2 worthy weekend ops for animal lovers

News about the two Valentine's weekend protests detailed below comes from CAAFgroup.com.

What better way to celebrate Valentine's weekend than to show love and compassion for animals by participating in either or both of 2 upcoming events -- 1 this Saturday, the 2nd on Valentine's Day (Monday). We need you there to make an impact. Remind couples you know that showing love to a partner should not involve buying tortured and murdered animals to wear or being pulled around Central Park by a neglected, abused sentient being!

#1 -- Have a Heart Don't Buy Fur -- march & protest
WHEN: Saturday, February 12
TIME: 1-3 pm

(1:30-3: protest at Bergdorf Goodman, 5th Avenue between 57th & 58th Streets)
Gather in front of the Time Warner shopping center stores at Columbus Circle (West 58th & Broadway) from 1-1:15 pm. At 1:15, we'll march down Central Park South, past exclusive hotels and residences, to Bergdorf Goodman, where we'll stage our protest (with widescreen video and sound)! And se'll have buttons and sweatshirts to purchase.

(Note: After the protest, a few people are heading down to a Vegan Bake Sale at MooShoes, 78 Orchard Street, NYC, to benefit the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Please come along.)

Sponsored by: Caring Activists Against Fur - http://www.meetup.com/Animals/events/15863211/ -- www.CAAFGroup.com or email information@caafgroup.com. (The faux raccoon coat shown in the image is being worn by an anti-fur activist.)

#2 -- Protest ABUSE in the Horse-Drawn Carriage Industry in NYC
WHEN: Monday, February 14
TIME: 5:30-7:30 pm
LOCATION: Grand Army Plaza area Central Park South and 5th Avenue (59th St. Northwest corner), NYC

Questions? Edita Birnkrant, NY Director, Friends of Animals; Mobile: 917.940.2725
(The horse and driver shown in the image were both at another demonstration, in Philadelphia.)

Sponsored by: Heart for Animals, http://www.meetup.com/HeartforAnimals/
The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages, http://www.banhdc.org Friends of Animals, http://www.friendsofanimals.org/news/2010/june/-new-york-city-carri.html
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Previews of coming (C)ATtractions

These are 2 of the many "cat cafes" on St. Thomas. More info, possibly much more info, to follow. Meanwhile, think TNR!
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Woman's best friend

The Hidden Life of Humans: a novel. Hmmmm . . . From whose viewpoint, you may wonder. From the point of view of Murphy the dog, of course.

This “funny coming-of-middle-age book” by Erika Ritter is a winner. And yes, she’s the Canadian novelist-playwright-broadcaster who in 2009 gave us The Dog by the Cradle, the Serpent Beneath: Some Paradoxes of Human-Animal Relationships ( Key Porter Books); see blog post for March 10, 2010.

Published in 1997, The Hidden Life “stars” Dana, a writer who lives alone except when trysting with a line of married lovers. Early on, she agrees to dog sit Murphy, who lives with one of her ex-boyfriends. From that point on, the book is narrated alternately by Dana and Murphy (each signaled by a different type face).

Dana learns about the dog; the dog learns about Dana, and imperceptibly, they bond. At one point, Murphy gets the chance to run for his freedom, but after deliberating, he decides instead to “come” . . . the third time Dana issues the command. Ultimately, Dana has a similar choice, and makes the same decision.

Besides often being funny and perceptive about other humans, parts of the book seem to foreshadow Ritter’s later nonfiction book, as over time, Dana begins to think differently about Murphy and other animals.

At one point, she witnesses “actor” wolves having to be trained to be fierce for their parts in a TV program. When she realizes they’ve been reduced to the domesticated dependence of dogs, the realization tears her up. And rightly so.

(Key Porter Books, Toronto, Canada, 1977)
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St. Thomas to Saks Fifth Avenue

It’s everywhere: animal skin and fur adorning people, used by people, admired by people. And the latest unlucky animal to come to merchandisers’ attention is the stingray. Really.

