haven over the post-Christmas period.

These figures are simply unacceptable and we recommend that new legislation be implemented to curb the number of pets being abandoned and euthanased.

View petition

Animal Planet succeeds too often and while the animals are being brought in for health checkup if they are of a certain breed usually Pitt Bulls they get Euthanized before they complete their health status..or more often if a animal is too thin and has a biting habit due to being mistreated by co-owners they also get Euthanazed..to all respect of Animal Planet I am assured that they take into consideration of these animals but is to why they suggest Euthinzation is beyond me some of these animals are healthy..they just need training, like a lost child you have to re-introduce the reality of patience.

View petition

WE NEED URGENT HELP!!!

AOL News:
Plan To Euthanize Horses Spurs Debate

RENO, Nev. (July 7) - Animal rights activists and ranchers are clashing over a federal proposal to euthanize wild horses as a way to deal with their surplus numbers.

Horse advocates will mount a campaign against the proposal announced late last month by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute based in Washington, D.C.

Federal officials said they're faced with tough choices because wild horses have overpopulated public lands in the West and they no longer can afford to care for the number of animals that have been rounded up.

But Heyde maintained the agency is seeking a "magic bullet" for budget problems caused after it began rounding up the mustangs at an unprecedented rate in recent years.

He said the roundups left too many horses for the public to adopt, requiring the agency to contract for more private long-term holding facilities.

The proposal "is killing pure and simple to balance the books for an agency whose reckless management has caused immeasurable harm to a national treasure at considerable cost to the American taxpayer," Heyde said.

Ron Cerri, of the Rebel Creek Ranch in Orovada and president-elect of the Nevada Cattlemen's Association, said ranchers would prefer horses be adopted but euthanasia may be necessary to keep their numbers down.

"Unfortunately, it's something they'll have to consider," Cerri said. "I don't know of another solution."

Cerri criticized the federal agency's proposal to stop roundups of wild horses to save money. Ranchers view mustangs as competition for forage on the range.

"That would be really unfortunate," he said. "We're starting to get close to what's called `appropriate management levels' of wild horses on the range. If we stop the roundups, that number will blow up again."

There are an estimated 33,000 wild horses in 10 Western states. About half of those are in Nevada.

The agency has set a target appropriate management level of horses at 27,000. About another 30,000 horses are in holding facilities, where most are made available for adoption.

Last year about $22 million of the entire horse program's $39 million budget was spent on holding horses in agency pens. Next year the costs are projected to grow to $26 million with an overall budget that is being trimmed to $37 million.

Lacy Dalton, president and co-founder of the Let 'Em Run Foundation horse advocacy group, urged the agency to consider alternative solutions.

They include efforts to step up birth control and legislation to provide tax breaks to large landowners willing to let horses roam on their property, she said.

"The American people have spoken - they want to preserve these wild horses," said Dalton.

"They are symbolic of the wildness and freedom and independent spirit of the West. We need to find ways to save them without being a burden on taxpayers," she added.

Agency officials said they stepped up the roundups in recent years because of ongoing drought that has left dwindling forage and water for the mustangs. Horse advocates insist the action was taken to placate ranchers.

The Bureau of Land Management's announcement marked the first time the agency publicly has discussed the possibility of putting surplus animals to death. Congress unanimously passed the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to protect the animals.

-----------------------------------

UPDATE:

It is September now yet I have heard nothing back from the BLM. I have gotten in cotnact with some personal connections to equine groups to see if there is any news. So please KEEP SIGNING!

View petition

Please sign this. This petition is asking for greater federal protection, by law, of coral reefs.

Coral reefs are a vital part of the marine ecosystem and due to boats, global warming, pollution, and other causes, coral reefs are starting to die off. There is only one coral reef in all of America! I am lucky enough to observe this ecosystem [and not do damage to it] and i want my children and my grandchildren to be able to do the same instead of looking in books and at movies of what used to be a beautiful thing.

Also, if the coral reef is harmed then it hurts things as small as a clown fish to things as large as a blue whale. I hope you will sign this petition asking for greater coral reef protection.

I may only be 13 years old but it doesn't matter. I am a citizen who is passionate about this subject and this is what is right.

View petition

Montcalm County Michigan has had an alliance with a Class B Animal Dealer for 30 years.

Class B Animal Dealers are given pets from our animal shelter and are allowed to sell them to research facilities.

Animals sold to research facilities suffer through needless experiments and then die. This practice is barbaric and unnecessary.

View petition

Stop fur farming!

Today, 85 percent of the fur industry's pelts come from animals raised on farms. The most farmed fur-bearing animal is the mink, followed by the fox.

Chinchilla, lynx, and even hamsters are also farmed for their fur. Sixty-four percent of fur farms are in Northern Europe, 11 percent are in North America, and the rest are dispersed throughout the world, in countries such as Argentina and Russia.

The death of these animals is sick and in-humane.

Some fur farmers kill smaller animals by packing them into small crates, and poisoning the animals by attaching this crate to the exhaust of a truck, and letting the hot, unfiltered fumes kill the animals, but this isn't always effective, and the animals may wake up while they're being skinned.

PETA discovered that in other countries, dogs and cats were being stolen and then bashed, thrown on the ground, strangled by wires or skinned whilst alive. Some cats and dogs still had collars on, proof that they were someones much loved companion.

View petition