Sunbear Squad

I used to work at Richmond Camera Photo Lab. Richmond Animal Control would bring their evidence photos in to be developed. I would often see these photos in the lab before being packaged and I was so shocked by a lot of the images that I started to think of the Animal Control Officers as heros. They are great protectors. I saw images of dog skeletons still attached to chains in backyards. I saw walls and floors in basements splattered with blood from dog fights. I saw an emaciated mother dog who could barely hold her head up in a tiny dirty cage. It was just awful and the list goes on, so when I heard this story about Sunbear I knew there had to be more I could do. I already call Animal Control anytime I see pet problems but that's just me. What about everything that I don't happen to see? This is why I want to start a Sunbear Squad in my town.

Sundbear Squad is a neighborhood program to help prevent the inhumane treatment of pets. You can start your own Sunbear Squad in your town too! It doesn't take a lot of effort, just open eyes, a few phone numbers, and the courage to speak up for the animals that can't speak up for themselves.

Sunbear Squad is named after a dog named Sunbear. She was a pet that was left behind after her family fell on hard times and had to move out of their rental. Sunbear was locked in a laundry room for 6 WEEKS with no food or water before she was rescued. Sadly, the damage was done and Sunbear didn't make it. She passed away a few days later. Her story prompted Anna Nirva to start a community alert group which grew into the Sunbear Squad which is a group of people committed to keeping their ears and eyes open to local pets. Sunbear Squad folks check up on yards and alley ways keeping animal control numbers handy to report any instances of abuse such as dogs on chains with no food, water, or shelter. Sunbear could have survived if a neighbor would have reported her constant whining instead of just wishing it would stop. If you think something is suspicious just have your local animal control check the situation out. It can't hurt.

I'm going to get some friends involved and start a Sunbear Squad in my neighborhood. I hope some of you will do the same. Please check out this link for all the great info you'll need to officially get started.
Sunbear Squad

The critters will thank you! :>

A little Something From Wayne Pacelle...

I was just reading Wayne Pacelle's blog, he's the CEO of The Humane Society, and I totally agree with him on this:


The animal protection movement should never confine itself to the Left or the Right in American politics. Opposition to cruelty and the embrace of the human-animal bond are universal values, and people of every background and point of view should find common purpose with the work and programs of The Humane Society of the United States and its affiliates.




To read more from this blog check out his site: http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/

There's always great info and it's always delivered in a smart and peaceful way!
Kudos to Wayne Pacelle and The Humane Society!

It's Growing Time!

PHOTO: My great grandmother on my mom's side, Mary Estelle Daisy Carpenter (aka Memaw), and my great grandfather Peter Nottingham Carpenter (aka Possum).
It's garden startin' time! I can't think of a better way to fuel a passion for eating vegan than growing your own organic fruits and vegetables. My great grandfather, Possum, was a farmer. He was a tall and lanky bean pole of a man. He chewed tobacco and smoked a pipe, and always smelled like freshly dug potatoes. He used to bring us all sorts of fresh fruits and vegetables. He lived just across the rail road tracks from us and he'd leave brown paper bags full of beans and strawberries, watermelons, and greens. I attribute my love of fruits and veggies to Possums gardening.

The only garden I ever grew was about 8 years ago when I was living in Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The soil on the Shore is known for it's magical growing powers. It's naturally fertile. I just dug up a plot in my backyard with a shovel and a hoe, threw some seeds down, and "presto magic" everything grew. I didn't have to fertilize, weed, or even kill bugs. I did plant the recommended marigold and basil to keep my tomatoes safe. I was working the breakfast shift at a restaurant that spring and summer and I had to be up very early so I was able to keep my garden watered nicely each day before the hot sun started beating down. I absolutely loved that garden. There wasn't even that much in it, just some melons, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers and flowers, but it was so satisfying to walk out in the back yard and pick something to eat. Since that year, I haven't had a garden. I've planted some herbs and tomatoes in containers each summer but that's it. This year I'm doing it though! I'm growing a garden again! Woo Hoo! It's gonna have to be mostly a container garden because I don't have much of a yard, but that's okay! I'm doing it!

