Rebecca M Ford

Entries categorized as ‘animals’

Flour shower for Lohan

November 16, 2008 · 2 Comments

lindsay_flour

Lindsay Lohan was pelted with a bag of flour as she entered a nightclub in Paris with friend, Sam Rosen. She was wearing a fur stole.

PETA’s blog had this to say about the incident:

Lindsay Lohan’s tan turned noticeably paler tonight after an anti-fur activist showered her with flour at a nightclub in Paris. Lindsay was on her way into the VIP room on the Champs-Elysées just after 1 a.m. early Saturday when she had an entire bag of flour dumped over her head by a French fur foe who shouted, “Lindsay Lohan—fur hag!” “

Lohan was named to PETA’s annual worst-dressed list earlier this year. Her entry read: “I Know Who Killed Me isn’t just the title of Lindsay Lohan’s latest bomb, it’s the cry of the animals snuffed out so that this ‘mean girl’ can pose in their pelts. Lindsay, there’s no road to recovery for the foxes who are anally electrocuted so that you can look skanky.”

PETA has been a harsh critic of Lohan for some timenow, asking her to get rid of her fur-wearing ways.

I’m a big fan of animal rights, and not of a fan of stupid celebrities who do nothing good with their power, so to me this seems pretty much ok. I’m trying really hard to see the other side, just for the sake of those that will argue against me, but I just can’t.

Animals can’t defend themselves against the cruelty of people. And this is not about human freedom to dress how we please. Because it’s about animal rights. We’re not talking about sandals or high heels. We’re talking about living creatures.

For someone with so much money (and so little purpose) it would not take much effort for her to ditch the fur. And maybe gain a LITTLE respect. But that doesn’t seem to be a priority for Lohan in any shape or form.

Categories: animals · entertainment
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Fuji is a part of the Los Angeles Times

October 19, 2008 · No Comments

Fuji, our youngest, is part of the Los Angeles Times. Please vote for him.


Real men wear pink

Categories: animals
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To make up for my lack of posting

October 15, 2008 · No Comments

It’s been a while since I posted. I blame the sickness. All of Los Angeles caught a cold this past week as the temperature dropped a whole five degrees for Fall. Dramatic change, people. I too caught the bug, and was in bed for a bit.

And with the new job, I’ve had less time to post, but enough with the excuses. On to the cats flushing toilets!

I promise for a more intellectual post in the upcoming days.

Categories: animals
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California’s Proposition 2

October 3, 2008 · 2 Comments

In the heat of battle for the next president, there hasn’t been much attention on state proposition this year. Sure Prop 8 has gotten some attention (the banning of gay marriage one), but as I was looking through my voter education ballot yesterday, I stumbled on Prop 2, which I have heard nothing about.

I’m an animal lover, a non-beef eater, and a pet owner, so when I saw Prop 2 I had to write about it. If it passes, farmers won’t be allowed to confine pregnant pigs, calves raised for veal and egg-laying hens from moving.

First of all, I didn’t even KNOW that these animals COULD be confined from moving! They are already abused for their goods, and then they can’t even turn around? That’s crazy. Animals can’t speak for themselves–someone has to help them.

This is what a YES vote would mean:

“Beginning in 2015, state law would prohibit, with certain exceptions, the confinement on a farm of pregnant pigs, calves raised for veal, and egg-laying hens in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs.”

 

Groups supporting this prop are all animal-friendly, including the Sierra CLub, Humane Society and ASPCA.

Vote YES on Prop 2.

Please spend time getting informed about all the props on this year’s ballot. Some can really change lives.

Here’s  info.

Categories: animals
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Meow

August 28, 2008 · 1 Comment

I’ve always said if I became a multi-millionaire (ok, doubtful) I would buy a big house with a lot of land and adopt a lot of shelter pets to save them from their terrible living conditions and imminent death.

Well, someone beat me to it.

Four hours north of Los Angeles, Cat House on the Kings sits as a hidden oasis for hundreds of cats. While at first she may seem like a “cat lady,” this woman has given these animals an opportunity to have a life–a healthy, enjoyable life roaming the lands and climbing trees.

At the no-kill shelter, all the animals are adoptable. I’m not sure how she handles the costs, and time it takes to care for all these animals, but this is clearly a woman doing good. They take donations. Actually, they need donations to survive.  Here’s a video of this amazing shelter:

Categories: animals
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San Diego

August 24, 2008 · 2 Comments

Butterflies, fauna and flora–San Diego’s a beautiful place. More photos from the beach and Balboa Park:

 


And something a tad strange:


A woman at Balboa Park has confused her dogs with babies. Instead of walking them, she strolled her two pups around in a stroller, and then held them like infants. That’s love.

Categories: animals · travel
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If they can get along, why can’t we?

May 22, 2008 · 1 Comment

I saw this video on YouTube a while ago, but it looks like CNN and other news sources have finally picked it up.

This guy is based in Santa Barbara, I think. A dog, a cat, a rat. If they can do it, shouldn’t we be able to?

My family had cats and dogs. I wouldn’t say they got along, but they coexisted, which is more than I can say for a lot of people I know.
 

 

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News 21 - check it out.

May 12, 2008 · 1 Comment

It’s been a shameful while since I’ve blogged, but I have been living on a technological island (by choice) for the past few days, discussing our future fellowship at Harvard. The website for the project is up, so take a look. We’ll be writing about the campaign and related issues for the summer with reporters from Columbia, Harvard, UC Berkeley, and Northwestern. One of the best aspects is that because all of the reporters are relatively young and fresh, there should be some innovative ideas on the site, and underreported stories. So keep an eye on it.

 

In other news, I came home to my orange cat, Kodak, who I got at the pound about a year ago. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the Animal Shelters in Los Angeles.

 

It’s a big city, with lots of people who struggle. And yet, I’ve always had a soft spot for animals—the victims who can’t speak for themselves. I’m one of those people who cries for the animals that die in war movies. I’ve never made it through Homeward Bound.

 

Los Angeles’ record with animals is abysmal. In just the first quarter of 2008, 2,391 cats and dogs were euthanized, up 24 percent since last year.

 

This past February, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed the Spay/Neuter Ordinance, a law that requires all pet owners to neuter or spay their pets. Any person who violates the law is subject to a $500 fine or 40 hours of community service. The law took affect in March.

 

While this would seem a respectable effort by the mayor, I doubt that those who really cause the problem—the backyard breeders, puppy mill pet shops, or owners who simply ignore the pet laws—will take this effort to heart. And really, how regulated can it be?

 

I doubt that all the blame can be put on the pet shelters. While several have been accused of cruel treatment of animals, they are overburdened and underfunded.

 

What’s worse is that this city is infested with lack-luster pet owners. So many pets are returned when they get old, and aren’t “cute” anymore. And getting an older pet readopted is often a near-impossibility. People have no dedication to their pets. They’ll throw them away as quickly as yesterday’s trash.

 

I know cats and dogs aren’t the most pressing issue out there right now. But the tragedy that faces these defenseless animals is still sad. Some never even get a chance. So, if you are considering adopting, please go to your local pound and relieve some stress for them and find yourself a best friend at the same time.

Categories: animals
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