When most things get popular it’s a good sign, like a restaurant. This does not hold true in the pet world. When there is a growing demand for a certain dog breed that becomes part of the “popular culture” this phenomenon is known as The Dalmatian Syndrome.  This moniker goes back to 1985 & 1991 with the re-release of Disney’s 101 Dalmatians movie that sparked a rise for the demand of this breed. For instance, according to the American Kennel Club the annual number of Dalmatian pups that were registered skyrocketed from 8170 to 42,816. Plus, a Humane Society in Colorado saw a 301% and one in Tampa Bay saw a 762% increase in the number of Dalmatians in their districts. So, with this type of demand of a breed it triggers the backyard breeders &/or puppy mills to view this as a money-making opportunity.

These carpetbagger type breeders, then breeds any Dalmatian with any Dalmatian that is around, to then produce puppies with no regard to the quality of these pups.  When I say quality, I mean in temperament, soundness & a screening of people that maybe shouldn’t get this type of dog. This produces overly aggressive, stubborn & high-strung dogs owned by people that have little hope of improving their pet’s behavior & shouldn’t have gotten this breed in the first place.   

This is such a problem that you must give the Disney Studio a bit of credit (even though they create this problem) that at the end of the 102 Dalmatian sequel they added a statement to worn potential owners to research a pet’s breed thoroughly before purchasing it as an additional member of their family. They even partnered with the Dalmatian Club of America to develop an extensive educational campaign focusing on pet ownership responsibility.

I know I will be criticized for saying this, but I can’t help my inner instinct of dogs, in the fact that I am leery when I approach this breed.   It’s not so much the breed in itself, but the people that buy them that want to be “in the in” on wanting such a “cool” and distinctive dog. They ignore that this breed needs a lot of exercise as they are bred for their energy and endurance with a willful personality. So, when an ignorant owner doesn’t fulfill these needs, they get restless, bored, irritable and becomes unpredictable, nothing like the cute little cuddly dogs depicted in the movie.

Other breeds that have been affected by their popularity on TV:

Disney’s G-Force movie starring world saving Guinea pigs, also increased their popularity as pets. It even showed them getting around in a hamster ball, which some ignorant GP owners might try with their new pet.

Check out Cindy’s videos on GP care at:

 https://www.doncherryspetrescue.org/video-gallery/don-cindys-videos/guinea-pig-care-interview/

 Plus an organization that rescues them:

https://www.doncherryspetrescue.org/video-gallery/don-cindys-videos/cindy-cherry-with-piggles-guinea-pig-rescue/

In closing, I lived across from a nieghbor I knew well, only because our toddlers played together. (Read between those line!). They were the epitomy of people that shouldn’t have had a Dalmatian but got it because it was the in, cool looking dog.  They did everything wrong in raising this dog & its personality showed the effect of their ineptness as a dog owner. I even talked about this dog in my podcast in episode 6 in which it almost killed a little lapdog.  I truly feared for my child when he went over there to play at their home. With no disciplene, they even installed invisible fencing along their kitchen countertop to prevent the dog from jumping up on the counter.  Have you ever heard of anything so ridiculous? I often wondered what was the fate of this dog but I am sure it was not a good one and that  the dog paid the price due to its prestige-oriented owners.

Needless to say there are alot of phenonomons & syndromes in the pet world. One that is a real issue is called the Black Dog Syndrome.  Read Cindy’s blog about this mystique concerning black dogs and cats at:

https://www.doncherryspetrescue.org/black-dog-syndrome/

Throughout the years people that have stood up for animal rights have been labelled “kooks”, tree huggers, eco-terrorists, you name it they have been called it. These people take the hit to bring injustices to the public’s attention. I truly believe that most people have a good heart when it comes to seeing the light and changing their behavior. An example of this is me, Cindy Cherry. Growing up my parents always took me to the circus and if they had animal acts, bonus! What kid doesn’t want to see live tigers, elephants, and bears? Way back then, the cruelty on what it takes to make animals do these stupid tricks was just coming to the forefront. The people protesting were labeled and were looked upon as ruining kids’ fun. As undercover videos came out showing the brutality of circus training, and their dirty secrets coming to light, today it is hard to find a circus that still has animals. I remember when my son was about 8 years old, and a neighbor offered to take him to the circus. I didn’t want to give him the heads up on my detesting circuses, so I, in an upbeat manner and excitingly said, “oh, are there going to be lots of animals doing tricks?”. The way I asked made him not even hesitate to say, “sure thing”. I immediately declined. My husband at the time was furious. His point being, that my personal feelings were denying my son’s good times. I then asked him if he wanted to go see animals do some tricks for his enjoyment that have been beaten to do. Smart kid that he is, he said no. Whether it was my “look”, or his better judgement, the point was made.

