Crafting for Animals Guild on Artfire: September 2010

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Born to Live, Made to Kill

Dog Paw Keychain

by TS Beading

"Dog fighting is a brutal, sadistic event motivated by barbarism of the worst sort and cruelty of the worst, worst, worst sadistic kind. One is left wondering, who are the real animals... the creatures inside the ring, or the creatures outside the ring."

- U.S. Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, 2007

There are many people out there today and in history who enjoy dog fighting for various reasons. For some it’s the money that can be made or won, for others it’s for the social standing, and others yet it is the entertainment or the thrill of the fight. At one time dog fighting was popular and legal, and even had the support of local animal groups such as the United Kennel Club. However, as civilization has progressed there has been more and more controversy surrounding dog fighting, and in 1976 dog fighting was outlawed in all states in America.

The controversy surrounding dog fighting is not only about the abuse that the fighting dogs undergo, but it is also about the groups of people who operate and promote dog fighting because oftentimes dog fighting is correlated with other illegal activities such as gambling, drugs, gangs, and other acts of violence. Although all of these other correlated activities are just as important and illegal as dog fighting, my focus in this post will be about what it is like in the life of a fighting dog.

There are a few main breeds of dogs that are used in dog fighting. Most commonly in the USA, pit bulls are used, but there are a couple other breeds that are often used in other countries. Sadly, the stigma alone is a heavy weight to bear for any pit bull due to the fairly common mindset that pit bulls are somehow bad animals because of those who are raised to be fighting dogs. Personally, I had a pit bull who was an awesome dog and one of the friendliest and most compassionate dogs I've ever known, but I could always see the fear in people’s eyes when meeting him. I am a firm believer that animals, including humans, are products of their environments. Yet, unfortunately, for this breed of dog you will find many communities around this Nation that ban them based on stigma alone. This stigma is bad enough for dogs who were born to be loving companions, but for the dogs breed to be fighting dogs it is another world of pain just to be alive.

The dogs who are breed to fight have a battle from the day they are born. Those who breed dogs to fight raise them to be tough, mean, and ultimately to be killers. To accomplish this, the dogs are trained in harsh conditions. They are tied to heavy car towing chains to make them strong, they are provided with bait animals and taught to kill, and if they don’t succeed at being the toughest, meanest killers, then they are more often than not sentenced to death. I have read articles where the “failures” are shot, hung, left to starve, or baited to the other fighting dogs.

Baited animals are animals that are put in the fighting ring to give the fighters practice. The baited animals can be rabbits, cats, or other dogs. When other dogs are used they sometimes have their snouts duct taped shut or their teeth removed or filed down so that they can’t fight back, and to give the fighter dog an unfair advantage in the name of gaining experience. These baited animals are oftentimes found in local ads that state, “free to a loving home,” and sometimes they are stolen from their homes or are found wandering the streets as strays. Most commonly they are smaller or weaker dogs to give the fighting dog a challenge with an unfair advantage. Sadly the baited animals are killed by the fighting dog, and just as sad is the fact that the fighting dog is trained to kill, and that means that if they are fortunate enough to get out of the fighting business, they are most likely unadoptable and end up having to be euthanized, a disheartening, tragedy that those who rescue these animals are left to deal with. They are left to clean up the mess and destruction that others create through their own selfishness and lack of consideration.

That is exactly how I view it. The people who breed these dogs, train these dogs, and are entertained by dog fights are selfish and lack consideration not only for other people and dogs, but for life itself. Apparently they see nothing wrong with what they are doing, and for them it’s all for their selfish entertainment, for their greed, and/or from their superfluously inflated, egotistical status quos that are attained from having or betting on a winning dog. These people are out to see blood, to see a fight so brutal that it ends up in death. Perhaps they figure that these animals have no feelings, perhaps they think that it’s ok because it’s “just” a dog’s life. Perhaps they just don’t care. I am of the contention that none of them have a basic respect for life. Bloodlust is not something I comprehend, but then again I never could understand the brutal reaping of innocence, especially to the point that the innocent become monsters themselves. Perhaps those who enjoy and thirst for bloodshed were victims themselves at some point; however, that is no excuse. To me, there is no excuse. We humans are supposed to be above that level of violence due to our abilities to think, reason, analyze, and overcome our primal instincts. Dog fighting is an example of a society gone wrong, and until people stand up and take responsibility for creating the problems that breed such monsters and rehabilitate them, there will continue to be animal “blood sports."

