Patrick, the Miracle Dog

So emaciated his bones protruded, Patrick was found in a Newark, New Jersey housing complex by a maintenance worker on March 16 after having been thrown down a garbage chute. The Associated Humane Societies were notified, and they rushed Patrick to the Garden State Veterinary Specialists where Patrick received a transfusion and life-saving medical treatment. Patrick, who should have weighed about 50 pounds, was only 20 pounds. Miraculously, Patrick survived, and he gets healthier every day. Despite the unimaginable cruelty he suffered, he loves people.

His case has outraged and inspired animal lovers across the country, and donations have ensured that he will receive the ongoing care he needs. However, you may send him a get well card or care package:

Patrick, Patient ID# 92310
Garden State Veterinary Specialists
1 Pine Street
Tinton Falls, NJ 07753

If you are moved by Patrick's story to make a financial contribution, please send it to your local humane society or use the ChipIn widget on the left sidebar of my blog to help the animals of Japan.

I spent a whole night crying after watching this video, heartbroken by the pain Patrick must have suffered, as well as angry at the person who did this to him. (His former owner has been found and charged with animal cruelty. Though the harm she inflicted is without measure, her maximum punishment is a $1,000 fine or 6 months in jail.)

I hope you will keep in mind, though, that the emaciated creature you see in the video is a commonplace sight in the animal agricultural industry around the world. Individuals who engage in farm animal rescue see this sight whenever they go to an auction.

Use the fire in your heart not to fuel anger, but to fight animal abuses inflicted on both domestic, farm, and wild animals around the globe. What do you plan to do today to help them?

Lunch

One of my favorite lunches, a salad from Greenstar. It would be perfect if they had red peppers available on the salad bar. As is, it's pretty good anyway!

Quotation of the Day

"We could never learn to be brave and patient, 

if there were only joy in the world."

~Helen Keller

Halfway There

On the first day teaching after spring break, I needed the protection of labradorite, which is said to dispel negativity. I love this particular stone; it shimmers more blue than gray.



Coincidentally, one of my students drew me a Bejewled Blitz doodle during class today.

gnome army

My aunt Lizzie and grandma made these gnomes for me. I am amused by gnomes... my mother got me a Travelocity gnome for Christmas.

Meatout TV Ad

Meatout!

For me, every day is meatout. Look at all the yummy, cruelty-free, and usually healthy options available when you kick the meat habit:

From FARM:

Meatout is an international observance helping individuals evolve to a wholesome, compassionate diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains. The purpose is to expose the public to the joys and benefits of a plant-based diet, while promoting the availability and selection alternatives to meat and dairy in mainstream grocery stores, restaurants, and catering operations.

• "Kicking the meat habit" holds lasting benefits for consumer health, world hunger, resource conservation, environmental quality, and animal protection.
• Kicking the meat habit reduces our risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other chronic diseases that cripple and kill nearly 1.4 million Americans annually.
• Kicking the meat habit decreases our exposure to infectious pathogens like Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter, which kill several thousand Americans annually and sicken millions more.
• Kicking the meat habit raises our energy level, lowers our food budget, and simplifies food preparation and cleanup.
• Kicking the meat habit frees up grains and other foods that can be used to feed the world's hungry. Animals are extremely inefficient "protein converters;" it can take up to 16 pounds of grain to make 1 pound of beef.
• Kicking the meat habit preserves our topsoil, water, and other food production resources vital to the survival of our children and their children.
• Kicking the meat habit protects our forests, grasslands, and other wildlife habitats from encroachment by cattle ranchers while reducing the polluting effects of methane, soil particles, manure, and pesticides on our air and water.
• Kicking the meat habit saves animals from caging, crowding, deprivation, drugging, mutilation, manhandling, and agonizing slaughter. Each person who adopts a plant-based diet saves over 80 innocent, sentient animals each year. Over a lifetime, an individual can save more than 6,000 animals just by going vegan.

Meatout, the largest grassroots diet educational campaign, is coordinated by FARM and supported by Mercy for Animals, In Defense of Animals, PETA, Compassion over Killing, the Farm Sanctuary, and Vegan Outreach.


Meatout Bloggers