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Celebrate Mother’s Day…with tons of cute animal pictures!

Sunday, May 12th, 2013

Check out our collection of cute Cow Ribbon e-cards to send to the mothers in your life!

And a very, very happy Mother’s Day to all moms, whether they be…

...turkeys... (Photo: United Poultry Concerns)

...cows...

...chickens... (Photo: Dave Wilson Photography via Flickr)

...pigs...

...pigeons... (Photo: dhruti via Merinews)

(It’s a cuteness blitz and I can’t stop!)

...sheep... (Photo: Jim Kirkpatrick via Flickr)

...gulls... (Photo: Aiden Blake, Millionflame.com)

(As with pigeons, both parents take care of their babies, so this might actually be the father.)

...goats... (Photo: Farm Sanctuary)

...fish... (Photo: J. Buckley)

(Contrary to popular belief, some fish, like the Discus fish above, do stick around to protect and teach their young.)

...alligators... (Photo: John Moran Photography)

...polar bears... (Photo: National Geographic)

...hawks... (Photo: Ugo Trocolli via Flickr)

(The above photo is of Big Red, a wild Red-tailed Hawk, and her three chicks. You can watch her and her mate, Ezra, raising their babies–live!–at Cornell Birdcams. Better than any zoo!)

...dolphins... (Photo: Chris Veese)

...albatrosses... (Photo: Steve Bloom)

There’s still time to get a cow ribbon of your own for a donation of $5 or more. Spark a conversation about the cruelty of the dairy industry and help protect mother cows and their babies.

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Tags: campaigns, chickens, chicks, children, Cow Ribbon, cows, fish, goats, holidays, Mother's Day, pigeons, pigs, sheep, turkeys, whales and dolphins, wild birds

Cow Ribbon Campaign: Dylan’s Story

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013

As we approach Mother’s Day (May 12th), it’s time to spread the word about compassion for all mothers with our Cow Ribbon Campaign. This is part five in a series of stories about mother cows and their babies. Have you gotten your cow ribbon yet?

But first, why wear a cow ribbon? What do dairy cows have to do with Mother’s Day?

Sweet Dylan lives at Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary in New York now, but he was born on a dairy farm in 2005. When he was discovered, he was tied to a post and lying in his own feces, a day away from being sent to auction as a veal calf. This is the fate of most male calves born into the dairy industry, but Dylan was lucky: two caring people, concerned about the mistreatment of the newborn calves at the farm, talked the farmer into giving him up.

Dylan is just one of the countless male calves considered a nearly worthless byproduct in the dairy industry. (Photo: Derek Goodwin)

Dylan arrived at Woodstock just one week old, and though he was frightened at first, he very quickly became a fearless troublemaker, even following his caregivers into the house!

One year and 800 pounds later, Dylan enjoys a birthday cake made of fruit, bread, and carrots. (Photo: Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary)

This Mother’s Day, speak out for Dylan and all of the calves who never get a first birthday! You can get a cow ribbon of your own for a $5 donation. As we learned last year from Our Henhouse’s Jasmin Singer, it can spark some really great conversations!

Want to spread the word online? Check out these adorable e-cards and icons that you can use on Facebook or Twitter!

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Tags: campaigns, Cow Ribbon, cows, dairy, holidays, Mother's Day, Mother's Day Stories, sanctuaries

Help fund the pro-veg transit ad campaign!

Monday, May 6th, 2013

We have some very exciting news! In one week, Liberation BC will be partnering with Mercy For Animals Canada to mount an ad campaign on the Vancouver Skytrain which promotes vegetarianism and veganism!

The “Why love one but eat the other?” ad series took Toronto by storm in 2011. Millions of people saw these ads firsthand in the subways, they were shared in the media across the country, and the video about the campaign was watched over 66,000 times on YouTube.

Many people reported going vegetarian and vegan because of these ads. That’s how important and effective they are!

Now these ads will run on the Vancouver Skytrain for the month of May as part of a cross-Canada transit ad campaign that will also include Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax.

Here’s a look at the three ads that will be running in the Skytrain as poster-sized ads:

(Just click on them to see a larger version.)

Right now, Mercy For Animals Canada needs to raise just $5,000 more to run this comprehensive ad campaign in Vancouver. If you’d like to help bring the “Why love one but eat the other?” message into the hearts of Vancouverites, please donate now. (Choose: “Why Love One?’ Transit Ad Campaign 2013 from the drop-down menu below the donation amount.)

