A Humane Angle on Thanksgiving

From Zoo Too News:

NASHUA, N.H. ─ Please pass the squash and cranberry to Reese, a shelter turkey enjoying Thanksgiving feast.

That’s correct, according to Michelle King, spokeswoman for Farm Sanctuary. The animal welfare organization is selling tickets for Nov. 20’s “Celebration FOR the Turkeys,” a holiday alternative going off at Orland, Calif. and Watkins Glen, N.Y.

“The highlight of the event, of course, is our unique Feeding of the Turkeys ceremony,” she said, when the people treat the turkeys to helpings of squash, cranberry and pumpkin pie.

Or join the “Adopt-a-Turkey” campaign, King said, and save a turkey, instead of eating one. Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres is this year’s spokeswoman.

“It’s a way to celebrate a more compassionate holiday by being grateful and thankful over plant food, instead of over the carcass of a bird,” Farm Sanctuary founder Gene Baur said.

Several other animal rights groups also are hoping to draw attention to inhumane treatment of turkeys at factory farms. Farm Sanctuary started the first Adopt-a-Turkey campaign back in 1986. Initially, it was a hard sell, but Baur believes the alternative Thanksgiving is catching on. As proof, he points to sales of “a lot more non-meat products,” such as Tofu Turkey. He sees “more energy around a plant-based Thanksgiving.”

Turkey production did drop two percent this year, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture projections. But the $3.6 billion industry was still expected to raise 242 million turkeys.

Forty-six million will be slaughtered for Thanksgiving, said Farm Sanctuary spokeswoman Meredith Turner.

Indeed, a vegetarian Thanksgiving is not typical, according to Sherrie Rosenblatt, spokeswoman for the National Turkey Federation.

“Nearly all Americans celebrating Thanksgiving will have turkey at the center of the plate,” she said, but added people who don’t have the turkey will choose from other traditional side dishes.

But Farm Sanctuary has put six turkeys up for adoption this year, King said. Some people actually take their adopted turkey home, King said, but most send a $30 contribution.

Christina Alvarez-Correa, 11, of New York City, said her family sent a donation and adopted one of the babies.

She’ll celebrate the holiday by eating other dishes.

“I’ll have some mashed potatoes,” she said. “I’m just thinking how many people are in the U.S., and they’re all eating turkey,” she said. “Me not eating, it’s one less. More turkeys will be alive.”

Twenty-two turkeys currently live at the New York shelter; seventeen are in the California shelter, King said. Some came to the farm after being seized as evidence in animal cruelty cases, according to Baur. Slaughterhouse workers, who wanted to put a stop to the suffering, delivered a few others, he said.

Farm Sanctuary has since 1986 saved more than 1,000 turkeys from slaughterhouses and other deplorable conditions, King said.

Asked about the factory farm issue, Rosenblatt said the turkey farmer’s top priority is the flocks’ “health and well being,” so they can deliver a quality product to market.

According to Baur, turkeys lead a miserable existence.

“They can’t even reproduce naturally,” he said. The males are so fattened up for breast meat, they can’t mount; as a result, the birds are “milked” for semen.

“That’s where it starts,” he said, but the mistreatment doesn’t end there. At birth, babies are debeaked, so they won’t injure other birds. They’re packed tight together in pens. Some farms cut off parts of their toes.

“People want to be compassionate,” he said, “but the more like us animals are, the easier it is to relate to them. It’s easier for people to relate to mammals. Birds are not so well understood.”

Animal behavior experts say turkeys are social animals, Turner said. They recognize each other’s voices; they bond and show affection and emotions.

“Turkeys,” Baur said, “have feelings and deserve to be treated with compassion and respect.”

For more information about Adopt-a Turkey, go to: www.adoptaturkey.org

Rescue Ink: A New Style of Animal Rescue

From Zoo Too News

When you think of animal rescue advocates, you may not immediately picture tough-looking, tattooed guys educating children and families about the mistreatment of animals. However, that’s exactly what the guys at Rescue Ink are doing.

Rescue Ink is a dedicated animal rescue group focusing on saving animals from abuse as well as neglect. The gentlemen at Rescue Ink are indeed tattooed, tough-talking, intimidating bikers, and they use their strengths and passion to change the lives of animals every day.

Composed of a retired New York City Police Department detective, club bouncers, and security guards, Rescue Ink’s members are all animal activists on an admirable mission. Some of their journeys have been somewhat turbulent, but much like the animals they fight for every day, they persevere and believe in second chances.

Rescue Ink’s shelter is a 25-acre rehabilitation center located in upstate New York. The purpose of the shelter is to provide a stable and safe environment in which the animals housed there can learn trust and allegiance. Rescue Ink is currently in the process of expanding their shelter, and with it, their rehabilitation efforts.

Rescue Ink prides itself on its many programs and areas of focus. The organization currently has a volunteer program for the foster care of animals, as well as behavioral training for troubled animals requiring rehabilitation.

Rescue Ink also features a “Jr. Ink” Members program. This initiative specializes in Humane Education as it pertains to the younger generation of pet lovers. The guys at Rescue Ink teach children about compassion and responsibility when dealing with their non-human friends.

In addition to these programs, Rescue Ink also has a Domestic Abuse program which focuses on the unfortunate link between animal and domestic abuse in households as well as an Adoption Program. Rescue Ink likes to believe in second chances—and their adoption program is living, breathing proof of this.

To find out more about the wonderful work of Rescue Ink, visit www.rescueink.org

Great Escape Stories

From Zoo Too News:

NASHUA, N.H.─ His great escape story made national news this summer, reported along with a spate of transport accidents that left livestock dead on the road or scrambling for their lives.

Jay, the bull, cheated death and arrived to a “hero’s welcome” earlier this month at his new home in a New York shelter, according to Meredith Turner, spokeswoman for Farm Sanctuary, the animal protection organization..

The 2-year-old escaped the slaughterhouse when a transport truck exploded on Interstate 94 last August. Eyewitnesses described the scene as “the worst they had ever seen,” Turner said. Eighteen cattle died in the crash and the fire.

