​theswiftest.com/animal-rights-index/

A rating is issued based on environmental performance which includes contributions to net-zero initiatives, current emissions, and environmental targets being met. Where do the countries stand on their commitment to a cleaner future?

To get into the top 5, these countries all recognize the suffering and sentience of animals in their laws, have banned the production of fur, have laws in place that are anti-cruelty, and have made a partial commitment to the support for international declaration of animal welfare. All 5 countries performed at the top of the environmental performance index and all but Belgium received the highest score for their limited use of harmful pesticides. 

The bottom 5 is rather unsurprising. China is notoriously one of the worst places in the world to be an animal. Live animals have been fed to predatory animals in zoos while patrons watch the frightened prey animals get torn apart. There are absolutely no animal welfare standards at all as wet markets continue to spread disease and perpetuate animal suffering. All 5 of the bottom countries have no recognition of animal sentience or suffering, have no laws that target animal cruelty, and all but one have absolutely no laws against the production of fur. Lastly, they all failed in their environmental impact scores. 

Our animal welfare laws have remained largely untouched since they came to fruition. In fact, it was only within the past 3 years that beastiality included all forms of inappropriate conduct with animals. We continue to participate in the gruesome annual seal hunt despite years of activism to end the barbaric activity. We continue to test on animals and have yet to ban the production of fur despite overwhelming support to end the fur industry in our country. We scored well on our environmental performance and usage of pesticides but fell behind in our designated protected areas and meat consumption per capita.

Canada has a very long way to go if we ever intend to break in to the top ten. We need an end to the fur industry first and foremost. Fur is disgusting and there are plenty of high-fashion brands in the past few years that have banned fur in their future lines along with countries that have banned fur altogether. Our participation in the seal hunt is another major stain on our animal welfare record as the hunt if gruesome and animalistic in nature. 

Where does your country stand on the index? Are you surprised by the top 5 / bottom 5 entries? Check out the link at the top of the post to get the entire list and learn more about how each country is scored. 

​www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/breed-specific-language-provincial-legislation-rally-1.6222863

The attack on Pitbulls has been one of the longest running animal bans put in place. A slew of pitbull attacks prompted the ban in Ontario back in 2005. The ban would see a variety of bull breeds banned and in some cases, even those that resemble pitbulls have been ripped from their family's to be sent out of the province. The debate over these questionable bans have recently bubbled over with talks of a possible overturning of the ban which has sparked heated debates about responsible pet ownership and the reported ferocity of pitbulls. Just this past week, a rally was held at Queen's Park fighting to end the discriminatory bans as the issue continues to be brought to the forefront.

A dog is a product of the environment that it is raised in. Of course, there are always exceptions to this ideology, but the fact is, any dog can be loving / aggressive. If we start banning every dog that has an altercation with a human, we'd have no breeds left because the humans who raised these dogs without training, love, or routine, would continue owning dogs they abused. This is an unnecessary bandaid that only covers up a much bigger, and much more serious problem. Responsible pet ownership needs to be addressed. We need stricter punishments for document and convicted abuse. We need stricter punishments for people who's animals assault other people / animals. We cannot continue blaming dogs.

Look, I loved with a pitbull mix for almost 2 years. He was by far, the most loving, affectionate, and adorable animal friend I'd ever encountered. He initially frightened me when he moved in, but it took a mere minute to realize he was nothing more than a big ol' baby. This ban resonates with me. Ripping animals from their loving families and putting them through the trauma of shipping them to another province is wholly unnecessary. The ban needs to go and the real problem needs to be addressed.

​worldanimalnews.com/breaking-oregon-kills-nearly-all-remaining-members-of-the-lookout-mountain-wolf-pack-including-two-that-were-not-old-enough-to-hunt-yet/

The Oregon Fish & Wildlife Services announced that it had killed 3 more members of the Lookout Mountain Pack, ending the lethal control permits issued. After the slaughter of the 3 most recent wolves, the Lookout pack now consists of a breeding female and two juveniles. This senseless slaughter has left this female wolf to try and hunt and feed the juveniles without the assistance of a pack. This will undoubtedly lead to livestock attacks, the very reason why this pack of wolves was targeted to begin with. Once again, humanity panders to the livestock industry at the expense of wolves who are plunging once again towards extinction.

Wolves spent nearly 40 years on the Endangered Species List. During those 40 years, time, effort, and resources were allocated to their rehabilitation. Within mere months of their removal, several states in the United States opened up wolves to being hunted for sport, effectively undoing 40 years of tireless efforts. Sport hunting, livestock conflicts, whatever the reason, wolves continue to suffer because of our warped sense of wildlife management. How can the solution to livestock conflicts be to slaughter endangered wolves when livestock are basically presented to wild predators on a silver platter. When do we address the fact that livestock are so accessible by increasing security measures? When do we identify the "hows" of livestock conflicts and look to prevent future incidents? Am I truly to believe that the only solution is to euthanize healthy wolves who are in a state of emergency?

