My Blog

I love Japan...

Kitty Kiku — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:21:25 GMT

"Cat hired as station chief brings passengers back" By MARI YAMAGUCHI (Associated Press Writer) From Associated Press May 26, 2008 6:34 AM EDT TOKYO - A money-losing Japanese train company has found the purr-fect pet mascot to draw crowds and bring back business - tabby Tama. All the 9-year-old female cat does is sit by the entrance of Kishi Station in western Japan, wearing a black uniform cap and posing for photos for the tourists who are now flocking in droves from across the nation. Tama has been doing such a good job of raising revenue for the troubled Kishikawa train line that she was recently promoted to "super-station-master." "She never complains, even though passengers touch her all over the place. She is an amazing cat. She has patience and charisma," Wakayama Electric Railway Co. spokeswoman Yoshiko Yamaki told The Associated Press Monday. "She is the perfect station master." Appointing a cat to turn around fortunes makes cultural sense in Japan, where cats are considered good luck and are believed to bring in business. People are snatching up novelty goods - postcards, erasers, notebooks and pins - decorated with Tama's photos. There's even a special 1,365 yen ($13) book of photos of Tama called, "Diary of Tama, the Station Master." Tama had been on the brink of losing her place to live, with the nearby store where she was raised being torn down. Now, the station is home. Kishi Station started running without any workers in April 2006 as part of cost cuts. The Kishikawa line had been losing 500 million yen ($4.9 million) a year as passenger numbers fell steadily to as low as about 5,000 a day, or some 1.9 million a year. After Tama's appointment last year passengers have been gradually returning, recently rising 10 percent to about 2.1 million a year. In December Tama was rewarded with bonus pay - all in cat food.

Is There a Squirrel in Your Makeup Bag?

Kitty Kiku — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:39:33 GMT

Brush Up on Synthetic Makeup Brushes You already know that being kind to animals is as easy as choosing cosmetics made by companies that don’t test on animals, such as Revlon, Estée Lauder, Avon, and Mary Kay. But wait … before you dust on that bronzer, take a good look at your makeup brush. Chances are that it’s made from animal fur, and if you wouldn’t wear fur, you definitely don’t want to use it to apply your cruelty-free cosmetics! Cruelty That’ll Make You Blush Makeup brushes are commonly made from squirrel, mink, sable, horse (sometimes called pony or camel), or goat hair. Mink and sable brushes are products of the cruel fur industry. Every year, millions of animals are trapped, drowned, and beaten to death in the wild and strangled, gassed, electrocuted, or skinned alive on fur farms. Horse hair is commonly obtained from horses who are slaughtered for their flesh. Squirrels are hunted or trapped, and goats are shorn like sheep. Workers are often paid by volume, so they shear the goats quickly, which can result in serious injuries. Many makeup brushes are manufactured in developing countries where there are few or no animal welfare regulations. Super Synthetics There’s no reason to use animal-hair brushes when there are so many high-quality synthetic brushes available. Check out these companies’ luxurious offerings: *The Body Shop knows that if you wouldn't put on makeup using your cat's tail, you don't want to use any other animal part, either—its brushes don't contain animal hair. *Denise Chaplin n.y.c. makes 16 different shapes and sizes of brushes that stand up to frequent use and washing and fit the needs of professional makeup artists. *Ecco Bella Botanicals has a range of non-animal brushes that complement its cruelty-free cosmetics. *Paris Presents' EcoTools makeup brushes are made with cruelty-free taklon bristles, sustainable bamboo handles, and other natural and recyclable materials to keep you and the Earth looking beautiful. Alicia Silverstone is a celebrity fan of these luxurious-yet-affordable brushes, which can be found in many drugstores. *Garden Botanika brags that its 100 percent Taklon brushes are actually softer than those made from fur, allowing more makeup to cling to the brush and providing a smoother application. *Origins Natural Resources brushes look and feel like animal hair, but don’t worry—they’re cruelty-free just like the rest of Origins’ personal-care products. *Urban Decay Good Karma brushes tickle your face using synthetic Taklon. *Aveda brushes are also made of Taklon, with a flax-infused, recycled-resin handle. They’re animal- and environment-friendly! *Hard Candy uses super-soft synthetic hair in its brushes—cruelty-free just like its luxurious cosmetics. *Sevi Cosmetics' 100 percent Taklon brushes are the perfect complement to its vegan makeup. No cruel animal testing and no creepy animal ingredients! *Valana Minerals knows that "[t]here is no need to sacrifice quality or animals in the pursuit of beauty." Its six luxurious synthetic makeup brushes are perfect for applying Valana's cruelty-free and vegan powder, foundation, blush, bronzer, and eye color. *Afterglow luxe professional cosmetics brushes are uniquely designed to provide a beautiful, flawless finish. Handmade of the highest quality Taklon, they're super soft and ideal for applying loose mineral makeup evenly. *Jennifer Campain Cosmetics' custom-designed animal-friendly professional makeup brushes feature feather-soft, hand-shaped brown Taklon fiber as well as seemless nickel-plated ferrules and kiln-dried white birch handles. What You Can Do Please write to your favorite makeup companies that still use real animal hair in their brushes and ask them to switch to Taklon fibers. Contact PETA www.peta.org if your favorite cruelty-free company makes vegan brushes but is missing from our list—we’d love to add it.