Jay survived. Then he outwitted state police. According to officers, he tried to jump a three-foot high concrete barrier. When that failed, he bolted down the highway, she said. Six other cattle also tried to escape, but only Jay succeeded.

“Jay was gone four days. He ran 25 miles,” Susan Coston, director of Farm Sanctuary’s National Shelter, said. “He wanted to live.”

The bull did suffer burns in the accident. He underwent three weeks of treatment at Cornell University’s veterinary hospital before the trip to Farm Sanctuary. He is being kept away from the herd until his wounds have healed, she said.

“He has no hair on one side,” she said. “Some of the burns went down to the muscle. But

he’s bucking in the air; he’s happy,” Coston said.

For every Jay, dozens of other livestock caught in transport crashes are not so lucky. Their deaths are typically not even noticed unless the accident tied up traffic, Coston said.

No one knows how many U.S. livestock die in transport trucks or by falls onto the highway, but the industry expects to lose a certain percentage of “the product” on the way to market, she said.

“It’s carelessness,” she said. “People have become so desensitized to them, and that’s what happens when you make an animal a product and put a monetary value on its head. When I transport animals from here to California, I expect no deaths,” she said.

The government does not regulate livestock transports, according to both Coston and Rebecca McNeill, ASPCA media coordinator. McNeill said the ASPCA is supporting a new effort to protect horses during interstate transport. Cong. Mark Kirk of Illinois is the Horse Transportation Safety Act’s sponsor.

Meanwhile, Jay’s story may raise awareness about the cruelty animals suffer during a transport, Coston said.

“This process is probably one of the scariest in their lives,” she said. “It’s loud – with metal hitting metal. They can see out into traffic, so that’s terrifying. They pack them in so tight; some of them suffocate or are stepped on.” Coston has seen chicken crates loaded like bales of hay.

“Heads are sticking out; legs are sticking out; some of them are dead,” she said. “There’s no care, concern or sensitivity. I don’t know if we think they want to be eaten. They all have a will to live.”

Here’s a roundup of the latest animal escapes from transport accidents and slaughterhouses.

“Bob Harper,” piglet

“He was ten pounds, a tiny, tiny thing,” Coston said, “and he fell right into traffic. A car pulled over and grabbed him.” His rescuers took him to the local SPCA, and from there he went to a Chicago area rescue for farm animals before the staff made arrangements to move him to New York this September. He’s named after Bob Harper of reality television’s “Biggest Loser,” Coston said. Harper has volunteered at Farm Sanctuary.

“Kim Gordon,” piglet

Six-week old piglet “Kim Gordon” fell off a transport truck in South Dakota last July and was left behind. A couple on a rock ‘n roll concert tour stopped when they saw the animal running around a Mitchell, South Dakota back road. Lanore Hahn and her boyfriend put the piglet in their car, Turner said, and tried to find the owner.

An animal control officer examined the piglet and suggested it fell off a truck. The piglet was sunburned and covered with road rash. Hahn took the piglet home when she realized authorities would likely shoot it if she surrendered it. “Kim Gordon,” named after the Sonic Youth vocalist, arrived at Farm Sanctuary at the end of July.

“Little Orphan Angelo,” baby lamb

In September 2009, Angelo was born in a transport truck, Coston said. A family spotted him while they watched workers unload a trailer at a Yonkers, N.Y. market. The baby lamb went home to their apartment but eventually found a home at Farm Sanctuary.

“Molly,” cow

In May 2009, Molly slipped out of a Queens slaughterhouse and led police on a chase through Jamaica, according to Joseph Pentangelo, of the ASPCA. Pentangelo helped transport the 500 pound cow to a Calverton, Long Island farm.

She was delighted to find herself on a 60-acre organic farm, he recalled.

“When she got there, she bolted out of the trailer,” he said.

“Annie Dodge,” the cow

Annie Dodge lived through a Vermont winter by eating at bird feeders, she said.

“I couldn’t survive eight months outside in Vermont,” Coston said. “She just wanted to live. And she’s still here.”

Amazing Pet Rescues

Here are some amazing pet rescues from Zoo Too News.

Every pet thinks that their human is a hero. The unconditional love that bonds an animal to their family is immeasurable. But certain humans have gone above and beyond traditional loyalty to prove their love for our four-legged friends.

A Frozen Rescue. When the poodle-mix Buddy went racing onto the ice-covered Little Lake Butte des Morts in Menasha, Wisconsin, he only thought of one goal — reaching the ducks he was chasing. But Buddy didn't count on the thin ice 300 feet from shore, and broke through to the icy waters below. His owner, Angie Bray, attempted to head onto the ice herself, but realized with her first step that she could not save her dog on her own. The Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue arrived just 15 minutes later with self-inflating wetsuits. In no time, firefighter Jason Phillips was in the water headed toward Buddy. After being pulled from the water, Buddy was rushed to the hospital, where he was treated intravenously with warm fluids and recovered fully.

Saved From Drowning. After hearing a commotion in her neighbor's apartment, Ashley Chase decided to investigate. She found an unimaginable sight — a 10-month-old Shih Tzu, Toby, unconscious in the bathtub, the victim of his owner's senseless abuse. Ashley performed mouth-to-mouth on the pup and rushed him to a nearby vet clinic. Toby was alive, but still in danger. En route to the clinic, she got caught in a traffic jam, at which point Ashley left the car. From there, she ran to the clinic, Toby in her arms. Authorities arrested Toby's owner on one felony count of animal cruelty, and thanks to the heroics of Ashley and her sister, Toby was no worse for the wear after his harrowing experience, and was kept safe from his former owner.

