Paul Wesley, the vegan actor known for starring in The Vampire Diaries, discussed animal rights on the Plant Based News (PBN) podcast.
He spoke to PBN co-founder Robbie Lockie about a range of issues, including factory farming, the challenges of being a vegan actor, and the truth about dog food.
The two also discussed cultivated meat, with Wesley describing it as “the future.” He said that vegans “have a responsibility” to support the industry.
Holly, Ray and Powder, 3 incredible animals featured below, are a testament of just how much your support does for street animals every day at Animal Aid. Our rescue teams admit around 25 injured and ill animals each day and providing so many animals with the medical treatment and care they need is our greatest privilege. We couldn’t do it without you. We believe that wherever you are, you are a part of our rescue team. You’re one of our caregivers helping a weak dog eat their first meal in a long time. You’re one of our nurses giving life-saving treatment to an animal who had given up hope. When you virtually meet Holly, Ray and Powder today and read about their recoveries, we hope you can feel yourself a part of the magic.
Holly had suffered an unimaginable injury: a 3rd degree burn covering her entire shoulder and chest, up to her back. When we first examined her on the treatment table, we heart-brokenly considered whether with a wound so large euthanasia would be the kindest option. But taking into account her otherwise good body condition, and an intense sparkle in her beautiful eyes, we decided to try to heal her. Despite pain we can only imagine, a quiet love radiated from her, touching everyone around her.
Each day, wecleaned and covered the wound. Healing began within just a few days, but the final closure of this terrible wound took months.
Babies are so fragile, and this little sweetheart’s wound was deep, and in a very risky location at his throat. For several days he couldn’t stand, needed help even to eat, and swallowing was difficult. But gradually, we saw something brightening in his little button eyes.
He still couldn’t walk without wobbles; he was sleeping most of the time, and the wound itself was still very painful. But yes, there was life and joy awakening inside him. He showed us a ray of hope, and that’s what we called him as he got stronger and stronger. Meet Ray now!
This desperate boy was covered in mange scabs, and pain covered every inch of his body. Kind passers-by were able to catch and hold him in their car while waiting for our rescue team to arrive. We were so grateful for their profoundly compassionate help because dogs with this level of severe mange usually stay on the run and are very difficult to catch.
He was incredibly gentle and hardly moved a muscle while we administered pain medicine, antibiotics, and began his life-saving treatment. Although he didn’t love his first medicated bath, he must have felt so much relief to rest with a full belly after eating a big meal. Day by day, his crusty skin healed, and a beautiful soft powder-white angel began to emerge from what had been pure wreckage. Meet sweet Powder now!
Spencer Duru, diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when he was just 22, has raised a whopping $5000 for Animal Aid Unlimited in a 42 km charity walk in August.
He along with 23 friends completed the walk at his home in Manchester (England UK).
Quoting this wonderful guy: “The thought that if this walk and fundraising could alleviate just the suffering of even one animal, it makes my MS disappear :)” Spencer, for the hundreds of animals whose lives you have touched, comforted, and saved by this donation, we thank you for yourcourage, strength, and love.
EU fishery policy cannot continue to neglect fish welfare
15 September 2022
Opinion
Written by Douglas Waley
The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) sets the right foundational objectives for the management of fisheries and fish populations in the EU’s waters. Yet, to date, it still ignores fish welfare.
In October 2012 the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) was published in the official journal of the EU, including the specific requirements that the formulation and implementation of Union fisheries policy, ‘since animals are sentient beings, pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals’. More than a year later, in October 2013, the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) was published, and it failed entirely to take up the commitments made in the TFEU to pay regard to the welfare of animals.
The absence of high level objectives or recognition of animal welfare in the CFP has played out across the subsequent years as a lack of action and lack of awareness, especially for the welfare of fish and aquatic invertebrates. Technical measures, rules on fishing gears and methods, have been established with fish population management in mind, and without regard for the capture experience, exhaustion, suffocation, or injury faced by the animals.
Labelling requirements have been designed to give the consumer information that enables them to make choices based on localised environmental impacts, but not the information that enables consumers to make choices based on animal welfare or global environmental impacts. The wild capture fishery industry in particular has passed these years without developing an awareness of its animal welfare impacts or consumer expectations, and without improving practices to reduce welfare impacts.
The European Commission is now developing a report on how the CFP has functioned to date, and on emerging trends of importance to fisheries and aquaculture. Eurogroup for Animals has published its position paper here. We are making the case that the CFP, with its existing objectives, needs to be fully and properly implemented before reforming the legislation itself. The failures of not incorporating animal welfare need to be acknowledged now and specific actions taken immediately where tools are available. In the future, fisheries policy should be an integrated part of a Common Food Policy and as part of a transition to sustainable food chains.
