Protecting the Ottawa River watershed: First Nations history important for the future
of the environment
“Water is speaking: Are we listening?” That question was
posed by Saugeen First Nation Chief Randall Kahgee in the book Boiling Point by Maude Barlow. Water is life- the indigenous people have always known this to be
true. Water feeds our bodies, water is
our bodies. Water is prosperity; water is safety. Water should be clean.
Canadian Veterinary Medical Association has revised its previous position statement on feline declawing
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Photo by Tambako The Jaguar Flickr |
The CVMA released a statement that the association has revised it's previous position on the onychectomy- better known as declawing- of domestic cats. The statement reads that explicitly state that the CVMA “opposes elective and non-therapeutic Partial Digital Amputation (PDA), commonly known as declawing or onychectomy, of domestic cats.”
Journalist Deia Schlosberg arrested filming tar sands pipeline protest is released, facing felony charges
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Photo by CIFF |
Journalist and Emmy award winning documentary filmmaker Deia Schlosberg was arrested on October 11 while filming a protest in Walhalla, North Dakota. Climate activists were protesting against the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline; a pipeline that will bring Canadian tar sands oil into the United States. The group was supporting Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Schlosberg was released today, but is facing felony charges.
Schlosberg is the producer of the documentary film How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can’t Change by climate activist and documentary filmmaker Josh Fox. Fox is well known for his Gasland series of documentary films about the dangers of fracking and fossil fuels impact on climate change.
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Photo by Peg Hunter |
Yesterday in an article by Fox for The Nation he reported that Schlosberg "was held for 48 hours before being allowed to speak to a lawyer." He also stated that the "authorities confiscated her footage. She is now charged with three counts of felony conspiracy and faces a possible sentence of up to 45 years. For being a journalist."
Climate Direct Action- the group protesting the controversial pipeline- shut down the pipeline without using violence or aggressive force. The activists used the emergency shut off valves to shut down multiple pipelines along the Canadian and US border, stating that it was a climate emergency. They shut down five pipelines along the border, including the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, that would deliver tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada. Schlosberg was filming and did not partake in any of the action, but was arrested as an accessory.
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Photo by Joe Brusky |
Protests have also been held in Standing Rock, North Dakota. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has been a loud voice against the Dakota Access Pipeline, filing a complaint stating that it "threatens the Tribe's environmental and economic well-being and would damage and destroy sites of great historic, religious and cultural significance to the Tribe." The complaint states that the pipeline goes against the Clean Water Act which "prohibits the discharge of any pollutant, including dredged spoil or other fill material, into waters of the United States unless authorized by a permit."
On October 10 Divergent actress Shailene Woodley was arrested in Sioux County while at a peaceful protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline. She streamed her arrest on Facebook Live. She was among 27 people arrested.
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Photo by simpsdog |
Fox streamed on Facebook Live on October 13 from the streets of London where he was screening the film How To Let Go of the World. He said that Schlosberg is "the media. The media is allowed to report on actions that are happening." In his article for The Nation about the recent arrests he said "all this should send chills down the spine of every documentary filmmaker and journalist."
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Photo by Joe Brusky |
After her release Schlosberg posted a video to her Facebook thanking people for their support and stating that she will be posting more information soon. Celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo and Neil Young and politician Bernie Sanders have rallied to show their support and protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline. A petition has been started online to try and encourage law enforcement to drop the charges against Schlosberg.
Join the cause- raise awareness!
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Photo by Thomas Hawk via Foter.com CC BY NC |
The poster and the politician: Alan Tobin "delighted" about breed specific restrictions at the dog park, Ireland
Pet parents are outraged. Councillor Alan Tobin is receiving serious backlash after posting his views on the new posters for the dog park that list restricted breeds. The County Councillor of Meath, Ashbourne in Ireland stated in his Facebook post that he is "delighted" to get the signs that he had asked for, and that is amazes him that "some people think these are ideal family pets."
Dogs on the list include American Bull Terrier, Bull Mastiff, Staffordshier Bull Terrier, German Shepherd, Japanese Akita, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, English Bull Terrier and Japanese Tosa. Most Facebook users are outraged, and the post has over 140, 000 shares and over 240, 000 comments. While most people are in opposition to Tobin's poster there are comments from people who agree with him. Breeds that bite has been a great debate among pet owners, most veterinary and canine research organizations take a similar stance on the breed bite: the main focus should be on responsible pet ownership, not breed.
Happy
Easter from Paws For Reaction!
I hope everyone is having a great Easter weekend! Don’t
forget to check out the Paws For Reaction EasterHeadquarters to read all the fun Easter themed posts and to see pictures of
adorable pets celebrating the holiday. Speaking of pets celebrating the holiday,
check out my Easter Mountain Dogs! Hazel and Keira played dress-up so they
could get their Easter treats- check out the photos below! Have a Happy Easter!
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Photo by Sharon Taylor Photography of Kettering Foter.com CC BY-NC-ND |
The Easter Bunny and more: Fun Easter facts
Find out where the most famous rabbit came from, how Easter is celebrated around the world and so much more! These facts are full of candy, beautiful photos of rabbits, and the holiday spirit. Check out these Easter facts and have a Happy Easter!
