Video!

So Facebook removed my movie I made. So here it is. I hope you all enjoy :)

Music Video - Nahko Bear (Medicine for the People), Aloha Ke Akua

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsgP8LkEopM&sns=fb

I wanted to share this video because I think it expresses human interaction with the world. It definitely has a spiritualness about it, but that aside, I think there is something that anyone could take from this song/video. I do feel though that some of the animals in this video must be trained, if they really are next to these women. I can't tell for sure. I just think that it may be a little contradictory of the message, but it may coincide with how zoos can also give a great message with the animals they hold in captivity? It's lengthy but I think it's worth watching! Share any opinions/comments if you do!

Animal Care Center video

This is a quick, and vaguely graphic, video of an otter undergoing surgery in the all windows Busch Gardens animal care center. I think it's an interesting video because it's professionally done, with interviews with the vet and everything.

I vaguely spoke in class about how the viewing area was a way of proving to guests that Busch can be trusted, but this procedure was not only watched through glass windows, it was also recorded for all to see again and again. I think it will be interesting to see if this total access style of viewing works out for them or not. I think it could add a lot of pressure for vets and if something does go wrong in a procedure they are running the risk of allowing a group of guests watch an animal die at Busch's hands. It's very interesting! Here's the video!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z-fjEqHKbM

Also be sure to check out that they show the surgery from behind the guests, so you can see how close they are/ what they can see as well.

-Cassi

The definition of cute.

San Diego Zoo info!!

Hey guys!

Just thought I'd post some info here on some of the events/goings-on at San Diego Zoo for tomorrow.

There is a Discovery tour for $45. I believe Lauren said we could get some tour prices reimbursed for up to $30? So you might be able to put it towards that. The tour covers 70% of the zoo and I think its 60 minutes long.

Then there is an alternative which I believe is free. it called the Guided Bus tour. You might need your entrance tickets to get on it though. It also covers 70% of the zoo but it is only 35 minutes.

There are some keeper talks as well.
- Maned wolves @ 1:00pm
- Pangolin @ 1:30
- Lion OR Jaguar @ 2:30


And finally there is a Sea Lion show at 1:00pm.

These are just a few things I found. I'm sure my fellow SD Zoo researchers found things as well, and I'm also sure the park map has all this info when we get there. But no you can think ahead!

Lauren and Sloths

Does this remind anyone of Lauren? Maybe not as manic but still. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5jw3T3Jy70

Safari Park Research!

Hi all!

Here is the information my group found on the Safari park! There is a 10:30 AM bird show that we weren't particularly interested in, but could be fun for bird lovers. We would have to head right towards the show after we got to the park though, so it could be a fun day- opener.

There is an are called the "Lemur walk" that is included in our park ticket and is something we definitely wanted to do and thought would be fun for the whole group.

There are many extra safari options http://sdzsafaripark.org/safaritickets/view_all_safaris.html

you can check them out at that link. The cheapest ones are $45, the $45 one we thought was the best was the cheetah safari, it's sort of like the cheetah run at busch gardens, but you get to be on the lawn for the run and get very close to the cheetahs and talk to trainers (it looks like).

Everyone can check out the link though and see if any of the other safaris seem worth the money to them before we get to the park!

- Cassi

"America's Love Affair with Beef" - Nat Geo Instagram Post

I saw this earlier on Instagram and had to "re-gram" it to our blog. I wasn't aware that there were really livestock shows and/or that they still existed. It makes me wonder what kind of relationship these two have. I've known people who have had cows as pets, but I've never known someone who has entered livestock into a show.  Does it make it somewhat better that at least animals are being shown in pride? Just some food for thought... (No pun originally intended)

Busch Gardens Camp!

Cheesy Inconsistencies

     We have so many inconsistencies when it comes to animals it isn’t even funny. In the last chapter, Herzog identifies two distinct people named Michael Mountain and Judy Muzzis. Both of them are very passionate people, but both are also very different in their moral views. Although I felt conflicted for about 95% of the book, I totally loved it and learned a lot of new ways to think about human-animal relationships. The biggest thing I took from this book was where I stand on specific issues. “Thinking” I had a solid stance before, I learned quickly within the first chapter that I had no idea. The book did a pretty fantastic job at pointing out all my inconsistencies, making me critically think about current issues and influenced me to get educated. Did anyone else find themselves kicking yourself in face for being so inconsistent when you thought you were consistent all along?