For the Love of Cats ~ This Mothers' Day

Kitty Kiku — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:15:21 GMT

As Mother’s Day rapidly approaches, we all want to find the best way to tell the important women in our lives how much we love them. We want to give them something that shows we truly understand who they are and what they cherish. If your mother is a cat lover, there is no better gift than one that protects the beautiful animals who you both love. Share your love of cats with your mother by donating to Alley Cat Allies in her honor! Give a gift of $20, $50 or more to tell your mother that you love her and to protect cats all over the country. Make sure to note your mother’s name and address in the comments section of your gift so that we can share your loving wishes. She will receive a beautiful card announcing that a gift has been made in her honor and expressing your love and appreciation for her. Over the past 17 years, your generous support has enabled Alley Cat Allies to protect countless stray and feral cats throughout the country. Thank you. For more info and/or to make a donation: www.alleycat.org

March of Dimes = Cruel Animal Testing

Kitty Kiku — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:13:11 GMT

Please note: BANK OF AMERICA is a large supporter of funding animal experimentation at The March of Dimes!!! I am closing my credit card account with them today and telling them it is because of this... Truly, this just saddens me so... Experimenters funded by the March of Dimes have: - Sewn shut newborn kittens' eyes, then killed them after they had endured a year of blindness. - Put newborn kittens in completely dark chambers, then killed them after three to five months. - Removed fetal kittens from the uterus, implanted pumps into their backs to inject a drug that destroys nerves, then re-implanted the fetuses in the uterus. After the kittens were born, they were killed and studied. -Implanted electric pumps into the backs of pregnant rats to inject nicotine, even though the dangers of cigarette smoking to human babies is already known. -Injected pregnant rats with cocaine, though the dangers of cocaine to human babies is already known. -Injected newborn opossums with alcohol, decapitated them an hour to 32 weeks later, then removed and studied the gonads (immature sexual organs), though the dangers of alcohol to human babies is well known. -Transplanted organs from pigs to baboons, most of whom died within hours. -Transplanted organs from guinea pigs to rats. -Destroyed the ear drums of unborn lambs, then killed the mother sheep and lambs just before birth to examine the brains. Despite these experiments, the Centers for Disease Control reports that birth defects are occurring more often. Of 38 birth defects studied over a 10-year period, an astounding 27 have increased in frequency, nine occur at the same rate, and only two have decreased in frequency. There are many reasons for this, but the most important is that the human physiology is vastly different from the physiologies of other species. It’s true that all animals are sentient beings capable of feeling pain, but the similarities essentially end there. For example, testing chemicals, pharmaceutical drugs, and addictive substances on pregnant animals and then trying to apply the results to humans is a waste of lives and money because humans are so different from other animals. Consider that: -Humans have a longer period of fetal development, so may be mores ensitive to birth defect-causing agents than other species. -Genetic differences among species of animals affect the way they react to chemicals. -Different species develop in utero at different rates and along different schedules, calling into question animal studies on chemicals that affect fetuses at different stages of development. -Differences in the placenta may affect the absorption of chemicals among species. The route of administration of a potential birth defect-causing agent to the animal may not be the most common route of human exposure. For instance, animals may be given nicotine intravenously, whereas human exposure is through inhaling cigarette smoke. -Animals are rarely given chemicals on the same time schedule as humans. Animals are usually given a large amount of a substance over a short period, while people are usually exposed to small amounts over a long period. -Stress imposed by animal handling, food or water deprivation, and restraint have been shown to affect test results. -Animals learn and show intelligence differently from humans, and animal studies usually cannot detect a substance’s potential for causing learning or behavioral problems in babies. Even birth defects researchers admit the difficulty of interpreting animal tests because any substance can harm fetal development if given in the right dose to the right species at the right time. This is called "Karnofsky's Law" and it’s often used by experimenters to excuse the inaccuracy of animal studies. March of Dimes could save more babies if… …it put donations into under-funded programs that have been proven to prevent birth defects and help babies. -An estimated 25 percent of all infant deaths could be prevented if adequate pre-natal care were provided for the 1.2 million women who need it every year. -Infant deaths would decrease by as much as 10 percent if women who smoke (25 percent of pregnant women) gave up cigarettes during pregnancy. -Alcohol abuse during pregnancy is the leading cause of preventable birth defects, and there are not enough affordable addiction treatment programs for the women seeking help—yet precious resources are wasted injecting rats and other animals with alcohol. The establishment of a National Birth Defects Registry can help to identify causes—and pave the way toward prevention of—birth defects. Data from the registry could be analyzed to look for possible patterns or clusters of birth defects that may be associated with certain environmental exposures or genetic traits. REAL HEROES SAVE *BOTH* THEIR LIVES http://www.marchofcrimes.com/

