Animal cruelty in the name of 'art' and 'fun'

I never know if these things are really true ... but knowing what horrors human beings are capable of, I wouldn't be surprised if this disgusting art display is real. The pictures don't look Photoshopped or staged.

I learned about it this morning from an e-mail a friend sent me:

Please sign the petition to boycott the artist. His name is Guillermo Habacuc Vargas. He took a starving dog off the street and tied it up in a gallery as his exhibit. He felt that the dog would have eventually died on the streets so it was okay to let it continue starving. If you can spare a moment please sign this petition to boycott this "artist" representing his country in the Biennal Central America Honduras 2008 exhibition.

Why?!!!!!!

Animals are helpless ... and at 'the mercy' of humans, who foolishly consider themselves to be superior, acting as if they own the planet and (one day, they believe - through space exploration) the entire Universe.

The other morning when I was going for my walk around UWI I met a man strolling with his dog. We ended up walking and talking about various things (one topic being animals). He told me about a time he was walking through campus and witnessed a car full of laughing young men deliberately drive over a sleeping stray dog ... obviously for 'fun'. The dog apparently was not killed. It jumped up and ran off ... but no doubt was suffering from internal injuries.

photo source

In movies I close my eyes for scenes involving animals (e.g. horses falling in battle), even though they (are supposed to) have that disclaimer at the end about no animals being hurt during filming. Neither can I view real life animal cruelty (e.g. the seals being clubbed in Canada). Looking at those photos of the seal cubs being clubbed leaves me feeling as helpless as they are. Just disgusting. So that you can have a fur coat?!!! Even visiting the PETA site ... I see the headlines and find it extremely difficult to read further ...

A hard but necessary thing to do

Earlier I was upstairs eating breakfast. I came down to find my room festooned with feathers and Jasper sitting on my bed feasting on a small dove (the second he has brought me in two weeks). I darted forward to grab the bird, even though the back half of its body was practically eaten off (open, all the insides outside). As I grabbed it up, I noticed with horror that it was still alive ... eyes half open, body warm, beak open and heaving for breath in my hands.

Despite my horror at the thought, my only choice was to figure out the best way to put it out of its misery.
I used the first heavy thing I saw: a brick in the garden that I had done mosaic artwork on years ago. I put the bird on the earth, closed my eyes and dropped the brick as hard as I could. When I opened my eyes and removed the brick to look, it was still alive ... the head was jerking and twisting as it gasped. I blocked my ears (instinctive reaction to looking at horror). I then quickly took the brick and slammed it with greater force onto the bird. I dug a hole there and buried it, placing one of the few remaining mosaic tiles (which had fallen off with the impact) as its tiny headstone.

R.I.P.

I cannot be angry with Jasper. He is a hunter and gift-bringer and he probably thinks he is treating me. Normally he brings his catches in live and I just release them. On the odd occasion that they are dead, I put them in a bush or bury them (as I did with the dove last week). But this one was a first - having to kill it myself.

I guess the message for today is: If you have to do something, no matter how difficult it seems or feels, just close your eyes, block your ears and get it done.

Or maybe open your eyes, open your ears and do it.

Busks for tusks update

In Toronto earlier this year.
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Those of you who were reading the blog when I was in Toronto earlier this year will remember when Nancy and I were drumming near Dundas Square to raise money for the Asian Elephants.

The other day I got an e-mail from a woman called Connie who said she had seen her site featured on my blog and was curious about why and about how I had been involved in saving the elephants.

I wrote back and told her that I had linked to her site in connection with the drumming (busks for tusks) and she excitedly wrote back, sending information on the cause for me to disseminate. Basically she is reaching out to anyone who can help to raise awareness about the plight of the elephants. Think about it. In some small way you may be able to assist. Even if it means just featuring it on your blog. You never know who could be reading it ... who may be able to do something really effective.