This philosophy of shaming the public in doing the right thing has been brought on by protesters that make the masses think about the harm they are doing by their actions. Going to Marine Land watching Orcas do tricks is now even against the law. Even most non-vegetarians won’t eat veal and to a certain extent fur coats are mostly socially unacceptable, though coyote hooded Canada Goose ski-jackets still seem to be popular. (Go figure).

So now the dog sled industry’s dirty secrets are just coming to light. These dogs lead a miserable life. But one could say, when you see them pulling sleds they seem to be enjoy it so. One could say they live for it, it’s what they’re bred to do. Remember folks, if people can make a buck off of animals, chances are there will be exploitation. Here are just a few links that you can see for yourself the injustice of it all.

https://www.dogsledontario.com/

https://blog.humanesociety.org/2017/05/new-documentary-takes-aim-sled-dog-industry.html

http://lifeforcefoundation.org/files/CaseAgainstSledDogIndustries.pdf

and the most enlightening article about an Ontario sled dog kennel called Chocpaw Expeditions: 

https://www.thedodo.com/close-to-home/sled-dog-grave-discovered-canada

Here is my take on it. Dog sledding holidays and its joy is all about marketing. I have seen these adventure brochures in my travel agent’s store. The dogs look like they are having fun and the smiles of these healthy-looking people enjoying the Canadian outdoors is invigorating and inviting. So once again, it’s all about educating yourself and the public. Remember, like most companies that exploit animals, they wouldn’t be in business if there wasn’t money to be made.

Have you noticed lately all the ads on TV about how great farmers are treating their animals lately and the use of the word “sustainability”?

I know I have. They seem to have that same warm fuzzy feeling about them. It’s usually shows a multi-generational farm, with of course kids and how proud they are of being farmers.

There’s the Dairy farmer’s ad, showing the little girl bottle feeding a calf, so cute, or the Perdue Harvestland commercial that even has a catching jingle to it. It goes like this: “I (the chicken) think I will go out for a walk outside now; the summer is calling my name. Everyone is smiling, it’s a sunshine day, everyone seems to be happy, it’s a sunshine day”. Then it shows you the happy chickens running around in the bright sunlight. It reminded me of Charlie Sheen on the TV show Two and Half Men composing his ridiculous product jingles, no doubt this would be one he’d do while drinking his scotch on the rocks.

Then of course there’s always McDonalds, who really likes throwing their money into TV, on-line videos with social “influencers” and sponsored content, in promoting their “sustainably sourced” Quarter Pounder. Whatever that means. Then there is A & W promoting their “grass-fed” happy cows. Here are the facts: Grass-fed beef isn’t more sustainable than grain-fed beef. Because grass-fed cows consume a more complex carb and grow more slowly than their grain-fed counterpart, they produce more methane while making the same amount of meat. Up to 400% more methane, to be exact. Also, the beloved local farms and their grass-fed cows are also an immensely land-intensive industry. One grain-fed cow needs three acres of land, a grass-fed cow actually requires nine.

Even the “fake milk” Lactaid producers are getting in on trying to educate how happy their cows are by showing rolling pastures of grazing dairy cows in their commercials. Really? Who buys into this stuff?

So where am I going with all this? Once again, my word for 2020 and now into 2021 is “gullibility”. If you google “what does it mean if someone is gullible?” Here is what it says, and I am sure marketing advertisers count on this concept: “a tendency to be easily manipulated into believing something is true when it isn’t.” Don’t get me wrong, I’d like to believe these advertisers, it’s an easier pill to swallow then the reality of factory farming.

But lets look at the bright side of all this. I think all this propaganda is a sign that the dairy and meat industry see a need to start promoting themselves in a better light. The word is spreading about factory farming. You have to look no further of the injustice of trying to protect farm animals then the passing of Bill 156, AKA “ag gag” bill in Ontario, June 17,2020. This law not only threatens animal welfare by criminalizing those who would speak out for animals, including whistleblowers working on farms and slaughterhouses, or any animal-use facilities, but it also brings in the question of a violation of free speech.