Oh, and if you’re on Facebook, you can join the event pages for this campaign in English or in French.

Please be sure to spread the word and keep your eye out for the ads starting on the Skytrain May 13th!

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Tags: chickens, cows, factory farming, fundraising, local, Mercy for Animals, pigs, vegan, vegetarian

Cow Ribbon Campaign: the story of Alexander, Blitzen, and Lawrence

Wednesday, April 24th, 2013

As we approach Mother’s Day (May 12th), it’s time to spread the word about compassion for all mothers with our Cow Ribbon Campaign. This is part three in a series of stories about mother cows and their babies. Have you gotten your cow ribbon yet?

But first, why wear a cow ribbon? What do dairy cows have to do with Mother’s Day?

Alexander, Blitzen, and Lawrence were discovered at an auction for dairy calves by Susie Coston, National Shelter Director for Farm Sanctuary:

The newborns, some not even a day old yet, were visibly frenzied and could be heard bawling for their mothers…their terror was only met with frustration from the workers who forcefully unloaded and moved them into holding pens by hitting them with canes or shocking them with cattle prods.

The scene turned even grislier when she came across the poor babies who were obviously very ill. She found one – a little calf who couldn’t even stand – collapsed and left freezing in the less than 20 degree weather near a loading dock. The other two she would rescue that day were shoved into the auction ring when the sale began. One was so sick and weak that his legs kept buckling beneath him as workers prodded him to get him on his feet. The other, weighing only 37 pounds, was so small that the bidders made a joke of him – calling him “trash.” Treated with the same indifference as all the others, these little ones were only mocked in their distress and ultimately deemed as being worthless when they failed to sell for even $1.

All three calves needed intensive care for renal failure, pneumonia, cysts, and a host of other conditions brought on by neglect and a lack of basic medical treatment as well as the fact that they were denied their mothers’ colostrum. But now they will be taken care of for the rest of their lives. Most are not so lucky.

Speak out for Alexander, Blitzen, Lawrence, and all the millions of nameless calves this Mother’s Day! You can get a cow ribbon of your own for a $5 donation. As we learned last year from Our Henhouse’s Jasmin Singer, it can spark some really great conversations!

Want to spread the word online? Check out these adorable e-cards and icons that you can use on Facebook or Twitter!

Next up: the story of Freedom, Summer, and Sadie.

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Tags: campaigns, Cow Ribbon, cows, dairy, Farm Sanctuary, Mother's Day, Mother's Day Stories, sanctuaries

Cow Ribbon Campaign: Maybelle’s Story

Saturday, April 13th, 2013

As we approach Mother’s Day (May 12th), it’s time to spread the word about compassion for all mothers with our Cow Ribbon Campaign. This is part two in a series of stories about mother cows and their babies. Have you gotten your cow ribbon yet?

But first, why wear a cow ribbon? What do dairy cows have to do with Mother’s Day?

Maybelle lives at Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary in New York now, but her origin story is a bit unique as compared to most dairy cows. She was born on a large-scale farm in Pennsylvania in 2005. When she was three years old, however, she was transferred to a New York historical site where people dress in period costumes and do demonstrations for the public to give some impression of life in 18th century America. One such demonstration involved Maybelle, who was displayed for their milking exhibit. Of course, she needed to give birth in order to produce milk, and as a result she was impregnated four times in the four years that she lived there. One calf was born prematurely and died, and the other three were taken from her and sold. Pretty standard stuff for dairy production, even in circumstances such as these.

When the staff at the historical site decided to end the milking demonstrations, they fortunately contacted Woodstock, who gladly accepted her.

Maybelle (left) and Kayli (Photo: Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary)

One of Maybelle’s lost babies was sold to a petting zoo, and Woodstock has been attempting to reunite the two…but so far, the petting zoo has refused to give him up.

Speak out for Maybelle and her lost babies this Mother’s Day! You can get a cow ribbon of your own for a $5 donation. As we learned last year from Our Henhouse’s Jasmin Singer, it can spark some really great conversations!

Want to spread the word online? Check out these adorable e-cards and icons that you can use on Facebook or Twitter!

Next up: the story of Alexander, Blitzen, and Lawrence.

