40 Wild Dogs Burned Alive

The slaying of more than 40 wild dogs in the Loliondo Game Controlled Area, on the eastern border of Serengeti National Park, is currently under investigation by Ngorongoro district authorities.  According to reports, people living in the area are alleged to have carried out the killing in reaction to the loss of livestock to the animals. Villagers complained to journalists that 157 of their goats and four of their cows had fallen prey to wild dogs. The dogs were apparently burned alive in the caves in which they reside, near the villages of Kertalo and Orkiu, when the perpetrators lit fires in the caves and blocked the entrances with rocks, trapping the animals inside.

For more information, please visit the amazing organization "Friends of Serengeti", who have devoted their time and energy to preserving one of earths most amazing ecosystems!

Sincerely,
Nicole

Hillary Clinton Speaks Out On Wildlife Trafficking

     U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, recently spoke out about the threat from wildlife trafficking, describing it as a global issue requiring a concerted global response.

     “Wildlife trafficking has serious implications for the security and prosperity of people around the world,” she recently told a packed meeting at the U.S. Department of State. “We need to address wildlife trafficking with partnerships as robust as the criminal networks we seek to dismantle. We need governments, civil society, businesses, scientists and activists to educate people about wildlife trafficking.”

     The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has long been involved with the wildlife trafficking issues.  Following the Secretary of State’s address, Crawford Allan, North America Director for TRAFFIC - the wildlife trade monitoring network, a partner of IUCN - spoke of his work with TRAFFIC over the past 20 years tackling the global illegal trade in wildlife.  He spoke of the alarming recent rise in rhino and elephant poaching to record levels in Africa, mainly to meet demand for horn and ivory in Asia.

     “The unprecedented surge in wildlife crime reflects a fundamental shift in the structure and operation of the illegal wildlife trade over the past decade,” said Allan.  “Wildlife crime is seen as relatively ‘easy money’, providing high returns for relatively little risk, so it is little surprise organized criminal networks are becoming increasingly involved.” 

         Lek & Hillary

     “NGOs, such as TRAFFIC, WWF and WildAid can’t tackle such threats alone; we need governments to get involved.”  “In this regard, TRAFFIC warmly welcomes today’s strong commitment shown by Secretary of State Clinton, clearly placing the US Government at the forefront of global efforts to deal with the growing menace from organized wildlife crime.”

     Already standing by its commitments, the US Government also announced a major grant through USAID to support a Wildlife Trafficking Response, Assessment and Priority Setting (W-TRAPS) programme, an international, multi-stakeholder effort led by IUCN and TRAFFIC to inform, facilitate and support efforts to reduce transregional wildlife trafficking.  IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges

A huge thank you to Living Green Magazine for the article!  Please visit them here daily: CLICK HERE

xoxox

nicole

Volkswagen Finally Jumps On The Hybrid Bandwagon!

Volkswagen is finally in competition with so many other leading car companies when it comes to hybrid vehicles   Claiming to drive like a turbo and save like a hybrid, Volkswagen's first car in this class is very very sleek and has me checking out it's features!  My favourite part is the onscreen display of the hybrid system which will allow drivers to see exactly how your car is maximizing its energy usage, driving range and battery percentage.  With my 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid's lease coming to an end in 2014, I might have a few extra cars to test drive!  Fingers crossed the Volkswagen Beetle will be next in their Hybrid lineup!!

xoxoxox

Nicole

Love Has No Borders!

 Kathleen and I met just this week and became instant friends.  Through our connection and commitment to Toronto Cat Rescue, we began talking about our love for animals and how we would do anything to save them all!  She told me this incredible story that only happened last week so I asked her if she would like to share it with my dedicated followers.  Of course she was so excited to tell the tale of a cold, hungry and abandoned kitten that her husband came across at the beginning of November.  Enjoy!!!

       Last weekend while visiting Michigan for a football game my husband Steve noticed a small tabby cat hanging around his motel door. Never one to pass up a cat cuddle, he soon discovered that this cat was friendly and quite hungry so he shared what food he had with her (a muffin). Steve is a big-time animal lover, so much so that he often captures bugs (not animals but creatures nonetheless) that have gotten into our home and releases them outside.

       He was traveling with three other guys, all of whom needed to be back home by Sunday afternoon and so he had to leave her behind. There are strict rules against taking pets over the border and he would have had to get her vaccinated and be able to show the records to border patrol. It was Sunday; it just wasn’t going to happen.  As any animal lover can tell you it is not easy to forget an animal in need once you’ve looked into their eyes and Steve could not stop thinking of her when he got home.

       Once I heard the story I started looking up Michigan based cat rescues. I called the Red Roof Inn that the guys stayed at and was able to connect with an employee there that new of the cat and had been feeding her too.  Understandably all the rescues are at capacity but also cash-strapped. Mid-Michigan cat rescue agreed to go out and find this little girl if I would make a donation towards her rescue. Naturally I sent the money right away. That’s how Steve, whose birthday was just days earlier on Halloween, got a belated birthday present of a rescued cat…in another country!