     Digging deeper I decided to look into more inconsistencies. With looking at these inconsistencies I also found an interesting relationship with education. Although some of these inconsistencies are inherent, just as Herzog points outs, many come from us not knowing 100% of the information. We are so quick to pick a side that we often forget to critically think about the issue at hand. What do you guys think? Are there any situations where you or your friends made a stance but latter found out that it was inconsistent?

     For example, many people give up meat because of moral views or health concerns. Having a vegetarian friend, I asked her why she did so. “I just feel bad for the animals and think it’s terrible they get lined up and killed” was her response. I then asked her what she ate. She explained that she wasn’t a strict vegan and that she ate animal products like cheese and eggs (these are called lacto-ovo-vegetarians). I love my friend deeply, however she has this tendency to take on this “I’m a vegetarian because I don’t support killing defenseless animals” persona. What my friend doesn’t know is that she is an unknowingly being inconsistent. Although I didn’t, I wanted to tell her the reality behind her stance. I wanted to tell her that large portions of cheeses are actually made from rennet, an enzyme taken from the inner stomach of calves. These calves are the same calves they slaughter for veal. Although my friend loved to guilt trip me when I use to eat beef, I always wanted to tell her that she was also eating a part of a cow that was slaughtered to make cheeses (sorry If I ruined cheese for those who are vegetarian in class. I’ll leave a link at the bottom to a website that gives totally animal-free cheeses. Don’t hate me!). 

     Overall, I loved this book. I felt it was a positive slap in the face. Waking me up to critically thinking about such issues, I’m glad we got to read it and educate ourselves on the complex world of human-animal relationships. What did you guys think about the book in general? Did it make you think differently about any of your stances whether zoo related, meat related, lab-animal related etc? 

Here is the vegetarian cheeses website. Don’t hate me!

https://www.vegsoc.org/cheese

-Nic Swaner (First Reader)

Cognitive Dissonance?

Moral inconsistencies between us and the animal world happen more often than we'd like to admit. But is that okay? I think so. For example, people love animals and try to conserve them, yet they still go out and eat their beloved cheeseburgers. One would think, if they care so much about these creatures wouldn't they stop eating them all together, sort of like Michael Mountain? Some people try to do this, but I feel that it is near impossible to do this without restricting living life to the fullest. You would have to live in the wild since houses ruin habitats, be vegan, and purchase only "green" and non-harmful clothing. I suppose however this could be living life to the fullest for some people. My friends step-mom was one of these people who tried to be morally consistent and refused to drive in anticipation that she may hit an animal. This is a nice thought, but then she had to rely on many other people to get her places and take unreliable transportation like the bus and was often late to work because of it. However, it is possible that by being so animal conscious, she is saving little lives by the hundreds.

We spend so much money on our pets since we love them so much but then again, we spend even more money in the hunting, fishing and meat industry. This is just how we have always lived. However, for some people this causes great cognitive dissonance. I'm sure all of you know what this is but in case you don't, its the notion that holding two inconsistent views simultaneously creates mental discomfort and perhaps guilt. Because of this, we change our attitudes and behaviors or we distort and deny the incongruent facts. This is what can cause people to lead life as cruelty-free as possible.

 -Kelly Ejnes

Animal Activists

I particularly found Chapter 9 to be very interesting.  I thought it was interesting how most animal activists are women, which I noticed that at Busch Gardens, there were visibly more women then men working. Anyone can become an activist, and I found PETAs website on just the steps in becoming an activist.  

http://www.peta.org/action/activism-guide/

Another big thing that often happens with animal activists is a lifestyle change.  Activists tend to live a better lifestyle for the animals and will often times become vegetarian or vegan.  One woman even stated in the book that her dreams became nightmares because she would have nightmares that animals were being abused or poorly treated.  I believe to some extent, the workers at Busch Gardens are animal activists themselves.  Most of the employees help out with cleaning, feeding, training, rehabilitating, animal enrichment, etc.  Without this help the animals would not be in the healthy conditions that they are in.  

