Snooters Volunteer Day !

Saturday June 19th @ 10am-6pm .... come out & join us at Snooters Farm Animal Sanctuary. Pitch in with some chores, have a great vegan lunch & meet some awesome animal loving people....not to mention all the Snooters animals !!!

RSVP by June 10th. I will then send out directions to our home.

I hope to see you here!

Peak-a_Boo Puppet Show ...CANCELLED

The Peak-a-Boo Puppet show has been CANCELLED ! Hopefully to be rescheduled in the future! Thank you for your interest!

If you still eat meat, you may want to read this....

To the right of this page is a section called "Snooters Links of Interest". I suggest reading the "Cull Dairy Cows/Butch Clare" article.

People ask me why I don't eat dairy....just look at these poor cows & hear their story. Frankly, if it upsets you...TOO BAD....it is the least you can do for these animals . Educate yourself & don't just "look away" !!!

CeeCee & DeeDee

CeeCee & DeeDee are very lucky pigs! They have found a wonderful forever home to be able to live as pigs should, sunning, rooting & playing!

Their story begins with them being breeding sows & almost ended with them being someones dinner.

After a tense few days , lots of work & emails they found their home in eastern Ontario on a farm with other animals & someone who adores pigs!

If only all rescues could have this happy ending....

UPDATE....CEECEE and DEEDEE in their new forever home at my friend Allison's in eastern Ontario! The girls have settled in nicely & are enjoying their new lives of playing, rooting & sunning! Thanks for giving them a great home Allison!

Has Spring actually Sprung !

What a beautiful sunny day here in Ontario....temps are warm (for March!), snow is melting & the animals are out & about enjoying it!

The indoor piggies (& dogs) are all finding their own piece of sun to lay in. The peafowl are out on the porch enjoying the day too!

I woke up to a strange noise outside this morning & saw a flock of wild turkeys walking about on the frozen pond. The peafowl were watching the intruders with interest.

Why is it the sun makes everyone feel so much better? Do us folk in the colder climates just appreciate it more or do the southern people always feel this good!! LOL

Forrest was already outside his house laying in the straw when I went over to feed this am...a big smile on his face (or I thought so anyway!)

Harley & Dolly (horses) are very perky with Dolly running & kicking out with glee!

Poppy & Flossy are laying in their houses with their heads hanging out facing the sun, eyes closed & looking VERY pleased with the experience.

Gracie is out on "her" porch with a slight sunburn from yesterday....a pink belly never hurt anyone!

We should be able to allow the hens out shortly if the warm weather continues....I know they will love feeling the warmth of the sun for the first time.

Hope everyone took advantage of this gorgeous day....the gang here all did!

Please read & participate....

THIS IS NOT A PHYSICAL DEMO. YOU CAN DO IT FROM YOUR HOUSE, WORK, WHEREVER YOU MAY BE.

Phone 416-861-4999
E-mail: bonnie.brooks@hbc.com; christina.levine@hbc.com; customer.service@hbc.com

It will take you less than one minute! Each call statistically speaks for over 100 people. And you will feel good knowing that you did something for the animals.

Please contact the Bay during business hours (9am to 5pm) on Friday February 26th and let them know that you want them stop selling fur.

Be polite
Be direct
Be concise.

Phone numbers: http://www.hbc.com/storelocator/default.asp?langid=EN&src=hbc
(this is for Ontario, but you can find the Bay near you by searching according to your province)
Ask to speak to the store manager.

CALL THE HEAD OFFICE AS WELL: 416-861-4999 ask to speak with Bonnie Brooks (She is the CEO of the Bay)

(Note: it is easier to get through to the right person if you don't lecture the operator/receptionist who answers the phone; just ask to speak with Bonnie Brooks without saying anything about fur. Don't be afraid to give your name, you are not doing anything wrong! And if you get a voicemail: leave a message)

e-mail: bonnie.brooks@hbc.com; christina.levine@hbc.com; customer.service@hbc.com

This activism alert is part of two "days of action" that we will be doing every month during the winter. On Friday, February 26th we are asking everyone to email and call the Bay and on Saturday, February 27th we are organizing a day of physical protest (please see the event here:http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=500722875573

The Bay in Toronto has continued its fur sale and has reduced prices from 40 - 60% off: they are having a difficult time selling these coats. The Bay in Burlington is in the same position.

Tell the bay in your own words how you feel about them selling fur.