Rosebud Perfume Company is RAD!

Kitty Kiku — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:57:27 GMT

Founded in 1892, the Rosebud Perfume Company set out with a simple mission: To provide simple, multi-usage products that are both affordable and effective. With the creation of the world famous, cult-favorite Rosebud Salve that boasts to be the cure-all for a wide array of skin ailments from blemishes to chapped lips to dry elbows, the family run Rosebud Perfume Company has solidified its place in cosmetic history. ROSEBUD PERFUME COMPANY DOES *NOT* TEST ON ANIMALS!!! Their response to an email I sent: Dear Politti, None of our products have ever been tested on animals. I am an animal lover, particularly cats, and would never think of such a thing. Thanks for asking. Sincerely, Linda Linda S. Pruitt-Michielli Vice President Rosebud Perfume Company, Inc. 301-845-8788 linda@rosebudperfume.com This, my friends, is awesome. :) Please support this wonderful company - Not only are they animal lovers, their products are truly FABULOUS!!! Namaste, Politti

10 MORE Ways...

Kitty Kiku — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:35:51 GMT

...You Can Help Animals 11. KEEP WILD ANIMALS WILD Wild and exotic animals are not appropriate companions. 12. BE CONSIDERATE OF YOUR COMPANION ANIMALS Meet their needs for companionship, exercise, and mental stimulation and make appropriate arrangements for their care when you’re away. 13. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER OR ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATION Contribute financially, volunteer your time, or donate items such as bedding, cleaning supplies, pet food, or toys. 14. DON’T WEAR ANOTHER ANIMAL’S COAT Do not buy or wear fur of any kind and be careful not to unintentionally purchase garments with fur trim or lining. 15. REQUEST AN ALTERNATIVE TO ANIMAL DISSECTION If you are a student, or the parent of a student, refuse to dissect animals for educational purposes and request an alternative instead. 16. WATCH YOUR WORDS Refer to individual animals with gender as “he” or “she” instead of “it” and when speaking about animals use “who” instead of “which” or “what.” 17. ENJOY CRUELTY-FREE ENTERTAINMENT Stay away from circuses that feature animals, dog-racing tracks, rodeos, and other venues that exploit animals for entertainment. 18. LEAVE ANIMALS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM Discourage your teacher from introducing an animal to the class and talk to classmates about the welfare issues of keeping animals in classrooms. 19. BECOME A POLITICAL ANIMAL Register to vote and research the voting records of candidates to ensure that you support animal-friendly lawmakers. 20. JOIN THE WORLD SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS (WSPA)! Become a member and help with animal welfare projects and campaigns around the world. www.wspa-usa.org