Just this morning I was thinking of the difference between human and animal suffering. This thought was ignited because of that horrific video about the senseless clobbering of the seal pups. (Those of you who dare to watch it can see it here. I didn't watch further than 2 seconds into it). The thing about humans is that, in some life-threatening situations, they can talk, probably bargain their way out, call for help, etc. Animals have no way of doing this. They are at the mercy of man. Man either destroys them or saves them.

Connie's plea is driven by the sad fact that within two decades the Asian elephant could be extinct. Those who are interested in helping in any way possible can make contact through her site.

My forlorn feline

Something is up with poor J. He has been very quiet for the past two days or so, spending most of his time on my bed, sleeping a lot, losing weight, shedding hair and feeling listless. Not his usual self. It is clear that something is up when (a) he does not run from my nephew (b) he doesn't try to attack Pandy, the other cat (c) he doesn't try to wrestle with my hand (d) he doesn't bring me gifts.

He is eating though, so it's probably not something internal.

I have seen him like this before (sometimes) when he has been attacked by any strange cat. When he loses the fight, he becomes very quiet and sticks on to me until he gets over the assault. But I don't think it's that.

I think this is to do with his bad leg - the one which was x-rayed and nothing showed up. Tonight he is a bit more spritely, but still not himself. He was at least up and about, limping, then hopping, then holding the bad leg up and running on the three remaining legs.

I explained his symptoms over the phone to a vet friend who told me that it could be arthritis, as he is nine years old. She told me to try out some things. Liquid baby Panadol for two days to so to see if there is any change in his behaviour. If so, then it's pain ... and probably arthritic. For this, there is glucosamine. And, as much as he hates being transported, I'll either take him to the vet tomorrow or call Crystal to do a house call.

Another friend (a cat-lover who once babysat Jasper as a kitten when I was working in New York for 2 weeks years ago) on Friday night told me: "Elspeth, I've gone through this before with my cats. You may have to get ready to say goodbye to an old friend ..."

I don't think it's that time yet! But I do wish I could speak meow and really understand what's going on with the boy.

A little visitor

The night before elections I was on the phone. I noticed Jasper was crouched, staring intently at a closed door to another room across from me. I only realised he was in hunting mode when I noticed something small and black crawling under the door. It (the creature) was so dark that from my vantage point on the phone I couldn't make out what it was. I thought it was a tarantula. Then I wondered: "Or is it a frog?"

It crawled slowly behind the piano, closely followed by Jasper, who was probably also trying to figure out what it was. It then crawled back around to the front of the piano (with a curious JJ still behind it) ... and suddenly took flight and began circling the room. Only then did I realise it was a bat. I opened the door to let it out, but it continued flying in hectic circles, bumping into the ceiling ... perhaps in fright, perhaps because it was a baby.

Eventually it flew to the bannister (the stairs) and settled there, as seen in the above photo. I went out to dinner with a friend and by the time I came home it was gone.

Mon amie Zoe

Hier soir pendant le shoot j'ai encontré une nouvelle amie, Zoe:
Yesterday evening during the shoot I met a new friend, Zoe:Elle est plein d'amour.
She is full of love.

"Fromage!"

Attencion!

Je me couches.

Zzzzzzzzzzzz ...

Mon ami le chien

I made a new friend on the shoot today.Regardez-moi! Je suis belle.
Look at me! I am beautiful.

Fromage!
Cheeeeeeeeese!
(Although I don't think French people say: "Fromage" when taking pics. I wonder what they say ...)

Gros bisous, s'il vous plait!
Lots of kisses, please!

Je suis fatiguée maintenant.
I am tired now.

Hunting season

Around 9:00 p.m. I was on my bed with Satya, when Jasper jumped through the window and sat on the floor, to my left. It's only when I heard a slow crunching noise that I looked down and saw him consuming the lower body of this transparent, sickly-looking woodslave (gecko).

Argh ... good thing I wasn't asleep, because he would have surely brought it under the blanket! I quickly got a scoop and broom and placed the lizard (now half dead) in a bush outside.

