The Journal
Before anything else.
April is animal cruelty prevention month. So be on the look-out for any events pertaining to animal rights.

Some general(ish) information on pigs and cows destined for our dinner tables.
Before I give you any information, I want to try and make one thing clear; I am not asking you to become a vegetarian/vegan. At no point shall I ask you to give up animal products. What I am asking is for you to be aware. To know where you're getting your food from, and if possible to please acquire your meat from local stores and butchers, where killing is as humane as it can be and where living conditions are much more acceptable.

PIGS
Pigs are kept in tiny stalls that don't allow mothers to turn around for most of their pregnancy. Shortly after birth piglets are mutilated and castrated with no pain killers taken. Fall behinds (pigs that aren't growing fast enough) are killed brutally when their heads are slammed against the floor. They grow to quickly and are unable to support their mass. Pigs that are ill or injured continue to suffer because being alive means they can still be sold for profit. When they don't appear to be able to make it, they are killed inhumanely with a captive bolt gun. To get them to move, handlers beat them with gate rods and then they are packed into tight, unventilated trucks where many times, their legs snap from the weight of pigs above them. Sometimes they freeze to the sides of the truck, sometimes they die of dehydration. They are then forced onto the killing floor where improper stunning means they are awake as their throats are slit, and even when they are dipped in the scolding tank for hair removal.

CATTLE
Cattle are castrated, horns chopped off and repeatedly branded. All without pain killers, without being able to do a thing about it. They are later taken to auction where electric prods are used to torment them into going wherever it happens to be that the auctioneers want them to go. The cattle is still sold even though many of the times the cows have cancer, are ill, and have wounds leaking pus. Calves are kept for a year in crammed feed lots before being shipped through all weather extremes. When they are finally slaughter their throats are slit and they are skinned and dismembered. All while still conscious.

DAIRY AND VEAL
Dairy cows are hooked to a machine several times a day that milks them and often injures them. When they are unable and too weak to produce anymore milk, they are sent off to the slaughter house or auction. Over 100,000 of these cows are unable to walk off the transport truck, yet still they find their way to your dinner plate. Most meat you buy is from dairy cows that died too young and that have been impregnated yearly just so they can continue to produce milk. Calves are taken from their mothers shortly after birth which causes both mother and baby undue amounts of stress. Males are sold for slaughter, while females will suffer the same fate as their mother. Calves are kept in small cages where they cannot even turn around or even really lie down. In this way, if you're drinking milk, you're supporting veal. Even those these calves can barely walk and have muscle atrophy due to lack of use they are still sold.

Besides keeping in mind the above facts, please also keep in mind that not all animals go through this. Many farms/factories/slaughterhouses are as humane as you can be when killing something.

_{Yes, this is just copy and pasted from the site. Shhh.}

Site link: [link]

Submission rules, joining rules and the like are posted in the shoutboard. Please stop asking to join, anyone can join, just give us a watch.

Thank you for reading.

--Cuvier

News Stories
April is animal cruelty prevention month. [link]
NY horse breeder charged with cruelty to animals. [link]
School of Law hosts third annual Animal Rights Day. [link]
Donkey race promotes health and animal rights in Qalqiliya. [link]
WOLF ATTACK: Animal's handler has troubled history. [link]

*If you know of any other news stories that should be mentioned above, let us know. Please realise that we try and mention news from all over the world, but it's sometimes hard to track down recent stories. As well, we can not mention every story. If you are interested in animal abuse in the news, please check out google news and search animal abuse or cruelty. [link] [link]
All commments, opinions, and arguements are welcome. We don't bite.*

Hard Hitting Stories
-Canceled until further notice-

Featured Animal
Hey, Autumn here!
Once a week, we will feature a different endangered animal, and give tips on how you can help them survive.

This weeks featured animal is the Blue Whale.

The blue whale is the largest mamal on earth. This gentle giant, who's diet consists of plankton, has suffered a 50% decrease in population over the past three generations.

More info: [link]
<img src="http://www.playink.com/nisa/blue_whale.jpg">

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to note me! Just make sure that in the subject box, you write 'Autumn'.

Events
Check this site out if you live in the UK, they hold many events. [link]

*If there are any anti animal abuse events happening anywhere, that you know of, please alert us so we can add them to the least. Events can include anything, protests, rallies, get togethers, or even days, such as World Ocean Day. If there are no events happening on those days in your town, try and get people interested and maybe have your school, commmunity, town or city put something together. Don't be scared to speak up.*

Petitions
Help PETA put an end to Iams and it's cruelty. [link]
Help horses, sign an online petition to try and get rid of cruelty to horses. [link]
Help stop KFC's reign of terror over the chickens. [link]
Wearing real fur is wrong, help stop the cruel slaughter of animals for something that is rightly theirs! [link]
One person can make a difference, stop cruelty towards wolves. [link]
Stop Shelter Animals From Being Sold for Research. [link]
Ban the Gas Chamber for Animals in Michigan. [link]
Join Forces With Canadians Who Care About Animals. [link]
Stop the trophy hunting of bears. [link]

*Any good petitions you can show us are welcome. We prefer they be as legit as possible, and not some internet crap that won't ever do anything. Try and find petitions from organizations such as WSPA and ILPH. Yes, sometimes we will have shitty-get-you-no-where-petitions, but that can't be helped. There's only so many good petitions out there.*

Competitions
No current competition.

Links
RSPCA: [link]
WSPA: [link]
WHW: [link]
WWF: [link]
COK: [link]
ASPCA: [link]

*If you know of any other organizations that deserve a spot here, please send us a note with a link to their homepage and a brief description of what they do.*

Affiliates
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Member List
Member list is now in the Shoutboard.