Welcome to SWIVL

SWIVL 2015 GOALS

1. Rescue and rehabilitate dogs abandoned in the desert.
2. Expand land and build facilities for abused goats, hogs, and other farmed animals.
3. Increase cat and dog spade and neuter work and education programs.
4. Work with animal rescue organizations on the Arizona – Mexican border.
5. Organize school – community educational programs to reduce animal cruelty.
6. Advocate for an animal abuse registry to inform and educate the public about animal abuse.
7. Promote legislation with severe penalties for animal abusers.
8. Educate youth and community groups and organizations about the cycle of violence.
9. Register as a safe haven shelter for animals that come from abused homes.
10. Work with community and elected officials to protect animal victims of family violence.

Please click here if you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to help SWIVL achieve its 2011 Goals.

SWIVL in the Community

SWIVL has been actively out in the community describing the relationships among animal cruelty, child abuse, and domestic violence.  While there are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of organizations that inform and educate the public regarding violence, SWIVL promotes the view that violence is indivisible; violence towards any feeling, being should be not be tolerated under any circumstance.  According to Dr. Kathleen Wishnick, Co-Founder of SWIVL, we must stop violence at all levels: animal cruelty, child abuse, and domestic violence.  Child abuse and domestic violence is on the increase because we have ignored the powerful relationship between animal cruelty and all other forms of violence.  When it comes to violence, it doesn’t matter if nonhuman animals speak or walk on two legs, all that matters is that they feel pain.  Your tax-deductible support will help SWIVL end violence through community action and legislative support.

Violence is Common Place for Women in the Middle East

A recent Human Rights Watch report warned that millions of domestic workers in Asia and the Middle East are subject to abuse, violence, and inhumane working conditions.

These maids, who come largely from the Philippines, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Ethiopia, are brought to their host countries — Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and Singapore — on a "sponsorship" system that essentially renders them indentured servants. The maids' passports are confiscated when they arrive, and they often owe exorbitant fees to recruitment agencies. This sponsorship system encourages trafficking and forced labor and confinement.  Continue reading.

The World Has Turned Against Women

The world has turned against women.  When it comes to protection, education, dignity and self-worth, the United Nations has legally and institutionally said no to women’s rights.   While you may not find any UN proclamation that denies the rights of women or supports their exploitation, actions speak louder than words.

On April 30, 2010, the nations of the world promoted Iran – a country where young girls and women live in a state of constant terror - to a high level commission designed to protect the status of women around the world.   On this day world leaders sat on their hands, the US President was AWOL, and US Representatives to the United Nations were silent. 

Iran's selection to the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women is nothing more than a grotesque joke.  Making matters worse, the major media web sites, including ABC, NBC, and CBS, did not cover the Iran appointment.  Only Foxnews.com covered the Iran debacle. 

Iran was voted in by acclamation, with no opposition. A campaign by women's rights champions inside and outside Iran calling on the UN not to take this step fell on deaf ears.

Iran will now join other enthusiastic human rights advocates such as China and the Congo, along with the other 59 Arab countries in the UN to support women.  Clearly, the women of the world are at risk. 

SWIVL believes it’s time for the United States to support the rights of girls and women everywhere and to use its political and economic muscle to end the horrific treatment of women, particularly throughout the Middle East.  The first step is for President Obama to address the UN General Assembly and demand the expulsion of Iran under the threat that the US will remove all financial support. This action needs no debate, discussion, or task force.  It only requires that we put our money where our ideals are. In other words, it’s time to take action.

Iran was voted in by acclamation, with no opposition. A campaign by women's rights champions inside and outside Iran calling on the UN not to take this step fell on deaf ears. Click here for a close look at Iranian legal practices.

The US Contribution to the UN - The United States has the maximum assessed contribution to the UN regular budget -- 22%. In 2009 the assessed amount is $598,292,101. The minimum assessed contribution is 0.001%. The scale of assessments for each UN member for the required contributions to the regular budget is determined every 3 years on the basis of Gross National Product (GNP).

Only nine countries (starting with the largest contributor: United States, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Canada, Spain, China) contribute 75% of the entire regular budget. Cuba contributes .043% of the regular budget. Oil-rich Saudi Arabia contributes .713%.