First this morning's frog ... and now this. Jaspie's eyes are bright with that wild hunting expression. I'm almost afraid to go to sleep, not knowing what I may wake up next to ...

Although, if I do go to sleep I'll probably have some interesting dreams ...

The gift

So much for putting my yoga mat on the bedroom floor this morning ... in the dark ... (as I normally do) ...

I will have to at least just do a meditation on my bed.

At 3:00-something a.m. I was awakened by Jasper's furtive paws fishing under my blanket. I leapt out of bed, turned on the light and shook out the blanket to see what he had captured this time. Nothing. I then raised my labyrinth pillow and saw a medium sized frog under it! Alive and well, it leapt off the bed and started springing around my room with me following.

After chasing it into a corner, it got smart and went under something. I fished for it with a long rod, but no amphibian came back out. Who knows where it is now! Somewhere in my room ...

Anyway, I never really mind these gifts. They always bring strong messages.

(Update: 6:20 a.m.) A short while after writing the above post, I was sitting on my bed meditating. Just as I was about to finish, Jasper jumped on the bed and started fishing around. He had found the frog and brought it back for me! This time I managed to catch it. It was one of those smooth, moist frogs - not the lumpy, warty ones ... so I didn't mind holding it and taking it outside.

To bee or not to bee

While stuck in a horrible traffic gridlock this morning on my way to a great workshop on pitching (films), I had my head buried into my steering wheel in heat and frustration. When I eventually raised up, I saw this bee on my windscreen, staring in at me. (Ironic, since these days I'm as busy as a bee!) It allowed me to take three close up shots of it before flying off.

Unfortunately I am allergic to the actual insect's sting. Once I flicked a bee off my finger and it bit me before flying off. My hand was swollen like a dead frog for one or two days before I went to the doctor to get something to bring down the swelling.

I therefore have great respect for bees.

It struck me that this fuzzy angel on my windscreen had come to bring me a message ... so I just looked it up as a power animal. I don't mind if it injects me with some of its great symbolism. I won't be allergic to that.

Here the bee is described as:
(i) a symbol of fertility and sexuality
(ii) its honeycomb is a symbol of the heart
(iii) symbol of the sun and all its energies
(iv) being busy and productive ... or taking time to savour the honey and not be a workaholic
(v) Symbol of accomplishing the impossible (aerodynamically its body is too large for its wings, so it 'should not' be able to fly ... but it does)
(vi) Symbol of accomplishing things you put your mind to

In Hinduism, the Bee relates to Vishnu, Krishna or Kama, the God of Love.
In Egypt, the Bee symbolized royalty.
In Greece, it was the symbol of the Eleusinian Mysteries.
The Celts associated the Bee with hidden wisdom.

New beginnings: unlimited success

The blog reader called 'dumondoj' left a comment on yesterday's post wondering if it was random that ABBA had received her beginning during Beginnings. Whether it was random or not, she definitely did get her new beginning during Beginnings. In fact I think Beginnings brought about many new beginnings on the whole.

Soon after the ABBA story, my sister Kathryn sent out a heart-wrenching e-mail about her own dogs. She and her son Liu, my nephew, have cause to move and unfortunately had to give up their dogs ... since finding another house with a garden at a price anyone but a millionaire can afford is not easy.

Mandy (one of the pups from Hindi's second litter of which Pippa is a sibling)

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Amazingly, she was overwhelmed with responses. Everyone was forwarding the e-mail far and wide to their various networks. All kinds of people she didn't even know where calling to express interest in the dogs and/or to offer words of comfort and condolence. Someone even offered counseling to assist them as they made their shift in parting with the pets. Within about a week the dogs all had new homes with animal lovers! Mandy went to a young woman who is going to get another dog for her as a companion. This young woman even bought a special cover for Mandy to sit on in the car - "as opposed to just putting an old towel," as Kathryn pointed out.

