Michael Vick and the Ed Block Courage award

You probably all know that the Philadelphia Eagles recently voted Michael Vick as their preferred recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award. What a travesty! The Ed Block Foundation is dedicated to promoting awareness and assisting in the prevention of child abuse.  That objective is combined with the Foundation's commitment to celebrating players of inspiration in the NFL.  Each year, every NFL team votes for one of its players to receive the Ed Block Courage Award.  It is considered to be one of the most prestigious awards in the NFL, and heralds the winner as an example of inspiration, spirit, and bravery.

WHAT where the Eagles thinking, nominating Michael VICK, the man who epitomizes the exact opposite of what the award should represent?!

Child abuse and animal abuse are perpetrated by the same time types of people (often the same people, as we all know that domestic violence and animal abuse go hand in hand, just as much as animal abuse often presages violence against humans): cowardly and craven bullies taking advantage of an innocent, dependent being. There is no-one LESS courageous than someone who abuses either children or animals.

Vick is NOT a courageous man – he is a cowardly creature who tortured and abused animals for pleasure and the approval of his equally degenerate peers. There's nothing courageous about bowing to peer pressure; there’s nothing courageous about abusing animals. And where's the courage when Vick, offered the opportunity to look the surviving dogs in the eyes, refused to step up even for that?? This is no hero, there is no courage. That man is the ultimate coward, through and through.

Please sign a petition against Vick’s nomination – it’s a travesty and makes a mockery of all the truly brave NFL players who deserve to be nominated, not to mention the real heroes – people who put their safety and peace of mind on the line every day to prevent animal abuse and those who rescue the victims. Sign to stop this prestigious award from being tarnished by association with the likes of Michael Vick - http://bit.ly/7pLfb6.

Even temporary holding conditions should be humane

In an update on the recent shocking case involving the seizure of over 20,000 exotic animals in Arlington, Tx it has been clearly established that the inhumane conditions in which the animals were being held lead to the deaths of over 1,600 and health conditions ranging from parasite infestations to starvation.

Besides the fact that these animals were torn from their native environments and callously traded for their exotic appeal at risk to their wellbeing (and in some cases, the wellbeing of the environments into which they were being introduced), even the most basic fundamentals of animal transportation were not being observed.

Whether transporting a pet, livestock or exotic animal, it is critical to ensure adequate food, water and bedding when transporting or holding animals, and to have sufficiently trained personnel on hand to monitor the animals’ wellbeing at all times.

Let’s hope that this company is summarily put out of business – their holding facility is such a health hazard, health specialists are recommending its demolition – an organization like should not be allowed to continue their cruelty and exploitation. Say what you will about PETA, who sponsored the undercover investigation, their goal to end the commercial sale of exotic animals around the world can only be a good thing.

Dallas Area Pet Stores Take ‘Puppy Friendly’ Pledge

Local animal lovers have been working with Dallas area pet stores to sign The Humane Society of the United States' puppy friendly pet store pledge — committing not to sell puppies, but instead support local animal adoption programs and provide literature that helps customers learn about reputable breeders.

These businesses are proof that selling puppy mill pets is not the way to a successful pet-related business, and their participation in the program will hopefully boost shelter adoptions as well.

Please show your support for these more humane businesses by boycotting stores that sell live puppies and kittens and shopping with one of these instead:

The independent retailers in the Dallas area that have recently signed the puppy friendly pledge to not sell puppies are:

• Big Paw Designs (online only)
• Canine Commissary (Dallas)
• City Pet Supply (North Dallas)
• City Pet Supply Oak Lawn (Dallas)
• City Vet Center Uptown (Dallas)
• Doggy Tug (Dallas)
• Downtown Dog (Dallas)
• Green Pet (Dallas)
• Lucca Bella Doggie Spa & Boutique (Dallas)
• Lucky Dog Barkery (Dallas)
• Perky Poodle (Dallas)
• Pet Supplies "Plus" (Dallas)
• The Dog Lofts Oak Lawn (Dallas)
• The Dog Lofts Uptown (Dallas)
• The Petropolitan (Dallas)
• The Pooch Patio (Dallas)
• Urban Paws (Dallas)
• City Vet Center (Flower Mound)
• Glamour Paws (Fort Worth)
• Every Dog's Day Canine Resort and Day Spa (Frisco)
• Prestige Pet Products (Grand Prairie)
• Pete & Mac's Pet Resort (Irving)
• Foxy Paws Dog Boutique (Plano)
• Pet Supplies "Plus" (Plano)
• Pete & Mac's Pet Resort (Plano)
• Woof… Cool Stuff Fur Dogs (Plano)
• Three Dog Bakery (Southlake)

THANKS, animal advocates and HSUS for this program that will help consumers make better decisions!

More information and action for you (links below):

• See more information about the “Puppy Friendly” program here.
• You can help get pet stores to sign the “Puppy Friendly” pledge!
• Find out what else you can do to fight puppy mills here.

Exotic animals seized in Arlington

I am not a pet!

Photo: Nigel Treblin / AFP/Getty Images

The largest animal seizure of its kind in the country took place in this week in Arlington, TX when as many as 20,000 critters were targeted for seizure from an exotic pet distributor Tuesday morning. Many of them were in appalling condition, starving or suffering from being kept in inappropriate conditions for their species; a large number were already dead when authorities made the raid.

The fact that the distributor ran a multi million dollar business trading in exotic animals for over a decade hints at the demand for such unusual “pets” in this country, and poses some unique challenges for animal welfare groups (and communities at large) when people cannot adequately care for their exotic charge. Some are simply released – into non-native habitats where they die because of conditions they are not meant to live in; or where they thrive and decimate native fauna and flora – sometimes to a dangerous degree (think of some of the African and Burmese pythons now cross-breeding with local snakes in the swamps of Florida). Some attack their owners or other people, while some simply die from neglect and ignorance of their unique environmental, dietary and social requirements. And some, usually involuntarily, are surrendered to animal welfare agencies who themselves are ill-equipped to assist in the care and re-homing of highly specialized animal species.

It’s bad enough that we have an overpopulation of everyday companion animals like dogs, cats and rabbits – but the additional burden placed on rescue and welfare groups when exotics are added to the mix pushes the system well beyond its already-strained limits.

Wild animals are not pets, people! It is irresponsible and inhumane to be capturing, transporting and trading exotic, non-native wildlife to be kept as pets or status symbols.

What you can do about this issue:

• Never buy or promote the ownership of exotic or wild animals as pets.
• Please support the awesome groups who have been pulled into this latest seizure: SPCA of Texas, Arlington Animal Services, and Humane Society of North Texas
• Get educated about the issue of exotic wildlife as pets by checking out the HSUS page - http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/exotic_pets/ 
• And let your elected officials know you support legislation such as the Large Constrictor Snake Trade Ban (recently approved by a Senate panel, now under consideration by the Senate). How to you do that? Check out the HSUS page http://www.humanesociety.org/action/now/ or the ASPCA page http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/lobby-for-animals/.

Our motto “No More Disposable Pets” means exactly that – no more disposable pets of ANY kind!!