FYI: Canada has such weak laws protecting animals that we have a received a failing “D” grade in the Animal Protection Index https://api.worldanimalprotection.org/country/canada?_ga=2.61976492.1285006960.1612143254-341926190.1612143254 which ranks 50 countries around the world according to their animal welfare policies and legislation. Our grade matches the U.S., Columbia, Brazil, Korea to name a few, while countries like Mexico, Malaysia, Poland got C’s, and the Scandinavian countries, plus the U.K. got B’s. Put’s things in perspective, don’t you think?

The farming industry has proven that it’s not resilient to culture attitude or marketing conditions. For instance, the Canadian Pork Council is asking for about 500 million dollars of public funds in compensation for their loss of revenue due to Covid, along with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association pushing for funding and government programs to make up for their losses too. Here’s an idea, why doesn’t the Restaurants Canada Association go lobbying to the government for money? With close to 100,000 restaurants in Canada, while employing 1.2 million and serving 22 million customers every day, this industry has taken a pretty good hit during the Pandemic don’t you think? How about helping them out?

In closing, when you see these commercials on TV, which are you going to be? The gullible, who “drinks the Kool-aid”, or the skeptic and see through through their propaganda. I wish I was a bit more gullible; I believe a gullible person has an easier life and may be a happier person in the long run and I envy the concept. But as you read my blogs, there is no doubt I am 99% a skeptic. I wish I wasn’t, plus, as a mother I wish I hadn’t taught my son not to even come close to being gullible. He questions everything, but at least I don’t have to worry about people taking advantage of him, and for that I sleep well at night.

Read more about saying “No to Bailouts for factory farming” and what you can do in writing to Finance Minister Morneau & Agriculture Minister Bibeau at:

https://animaljustice.ca/media-releases/animal-justice-says-no-bail-outs-for-factory-farms

In February 2021, a store called Chesher’s in Belleville, Ontario is holding a hunting contest with prizes and cash awarded for the 10 largest coyotes and the smallest killed. (they also have one for turkeys, deer and bears when in season to kill) Now I titled this blog about hunting but added it’s also about rationalization. This store’s logic (rationalization) was, “the main purpose of this event is to help control the predators that threaten our deer population and have some fun doing it”. It also goes on to say, to make sure no one is cheating, I guess, “the person who is weighing the coyote must be the one who shot the animal, and all applicable hunting reg’s will apply as well as any provincial/federal or municipal laws with the respect to hunting coyotes”.

The owner of the store, Billy, addresses the “issues” they have been receiving on their Facebook page, which is amusing to read. Again, I titled this blog correctly referring to rationalizing one’s actions. As with most hunters, they are filled with hypocrisy. The owner actually addresses the term fun of hunting, but then adds this tidbit, “No true outdoorsman or sportsman feels joy or fun in the taking of a life. It’s simply part of it, and we all deal with hunter’s remorse in our own ways”. I just don’t get it. Am I missing something?
To read more on Billy Chesher’s rationalization of his “contest” and addressing the concerns that are now being bestowed upon him, go to:

https://www.facebook.com/cheshers/posts/2745192105606065 .
 
For a guy to feel the need to address “some of the attention on social media as well as in the news regarding our annual coyoted contest”, I find it strange that most of the comments are in support of him. Could it be he censored his Facebook? Or are there that many “Varmint Killers” out there, as one post proudly called his rifle. (Some men have a name for everything!).

No matter what you think about these killings, you should also think about it jeopardizing the lives of species at risk because there are no geographic boundaries for this contest. The species that I am referring to is the threatened Algonquin Wolves, which is hard to differentiate from the larger coyotes that are going to win someone a contest.