See here our detailed report on the causes of animal welfare issues in wild capture fisheries, and the steps necessary to make improvements for captured animals.
The European Commission has opened a public consultation on the functioning of the CFP. The consultation is available here and is open until 23 September at midnight CET.
The tragic killing of a five-month-old bear cub who wandered into a town in Mexico is almost beyond belief. Locals and members of law enforcement were documented smiling and laughing as a tiny, terrified bear cub was tortured and strangled to death. Please take action now to make sure every individual who inflicted harm on this endangered animal, as well as those who stood idly by, are charged and sentenced with the maximum penalty under the law.
Mexico News Daily shared the heartbreaking details of a young black bear cub who entered the town of Castaño, Coahuila in Mexico in search of water. In a mob-like fashion, residents of Castaño surrounded the terrified bear and callously celebrated as they tortured her. They tied her mouth and legs with rope and dragged her tiny body along the ground. They yanked at the ropes until she suffocated to death. Photos posted to social media show police smiling as the small bear suffered and took her last breaths.
The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), a Federal environmental protection agency, stated that it was preparing a criminal complaint against those responsible for the killing of the endangered black bear, which could be classified as a “crime against biodiversity.” The agency said that the perpetrators could face jail time and fines and stressed that it is committed to the protection of wildlife.
Governor Miguel Ángel Riquelme Solís weighed in on the horrific event on Twitter and stated that the government of Coahuila “vigorously rejected the outrageous actions” of the individuals involved and indicated that “Profepa and the Coahuila environmental protection agency are in charge of the investigations into the death of an endangered specimen and the mistreatment to which it was subjected.” Governor Riquelme added that the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) was also investigating and would seek to punish those responsible for abusing the animal.
Governor Riquelme, PROFEPA, and the State Attorney General’s Office appear to be taking this matter seriously. However, we must let all decision-makers know that the world is watching and demands justice for the endangered bear cub who was barbarically tortured and killed.
Contact Governor Miguel Ángel Riquelme Solís, Head of the State Attorney General Office, Dr. Gerardo Márquez Guevara, and PROFEPA to demand that the sentencing of every individual involved in the callous torture and killing of the endangered black bear cub is a top priority.
1. Speak out on social media. Leave a comment for Governor Miguel Ángel Riquelme Solís on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Then, leave a comment for The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
You may use and personalize the following comment:
“The world demands justice for the helpless black bear cub who was tortured & killed in Castaño, Coahuila. All individuals involved, including law enforcement, must be charged & sentenced for the violent death of an endangered animal.”
2. Send a Letter. Send a message to State Attorney General of Coahuila, Dr. Gerardo Márquez Guevara, by filling out the form on this page.
Sign our alert to immediately deliver your comments to:
Dr. Gerardo Márquez Guevara — State Attorney General of Coahuila
In Defense of Animals fully expects and strongly urges all people involved in this campaign to act responsibly and lawfully and to respect the personal interests and privacy rights and concerns of any individuals who may be affected by, or become the subject of, your protests or related efforts.
WAV Comment: Do these statements by the police sort of really contradict each other ? – pet or wild ?
A police spokesperson told media they believed the man had been attacked by the kangaroo – a wild animal – earlier in the day.
Australian man killed by kangaroo he kept as pet, police say
Getty Images – Kangaroo attacks are rare in Australia
Australian man killed by kangaroo he kept as pet, police say
An Australian man has died after being attacked by a kangaroo he had been keeping as a pet, police say.
A relative found the 77-year-old man with serious injuries on Monday at his home in Redmond, about 400km (250 miles) south of Perth.
When the ambulance crew arrived at the rural property, the kangaroo prevented them from treating the man.
Police say they were forced to shoot the marsupial dead so paramedics could reach him. The man died at the scene.
A police spokesperson told media they believed the man had been attacked by the kangaroo – a wild animal – earlier in the day.
Australia is home to about 50 million kangaroos, which can weigh up to 90kg and grow to 2m tall.
But fatal attacks are rare – this is the first one reported in Australia since 1936.
Kangaroos have “a lot of weapons” such as sharp teeth, claws and powerful legs, kangaroo behaviour expert Graeme Coulson told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
“Certainly if they’re cornered or in some sort of distress, that can be quite dangerous,” Associate Professor Coulson said.
“The problem with kangaroos and people is we’re both upright animals, we stand on our two feet, and an upright stance like that is a challenge to the male kangaroo.”
In July, a kangaroo left a 67-year-old woman with cuts and a broken leg after it attacked her on a walk in Queensland.
And a three-year-old girl suffered serious head injuries in an attack in New South Wales in March.