If our relationship with wild predators does not change, we will see their extinction. We must look for other options to prevent future livestock conflicts as opposed to euthanizing predators. We are constantly manipulating the animal kingdom for our own motives without actually taking in to consideration the ripple affect of our actions. Every habitat NEEDS a healthy balance of both predators and prey. If we remove one from the situation, things become unbalanced and other things start to suffer as a result. At the rate we're going, the only animals we will see or recognize on our planet will be the ones we breed solely for food.

Wolves must be put back on the Endangered Species List. If we do not issue them those necessary protections once again, they will go extinct. It's clear that we can't trust that wolves will be looked after because we're witnessing their decimation. The only choice is to reissue them those protections before it's too late.

​worldanimalnews.com/conservation-animal-protection-groups-sued-the-usfws-yesterday-for-failure-to-protect-africas-giraffes-after-their-population-has-declined-by-40/

Welfare and conservation groups are suing the United States Fish and Wildlife Services for failing to issue ESA protections to giraffes. The USFWS was petitioned in 2017 to protect giraffes and did absolutely nothing by the 2018 deadline, prompting conservation & welfare groups to move forward with lawsuits. 

Endangered Species Act protections are necessary if we're going to stop the inevitable extinction of giraffes. ESA protections allocate much needed time and resources to protecting giraffes. It would prevent continued trophies from being imported and would curb the illegal import of bones for novelty items. If these protections are not issued and if Africa continues to be negligent in also aiding in the protection of giraffes, they will go extinct. 70, 000 individuals is incredibly frightening and we're almost to the point where it's going to be too late. When it comes to extinction, time is of the essence and we've got to stop taking years and years to determine what our next move is. All of this time wasted is adding more nails in the coffin of giraffes.

Humanity is sick. Almost every single recognized and beloved specie sin Africa is facing the possibility of extinction and it is wholly attributed to humans. Trophy hunting is a sickness. To think that we are so entitled and clueless that we're spending tens of thousands of dollars to kill an animal that is in danger of extinction is embarrassing. What do all of these people selling bones or collecting trophies intend to do when we've wiped them all out? This isn't that far fetched you know? Elephants are in peril. Lions are in peril. Giraffes are very clearly in peril. Where doe sit end? When do we realize that our selfishness is going to kill off every other specie son this planet. Shit, we're not doing ourselves any favours in the long run if climate change isn't adequately addressed. We're literally going to kill everything off including ourselves.

The USFWS needs to get a move on and issue necessary protections to giraffes. As I said, it's embarrassing that it takes us so very long to do what's needed and right. Giraffes will go extinct, what else is there to discuss?

​worldanimalnews.com/five-year-review-of-polar-bear-populations-is-underway-as-sea-ice-cover-this-year-is-the-second-lowest-on-record-putting-their-species-in-jeopardy/

The United States Fish & Wildlife Services announced this week that a 5 year review of polar bear populations was set to begin as sea ice cover was at the second lowest ever recorded. Polar bears are an Endangered Species which means that the USFWS must review populations periodically to determine whether current funding to protect them is adamant, among other things. The last review done on polar bears was in 2017 and melting sea ice continues to be of concern to environmentalists & conservationists.

One of the biggest hurdles surrounding climate change is the politicization of it as an issue. It's become such a political issue that one cannot agree with climate change while being affiliated with parties on the right. The issue is laughed at, scoffed at, criticized, and torn apart in conversation. Any initiatives that focus on natural power like wind turbines or solar are picked apart and you can see that there is no interest in discussing why these initiatives are important for our planet. The climate will warm regardless, this is the cycle, but if we could stall or at the very least, stop accelerating it, animals like polar bears might have a fighting chance.

The debate over climate change is frustrating. Greenland's ice sheets are melting, these are facts. Arctic sea ice is disappearing, these are facts. Polar bears are dying off, these are facts. Regardless of whether you believe whole-heartedly in climate change, can we not agree that ice on our planet is disappearing? Why does it have to be political? If you knew that making a couple small changes might help stall the extinction of polar bears, wouldn't you be willing to do so? I think that's the frustrating part. Where's the empathy for the struggles our planet's species face?

This review of polar bears will likely bring to light the same perils they faced in the last review. Sea ice is disappearing & their numbers are declining. What will come of it? Honestly, it's hard to say, but polar bears don't have time for us to continue to go back and forth about what to do to protect them. Extinction doesn't wait for humans to make up their friggen minds. We must address the root cause of the continued melting of sea ice before polar bears go extinct.

​worldanimalnews.com/more-than-40-organizations-worldwide-call-for-a-ban-on-the-elephant-ivory-trade-in-canada-to-help-save-elephants-from-extinction-in-the-wild/

More than 40 worldwide organizations are calling on Canada's newly formed government to take a stand for elephants by ending the ivory trade within the country. Canada is being urged to take on the most drastic protections which would include a ban on any ivory entering the country. This would end hunting trophies from elephants being permitted in to the country which at this point, is long overdue.

