Welcome to SWIVL

Bill O’Reilly Supports Michael Vick's NFL Return

FOX News Commentator, Bill O’Reilly is quick to criticize anyone who behaves contrary to his moral code but seems to have no problem with dog mutilators, killers, and rapists.  On his Fox TV Show, O’Reilly stated he had no problem with Michael Vick returning to the NFL despite the fact that Vick was part of a gang of thugs who tortured and killed innocent companion dogs.  Perhaps, Mr. O’Reilly should educate himself regarding the relationship between child abuse, domestic violence, and animal cruelty. If Mr. O’Reilly truly wants to protect children and our families, he can start by protecting our companion animals and use his influence to make sure our children do not see people like Vick as role models.

Please Protest Goat Tying Event At Rodeo

The Hayward, California Junior Rodeo takes place at the Rowell Ranch in Hayward, California on August 1 & 2. This rodeo is for children ages 6 to 18, and will feature 19 different events. Of particular concern are the calf roping, bull riding, and goat tying events.  Goat tying is especially traumatic for the animals. A young goat is tethered at one end of the arena. A child on horseback gallops to the goat, dismounts, then throws and ties the hapless and terrified animal. Sometimes the horse runs right over the goat. Click here to read more, see a YouTube video, and learn what you can do to help.

NFL Commissioner Reinstates Michael Vick

Did the Humane Society of the United States unknowingly participate in a public relations scam by Michael Vick?  When Vick was released from prison, the Humane Society allowed him to work with companion animals as a form of rehabilitation.  Unfortunately, this decision may have sent the wrong message resulting in Vick’s reinstatement in the NFL. 

SWIVL wonders what the Humane Society was thinking - was it simply more interested in bringing publicity to itself?  Certainly, you would not have a pedophile work at a preschool and call it rehabilitation.   Or, perhaps have a bank robber work as a security guard at your local savings and loan.   Michael Vick participated in the mutilation, killing, and forced rape of man’s best friend.  Vick does not deserve to participate in the NFL and the Commissioner should reconsider his decision. 

The Humane Society would have been better off in training the NFL Commissioner and others associated with professional football about the connection between animal cruelty, child abuse, and violent crime. 

Save the Children: End Factory Farms

Are we willing to change our eating habits to save the children?  We can feed the children of the world if we stop eating meat. The debate over world hunger has generally been framed in dependency terms: the idea that hunger is the result of a losing race between population growth and food production with the West attempting to provide innovative farming strategies to increase food production.  The truth is that this debate does not make any sense as we now know there is no shortage of food, but instead most crops are grown not to feed people, but to feed cows and pigs - a process that consumes exorbitant amounts of grain and water. The hunger debate, therefore, is not between the rich and the poor, the independent and the dependent, or the fortunate and less fortunate, but that hunger is the result of personal, social, and political decisions to produce meat for some, while the children of the world remain hungry.  Continue reading.

Transforming Relationships with Animals

Compassion Begins at Home – Dogs have cognitive abilities, emotional lives, feel pain, and know what it's like to suffer.  Dogs help humans in natural disasters, find our lost children, help us when we can’t see or hear, and love us unconditionally.  Dogs provide a warm touch to lonely seniors, friendship to those without friends, and warmth to those who have been left in the cold.  As humans, we can learn a great deal from our old friends.  We can also renew those values and ideals that define who we are.  Dogs can teach us many things, including loyalty, commitment, freedom and most important compassion. Read Jeffrey Masson.

 

The Human-Companion Dog Connection – Conventional wisdom suggests that dogs are dependent on humans for their existence.  The truth is that the dog-human relationship is interdependent and symbiotic. Yes, dogs are dependent on their human companions for food, water and safety.  However, once these psychological and safety needs are met both humans and their dog companions can provide each other with love, affection, and belongingness.  As a result personal value and esteem are increased and a social relationship is developed based on a mutually shared self-respect and self-confidence. While the scientific community tends to dismiss the social and psychological value of human-dog relationships, a growing body of evidence is beginning to show how beneficial companion dogs can be for society.    

 

End the Abuse – While SWIVL applauds elected officials that promote severe punishments for those who abuse our companion animals, SWIVL believes that the long term solution to animal abuse rests with our families and schools.  Click here if you agree and are prepared to join with SWIVL and bring humane education to our schools and communities.

 

SWIVL Welcomes Manny – Like so many dogs that are either deserted or neglected, Manny – an eight month old pup, spent his time under porches, begging for food, and searching for a friendly face.  Manny will no longer need to worry where he will sleep, when he will be fed, or who will love him. For about 10 days, Manny was isolated from the other SWIVL dogs.  During this time, Manny was tested to determine if he was healthy.  He was also neutered.  Once Manny received a clean bill of health, it was time to have him meet his new canine family.  SWIVL has a dog park of about 2 acres which acts as a neutral territory.  While there was some eyeballing, posturing, and agitation, no one growled or exhibited any serious aggression.  Soon, Manny and his new friends, Lucky, Blondie and BB – all previously abandoned dogs – were running around and playing with each other.

 

Help SWIVL Help More Mannys – To rescue abandoned dogs, like Manny, is a costly proposition: blood tests, X-rays, examinations, etc.  Often, emotional problems accompany the physical problems requiring length rehabilitation.  Your tax deductible contribution is appreciated.  No contribution is too small.