Spike, who wandered into Kathryn and Liu's garden one day and never left.

Fidel (otherwise known as Feedie): a strange mix of Rottweiler and a small pompek-ish breed. How that mating session was possible is anyone's guess.
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Spike and Fidel, the two males, will be moving together, to live with a family in South. These people are animal lovers and apparently recently adopted a stray dog. People who adopt stray dogs and love them go up in my books. They don't care whether the dog is 'a breed'. They love him/her for who s/he is.

In a world ... or more specifically, on an island where it's tough to get homes for animals (especially cats), we've definitely been seeing some success stories as of late!

Tyler needs a loving home

The informational piece below was written by a friend of mine who unfortunately has to part with her beloved dog Tyler. She sent it to me along with two photos, hoping that someone loving will be able to give Tyler a good home. Those of us with pets know how hard this must be. If you know of anyone who is worthy of Tyler, let me know and I will give you the relevant contact information.


Tyler is a little over two years old. She grew up in the TTSPCA Tobago and somehow made it over to Trinidad at the beginning of the year. At TTSPCA POS, she was well loved for her personality. She really hated being caged there even though that's what she knew and developed the ability to climb out of her enclosure. Once in a yard however she does not feel the need to practice this art. She is warm and loving, never bit anyone while there (or by me) and would reach out through the bars to passers by and beg to be petted. She loves to stand on her hind legs and hug you and whenever I leave or return to my house the whole neighbourhood knows because of all the respective complaining or welcoming noises she makes. When I took her I really hadn't counted on doing as much traveling as it seems I will be doing very soon. In short, she will not get the attention she craves and deserves. Ideally I think she would be best suited to an older person who wants a loving companion. She is just that. She is a devoted dog. Oh, by the way I guess she can best be described as a 'pothound'. Things like breed don't seem important somehow when you are dealing with people who really love dogs.

My Creature, Mr. J

Jasper wasn't too happy earlier today when Crystal (the vet) paid him a home visit.
(These photos were taken long after Crystal had gone and it was safe to come back out).

As soon as he sees Crystal he gets ready to flee.
I endured some scratches in the effort to hold him still while she checked his right hind leg.

He has been limping for a while now.

After poking, prodding and pulling, Crystal couldn't find anything visibly wrong with his leg. I wrapped him in a towel while she successfully gave him an anti-inflammatory injection. She prescribed a tablet. "Break it into quarters and give him over the next 4 days. If he is still limping by Tuesday, he'll have to have x-rays done."

"Keep him confined over the weekend," Crystal advised.
(Clearly she doesn't know Mr. J ...)

Who I slept with last night

This morning when I woke up it was pitch black but the birds were already singing. I got out of bed to do some light meditation. First, I decided to put on clothes to go walking straight after. In the dark I found t-shirt, bra, etc. and tossed them on the bed. Still in the dark (not yet feeling for bright light), I got my yoga mat and spread it on the ground. I then reached for the bra - identifiable as the long, dark shadow cast upon my sheet. As I gripped it, something felt amiss. Why did it feel cold, clammy, cylindrical and rubbery?

I turned on the light to see a medium-sized grey rat (dead) lying where my left leg would have been, which would have been covered by my blanket all night! How long the rodent was there is anyone's guess. I must have been in a deep sleep, because normally I can feel when Jasper jumps on the bed with something. At least there was no blood.

Thanks, Jasper ... As usual, perhaps there's a message in this.

A message from Jasper

Both this morning and yesterday morning, Jasper has placed dead birds in front of my car. This morning it was a mature bird. Yesterday it was a freshly hatched fledgling with its guts exposed. Some may think this is gory and consider it another reason for hating cats, but this is no evil or cruel act in the mind of the feline.