What do I say?

"Could I please get a complaint logged?... I would like the Bay to know that I do not support their sale of animal fur, and as a customer of the Bay, I would like them to stop selling all animal furs in their stores."

But I'm shy?

This is understandable. No need to speak for hours or to make a speech, just tell them how you feel in your own words

Thanks to wonderful compassionate people like you, we will win!

A note of Thanks...

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I thought this was the best place to post a big "thank you" to all who donated to "Snooters Farm Animal Sanctuary" at the RR refuge fundraiser on Tuesday night. We are a small sanctuary that does all we can with our limited funds, space & time. We simply adore our animal family & strive to do the best we can for them...forever! It warms our hearts to see others feel the same as we do about farm animals. We all loved Ashli & will miss her physical presence but I feel we all have an amazing helper in her spirit. I hope we can meet all of you one day & show off our gang here at "Snooters". Thank you again!!

Pudge from Georgia

A little background on this story... I received (via our web site) an email from "Elizabeth" asking for help in placing "Pudge" a young farm pig found wandering the streets of Athens , Georgia. Pudge was quite beat up looking, it was thought perhaps she fell from a truck on the way to either a "finishing farm" or slaughter house.

I opened up the link she sent me & this beautiful, but pathetic pig was staring back at me. Some one had put those barbaric rings in her snoot (to stop rooting!).The snoot of a pig is their most sensitive spot!

I immediately posted on our "pig network" list & Lydia was all over it!! She was going to foster her & then a full time home was found at a Florida sanctuary. The rings would be removed & she would be spayed & vet checked. Perfect!

The problem was Lydia could not get a hold of the shelter in time! Some "young boys" came to claim her...saying she was theirs (no proof was given). They paid the "large" fine ( the shelters words , not mine) of $80 & off they went.

For 2 days we have been trying to get anyone to give these boys our numbers so we could offer to buy her but no one will.

I went on their shelter "forum" explaining my disapproval for this entire process & was met with...."she is only a pig", "bred for meat"...blah, blah, blah ! I politely sent them some sites on farming & was told I didn't know what I was talking about....meat farms are great, compassionate places! One person even said "perhaps in Canada it is still not humane but in Georgia they are fine" (quotes are not exact as I am no longer on this forum).

Then in one last desperate move I offered money to anyone who could put me in touch with the "owners"....yikes, I am surprised secret service didn't show up at my door! The thread on the forum was quickly frozen & I was "warned". I just "signed out" permanently.

Anyway, the ending is not hopeful & this saddens me....

I did "meet" 2 lovely ladies (who are not affiliated with the Athens shelter) but does try to network for the animals posted on the site.

I hope the very best for "Pudge" but fear the worst.

Pigs in Peril Find Forever Homes at Snooters Sanctuary

Pigs in Peril Find Forever Homes at Snooters Sanctuary

The world lost a great animal advocate...

Ashli Taylor was a charming young woman who I met only twice . Ashli had a smile that just lit up the room. She was very well voiced on animal rights issues & stood by her convictions. A vegan for 18 years & proud of it !

Ashli was the one who first brought to my attention the "fill your freezer" live pig on the Kijij list. Along with her & many others , within 24 hours we had a home, money raised, transport & a name "Noelle" (it was Christmas time). The day I called & found out Noelle had been sold to someone else & was all ready at the butcher shop, Ashli was the first person I contacted...in tears.

She called the "lady" who did this & spoke to her in a way I could not have...she got her points across without swearing or name calling (something I could not have done at the time), she was a young woman who was mature beyond her years. As I continued to rant about what had happened during the next few days Ashli just simply said "Susan, don't give these people anymore of your time...just let go & move on...they don't deserve it"....here was a girl young enough to be my daughter giving me this amazing advise. This is something I will always hear when other things occur in my life. Thanks for that Ashli.

Whatever your beliefs are I choose to think of her in heaven taking care of all the animals at Rainbow Bridge....especially Noelle who was so close to being rescued.

Thanks Ashli for all you have accomplished in your young life...your family should (and I am sure are) very proud of you !

Nothing to report....

I like to post something at least once a week but to be honest I have nothing to report!! This happens to be a good thing in my mind ! Everyone is happy, healthy & comfortable, even with these very cold temps we have been having here in Ontario.

Today the sun is shining again & the shadows reflecting off the beautiful white snow is quite the sight!

