Are You Seeing Red?

Treasury East by VivaLeChat

Happy World Tapir Day!

What’s related to horses and rhinos, but still gets little respect? What looks like a watermelon on four hooves as a baby, but as an adult is often confused with a pig? The answer, of course, is tapirs! And seeing as today is World Tapir Day, it seems a fitting time to talk about one of my favorite creatures.

My name is Corinna Bechko. I’m one of the Facebook liaisons for the EFA fan page ( http://www.facebook.com/pages/EFA-Etsy-for-Animals-Artists-Helping-Animals/305657243118?ref=tsshop ). My etsy shop is called The Frog Bag ( http://thefrogbag.etsy.com ) It was opened with the hope of selling my crafts, yes. But I also had another aim. I wanted to do something for the tapirs of the world too. For that reason I give 20% of the purchase price of anything bought in my shop to the Tapir Preservation Fund (http://www.tapirback.com/tapirgal/default.htm ).

Tapirs are truly amazing animals. They have changed very little since the last Ice Age, when they roamed the widely. Today there are only four species left (three in Central America and one in Asia) and all of them are endangered. Despite the fact that tapirs can be described as “charismatic megafauna” most people don’t even know they exist. Maybe this is because they are shy creatures, not given to territorial displays. They don’t grow huge tusks of ivory, or embody the wild majesty of the great cats.

What they do is perhaps even more important: they preserve and shape the rainforest. With their torpedo-like bodies they crash through the undergrowth, creating new paths and rearranging the flora. As they go, they consume fruit and vegetation. After the fruit is digested the seeds make their way through the tapirs’ guts. These seeds are later “planted” a long way from the parent plant. In this way tapirs enrich the very forests they call home, helping to create some of the most biodiverse areas on the planet.


All well and good, of course. There are many charities that support rainforest conservation. What’s so special about a species specific tapir charity? The short answer is: Science. Very little is known about tapirs in the wild. Far less than what is know about elephants, or even elephant seals. When policy is made concerning how much rainforest to set aside as parkland, the best answer is usually just a guess. How much habitat is needed to support a rich cross-section of flora and fauna? To discover the answer it is often useful to look at some of the bigger members of the community. Protecting enough habitat to support a population of tapirs in turn protects wide swaths of rainforest with many other species riding the same “ark”. That’s why the Tapir Preservation Fund is so unique. It funds not just direct habitat conservation, but also field studies of just what tapirs need to thrive in the wild. Armed with this kind of sound science conservationists can enter debates confidently, secure in the knowledge that they have the facts on their side.

That’s why, in my shop at least, every day is World Tapir Day. Long live the tapir

Giving Little Black Kitties Their Due

Treasury East by VivaLeChat

Pepsi Refresh Project

Paw4Love is competing with other causes to win $25,000 at the Pepsi Refresh Project.

Read about them and vote here

Jewelry designer helps local sea lions by “Save Sea Lions” fundraiser

For Spring/Summer 2010, Long Beach jewelry designer, Tracie Pennypacker, of Un-Conventional, will organize the “Save Sea Lions” fundraiser, on LoveItShop.com. During the event, 25% on select items, will be donated to Marine Mammal Care Center of San Pedro (MMCC). Update your spring/summer look, while helping our sea lion community.


Choose from a vast selection of one-of-a-kind jewelry. Handcrafted using vintage and reclaimed materials, they make a positive impact on an already fragile planet. The MMCC, is a volunteer based non-profit, that rehabilitates injured sea lions to return them to the wild. Spring and summer are trying times for them due to the increase of injured sea lions. They need to ensure they get the supplies they need. There is a long list of daily items needed, plus expensive medical supplies and procedures.

Tracie Pennypacker wants the “Save Sea Lions” fundraiser to have a strong effect on our local community as well as our adjoining sea lion community. It is important to help these injured marine mammals because they deserve a second chance. A number of their injuries are due to their polluted environment, such as ingesting plastic bags and fishing line. Between April 15th- July 15th you can help make a difference. By purchasing the selected jewelry designs, you are donating 25% of your purchase to help MMCC with this cause.


Un-Conventional was founded September 2007, by Tracie Pennypacker. It features a vast selection of one-of-a-kind jewelry. Using 95% vintage and reclaimed materials, it helps preserve our planet. It currently sells at Imonni in Long Beach, The Paper Boutique in Miami, Auntie Rosa in Shibuya Tokyo, and on LoveItShop.com.