Humans instead of mice?! Hmmmmm

          Where do I even begin?! Chapters 8 and 9 have caused more inner turmoil to my life than I know what to do with.  The points made in these chapters all bring up good points that I believe many of us ignore to protect ourselves.  I know for me personally that the less I know the easier it is to pretend like nothing is going wrong in the animal research world; however, Herzog places the truth right in front of you with no where to turn.  As awful as it was to visualize some of his points, specifically the section about testing on impaired humans.  I would have never in a million years thought about using humans for experiments, but Herzog wants even playing grounds so he presents all sides of the argument.  Based off of Herzog's points as to why impaired humans should be eligible for research they all make perfect sense, but because of how we were raised society has placed a mental block in our brains telling all of us that this concept is pure evil. I don't see it right to use humans instead of animals; however, I do believe Herzog has a valid point.
          Moving on into chapter 9.  This chapter was a little calmer than the one before but none the less caused me to question the way in which I live my life.  I would defiantly say that I am experiencing cognitive dissonance because my behaviors do not agree with some of my attitudes.  For example, I don't understand why so many mice must be killed each year just because they are extras, but  I think that testing should be done so that we can help better humans.  Another example is Pikes fish market, I do not see anything wrong with them throwing fish because the fish are already dead and they are going to be used for food later, so it is not like they are throwing fish just for enjoyment.  In the other hand if people decided to throw kittens or puppies around I would not see it in the same light as I do with the fish.  When it comes down to making a clear cut decision on what I believe in and want to stand for I can not chose a direct position due to all of the varying counter arguments.  This sounds awful because I need to stand up for what I believe in but after reading this book I don't even know know what to think. One day I shall figure it out(=




                                                                                                              -Kelsey Spaulding

RIP Luna

I wrote a response to the post bunny tailed scottish sherpterrier and spoke a little about my step sisters puppy Luna. I thought I would post a picture as well, but I couldn't on the comment so here is Luna.

P.S. on a completely unrelated note someone on facebook posted this video about a little girls potato project. Check it out!

 http://www.upinspire.com/inspire/555/this-3rd-grader-shocked-everyo

Service Dogs and PTSD

In class yesterday our guest mentioned how service dogs can sometimes help alleviate the daily problems of someone suffering from PTSD. While I think we are all aware that service animals have a wide variety of jobs, I also believe that seeing an example of this relationship has the powerful to help people truly understand a situation that they have probably never experienced. I just ran across this video that really illustrates the important role service dogs can play in the treatment of PTSD. Although the video is short and is in Dutch, but the message still comes across loud and clear.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/maycie/powerful-dutch-video-shows-how-important-service-dogs-can-be

    - Caroline Thrasher

The Lassie Test

One thing about chapter four that I found interesting was the Lassie test. First of all, I am by no means disregarding it. But I would like to point out that I think it was little bit unfair tot est the dogs on something like that. Usually when we hear stories of dogs saving their owners, it is some kind of guide dog that is used to protecting and looking out for their person. The average pet dog isn't used to that. And while there are always exceptions, I don't think it was necessarily fair to judge these average dogs against something the service dogs are trained for. Also, in many cases, (even as we discussed in class today with our guest speaker) dogs can tell when we are actually experiencing physiological changes that might elicit a help-response from the dogs. Faking a heart attack and just lying on the ground was not necessarily the best way to test that. The dogs were probably aware that their owners were not in actual danger. I suppose there is no way to truly test these things, and in all honesty the results might not even change if there were. I was just a little bit sympathetic to the dogs in this Lassie test.

The Rise and Fall of Prince George and Rottweilers

            This chapter focuses specifically on dogs.  Who their ancestors were, where they came from, and how they came to be domesticated were all questions examined in the text.  According to Psychology Today’s article, over 339 breeds of dogs exist today and they all came from one species, the Gray Wolf.  Two theories are explained, both of which I had never really thought about.  The first says that someone found a baby pup and brought it home for dinner, however, “Wilma Flintstone,” looked into the big eyes and decided to save it.  The other theory, says that before is that these primitive dogs were simply dumpster divers.  With every new generation of dog, the more and more comfortable and adapted to humans they became.   