I ordered some self watering containers I read about in the book "Incredible Vegetables from Self-Watering Containers". I've seeded arugula, mixed greens, and carrots in those. I will also be planting cucumbers and some little tomatoes in these big 4 gallon water reservoir pots. I ordered some upside-down tomato bags for the heirloom tomatoes. I've never tried them before. I'll post the results later this summer. I have herbs sprouting in the window sill, peppers already in a pot, and I'm going to try my strawberries in a grow bag too. I'm so excited. I hope to turn my deck into a jungle of fruits and veggies by July!

I do have one small spot of yard and I'm gonna cover it with cosmos, poppies, and personal sized watermelon plants!

I hope Possums' green thumb runs in the family! My dad's mom, Gaygie, had a super green thumb too. Her house was covered in plants. She loved begonias. Maybe they'll shoot some love and sunshine down on my potted plants this summer!

Here are some links that I found very helpful in getting started this spring:

Starting From Seeds

Incredible Vegetables from Self-Watering Containers


Self Watering Containers and Upside Down Grown:

Letter to your Senator

You can send this letter to your Senator to help stop Canadian seal hunting! It really only takes a few minutes. All you have to do is enter your own info and hit send! Only a few minutes to make a huge difference! Send your letter and forward this on, easy peazy.

Here's the link: http://mail.google.com/mail/?zx=1u2adskv6athl&shva=1#inbox/1206c9d257281d02 Just look for the cute seal and click on CONTACT YOUR SENATOR!
I posted the letter below so you can check it out.
Thanks everybody!

Seals today, Chickens on the way! I'm cooking up an art project to benefit our friends the chickens. My best friend Kate Bredimus will be involved with this one! Stay tuned!


XOXO, MARY


Senator Jim Webb
U.S. Senate
144 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-0001

Senator Mark Warner
U.S. Senate
B40C Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-0001

Dear Senator Warner ,

I urge you to do all that you can to enact S. Res. 84, including
co-sponsoring it if you aren't already a co-sponsor. This
resolution calls upon the Canadian government to end the cruel
commercial seal hunt.

This massive commercial slaughter of harp seals for fur is
shameful and cruel. I am appalled that sealers continue to skin
pups who are still alive. The rest of the world is turning away
from commercial seal hunting, and Canada should as well.

Thank you for your consideration.


Sincerely,
mary Killmon
230 east bank
petersburg, VA 23803-3322

Who Want's to Go?

Check it out! Taking Action for Animals Expo 2009 is right around the corner, July 24th-July 27th in Arlington, VA. Four days of cool seminars, activities, and vegan food. I want to go to this really, really bad. It would be great to to get a group, or groups together to split hotel costs. The more the merrier. Holler at me if you or anyone you know wants to go. I can coordinate the travel plans if need be. I just would rather go with friends than fly solo.
Check out this link for more details: Taking Action for Animals 2009

Baby Seals

Please check out the following links or do some research on your own. Sign a petition, donate some money, spread the word. Seal
hunting is horrendous. There's no justifying such cruelty. I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer but this is sooooo senseless. I know it can be ended if sane and kind people just speak up! SAVE THE SEALS FOR REALS Y'ALL!
XOXO,
Mary

Links:
Humane Society http://www.hsus.org/
Wayne Pacelle http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/
Iron Chef Cat Cora's Say No To Canadian Seafood Challenge: https://community.hsus.org/campaign/protectseals_cat_cora/explanation
Canada Seeks UN Aproval: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gCVkkFfBKvZyO8I89fEHbs6UxBqQ

If you've just got to have a steak.....

So, I know it is really, really, really difficult for some folks to just give up eating meat and dairy. Personally, I couldn't care less if I never ate meat again. I just haven't ever really liked it all that much anyway. I did used to like bacon a lot but I've forgotten about that now. The first time I'm home for one of my mom's Sunday dinners I will probably be craving butter on my biscuits too but I'll survive without it. For the folks out there who do love their meat and dairy but still really care about their own health and the well being of animals, there are options! You can still enjoy all your normal eating habits and feel better about doing so if you just do a little research. One way to know for sure that you are buying smart and compassionately is to only buy products that carry this label: CERTIFIED HUMANE RAISED AND HANDLED The Certified Humane Raised and Handled program is the only farm animal welfare and food labeling program in the U.S. dedicated to improving the welfare of farm animals from birth through slaughter for the 10 billion farm animals raised for food each year. For more info visit the Certified Humane website or just watch this video.


Everyone can help stop animal cruelty. You don't have to become a vegan or even a vegetarian to take action. Making compassionate choices is so much better than not doing anything! It's good for you inside and out, and good for the world. :)