Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter

Monday, March 24, 2008

Are You An Animal Activist?

Tammy Grimes, founder of the non-profit group Dogs Deserve Better, has put together a survey on animal advocacy to gather information on a new book she's currently working on. If you're interested in participating, the survey takes from 5 - 10 minutes, depending on how much you choose to elaborate on your answers. She's also offering discounts on some of her artwork series as a token of thanks for taking part. Here is the link to go directly to the survey. Animal Activist Survey

Monday, March 10, 2008

Empathy Overload

It's been over a week now since I saw that video of the U.S. marine taking a puppy and throwing it over a cliff. Thinking that time would lessen the anger a bit and even out my outrage at the whole stinkin mess. I was wrong.
If anything I'm even more pissed off. Those images hit me hard. Damn hard, and not only do I want payback, I want immediate payback. I'm not so naive as to believe that's gonna happen because I know the wheels of justice turn painfully slow.

It still doesn't stop me from the following absolute rant.

I still have trouble with the fact that anyone could do something that callous and heartless. It's not that Mortari was "mean," it's that he's a monster who shrugs off an unneccesary murder like it was nothing... as if to say "Oh, well."
The fact that his friends share in the same sarcastic attitude (and don't tell me they didn't - it's all there in the video) makes them accessories.

I hear his family in Monroe received so many threatening phone calls they've had to change their number. While I don't condone such threats, I completely understand this incident sparked an extreme level of outrage from anyone with even an ounce of compassion for animals. Just the same, its never ok to target those who aren't directly involved. So if you've done that, or are still doing that please stop. This won't help the cause for animals and you certainly won't be taken seriously.

Mortari's sister recently voiced her opinion on a local call-in radio show, basically condoning her brother's behavior. My message to her is: If you're gonna be an asshole, then I'll be more than happy to treat you like one. There is no such thing as a defenseless pup being "just a dog." Your brother murders puppies for kicks; so I would treat him no better than the killer he is.

Interesting how many of you who saw the video and even some of those who didn't see it are still convinced it's been altered. It sure didn't look fake to me, considering how a puppy reacts to being held like that. But if the video is such a fake, then where the hell is this guy claiming his innocence? If he has nothing to hide, he should have been all over the place trying to clear it up if this was such a misunderstanding. The reason for that is probably because he's been caught on tape, he's in deep shit right now and he knows it.

To those of the opinion that his being over in Iraq in a combat situation somehow drove him to a mental state separate from reality. That's a load of crap as well. This guy didn't look all that shell-shocked to me. I'm sure he was messed up in the head to begin with. The lure of having a gun and getting to use it was probably why he signed on in the first place. Maybe when he didn't find the action he was looking for, that trigger finger was just itching for a gun. Maybe for whatever reason, he chose not to shoot anything. For him the "next best thing" was exactly what he did to that puppy, sick bastard he must have always been.

I'm calling for the U.S. Marines to impose a dishonorable discharge, revocation of any and all military benefits, criminal charges, court-martial and any other discipline that would apply in this case, to David Mortari.

A Little Relief


"These dogs are our partners. We travel with them, sleep with them and live with them. They are our best friends. Every dog handler will agree that there is nothing we won't do to protect our dogs."
--Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Thomas

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Military working dog Zorby sits patiently as his handler, Staff Sgt. Dallas O'Dell, Task Force Semper Lex and another Soldier, reenlist him aboard a helicopter over eastern Kosovo, Aug. 22. Military working dogs perform valuable services worldwide, from rescuing people trapped in buildings to sniffing out explosives and drugs.


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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Reese and his military working dog Grek wait at a safe house before conducting an assault against insurgents in Buhriz, Iraq, April 10, 2007. U.S. Army Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division and Iraqi army soldiers from 4th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division are going house-to-house in search for weapons caches and enemy fighters after more than 1,000 residents of this Baqubah suburb were displaced by Al-Qaeda insurgents. (U.S.Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Stacy L. Pearsall

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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Reese and his military working dog Grek conduct a search for insurgents in Buhriz, Iraq, April 10, 2007. U.S. Army Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division and Iraqi army soldiers from 4th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division are going house-to-house in search for weapons caches and enemy fighters after more than 1,000 residents of this Baqubah suburb were displaced by Al-Qaeda insurgents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Stacy L. Pearsall


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An Iraqi boy pets military working dog Grek in Buhriz, Iraq, April 10, 2007. U.S. Army Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division and Iraqi army soldiers from 4th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division are going house-to-house in search for weapons caches and enemy fighters after more than 1,000 residents of this Baqubah suburb were displaced by Al-Qaeda insurgents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Stacy L. Pearsall)

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Lance Cpl. Charles E. Byerly, a 20-year-old dog handler, shows his dog Danny, 10, some love at Camp Habbaniyah, Iraq, Sept. 1. He wanted to care for his four-legged companion before they head back for Danny's retirement in Camp Lejeune, N.C. Danny has deployed three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and one to Djibouti, Africa as a military working dog fighting insurgents with Marines. After the dog's retirement Byerly will adopt his battle buddy. Byerly is from Mars, Pa., and is currently serving a seven-month deployment with 3rd Battallion, 2nd Marine Regiment in the Habbaniyah area under Regimental Combat Team 5.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis

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U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Vanhorn, from 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division, Military Transition Team, pets a dog at the Ramadi, Fuel Distribution Center in Ramadi, Iraq, Dec. 4, 2007. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Chief Warrant Officer Brook R. Kelsey)

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Wounded American soldier Ryan Newberry gives a big hug to Eddie, a black lab from the American Red Cross Pet Visitation program. Newberry is recovering at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and said he really enjoyed the visit.

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Melissa anxiously awaits the return of her adopted father, Lt. Col. David R. Leppelmeier, commanding officer, Marine Wing Support Squadron 374, Marine Wing Support Group 37, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, April 28. The puppy was a gift to the 'Rhinos' of MWSS-374 from 3rd MAW commanding general, Maj. Gen. James F. Amos. Photo by Staff Sgt. Houston F. White Jr.

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Lt. Col. David R. Leppelmeier, commanding officer, Marine Wing Support Squadron 374, Marine Wing Support Group 37, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, says hello to his 'little friend', Melissa, before heading to an early morning meeting, April 28. According to Leppelmeier, the puppy, which was a gift from the 3rd MAW commanding general, Maj. Gen. James F. Amos, has helped boost the morale of the entire unit in only a short amount of time. Photo by Staff Sgt. Houston F. White Jr

Real Love by Real Men

soldier and dog

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Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Beyond Pissed

Let the backlash obliterate the guilty.



Quite a strong response here...







Of course, you'd have to see this to fully understand...



Monday, March 03, 2008

Pablo for the win





Hey everybody!

I've entered this photo of Pablo in the HSUS Spay

Day USA Pet Photo contest. You can help him win


by going to the Humane Society's Spay Day USA site, and Vote For Pablo

I'd sure appreciate your input, and Pablo will too.

Just think of Napoleon Dynamite and Vote For Pablo!

Thanks!