In closing I would like to reiterate that not all pit bulls were raised to fight, not all pit bulls are dangerous, bloodthirsty fighters, and they should not all be treated as such. I’ve known many who are kind, gentle, compassionate, and are awesome companions. It’s not the dog itself that is bad, they all start out just as innocent; rather it is the environment in which they are raised.

Together we can create change, and to start we must become aware. Spread the word, watch for signs, report suspicious activity, and don’t get involved or participate in dog fighting. Take care of your pets and don't let them wander, never advertise your animals as "free," and instead of letting them go as strays give them to your local pet shelter or rescue if you can no longer care for them. Let’s get these hateful operations shut down forever!

Written by Tsilos Schoener

TS Beading

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Where Do Old Elephants Go?….Pam Todd

Have you ever wondered what happens to elephants when they retire from the circus or from the zoo? One place they go to live out their natural lives is the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee. This safe habitat is over 2000 acres, and currently has both Asian and African elephants. I am excited to share that one of my former students, Amanda Coleman Chanley, works there and has first hand knowledge of the sanctuary.

Amanda and her husband moved to Hohenwald in 2003 when their oldest daughter was one year old. Her parents lived there, and her mother was cleaning homes for residents, one of which was a co-founder of the sanctuary. That was Amanda’s first opportunity to learn more about the Elephant Sanctuary. In August 2004, she started working part time in the office, which at that time was located on the grounds of the Sanctuary, As Amanda explained, “The office was on the top floor of the elephant barn. During the summer, the elephants didn’t come into the barn much. When the weather began to get cold, the elephants came in more often and stayed longer periods of time in the heated barn. Like any animal barn, we got that ‘farm’ smell. It was quite pungent, and I was really ready for a shower at the end of the day!”

In 2005, the office moved to a different location and just recently to their newly renovated downtown office/education gallery!

http://www.theelephantsanctuary.com/WelcomeCenter/updates.php

Amanda now works 32 hours a week, processing the mail, and proofing donor acknowledgments that go out in the mail. As a non-profit, the Elephant Sanctuary is funded by donations. She relates that she has learned so much about elephants and how their lives are affected in captivity. She says that so many people are just unaware of the serious problems that affect elephants in captivity both physically and mentally. The Sanctuary has really focused on educating the public through different ways that are non-invasive to the elephants that are retired here. Currently there are fifteen (two African and thirteen Asian) elephants at the Sanctuary. An “elecam” allows people to see the elephants in the habitat without disturbing them. http://www.elephants.com/elecam/ The elephants that come to the sanctuary are able to live like elephants and no longer are they put on display for human entertainment.

Amanda says she is proud to be part of such a wonderful organization that really cares deeply for the welfare of elephants. She enjoys working there and being able to witness the always expanding public awareness and generosity of people.
“It’s an exciting place to be,” she says.

You can learn more about these elephants and the Sanctuary at the following links: the website - http://www.elephants.com/ and in the 2009 annual report - http://www.elephants.com/pdf/AR2009.pdf - which details the operations of the sanctuary, stories and wonderful photos of the elephants who live there, and how people can help. Thanks to Amanda for sharing her knowledge and experiences about The Elephant Sanctuary.