To find out more information or to donate to Marine Mammal Care Center go to www.marinemammalcare.org.



Un-Conventional Wearable Art
Tracie Pennypacker
386 Temple Ave. #9
Long Beach, CA 90814
(562) 480-2222

Mon-Fri 11am-6pm

Info@loveitshop.com

www.loveitshop.com

Support the April Charity of the Month; Animal Ambulance Alphen, Netherlands

The EFA March Charity of the Month is Animal Ambulance Alphen, chosen by Ama of http://missminoes.etsy.com.

"This Dutch animal ambulance service provides emergency care to injured animals and transports them to the vet. Also they transport animals to specialized shelters throughout the country. The ambulance staff is highly trained and in possession of a diploma for Animal First Aid.... Also for transporting your pet to the vet and back home, you can call upon the animal ambulance. "


"The volunteers at the Animal Ambulance in Alphen a/d Rijn have a big problem. One of the 2 vans was completely destroyed after a collision on Wednesday January 27th, 2010. This collision was not their fault and luckily no-one was hurt. But until there is a solution to replace this ambulance van animals in need will often have to wait longer before help arrives... The animal ambulance needs to raise a few 10,000 euros /dollars for a new fully equipped ambulance..."


Financial support:
* Donations via Dierenbescherming (Animal Protection) Dutch giro 17761 (Do mention it is for the animal ambulance).
* The Dutch banknumber for the animal ambulance, mentioned in the article on 'webregio' is 3061.07.796.
* Mailing address:
Dierenambulance Alphen a/d Rijn
Postbus 1067
2400 BD Alphen aan den Rijn
Netherlands
* Or if you find it more convenient you can sent your donation by PAYPAL to missminoes@live.nl and I'll banktransfer your donation to the Animal Ambulance.

Hoppers!

This adorable treasury full of EFA hoppers has been curated by http://rabbitude.etsy.com

Strings Attached Treasury

A beautiful EFA treasury by http://thoseparasoldays.etsy.com

Make Mine Chocolate!

It's Easter, and you know what that means-jellybeans, egg hunts, and...abandoned bunnies. As a volunteer with Alabama EARS (a rabbit rescue in the Birmingham area) and a pet lover, I thought I'd take a moment to share the plight of the real live Easter bunny with everyone. Here's where my story begins:


It's Memorial Day 2009: Ken is finishing up at work, and I am rushing around the house getting things ready for the cookout we have planned. I start slicing the watermelon, casually staring out the window, and there she is again-the tiny snowy white bunny that's been hanging around my deck for about 3 days. I decide "this bunny *must* be someone's pet! No wild bunny is pure white with red eyes and brave enough to hang out this close to where people live!" So, I slowly head outside with some watermelon to see if I can catch her and find her people.

I catch the cute little bundle of fur and get her set up the best way I know how. See, I'd never had a rabbit before. The best I could do on short notice was try to convert Ken's old rat cage (it was really big) into a bunny-friendly area and put in the only veggies I had on hand-an iceberg salad mix. I notice her teeth look odd. I put up fliers all over the neighborhood, at grocery stores and pet clinics, even local pet stores. And I wait.


After a week, it becomes clear that nobody lost this bunny. I take her to the nearest vet that sees rabbits, where he determines her age to be about 2 months and assumes she was once an "Easter bunny". I find out she has malocclusion (her teeth grow in odd directions) and that eventually the best option is to remove her incisors. This is the most likely reason that her first family let her go. Lucky for me, my husband is amazing and agreed on the spot to let me keep my new friend. Since that first day, I had done tons of research and gotten her the proper food and better housing.


Almost one year later, she has brought me so much joy (and a cranky friend that's fun to tell stories about...I'm sure I'll share some of his later), and I can't fathom how someone can just turn an animal loose like that. Yes, bunnies do live in the wild, but not domestic rabbits. It's pretty much a death sentence. The problems with her teeth made it even worse for her.

So, for Lexi, I am sharing the message of the House Rabbit Society's "Make Mine Chocolate" campaign: A rabbit is NOT a toy, and should not be purchased on a whim as an Easter gift for a child. If your kid really wants a bunny, please make it chocolate!


