***PLEASE NOTE***
ANDY IS STILL UP FOR ADOPTION AT OLLIE’S PLACE!
Visit Ollie’s Place in Murray Hill
203 East 26th Street, just off Third Ave.
www.olliesplace.org
(917) 673-1030
Andy has been at Ollie’s Place cat rescue and adoption since he was a kitten — he is 4 years old now!
I had submitted a picture and bio each for two different cats — one from the shelter where I volunteer, KittyKind, and one from Anjellicle Cats Rescue — to Lance for the RA June 08 newsletter. Tracey at Anjellicle yesterday told me that her cat, Rex, had been adopted!
My thoughts immediately turned to Ollie’s Place. I emailed Laura, whom I’d met at our last Mother’s Comfort Sewing event, asking her to send me a photo and details of any particular cat that really need some extra publicity.
She sent me info on Andy, a 4-yr old gorgeous emerald-eye tabby. I could not believe that he had been at a rescue/adoption shelter for 4 years! Luckily at Ollie’s they have a cat room where the little felines can walk and mess around in…but…it is a cat room not a home, of course.
Tracey and I spoke on IM, as she was drawn to this situation. She immediately inquired about opening up a space for Andy at their adoption van event this Saturday in Columbus Circle.
And both parties made a deal, and Andy will get in front of a lot more people this Saturday.
I can’t wait to visit him!
(this is my first post and this story is just the skeletal version, I will edit it to make it more entertaining very soon)
A friend of mine sent this article to me: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_11365700?IADID=Search-www.ukiahdailyjournal.com-www.ukiahdailyjournal.com – from the Ukiah Daily Journal, Ukiah, California (approx. 150 mi North of San Francisco, inland)
Some progressive-minded council members and animal advocates in Ukiah, California, are working to change the language of how their community refers to dogs (such as on legal documents, etc.) from “owner” to “guardian”. They are on the verge of seeing this happen!
As you probably know, Rational Animal’s Animal Guardian Ribbon (i.e. 
the pewter Animal Guardian pin) is a symbol of the concept that humans do not own animals as property but must be responsible guardians for their animals and view them as members of their family. Nice to see some people feel the same way and are taking action!
the pewter Animal Guardian pin) is a symbol of the concept that humans do not own animals as property but must be responsible guardians for their animals and view them as members of their family. Nice to see some people feel the same way and are taking action!Just a couple of my own thoughts…
What I found most interesting were the opinions of those against this. There is a confusion between what dissenters believe is animal welfare and animals rights — viewing a change in this one term as a start down a path toward animal rights extremism (naming PETA as one entity they regard as extreme). Both the councilmember and dog trainer note that there is a difference between animal welfare and animal rights, but they very clearly misunderstand where “animal guardian” falls in this context. In reality, the difference between animal welfare and AR is not even a relevant issue here.
I think you’ll find that the proponents of changing the term used to describe people who have dogs in their household as “guardians” rather than “owners” come across as more educated, informed, and articulate than those against the ordinance change. This article also indirectly points out that there are still lingering stereotypes about those involved in helping animals and educating the public about the pertinent issues.
Feedback, comments welcome!
-Courtney
This month…
I like: that I am home (even for just 2 weeks).
I don’t like: that I am worrying about my grades.
I want you to know: that I have not changed my mind about my course.
I’ve planned: to graduate from this course and see what I’ll do next after that. (To continue to Med or not?)
I want to say to someone special: Pa/Ma, I’m sorry I’m not as smart as you.
To join this game, click here. 
~ hosted by the Toothfairy!
I like: that I have time to blog today.
I don’t like: that I have a lot to do in the coming weeks.
I want you to know: that I am a freak. Hahaha. Just a random fact: I feel like my life is a mess when my closet and my table is a mess. I feel like I haven’t organized my life well when I see my stuff scattered all over the place
I’ve planned: to confess to someone I like. (“Will I ever do it?” is THE question.)
I want to say to someone special: ”Should I or should I not?”
To join this game, click here.
~ hosted by the Toothfairy!
…………….
How have you been?
This week has been great! Though I was busy most of the time, it was great since at the end, I had a few days to do whatever. I ended up going out with friends yesterday (Saturday) to catch up, which we haven’t been able to do since we were busy with our “separate” lives.
Lovely that life has been kind enough to let us three have time to spend with each other again — even if it was just for a few hours. Cocktales was the place. Hahaha! We drank stuff that were non-alcoholic and one of my friends started feeling woozy that she thought the server made a mistake with our orders. It turned out that her head was spinning because we were laughing sooo much.
Oh!!! I received another blog award from GeekyMacBoy.
The Happy Award
Rules:
(1) List 10 things that make you happy.
(2) then tag 10 people who deserves this award.
So for number one,
things that make me happy are…
(1) the light streaming through the blinds at night
(2) having at least 8 hours of sleep
(4) being with friends
(5) school stuff going well
(6) being on a guilt-free vacation
(7) shopping
(8) fashion — clothes, shoes, makeup
(9) surfing the web
(10) food — preparing, cooking and eating
and for number two,
I nominate…
I do think you deserve to get this award again.
<3 Have a great day! <3
New York State’s tougher laws against animal fighting
GREAT NEWS!! S.3926/ A.6287a: Animal Fighting Couple more steps to go… The new animal (not just for dogs) fighting bill that passed unanimously this month by the Senate Agriculture Committee now has to go through Senator Eric Schneiderman, Chair of Codes Committee and Senator Malcolm Smith, Majority Leader. The ADA for the dog fighting case we have been covering and helping bring attention to mentioned that these proposed laws are actually an improvement than what they were before. And don’t forget to get the latest on the
On June 2, the New York State Senate’s Agriculture Committee unanimously passed S.3926, sponsored by Sen. Toby Stavisky, D-Flushing, to increase penalties for spectators at animal fights as well as for persons possessing animals for the purpose of fighting.
While dogfighting and cockfighting are felonies in New York, possessing animals for the purpose of fighting is only a misdemeanor and attending a fight is just a traffic-ticket style violation and misdemeanor. This makes it more difficult for law enforcement officials to effectively prosecute animal fighters. Moreover, these anemic provisions tend to attract criminals from other states to engage in illegal activities in New York.
This bill would make it a felony to be a spectator at a dogfight or a cockfight, punishable by a maximum fine of $25,000 and/or up to four years of imprisonment. The Assembly version of the bill, A.6287a sponsored by Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, D-Brooklyn, also passed the Assembly’s Agriculture Committee unanimously in April.
We will be attending the Bronx Criminal Court again on the morning of Thursday, June 11th, in support of the prosectution of nine men charged with operating an organized dog fighting ring in the 179th St. area of the Bronx. Full story and to sign the petition to show you will not tolerate animal fighting here.