A Mother of Eight Saves a "Furbaby." When Gabe Seim was walking his dog Porter on a pond in Salina, Kansas, he had no idea what would happen when the black lab pulled away from him. After Porter fell through the thin ice, Gabe made numerous attempts to save his dog, but was no match for the icy water himself. He called the authorities, and Jane Trostle, herself a mother of eight, was among the other animal control and police officers who responded. From the shoreline, officers attempted to lasso the dog, who was only 30 feet away. But the struggling lab was too far for their rope. Finally, Officer Trostle got on her stomach and slid out to Porter, with only an extension cord tied to her for safety. But the drastic move was necessary, as the animal was nearly exhausted from trying to keep afloat. As Trostle neared Porter, the ice beneath her body cracked and she became submerged. She was wearing layers of clothing, which were immediately soaked and weighed her down. Yet she was able to grab hold of Porter and help him to shore. Once the duo neared land, Gabe jumped in and pulled his weary canine the rest of the way. Following a quick check-up, both Gabe and Trostle were given a clean bill of health. Porter made a full recovery.

Pets at Work: Labor Day Stories

In honor of Labor Day, we celebrate some of our favorite service animals.

Pets and animals provide humans with so many gifts — fun, companionship, and love. But some extraordinary animals go above and beyond the bond between humans and pets. In honor of Labor Day, here are a few of our favorite working animals:

Alyna, a rabbit who was born paralyzed, has brought inspiration to countless children at the ALYN Hospital in Jerusalem. Because her two hind legs are paralyzed, Alyna moves around with a special brace, custom fitted for a rabbit’s frame. Children who are also facing mobility challenges because of congenital obstacles, or trauma and injury, are helped along the rehab process by Alyna, who shows them the benefit of using a brace. Read more about Alyna at www.zootoo.com

The amazing canine lifeguards from the Italian Coast Guard rescue approximately 3,000 people each year along the country’s coastline. Trained for this specialty through a three-year program at the Italian School of Canine Lifeguards, these fearless dogs jump from helicopters in order to pull swimmers to safety through rough currents. Read more about these incredible canines at www.zootoo.com

have protected our nation’s armed forces since World War I. In the present day, these brave canines continue to act as a crucial part of military operations, from detecting explosives to protecting handlers. Once they are retired from service, the dogs go to loving forever homes, living with families chosen through a painstaking process. Read more about military service dogs and see photos of these canines in action at www.zootoo.com

All service animals deserve our recognition and praise, and we are proud to salute their incredible contributions to our lives. Do you know a working animal that you would like to recognize? Let us know your stories.

-Courtesy of Zoo Too News at http://www.zootoo.com/

Animal News Worth Writing About: Dog Helps Train Lion Cubs

The cubs at this Colorado animal sanctuary in Keenesberg are being brought along by a half-a-dozen dogs.

They love playing and every tussle with the dogs is a part of a learning process in order for them to survive in captivity, where the male lions would not allow them now.

"Just playing by themselves would be like having a child that was raised in a closet and never seeing the outside world. So, all these things make a big difference to these guys in getting them developed and getting them ready to go to the lion pride," sanctuary director Pat Craig told NBC's WCSH6.com.

See the video at http://content.usatoday.com/communities/pawprintpost/post/2010/08/dogs-help-train-lion-cubs-how-to-play/1

-USA Today

Notable Author, Barb Techel, Contributes to The Animal Anthology Project

Barb Techel, author of the bestselling children's book, "Frankie, the Walk n' Roll Dog" has contributed a fabulous piece to The Animal Anthology Project.

Barb Techel's book won the "National Best Book of 2008" from USA Book News, as well as other prestigious prizes. You can visit the blog for her daschund at http://www.frankiethewalknrolldog.blogspot.com/

Her book "tells the true, inspirational story about Frankie, a dachshund, whose life started out like any other dog walking on all four paws until a spinal injury leaves her paralyzed. Frankie is custom-fitted for a wheelchair and learns to keep on rolling. Her zest for life will have you cheering and she will give you hope that all things are possible. "

Thanks so much for your contribution to our anthology's cause, Barb!

Animal Anthology Project Ad in Poets & Writers

Check out our latest call for submissions in the prestigious "Poets & Writer's magazine".

"Call for Manuscripts: Anthologies
THE ANIMAL Anthologies Project is now accepting quality nonfiction and fiction reflecting the connection between humans and animals. Writing should be original and between 300 and 3,500 words. This is your chance to get published. E-mail submissions to animalanthologies@yahoo.com or visit our Web site at http://theanimalanthologyproject.yolasite.com. "


Check out the latest Sept/Oct issue today for the best in writing advice.

The Animal Anthology Project Has Writers From Around The World

With hundreds of writers from around the world, here are countries we have had visitors and writers from.

1. United States (of course)

2. Canada

3. United Kingdom

4. India

5. Philippines

6. Australia

7. Malaysia

8. Hong Kong

9. Japan

10. Ireland

We've also had visitors from Azerbaijan, Switzerland, Pakistan, Singapore, Vietnam, Israel, Ghana, Armenia, Belgium, France, and nearly 20 others.

We welcome writers and animal lovers from all countries to submit to us!

Thank you for the wonderful pieces you have sent in.

Steve Duno, Bestselling author of "The Last Dog" Agrees to Write for the Animal Anthology

Steve Duno, bestselling author of "The Last Dog On The Hill" has agreed to write a piece for The Animal Anthology Project.

In his book he tells about Lou, who was born of guard dogs on a secret marijuana farm in Mendicino County.

Lou truly was one dog in a million. On the winter day that the ailing, tick-infested feral pup was rescued by Steve Duno, neither dog nor man had a clue as to what they were getting into, or where the relationship would lead.

Last Dog on the Hill tells the story of an indigent young Rottweiler mix who, after abandoning his pack and the hills of his birth, went on to change the lives of hundreds of people and dogs, including the author’s, whose career as a behaviorist and writer was made possible through Lou’s extraordinary intelligence and heart. Lou won the respect of gang members, foiled an armed robbery, caught a rapist, fought coyotes and kidnappers, comforted elderly war veterans and Alzheimer patients in their final days, taught ASL to kids, learned scores of unique behaviors and tricks, amassed a vocabulary of nearly 200 words, helped rehabilitate hundreds of aggressive dogs and saved them from euthanasia. He was also a clown, consummate performer and Steve’s best friend for sixteen years. His story will make readers laugh and cry in equal measures.


