BIG thanks also to Flamingo Graphics for our shirts, and the great stickers they made for us! Keep looking out for an AJRG sticker near you...
BIG thanks to each and every person who stopped by the AJRG booth at Dog Daze! We had nothing but positive feedback from everyone we spoke with. Many people chose to donate: one young girl donated a handful of pennies! We had many people sign up for our email group list as well - welcome!
BIG thanks also to Flamingo Graphics for our shirts, and the great stickers they made for us! Keep looking out for an AJRG sticker near you...
1 Comment
Wendy Victoria, staff writer for the Northwest Florida Daily news, and member of the AJRG email list, published an editorial on Sunday September 12 titled "Animal services outstrip help for the homeless."
http://www.nwfdailynews.com/opinion/services-32809-animal-victora.html Her point was the "irony" that there are more animal shelters than people shelters. Here is a response sent by AJRG member Michelle: Let me start by thanking you for being part of the Animal Justice Rally Group email list. Those people in media outlets can be wonderful assets to a group looking to raise awareness and change people's minds. However, I am taken aback by your tone in your NWFDN article "Animal services outstrip help for the homeless." In the grand scheme, if forced to choose a human life or an animal life (as firefighters often do), the only choice is the human life. The vast majority of homeless persons here in our area are not "well dressed, clean shaven, articulate and careful." Indeed, most have addictions. I have personally seen a homeless panhandler who frequents the Eglin & 98 intersection (holding a "diabetic vet" sign), drunk at Scully's. While I empathize with the physical and mental anguish of addiction, NOBODY started as an addict. They chose to take the first drink, hit, smoke, or whatever. Feral cats -as you singled out - never made their choices. Also, when a homeless person is arrested for "petty transgressions," they aren't given 3 days for someone to claim them before they are put to death, as the vast majority of cats brought into animal control are. I live close to several of the churches in the cold-weather network, and I can attest most who use the hospitality of those churches are rude, scary, filthy, with no concern or respect for the property of others. As a mother, I shouldn't be afraid to let my children use the restroom at the park while playing for fear of who may be lurking inside. No feral cat would harm my children. In short, we all need to "do something." I have chosen to help homeless animals, as well as the victims of animal cruelty, in our region. I agree more can be done to help homeless, particularly children, who truly want "about 100 hands up." Our focus should be on what we can do, not bashing the good works of others. Have you ever been in an argument about animal causes? Have you ever felt the need to justify your actions? How do you respond when someone says "There's so many people that need help. Why are you helping animals instead?" Is there such a tthing as a "better" cause, or an "unworthy" cause? Why do you think many people see human needs and animal needs in an either/or way? We just discovered that on June 1, in a PRIVATE hearing in the Judge's chambers, Aeza Mari Magdia's entire jail sentence was waived. Judge Ward- the same judge who sentenced her to 60 days, the same Judge who suspended 44 days of that sentence, the same Judge who said he "wished he could give a day in jail for every day Rosco went without food," - is the SAME Judge who later, behind closed doors, reversed his position and let Magadia off.
It is shocking that a Judge would make such a reversal of opinion without any new evidence, or without any new circumstance. It's a slap in the face to the people of Okaloosa County to publicly state one thing, and privately change face. It's an insult to the voters of Okaloosa County to assume we are ignorant. naive, and easily appeased. It's an insult most of all to Rosco, whose life was lost because of Aeza Mari Magadia's complete lack of compassion toward his well being. We all know that many serial killers got started with animals.
In Gulf Breeze, Florida, 25 year old Matthew O. Foote killed his family's dog, a daschund-chihuahua mix named Sasha. He calmly admitted to police that he repeatedly stabbed Sasha, the suffocated her. Foote then mutilated the body by skinning and burning it. Matthew Foote explained his actions: he killed Sasha because she was possessed by Satan. You can read more about this gruesome crime in these news releases: http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/breeze-31560-dog-gulf.html http://www.pnj.com/article/20100802/NEWS01/100802014/Gulf-Breeze-man-admits-mutilating-killing-family-dog-Sasha http://www.crestviewbulletin.com/news/breeze-10870-gulf-style.html http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/02/1758181/man-says-he-killed-dog-that-was.html Obviously Matthew Foote has serious mental issues. He needs professional help. We, the public - his neighbors - need protection from him. In 2009, Shawn Thayer killed his friend's dog, Bugsy, with a meat cleaver in a fit of rage. Thayer was declared incompetent, but later was sentenced to 3 concurrent 1-year terms. Thayer has a long history of mental disease and violence toward people and animals. (You can read more about the Shawn Thayer under the "Thayer Case" tab.) What is the right thing to do when a mentally ill or impaired person commits violent crimes? Even if they can't grasp what they've done; even if the victim is an animal and not a person; when does society's safety overrule typical sentencing? We have scheduled our next member meeting for Sunday August 8, 2:00pm. We will meet at Tijuana Flats in Fort Walton Beach. Anyone is welcome to attend!
We recently had the misfortune of adding another case to our watch list. Elizabeth Moore, and her husband, were "breeding" cats. She currently is facing numerous counts of cruelty.
Is there such a thing as "responsible" companion animal breeders? Most people are becoming aware of "puppy mills" where animals are kept in deplorable conditions, only being kept alive to make babies to be sold. Many puppy mill animals are sold online or through chain pet stores. Is there ever a good reason to purposely breed dogs, cats, hamsters, whatever? Does breeding livestock differ from breeding companion animals? What about "sporting" animals, such as thoroughbred racehorses or hunting dogs? On Saturday June 26, people throughout the world, including Ireland, Australia, Italy, Peru, and more joined hands along beaches to peacefully protest offshore oil drilling.
http://www.handsacrossthesand.com/ The most remarkable thing is the history. Hands Across the Sand was founded by Dave Rauschkolb, a resident of Walton County, Florida. Within a few short months, the passion of a single person has captured the hearts and hands of people from all walks of life across our Earth. The enormous success of HATS is invigorating. It proves that people are willing and able to take time away from their lives and stand up for something they believe in. It gives me hope that AJRG will find similar success. Here is the NWFDN article: http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/oil-30414-drilling-photos.html There is a practice among certain fishermen to use live cats & dogs as bait.
Last night I saw a bumper sticker that read "Life is too short to fish with a dead cricket." There was a little more, but I couldn't read it. Seems like a carpe-diem type saying, right? It was stuck on a large animal crate strapped to the back of a flatbed pickup truck. What do YOU think it meant to the driver of that truck?? It's a neverending task to recruit members for our rallies. Obviously few people are in a position that they can attend every rally, every meeting, every event. What prevents you from coming to a rally? How do you decide which rallies to attend, and which to skip? What obstacles must you ovecome?
What ideas do you have to encourage more people to become more involved? We've seen evidence over these last few months that our voices are being heard. Magadia was sentenced. Jackson was found guilty, and his motion for new trial was denied. We owe it to the animals to continue to be their voice! Most of us have been hit by hard times over the past several years. Job losses, benefits losses, pay cuts, etc etc etc.
No doubt it takes MONEY to properly care for animals. No job, no money. No money, no food. Losing your home, and being unable to take your animals with you, forces many people to make hard choices. How has the economy affected you? What sacrifices have you made? What choices would you NOT make? |