Stop the Cruel Sport of Bullfighting!

Some cultures are bathed in the blood of animals, whether in form of mass slaughter to commemorate myths and traditions of sacrifice, or for the sake of mere entertainment. Of the latter, bullfighting is the most infamous example. Killing bulls in front of audience is just one horrific side of this brutality visible to the spectator. What is hidden is the intense physical abuse of the bulls, prior to letting them out in the field for the show, in order to make them aggressive and make the inhuman show possible.

Countries like France and Spain try to justify the cruel practice of bullfighting by calling it a kind of cultural heritage. But is it? Can something that provides entertainment by abusing innocent animals be a cultural heritage? If so, maybe it’s time to end this diseased part of the culture.

Care2 is hosting a petition to urge UNESCO for stop considering it cultural heritage as it is sheer cruelty inflicted on bulls, resulting the annual killing of almost 250, 000 bulls. Please sign the petition to say NO to this abuse masked as culture.

Thank you!

Stop Sadistic Ukrainian Teenager Killing Stray Dogs

One of the most terrible cases of sadistic killing of dogs has surfaced in Ukraine in the form of a 19-year-old guy who is hunting stray dogs to capture and kill them by putting them through most brutal torture. The killer named Alexey Vedulu is said to have killed over 100 dogs and puppies by various torture-filled methods. He is still at large and doesn’t care about law, which in his part of the world is too loose to scare him into sparing dogs.

Alexey Vedulu started posting photos and videos of his victim dogs on the Internet in October 2011, and attracted attention of animal rights activist. However, his story has not been covered by any major media source. According to authorities in his city of residence Kiev, Vedulu was injured by some stray dog in his childhood. Since then he has been obsessed with revenge on dogs and is now a compulsive dog killer. He plans new methods of torture-killing dogs by discussing with friends. Killing helpless dogs is his cruel obsession.

A petition has been created to get Vedulu arrested and prosecuted for brutal, gratuitous killings of dogs. The petition urges the Ukrainian President to take notice of Vedulu’s crimes and order his arrest before he can spell more innocent blood.

Thanking Vegetarians on Eid—the Day of Slaughter

Note: This blog post is for the vegetarian community only. If you are not a vegetarian, don’t read further.

Today, hundreds of millions of people of Muslim faith across the globe are celebrating Eid-ul-Azha, commemorating the story of Abraham’s sacrifice (of his own son, per religious tradition) by ritualistic slaughter of millions of animals they would eat, and waste. Considered a fundamental festival (as it is called) of the Islamic world, the occasion stretches over 3 days of slaughter, eating and greeting. But is there any point in killing animals when vegetarian food is available? Certainly not!

Slaughtering animals for food shows disrespect to life and Eid-ul-Azha is one of the classic manifestations of this attitude. Not only is this cruel festival responsible for killing innocent animals for superstition but also it kills the spirit of true sacrifice—the kind in which you will eat less to feed a hungry animal; abstain from luxury to save money for a poor one’s food or shelter; and above all, feel for other’s pain. Is Eid-ul-Azha capable of bringing about this kind of compassion to its followers? It does the opposite: by letting you kill life, it gives you an okay signal to your destructive instinct.

There are some caring and daring people who, even in places like Pakistan, express their disgust of the occasion rationally. An article that made my day is up here. Standing aloof and steering clear of any bloodshed, I want to thank all vegetarians for staying loyal to life. Let’s get to prepare ourselves some vegan stuff now!

Let Homeless Dogs in Moscow Live

Earlier this month, Care2 started a petition to save homeless dogs and other homeless animals in Ukraine. While that petition still has several thousand signatures to get in order to meet its target of 500, 000 signatures, homeless dogs in Russia have been put at the risk of maltreatment and possible death.