When Jasper brings me a creature, it is one of two things: a gift and/or a symbolic message. To me, there is an instinctive wisdom in his bringing and I always thank him for whatever-it-is ... even when, purring with pride, he brings them into my bed, under the blanket at night ... alive. Bats, lizards, cockroaches, rodents, manicous, small snakes, small frogs, birds and more. He looks confused when I leap out of bed and then take the 'gift' back outside ... "Doesn't my human want the gift?"

I think the latest act of repeatedly placing dead birds in front of my car is his way of adding to the notes of caution: Be careful on the road. Lots of carnage .

When can I move in?

Purrson poses for the pussy papparazzi.
(Photo from AWN)
Call Vinmer Vet Clinic @ 622-2773 if interested in adoption.

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The kitten in the above photo is called "Purrson" (apparently because he loves to purr). A friend (who recently joined AWN and is encouraging others to do the same) sent me the image so that I would forward it. I decided to put it on the blog. It is a known fact that most Trinis do not like cats. In fact, many people hate and fear them. When I've asked why, most tell a similar tale: "My grandmother told me that cats jump on your neck in the night and suck out your breath." Do they all have the same grandmother?

I have a friend who absolutely despised cats. I had not heard from her in a long time ... until one night she called me for advice. In a very concerned-bordering-on-worried tone she asked if I knew of anyone who could take care of 'Darling' ... (or was it 'Sweetheart'?) ... while she and her family were away.

Darling/Sweetheart turned out to be a cat who had wandered into their house and successfully managed to steal their hearts. Darling/Sweetheart now runs the household and has my friend, her husband and the children scampering to fulfill her every meow. She even has her own room. Just goes to show it is not impossible for the worst of cat haters to be converted when the right feline comes along.

If you know of anyone who will give Purrson a good home, please pass this information on to them. You yourself may even be interested (if you live in TT). He is about ten weeks old and is currently housed at Vinmer Vet Clinic, Pole Carew Street, Woodbrook. Call the Clinic at 622-2773 for more information, to visit and hopefully to adopt.

Power of the Hummingbird on my journey

I will be travelling later this month with the humming bird. I like this new logo of our new Caribbean Airlines better than the inanimate, cliche pan that was on the BWee planes. The hummingbird is a wonderful little power animal whose energies I welcome for my journey (see below).

The cover of my ticket, which I picked up a few weeks ago.

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Hummingbird: messenger, timelessness

Hummingbird - the tiniest of all birds - brings special messages for us. It is the only creature that can stop dead while traveling at full speed. It can hover, or can go forward, backward, up or down. It lives on nectar and searches for the sweetness of life. Its long tongue lets it bypass the often tough and bitter outer layer to find the hidden treasures underneath. Hummingbird is loved by the flowers and plants, for as it sucks the nectar from the flower, the plant reproduces and more of its kind are created. In many traditions, Hummingbird feathers have been prized for their almost magical qualities. It is said that Hummingbird brings love as no other medicine can, and its presence brings joy to the observer.

If you have Hummingbird medicine, you adapt easily to whatever situation you may find yourself in, and make the most of your new circumstances. You don't waste time looking back and wishing for "what was" for you are concerned with making the most of "what is". Also, you could never become addicted to any artificial stimulants, for you find joy in your own heart. You take great pleasure in spreading joy and love and beauty to all around you, and have the gift of taking that inner joy into new and different surroundings. You have a talent for finding the good in people, and are not put off by a gruff or abrupt exterior, for you know that, if you can only get beyond that tough outside layer, you'll find goodness and beauty inside. You may have a gift for working with flowers, maybe growing them to share with others, or using flower essences for healing. Aroma therapy may be your calling. You have high energy and a spirit that must be free. To restrict that wonderful, free, loving energy is to suffer great depressions and feelings of uselessness. Hummingbird must fly free in search of beauty, spreading joy and love to all it touches.