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Tags: campaigns, Cow Ribbon, cows, dairy, holidays, Mother's Day, Mother's Day Stories, sanctuaries

Cow Ribbon Campaign: Jasper and Poncho’s Story

Saturday, April 6th, 2013

As we approach Mother’s Day (it’s on May 12th!), it’s time to spread the word about compassion for all mothers with our Cow Ribbon Campaign. This is part one in a series of stories about mother cows and their babies. Have you gotten your cow ribbon yet?

But first, why wear a cow ribbon? What do dairy cows have to do with Mother’s Day?

Like humans, cows must have babies in order to produce milk. In the dairy industry, they are kept in a state of almost constant pregnancy, and the calves that are born are taken from their mothers within hours. Females are usually kept to replace their mothers, and males are considered a byproduct. They are sold for veal or simply thrown away. (The veal industry was developed as a way to use these “extra” calves. Learn more here.) Two months after their calves are born, the cows are re-impregnated via artificial insemination and the cycle begins again.

Most dairy cows live and die in anonymity, as do their babies. Once in a while, though, a lucky cow or calf escapes the industry. We’ve decided to share a few of their stories.

Our first featured story is that of Poncho and Jasper, who live at VINE Sanctuary in Vermont. Poncho and Jasper were found with four other “useless” dairy calves, tied to a tractor and left to die. They were rescued by Farm Sanctuary, who provided them with the immediate medical attention they desperately needed. Jasper was particularly sick and required several days of stay in an intensive care unit for medication, fluids, and a blood transfusion.

Poncho and Jasper as calves. (Photo: VINE Sanctuary)

After their recovery, Jasper and Poncho were transferred to VINE. (The other three calves, named Blake, Phoebus, and Sixer, stayed at Farm Sanctuary. Read their story here.) Now, anybody who has known a dog or a cat is well aware that each individual animal has a personality (for lack of a better word) of their own. But the same rule applies for other animals, too, including those that are more typically considered a food source rather than a companion. Here’s what caregiver Cheryl Wiley has to say about Jasper and Poncho…

“Poncho loves the world and never passes up an opportunity for attention—even from the vet! Irrepressibly curious, Poncho looks for chances to explore new things, often demonstrating just how ‘helpful’ he can be with projects. He is also perhaps the most athletic cow we have ever seen. He can jump a four-foot fence from a standstill and will take the most difficult path around any obstacle, always arriving safely on the other side.

“Jasper is sweet and shy. He tends to be reserved with strangers but loves treats and never forgets those who have brought him a carrot or (even better) an apple. He can spot a vet in a heartbeat, though, and keeps his distance despite bribes! Jasper loves to play in the chickens’ water dish and is fascinated when it slides across the ice. Jasper loves to have his head and ears rubbed and makes it clear that he does not want the scratching to stop.”

Simply because humans like to drink the milk of mother cows, these two calves–now “big, gawky yet graceful, good-looking cows”–were abandoned and left to die. According to VINE, their personalities have not changed as they’ve grown: Poncho remains more outgoing and high-spirited; Jasper, who required such intensive care after his rescue, remains “the quiet thinker”. We’ll never know who their mothers were, but it’s more likely than not that they are no longer alive: the stresses of life as a dairy cow mean that they are “spent” at a young age, at which point they are usually turned into cheap meat like ground beef or dog food.

Poncho and Jasper today. (Photo: VINE Sanctuary)

Speak out for Poncho and Jasper and their mothers this Mother’s Day! You can get a cow ribbon of your own for a $5 donation. As we learned last year from Our Henhouse’s Jasmin Singer, it can spark some really great conversations!

Want to spread the word online? Check out these adorable e-cards and icons that you can use on Facebook or Twitter!

Next up: the story of Maybelle.

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Tags: campaigns, cows, dairy, Farm Sanctuary, holidays, Mother's Day, Mother's Day Stories, sanctuaries

Sexual Politics of Meat, pt. 3

Friday, February 1st, 2013

This is part 3 of my Sexual Politics of Meat series, inspired by the work of Carol J. Adams and others. Previously I covered pigs, chickens, and turkeys. Now it’s time for the cows. Though meat in general is considered masculine, there is certainly no meat more manly than beef. (As usual, click through for the source.)

BEEF! BEEF! BEEF!

Which is why you see ads like the one above, which might seem kind of quaintly hilarious but despite being 70 years old are still a good reflection of what beef stands for today. It’s also a big part of why there exists the insulting and homophobic idea that male vegetarians and vegans are somehow less “manly” than men who choose to eat meat. (See the “Tofu is Gay Meat” ad here.)

