secondlina: (Default)
secondlina ([personal profile] secondlina) wrote2011-04-24 11:28 am
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A little minute for human decency...

 No drawing today, mostly because I can't think of something to draw to illustrate my anger.

As many of you know, I try to donate every year to a few causes. Lately, more and more, those causes have been linked to the LGBT community, and also, the rights of animals. These I things I truly want to see improve more then anything. And on days like today, one gets to see some pretty horrible news and it really just.... makes me feel vengeful.

First off, let's talk about Berger Blanc (french company name. When you translate it, it's "White Shepherd"). This is a private company that has a contract with the city of Montréal to collect lost animals. It's basically a pound, or a place like the SPA. Basically. Because it is one of the most horrible places for animals I have ever seen. Pets kept in dirty little cages, underfed, killed in an unprofessional matter in large groups. This is basically an animal concentration camp. A report on it was made by a local television show. It show live animals being thrown out to be burned with the dead, owners who cry because their animals were picked up and killed in less then 24 hours, kittens that moans and twitch as they die because the euthanasia was badly performed... There animal torture here, done in the name of profit. The business tried to defend their turf, as shown by a long letter on their website. Today, there was a manifestation in the center of town to encourage the mayor to resiliate the contract with Berger Blanc. I hope all this bad publicity works. 

The problem is of course made worse by the owner themselves. By poking around the internet, I found the message boards where people first tried to assemble to do something about Berger Blanc. A few of the complaints and stories were truly heartfelt and inspired. A few made me want to kick people in the face. Like this one guy that adopted a gorgeous Labrador Retriever. The dog cried at night which "prevented the family from sleeping", so they sent it to Berger Blanc, where it got killed quickly. The guy was whining that he "lost good money". WHAT? How about a puppy's life? Does that count? As my friend [livejournal.com profile] miss_maggiemay  (who's LJ as images of the manifestation) said, it's really a problem that is a part of Quebec society. People here see pets as toys that they can just put away when they don't want them anymore. She told me that most people keep their dogs for an average of two years. Dogs live 15 years. That's horrifying. 

I wish I could adopt a dog. I would be a good master. I would love it with all my heart. But I can't, because my allergies give me asthma attacks... 

Now, let's talk about Baltimore. On the internet, you can find a 3-minute video recorded within a Macdonalds in Baltimore shows two ethnic women kicking, beating and ripping the hair off a 22-year-old transgender woman victim. The video and a petition can be found here, though I discourage you to watch the video if you don't like violence, it's pretty brutal. This is clearly a hate crime. The poor woman is attacked, unfairly, from all sides. Employees are FILMING the incident, egging the attackers on, and commenting on how they can see boobs. The only person aiding the poor girl is a rather scared looking older woman. Who tries to get in between the attacker and the victim. The victim clings to her leg and the old lady get her face slapped repeatedly by a purse. Being incapable of stopping the enrage teen, she steps away, and the beating continues. I'm amazed by how cruel these people are.  

Today is Easter day, and even though i'm not religious, I do usually spend the day with my family. So whether today as a greater meaning for you, or if you just use is as a day to be with family, also use it as a day to reflect upon human kindness, and what you can do to make it more tangible. Because in some places, it almost feels like it's running out.

- Isa 

[identity profile] ichiban-victory.livejournal.com 2011-04-24 05:38 pm (UTC)(link)
As it so happens, what Jesus did before being resurrected put an end to the need for animal sacrifice, so one could reason he was the savior for animals as well.

Regardless, this is why I get so upset at any sign of animal abuse. I just cannot understand anyone seeing an animal as just a thing, not a fellow living, breathing, and feeling being. The entire time I was reading this, Ralph was purring by my side, so know there is still a lot of good out there in regard to animal wellbeing. There's just also a lot of ignorance... Does Canada have any sort of enforcement to protect animals? It's a pretty huge thing down here, so usually when any form of animal abuse is found, it's quickly shut down.

Easter is actually a really bad time for animals though, since a lot of people think it's the perfect excuse to get an adorable baby animal, be it for their kids, or what have you. But, when the cute baby grows up into a not so cute adult, the poor animal is often abandoned to fend for itself. It disgusts me... If a person does not intend to care for an animal for the rest of its natural life, they ought not get an animal at all!

..and sheesh, I guess it's no surprise people can be absolutely horrible to each other when they can't even treat animals well. What's even sadder, many people do not need an excuse (like hating gays) to hurt another. There was a news story earlier this week where two women got into a fight over a man, which ended in one getting in her car and running over the other. ..and it was all caught on video. It's just senseless!

We're in a really crazy society now where people prefer to stand back and watch, especially if they can record a video to post online, than to actually do something. It boggles my mind...

[identity profile] secondlina.livejournal.com 2011-04-26 02:09 pm (UTC)(link)
The animal protection laws seem pretty non-existent here... It always takes forever for someone to do something. I'm not sure why... Not to mention we have a whole bunch of other things (like those "can't have dogs in apartments" and "muzzle in parks" laws I told you about) that just makes people think that keeping a pet just isn't worth the trouble... it's a pretty horrible attitude.

Urgh, that video thing is pretty dumb. There was an article online about the guy being surprised that he got fired for filming it and posting it online. It's like dude. Realize what you are doing.

[identity profile] brendala.livejournal.com 2011-04-26 05:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Urgh, that video thing is pretty dumb. There was an article online about the guy being surprised that he got fired for filming it and posting it online. It's like dude. Realize what you are doing.

It's pretty sad and ironic that many of the young kids who grew up with the internet don't realize the consequences of putting stuff online.