On display in an upscale St. Thomas shop: a number of unusual-looking purses and even a very pricey black golf bag, partly textured and partly smooth leather. The unusual element: Stingray.

There's no escape, even in the ocean. (But we knew that already: only consider all the fish being “overharvested.”)

So now the stingray’s turn has come -- much to the dismay of stingrays everywhere.

An ad in today’s NYTimes pitches sandals by Yves Saint Laurent: patent leather with spike heels . . . and “stingray platforms.” $995.

Still another example of the humans who believe they have dominion over all other creatures. If they think at all.
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A sea lion’s raison d’etre

The last post was not to suggest that St. Thomas is flawless as far as animals are concerned. Far from it, as proven by the text below, taken from a full-page ad for Coral World Ocean Park.

“Remo, Franco, Omar, and Romulo are four amazing South American sea lions who make their home at Coral World Ocean Park on St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.

“As the only marine mammals in the US Virgin Islands, the boys are a prime attraction for the thousands of visitors St. Thomas receives each year. They participate in public presentations every day, showing off their skills and demonstrating their fascinating physical adaptations. By being able to display these incredible animals, Coral World hopes to pass on a message of ocean and animal conservation to its guests.

“The boys also make time in their busy day to meet guests up close and personal, in one of the world’s only swim interaction programs with South American sea lions. No waist deep platforms here, our guests jump right in and swim with the boys! The sea lions are very affectionate, and will swim right up, allowing guests to pet them, snuggle in close, and pose for some unforgettable pictures. The program includes a dry land portion as well, where guests will learn about these amazing animals by spending some quality time with them, playing sea lion games, and getting their very own sea lion hugs and kisses.

“. . . Imagine your new Facebook profile picture – cuddling with 400 pound Franco.”
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Animal ‘news’ in St. Thomas

So what’s new for animals in St. Thomas (a.k.a. “Technicolorland”) this year? For iguanas, our all-time island favorite, a couple new signs were small but helpful things we spotted, one at “our” resort.

The first sign may deter tourists from treating the iguanas stupidly; in the past, we saw an iguana with a chunk of watermelon (temporarily) stuck in his/her craw. Needless to say, that fruit was a “gift” from a tourist. When the iguana was later tracked down by a staff member, the watermelon had either been swallowed or spit out.

And there was much good news about/for feral cats on the island. It may well have happened before this year – details will follow in future posts – but a program called “Cat Cafes” that operates out of the Humane Society of St. Thomas is a really good thing for the multitudes of ferals there.

At various places around the island there are decorative little buildings where food and water are provided for ferals. And reportedly, TNR is also practiced, with cats who have been neutered sporting one scalloped ear tip, as usual. (Lawrence and Ewing Townships, NJ, are you reading this?)

Probably best of all, many of those I talked with knew about the Humane Society (UNconnected with the Humane Society of the US) and the Cat Cafes. When people know about such things and speak matter of factly about them, that’s a great sign of acceptance.

Hooray for St. Thomas – savvier and more humane on the feral cat issue than some places in New Jersey!
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Billy’s birthday

Billy Summers turns 4 today. We’re happy for him and celebrating him in all the special ways we can think of – as well as congratulating ourselves for wanting Harry to have a buddy for company and then finding Billy.

We were so new to the world of cats when Billy joined our family that we didn’t even know he might be described as a “tuxedo cat.” But descriptions don’t really matter except to say Billy’s a love. He’s a gentle boy, and a curious one – sometimes easily spooked and sometimes just following Harry’s lead.

Billy is a consummate ball player. He invented the fetch game we all play with little foam balls. He’ll bring one to either of us to throw, then he races after it and brings it back for another throw. This can go on for hours.

Billy’s a cuddler, but only in bed and only at the times he wants to be there. Joe calls him “a dear little soul,” and he is that, except for the “little” part!

Love you, Sweet William!
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