"My hero!"

The idea that beef is inherently male might also be the reason that there seem to be fewer ads for it that actually feature women as cows when compared to those for chicken, for example. I’m honestly not sure. That doesn’t mean there aren’t any examples, though.

Pictures after the jump. (Warning: at least one is pretty gross.)

From the cover of "The Sexual Politics of Meat".

This ad for Martini Bitter declares that it "makes food that easy." There are also versions with a sheep and a pig.

"Fill your desire for something long, juicy and flame-grilled with the NEW BK SUPER SEVEN INCHER."

This McDonald's ad from China says, "Enticing beef makes you more seductive."

Don’t worry, fellas, there’s a gender-stereotyped version for you as well:

"Strong beef makes you stronger."

See? Women are sexy, men are strong. All thanks to beef!

BEEF! BEEF! BEEF!

Next up, fish and other sea-dwellers.

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Tags: books, Carol J. Adams, cows, feminism, homophobia, intersectionality, sexism, Sexual Politics of Meat

Farm Sanctuary: Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Tuesday, September 25th, 2012

Our 6th annual Walk for Farm Animals to benefit Farm Sanctuary is on September 29th–less than a week!–so I thought I would share a story about my visit to their northern California shelter in Orland.

A year and a half ago, over spring break, my friend Sigrid and I decided to take a road trip to Farm Sanctuary. I was so excited to go that I didn’t really do much planning. We just jumped in the car and kind of made things up as we went along. The weather did not cooperate with us for the majority of the trip and as we traveled down the Oregon coast and into California, there were times when the rain came down so hard that I swore I would never complain about the rain in Vancouver again! We were even forced to buy chains for my car in order to get over the pass from Oregon into the town of Weed, California.

The weather hadn’t dampened our excitement, however, and we continued on a few miles past Orland to the beautiful college town of Chico where we settled in and prepared for our visit to the sanctuary!

When we went to the website, however, we discovered that there were no tours until the following weekend and we weren’t going to be there that long! Hmmm, I guess a little planning might have been helpful…so I phoned and when I told the woman that we had driven all the way from Vancouver she said that of course we could come and visit the sanctuary; we just wouldn’t be able to go beyond the fences when visiting the animals. That was fine with us–we were just glad we hadn’t driven the whole way for nothing!!

We woke up the next morning to the worst rain we had seen so far. Our Vancouver rain gear wasn’t going to do it so we stopped at an army surplus store in Orland and got geared up. We could barely see the road through the rain and the windshield wipers as we drove down the highway towards our destination, but we could make out that the surrounding rolling hills were beautiful. And then, all of a sudden, the rain stopped. A huge rainbow appeared in the distance. And there is was: the entrance to Farm Sanctuary, understated and unassuming. If you didn’t know what it was, you could easily drive right by and miss it.

We went into the office where we were warmly greeted and given a wonderful surprise. A group of students from Berkeley were coming down for a tour and we were welcome to join it. That meant that we would be able to hear the animals’ stories and get up close and personal with them!! We couldn’t believe our luck – between the weather and the tour, clearly our visit was meant to be!

The tour was awesome! While I had met “farm animals” before in my life, meeting these animals was different. I felt truly honoured – like meeting someone famous. These were the animals who represented everything I believe in. It was a profound experience.

We stayed all day and took it all in, meeting goats, sheep, ducks, turkeys, chickens, pigs, and calves. The last resident we met was Hank. Hank had lived at Farm Sanctuary since he was a tiny calf. He was taken from his mother, a dairy cow, shortly after birth, and was taken to auction. Being the male offspring of a dairy cow meant that Hank was pretty much worthless, and no one bought him. (Male calves born to the dairy industry are generally raised as veal, sold for pennies at auction, or simply thrown away.) Most likely he would have been left for dead had a kind individual not decided to rescue him and bring him to Farm Sanctuary. When I met Hank he was 13 years old and suffering from arthritis, so he lived another elderly bull as well as some goats and sheep. I was thrilled that he posed for a photo with me! Just a couple of weeks ago I learned that Hank had recently passed away. I was sad to hear it but consoled myself with the hope that Hank’s poor mother knows that he lived most of his life in peace with people who loved and respected him.