Yesterday, even though the temp was only -8c at the best Gracie was sunning herself outside her house...she even had a bit of a pink/sunburned belly at supper time! The peafowl find the most sheltered, sunny spots to spend the day & warm up for the cold night, right now they are on the porch outside the window but will move with the sun! Ally is outside doing her "business" but also rooting away in the snow. Little Puggles is at my feet saying "pick me up please"...and I will after posting this.

So in ending all is well with the world...at least "this world"!!

L.B (little bunny)

We lost another family member here at Snooters today....L.B. our bunny passed away suddenly this afternoon. She was fine yesterday & came out for breakfast this morning but by dinner time had died in her stall. We have no idea how old she was. ;(

L.B. came to live with us about 7 years ago. I was working the night shift in Toronto & about 2am came back to the station to see this little creature sitting beside my car in the parking lot. I walked up to this little one fully expecting her to bolt away but instead she hopped right up to me! I put her in the washroom for the rest of the night & home we came the following morning! L.B. has lived with us ever since. She was a sweet little girl & I will miss her excitement over the ginger cookie she got everyday at breakfast! RIP little one....

Pig Lovers Visit

Yesterday was a cold but sunny day here at Snooters. We had some old friends & new friends come to visit us here. It is always so nice to get together with people who are true animal lovers!

The "new" friends came to us via our web site. They have shown interest in coming out to volunteer in the spring!

They met all the gang, some more behaved than others (the pigs , not the people!) Poppy decided to bite mittens...she is always hoping there is a hidden treat in them!

Some very much appreciated donations of blankets, apples & Home Depot gift cards!!!

The "old" friends are fellow pig people! Marianne & Ben have a sanctuary north of us , Kim & Roy have 5 pigs & Kim is the networking extraordinaire & Kristi is our dear friend, wealth of pig knowledge & who we have gotten several of our factory farm rescues from...affectionately known as our "pig pusher" !

It is always nice to see everyone !

Seal Hunt/Sea Shepherd

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-100114-1.html

R.I.P. our beautiful Katie

We heard about Katie from some people (Sue & Jim) who volunteered at a cat rescue/sanctuary in Pickering. They said this pig had been dumped at the cat rescue & had to be place elsewhere. Brian & I went out to see her . There was this very obese, fat blind potbellied pig. She was aggressive, her urine looked like custard & a huge "tumor" looking thing hanging down between her legs. We looked at each other & thought we would give her a try.

She came to live here about 7 yrs ago, recovered from her UTI, lost 80lbs, gained a little sight back & that "tumor" was nothing more than a large fat sack (perhaps she had babies in her past life?).

The night she came here she was very frightened & therefore aggressive...we didn't have her house in place yet so we put in a large dog-a-loo for shelter...she would have no part of it! In the middle of the night it began to storm, and I mean storm!! Thunder, lightening, wind & torrential rain. It woke me up & I thought how this poor frightened new family member must be feeling. I put on my rain gear , grabbed an umbrella & went out to sit with her. Initially she was trying to attack me but I talked to her & she settled down....we both sat threw the storm together under the umbrella & became fast friends because of it.

Over 2 years she lost about 80 lbs & could actually see a little bit. In the summer she loved to go out in the big paddock area for her "walk-a-abouts", eating grass & sunning herself. Katie was 15 years old !

I will miss her so much. She had a good life here with us & in turn enriched our lives with her presence. All our animals are special but some hold an extra special part in our hearts...Katie was one of those to me. I love you Kate... XXXOO

A lovely poem written & sent to us by Janice Gillett of "Hearts on Noses" pig sanctuary in BC

One more day

Spring is just around the corner , you can’t leave today

Winter is almost over, and summer is on the way

I wanted you to feel the sun, for just one more day

I had been making plans for us, it is what I do

A new blanket, add some straw and fix a fence or two

I just saw you yesterday and had been talking to you

I wasn’t ready , we hadn’t finished what we were going to do

That’s your house , your dish and your nest and I am missing you.

I wish that you were here right now , for just one more day

We had things to do..

Elephants at the Toronto Zoo

Please read & forward...important info!!

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/750009--tusk-tusk-toronto-is-on-worst-zoo-list

News from the Sea Shepherd

posted by Jo-Anne McArthur aboard the SS Bob Barker..