Pet
food recalls: April
2015
Nylabone Products Recalls Puppy Starter Kit Due To Possible
Salmonella Health Risk
Contact:
Consumer:
1-877-273-7527
FDA PRESSRELEASE - April 22, 2015 - TFHPublications, Inc./Nylabone Products, of Neptune, NJ is recalling one lot of
its 1.69 oz. package of the Puppy Starter Kit dog chews, because they have the
potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can
affect animals ingesting the product and there is risk to humans from handling
contaminated products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their
hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these
products.
Long Live Pets: Your rescue pet could be a star in a film for Nat Geo
Wild
Best
Friends Animal Society is on a mission to inspire people to change a
shelter pet’s life and to celebrate rescue pets that have already found their
forever home. An estimated 270,000 pets in shelters will be euthanized in March
alone all due to a lack of space- almost 9,000 a day. Because of this growing
epidemic CEO
and co-founder of Best Friends Animal Society Gregory
Castle and veterinarian and former Miss. America Dr. Debbye Turner Bell
have teamed up with Natures Variety Instinct
to create the Long Live Pets campaign. This
effort is to help reduce the number of animal deaths in shelters across the
country and to invite people to enter their rescue pets to be featured in a
film for Nat Geo Wild.
Ontario Parks: Best parks to snowshoe in Petawawa, Ontario
Petawawa is nestled between Pembroke and Chalk River in
the scenic Ottawa Valley region. The Ottawa Valley is known for its Provincial
Parks, white water rafting, year-round fishing, and natural resource
preservation.
Once the snow hits the ground the Ottawa Valley springs
back to life- headed by a diverse cross country ski and snowshoe community.
Several ski and snowshoe clubs exist in Petawawa and the surrounding area and
they maintain the trails every winter. Outdoor adventure is in people’s blood
in the Ottawa Valley and winter exploration is welcome and celebrated.
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Photo by Finger Food Foter CC BY-NC |
Delicious
or deadly: Purina responds to class action lawsuit against Beneful
The Purina pet food empire has been hit with
a class action lawsuit alleging that Beneful dog food is responsible for
killing thousands of dogs. Beneful has had poor reviews online for years- all
one has to do is Goggle search “Beneful
petitions” to see that several thousand people do in fact want the
brand discontinued from Purina’s catalogue.
Beneful is one of the more popular Purina dog foods- mainly
due to its very low retail price, accessibility and claims to be a “nutritious”
and “balanced” dog food. However according to the Feb. 5 class action lawsuit
filed in a California federal court by plaintiff Frank Lucido, Beneful causes
illness and sometimes death.
Happy Family Day Canada!
Have a very happy Family Day from my furry family to yours!
Doggy date night: How to include your dog in your Valentine's
Day celebration
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Photo by grwepr Foter CC BY |
Love is in the air and
dog owners across North America are spoiling their pooch with lavish
Valentine’s Day gifts. The Feb. 14 celebration often means romantic dates for
pet parents but what about the dogs? They stay at home lonely while you and
your loved one enjoy time together. Speaking on behalf of the dogs in the world just doesn’t seem fair. What if there was a way to have a romantic date
with your significant other AND your furry family member?
This list has creative
and fun ways to include your canine companion in your Valentine's festivities.
Check out these dog-friendly Valentine’s Day dates that will strengthen your
bond with each family member- furry ones included!
Pet Dental Health Month: Dr. Sanchez
demonstrates 3 step dog dental routine
Are you getting your dog’s dental health advice by word
of mouth? Dr. Andrea Sanchez, the Medical Director of Hospital Operations at Banfield
Pet Hospital in Portland, OR was willing to fill me in on dental disease in dogs. She promotes good oral hygiene by teaming up with
Greenies dental chews
for National Pet Dental
Health Month.
“All across the country, Banfield Pet Hospital is teaming
up with Greenies dental chews to raise awareness about pet oral health and most
importantly how pet owners can best care for their pet's teeth- both at home and
at the vet clinic,” Dr. Sanchez said in a Feb. 7 video interview.
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Photo by M Glasgow Foter CC BY |
Blue
Buffalo’s Home 4 the Holidays adoption drive rescues one million pets
Blue Buffalo
celebrated a milestone Jan. 26 when a cat named Watermark became the one
millionth pet to be adopted this season during their Home 4 the Holidays pet
adoption campaign. Watermark was rescued by the Monmouth County SPCA,
NJ and waiting for a forever home when the Ferrier family took him and set the
record for this year’s adoption drive.
Blue Buffalo’s Home 4 the
Holidays campaign was launched in 1999 and since then has become the
largest pet adoption program on record. The Home 4 the Holidays drive has saved
more than 10 million pets overall and each yearly campaign lasts three months.
With so many new pets coming home during the holidays Blue Buffalo uses the
campaign as a way to educate the public about happy, healthy pets available for
adoption in animal shelters.