Veteran pet behaviorist/​author Steve Duno has to date authored eighteen books and scores of magazine and web articles. He has covered a wide variety of subject matter on both dogs and cats, including basic training, aggression, environmental enrichment, behavior modification, breed profiling, trick training, and pet health care. His career in dog training began in 1989 when he rescued Lou, a feral six month-old Rottweiler/​shepherd. The offspring of guard dogs on a Mendocino marijuana grow, the sick and injured Lou was both smart and wild. In an effort to tame the intelligent pup, Duno inadvertently began his twenty year career as a behaviorist and trainer. Together, Duno and Lou helped to save hundreds of dogs from euthanasia. Formerly a teacher in New York City and Los Angeles, he currently lives in Seattle with his family and an ever-changing assortment of rescued pets.

To check out his website or order his book see http://www.steveduno.com/

We look forward to having Steve Duno on the team!

The Unlikely Friendship Between a Pooch and the World's Largest Rodent

Story originally published July 2010 on www.tonic.com

Smile File straight from the Amazon. Tonic checks in with Hear the World's Global Explorers Trip six days into their journey.

Think of the epic friendships of all time, Butch and Sundance, Thelma and Louise, Turner and Hooch and now add, Charlie and Pacho.

Pacho is a black shepherd mix dog and Charlie is one of the world’s largest rodents, the capybara of the Peruvian Amazon, which I encountered on Hear the World’s Global Explorer’s expedition.

They’re both rescues. Charlie was saved from a family who killed his mother for meat and then tried to keep the rodent as a pet until he got much too big for their two room hut. To be fair, Charlie was the size of a typical guinea pig when he was a baby. Now he weighs more than 70 lbs. He was moved into the Explornapo Lodge, an eco-tourism site on the Napo River, a tributary of the Amazon.

“We tried to release Charlie back into the wild but he kept coming back,” explains Explorama guide Cliver Rioja.

Pacho was similarly found in a village by an American volunteer affectionately called, Pachita, by the local river people. He was a 3-week-old puppy weighing only 2 lbs. She brought him to the lodge and the staff nursed him to health.

Now three years later, this unlikely pair is inseparable. During the days when the equatorial heat reaches around 100 degrees they dive into the Napo river together to cool off. Charlie, with his ineffectual rodent limbs can’t swim so he is relegated to the shallow end. If he goes out too far Pacho nudges him back to safety.

During meal times, the pair has a foolproof system whereby one of them guards the front of the kitchen and one guards the back, maximizing the potential for scraps which they divvy up with their very different snouts and share with each other.

Pacho vigilantly guards Charlie from a testy grey winged trumpeter (a bird that looks like a small ostrich) who wants to pick bugs off Charlie’s back with his beak. It hurts.

And at night when it is finally cool, they cuddle together beneath the stairs of the lodge's dining hall, bodies entwined, no clue they aren’t exactly the same.

Christine Sullivan Agrees to Contribute to The Animal Anthology Project

Christine Sullivan, bestselling author of the book "Saving Cinnamon: The Amazing True Story of a Missing Military Puppy and the Desperate Attempt to Bring Her Home" has agreed to write a piece for The Animal Anthology Project.

Her book, Saving Cinnamon, is set against the backdrop of the war in Afghanistan, and chronicles the love story of Navy Reservist Mark Feffer and a stray puppy he bonded with while stationed outside of Kandahar. When Mark is about to return stateside, he decides to adopt Cinnamon and sets up her transport back to the United States. But the unthinkable happens: Cinnamon is abandoned by the dog handler who was supposed to bring her home and disappears without a trace. Mark and his family start a desperate search for the puppy that lasts forty-four days and ends dramatically when Mark and Cinnamon are finally reunited. This is a touching memoir told by Mark's sister, Christine, who initiated the rescue efforts.

Christine Sullivan has worked in sales and technology for decades before finding her true passion in life—caring for animals in need. She initiated the search for Cinnamon and was instrumental in bringing her home to the U.S. She is the co-founder of New Hope For Animals and continues to work with Operation Baghdad Pups. She now lives in Vermont with her family and dogs.


We are very excited to have Christine Sullivan as part of the "Animal Anthology team". More information is to come.

No Beagles Left Behind

Rescuers leap at the chance to help 118 test-lab beagles find new homes.
It was on a warm Fourth of July weekend when a group of animal welfare rescue groups finally resolved to rescue the 118 lab-tested beagles confined in plexiglass crates in Madison, New Jersey.
The dogs had spent years confined in solitary boxes with hardly any humane contact, when they were finally rescued by St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center. They'd spent the past few weeks living trapped in a bankrupt research facility, with animal caretakers climbing the fences just to provide food and water for them. Immediately after being freed, animal rescue groups, including Best Friends Animal Society, flew in staff members to help manage the assessments and temporary housing for the beagles.
Its hard to imagine the amazement these floppy-eared dogs felt when suddenly they were whisked away from their previous, isolated life in a climate-controlled facillity into the blazing heat at their temporary rescue facility. Best Friends' Anna Gonce, knowing the heat would be alarming to the beagles, got a tent, generators, air-conditioning units and fans to make them feel more comfortable.
Adapting to temperature variation was only the first of many adjustments the animals had to make as they took baby steps into normal life. The first time they saw actual sunlight was a stunning moment to many of them, along with having to confront grass. Most of the dogs were nervous about stepping on the long, green, waving turf, having lived on hard man-made surfaces their whole lives.
However, being like most cheerful beagles, the canines soon began to become excited about the new possibilities after just a few days. Even in the earliest hours after arrival, "none was unapproachable," says Gonce. They just didn't seem to expect or understand affection from people.
Once the temporary rescue center was open to public the beagles became incredibly friendly."They would race up to the front and wag their tails and lick when you'd stick your finger in." Says Gonce. Not only that, at about 6 p.m. they all would bark in unison for a few seconds, because that was the time the lights would normally go out in the lab where they lived.
"The beagles weren't trained or leash-trained but they were all in quite good health." Gonce says, "Although many need to have a great deal of dental work done on them."
Whatever troubles may have been in their past, there has been enormous interest from people eager to provide homes. Already, nearly every last one has been adopted and sent to good homes. Now the only problems these beagles will face is learning how to walk the stairs, take dog biscuits, and enjoy a soft chair or bed.

