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April 25th, 2010
Quebec Puppy Mills




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Though We Animals takes me all over the world, there is also much to be documented close to home here in Canada. I wish I could spend a whole year here, documenting the seal hunt, the west coast fisheries that are devastating the environment, the birds and animals dying in the tar sands, Quebec's infamous puppy mills, and continuing my road-side zoo work with Zoocheck Canada.

In light of this, I've started a new story about the puppy mills in Quebec. The details must be kept close to my chest for now but I will publish photos as I go.

In this photograph, an adult breeder dog rests in the arms of an SPCA volunteer after being rescued from a puppy mill in rural Quebec. His sweet and curious spirit was apparent, despite his extremely emaciated body and a mandible so deteriorated that it made eating painful and difficult. He'll receive great care at the SPCA, as well as a foster home and, eventually, a forever home.

PLEASE DO NOT BUY ANIMALS FROM BREEDERS OR PET STORES. Instead, adopt from shelters that are overflowing with animals who are in need of homes.


April 25th, 2010
Animal Hoarding




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Pathological hoarders are people who collect and keep newspapers, junk, clothes and general things that aren't needed or used. As I've seen in many investigations now, there are also hoarders who keep animals, usually dogs or cats. More often than not, they aren't intentionally cruel to the animals they hoard, but are attached to them, let them breed, and keep them despite not having the financial or mental capacity to look after them. Hoarders are often in denial or ignorant to the fact that they aren't giving proper care to their animals.
Fifty dogs were recently rescued from a hoarding situation in Quebec. Though the animals were given two large rooms and comfortable beds at the SPCA, they continued to sleep in a corner, piled on one another, just as they had done in the previous small space they shared. These dogs are soon, if not now, available for fostering and adoption at Montreal's SPCA. open link


April 25th, 2010
Ontario Livestock Exchange, Annual Exotic Animal Auction




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Due to pressure from animal rights and welfare groups, the annual exotic animal auction at the Ontario Livestock Exchange has had to clean up its act. OLEX has had many privileges revoked, including the sales of primates and potentially dangerous animals (venomous snakes, alligators, etc). Not to be defeated, they decided to abide by the rules by not having these animals on site, but instead had them in a nearby county, and auctioned them off via live video feed. OLEX spokesperson Tim Height conveyed that he plans to continue fighting back against what he feels is his and his clients' right to own and trade exotic animals. "No humans have ever been hurt at these auctions, so what's the problem?" he stated. He's missing, or ignoring, the point.

What the vendors, buyers and auctioneers see in these animals: objects to own, with no inherent rights of their own. Consumables. A means to an end. A way to make money. Disposability.
What compassionate humans see in these caged animals: sentient beings deprived of the right to chose their own lives, in their own habitat. Beings who live lonely lives in captivity. Beings with wants and personalities. Beings who suffer through displacement, fear, auctions and long periods of time in boxes and cages. Animals deprived of respect and consideration for their needs. Deprived of the companionship of their kin. Deprived of the right to chose. Animals who are forced to live at humans' whims at petting zoos, circuses and for our viewing pleasure.

If you would like to help put an end to the exotic animal trade, consider supporting WSPA's campaign, open link, and writing letters to your government representatives asking them to ban the sale of exotics in Ontario.


April 25th, 2010
AOL/lemondrop.com features We Animals project




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On Earth Day, AOL's lemondrop.com featured "10 Women Trying to Save the Planet". I was in good company! The article features the very cool work of women such as Annie Leonard ("The Story of Stuff"), eco-warrior Emily Hunter and the "Green Food Guru", Anna Lappe.

open link


April 19th, 2010
Greyhound Racing




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While in Australia this past February I started a story about greyhound racing as well as greyhound rescues. The races are an unnecessary and cruel form of entertainment for humans, as the animals are often kept in cramped cages for long hours, and can succumb to injury, heart attacks and heat stroke due to the racing. Though more and more greyhounds are being properly retired when their racing days are over, many are still abandonned, shot, sent to overcrowded shelters or to medical laboratories.
I'm finally getting around to editing this story. It's been a busy time for the We Animals project! Please look for the full gallery on this site in a few weeks time.