Born Free USA Blog

What makes hog farmers so important?

It was around October 22nd that an Ontario hog farmer by the name of Wayne Bartels gained his fifteen minutes of fame the hard way. He was broke, as is true of many people with the recession. Bartels owed $11,000 in unpaid bills to Haldimand County Hydro. The company cut off the electricity to his farm. The 4,500 pigs on his farm faced unpleasant death from overheating once he ran out of fuel for the two diesel generators that powered the ventilation system essential to the animals’ survival.

Vampires guarding the blood bank

Every time Born Free USA attempts to pass laws aimed at improving the welfare of captive birds, without fail those that exploit birds for financial gain fight us all the way, claiming that the commercial bird industry can and does regulate itself. Plus, they claim, if it weren't for their high standards they wouldn't be able to get birds to reproduce; so, their argument goes, their profits require that they provide top quality care.

Poppycock!

Thanks in your Giving!

Thank you, Special People, for your gifts throughout this year. We know for many of you it’s not been easy. Receiving your generous support, big or small, is a blessing. Thank you!

How to give thanks to Mother Earth

As we plan to sit down with family and friends this week to give thanks for all that we have, perhaps one of the biggest “Thank you’s” should go to Mother Earth for putting up with all of our blunders. Earth really has taken a lot of abuse from our species and yet keeps providing for us and all the other species. It’s not an easy task and it keeps getting harder.

Lights, Camera, Action!

Movie shooting schedules may run from 2 to as many as 15 weeks. However, when you’re working with wild animals it can take a tad bit longer. I know because my film U’Bejani (which means black rhino in Zulu) shot for approximately 159 weeks. The shooting breakdown was simple: 3 weeks to film the people shots and 3 years to film the animal shots!

A modern day tragedy: The story of Charla Nash and Travis the chimp

In February 2009, Born Free USA posted a passionate blog on the tragic incident involving Travis, a “pet” chimpanzee who got loose from his “owner” and attacked a woman named Charla Nash. There were many victims that day. Travis lost his life, Charla Nash very nearly lost hers, and she and her family are the ones who must deal, every day, with the tragic consequences of someone else’s irrational desire to keep a dangerous wild animal as a pet.

Pity-less Lessons

It’s my own fault — nosing around in the latest issue of Trapper & Predator Caller. This stuff pulls you down faster than a 20-point drop in the Dow Jones. It features a column called School Days where children can submit articles and win prizes. This month’s story was written by an 8-year-old boy.

Little Cats Helping Big Cats

Who among us is not completely and utterly entertained by the antics of our companion animals? I know in our household, our two companion cats, Timmy (a.k.a. Timothy Leary) and Kokopelli (a.k.a. Koko, Kokobean, Kokobeanhead, or Beanhead) regale us with their antics on the large cat tree in the living room or chasing any number of a dozen various toys around and under furniture throughout the house.