How amazing is that story!?!?  I just love meeting new people and realizing that I am not the only one who goes above and beyond for our crazy little furr-babies.  Thank Kathleen and Steve for being so selfless and spreading the word about animal welfare!

xoxox

Nicole

Turtle Killers Caught and Awaiting Trial!

In August, two local construction workers killed an Olive Ridley sea turtle near the Parque Hawaii. The female turtle had arrived on shore to lay her eggs and the young men, frustrated that she did not lay her eggs, used a broken bottle to kill her and extract her eggs.

Together with furious local residents, ARCAS staff detained the men and called the police. The detainees are currently in jail awaiting trial. The 116 extracted eggs were buried in the Hawaii Hatchery and successfully hatched in late September.

*The Bloody Eggs*

Egg Ban In Guatemala!!

The National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) issued a ban on sea turtle egg collection between October 15, 2012 and October 15, 2017 of the species Leatherback (

Dermochelys coriacea), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Green (Chelonia mydas), Black (Chelonia mydas agassizzii), and Loggerhead (Caretta caretta). Stating that the exploitation of eggs of these species is a threat to their survival and that this has caused "a marked decrease in their populations," it announced it is taking "necessary and urgent" measures for their protection and conservation. The ban authorizes the collection of olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtle eggs during the same five years, but only if collectors give 20 percent of the eggs collected to a registered hatchery. ARCAS has been working with CONAP and the USAID/MAREA project to strengthen sea turtle conservation efforts in Guatemala. 

Do The Math People! It's Simple!

Make-It Yourself Cat Shelter!

            Winter time is fast approaching for many of us and while the cold weather can be frustrating for humans it can also be deadly for our wildlife and companion animals.  Throughout the summer months feral cats are able to scavenge for food and small wildlife such as mice and small birds, however, once the snow begins to fall and the temperatures plummet, like can be much more difficult for our four legged friends.  

            Why not consider putting one of these easy to make cat/small animal shelters in your backyard or alley.  It will provide a great resource for the cats to keep warm and stay out of the cold elements during Fall and Winter!  The animals will definitely thank you for it!  :D

xoxox
nicole

Moviegoers Help The Chimps!

Yet again, enthusiastic animal-loving conservationists showed up in high volumes for the first two weeks of Disney's Chimpanzee realize back in April.  Now that all the ticket sales have been counted, Disney and the Jane Goodall Institute have confirmed that close to 130,000 acres of prime habitat have been secured for the chimpanzees in Tchimpounga Nature Reserve in the Congo!!  


DisneyNature made the donation to JGI through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund and not only will the donation secure space for the critically endangered chimpanzees but it will also go towards educating over 60,000 children in the Congo in regards to primate importance and then extended to their parents and neighbours ultimately reaching half of the Congo's population!!! WOWOWOW

The program will also provide food and medicine for nearly all the chimp orphans at Tchimpounga Sanctuary for the next year!  This is just such incredible news not only for the Jane Goodall Institute and Chimpanzees but also for wildlife around the world.  

We have come to a critical point in our planets history and with the world economies collapsing one by one, it is great to see an amazing organization such as Disney step up and give back to the planet and the wildlife that is suffering because of humans. 


So far no word on next years DisneyNature film but I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will have something to do with turtles!!!  Goodness knows they need our help too!!!


DON'T FORGET TO PICK UP YOUR VERY OWN COPY OF "CHIMPANZEE" WHEN IT HITS STORES ON AUGUST 21st!! DISNEYNATURE WILL MAKE A DONATION TO THE JANE GOODALL INSTITUTE ON THAT DAY!


xoxoxox
N 

Bowl-A-Thon = Purrfect Success!

*Ready To Bowl!*

Toronto Cat Rescue’s 8th annual Bowl-a-thon was a great success! With the help of bowlers, pledgers and sponsors we raised $15,000 for the homesless cats and kittens of the Greater Toronto Area!

*Even the kids turned out for a purr-fect afternoon of fun!*

Over 140 bowlers came out for cats on Saturday May 26th. We would like to thank everyone involved as well as all of the TCR volunteers that gave up there time to help. Also, many thanks to Doug Hemmy who took photographs of the event. All of the photos can be seen

at www.SaveCatsFromTheGutter.com 

There were prizes for the top 12 highest pledge raisers with Nalini R. winning first place by raising $1,950!

*Volunteers and I helped hand out vegetarian & vegan pizza for all the participants!*

TCR want to thank everyone that donated prizes for the Bowl-a-thon including:

• Arbonne Independent Consultant Sarah Dineen.  www.arbonne.ca . sarahdineen@hotmail.com

• Rainbow Cinemas. www.rainbowcinemas.ca

• Lucky Strike Bowling. www.bowlluckystrike.com

• Corso Shoes

• Sue Namedof 

• Connie and Dieter Manero 

• Liz Cabral

• and Sue Gambacorta who handcrafts Swarovski Crystal jewellery with profits going to TCR. You can see her jewellery here:  

  http://torontocatrescue.ca/donate/ways-to-donate/

The 9th annual Toronto Cat Rescue Bowl-a-thon is scheduled for Saturday May 25th 2013 so keep bowling and start you pledges early this year!!

xoxox

Nicole