Supremes Turn Their Back on Man’s Best Friend

Supreme Court rules animal torture videos as free speech.  Simply put our dogs and cats have little value according to the US Supreme Court and while it may be illegal to torture and murder them, individuals and businesses that electrocute, crush, drown, strangle, rape, and otherwise torture companion animals are protected by the US Constitution to produce, market, publicize, and distribute the video and material representation of these monstrous acts.   

Key media outlets joined forces to promote their right to publicize the torture of animals, claiming free speech as their defense, with the New York Times leading this unholy alliance.  Arguing their position, the New York Time, twisted the ugly truth about animal torture into the protection of animals.   Here is the 1984ish position of the NY Times:

The goal of preventing crush videos and other animal cruelty is certainly a worthy one.  It is this very interest in protecting animals from abuse that makes speech about their treatment so valuable. Press coverage serves the community by exposing animal cruelty such as crush videos, animal fighting and the mistreatment of animals at some puppy mills and slaughterhouses.

In other words, we should not prohibit the publicizing and marketing of these horrific videos – otherwise the New York Time and other media outlets could not publicize them.  

Only one Justice had the courage to tell the truth:  Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. dissented, saying the majority’s analysis was built on “fanciful hypotheticals” and would serve to protect “depraved entertainment.”

 

Chief Justice Roberts and other Supreme Court Justices should get out of their ivory tower to understand the connection between animal cruelty, child abuse and domestic violence.  Animal abusers are never satisfied with the torture of just animals.  More and more evidence shows that animal abuse leads to child abuse and domestic violence.

Does the majority of the Supreme Court really believe individuals who distribute videos that depict animal torture are not disposed to violent behaviors?  Do they believe that the Founding Fathers of our country would have given these horrific videos and merchandise the status of protected speech?  The Supreme Court’s decision to ignore the link between human and nonhuman animal abuse gives the animal torture industry a pass while endangering our children and families.  Like so many of our elected official, they are out of touch with everyday thinking Americans.

SWIVL Brisenia Flores Memorial Award

On March 11th, the Southwest Institute for ViolenceFree Learning (SWIVL) presented the Brisenia Flores Memorial Award to four sixth graders from Sopori Elementary School.  Each student described their relationship with a companion animal and how they became more responsible and a better person.  Students received a certificate of success and a $25.00 gift card.

Sopori Elementary Principal Desi Raulston & 6th Grade Teacher Mrs. Gettinger with the four SWIVL Brisenia Flores Memorial Award Winners

The SWIVL Award acknowledges the beauty and creative spirit of children – a spirit that was exemplified by Brisenia Flores.  Brisenia’s young life was tragically taken through a brutal and senseless killing.  According to SWIVL co-founder, Dr. Kathleen Wishnick, the Award pays tribute to Brisenia and promotes the view that our schools should encourage compassion, creativity, and responsible behavior. From this Award, SWIVL hopes the dreams of a little girl will be realized through the lives of other children.  According to Wishnick, we celebrate the young life of Brisenia and we hope that good people everywhere will keep her memory alive.

 

SWIVL endorses the view that ViolenceFree can be created through personal self-reliance and accountability in a culture that encourages a strong work ethic, independence, and innovation. Through a learning environment, based on the Golden Rule, our schools can create relationships that are ViolenceFree.

Promote an Arizona Online Registry of Convicted Animal Abusers

Join with SWIVL to promote an Arizona online registry of convicted animal abusers.  The registry will list people convicted of animal torture, mutilation, intentional killings, sexual abuse and animal fighting.   If passed, this law will require any person convicted of a felony involving animal cruelty to register with the police and provide an array of personal information along with a current photograph, much like sexual predators.  The information, along with the registrants' specific offense, would then be posted on the Internet.

While some might view a Registry for Animal Abusers extreme, the violent link between animal and human abuse represents a strong connection that requires immediate action to protect society – especially children.  Animal abusers are cruel and dangerous and the public has a right to know who they are and where they live. 

If you believe there are certain behaviors that a civilized society should not tolerate, show your support and commitment to ending this horrific form of violence.  It’s time for honest, law abiding citizens to require those that commit horrible, torturous acts to be responsible and accountable for their actions.  Animal abusers are not victims to be understood and analyzed – they are individuals that need to be identified and monitored so the cycle of violence is once and for all stopped.