Pam Todd, an avid crocheter and animal lover, is a member of the Crafting for Animals Guild on Artifire. Her Artfire shop may be found here: http://www.bagsandmorebypam.artfire.com/

Thursday, September 23, 2010

In the Eyes of a Horse

Horse Pendant by TSBeading

“When you look into a horse’s eyes, it’s like he can see into your soul”

That is a quote taken from my late mother when I asked her about her favorite animal and why. Throughout the years I have adored horses from close and from afar. I learned to ride before my back went out, and loved the sweet feeling of freedom on the back of this majestic animal who instinctively knew when I wanted to veer to the right or left, or whether I wanted to go trot, gallop, lope, or just walk quietly along. One particular horse that I rode had been kicked pretty badly when he had a child on his back. That horse took the full blow so as not to disturb or uproot the child, and the child went away unscathed, but for that noble horse it was a different story. The horse had to receive medical attention and therapy for a while, and while his body recovered, he was never the same in his mind. He was leery of other horses getting too close, and I was instructed to keep a distance from the others due to his nervousness. The horse’s leeriness didn’t only stem from the kick, it also stemmed from his instinct to protect his human rider.

Such as the way it is with many domesticated animals. They adopt their humans as much as we humans adopt them, and they instinctually protect their humans as much as most humans instinctually try to protect them. In my opinion, it is extremely unfortunate that not all humans understand and respect this relationship with animals, and even more unfortunate when humans abuse animals, whether they are big or small, whether they are domestic or wild, and that is what I am here to discuss today; wild horses. Wild horses have a long, interesting history in the United States that I won’t get into in this post because I would rather discuss the current issues with wild horses.

Current American wild horses are also known as feral horses because they were at one time domesticated and then set free. These are the horses that helped form the fabric of the United States. Our ancestors had horses that were not only their servants but their companions. These horses aided us in battles, they worked our fields, they pulled our carriages, and they were also our friends. The USA wouldn’t be what it is today without our horses. Yet, today many of them are left to roam and wander the plains, left to fend for themselves. It is deeply disturbing to me that at one time we couldn’t live without them, revered them even, but after that need was gone because of the advances in technology, we leave them out in the cold, and then if that wasn’t enough, we go to extreme measures to get rid of them altogether.

While it may be true that these horses wander out of public lands in search of food or water, it is beyond my comprehension how people can be so cruel to this wondrous animal that was brought here, served us, and was once indispensible. The largest issues with wild horses today are: slaughtering them for animal and human consumption, transporting them for slaughter, the use of experimental drugs on them, the methods used to catch or trap them, and the methods used to transport and care for them after they’ve been caught.

While the last horse slaughterhouse was closed down in 2007 due to the enactment of a state law, there still is no federal law banning horse slaughter for human or animal consumption. Many horses are stolen or caught and then brought across the borders to be slaughtered in less than ideal conditions. No animal deserves this kind of abuse, and I wonder why the US hasn’t enacted a law to protect horses from slaughter and being transported to be slaughtered in other countries. While slaughtering is one way to get rid of horses in an inhumane manner, there is another being used the United States Humane Society that is claimed to be a more acceptable method of reducing the number of wild horses: Experimental drugs.

The United States Humane Society is currently darting mares with a drug that is not approved by the FDA or publicly available to create infertility. This is an experimental drug known as PZP. This drug has been known to backfire and sometimes it doesn’t work at all, further, it is outlawed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. What are we doing to these horses? While it is stated that the drug is short-term and only lasts a year or two, does it really? Is it meant to slow down the birth rate of wild horses, or are they looking to make them extinct altogether? Once again we are messing with natural evolution. We are taking it upon ourselves to weed out gene pools in animals. Haven’t we learned our lessons throughout history? Why would any government allow this to happen to a former icon of its country?

Wild horses are managed through the Bureau of Land Management, or BLM. In 1971 the Wild Horse Annie Act was established prohibiting the use of motor vehicles or aircraft to catch or trap wild horses, but eight years later that law was amended and currently reads that the BLM is excluded from this law. If you look around on the internet you will find many videos, articles, and testimonials of the ways in which wild horses are being caught today by the BLM and by those who think they are above the law. Helicopters are being used to chase down herds of wild horses, and if that wasn’t emotionally and physically distressing enough, they have repeatedly done this during foaling season. The mares end up aborting their foals or their foals are too young to keep up and are left orphans in the pasture. The ones that are able to keep up get trampled as they are herded into pens, end up orphans because they lose their mothers, they end up dying from exhaustion and distress, or are otherwise injured. Herds of horses end up losing members of their families. If you are brave enough to stomach the videos, you too will see stallions and mares running for their lives, you will see the fear in their eyes as they are chased by helicopters; the injuries they sustain from the long, frightening run. You will also see horses so frightened they severely injure themselves to escape, and when they do they’ve also lost their entire family, their herd.