(Source)

A Tern on my Path

Yesterday I set out for my usual early morning walk. No sooner than 2 minutes into my walk, my eyes (which seem to be tuned in to seeing injured birds) landed on a strange looking bird lying in the carpark of a nearby school. It was a white and black bird with long wings spread out at its sides., looking like a Carnival Queen waiting to go on stage. It appeared to be a seagull, which is strange for an inland suburban/residential area. I approached, expecting it to fly away, but it didn't (couldn't). I noted that she was indeed a sea or water bird of some kind, with webbed feet.

As I approached gently, speaking to her, she tried moving away, rapidly and clumsily, snapping her long, needle-like beak at me. Eventually I caught her, held her wings against her body to keep her still and took her home. Her heart was beating loudly, terrified ... probably having never been held by a human! I gave her some Reiki and she calmed down and closed her eyes, nestled in one of my old t-shirts.

I called Detta and described the bird to her. She sounded extremely concerned, telling me that this was rare but not unheard of - for a sea bird to be found incapacitated in a populated inland area. She explained that this was most likely due to poisoning (e.g. from industrial waste going into the sea) which affects many marine birds (and other creatures, of course). How it got so far inland we don't know!

At Detta's instructions I took the bird to the Mout Hope Vet Hospital where she was tested for Avian Influenza (negative result) and then collected by Detta later in the day. Turns out that she is a Tern. At the latest report, she is doing well and is energised, but still incapable of flight. I will know as soon as Detta discovers what is wrong with her. Haven't named her yet. Any suggestions?

Anyway ... most likely she was poisoned. This is abominable! From my discussion with Detta ... the amount of animals being poisoned by industrial waste! We see the effects of the poisons in smaller animals first, but we are being poisoned too. And they want to build smelters on top of it all?!

Early morning visit from a friend

At 5:30 a.m. I had already been up for a while and was lying on my bed absorbed in writing something. Suddenly on the paper there was the shadow of something flying around my room. I looked up, expecting to see one of those large black moths. But no - it was a bat. It had most likely come in on its own. (Normally when they find themselves in my room it's courtesy Jasper). When I saw it I felt happy to see it, like seeing an old friend. This isn't normally my response upon seeing a bat in the house ... (I remember, as children, screaming and hiding under the bed with my sisters and not coming out until Daddy came to remove the creature) ... but after being among so many bats the other evening, I somehow felt a new kind of connection. I even thought (jokingly): "Have you flown all the way from Tamana?"

Also , since having had Rainbow on that personal basis, I realise I've developed a different view of (and feeling for) for flying creatures. Seeing Rainbow develop and finally fly free made me really feel and appreciate that process - both for her (and flying creatures in general) and for myself.

Interestingly, what I was writing as I lay in my bed had to do with inner and outer transformation. It's as if the little bat had popped in just to confirm that everything is transforming greatly.

Dream Journey (includes video)

This week's Sunday Scribblings prompt is Dream Journey.

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Suddenly,
at this junction of my journey,

hundreds of thousands of bats
come rushing to help me ...
to know my way,
as they do,
through the darkness
of what appears

to be unkown.

The road leads
to where
and how
and who
I am
to be
happy
happier
happiest.
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On Friday evening, three friends and I went to Tamana caves, filled with 500 thousand to 3 million bats .

Click here

for short video of the bats flying out of the mouth of the cave.

Just after sunset, hundreds of thousands of bats fly out, going at such a speed that they almost appear to be static on the screen (see above video). I had filmed them in the forested semi darkness using the video function on my digital camera, so it's not too clear, but gives a good idea.

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Moving about in a new environment may feel like a rebirth. Though this is an exciting concept, in reality it can be disorienting and frightening. Bat helps to move through the necessary shedding of the old and embracing of the new. One special guidance tool it symbolically offers is sonar navigation. Like Dolphin, Bat uses echolocation to guide it, and one of the most lovely sights on a summer night is a graceful bat ballet. So if we study and attune to Bat, we can learn to swoop with grace through transformation and rebirth, trusting that our own inner guidance system will help us find our way. (Source)