News coverage of homeless dogs in Russia is presented in this YouTube video about Moscow’s stray dogs. One can see, enjoy, and appreciate how these friendly four-legged citizens of the Russian metropolitan have adapted to the busy urban life, some of them actually traveling via subways along with fellow human passengers. They are liked and loved by many people and fed too.

Yet, many people in Russia complain that the strays are a bother and should be removed from places of public (aka ‘human’) use. The Russian president is thinking of having the Moscow’s homeless dogs removed from the city to a facility 150 miles outside the city. This has created great concern among those concerned with safety of animals as the facility in question is considered by many to be infested with disease, so the dogs moved there are likely to become ill and may not survive for long.

Care2 is hosting a petition to ask the Russian president for considering to drop his plan for abandoning the dogs to an unhygienic facility and instead work with animal welfare groups for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the homeless dogs of Moscow. Please visit the petition page to voice your concern to the Russian president and sign the petition to save the dogs that are peaceful members of Moscow.

Those who haven’t yet signed the petition to save Ukraine’s dogs, please visit the related petition page and sign the petition now to end the cruelty shown to animal life in Ukraine

Save Rare Tiger ‘Snow Magic’ from Dying

A rare snow tiger named “Snow Magic” is in urgent need of life-saving surgery for his diseased spine and leg joint, as reported in news.

Snow Magic, now only ten years old, developed aneurysm in spine two years ago at the Serenity Springs Wildlife Center, Colorado, where he lives with other big cats. For some time, he had lost mobility but owing to the veterinary surgeon’s efforts, he regained his mobility, albeit he walks with difficulty due to a damaged hind-limb joint. He now needs spine surgery and amputation of the affected leg in order to escape death/euthanasia. With the surgery, he’ll be able to live a fairly good life.

The surgery of this rare, beautiful tiger will cost around $10, 000. All caring individuals/groups are requested to contribute to saving precious the life of Snow Magic.

To donate, visit the Serenity Springs Wildlife Center donation page now and help Snow Magic live.

Thank you all!

Two Senior Dogs Need Safety against Death

Two senior dogs of a family suddenly face death at the hands of humans before their natural death arrives. These dogs have been placed at a kill facility in Hempstead, New York, after their owner died. Now their only chance at life is adoption by a caring family.

The story of these dogs is sad as a tragic tale, since their third canine companion, a pit bull, was suffocated to death by the man’s girlfriend in September. Jackpot and Sheba, the two surviving dogs, were living with their owner till he died recently. Left behind alone, the dogs have been placed at a Hempstead animal shelter, and the shelter’s staff has indicated the possibility of euthanizing at least one of them due to his age.

Those caring about animals’ right to live want to save them and are asking all animal lovers, particularly those in or close to Hempstead, to step forward and save the helpless dogs from untimely death. All they need is a family that can provide bit of food, a couple of small beds, basic care. Those interested in saving the dogs can contact April via email at april.viccaro@yahoo.com.

Join Leonardo DiCaprio in Saving Elephants

Hollywood star, and environmental activist and philanthropist, Leonardo DiCaprio needs your participation and support in saving elephants that are still being killed at an alarming rate, mostly in African countries where elephants are already on the brink of extinction. DiCaprio supports the IFAW's Animal Action Education program, which educates young people on saving animals and the environment.

Elephants are killed by humans recklessly for their tuss, used in making ivory. To stop this cruelty, DiCaprio is currently participating in IFAW for this year's Animal Action Week (October 3 to 9, 2011). The campaign includes participation of some 7 million educators, students, and their families in more than 15 countries across the world. The theme for this campaign is "Elephants, Never Forget”. And we must also remember that for each piece of ivory you buy, it’s directly encouraging more killing of the elephants.

Leonardo DiCaprio asks your support in stopping the killing of elephants by refusing to buy ivory items because if we don’t buy ivory, the elephants won’t be killed for it. Let’s come forward and put an end to this web of cruelty and greed. Visit the Kinerta page for elephant protection and act with DiCaprio now to save precious life.