animal welfare

At the top of my dog Ella’s blog lies a quote from Ric O’Barry, one of my heroes. “We teach the child not to hurt the butterfly as much for the child as for the butterfly.” In my opinion, there is no saying more tender, more simple. Ella, a victim of animal cruelty, is my butterfly. She has given me the wings to embrace and advocate what I am most passionate about, protecting animals.

When I was a child I had dreams of becoming an ice cream truck driver. Luckily, for my waistline, those dreams later changed to becoming a marine cetalogist. I think I got off on telling people what cetology – the study of whales, dolphins and porpoises – meant. And no matter what, they always translated that into me wanting to be a dolphin trainer, like Ric O’Barry was to Flipper. Sure no one knew who Ric O’Barry was, but everyone knew who Flipper was. I would tell people that yes, I wanted to be like Flipper’s “former” trainer, but that no, I did not want to train Flipper, or any other dolphin for that matter. It seemed incredulous to me, even at a very young age, that anyone have the right to study these creatures anywhere, but in the wild.

Somewhere around 10th grade biology class, all my dreams of being a scientist, ceased. It turned out I was not very good at memorization, or test-taking for that matter, and so my apirations were rerouted once again.

I have always been distantly cognizant of the work of Ric O’Barry. The man spent 10 years in the 60’s working in the dolphin captivity industry training five dolphins to play the role of Flipper, and the next few decades activating against the industry. So it was of no great surprise to me that he’d be featured in The Cove, a ground-breaking documentary on the dolphin captivity and slaughter industry that garnered a wide theatrical release and went on to win an Oscar.

Even though the movie came out this past September it took being up thousands of feet in the air on a Virgin America flight last week, for me to see it. Sure, I cried — I’m not sure anyone can sit through this documentary dry-eyed. But watching these people band together to shoot this film… the courage, passion and extreme measures they went to, it was beyond humbling. And of course Ric O’Barry, remains, my hero.

I had just exited off the BQE on Sunday afternoon when I spotted them. A skinny, old black man and a mama pit bull with teets down to the ground. I was in the far left lane of a four-lane road with direct traffic that lead to the Brooklyn Bridge. Driving slowly, I couldn’t take my eyes off them. She was brindle, he wore a red tattered sweat shirt and they walked like a couple who had been together for decades.

I contemplated stopping but it seemed an impossible feat, not to mention that my motivation for stopping would likely turn out to be futile. At the same time, I couldn’t help but think that if I continued home, I would forever wonder about the mama pit and the man in the red sweatshirt.

Then it occurred to me that I was sans husband, who would most definitely not let me cut across three lanes of traffic to approach a perfect stranger, and so I did it. I cut 90 degrees across, pissing off several cars in the process, and pulled over onto a side street. I double parked the car, left the emergency lights on and got out just as the man and his dog were at the corner.

He looked at me, nodded and said, “good afternoon ma’am.” And then I went for it. I spoke to him about his pit – who was timid and clung closely to him – and told him about mine. I also told him how I work with a non-profit organization that holds free spay/neuter clinics once per month. His eyes lit up. He was not only interested but floored that we offered the service for free. I told him it’s $100 for poodles and free for pits, and he had a good laugh.

It turned out my new friend, Rufus, has three pits. Mama who was with him, papa and one of their daughters who were both at home. They are older – 10, 10 and eight – and he explained that the births were accidental. He had kept mama and papa separate assuming mama was only in heat for a week to 10 days. Little did he know that it could last up to a month.

While it’s great news and was well-worth the drama it took to stop and advocate, his pups are older, and will need special clearance from a vet in order to be operated on. I wish this had a happy ending but we will have to wait and see what happens…

The new documentary Skin Trade premieres tomorrow, and who best to promote it but two of the biggest anti-fur activists of our time… the Barbi Twins! Click here to read more…

As I write, twelve men and women sit inside a glass conference room at the Bronx Criminal Courthouse deliberating the facts and evidence surrounding a dogfighting bust in which eight men were arrested on June 14, 2008. Over the course of two weeks, the jury listened to both the prosecuting attorney and defense attorneys’ arguments, and now the fate of four men — of the eight men arrested, only four (Alexander Estephane, Juan Toledo, Auritz Acoy and Alterik Mason) were tried — is being decided by a jury of their peers.