January 7th, 2010
Update from the Antarctic

click to enlarge

I've had to keep everything confidential until now because I've been on Sea Shepherd's secret vessel, the M/Y Bob Barker, which is a 50-yr old Norwegian whaling ship of all things. It was purchased in Africa and refitted by SS volunteers, which was our port for over a month while the boat was fixed up and brought back to life. Yep, Bob Barker bought Sea Shepherd a ship!

Donated all the money ($5,000,000) for the ship and fix-up as well, and all of associated expenses. Amazing. He is AMAZING.

The regular SS ship, the Steve Irwin, departed from Australia as usual for the Antarctic campaign to stop the Japanese whaling fleet. After years of being harassed by SS, they decided to ramp up their security etc. The Irwin left Australia w/ a tail, one of the Japanese ships. The fleet also added two "security" ships to their fleet, whose goal is to shut us down, basically, and keep an eye on us so that the Irwin's coordinates could be sent back to the factory ship, the Nisshin Maru, and they could continue to evade the Irwin.

SS added the Ady Gil to their campaign this year (the "Earthrace", a small sexy boat, named after Ady Gil who donated it to SS) and made a big media stink about it.

The Bob Barker left Mauritius on December 17th, still undetected and a surprise for the Japanese whalers.

Finally in Antarctic territory, the Irwin got a call from, of all things, a cruise ship, which had sighted the fleet. The expedition leader is apparently a fan of SS and knew the Irwin and the Ady Gil were searching for the whaling fleet. The coordinates of the Nisshin Maru were then sent to us, and of we went to find 'em.

Find 'em we did, and we've been in a bit of a battle ever since. Our cover was finally exposed so we're only now able to write about it, and it's all over the media: SS' third vessel!

The Nisshin caught on quickly that we were an SS ship, and sent their harpoon and security ships to tail us. By this morning (2am), we were surrounded by 4 harpoon ships that would take turns maneuvering closely around us and forcing us to reduce speed while the Nisshin Maru moved away. They sped towards bad weather, which slowed us considerably. We deployed one of our small boats and roughed it in horrible weather before turning back to the Barker. All this before 9am!

Things were looking hairy, but the Ady Gil appeared and buzzed around the Nisshin like an annoying bug, delaying their progress north and throwing stinky and organic cocktails which would possibly taint the meat on board, or coming on board. This was all w/in sight and we were thrilled to have company on our mission, finally! After a few hrs the Ady Gil came by our boat to say goodbye. The 6 crewmembers were all on deck, waving, and we all hooted and cheered at each other. Within moments, a harpoon ship changed course and went straight for the Ady Gil, turning on their water cannons, LRADs (long rang acoustic devices) and charging the boat before they could move out of the way. Incredibly, they actually rammed the Ady Gil, which ripped off the entire bow of the boat.

We called immediate Mayday. The Ady Gil continued to float, and we were able to deploy our small boats and go to their rescue. Had they been rammed a few meters towards the center of the boat, the 6 crewmembers would have perished (from being crushed, or from hypothermia).

The day has been a long one of rescues, media, and a billion things. We've been picking up the scraps of the Ady Gil all day, and we're now towing its remnants while we decide next steps.

We are hoping that the ship that rammed us will be brought up charges for attempted murder. All remains to be seen.

"Sea Shepherd" is one of the top 30 Google searches around the world right now. We're doing tons of interviews.

Perhaps the Ady Gil was our sacrificial lamb, and this will bring huge exposure to the whaling issue, and to the whaler’s behavior. Perhaps this will help finally end illegal whaling in the Antarctic.

Today.... It’s really incredible that no one was killed.

We have the 6 crewmembers on board the Bob Barker now, who'll remain with us for the duration of our campaign as we continue to follow the Nisshin Maru. We target that ship specifically because that's where they process the whales. If we disable or at least block that ship, we stop the whaling.

I shot the entire day in detail, including the ramming of the Ady Gil. SS is in the process of sending these pics worldwide. I'll post some soon as well. Keep watch at open link and in this week's news.

More soon.

For the animals,
Jo-Anne

Grocery shopping, seen in a different light...

Today I went grocery shopping for Christmas. I went to the Loblaws SuperCenter (one of our bigger Canadian chains). Of course it was busy, but that is expected this time of the year.

I went up & down every isle picking out the things that were on my list (which I left at home!)

I found myself going down the meat isle, basically because it was one of the isles!

I guess being 4 days before Christmas everything was stocked to over flowing.