Urban development across Australia is increasingly encroaching on wild kangaroo habitats.
Dutch veterinarians and animal welfare organisations call for emergency action: Don’t buy a flat-faced dog
5 September 2022
Act 4 Pets
Flat-faced dog breeds, such as the pug and the French bulldog, have been overbred to such an extent that they face lifelong suffering caused by a myriad of physical and genetic conditions. Many of these animals are chronically short of breath, suffer from eye diseases, inflammation of the skin, and hernias. Often their owners have been ill-informed and are presented with unexpected high bills for medical treatments. Veterinarians and animal welfare organisation warn in the strongest terms: don’t buy a flat-faced dog!
For a number of weeks, in large cities and along highways, posters are being placed with the slogan: A flat-face is a disgrace (platte neus zieke keus) and A flat-face comes at a price (een korte snuit komt met een prijs). The campaign will be posted on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as well, in order to reach as many people as possible, urging them to not buy these dogs.
Veterinarians still see many disformed animals
Flat-faced dogs are very popular, but in The Netherlands it is prohibited by law to breed these dogs. However, the trade and the import are still legal.
It is fantastic that in The Netherlands there is a law against the breeding of these deformed animals. Unfortunately, in our practice we still see many snoring puppies struggling to breathe as a result of blocked nostrils and flattened noses. These puppies are from abroad or have been illegally bred in The Netherlands.
Veterinarians Janneke Moedt, Caring Vets
A flat-face comes at a price
Owners of flat-faced dogs are often shocked by the immense costs of medical treatments.
The purchase price of a flat-faced dog is in the range of about 1,500 to 2,500 euros. Often the new owner is unaware of the various operations the dog requires, such as operations on the air ways, treatment of hernias, operation on the eyes, corrections of the nose fold, and so on. The costs can quickly add up to about four times the purchase costs. The biggest price though is paid by the animal – with a lifetime of suffering!
Kelly Kessen, Veterinarian, Dier&Recht
Stop the suffering of these dogs and join the campaign
Veterinarians, animal clinics, grooming salons, dog schools, and other organisations who wish to support the campaign can sign up on the campaign website, and receive an information package for the waiting room, or a door/window poster for a shop or practice.
The world’s wildlife is rapidly disappearing, and with it the foundations of humanity’s survival.
We are experiencing the world’s sixth mass extinction. From the tiny earthly critters that underpin essential biological functioning, to majestic land animals that roam the Earth – worldwide wildlife is on the brink of annihilation. The clock is ticking: currently one million species are threatened with extinction.
At the heart of this problem is our demand for meat, dairy, fish and eggs. It is the number one driver for wildlife species loss world-wide.
The time left to act is dwindling, but there is still a narrow window to make a difference. Going Vegan Now!is the only way we can save the world’s wildlife and ensure our own survival.
WAV Comment – as Di says, we (her and I) have worked together on many animal issues in Germany and the UK for years. Di has saved many heavy horses from going into the meat trade, and being slaughtered in the past, and now sadly, Same, her own horse, has to be found a new home. Di provides details below for you. We need to get Same re homed within the next few weeks if at all possible.
Please use the contact link Contact – World Animals Voice if you need to follow up; and I will assure that all requests are forwarded over.
Regards Mark
‘Same’ currently lives in the Greater Stuttgart Area, North; Germany.
Baby ‘Same’
Samme now.
I seek a new home for my 6-year old Noriker gelding “Same Silver Elmar” due to, sadly, financial difficulties after repeated job loss. “Same” has been with me since he was a foal, coming from Kaernten, in Austria, in 2016 – that is, directly from the breeder near Jenig (“Leopard” only breeder).
He is not yet trained, but knows a little groundwork, likes going for walks. Hooves, leading, transporting are no problem. He is a good-natured, inquisitive, non-aggressive, human-oriented and very willing. Much like a big dog, who follows his Human around and is willing to please 🙂
Same
I would like, for him, the right person, a friend and partner for life. Someone who can devote time and love into his careful training, and the building of a lasting friendship with him. He deserves no less.
Unfortunately, I am under pressure timewise (end of September – stable notice), after various parties abandoning their “very keen interest in that beautiful horse” recently, and hence I am stuck for options. I want to find the right place and people for him, as he is such a sweet guy, and handing him on to a trader will simply not do.
I have been involved with animal welfare, like Mark here, for many years, and “Same” is my 10th horse, saved from slaughter. I had hoped to be able to keep him, at least, but sadly that is not an option anymore.
The pot. price is a matter of discussion if the right offer comes along. I am also, of course, interested in other options, if someone can offer to help.
Thank you very much.
Diana H.
We are looking for a safe forever home for Same – please pass this link
World Animals Voice 