So there it was, somewhere over the rainbow, Farm Sanctuary, more beautiful than I ever could have imagined. I’m proud to be walking this Sunday for such a great cause and I’ll have a special place in my heart for all the little Hanks out there, believing that soon all of them will be able to live out their lives in peace.

Hank and me at Farm Sanctuary, March 2010

Liberation BC is proud to support Farm Sanctuary by participating in the annual Walk for Farm Animals. Won’t you join us?

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Tags: cows, dairy, Farm Sanctuary, fun, sanctuaries, Walk for Farm Animals

Walk for Farm Animals: the Cattaraugus 60

Wednesday, August 29th, 2012

Since Liberation BC’s 6th annual Walk for Farm Animals to benefit Farm Sanctuary is coming up on September 29th, it’s time to get to know just a few of the some of the approximately 900 animals who live at Farm Sanctuary’s three shelters. (It’s also time to register and get started fundraising!)

This is part of a series of farm animal stories on our blog.

This year, Farm Sanctuary learned about a case of horrifying abuse and neglect on a farm in Cattaraugus County, New York:

The “farm” was cluttered with rubbish and abandoned equipment. The smell of death and decay was palpable. A barn crammed with old tools, tires, and trash of all sorts housed emaciated sheep and many newly born lambs. The barn was sectioned off into makeshift stalls with pallets and scrap metal tied together with ropes, halters, and chains. The animals had no access to food or water. Chickens lined the stalls in the darkness, and a room off to the left held a recently deceased sheep — no doubt the mother of one of the tiny lambs. The stench in this room was overpowering. (more)

In total, there were thirty or so sheep, twenty chickens, one goat, and seven cows, including a nursing mother and her calf. All of the animals were severely emaciated, ridden with lice and parasites, and suffering from mange. Some sheep had hoof rot so severe that they were in danger of losing their hooves entirely; one, a mother of two tiny lambs, already had.

The Farm Sanctuary Rescue Team brought all of the animals back to their New York shelter for the intensive medical treatment they required. (Lila, the goat, was so severely ill that she was rushed to the Cornell University Hospital for Animals, where she received a blood transfusion and IV fluids.) The sheep were of particular concern and required extra care to determine whether the mothers were even able to provide enough milk for their lambs.

rescued sheep, shorn clean and eating grass

The sheep, shorn clean and finally eating shortly after rescue. (Photo: Lauren Shute)

All twenty chickens will stay at the shelter; meanwhile, Farm Sanctuary collaborated with Woodstock Animal Sanctuary and Catskills Farm Animal Sanctuary to find homes for some of the sheep and lambs. Additionally, three of the cows will be going to VINE Sanctuary in Vermont.

In June, it was discovered that despite their extreme emaciation, two of the cows, Belinda and Oleander, were actually pregnant. (Unlike most cows raised as beef or for milk, these mothers will actually be able to keep their babies.) And on the 20th, Belinda gave birth to a healthy son!

Liberation BC is proud to support Farm Sanctuary by participating in the annual Walk for Farm Animals. Won’t you join us?

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Tags: animal abuse, chickens, cows, Farm Sanctuary, sanctuaries, sheep, Walk for Farm Animals, Walk for Farm Animals stories

Successful Demo for Mother’s Day!

Sunday, May 13th, 2012

Liberation BC launched a cow-led search party on Wednesday May 9th to find calves that are stolen by the millions each year from mother cows by the Canadian dairy industry. We gathered to promote our Cow Ribbon Campaign, which raises awareness about the suffering of mother cows and encourages the public to choose dairy alternatives.

Has anyone seen my calf?

A grieving mother cow with tears in her eyes and a hankie held up a sign with the details on her missing calf and led the public vigil. Many people wanted to take pictures with our cow volunteer!

Our super-sized milk carton also got a lot of attention.

The enthusiastic group of volunteers handed out approximately 400 pamphlets over lunch and talked to the public at the City Centre Skytrain Station at Georgia and Granville Streets.

Milk comes from a grieving mother.

Our message that Mother’s Day is for mothers of all species, not just humans, was positively received by many people. A number of people I spoke with told me they didn’t eat dairy, and there were even a few vegans who came to say hello.

We even received coverage of the event in the Georgia Straight!

To honour these grieving bovine mothers, we are encouraging supporters to wear a cow ribbon. For more information, visit CowRibbon.com.

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Tags: Cow Ribbon, cows, dairy, events, Georgia Straight, leafleting, local, Mother's Day