For more bunny information, please visit www.alabamaears.org and www.rabbit.org

Here's the link specifically to the "Make Mine Chocolate" campaign: http://www.makeminechocolate.org/

March Charity of the Month

March 2010 Charity: Best Friends Animal Society

"The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary at Angel Canyon, at the heart of the Golden Circle of national parks in southern Utah, is home on any given day to about 2,000 dogs, cats, and other animals, who come from shelters and rescue groups around the country for special care they can only receive at Best Friends.

Best Friends Animal Society is guided by a simple philosophy: kindness to animals builds a better world for all of us.

Ancient ritual threatens already declining whale populations

By Christina of Etsy shop esmeraldadesigns Marine Biologist and Eco-Metalsmith

Every year almost 1000 long finned pilot whales are slaughtered in the Faroe Islands. Originally for their meat and blubber, now many are left to rot as they are no longer needed as food. The last two years the meet has been deemed too toxic for human consumption, so the killings are purely for the entertainment.

Whaling in the Faroe Islands has been practiced since about the time of the first Norse settlements on the islands. It is regulated by Faroese authorities but not by the International Whaling Commission as there are disagreements about the Commission's competency for small cetaceans.[1][2] Around 950 Long-finned Pilot Whales (Globicephala melaena) are killed annually, mainly during the summer. The hunts, called "grindadráp" in Faroese, are non-commercial and are organized on a community level; anyone can participate. The hunters first surround the pilot whales with a wide semicircle of boats. The boats then drive the pilot whales slowly into a bay or to the bottom of a fjord.


Most Faroese consider the hunt an important part of their culture and history. Animal-rights groups criticize the hunt as being cruel and unnecessary[3][4] while the hunters claim in return that most journalists do not exhibit sufficient knowledge of the catch methods or its economic significance.[5]

As of the end of November 2008 the chief medical officers of the Faroe Islands have recommended that pilot whales no longer be considered fit for human consumption because of the levels of toxins in the whales.[6]

Including the Long-finned Pilot Whales (Globicephala melaena), also bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus); Atlantic white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris); Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus); and harbour porpoise ( Phocaena phocaena) are allowed to be slaughtered.


As mentioned earlier, around 1000 whales, the main part being pilot whales are killed annually. The numbers of whales killed annually are clearly on the decline. Not nececessarily because of ethical reasons but because of declining whale populations. The 2009 statistics show that a total of 310 pilot whales, 174 white beaked dolphins, 2 bottlenose whales and 1 bottlenose dolphin were killed in three separate round-up’s [7, 8]

Personally, I am appalled by this practice, cetaceans are highly intelligent creatures and as all things living worthy of our respect. In light of declining whale population and their benevolent impact on marine ecosystems and the fact that the meat is deemed toxic and not used for human consumption, there is simply no reason this should continue

What can YOU do? Well what I did, except for forwarding this info to everyone on my email list with a heart for animals, I signed a petition to Danish and Faroe governments: The Faroe Islands are part of Denmark. Many organizations have petitions for communicating your thoughts on this brutal tradition to the Danish PM, The Danish Minister of Foreign affair and the Faroe Island Tourist Board. Here is one of the petitions you can choose from:

http://www.unleashed.org.au/take_action/petitions/stop-the-faroe-islands-whale-slaughter/



Information from Wikipedia and IWC, the international whaling commission

1 "Small Cetaceans". International Whaling Commission. 5 May 2004. http://www.iwcoffice.org/conservation/smallcetacean.htm. Retrieved 21 July 2009.

2Catch limits". International Whaling Commission. 1 September 2009. http://www.iwcoffice.org/conservation/catches.htm. Retrieved 21 July 2009.

3 [http://www.whaling.fo/thepilot.htm#Drivingthewhales[dead link] "Whales and whaling in the Faroe Islands"]. Faroese Government. http://www.whaling.fo/thepilot.htm#Drivingthewhales[dead link]. Retrieved 2006-12-05.

4 [http://www.wdcs.org/dan/publishing.nsf/allweb/99E632F7502FCC3B802568F20048794C[dead link] "Why do whales and dolphins strand?"]. WDCS. http://www.wdcs.org/dan/publishing.nsf/allweb/99E632F7502FCC3B802568F20048794C[dead link]. Retrieved 2006-12-05.

5 Chrismar, Nicole (28 July 2006). "Dolphins Hunted for Sport and Fertilizer". ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=2248161&page=1. Retrieved 21 July 2009.

