"Once upon a time, in 20th century America, there lived a lion who refused to be violent. Those who cared for her tried to train her to behave in a way they thought was dictated by nature but she refused. Instead, she taught her keepers that man's idea of what constitutes "natural" animal behavior, is not necessarily what God created the animals to be.

The Prophet Isaiah told of a millennial world in which the 'lion would lay down with the lamb.' For most people this is a promise so improbable it seems as if the very nature of animals must undergo a drastic change before that prophecy can be fulfilled. It seems they must metamorphose into different creatures; that although their outward appearance may remain the same, their inner structure must somehow be altered. Because, ultimately, we believe that biology is destiny. But the story of Little Tyke, a lioness who lived at Hidden Valley Ranch in California, gives evidence to the contrary..."


Read Little Tyke's story

Clicking on the above image will take you to the Animal Rescue Site where there is a purple button you can click to give free food and care to rescued shelter animals, paid for by sponsors. It costs you nothing and makes a world of difference to the animals. Please do it every day!

Dj user Sadpoet alerted me to this. :)

By MIKE LARKIN
Scotsman
30 October 2008

A FATHER jumped into a burning building and dragged out his unconscious neighbour – then dashed back in to save a litter of puppies.

Jamie McDade, 31, smashed his way into the house to drag Winnie Brannigan through choking smoke into the fresh air.

And when he realised a litter of new-born pups was still trapped inside, he risked his life again by charging in to rescue them as well.

( Read on )

Dante and Gina were exploited and abused. They were rescued in Texas where they were scheduled for a 'canned' hunt.

Dante and Gina now live at Popcorn Park in New Jersey. For just $2.00 a month you can support a rescued animal like Dante and Gina at this world-famous animal rescue organisation and sanctuary. They put out monthly humane magazine filled with stories of animal rescues, rehabilitations, urgent animal issues and lots of pic of the animals living there. It is a wonderful way to teach a child how to care for animals and be a humane individual.

You can visit Popcorn Park online: Associated Humane Societies

Hens jammed six or eight to a tiny cage. Animals with open wounds or body parts trapped in the conveyor belt. Workers twisting the necks of sick and injured hens, then throwing them while still alive to languish and suffer on dead piles.

It’s beyond sickening. According to an undercover investigation released this week by San Francisco’s KGO-TV and the group Mercy for Animals, all these atrocities took place at California’s largest egg factory farm over the last two months. This so-called farm, Norco Ranch, keeps 8 million birds in confinement -- about 40 percent of hens in battery cages in California.

It gets worse. This factory farm is overseen by MoArk, LLC, which happens to be the largest funder of the agribusiness front group fighting The Humane Society of the United States’ efforts to pass California's Proposition 2. If approved by you and your fellow voters in California, Prop 2 will be the greatest victory for farm animals in U.S. history. It would ban the cruel confinement of hens in battery cages, pigs in gestation crates, and calves in veal crates throughout California -- and help improve the lives of 20 million animals. And a win in November will lead to nationwide reforms in how farms raise animals for food.

MoArk has a history of animal cruelty violations, and this is the latest example of appalling conduct by the company. MoArk and Norco together have funneled more than $850,000 into the campaign to defeat Prop 2.

That’s why I’m writing you again today with this urgent request: Will you stand with us to ensure that companies like Norco and MoArk can’t continue with business as usual in California's factory farms?

Please make a special donation to the YES! on Prop 2 campaign today.

The opponents of Prop 2 have told us all along that they treat their hens humanely. I guess we’ve found out (yet again) what really goes on when they think no one’s watching. To make matters worse, as you read this, ads funded by Norco and MoArk are being aired in California, spreading deceptions and lies about Prop 2.

To counter their scare tactics, the YES! on Prop 2 campaign desperately needs donations to keep our ads on the air through November 4. Don’t let animal abusers win in California this Election Day -- we’re the animals’ only hope and we can’t let them down. Please join us in making history. Donate to help pass Prop 2 today.

Thank you for all you do for animals.

Sincerely,
Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States

By Eddie Wrenn
Daily Mail
7 October 2008

**Please sign the petition to save Ratchet

**See also the SPCA article on Ratchet

A soldier who saved the life of a young puppy in Iraq and expected to bring him back home with her could see her dog executed by her U.S. superiors.

Sgt. Gwen Beberg befriended puppy Ratchet while serving in Iraq, and sent regular dispatches to her home in Minneapolis charting the dog's process, with 100s of fans tuning in on Facebook to follow the pup's life.

Young Ratchet could face the death-penalty by U.S. Army officials

But the U.S. military takes a strict line with soldiers befriending animals, and confiscated Ratchet as Sgt. Beberg prepared to fly home from Baghdad Airport at the weekend.

Now animal charity Operation Baghdad Pups, which has the motto 'No buddy gets left behind', is pleading with the U.S. Army to allow Ratchet to fly out of the country - amid fears the military will shoot the puppy in the head execution-style.

Sgt. Beberg's mother Patricia said: 'This year has been extremely difficult on my daughter and her family. It has been a year of disappointments, loneliness, and fear because of all the sacrifices the army has required of Gwen.

'Ratchet was the savior of her sanity. Now they have cruelly ripped Ratchet away from her and sentenced him to death. I don't know how my daughter will cope. Ratchet has been her lifeline.'

Sgt. Beberg is also under military investigation for befriending the dog that saved her life.


Gwen with 'lifeline' Ratchet in Iraq

A close friend of Sgt Beberg said: 'It hasn't been easy for her - and the puppy she saved has been one of the few things that has kept her going.

'She's shared pictures of him as he grew from a frightened ball of fur to an adorable young dog.

'She's kept us up-to-date on his travel schedule, and badgered us into contributing money to bring him home.

'Soldiers can face immediate court-marshal for befriending animals and some even see their animals brutally murdered by a direct gunshot to the head from commanding officers who will not bend the rules.

'It was so close... Ratchet was on his way to the airport. And now he might be killed, just because some power-hungry officers decided to flex their muscles and punish an innocent animal because Gwen dared to care about him.'


Ratchet as a puppy: An international campaign has now been set up to save the Army's policy

One soldier wrote to Baghdad Pups: 'I have sacrificed a lot to serve my country. All that I ask in return is to be allowed to bring home the incredible dog that wandered into my life here in Iraq and prevented me from becoming terribly callous towards life.'

The charity Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International has joined Baghdad Pups in asking the U.S. Army to show clemency to Ratchet, and allow the dog to return to gwen's parents in Minneapolis and friends of Gwen have launched a campaign to get American senators to intervene.

I would flee if I could. But I do not know how anymore. So instead I will put up a wall of beauty and hide behind it. Dun ask me anything.



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