            Another topic I found interesting in this chapter was the comparison to dog breeds and baby names.  Just like baby names, some breeds become increasingly popular for no reason.  Poodles are brought up and the book said that within 20 twenty years, registration for poodles increased by 12,000%.  To me that is crazy!  Why did poodles become so popular in a relatively short amount of time?  Were Poodles somehow better than other breeds, or, did they increase simply because your neighbor had one so you decided to get one.  I like the sentence in the book that asks, “Were they just famous for being famous?” 

            Just as dog breed popularity grows exponentially, so do baby names.  I started thinking about how our culture and media affects the choices parents make for their child’s name.  Prince William and his wife came to mind immediately.  According to Ancestry.com’s statistics, the name given to a royal baby increases that names popularity by 32% the following year.  So this year, 5,740 George’s will be added to the UK’s population.  Moving away from royalty and the UK, I also thought about how media and especially celebrities here in the US and what they name their children.  Some of the names are just plain weird.  Apple Paltrow, North West, and every one of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s children’s names are all a little strange.  Unlike the name George, I don’t think any of these celebrity kid’s names will catch on. 

            Why is it that some baby names or dog breeds become so popular while others seem to be lost in obscurity?  Why were Rottweilers so popular for awhile and now hated and feared by so many people?  Are some names and dog breeds not popular because they are ugly?  The name George is now ranked 4th in the UK, but it ranks number 166th in the US, why?  Once the next prince is named will the name George go back to being ranked as 12th in the US? To me George isn't the most prestigious or cute name but in the UK it is the name of royalty.  

-Erik Rohrkaste

Monkeys eat monkeys?! Since when?!

In chapter 7 I was really shocked at the section where Herzog talked about how monkeys eat.  I was under the impression that they eat fruits and nuts, apparently they also eat other monkeys.  This new found knowledge led me to look into the eating habits of monkeys.  This is just some of the interesting stuff I stumbled upon on the internet.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/102225/Monkeys-shed-light-on-eating-habits

Super funny video on how monkeys actually eat bananas
http://www.keepbusy.net/play.php?id=how-monkeys-really-eat-bananas

http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~stanford/chimphunt.html

Study conducted to see the eating habits of chimps
http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2013/Q1/study-chimpanzees-eat-smart-when-it-comes-to-mealtime.html

                                                                                                                      -Kelsey Spaulding

The Meat of Vegetarianism

I became a vegetarian a few months into my first year at Eckerd. I met more vegetarians at Eckerd in those first few months than in the rest of my life combined, and after reading chapter seven I'm not surprised. Herzog mentions a study done by Time that found that 60% of vegetarians had seafood, poultry, or red meat within the last 24-hours. Now as embarrassing as this feels for vegetarians at first glance, it must be noted that many vegetarians still eat fish and so many may have just eaten fish recently. It also does not say how much meat was eaten or where it came from. OK so maybe I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt and make vegetarians seem more purist to their ideals than the poll makes it seem, perhaps they did all sneak a steak dinner in the night before.

But I want to go into why I became a vegetarian for a second and talk about why I feel a little hopeless about the situation and why giving up my omnivore tendencies nowhere near solved the problem that got me invested in vegetarianism.

I took Introduction to Environmental Studies freshman year and we talked about food and where it comes from. Mostly we talked about how far away it usually comes from and how meat is the worst instance of food traveling too far. Innumerable gallons of gas were transporting animals to plants to be inhumanely killed and then to supermarkets to sit on the shelves of Wal-Marts, Giants, Publixes, and many other stores nationwide. I had already heard, for years, about how poorly the animals we eat were treated, but now that I had also found out how detrimental all this processing and transporting was to the environment I was done. I decided from then on any meat I ate would be "happy" (sorry for the anthropomorphizing, I was younger and more naive then) until it died and was locally raised and slaughtered. I have had only a few opportunities to eat meat this way since I made this decision and to be honest, on the whole, I don't miss it much.