6 MacKenzie, Debora (28 November 2008). "Faroe islanders told to stop eating 'toxic' whales". New Scientist. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16159-faroe-islanders-told-to-stop-eating-toxic-whales.html. Retrieved 21 July 2009.

7 Whale catches in figures". Faroese Government. http://www.whaling.fo/thepilot.htm#Whalecatches. Retrieved 2006-12-05.

8 http://www.hagstova.fo/portal/page/portal/HAGSTOVAN/Hagstova_Foroya

AKSPCA

Shared by Andrea of http://everydogsdelight.etsy.com, an EFA member and AKSPCA volunteer

Our History

The Alaska SPCA was founded more than three decades ago by Ethel Christianson, (a woman way ahead of the times), with the belief that animals, as living creatures, are entitled to basic rights to their care, treatment and protection. As a result, the organization has been involved in helping to alleviate animal suffering throughout the state of Alaska.

* We rescue state-wide with assistance from other agencies. 7 malemutes were recently rescued from the Kenai Peninsula and are being taken care of at our adoption center and will find forever homes!


Our Mission

Our mission is to protect animals from cruelty; advocate their moral and ethical treatment; provide them with shelter and care when in need; educate the public on responsible pet ownership; and provide the community with a low-cost spay and neuter program.


Our Programs

Pet Adoption: We are dedicated to a successful, lifetime placement of our animals to loving, committed homes. The adoption center is located at a different site than our Thrift Shop/Clinic which is side-by-side in our strip mall location.

Thrift Shop: Net proceeds from our Thrift Shop sales directly benefit the programs and animals of the Alaska SPCA.

Fix-A-Feline Program: This is a great program where AKSPCA spays and neuters felines for little to no cost. Veterinary services are donated by Dr. Kelly Reagan in our Mobile Spay and Neuter Van. We "fixed" 335 kittens in 2008 and 2009 numbers will be out soon! .

Fat Cat Inn II: Located within the Thrift Shop, this "satellite-shelter" houses rescued cats and kittens who are ready for adoption. This was built by a volunteer and materials donated from SBS.

Spay Clinic: The Alaska SPCA offers discounted spay and neuter services as well as vaccinations and micro-chipping. .

Memorial Lane Pet Cemetery: Located in Willow, AK, this peaceful sanctuary is the final resting place of many beloved companion animals.

Fat Cat Inn Adoption Center

Thrift Store

Items that Sell:

+ Artwork

+ Antiques

+ Books

+ Clothing/Shoes (usable and unstained)

+ Exercise Equipment

+ Furniture (unbroken and unstained)

+ Games (with all the pieces only, please)
+ Housewares (not chipped or stained)

+ Jewelry

+ Knicknacks

+ Magazines

+ Towels/Bedding (usable and unstained)

+ TVs (with remotes – no dial tuners)

Shelter Cats

Canine Play Area

Our Goal

We are dedicated to the successful and lifetime placement of our animals with loving homes. A new pet is a lifelong commitment. We take that commitment seriously, and we expect our adoption families to take it seriously too. We make every effort to find the right home for each animal, so when you apply for one of our animals, please be prepared to complete a thorough application, personal interview, and provide references.


Adoption Process

We implement a thorough application-screening process with a mandatory 24-hour waiting period. If approved, you start a 10-day trial adoption. If the trial period goes well, and you decide to adopt your new family member, you will return to the Adoption Center to finalize the process.


Adopting a Shelter Animal

These are sheltered, homeless animals that are not always perfect in every way. They may need extra time to adjust or have unforeseen behavioral or medical problems. While we strive for successful placement by providing as healthy, well socialized animals as possible, we can only provide any history we have received, collected, or observed from staff or volunteers during their stay.

****We also have a great group of Etsy artists that have donated a large amount of artwork and handmade creations. We are very happy and grateful to have such great support from all over the world!

****We received a $1,000 donation from the Greater Animal Rescue Site Shelter Challenge with Petfinder which was used for a much needed repairs at our Adoption Center!

SASHA Farm Animal Sanctuary Auction Items Request

From Amanda of SASHA Farm;

I am with SASHA Farm Animal Sanctuary in Manchester, MI. In the past, Etsy for Animals has been very supportive of our organization by sending donations for our annual silent auction. I am chairing it this year, and I'm writing in hopes that you'll pass our request on to your members.