I have been vegetarian for 12 years & vegan for 1 1/2 yrs & this is the first time I really "saw" what was there.....hundreds of large frozen headless turkeys, overflowing freezers with pig rumps (hams) & god knows what else I chose not to notice....I actually got choked up....and hurried on my way out of this place. I know my meat eating friends will be thinking "oh God Susan" but this is really how I felt. I want everyone to just think & see what I saw in that isle & perhaps reflect a little to the suffering that goes into that Christmas feast.

I remember my first Thanksgiving after going vegetarian. I was so concerned about what I would eat & how the meal would not be the same as the past. Well, I have to tell you my plate was full, I enjoyed every bite & never missed that slab of flesh on my plate...our minds are just so programed from children that our meal must include meat...obviously not so. I have never felt better both physically & mentally since giving up animal products!

Merry Christmas & a happy , healthy 2010 to all !!! and I mean ALL ...

***Think for a moment....Is the "eating more important than the knowing...or should the knowing be more important than the eating"... I personally choose the "knowing"....

Noelle's story...

Yesterday December 7th I received an email from a girl on my rescue list. She had seen an ad on "Kijiji" (an online buying/selling site) selling a live 300lb pig to "fill your freezer".

Within 24 hrs we had bought her, arranged a truck/trailer, pick up time & a sanctuary home for the pig we nicknamed "Noelle". After the excitement of knowing this was going to have a happy ending the ultimate crash of emotions happened.

Today, December 8th I phoned the lady who was selling her to arrange the time on Saturday for pick up & she bluntly told me she was "gone"....sold to a higher bidder & already at the butcher for slaughter. I was so stunned & overcome with emotion the right words did not come...I do remember saying "karma is a bitch Donna, remember that" to her ....but wanted to say much more.

How can people be so cruel....she knew this pig could have a happy , safe home but sold her for a few extra dollars (which I would have gladly paid) to be slaughtered for a Christmas meal.

Our entire rescue network is reeling with sadness over this poor pig we never met but loved all the same.

I am only glad she is free from this world of cruelty now.

Toronto Zoo & another Elephant death...

Toronto Zoo a Dangerous Place for Elephants?

Another neighbour just died, in her prime. Tara, a 41 year old African Elephant, died on the last day of November, at the Toronto Zoo, near where I live. Okay, not a next door neighbour, but I feel as though I knew her as I sketched and photographed her and simply watched her, many times. She is the third elephant to die there in the last 14 months!

The Toronto Zoo has told the media that elephants only live about 40 to 45 years. This from the same industry that claims part of its raison d'être is to educate the public about wild animals. Then zoos should tell the truth. In Kenya . elephants have been known to give birth in their 50s. Elephants in the wild live well into their 60s or longer, and an Asian elephant has lived to age 86.

Tessa, Tequila, Tantor, Toronto, and TW are other elephants who died well before their time at the Toronto Zoo. In fact, friends of mine who track captive elephants predicted Tanya's passing when Tessa, at age 39, died six months ago. And they have, sadly, predicted more of my elephant neighbours dying in the next little while, as all have reached not maturity, as the Toronto Zoo would have us believe, but are middle aged, and therefore about as old as captive elephants can expect to survive.

For some species, zoo life can be free of hunger, predation and other problems faced in the wild, and as a result, there are a few animals, a dwarf crocodile at Toronto Zoo, for example, whose captive life exceeds what would probably be expected for a wild counterpart. But not many species, most emphatically not including elephants.

While the local media was reporting Tara's untimely death, it failed to report that India, where the Asian elephant is a native species, had just decided that no elephants should ever be kept in captivity. It is morally irresponsible.

And while zoos and refuges can breed and release a relatively small range of endangered species, that does not apply to elephants. The world's zoo elephants are not put into the wild, nor would that serve any conservation purpose even if they could be. Breeding is something wild elephants do very well when protected in the wild.

The money spent (or, in Toronto, that will be spent if the idea of increasing the indoor elephant holding area's size goes ahead) by zoos would go so much further in conserving elephants if donated to efforts to reduce elephant poaching and fight the demand for ivory that thousands of animals could survive wild and free where they belong, for every pathetic specimen in zoos and circuses.

There are viable elephant sanctuaries where elephants could be sent to live a semblance of natural life in social groupings, and maybe have a chance at truly surviving to full maturity.

A blog by Barry Kent MacKay.