But I will tell you a secret, something I would never want to tell my family, I do miss meat sometimes and struggle with the decision even knowing the strong reasons I made it. Which makes me wonder, as I have seen many other fellow vegetarians falter, are there any real vegetarians? But now I know that most fruits and veggies go through the same journey meat does, too much transportation, too much artificial treatment. So what does that leave us to eat? I'm not comfortable considering only the things I could catch or forage for here on campus... squirrels.... birds... grass? I'll have to find a less drastic, but not Wal- Mart or Publix answer.

- Cassi Lyon

Should We Eat Meat, Or Shouldn't We?

While reading this chapter on the human-meat relationship several things caught my attention that I either had questions about, or that I had never before known about that I wanted to investigate further. I feel that this topic is one of the most controversial in the realm of human-animal relations. What should we really be eating, and what shouldn't we? My whole life I've been raised eating beef, pork, chicken, turkey, & deer meat, and I've never had any real medical issues. I never really thought much of eating meat until I got to college. I feel that for most people my age, this is sort of a trend. We start to really think about what we are putting into our bodies in hopes of gaining nutrition.

In this chapter Herzog talks about the campaign to moralize meat, and how it has been a failure. He goes into how there are very few true vegetarians in the country, and that even a large percentage of those that claim to not eat meat, still eat animal flesh of some sort. You would think that with the spread of education about where our food comes from with sources such as Food, Inc., and research showing the relationship between red meat and obesity, cancer, and heart disease, that people would more increasingly shy away from eating meat. Well, are we really? Herzog also says how it seems to be fashionable for young people to claim vegetarianism. Is it just a fad to eat healthy and cut out meat, or are we actually changing the ways in which we eat, slowly but surely? From what I have experienced just in talking to friends, and hearing how others talk about food at Eckerd, it seems to me that it is somewhat of a fad, but at the same time I think that it is going to keep growing and hopefully become the norm of our future where people do take the time to eat healthier. But does this mean completely eliminating meat?

What I find most interesting is the comparison Herzog makes of our diet to that of chimpanzees and other apes. He tells us how chimpanzees, which most of us know are strongly related to humans genetically, love the taste of meat, but that it only makes up approximately less than 5% of the chimpanzees diet. Maybe there is something that we humans can learn from these close relatives of ours. Maybe eating meat is a good for us in a sense, but in significantly smaller portions? Is it possible that we humans, especially Americans, have overindulged our love for meat to the point where it has caused us harm? Maybe the answer is simple, and maybe it's not. I guess it's up to the individual to decide for themselves, based on their morals, culture, and appetite, whether or not meat is to stay in their diet, and to what extent.

-Sarah Nappier

Bunny Tailed Scottish Sherpterrier

Researcher: Ann Marie Arnold

http://adsoftheworld.com/media/online/territorio_de_zaguates_unique_breeds

Chapter four discusses the rise and fall of the pedigreed dog. Herzog explained how the desire or want to own a purebred dog is a fad on its way out. The American Kennel Club was the first club to provide registration for purebred dogs. At first they did very well however once news spread that the overbreeding of dogs for popular physical traits was detrimental to their health and behavior, the want for purebred dogs began to fall. Pet lovers wanted good and healthy pets not necessarily pretty pets.

Still there are an abundance of stray dogs although they are not necessarily in the correct region for adoption. Rescue Waggin moves around 10,000 dogs to and from different parts of the United States in order to provide areas with a low concentration of pets with pet dogs.

http://www.sanjosevolando.com/wp/territorio-zaguate-expo-raza-unica/

One place to adopt would be in Costa Rica. While researching I found an organization in Costa Rica where there are plenty of strays. However, this organization does things a little bit differently. Territorio de Zaguates. In order to promote mixed breeds this organization figures out the breed combination of mixed breeds and provides the dog with a unique breed such as a bunny tailed Scottish sherpterrier or shaggy shepherd dachspaniel. “When you adopt a mutt you adopt a unique breed” is one of their mottos. Now their shelter expenses are covered and more dogs are being adopted as a result of the promotion of unique breed. Artists provide drawings to promote the dogs and the shelter has appeared on television shows and websites because of their unique advertising. They even have a facebook page promoting the adoption of their unique breeds.