National Zoo To Aid With Oil Spill Clean Up

The first of four veterinarians from the National Zoo has left for Louisiana to help clean, rehabilitate and release animals affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, NBC4 reports.

The veterinarians will rotate in and out of Houma, La., over the next eight weeks to help at an incident command center, where they will be working with the U.S. Coast Guard to help determine where to release the rehabilitated animals.

Here is a Post gallery of photos documenting efforts to help animals affected by the spill.

-Washington Post, Lori Aratani

A Reminder: Our call for submissions

The Animal Anthology Project

We owe most of our success to writers like you for the wonderful contributions of inspiration, hope, overcoming life's challenges and realized dreams related to animals. We welcome stories and poems from contributors of any age.

Email:animalanthologies@yahoo.com

Our goal is to create anthologies with quality non-fiction writing, fiction writing, and artwork from people across the country. Currently we are accepting writing for our three anthologies: Animal Fiction, Top 100 Animal Tales, and Teens & Animals.

The best writing and artwork will be selected and may get published in the anthology. Anyone is welcome to submit their story or artwork, whether they are an animal lover, professional, teenager, or student.
Thank You!

Our tentative deadline for our current anthologies is December 31, 2010

Community Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Animal-Anthology/105695512793635?v=desc

Animal Anthology Project is Recognized on Best Friends Network

NEWS

ANIMAL TAILS: THE ‘WRITE’ WAY TO HELP ANIMALS!

July 07, 2010, 7:56AM MT

By Jackie Cangro, Best Friends Volunteer Writer

Calling all writers! Calling all writers! Christine Catlin would like to publish your animal stories.

Christine is gathering stories from animal lovers far and wide to include them in an anthology, a collection of writings from many different authors. She’s hoping to receive enough material to fill three books! Each book will have a unifying theme: Animal Fiction, Top 100 Animal Tales, and Teens & Animals. And the best part is that proceeds raised from the sale of the books will benefit Best Friends!

“The opportunity to write about animals is limited. Especially for teens,” says Christine. As an animal lover herself, she knows how difficult it can be to find publications willing to accept her stories. And Christine has plenty of stories to tell. She’s raised butterflies and owned fish, cats and birds. She began The Anthology Project to encourage teens to write about their connections with animals. That’s why she is accepting submissions from writers regardless of age.

Christine has done a lot of legwork on the anthologies already, securing a literary agent, creating a website and contacting many well-known animal writers to request submissions. So far, notable authors Bob Tarte, Lois Duncan, Irene Pepperberg and Jacqueline Sheehan have agreed to contribute their stories.

Maybe you’ve written a fictional short story about a cat who saves the day or a personal essay about a service dog. Or maybe your talent lies on the artistic side. You’re not left out. Christine is also planning to include artwork in the anthology. Submit your writing or artwork through Christine’s website and you may get published in the anthology and help Best Friends animals to boot!

Right now Christine is accepting submissions until December 31st and plans to publish the books in 2011. So if you have a funny, uplifting or heartwarming animal story, send it to Christine. She’d love to read it, and maybe you’ll be seeing your words in print soon.

Visit her website at The Animal Anthology Project for more information or to submit your story.

-http://network.bestfriends.org/nextgen/teens/15649/news.aspx

Just do: Actress Rachelle Lefevre does her part for the animals

Globally recognized as Victoria from the best-selling Twilight phenomenon, actress Rachelle Lefevre is helping animals, both wild and domestic, in the United States and Canada. As the face of Puppies Aren’t Products, a campaign spearheaded by Best Friends Animal Society focused on battling puppy mills and irresponsible breeding, the Canadian-born beauty has her sights set on bringing an end to the plight of homeless pets.

How did you first become involved with animal rescue?
My mother is a psychologist, and when I was 15 years old she called me from her office and said one of her patients had shown up with a dog. [The woman] lived in an apartment where the people next door were cocaine users. They would leave their door open, and sometimes the dog would get into the cocaine and end up getting out of the apartment and wander around in a stupor. One day she found the dog in the middle of the street looking kind of dazed. She couldn’t stand it any more so she took the dog. She was on her way to see my mother and told my mom the story. My mom called me from her office, and asked, “Do you want this dog?” And we took her in.

I became active in rescue and adoption when I met my manager. She got me my first membership to Best Friends as a Christmas gift and made a donation in my name. The donation came with a magazine subscription, and I started reading it. It’s thanks to her that I’ve become interested in participating on a larger scale.

Can you explain the Puppies Aren’t Products Campaign? Why did you decide to become involved, and what is your role?
When I started reading about what Best Friends was doing at their sanctuary in Kanab, I was amazed by their larger goal: that there shouldn’t be any homeless pets.

The first step [of the Puppies Aren’t Products campaign] is to have a no-kill shelter to eliminate the existence of a shelter where they euthanize animals. The second step is shutting down puppy mills to stop the cruel over-breeding that brings new animals into the world when there are plenty who need homes. The third step is to encourage people to rescue or adopt when they look for a pet. If we were able to implement these three steps, we would live in a world where there were no homeless pets. It’s so simple of a concept.

Best Friends isn’t just responsible for the sanctuary. They have different organizational branches in different cities, and they are involved with every aspect of this goal. My part is raising awareness about what it means to adopt, what it can offer you, the lives that you can save, and also educating people about debunking the myth of adopting.

What myth is that?
There are a lot of them. There is a myth that there are dogs [in shelters] who are aggressive or who have some sort of a traumatic past that you’re going to rehabilitate in some capacity. There are also dogs who are not spayed or neutered. I’m also working on debunking the myth that the only dogs you can get in shelters are all sick. People should know that chances are your dog’s going to have a little something. If you put them all in a shelter together, dogs get things from each other. The truth is, you go to the vet for your first check-up anyway when you get a dog, and the vet gives you a little bit of penicillin. You give your dog the penicillin for a week or two, and they’re fine.