10 Ways...

Kitty Kiku — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:33:06 GMT

... To Make The World A Better Place For Animals 1. HELP REDUCE ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION Adopt your next animal companion from a shelter or rescue group instead of buying from a breeder or pet store and get your new friend spayed or neutered. 2. REPORT ANIMAL CRUELTY Learn how to recognize signs of animal abuse or neglect and report it immediately to your local humane society, animal control, or law enforcement agency. 3. LIVE IN HARMONY WITH YOUR WILD NEIGHBORS Create a haven for wildlife in your backyard by providing appropriate habitat and find ways to control "nuisance" animals humanely. 4. MAKE MORE HUMANE FOOD CHOICES Look for organic, free range, pasture raised and humane food labels, and make an effort to reduce the amount of meat and other animal products in your diet. 5. USE THE POWER OF THE PURSE Send a message to companies by buying cruelty-free products like cosmetics and household cleaners that haven’t been tested on animals. 6. LIVE LIGHT ON THE LAND Reduce your consumption of non-renewable energy resources and recycle as much packaging and waste products as possible. 7. BE A COMPASSIONATE TRAVELER Do not accept culture as a justification for cruelty and never buy gifts or souvenirs that involve the cruel death of an animal or are made from endangered species. 8. AVOID ESTABLISHMENTS THAT KEEP WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY Do not visit establishments that feature captive whales or dolphins, roadside zoos or other venues that house captive wild animals for entertainment. 9. BE PREPARED FOR DISASTER When you create a disaster plan for your household be sure to include arrangements for your animal companions. 10. SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ANIMAL WELFARE Add your name to the global petition to obtain a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare from the United Nations at www.AnimalsMatterUSA.org. www.wspa-usa.org

CANADA SLAUGHTER OF BABY SEALS - WHY IS THIS STILL HAPPENING???!!!

Kitty Kiku — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:55:10 GMT

Jesus H. Christ... Slaughtering BABY seals.... It's a sick, sad world full of motherfucking shitbags who think it is ok to murder defenseless living creatures.... Oh for fashion no-less... FUCK! ATTENTION!!! PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THE FUR INDUSTRY ARE FUCKING ASSHOLES - I WOULD LOVE TO RETURN THE FAVOR AND SKIN *THEM* ALIVE, EITHER IN THIS LIFE OR THE NEXT... BRING IT ON MUTHAFUCKERS!!! Please, add your name to the petition urging Prime Minister Stephen Harper to end Canada's cruel seal hunt. Please forward the petition to your friends and family. Every year in Canada, hundreds of thousands of baby harp seals are mercilessly slaughtered for their skins, and we want you to help get this cruel practice banned by signing PETA's seal petition. Canadian-born Pamela Anderson has joined PETA and animal activists worldwide in condemning the hunt. "As a proud Canadian who frequently travels abroad," says Pamela, "I am alarmed that people are starting to see Canada as a country more beholden to a pack of greedy hunters and to the seal-skin 'fashion' whims of a few countries than to the massive international outcry against such a barbaric activity." Please sign and forward the petition below today: http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/seal_08_dev?rk=z7X71BMqjUSkE Thanks for having a heart and caring about the welfare of these beautiful fellow living beings!

Safeway Victory for Animal Welfare!!!