We are the largest farmed animal sanctuary in Midwest, currently caring for over 230 rescued farmed and other domestic animals. We are a 501(c)(3) organization and receive no public funding, so the work we do depends solely on the generosity of compassionate people like you. Our annual silent auction raises a significant portion of our operating budget each year, and we hope to continue that success.

The deadline for donations this year is April 5th, and the auction takes place on April 24th. There is no minimum value, but we do reserve the right to group items with values less than $15. Also, all donations should be vegan and animal friendly. Donations can be sent directly to the sanctuary.

SASHA Farm
Attn: Amanda
17901 Mahrle Rd
Manchester, MI 48158

Donations will be acknowledged on our website, and we will provide a receipt for the value of the item for your tax purposes. (Please be sure to state the retail value.) Handmade items are always a huge seller at the auction.

We very much appreciate the support Etsy for Animals has shown us in the past. Thank you so much!

Amanda
SASHA Farm
http://sashafarm.org
www.facebook.com/sashafarm

From Christina about Lab Rescue in CT/NY

From Christina of http://esmeraldadesigns.etsy.com

From labrador retriever rescue of CT/NY
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/labrescuect.html
Roxy's story

On April 2, 2009, 8-year-old yellow female Roxy, as well as her 2-yr-old
black male son and 5-month-old yellow female daughter, were taken into
rescue after being abandoned in their home. Roxy had been hit by a car 3
weeks prior, but had not received any medical attention and was unable to
walk on her right rear leg. X-rays revealed that the impact of the car had
completely rotated the head of the femur out of the hip socket. In addition
to her injuries, Roxy had been completely over-bred with back-to-back puppy
litters and also had a severe skin condition caused by allergies that were
never treated. Her eyes were so inflamed that they barely opened and her
ears were severely infected as well. At our vet's office, there wasn't a dry
eye when she arrived. Amazingly, given the pain that she was in, she was
still able to wag her tail! Roxy is a survivor of the worst animal cruelty
but has gotten a second chance to be shown kindness by human beings.
However, she still has a long road ahead of her to full recovery.


November, 2009. Little did we know that Roxy was pregnant when she came
into rescue and went to her foster home. Two weeks into foster care, Roxy
whelped 9 puppies very unexpectedly. Unfortunately, all of her treatments
had to be postponed while she was nursing the puppies. After the pups were
weaned, we resumed Roxy's care. All the puppies were adopted!


She was treated by Dr. Emily Rothstein, a veterinary dermatologist. Roxy had
one of the most severe cases of bacterial dermatitis she had ever treated.
Roxy's eyes and ears were affected, as well as most of her body. A
combination of antibiotics, medicated baths, topical medications and a raw
diet has improved her skin issues dramatically. Because of the years of
neglect, Roxy's immune system was very reactive and sensitive. Environmental
allergies have also been another source of her skin issues. She continues
her treatment in foster care and it is unlikely that she will have 100% coat
re-growth. Her dislocated hip has healed on it¹s own and surgery was not
recommended because of her poor reaction to anesthesia. Instead, daily
exercise to build up muscle mass around her hip socket is seeing results.
She shows no sign of pain nor favors the hip that was injured. She continues
to be monitored by Dr. Rothstein for skin issues. Roxy is a labrador with
great heart and spirit. She is a happy girl, finally playing with toys, very
affectionate and always wanting to please. She sees joy in simple things,
loves the comforts of home, her favorite chair and lives each day to the
fullest. Roxy continues to heal and for that we are most grateful to her
foster parents. We continue to need help with her medical expenses. Thank
you to everyone who has helped already! If you would like to contribute,
please use the Paypal donation link below. We hope you enjoy the new
pictures, as well as pictures of her puppies. Bless you from Roxy and all of
us here at LRRCT!

From Sarah of http://whimsystore.etsy.com;

From Sarah of http://whimsystore.etsy.com;

Team EFA

Sarah Woodcock, the owner of CustomJewelryTags.com, cares deeply for animals. In addition to CustomJewelryTags.com, Sarah Woodcock has an online jewelry shop, The Whimsy Store. The Whimsy Store is a proud member of Etsy Team EFA and donates 10% of its online sales to help animals. Donations go to Southwest Metro Animal Rescue and Adoption Society (SWMARAS), an all-volunteer non-profit 501 © (3) organization that works tirelessly to help animals in the Southwest Metro area of Minnesota.