To give you more facts that are hard to believe, get this, wildlife killing contests are illegal in Ontario, yet the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has refused to shut this down. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act forbids anyone from hunting for expectation or gain or inducing anyone else to hunt for gain. So why haven’t they stepped in? Well, here is the link to voice your opinion and ask Lisa Foucault and Jamie Stewart, the Ministry staff who are responsible for interpreting and enforcing Ontario’s wildlife legislation.
https://earthroots.good.do/killingcontest/email/

We people here in Ontario sure have a problem with coyotes. I went to a town hall meeting here in my little town of Port Credit, Ontario to hear the hysteria of some people in their fear of these creatures. One memorable woman was voicing her fear she felt while walking her 2 Alaskan Malamutes while a coyote was following her. Can you imagine? I must admit the City of Mississauga Animal Control staff handled the meeting quite well, and they didn’t even laugh or sneer when this hysterical and comical woman started her whining. My old neighborhood in the Oakridge area of Mississauga, is forever going on about their issues and their war against the coyotes. They don’t even want them walking down the street and want something done about this intrusive behavior in their beloved neighborhood. If I ever say anything about sticking up for them, I am forever told about someone who knew someone, who’s friend had their little dog attacked while on its leash. Funny…. you never meet the actual person who had this happen to them. Hmmm……

So, to all you coyote haters relax, for Ontario’s lax hunting and trapping regulations allow unlimited, year-round coyote killing and do not even require hunters to report any of their kills in Southern Ontario. In other words, it’s open season anytime for killing these creatures that were here long before we came and invaded their turf. They just want to survive.

For an intelligent informative site that through investigation, education, prevention and enforcement they provide proven successful programming and strategies that sustainably alter they way communities interact and co-exist with wildlife (coyotes). Click here:
https://www.coyotewatchcanada.com/site/home

I only wish people like Mr. Chesher and his fans/supporters could be enlightened, but I doubt it.

I am a fan of reading magazines as opposed to books as I have explained in my Blog questioning the value system of 4-H clubs for children.

Click here to read

So now when I read something that gets me thinking and/or aggravated, my therapy is to write a blog. How lucky am I to have that avenue to vent. So now my quandary is an article I read in People Magazine’s August 2020 edition, page 57, titled, “The Horses Saved Me”. Well, you can see where this is going if you have read previous blogs and know that unfortunately I mostly see the glass half empty. The story goes like this: It’s about a woman who has gone through a traumatizing event in her younger years and now has PTSD. She now believes her survival throughout the years is due to the solace she found within horses. She even claims, that while she was riding her horses in the Hamptons on weekends and taking formal horseback riding lessons in Central Park, that “without my knowing it, they (horses) had been saving me my whole life”. She mentions the many horses that thankfully her parents could buy her by name, such as Guernsey when she was just 2 years old. Then there was her steed, Bravo, who “assisted” her in becoming a champion show jumper. With this horse she earned many ribbons and trophies and no doubt the admiration of her peers (other little rich girls). I am sure the self-esteem that developed from such accomplishments also helped her rebound from her past challenges. She explains how her skin bears bruises and scars of falls and bucks (hhmmm..why would a horse buck her off? Perhaps when it’s being made to do something it naturally wouldn’t do?) as a visual timeline of her relationship with horses throughout the years. She claims these wounds didn’t break her and led her to believe she is a resilient person and that she somehow through these injuries learned compassion. She also tries to explain that “a good horseman recognizes that it’s not a mount underneath them-it’s a soul”. Needless to say, this woman thinks she loves horses, so much so that she now serves on the board of directors of Gallop NYC, a charity that provides equines therapy (to people, not the horse). Which brings me to the question that I’d love to ask all people that claim, “they love horses”, and that is “what do you do for horses”?

I have had many friends throughout the years that have spent tons of money on their horses between their board, vet bills, tack, entrance fees to shows, etc., the cost is endless. It’s definitely a rich man’s hobby. Do these people know what happens to these horses when they sell them? Sure, they will think they have sold them to “a great home”, but what about when they don’t serve any more purpose? Too old and/or crippled to ride? Remember, they can live up to 30 years. Then what? I don’t think there are too many retirement homes for horses. So, did they really love horses, or the joy and enrichment that they got from them? I think in most cases it’s the latter, as in the person who had that heartwarming story in People Magazine. I guess because I see the glass half empty most of the time, I question what loving something really means. When I think of a person who really loves horses, I think of Kathy Bartley founder of Bear Valley Rescue in Alberta. Her mission is to save “useable” and healthy horses from slaughter. Tens of thousands of horses are routinely slaughtered in Canada for human consumption. Most of this meat is shipped overseas, some to the US (who has banned the slaughter, but not consumption), and of course some is eaten right here in Canada. But wait, what is even worse is that Canada allows the transportation of live horses in crammed conditions to Japan & Korea. Fact is the Cdn Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC) lost their lawsuit against the Cdn Food Inspection Agency in 2019, regarding them routinely certifying shipments of live draft horses even though it was not abiding by their own guidelines and contrary to the law. This means those poor horses were crammed into small crates, instead of being separated to avoid harming each other and not providing enough head room. Can you imagine the terror and misery these once noble animals went through, to then meet their fate in some slaughterhouse in these countries?