To read more, click here….

Peaceful protest lead by UA4A outside the Bronx Criminal Courthouse

Please watch this short and very powerful video – even if you already foster, rescue or adopt. There are still many who don’t, so please share this video on your Facebook pages, blogs and websites…

Here are just a few pictures from United Action for Animals’ first, free mobile spay/neuter clinic in the Bronx. Thanks to the efforts of UAA President, Jennifer Panton, half a dozen or so veterinarians, a dozen vet technicians and 50 volunteers, 57 cats and dogs will no longer be able to contribute to New York City’s pet overpopulation problem.

I recently purchased an Epic Specialties pillow from Facebook friend and fellow animal lover, Chirs Brenner. The pillow says “We Have A Warm (Heart) For Cold Noses.” Not only were the pillows cheap at $10, but all the proceeds go to a great cause: the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, California. There’s only one, albeit simple catch: you have to email Chris a picture of yourself with the product.

I received the pillow in the mail about as fast as I sent Chris a check and now it sits under the tree for Ella to open on Christmas. Then, Chris will get his photo!

Epic Specialties also sells Hanes 100% cotton, tagless t-shirts that say “We Have A Warm (Heart) For Cold Noses” or “We (Heart) Pets!” The pillows, like the one I ordered, are handmade, and also come in either slogan. There is even a bone-shaped neck pillow that says “We Love Pets.” The t-shirts are being sold for $8 each and the pillows for $10, until the end of January 2010. But keep in mind, that price is being honored (in good faith) to customers who will email Chris a picture of themselves with the tee or pillow. 

Chris has been a marketing consultant for over 15 years, and started Epic Specialties – which is he is the Chief Executive – earlier this year. While in the business to make money, as a life-long animal lover and someone who is passionate about fighting animal cruelty, Chris launched the company knowing he would give a percentage of promotional product sales to the San Diego Humane Society and Helen Woodward.

Now that, is a business worth supporting!

To order your t-shirt or pillow, email Chris at chris@epicspecialties.com.

My friend Emily Tanen’s non-profit rescue group, Project Pet, is throwing a holiday party in which all proceeds go towards saving animals in city shelters – specifically pit bulls – from euthanasia.

Emily also works in the New Hope department of Manhattan Animal Care and Control and never leaves work without taking at least a few dogs out of the shelter with her to be marketed, coddled and adored by animal lovers who attend the fundraiser.

Happy’s Holiday Hour will take place at Von, a great space on Bleecker Street on Thursday, December 17th from 6 – 9 p.m. I went to Project Pet’s fundraiser at Von last month and it was a blast! I am hoping to get out of a prior engagement to come out and support Emily and the animals she works so tirelessly to save, and hope you will, too!

Below is a photo of some of my rescue friends at Project Pet’s last fundraiser. From top left going clockwise is the host of the party, Emily, followed by Christina, Jen, myself and Katherine.

Good times raising money for shelter pets.

By SHANE BARBI as told to REEDU TAHA

I have a supportive husband and a life-long companion in my twin sister, but it is a cat that I rescued from the streets that is the love of my life.

By now I think it is no secret that I love animals. Along with my sister, Sia, I have been rescuing them since I was a child. From climbing trees to breaking my car for wildlife, to wading through floods left behind by hurricanes, to navigating my way through the fire-charred brush of Southern California — it is safe to say that I would do just about anything to save an animal.

Most people remember my sister and me from Playboy, but those days are long over. In fact, today, Sia and I can be found protesting, not posing. Pet shops, anti-vivisection, the circus and zoos are just a few of the animal rights causes we have taken up over the years.

However, we can also be found walking and rehabilitating dogs at animal shelters in Los Angeles as well as participating in TNR (Trap, Neuter and Return) with Stray Cat Alliance.

That is how I met Shelly.

…TO READ MORE, CLICK HERE