It’s time for another edition of Hisses and Purrs. Each week Hissy Fit Jones and June Buggie run down the good, and the not-so-good, news about animals and their plight around the world.
First up, Hissy Fit Jones, and he is in rare form this week!
Hisses to the farmers, sellers, and purchasers of kopi luwak, a type of coffee excreted by Indonesian palm civets. BBC reporters went undercover and learned that the coffee, which companies claim comes from “wild sources” actually comes from civets that are kept in barren cages with no stimulation. Some animals are kept in horrific conditions. And a special round of hisses to the Hollywood types that have touted this coffee. Shameful!
Hisses to the rich people of China, whose latest fad is to own the pelts of dead zoo animals. It’s prompting some zoos to kill their animals and sell them to a taxidermist because of the high price they’re going for.
Hisses to the Botswana Wildlife Management Association, who is protesting the Botswana government’s decision to ban hunting as of January of next year. Hunters will no longer be allowed to kill large game such as elephants, lions, and zebras. Hunting brings in approximately $40 million dollars annually. Not surprisingly, while the government cites declining numbers of each species as reasons ban hunting, the BWMA claims numbers are increasing. I think you need to count the animals instead of the dollars in your wallet, BWMA.
Oh Dog! I am mad too, Hissy! I think we need June Buggie to give us some good news now to help us feel better.
Purrs to the New Zealand appeals court that refused to overturn the conviction of breeders and Kennel Club judges David and Daryl Balfour. They were convicted of animal cruelty in 2011 when authorities found 87 dogs and 161 cats in horrific conditions. Half of the animals found were in such bad shape they had to be euthanized. The couple were ordered to pay fines of $12,500 each, disqualified from owning or caring for animals for 20 years and ordered to pay $27,818 in court costs. The appeals court did decide the couple did not have to pay the court costs.
Let’s hope the British Columbia courts do the same for Kayla Bourque. She was convicted last year of torturing and killing animals. She has appealed the part of her sentence that bans her from owning animals for life.
Purrs to the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife of South Africa, for taking the bold step of being the first agency to inject toxic poisons in the horns of rhinos. The poison will not harm the rhinos, but, should they be killed for their horn, the users of said horn will become ill. South Africa embarked on this course of action after other measures to prevent poaching have been unsuccessful. So far this year, over 600 rhinos have been killed in South Africa alone for no other reason than to remove the horn to sell to greedy, thoughtless humans.
Purrs to Ontario Superior Court Judge Mary Vallee, who recently ruled that the “Ikea Monkey,” who escaped from Yasmin Nakhuda’s car at an Ikea store, was a wild animal and would not be returned to Ms. Nakhuda. Nakhuda, who referred to herself as the monkey’s “mom,” had dressed the animal in human clothing, but the monkey bit people and had to be kept on a harness to keep from escaping. The monkey is now at Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary, where he is receiving veterinary care and is learning to interact with other primates.
Purrs to the unknown individual(s) who freed 20 bulls from where they were being held in Tordesillas in northern Spain. The bulls were to be used as a part of the Toro de la Vega festival. During the festival, townspeople hunt down a bull and kill it with spears. The brutal activity, which has been carried on since medieval times, has been widely condemned by animal welfare activists.
YAY! That makes me feel much better! For all the misery in the world, there ARE those out there that are working to make things better for us animals.
Do YOU have any hisses or purrs to add this week?
Dogpaddling Through Life 
❤ Love xo
🙂
Whee are giving hisses to an article on the Guardian website by a woman who claims guinea pigs are “boring” and “one step up from a cuddly toy”. She says they don’t do anything. Whee hate to break it to her but no pet is going to ‘do’ something left in a cage with nothing to do and little or no attention from a hooman who clearly has no idea how to care for them. Jeez!
Purrs to the ten year old little girl undergoing cancer treatment that our hooman knows. She spent ages begging for guinea pigs before she was diagnosed, then on her birthday this wheek she was told they could get two guinea pigs. She told them, and this is a direct quote “I don’t think I should get them while I’m sick. I’m not at home enough to love them and if I don’t get better you might not love them for me.” What a brave and special little girl she is. Whee are praying and hoping she gets better soon and gets those piggies she has been dreaming of.
Nacho, Noah, Buddy & Basil
xxxx
That little girl is a hero!!!!!
She is just inspirational. And so mature for 10 years
xxxx
What a wise little girl. I hope she gets better soon and they can cure the cancer.
They are hopeful that the chemo will help her but she is very brave and everyone is rooting for her. However it is a rare type and quite advanced so no one quite knows at this point. Something she seems to have accepted better than any body else.
I am just honored and humbled to know her
xxxx
She sounds to be a lovely person and wise. I love her attitude towards having an animal – if only all humans thought like her. I’m sending good wishes her way and hope she makes a recovery.
Thank you, she is such a brave little girl. So mature and she had obviously thought carefully about it all.
xxxx
How sad to hear that the brutal activitystill has been held in Spain….it might be one of their traditional events since medieval times but useing animals just for human pleasure seems to be out of date….I admire the unknow individuals who freed poor 20 bulls! Purrrs! 🙂
Hi Kevin! I was thrilled about the release too. Meow!
I too was happy to read about the Ikea monkey – think Bieber is paying attention?
Honestly? I don’t think he listens to anyone but the voices in his head.
Wauw!! Nice props for freeing bulls! That’s not even chickens, it’s dangerous to them as well because who knows how scared the bulls might be, and how they will act. Nice!
I’m a little late with this, but on the weekend that all the community cats in South Newton Township, PA were originally to be rounded up and killed, the first 37 cats were spayed and neutered instead. The Township has accepted help in getting a TNR program up and running. Much better!
That IS good news!!!!
WOW, lots of good intel here!
We are in the know!!!!!
Yes, go good guys! Standing up and cheering! I’m glad you ending with the positive things. Some days it’s hard to get beyond the bad stuff! But important to share all and keep us informed! Thank you! 🙂
Thanks for all the information, Rumpy.
My post today is about kopi luwak coffee.
Thanks fur posting this Rumpydog! I am so sick of humans abusing us animals. But I am,so thankful fur the good humans that Love us and look out fur us.
Shrimp
Rich people are clueless.
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