One can only imagine the challenge of bringing to justice an agency of the government to do their job correctly. Talk about a David vs Goliath scenario. So, if you truly “love” all equines and not just the ones you bet on or ride, think about supporting the CHDC by

clicking here >>

Don Cherry’s Pet Rescue Foundation has donated to several groups that rescue the public’s used up equines that serve no more purpose to their owners. Read their stories at:  

https://www.doncherryspetrescue.org/our-successes/monetary-donations/last-chance-horse-and-pony/

https://www.doncherryspetrescue.org/our-successes/monetary-donations/bear-valley-rescue/

https://www.doncherryspetrescue.org/our-successes/monetary-donations/donkey-sanctuary/

I am one of those people that when asked, “what was the last book you read?” I come back and ask, “do magazines count?” I have friends that have belonged to book clubs. I found these people thought they were “well read”, but in fact most book clubs read fictional books. Try to get them to engage in current events, or topics of interest, and they really didn’t have much to say. I find magazines much more, shall I use the word “enlightening”. I use this word because I don’t want you to think I believe everything I read especially the magazines I get. Lets face it, most media, whether it’s books, TV, whatever are left-wing. One of the many magazines I subscribe to is MacLean’s and no doubt about it is very left wing, especially their columnists. I often wonder if they really believe in what they write, or it’s what their publisher believes is safe to put in print.

Its hard not to read print, (yes I actually have the hard copy, and don’t read on a tablet, computer, or worse my phone) about the plague. However, MacLean’s August 2020 edition was exceptionally interesting. First there was the article on B.C’s Salmon Cannon on page 15. Basically it explained how Fisheries & Oceans Canada are assisting salmon to get to their spawning grounds after a landslide along the Fraser River created a waterfall that they couldn’t cross. Then on page 11 it told how foxes were making a comeback in certain areas in Toronto, and groups of volunteers had to protect them from the intrusive public. It was noted that they had to endure verbal abuse and threats of violence while they tried to explain to people not to feed them, give them wide berths, ask them to leash their dogs, and basically leave them alone so they didn’t get accustom to people. They actually had to shut down this protection program two weeks earlier then planned because of the threat of violence to the volunteers. What is our society coming to?

Which brings me to Page 18 on what I am really venting about in this blog. It’s a picture of this 10 year old Alberta girl (not pictured here) with her eyes closed hugging  her 4-H project, a steer named Turbo.  Seems she is upset that her pet project would not be able to be shown off and compete in a 4-H fair due to the Pandemic. It explains, that even though she realized all along this animal would be eventually sold and slaughtered, it “never took away her ability to connect with him.” In fact, she was quoted as saying, “Turbo, was (note:past tense) funny, silly, and sometimes a brat.” Hmm.. are these human traits that this child is putting on an animal?  It makes me cringe to think children could be so brainwashed and encouraged to keep such good care of an animal, and then have no qualms about selling it to the highest bidder and its life ends.  I don’t know about you, but I would want to encourage my child to have compassion, sensitivity and respect for a living creature, not about how much money it will make me in the end. Why would you want to desensitize your kid like this, perhaps to toughen them up to the cruel world out there? Why not have your kid not become a part of such an injust world?

So what became of this doe-eyed steer on page 18? This little girl got a disappointing $3.60 per pound for Turbo, (hey Maclean’s… your metric police missed this conversion in your magazine!). That’s a whopping $5184.00, not bad for a 10-year-old.  However, it was pointed out that she gave $250.00 to a local family in need of groceries (steaks, I take it), a fund for college, and $$ to build her own herd and clippers for next year’s project.

But I have a better use for her time, why not go to Camp Kindness offered at Ralphy’s Retreat Animal Sanctuary.  Were 7-12 year olds learn compassion, responsibility, respect and care for animals. To learn more about this Sanctuary for outcasted farm animals, click on the link below:

https://www.doncherryspetrescue.org/our-successes/monetary-donations/ralphys-retreat-animal-sanctuary/