Kitty Kiku — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:41:05 GMT

FROM PETA: You may have heard of Safeway. They are the second-largest grocery chain in North America. Which makes our latest breakthrough with the company (which has been six years in the making) a huge victory for animals. Safeway executives have just confirmed to us that they are initiating a new animal welfare plan that will make them, along with Whole Foods, one of the grocery industry leaders with regard to animal welfare. The company has agreed to encourage all of their egg suppliers to ban battery cages, implement a purchasing preference for pork that was produced without cruel gestation crates, and favor poultry suppliers that use controlled-atmosphere killing (the least cruel method of slaughter) instead of electric stun baths and throat-slitting. As usual with these announcements, this is wonderful news because it means that one of the biggest, most influential corporations in the world is listening to the public's concerns about animal suffering and making significant changes that will directly affect millions of animals—as well as fundamentally changing the way an entire industry does business. It does not mean that we're all going to pat ourselves on the backs, pack up our desks, and go home. We still have a long way to go before animals stop being tortured and killed because (for instance) people have a preference for a certain kind of breakfast food, but this is a big step in the right direction, and we're extremely grateful to everyone who helped us during the years of negotiations, the multiple shareholder resolutions, and the action alerts encouraging Safeway to take animal issues seriously. Thanks to Safeway for making this compassionate decision, and to everyone who worked so hard to make it happen. **Safeway owns Vons - if you shop at either of these grocery stores, be sure to purchase the store brand "Safeway Select" - You save money AND support a huge company working with PETA to end senseless cruelty to animals!

Holly Madison is RAD!!!

Kitty Kiku — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:38:50 GMT

You might see Playboy model Holly Madison, star of The Girls Next Door, wearing bunny ears, but one thing you’ll never see her in is bunny fur—or any animal’s fur, for that matter. Hugh Hefner’s number one honey bunny—who shares both Hef and his home, the Playboy Mansion, with fellow Girls Next Door stars Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson in the popular E! channel reality show—is so passionate about saving animals killed for their fur that she posed naked for not one, but two new PETA anti-fur ads! You may have already seen her "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" ad, but now we present you with Holly's second provocative ad, in which she declares: "I Always Fake It—I'd Never Wear Real Fur." It’s no wonder that this "mistress of the Mansion pooches"—who adores all animals, especially the nine lucky pups currently bunking with the trio of buxom beauties—was outraged when we told her that animals, including cats and dogs, are kept in tiny cages and strangled, beaten, electrocuted, and often skinned alive for their fur. Holly's philosophy? "You don't need fur. And if you want the look of fur … there's faux fur," she says. "There is just no reason for it." As Holly knows, nice girls—and guys, too!—always fake it. With so many beautiful and warm faux furs available, there’s no reason—or excuse—to kill animals for their fur.

So you LOVE that fur coat... Motherf*#ker???!?!?!!

Kitty Kiku — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:32:44 GMT

So did the original owners... I challenge you to watch this ENTIRE video (link below) and then tell me fur coats are fashionable, decedent and posh... What they are, are cruel, horrible and DISGUSTING! http://www.furisdead.com/feat/ChineseFurFarms/ What... the... FUCK!!! I know there is a very special place in "Hell" for these motherfuckers... I hope I am the one who gets to punish them....

DUDE! That's MORRISSEY!!!

Kitty Kiku — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:37:23 GMT

MORRISSEY RAISES VOICE AGAINST IAMS’ DEADLY EXPERIMENTS ON DOGS AND CATS Morrissey Takes Break From Recording New Album to Boost PETA Campaign London — Morrissey has a bone to pick with pet-food maker Iams. The brooding pop genius and former lead singer of The Smiths has joined PETA’s campaign against Iams and vows to boycott the company until it stops conducting cruel and deadly experiments on dogs and cats. Taking a break from recording his new album—his first in more than five years—the famously shy musician brandished a handmade sign reading, “We Hate Iams,” and posed with three pampered pooches in an exclusive picture for the February 2004 issue of Index magazine. Morrissey and Index have given the image to PETA for use in its Iams Campaign. Why are Morrissey and PETA fed up with Iams? A recent PETA undercover investigation revealed deplorable conditions at an Iams contract laboratory. At least 27 dogs were killed, while others died of illnesses that went untreated, despite assurances from Iams that no animal in any Iams test would ever be deliberately killed. PETA’s investigator found the following: • Dogs and cats confined to small, barren cages, some for up to six years • Dogs’ vocal cords surgically cut out so that they couldn’t bark • Workers’ reports of a live kitten who was washed down a drain • Kennels that were extremely hot in the summer and near freezing in the winter • Dogs being force-fed vegetable oil through tubes inserted down their throats “Animal lovers unwittingly fund horrendous cruelty to dogs and cats when they buy Iams products, and we’re thrilled that Morrissey is helping PETA get the message out,” says Mary Beth Sweetland, senior vice president of PETA’s Research & Investigations Department. “Animals shouldn’t live in squalor and misery for the sake of Iams’ profits.” Broadcast-quality footage of animals in an Iams contract laboratory is available. For more information, please visit PETA’s Web site IamsCruelty.com. A copy of Morrissey’s anti-Iams photo is available at www.peta2.com.