Why? Why does the BLM do this? They do it to appease the people who complain about being intruded upon. They round up the horses and send them to large ranches who then attempt to adopt some of these horses out to the public. Sometimes these horses are lucky and end up in a loving home to people who know how to handle a horse that has been frightened and removed from his home and family, but many end up living out their lives at the BLM ranches where they are brought because they are unadoptable for any number of reasons. These BLM ranches get a daily stipend per horse that is costing taxpayers millions of dollars per year. Although there are other ways that have been proposed that would be easier on the horses and taxpayers, the BLM insists on doing things the same.

What is the solution? The solution lies in compassion for these revered animals who were brought here, who faithfully served us in our times of need, who were our companions. There are many organizations out there that are working towards a solution, some have better ideas than others, some are fad organizations, and some really are making a difference. One thing they all have in common is that they believe they can help in some way, but they need our support. They don’t all need money contributions, some need volunteers to work with the horses, some need help writing letters, and some need item contributions such as items they can sell or use while working with the horses. The solution also lies in helping to get the BLM to change their tactics, helping to change US Legislation, helping form a sanctuary where wild horses can continue to roam, or in opening up your home and taking in one of these majestic animals so that they can regain their honor and once again serve us and be our companions. You don't have to do everything listed here to help all horses, but a little help can mean the world to a horse in need.

If my mother was right and a horse can indeed see into our souls, what would a horse see in yours?

Written by Tsilos Schohener

TS Beading

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Carpe Canem Benefit Auction and 3 Peeps Designs

Mona of 3PeepsDesigns (a fellow CFA member), is taking part in the Carpe Canem Benefit Auction, which started today and is ending on September 20. Here is a little information that she has provided.

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Well, today is the big day, the auction benefiting Carpe Canem started at 9am. This was the first chance I would have to view my cuff that I donated to them and see what they started the bidding at. There are a ton of items that have been donated, from cups to t-shirts, collars to note cards and they all have different starting bids.

My cuff, which I sell for $75 starts at a mere $6 bid. I'm a bit miffed at that starting bid as a t-shirt gets a starting bid of $10! I don't see the rationale in that, perhaps they feel they will get more bids if they start lower? Perhaps they don't have any idea how much time and money goes into making the cuff. It takes hours to first develop the pattern and then hours more to stitch it up, make changes if necessary, cut out the leather, then attach it (sew by hand) onto the leather, and then attach the snaps to the leather.

I know that there are a lot of people out there that don't appreciate handmade goods. They don't see the value of the time or the fact that they are getting an original item. This isn't something available at Walmart or Target. No, it doesn't have a label from some designer with a store on Rodeo Drive. This designer only has a shop on Artfire, I'm not well known, but some day I may be.

Now, instead of just feeling good about having donated one of my cuffs to help an organization that I like, I am also agitated that they didn't see the value of my time, effort, or materials. This will make me question whether or not I will want to donate to Carpe Canem again. The least they could have/should have done was start them all at the same dollar amount.

They should have included my contact info with my donation, not just my name. By not including my contact info (blog, Artfire shop, email) they make me appear as just a hobbyist and not an artist. After, all, I am doing more than just donating something for them to auction off, I am also blogging about it, talking to my friends and family about it, advertising it on Facebook, and twittering on Twitter about it. The very least they could have done was have my contact info underneath the item.

Regardless of my personal feelings, I hope they raise a good amount of money so that they can continue their rescue and rehabilitation of greyhounds. And this could be your chance to get a great deal on a handmade Peyote stitched greyhound cuff.
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