When we rescued my dog, Honey, they pointed out a couple of things on her skin and on her lips that they weren’t sure about, and they said, “We think this is this, but we don’t know exactly, and you’ll have to take her to the vet and get her checked out.” We didn’t know how sick she was going to be, but we had some idea that we were volunteering for anything. We had the luxury of knowing that we could afford treatment if she got sick. Not everybody can. Medical bills for dogs are expensive, and you want to ensure you’ve got a healthy dog. If you have the luxury of being able to afford to care for a dog who needs extra care, then go for it. It is unbelievably rewarding.

Do you currently have any dogs?
When Honey died, the best way we thought to honor her would be to rescue a couple more, so we went to a shelter in East L.A., and we got two amazing dogs. We have a Cocker Spaniel named Mama Bear and a Miniature Poodle/Jack Russell mix named Jack Sprat like the nursery rhyme.

Do you bring your pets with you on set?
When I was filming in Dallas, I brought Honey with me, and I had her on set, but I haven’t traveled with Jack or Mama Bear for a couple of reasons. Number one, my boyfriend, Jamie, happens to be in L.A. right now, so we don’t travel with them unless we have to. They have their routines, and they’re so happy at home. They hike every day. To take them to hotel living with just regular walks wouldn’t be as much fun for them. The other reason is Mama Bear is too heavy. She exceeds the weight limit [for riding in plane cabins], and I absolutely refuse to put her in the cargo hold. I would really encourage people, unless you’re moving overseas, unless it’s a one-time deal and you cannot avoid it—please, for the love of God—do not put your dog in the cargo hold. They are traumatized. The temperature down there is freezing, it’s terrifying for them, and it’s so unbelievably noisy.

When you’re not filming, what do you and your dogs do for fun?
Hike. They love to, and it’s great for them. L.A. is perfect because there are canyons and hikes and trails everywhere filled with other dogs. They are social as well, so I like to take them to dog parks. We do play dates, too. It’s like having kids. My favorite thing is family wrestle. Jamie and I get on the floor with the two of them, and we all just kind of throw each other around. It’s our playtime.

Do you have any vacation plans this summer that involve your dogs?
We were thinking about renting an RV and going to different parts of the U.S.—just doing some sort of a trip where we can take the dogs hiking and camping.

How do you see your role within the animal-welfare community growing?
When I signed on to be the [Best Friends] spokesperson, I knew that I would commit to talking about [Puppies Aren’t Products] as much as possible and always try to be as educated as possible. One of the things that I’m trying to do a little more, especially when I’m not working, is local outreach and being physically present at events and adoptions—trying to participate on a smaller scale as well as a large scale. It helps support the local chapters and local outreach.

I’ve really started to relish the chance to go to local events and get involved at a grassroots level. I love meeting people who are so committed and relentless in their efforts; who dedicate unbelievable amounts of their time. I really admire their tenacity. I’ve also been working with the Humane Society of the United Sates (HSUS) to try to stop the Canadian seal hunt.

What was it about the seal hunt that spoke to you?
The HSUS got my attention because I’m a Canadian, and so they approached me saying, “Did you know that this is going on in your country?” And I didn’t, and it’s the largest mammal slaughter in the world. They asked if I was interested in becoming involved and I told them I was. Now, I try to stay in touch with what’s going on and raise awareness that this is happening.

I’ve tried to be involved [with animal rescue] as much as I can just because I think it’s so important. I think the way we treat our animals is a sign of a healthy society. In many, many ways, we’re not doing so well. We need to get better.

Do you think it’s helpful to have a familiar face, a celebrity, to promote your causes?
Thanks to the Twilight franchise, I am definitely known as an actor a lot more than I was before, but it’s not like I’m some big, über-famous movie star. I’m not the most high-profile person around by a long shot, and so I hope that one of the things that shows is that you don’t need the celebrity to be able to get involved; you don’t need to have 200,000 Twitter followers to do something. You just have to do, famous or not. You just give your time. You give your five bucks. Whatever it is, just do. --Megan Bender

-www.TailsInc.com

Animal Lovers Contributing To Animal Anthologies: Keep Your Pets Safe In The Heat This Summer

Animal Welfare Project of Valley Forge is warning all pet owners and caretakers to be aware of the excessive weather expected all week.

1. Please make sure animals have access to cool shelter at all times plus unlimited cool clean water, and they are well protected from the sun, heat and humidity.
2. Do not travel with animals in vehicles; this risk becomes excessive due to lack of airflow below the window line where a pet sits.
3. Additionally, interior temperatures can rise within minutes and kill your pet, since vehicles can act like an oven.
4. Besides their extra hair being similar to humans wearing a heavy coat, most types of animals can be especially prone to heat stroke due to their inability to sweat all over their bodies.
5. Panting is a sign the animal is trying to cool themselves and might need additional assistance such as a fan blowing cool air.
6. Even if located under shade, dog houses can be especially deadly due to lack of air flow, even though the sun’s rays might not actually reach the animal.
7. Digging of holes often means they are trying to find a cooler place for their bodies and are not comfortable.
8. Caged and chained animals are especially at risk because they can’t leave the area to find a cooler place; keep your pets indoors instead.
9. Please watch out for and immediately cool any animal exhibiting distress. Heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency which can become fatal in minutes.

- Courtesy of PETA and berksmontnews.com

Prompt: Can your dog do amazing things? Tell Animal Anthologies your story!

Dogs can do amazing things. Some are trained to rescue, some can skateboard, and some, even, can scuba dive! Tell us your dog's story.

Here are three interesting articles on dogs that can do amazing things:

Scuba Dog:

If you know a Dachshund, you're well aware that this spunky breed is always up for a challenge. You also know that they look really cute in doggy clothes.

Boniface, a Dachshund decked out in a special scuba diving suit, is no exception.

His owner, Sergei Gorbunov, a professional diver in the Pacific Coast city of Vladivostok had a sweet scuba suit complete with helmet made for Boniface, who seemed happy and eager to swim way under the water's surface in a recent demonstration.

Even though there's a swimming orangutan and some skilled surf dogs out there, we're highly impressed with this little guy.

