Monday, November 22, 2010

Fate is near for NJ black bears

December 6th marks the beginning of a six-day killing of NJ black bears.  Efforts to postpone the hunt have so far ended in failure.  The Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection stated that the bear hunt is necessary and refused to cancel the hunt despite desperate attempts from animal rights organizations and NJ citizens.  This will be the first bear hunt in NJ since 2005.

The bear population has increased but that does not require the killing of black bears in New Jersey.  Many bear complaints are simply sightings.  The bears are usually frightened of people and aggressive behavior is rarely seen; they have never killed anyone in NJ.  The Commissioner claims that hunting them is necessary, but it's not.  It may be more cost effective, but why should the black bears pay for New Jersey's financial woes with their lives?

It's not the fault of the black bears, they are simply living out their lives and having families.  They live in the forests and are losing their homes due to constant development of land.  Their habitats are stripped away from them to make way for human structures and when they have no where else to go, their lives are taken from them too.

The excuses used to justify the hunt are just that - excuses.  Killing the black bears may reduce the population temporarily, but the reasons given to justify the extermination will continue regardless of the hunt.  Non-lethal measures can be taken to handle the issue so residents and black bears can co-exist in NJ but government officials are choosing a more simple way to temporarily deal with the issue without considering the welfare of the bears.

-Mark V.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Animal Rights

Animal cruelty is a matter in which I am very passionate. My wish is that people would stop purposely putting animals in harmful situations. There is just no reason for the torment and the torture. Cruelty toward animals should not exist; plus the punishments the criminals receive do not even fit the crimes. Cruelty comes in many varieties: the selling of fur (cats, dogs, rabbits, etc... animals are stuffed and piled into crates and then skinned alive,) fighting of dogs, killing of wildlife, slaughtering of horses, clubbing of seals, testing on animals, and the torture and neglect of family pets, just to name a few.


Another form of cruelty is the killing of animals for human consumption. I have been a vegetarian for the past 18 years. I cannot make people stop eating meat, but the inhumane and cruel ways the animals are killed should stop.


More examples of cruelty: McDonald’s scolds its chickens alive. Ringling Bros. Circus beats its animals. Pigs receive no pain relief when they have their teeth removed with wire cutters. Chickens have their sensitive beaks cut off without painkillers. (Research has proved that chickens are smarter than dogs, cats, and even some primates.) Veal calves are confined to crates so small they can’t even turn around. Many companies test their products on animals; more companies need to work toward cruelty-free methods.


A big problem is over population. Between five and ten million stray cats and dogs live on the streets in America, and people are still allowing their dogs and cats to have more litters. It comes down to responsibility. The average lifespan of a stray animal is less than two years. That is an unnecessary, short, and brutal existence. To quote Bob Barker, “Help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered.”


Animals depend on us for many things, and we as human beings are obligated to protect them and take care of them. When we stop the suffering and the killing of our animals, we can restore the humanity!


*Melissa Norbeck

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Introduction

Welcome to the Gloucester County College Animal Advocates club blog. This blog has been created for anyone who wishes to participate in an open, unbiased forum in which all subjects related to the ethical and unethical treatment of animals may be discussed freely. 


Animal Advocates' Mission

The mission of Animal Advocates, in short, is to raise awareness about animal cruelty, promote animal kindness, and show there are alternatives to the cruel methods being used.

Some short and long term goals/ideas:
  • Raise money and donations for various 
  • animal charities and shelters
  • Modify animal cruelty laws
  • Protest
  • Sign petitions
  • Make animals' lives better any way we can
  • Raise awareness
  • Volunteer at local animal shelters
  • Make friends and collaborate with like minded people
  • Always looking for ideas…

   Current Club Officers