Click here to become part of a system-wide movement for ending the cycle of violence.  Unlike other programs and strategies that either focus on only animal abuse, child abuse, or domestic violence, SWIVL takes the approach that violence is indivisible and that animal, child, and domestic violence are cut from the same cloth.  The glue that binds animal cruelty, child abuse, and domestic violence is the abuser’s intention to control and dominate the victim.  These criminals are calculating individuals that enjoy the cruelty and terror they inflict on others.  Beginning with animal cruelty, violent acts become obsessive, where the individual is prone to become more and more abusive. Strong evidence shows that many serial killers began with the torture of small animals – behaviors which are often dismissed by judges and public officials as insignificant. 

Join with SWIVL in support of an Arizona Registry for Animal Abusers.  The link between animal abuse, child abuse, and domestic violence is clear and our government has the responsibility to protect all citizens from these predators.   SWIVL is reaching out to animal rights and welfare organizations, child advocacy and domestic violence groups, and individuals who believe we need to do much more to protect society and end the cycle of violence. 

Judaism and the Link between Human and Nonhuman Animal Abuse

Judaism views the proper treatment of nonhuman animals as a priority. Unnecessary cruelty to nonhuman animals is strictly forbidden, and in many cases, nonhuman animals are accorded the same sensitivity as human beings. This concern is unusual throughout the world. Most civilized nations did not accept this principle until quite recently (and certainly not in the Moslem world); cruelty to animals was not outlawed until the 1800s, and even now it is not taken very seriously.

The primary principle behind the treatment of animals in Jewish law is preventing tza'ar ba'alei chayim, the suffering of living creatures. Judaism expresses no definitive opinion as to whether animals actually experience physical or psychological pain in the same way that humans do; however, Judaism has always recognized the critical link between the way a person treats animals and the way a person treats human beings.

A person who is cruel to a defenseless animal will undoubtedly be cruel to defenseless people. Modern psychology confirms this understanding, with many studies finding a relationship between childhood animal cruelty and adult criminal violence.

Sadly, the converse is not always true, and those who love animals do not always value human life: Hitler loved animals; the animal rights group PETA wrote a letter to Arafat telling him, when he blows up a bus full of Israelis, could he please not hurt a donkey to do it. Click here for more.

Should There Be an Animal-Abuser Registry?

Should There Be an Animal-Abuser Registry?  

The California legislature is considering a bill to create a registry of animal abusers.  The connection between animal cruelty, child abuse and domestic violence needs to be taken seriously by policy makers.   Should Arizona law makers consider the same law?

SAVE SPORK: 17 Pound Dog May be Killed by City of Lafayette, Colorado

Rapists go free. Child abusers get suspended sentences.  Judges refuse restraining orders to protect women.  However, we must protect society from a 17 pound dog.

Spork is a miniature dachshund who could potentially get kenneled for the rest of his life or killed just for being scared at the vet. The little guy can’t defend himself, so it is going to take a national effort to come together and protect an innocent miniature dachshund from the horrific animal laws currently found in the City of Lafayette, Colorado.

Last August this 10-year-old miniature dachshund, Spork, snapped at and bit a veterinarian technician at Jasper Animal Hospital as he was being held by his owner. He has been at the vet on numerous occasions over the years and had been there just the week before, without ever having any issues except that he is usually very scared and shaking, sometimes defecating (which some dogs do if they are scared at the vet). In fact, he had been there just the week before when he got his shots and examination for oral surgery.

Spork's owner was doing exactly what she was told and was holding the 17-pound dachshund firmly in her arms when the vet tech suddenly, and without warning, put her face in his, which resulted in the bite. He was shaking badly before this happened which was noticed by the entire staff, and had pooped on his owner just before the accident. Clearly the little guy was just scared to be at the vet and that was obvious.

Where is Common Sense? The Lafayette Animal Control has charged Spork’s owners with having a vicious dog in the City of Lafayette.  Please contact the city of Lafayette (303) 665-5588 and let them know they should focus on more legitimate threats to public safety – not a 17 pound dog.