Skateboarding Dog:

Skateboard Dog, Tyson of Huntington Beach, is an incredible Bulldog that delights all who see him scooting and gliding along sidewalks near the beach. He's been on television and in movies, but he's best known and loved by those who see him skating most every day at Southern California beaches.

First raised as a pup by a snowboarder, Tyson was relocated to the beach and went crazy every time he saw skateboarders on an a cement bike and skate path at the beach. Barking and pulling with all his strength, his owners thought that he hated skateboards.

Amazingly, Tyson only wanted to get on the board and ride. He began riding at one year and became quite skilled. Tyson wants to ride every day and is unhappy when he misses a day, his owners say.

This English Bulldog has been skating most of his life and even appeared in a movie. Tyson’s website, www.skateboardingbulldog.com, documents his achievements and has a wealth of pictures and movies.

Surf Dog:

Surf Dog Ricochet does amazing work in California, where he recently hit the waves with Ian McFarland, a 6-year-old boy who suffered a brain injury in a car accident that claimed the lives of his parents.

Ricochet was a service dog reject — he was just too prone to chasing birds — who went on to become a “surf-ice” dog, raising money for charities through surfing demonstrations and assisting people with disabilities in other ways.

Most recently, he helped Ian, who used to surf with his dad, overcome his fears and get back in the ocean.

On top of the individuals he has helped, Ricochet's website says he has raised more than $30,000 in an 8-month period.

Animal Anthology Fiction Prompt: The Pet's Inheritance

It's only natural to plan ahead.

Some pet owners take that extra step to include their pets in their wills or ask friends or family to care for a dog or cat should disaster strike. But many quirky and wealthy pet owners have taken it to the next level and are arranging for their animals to continue to live in the lap of luxury. A few months ago, millionaire heiress Gail Posner made news when she left $3 million to her chiuhauhas, Conchita, Lucia and April Marie.

Their inheritance included diamond accessories and life in an $8 million Miami mansion (complete with a live-in caretaker who also inherited millions).

Conchita, Lucia and April Marie are in good company. Over the years, other pet lovers have made it a point to leave their riches to their animal companions. Here are a few of the stories:

$12 Million Maltese: Leona Helmsley, New York's infamous "Queen of Mean," amassed billions of dollars during her lifetime. When she died in 2007, she left $12 million to her Maltese, Trouble, while opting to completely cut several of her grandchildren out of her will.

$80 Million Chimp: Kalu the chimpanzee inherited what reports have claimed was anywhere between £40 million to £53 million in South Africa from her owner Patricia O'Neill. O'Neill had a soft spot for the chimp, who she rescued in Zaire in the 1980s. But Kalu often caused disturbances in O'Neill's marriage, since her husband Frank was not a fan. He reportedly dislike the chimp for smoking his cigarettes.

-Pawnation

Prompt: What if you were one of these animals that inherited millions of dollars? What if you wanted to be able to spend this money, as an animal, in style? Tell this story in first-person point of view.

California Animal Lovers-- Events For the July 4th Weekend

Whether you want to dance up a storm, pet a pig, help homeless pets while having a nice dinner or enjoy world music while mingling with zoo animals from around the world, the coming days and weeks are chock-full of ways to help animals while having a good time. Here's our list of upcoming events.

Saturday, July 3, party for a good cause during the Milkshake L.A. Independence Party at West Hollywood club 650 North, 650 N. La Cienega Blvd., from 10 p.m. to closing. The event raises money for Southern California organization spcaLA. Visitors can sign up online in advance of the event to be on its guest list; those on the guest list get in free before 10:30 p.m. Regular admission is $20.

Sunday, July 4, Acton-based farm animal sanctuary Animal Acres hosts its annual Fourth of July "Pignic," at which guests are invited to feast on vegan hot dogs and ice cream while getting to know the sanctuary's rescued residents. Activities include tours of the facility, opportunities to feed animals, field games, face-painting and more. Cost is $10; reservations aren't required. More information at AnimalAcres.org.

Sunday, July 4, don't forget to protect your pet while celebrating the Fourth of July. If you'll be away from home for the festivities, make sure your pet stays in a safe, quiet area; is not left unattended outdoors (even in a fenced yard); and is wearing a tag with your current contact information just in case he or she manages to make a run for it. Be sure to keep things like alcohol, matches, lighter fluid and citronella candles out of your pet's reach. More safety tips are available from the Humane Society of the United States and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.

- From the L.A. Times

Animal Anthologies Launches Title Contest

Animal Anthologies Project is launching a title contest for it's three anthologies. The three anthology subjects are Teens & Animals, Animal Fiction, and Top 100 Animal Stories. Think of a good, aesthetically-pleasing title and email your idea to us.

The winners of the title contest will get their dedication in the book (with their name), as well as their picture (if they would like).

Email animalanthologies@yahoo.com if you have a question, or would like to send in your title idea!

Author Bob Tarte Sends Animal Anthology Submission

Author Bob Tarte, who wrote the book "Enslaved by Ducks" has submitted a writing piece to Animal Anthologies. His work wonderful piece is about his hen, Lucky.

Make sure to keep your eye out for it along with our anthology this coming year.

Coming soon we will be having a title contest for our Animal Anthology. Make sure to send in any ideas you have to animalanthologies@yahoo.com. More information about the contest will be revealed soon!

Animal Anthology Project Is Interviewed by Best Friends Network

Yesterday, the Animal Anthology Project was interviewed by Jackie, of the Best Friends Network. The Best Friends Network is part of the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, which is one of the largest animal rescue organizations in the country. Best Friends Network will profit directly from the animal anthology, which will help animals in need.

The interview should appear on the Best Friends Network soon, so keep checking! Remember, by contributing your writing or artwork to the Animal Anthology, you are helping wonderful organizations like this!

http://www.bestfriends.org/

Animal Anthologies Would Love To Read Your Story (or see your art)!

Although we have had many submissions over the past week, we are still have not reached our goal number of writing or artwork submissions. The deadline is not until December 31st, but consider sending in your writing. There is no harm in trying, and we may publish your work! You may send it to the email animalanthologies@yahoo.com, or visit our website and send it through our submission form. Remember, we don't take your writing rights, you keep them.