Factory Farms & Child Abuse

Do Factory Farms contribute to child abuse?   Each day, millions of children are fed hormones, steroids and antibiotics by unsuspecting parents.  Factory farms, where most of our meat and dairy products come from, are producing food that has been found to cause cancer and heart disease.  While the federal government protects factory farms, our children are the ones who will suffer.  It’s time to end factory farms and promote real health care for our children.  While our elected leaders claim they are for quality health care they have turned their back on the youth of America by allowing the factory farms to abuse our children.  Continue reading. 

Cycle of Violence: News & Updates

Violence & Crime Begins with Animal Abuse – Animal cruelty has been found to be a predictor of violent behaviors.  Ground-breaking studies by psychiatrist Alan Felthous indicate that many criminals who have been violent towards people share a common history of brutal parental punishment and cruelty to animals. This relationship suggests that parents and teachers should be concerned when they observe behaviors by young children that are abusive to animals.  Unfortunately, school and judicial systems do not usually take animal abuse seriously.  SWIVL works with teachers, parents, and community leaders to develop programs that emphasize civility and responsible behaviors that respect all sentient beings.  Click here if you would like to work with SWIVL to implement and bring a humane education compassionate curriculum to your school-community.

Health care is on Everyone's Mind – Yet, the media - both electronic and print - seldom discusses one of the most important factors driving the high cost of health care – violence.  Every year millions of Americans are exposed to violence – child and domestic abuse.  Violence occurs in all age groups and all socioeconomic levels.  It is obvious that these abusive experiences impose a direct economic burden on the healthcare system. What is less obvious is the even greater cost due to the long-term health care economic consequences of violence.  Continue reading

 The Cost of Violence in the United States –The total costs associated with nonfatal injuries and deaths due to violence in 2000 were more than $70 billion. Most of this cost ($64.8 billion or 92%) was due to lost productivity, with an estimated $5.6 billion on medical care for the more than 2.5 million injuries due to interpersonal and self-directed violence.  Continue reading.

Lovin' Spoonfuls Spoons Up Love for SWIVL and Other Animal Advocacy Groups

Lovin' Spoonfuls Vegetarian Restaurant in Tucson has started a new project called "Beads for Needs".  Owner Dr. Peg Raisglid makes beaded jewelry to sell at the restaurant, splitting the profit with a different animal rescue/advocacy group each month.  For the month of August, the proceeds will be donated to SWIVL.  Peg quit her day job as a Ph. D. Chemist to open up Lovin' Spoonfuls in the hopes of being able to help promote veganism, a more compassionate, less violent lifestyle.  September will mark the forth year of success for the restaurant.  Anyone dining at the restaurant should be sure to check out the "Beads for Needs" display!

Cycle of Violence: News & Updates

Martha MacCallum on Bull Fighting – FOX News Cable Network anchor, Martha MacCallum, thinks it’s okay to go to bull fights and have fun.  In fact, Martha sees nothing wrong with the way bulls are tortured and slaughtered in the name of sport.  In a recent story on the Running of the Bulls, Martha MacCallum was quick to point out how much she enjoyed her time at the bull ring.  Perhaps, Martha may want to use her journalistic talents to discover how cruel bull fights truly are and why Spaniards continue to support such a cruel and violent exhibition. 

Bull Fight Facts: 35,000 bulls are inhumanely slaughtered annually in Spain alone. Prior to a bullfight, the bull has his sight diminished by petroleum jelly, strength eliminated by tranquilizers, given laxatives and severe beatings to the kidneys. Additionally, heavy weights are hung around his neck weeks prior to the actual fight and confinement in darkness for hours preceding the fight.  Continue reading.

The Cove is Coming to a Theater Near You – This is the movie that can change the world. Brought to you by the Save Japan Dolphins Coalition and the winner of many prestigious honors including the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, The Cove chronicles the efforts of a courageous group of individuals to stop the brutal annual slaughter of thousands of dolphins in Japan. Click here for a preview and to find out when the film will be in your area.

Say No to the Circus – Each summer, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus carts dozens of elephants and other animals around some of the hottest parts of the U.S. in sweltering, poorly ventilated boxcars. The journey can be exhausting, disorienting, and extremely stressful, and the destinations bring more misery. Circuses are invariably sad, deadly places for animals, and Ringling is right up there with the worst of them. The circus removes baby elephants from their loving mothers and forces them into a life of punishment, debasement, and extreme loneliness. Ringling keeps elephants in line during their walk from the train to the venue by striking and hooking them in sensitive places with a steel-tipped bullhook.  

Take a stand for ViolenceFree and say no to the circus.

SWIVL Rescues Baby Pigs

Two 3-month-old, female Yorkshire production pigs are the newest residents at SWIVL. The pigs, which fell off of a packing truck, were left for dead by the meat packing company.  Dr. Kathleen Wishnick, SWIVL Director, drove to California to rescue the pigs and bring them to their new home.  Caren McNew DeMetre, a SWIVL volunteer, assisted Kathleen on the trip from California to Southern Arizona - the home of SWIVL.  Kathleen, commenting on her 18 hour trip to pick up the pigs, stated that pigs are intelligent and emotional nonhuman animals that are raised in some of the most deplorable conditions, only to be painfully slaughtered when they reach adulthood. They, like all sentient beings, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. 

The two baby pigs join SWIVL’s 15 goats, nine dogs, 10 cats, and one guinea pig as permanent residents. The new pigs will be part of the SWIVL humane education program.  Unlike so many school programs that ignore the intrinsic value of pigs and other farmed animals, SWIVL will offer a balanced curriculum that provides hands-on experiences based on compassion and ViolenceFree.