We know the horrors African wildlife are facing. Fragmentation, drought, habitat loss, poaching, trophy hunting, and continued human conflict. Knowing all that we know about their struggles, Canada has a responsibility to take any and all precautions to protect these species because let's face it, extinction is a real possibility. We could ultimately see the extinction of some of our planet's most recognizable and beloved species which includes the elephant. Elephants are hunted illegally for their ivory, have faced endless drought, are hunted for trophies, and continue to be killed in conflicts with African communities. These majestic and intuitive animals are going to be extinct unless we take crucial and necessary steps to protect them. Steps that naturally include ending our participation in the ivory trade.

Hunting trophies are disgusting, especially if you take into consideration the many perils elephants already face to their survival. Why would someone be willing to put a bullet into an endangered animal so that they can return to Canada with the remains to put on display? Not only that, but why does our country still allow this sort of atrocity? We will never be a front runner on animal welfare if we're going to continue to allow ivory in to our country. Heck, at this rate we will retain our abysmal animal welfare grade for many years to come unless our current government makes welfare a priority. 

The only option is for Canada to ban the ivory trade. Elephants need their ivory, we do not. We must ban the import of ivory altogether, including trophies from hunts. There's no excuse for our continued participation in the decimation of up to 35, 000 elephants every year. Extinction is permanent and we need to start acting like it. 

​indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/woolly-mammoth-de-extinction-project-7549839/

A company named Colossal was just given an initial startup of 15 million dollars towards the re-introduction of the woolly mammoth. The company plans to reintroduce the mammoth to the artic in order to reverse a plethora of climate related issues that have affected the artic ecosystem including forests that have become overshrubbed and reestablishing the artic grasslands. The team has determined it will take approximately 100 of their arctic elephants to achieve their purported goals. As always, I have some serious reservations about this whole situation.

I fear that they wouldn't stand a chance given our reputation with animals in the past. Secondly, if they DO manage to thrive, what does this say about our current management of wildlife? We can protect a species we've brought back perhaps unnecessarily, but we can't even protect the ones who have been in peril for decades? It's almost a slap in the face to the animals on our planet who are currently in need of our protections. We're allocating millions of dollars to a science experiment while there are hundreds / thousands of species on our planet who are currently in need of funding to be protected properly. It presents quite a conundrum to me.

I support any initiative that is beneficial for our planet and ecosystems that are perhaps in peril. What I don't support is bringing a species back from extinction while there are species already alive and desperate for help. We aren't doing enough to help the ones who are already here so how am I supposed to be positive about the possibility of mammoth reintroduction? As I said, our history with endangered species is abysmal as best and I'm supposed to believe that humanity will allow the mammoth to thrive uninterrupted? I really don't believe that for a second.

Look, I would love to see this program move full steam ahead, but I think we should be worrying about the ones who are already here in need of our help. It's insane to me that we are going to bring back the mammoth while giraffes in Africa continue to plunge towards extinction. It's insane to me that we are trying to bring back the woolly mammoth while grey wolves continue to suffer and die. It's insane to me that we are trying to bring back the mammoth while we are in the midst of an extinction crisis. I guess what I'm saying is that we should be focusing on those who are here with us NOW before we start playing around with science. 

​Head to the link at the top of this post for the original story. What do y'all think? Is bringing back the mammoth something you support?

​globalnews.ca/news/5354534/declawing-pets-is-actually-amputating-a-joint-and-should-be-outlawed-experts/

Declawing of cats was once quite commonplace and a procedure most of us unassumingly subjected our cats to in order to "protect" our valuables. Anyone who has ever owned a cat knows that cats scratch, that's kind of their jam. What we long considered a simple and acceptable procedure was far from it, in fact, it's abhorrent. It's embarrassing that we would subject an innocent animal to a procedure that is not only unnecessary, but quite painful, in order to protect our couches or chairs. What's worse? We know now how disgusting the procedure is and Canada has yet to take a stand and ban the practice altogether.

When we decide to take on a new furry family member, we should be doing so with the understanding that there will be some accidents along the road. Cats might ruin a chair or pull down some blinds; dogs might peep or poop all over the place or dig up floor boards etc., these are things that we have to accept when we take on a pet. Subjecting our cats to painful and needless procedures because we care so much about our belongings is embarrassing and frankly, you shouldn't adopt an animal if you're not willing to accept the accidents. 

Cats / dogs are no different than toddlers. They will get into trouble. They will destroy some of our prized belongings. These are inevitable facts of owning a furry family member. Can you imagine if we started taking preventative measures on our children? Would it not be horrifying if doctors were recommending procedures for our children that would stop them from climbing, or crying? It would be horrifying to us, much like the procedure of declawing cats should be.

Canada is often behind when it comes to animal welfare. We banned NEW orca captivity in the country, but allowed those already in captivity to suffer for the rest of their miserable lives. We have individual provinces that have stepped up and banned declawing, but our country as a whole has not taken a necessary stand against the practice. The animal welfare movement continues to gain momentum and our country must adapt with these changing views. It's embarrassing that we continue to fall behind other countries when it comes to welfare issues, especially those that couldn't be more obviously wrong. 

It's time for Canada to do the right thing and ban the practice of declawing cats. Even one procedure is one too many when it comes to inflicting needless suffering on cats. Ban declawing and catch up to other countries across the globe that have already made the very obvious and necessary choice to ban this horrendous procedure.