Author, Bob Tarte, who has written many books, including "Enslaved By Ducks" and "Fowl Weather: How Thirty-Nine Animals and One Sock Monkey Took Over My Life" has also agreed to send us a writing piece. We look forward to having such an outstanding roster of writers in our anthology!

Thank you, every one.
Keep checking up on the blog and make sure to join as a follower.
If we get a few more followers we will start to post some of the writing submissions that we have received.

Lois Duncan contributes to The Animal Anthology Project

Author, Lois Duncan, who has written the books Hotel For Dogs, News For Dogs, and Movies For Dogs, has sent in a contribution to The Animal Anthology Project!

She sent a non-fiction piece in about her childhood (where she tried to start her own 'hotel for dogs'), and the resulting book and success.

Thank you contributors and authors! We look forward to reading more of your work.

Remember, our deadline is December 31, 2010. Check out our website http://theanimalanthologyproject.yolasite.com/.

Email submissions to animalanthologies@yahoo.com

Coming Soon: Animal Anthology on Kindle Blog!

For all you ebook readers we have good news! The Animal Anthology Project will soon be on the Amazon Kindle reader!

Look for it within the next 4 days and make sure to subscribe.

Thanks again for all your writing submissions! We've received some excellent ones!

Notable Author Jacqueline Sheehan Contributes to Animal Anthologies

Many notable authors have submitted writing contributions to The Animal Anthology Project.
Most recently author, Jacqueline Sheehan, has contributed a writing piece called "Trails of Faithless Riders" to our project.

Jacqueline Sheehan is the author of bestselling book, Lost and Found, which is "a poignant and unforgettable tale of love, loss, and moving on . . . with the help of one not-so-little dog."

Thank you authors, artists, and writers for contributing for your chance to help animal rescue organizations and get published in print in one of our anthologies, which will be available from all major bookstores.

The Animal Anthology Project Launches Google Ad

To help gather more writers for our project we have launched our ad campaign with Google Ads.

Not only that, we will also appear in the Classified Ads of the September/October edition of the magazine, Poets & Writers.

Remember, if you have acquaintances who are writers, make sure you tell them about The Animal Anthology Project.


We have had more submissions yesterday and we are expecting more. We will be excepting submissions until the end of December 2010.

Remember, if you have any questions, or would like to submit your writing or artwork, visit our website http://theanimalanthologyproject.yolasite.com/

You may also email animalanthologies@yahoo.com.



COMING SOON: We will post some of our favorite writing submissions and artwork we have received!

Blogs That Animal Anthologies is Following

Here are some of the animal and writing blogs we are following. Many of these bloggers have agreed to write for us.

http://lovethydog.com/ - Love Thy Dog

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/pets/index - Tails of the City

http://wonderruby.blogspot.com/ - The Many Adventures of Wonder Ruby

http://sprite.marklevinshow.com/?p=5215 - Mark Levin Pet Corner

http://blog.writersdigest.com/norules/ - There Are No Rules

http://writerunboxed.com/ - Writer's Unboxed


Please tell us if you have an animal or writing related blog you would like us to follow!

Lots of News from Animal Anthologies

We have gotten lots of exciting news!

Although we have had numerous authors who are too busy to participate in The Animal Anthology Project, we also have many famous authors who have also agreed to submit work!

We're going to let a few more author's respond until we share which authors have agreed to submit. Hang in there.

In the meantime, make sure to tell your friends and acquaintances about The Animal Anthology Project. Not only are you helping contribute to a massive cause, but you are also helping aspiring writers get published!

We have basic flyers which you can download and distribute around your area.
If you would like to help the cause and distribute them, please contact us at animalanthologies@yahoo.com and we will email the flyers to you. We'd love to hear from you!

Notable Authors Invited to Contribute to Anthology

It's been a busy day for Animal Anthologies. Not only have we been reviewing some of our many writing submissions, but we have also been inviting notable authors to contribute to the anthologies.

We are not sure who will and will not contribute, but so far here is our grand wish list.

Susannah Charleson (author of Scent of the Missing: Love and Partnership with a search-and-Rescue Dog)
Joe Camp (author of The Soul of a Horse: Life Lessons from the Herd)
Susan Richards (author of Chosen by a Horse)
Stacey O'Brien (author of Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl)
Mark R. Levin (author of Rescuing Sprite: A Dog Lover's Story of Joy and Anguish)
Irene M. Pepperberg (author of Alex and Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden world of Animal intelligence- and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process)
Gwen Cooper (author of Homer's Odyssey: a Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat)
Dean Koontz (author of A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog)
Ted Kerasote (author of Merle's Door)
Christine Sullivan (author of Saving Cinnamon)
Sy Montgomery (author of The Good Good Pig)
Bob Tarte (author of Enslaved By Ducks)
Carol Buckley (author of Tarra and Bella)
Jacqueline Sheehan (author of Lost and Found)
Marion Dane Bauer (author of Runt)
Merrill Markoe (author of Walking in Circles Before Lying Down)
Lois Duncan (author of Hotel For Dogs)
Paul Auster (author of Timbuktu)
Kate DiCamillo (author of The Tail of Desperaux)
Mark Bittner (author of The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill)
Susan Chaney (Editor of Dog Fancy magazine)
Marty Becker (famous American veterinarian)
Shreve Stockton (author of The Daily Coyote)
Betsy Rosenfield (blogger of Love Thy Dog)
Ann Van Dyk (founder of De Wildt Cheetah Center, South Africa)
Nancy Yi Fan (author of Swordbird)
John Grogan (author of Marley & Me)
Kathryn Lasky (author of Guardians of Ga'hoole)
Erin Hunter (author of Warrior series)
Cesar Milan (dog trainer with TV show, books, and magazine)
Vicki Myron (author of Dewey)
Garth Stein (author of The Art of Racing in The Rain)
David Dosa (author of Making Rounds With Oscar)
Temple Gradin (author of Animals in Translation)


Although we suspect many of these authors will not reply, we hope they will contribute to our cause.

Thank you, not-so-well-known writers, for a productive day.
We could not create our anthologies without you and your writing submissions.