The World Makes Me Sad

Kitty Kiku — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 21:04:09 GMT

"Just this week, the president of Brazil announced emergency measures to halt the burning and cutting of the country's rain forests for crop and grazing land. In the last five months alone, the government says, 1,250 square miles were lost." http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/weekinreview/27bittman.html?_r=3&scp=1&sq=Rethinking+the+Meat-Guzzler&st=nyt&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin What the fuck, dude... seriously... :(

Ami James is RAD!!!

Kitty Kiku — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:14:10 GMT

Miami Ink's Ami James Shows His Famous Tattoos in PETA Anti-Fur Ad In addition to being the star of the hit reality series Miami Ink, Ami James is the owner of one of the hottest bars in Miami, Love/Hate, and a legend in the tattoo world. Now he's showing us some skin and showing off his famous tattoos—alongside the tagline "Ink, Not Mink"—as part of PETA's anti-fur campaign. Creating amazing art and tattoos isn't the only thing that Ami knows a thing or two about. He also knows about the realities of the fur industry and knows he would never support an industry that tortures and kills animals in the name of fashion. Every year, millions of mink, foxes, raccoons, dogs, and cats are strangled, electrocuted, and even skinned alive by the fur industry. This is not something Ami will support in any way. In PETA's interview with Ami, he tells us, "I was watching TV and then all of a sudden there was something about Roberto Cavalli's fashion and I saw people wearing cheetah furs and all sorts of crazy things like that … to the point where I got asked to do a Cavalli vodka design and I said, 'F*** no, I'm not doing it. I'll never do it."

Watch and Learn...

Kitty Kiku — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 18:19:21 GMT

http://stopanimaltests.com/feat/testing123/index.asp Make yourself watch the whole video, do NOT turn away because "it is too sad"... Our animal friends desperately need our help, and yes YOU CAN make a difference! STOP ANIMAL TESTING NOW!

Investigation Reveals Horrors at PetSmart Supplier

Kitty Kiku — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:34:29 GMT

Undercover Investigation Uncovers Horrors at PetSmart Supplier's Breeding Mill. Video footage obtained in a new PETA undercover investigation reveals horrific nightmare conditions for small animals and birds bred and brokered by a major supplier to PetSmart. In addition to the ever-present misery caused by extremely crowded cages, filthy conditions, a lack of basic enrichment, an often inadequate food and water supply, and excessive noise, PETA's investigation of a massive breeding mill and one of PetSmart's main animal suppliers, Rainbow World Exotics in Hamilton, Texas, also revealed that live animals were thrown into the trash, were deprived of desperately needed veterinary care, were suffering and dying alone in their cages, and were cannibalizing each other; that rabbits underwent crude neuter surgeries at the hands of a layperson in a filthy, dark room; and more. Unsuspecting PetSmart customers have reported buying unsocialized, sick, and injured animals, including guinea pigs with eye and upper respiratory infections, hamsters with deadly diseases, sick and dying betta fish, and suffering birds. As PETA's investigator documented at this breeding mill, overcrowding, lack of veterinary care, and lack of socialization are the norm, not the exception, for the tens of thousands of animals at Rainbow. PetSmart's trade in live animals supports this mass-breeding industry that is just as cruel as—and even less regulated than—the puppy mill industry. It results in abysmal treatment of tiny, vulnerable beings, and it ultimately leads to their overpopulation, homelessness, neglect, and suffering. TAKE ACTION!!! http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/petsmart_investigation

We Want Empty Cages, Not Slightly Nicer Cages...