Etsy Team EFA members are eligible for 10% OFF at CustomJewelryTags.com by simply entering coupon code ‘TEAMEFA’ during checkout. In addition, CustomJewelryTags.com offers earring cards, jewelry tags, and business cards (below) to help Etsy Team EFA members promote the fact that they too care deeply for animals. A special thank you to Etsy Team EFA member Eva of A Lil Sumptin Sumptin for the Etsy Team EFA designs we used to make the earring cards, jewelry tags, and business cards below.

If artists would like another design from CustomJewelryTags.com, we are happy to add the Etsy Team EFA square (below) to their earring cards, jewelry tags, and business cards.

Etsy Team EFA Earring Cards, Jewelry Tags, and Business Cards

2 inch by 2 inch Earring Cards in the Etsy Team EFA Design

Click here to order these earring cards.

2 inch by 3 inch Earring Cards in the Etsy Team EFA Design

Click here to order these earring cards.

1.5 inch by 1 inch Jewelry Tags in the Etsy Team EFA Design

Click here to order these jewelry tags.

3.5 inch by 2 inch Business Cards in the Etsy Team EFA Design

Click here to order these business cards.

Etsy Team EFA Square (which we are happy to add to another design from CustomJewelryTags.com)

From ModJess -- Artists and Fur

From http://modjess.etsy.com;

Since discovering items made with real fur on Etsy, I’ve struggled with this conundrum: how is it that some “artists,” of all people, could possibly be part of cruelty to other living beings? Isn’t the very nature of being an artist something that results in a more compassionate, holistic view of life?

Which got me thinking. What is an artist? How do we become artists and what makes us different?

As children, we all start out as blank slates. Of course, our environment weighs heavily on the people we become. But there’s an innate wonder and curiosity about the world around us that is beautifully evident in children’s artwork. They do silly things, brilliant abstracts, wildly original compositions. (I think this is because they’re free from the cliches and knowledge and self-criticism that limit our creativity as we mature.) And there always seems to be a fascination and admiration for other forms of life besides their own, as children often depict animals in their artwork. Children are naturally drawn to animals, understanding, from a very deep place, that they are important cohabitants with us on this planet. Beautiful, interesting, scary, soft, cute, ugly. But always fascinating.

Perhaps artists are a bit different than non-artists because we retain a little more of this precious curiosity as we mature. Maybe, it’s because we really see. Our eyes remain wide open, and must be so, in order to create. In keeping our eyes open, we can see the intricate, almost unimaginable beauty of another living being. Whether that being is a person or a dog or a mink or a mouse, there is a complex system inside them that creates such a stunning exterior. And, in working with living subject matter, there is a sacred relationship we develop with them. How can this not be? To look so closely into the eyes of another living being is to see the world and the beauty of life reflected back at you. It’s surreal. It’s life-changing. And when you’ve done this, you can not possibly be capable of taking that life away.

The death of another living being, especially for such a purpose as creating fur, is unconscionable. It goes against the very nature of who we are as artists. We are the visionaries, the big picture thinkers, who see the sacred relationship between all living things. To exterminate life is the antithesis of appreciating it. And appreciating it is the very first step—as even children inherently know— in making art.

This adorable drawing was done by Lea, at age 5, of her dog Sailor.

A little help from my friends or The Saving of The Bulls

From Melissa of http://brightdesign.etsy.com

Thank you to EFA members who helped through shop sales;

thisisit.etsy.com -
veganosaurus.etsy.com -
mvegan5.etsy.com -
holisticallyheather.etsy.com -
auntflospads.etsy.com -
aktie9.etsy.com -
lolalynn.etsy.com -
kimbascritters.etsy.com -
oooohshiny.etsy.com -
doxiedoodles.etsy.com -
spiderblue.etsy.com -
luniquejewellery.etsy.com -
gingercardco.etsy.com -
buttonanza.etsy.com -
dragonhouseofyuen.etsy.com -

A little help from my friends
-or-
The Saving of The Bulls

For those of you who have been following the story of the three bulls who were to be sold to slaughter, we've got some good news for you: The money was raised, and Pooka Cow, Spotty Friend, and Less Spotty Friend are now safe in the care of Jodi and her husband! The three bulls were able to spend Valentine's Day out to pasture where they belong, rather than en route to a slaughterhouse.





