Voices for Animals

Can you take ten seconds to vote in an L.A. Times poll for Billy? The L.A. Times wants to know whether the elephant Billy should remain at the L.A. Zoo, or go to a sanctuary. We want Billy to go to a sanctuary, and would appreciate if you could take a few seconds to visit this website and vote. Scroll to the bottom of the story. Where you see this question: / Do you agree with Jack Hanna that Billy the elephant should remain at the L.A. Zoo? Please vote No: / No—it’s inhumane to keep elephants in zoos and Billy should go to a sanctuary To learn more about Billy, click here to read an op/ed from the LA Times by Daphne Sheldrick. Thank you!

In the two weeks running up to Christmas I held a small exhibition of my paintings. Because of the expense of framing I ended up making my own mouldings from second-hand Oregon door frames. However I also spent a bit of time researching framing materials and was alarmed to find that much of the framing timber still used is ramin. / ‘Many consumer products sold in the U.S. are made from ramin, a wood that provides the habitat for the highly threatened orangutan. Rampant demand for ramin is decimating the orangutan’s habitat to such an extent that Asia’s largest primate could be extinct within the next twenty years.’ Please read rest of article here / I make the following appeal to my fellow RB artists… Please find out which timber your framer is using or what you are buying yourself before putting down your money. / Unfortunately ramin is widely sold in picture frames in Australia.

[taken from the ASPCA website] As responsible pet owners, we agree to care for our furry friends in sickness and in health. But as the economy softens and veterinary costs rise, how do we do what’s best for our pet? To help you navigate these troubled economic waters, Dr. Louise Murray, author of Vet Confidential and Director of Medicine at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital, and Dr. Stephen Zawistowski, ASPCA Executive Vice President and Science Advisor, offer the following tips to help you save money on your pet’s health care. Schedule Regular Check-Ups / Remember the saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?” Well, it applies to pets, too. Don’t skip your pet’s yearly exam. It’s much more expensive—and risky—to treat illnesses than to protect against them. Personalize Your Pet’s Vaccines / Hard times are not an excuse to skip your pet’s annual shots, but it does make sense to talk to your vet about personalizing your pet’s vaccine protocol. Some vaccines are optional, while others are essential in preventing serious diseases. Spay or Neuter Your Pet / Spaying or neutering your pet can save a lot of money by preventing serious health problems including uterine, ovarian and testicular cancer. Many local shelters provide resources for low-cost or no-cost spay/neuter surgeries. Visit our online database to find a low-cost program in your area. If you live in New York City, check out our mobile clinic. Brush Your Pet’s Teeth / Dental disease—such as tartar, gingivitis, loose or infected teeth—can lead to heart and kidney problems and expensive procedures. Start a daily dental routine to keep your pet’s teeth and gums healthy. Protect Your Pet from Parasites / Flea and tick infestations can cause a host of costly medical problems from minor skin irritations to life-threatening anemia. Stick with a topical flea and tick solution to keep the critters at bay. Toss the Cigarettes / Secondhand smoke is no joke for pets—it can cause asthma, bronchitis, lymphoma and oral, nasal and lung cancers. Quit now and you’ll save money on vet bills. At the very least, avoid smoking around your pet. See a Specialist / Pet parents can reduce costs by getting a pet’s condition diagnosed and treated by an expert as quickly as possible. Veterinary specialists are available for everything from skin disease to cancer, and will often work within your budget. Consider Pet Health Insurance / If the cost of an emergency vet visit or serious illness would be a financial strain, consider investing in pet health insurance, while your pet is healthy. Be sure to read the fine print, though—not all plans are created equal. Buy High-Quality Pet Food / A good quality pet food—formulated under the guidelines of the American Association of Feed Control Officials—is often more cost effective than a homemade diet. Avoid overfeeding your pet, which can lead to obesity and other health problems. Shop Smart / Whether he’s looking for pet food, medicine or grooming supplies, the smart shopper clips coupons and buys in bulk. It’s also a good idea to shop veterinary practices by comparing fees for preventative care.

We’ve been featured in the group Art 4 Charity! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!