Kitty Kiku — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:52:28 GMT

Iams tortures animals: Join the Iams boycott for everyone. http://www.iamscruelty.com/

SAVE THIS CAT

Kitty Kiku — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:47:04 GMT

With more than 150,000 supporters behind us and the movement growing daily, now is the time to reach out to all those people who don't yet know about the reality of feral and stray cat animal control policies in this country. That's why Alley Cat Allies (ACA) has created a public service announcement and website to share an important and sad truth about feral cats: all over the country, healthy feral and stray cats are being trapped and killed as local governments try to control their numbers. With your help, we can reach 50,000 people in 50 days to share this message and build the movement to stop the killing and start humane care. So what can you do? Visit the SAVE THIS CAT Website: http://www.alleycat.org/ to learn how you can spread the message! Many Americans don't know that their tax dollars are being spent killing millions of cats each year. They don't know that this cruel and expensive policy just doesn't work. They don't know that a humane alternative exists. But with your help, they will, and they will join the fight to stop it. So please do your part today by helping us spread the message. Together, we can save the lives of our nation's stray and feral cats. **On a personal note, ferral cats CAN be socialized with humans... My beautiful Lily was born ferral in a Wal-Mart Garden Center 8 years ago (on New Year's Day!) and with lots of love and patience, has been the BEST companion I have EVER had ~ Politti :)

DEADLY CHOCOLATE

Kitty Kiku — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 21:29:47 GMT

Got a sweet tooth? Think twice before picking up a Mars candy bar! You should know that candymaker Mars, Inc.—creator of M&M's, Snickers, Twix, Dove, Three Musketeers, Starburst, Skittles, and other candies—funds deadly animal tests, even though there are more reliable human studies and not one of the tests is required by law. Mars is currently funding a deadly experiment on rats to determine the effects of chocolate ingredients on their blood vessels. Experimenters force-feed the rats by shoving plastic tubes down their throats and then cut open the rats' legs to expose an artery, which is clamped shut to block blood flow. After the experiment, the animals are killed. Mars has also funded cruel experiments in which mice were fed a candy ingredient and forced to swim in a pool of a water mixed with white paint. The mice had to find a hidden platform to avoid drowning, only to be killed and dissected later on. In yet another experiment supported by Mars, rats were fed cocoa and anesthetized with carbon dioxide so that their blood could be collected by injecting a needle directly into their hearts, which can lead to internal bleeding and other deadly complications. Mars' top competitor, Hershey's, has pledged not to fund or conduct experiments on animals. Other major food corporations—including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Ocean Spray, Welch's, and POM Wonderful—have also publicly ended animal tests after hearing from PETA. TAKE ACTION! http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/mars_animal_tests

May Your Holidays be Bright AND Cruelty-Free!!!