Jodi has informed us that, all told, over 100 people donated in one way or another to make it happen. It's a significant sum to raise in just under two weeks, and just goes to show how many of us truly value the life of each and every creature. She'll be keeping us all up to date on the cows' progress and wellbeing on her This Is It! Creations blog.

This past Saturday was indeed a joyous day for that now somewhat larger family. The new cow parents have dived headfirst into a crash course on bovine care. Says Jodi: "If you had asked us a few weeks ago whether we would be cow parents today, I would've just laughed. You never know what turns life will take, that's for sure!"

Feeding and care of the three bulls is a significant investment, so the couple is grateful to continue to receive any donations through the established ChipIn widget or site. As usual, Jodi's sentiments sum it up best:

We are now the proud parents of these sweet boys, and we are thrilled that they will be able to live out their lives... I promise that I will keep you all updated - for now we are just going to focus on taking care of them and trying to raise enough money to make sure they have everything they need.

Spoken like a true cowmama. :)

Need help with a puppy hit by a car

Beatrice is a 6 month old puppy who was found wandering in my neighborhood in Atlanta limping and dragging a leg. The vet said that she is extremely emaciated and suffered a broken leg after being hit by a car.

Based on the age of the injury, the vet speculates that she had been living on the streets with a broken leg for almost two weeks!

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help with her surgery. I've rescued and adopted out 12 abandoned dogs in the last 6 months-- donations to help with Beatrice's surgery would be so helpful.

Although she has had a rough time, she is a super sweet puppy. She will be up for adoption after her surgery.

To make a donation, please visit my site below and click the donate button on the left nav. Were a 501c3 so all donations are tax deductible:

http://www.ATLanimalwelfare.org

thank you,
Atlanta Animal Welfare Committee

Dog rescue story

From Jaison, an EFA member; his shops are http://pickledporcelain.etsy.com and http://pickledaliens.etsy.com

"I am getting in touch to tell you a little story. I recently rescued a dog from a severe neglect situation. Now when I say rescue I don't mean I went and got him from a shelter, I mean I took him out of the snow and frigid temperatures and onset of starvation by undoing the rope that he was tied to, and putting him in the back seat of my car. This is the story of Wendell, a Cairn Terrier. Wendell has been in a situation where he has not been neutered, vaccinated, house broken, nor fed or hydrated regularly. Certain details aside (concerning where he came from) he was close to death. The night I rescued him, I took him to the emergency vet. Wendell, with the spunk of the happiest dog on earth, somehow was clinging to life despite being half his normal body weight. He weighed 5.3 pounds. You could run your fingers along his rib cage and feel the space in between them. He also was suffering from a tapeworm. So, three weeks later Wendell is alive and well. He gained 2.5 pounds in the first 15 days. He looks different, better, with his Toto like appearance, even though he is a tan-faun color.


Animal Friends here in Pittsburgh accepted him in order to vaccinate him, neuter him and soon find him a forever home. The great thing for me is that I live near Animal Friends which is truly a great facility. It is pretty much a sanctuary with park space too. You can actually bring your pets there to walk the trails through the woods or have parties and picnics. I will be able to follow Wendell's progress and find out when he has been adopted.
We donate to shelters and organizations regularly that help animals. Pittsburgh has a number of no-kill shelters and sanctuaries. It just makes me feel good to have done the right thing and not turn a blind eye to something. The situation "set me back" a little financially of course but as I said we donate regularly and know we put Wendell in the best hands in this city. Until he is rehabilitated fully and adopted, I know he will be treated like a dog king. We have two dogs of our own, Vespi and Lucy for whom we feel great about spoiling every day."

February Charity of the Month

From MVegan5.etsy.com

Because of the dire situation in Haiti, I have decided to feature the WSPA as the charity of month, because of their work helping the animals of Haiti.

We are running the EFA WSPA Haiti Animal Relief Fundraiser, which began already, and will continue after the month of February. The WSPA has a blog for animal disaster relief efforts, where they have post news and updates about their work in Haiti.


Many members have already listed items to help; you can add yours. Anyone who wants to list items to help, please put this in the title; EFA WSPA Haiti Animal Relief Fundraiser; then as always, everyone can donate to the disaster relief fund directly, then submit their donation amounts here.