Kitty Kiku — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:00:24 GMT

FIGHT ANIMAL TESTING EVERYDAY!!! Procter & Gamble refuses to stop testing its products on animals, despite the fact that these tests are not required by any law, and despite the fact that more reliable and humane alternatives do exist. Some common P&G brands to boycott: Fabreze Old Spice Secret Ivory Charmin Dreft / Bounce / Cheer / Downy / Era / Gain / Tide laundry soap Luvs / Pampers Puffs Duracell Batteries Camay / Zest / Safeguard soap Noxzema / Oil of Olay / CoverGirl / Max Factor make-up & skin care Cascade / Dawn / Joy dish soap Always / Tampax feminine care Aussie / Clairol / Head & Shoulders / Infusium 23 / Pantene hair care Bounty Mr. Clean / Swiffer Braun / Crest / Fixodent / Gleem / Scope / Oral B oral care Iams and Eukanuba pet food (I am NOT kidding!) :( Gillette Folgers / Millstone / Pringles (WTF???) http://www.pandgkills.com/main.html And here is a further list of SHAME (though far from complete) of common household product companies that CONTINUE test on animals: Nair BenGay Ban Roll-on Drano Lysol Listerine Playtex Corporation Pledge Polident Post-It Tilex Clorox *Burt's Bees (due to buy out by Clorox!) :( Johnson & Johnson S.C. Johnson & Son Kleenex Kimberly-Clark Corp Suave Glade Arm & Hammer ArmorAll Colgate-Palmolive *Tom's of Maine (due to buy out by Colgate-Palmolive!) :( Science Diet Pet Food (I am not kidding!) :( Wyeth Products – including CHAPSTICK! *SCOTCH BRAND TAPE – Switch to another brand during this holiday gift-wrapping season!!! I know it is hard in our fast-paced lives to seek out new brands and where to purchase them, but you CAN make a difference in the welfare of animals by boycotting the above mentioned brands, and being mindful of where the products you choose come from. There ARE many earth-safe / animal safe companies out there that have GREAT products - Such as: Seventh Generation: http://www.seventhgeneration.com/ (Find @ Trader Joe's!) Planet: http://www.planetinc.com/ (Find @ Von's and Albertsons!) The Natural Dentist: http://www.thenaturaldentist.com/ (Find @ Walgreen's!) Healthy Pet Organic Pet Food: www.healthypet.net (online company - my kitties LOVE this food!) Also! I just found out that Cadbury Adams / Cadbury Schweppes (makers of Dentyne & Trident gum, HALLS cough drops and various candies) does NOT test on animals – YAY for them! www.cadburyadams.com AND! Did you know that Trader Joe’s and Safeway store brands (all products) are on the PETA SAFE LIST?!?!?! WOW! Save $$ AND the lives of animals by choosing these store brands! STOP ANIMAL TESTING NOW! http://www.aavs.org/ http://www.peta.org

AWESOME INFO ON ANIMAL TESTING ~ BE ENLIGHTENED!

Kitty Kiku — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 19:26:38 GMT

If you think Animal Experiments are Necessary Consider The Following: * Less than 2% of human illnesses (1.16%) are ever seen in animals. Over 98% never are. * At least 50 drugs on the market cause cancer in lab animals. They are allowed because it is admitted that animal tests are not relevant. * When asked if they agreed that animal experimentation can be misleading because of anatomical and physiological differences between animals and humans, 88% of doctors agreed. * Rats are 37% effective in identifying what causes cancer in humans. Flipping a coin would be more accurate. * According to animal tests lemon juice is deadly poison, but arsenic, hemlock and botulin are safe. * 40% of patients suffer side effects as a result of prescription treatment. * Over 200,000 medicines have been released most of which are now withdrawn. According to the World Health Organisation, 240 medicines are essential. * Thousands of drugs passed safe in animals have been withdrawn or banned due to their effect on human health. * Aspirin fails animal tests, as do digitalis (heart drug), cancer treatments, insulin (causes animal birth defects), penicillin and other safe medicines. They would be banned if results from animal experimentation were accurate. * When the producers of thalidomide were taken to court, they were aquitted after numerous experts agreed animal tests could not be relied on for human medicine. * At least 450 methods exist with which we can replace animal experiments. * Morphine puts humans asleep but excites cats. * 95% of drugs passed by animal tests are immediately disgarded as useless or dangerous to humans. * One is six patients in hospital are there because the drug they have taken had been passed safe for us on humans after animal tests. * Worldwide, at least 22 animals die every second in labs. In the UK one animal dies every five seconds. * The contraceptive pill causes blood clots in humans but it had the opposite effect in dogs. * We use aspirin for aches and pains. It causes birth defects mice, rabbits and rats. * Researchers refused to believe that benzene could cause cancer in humans because it failed to in animal tests. * Dogs failed to predict heart problems caused by the cardiovascular drugs encainide and flecainide, which led to an estimated 3,000 deaths in the USA. * Heart by pass surgery was put on hold for years because it didnt work on dogs. * If we had relied on animal tests we would still believe that humans dont need vitamin C, that smoking doesnt cause cause cancer and alcohol doesnt cause liver damage. * It was denied for decades that asbestos caused disease in humans because it didnt in animals. * Polio researchers were mislead for years about how we catch the disease because they had experimented on monkeys. * As one researcher points out, the ultimate dilemma with any animal model of human disease is that it can never reflect the human situation with complete accuracy."