What are your specific skills, interests and talents & how do you put them to work to benefit animals?
- Are you someone who created a way to teach children about being kind to animals?
- Are you someone who loves to write so you started a blog to address animal welfare issues?
- Do you love to knit so you knit blankets for dogs in dog shelters?
- Are you an accountant or a lawyer who does pro bono work for animal charities?
- Are you skilled at marketing so you work in the marketing department of an animal friendly company?
- Do you love taking pictures of animals or painting animal portraits?
How are you taking the specific skills that make you YOU and using them to help animals?
Each of you has things you’re innately good at. Anything from drawing, to caretaking, to teaching, to rehabilitating,to negotiating, to writing, to crunching numbers, to photography, to organizing, to marketing, to singing, to fashion, to dancing, to cooking, to cleaning, etc.! Perhaps your skill is that you have a lot of patience which helps you handle difficult animals who come into the shelter you volunteer at. Perhaps you’re extremely efficient which helps you get sanctuary chores done. Perhaps you’re really good at nursing sick animals back to health.
No skill is too small! This contest is for the average everyday hero who helps animals doing tasks both big and small! You deserved to be thanked for all that you do.
Who Can Enter: EVERYONE. Teachers, volunteers, bloggers, painters, designers, dancers, musicians, lawyers, graffiti artists, hobbyists, students, accountants, etc.! Anyone who does something good for animals using a specific skill of theirs!
You can submit an essay or video and the top submissions will be judged by our celebrity guest judges! See rules below.
Your submission should answer the following questions:
- What are your unique skills/talents/interests? Explain them.
- How exactly are you making use of your skills/talents/interests to spread a message of compassion for animals?
- What kind of results have you achieved or do you hope to one day achieve?
Purpose: By showing how you use your specific skills to benefit animals you will encourage others to do the same and help spread a message of compassion (& excitement!) for animals. Plus you get to show off the work you do and let yourself shine! Just by participating you’re helping to celebrate animals with love and enthusiasm!
PRIZES - Over $3,500 in value!!
First Place Prizes:
1. $1,500 Off Your Next Vacation Booked through Your Time Travels (YTT). YTT is a travel company for animal lovers. Whether you want to volunteer abroad, go on safari, enjoy vegan resorts, or travel with your own pets, YTT can get you there. We currently offer trips to Costa Rica, Argentina, Thailand, Tanzania, and St. Martin. We will plan every last detail for you customized according to your needs and schedule! This credit can be applied toward your flights and/or hotel costs. You may use it whenever you’re ready for your next vacation (within 2 years from today)! www.yourtimetravels.com
2. Vegan Cooking Lesson with Verite Catering ($400 value).Private 2.5 hour vegan cooking lesson for two in New York with two amazing vegan chefs from the hottest new vegan catering company in the U.S., Verite Catering! If you can’t make it to New York, the cooking lesson can be done virtually.
3.Two One on One Life Coaching Sessions ($200 value).Life coaching helps you succeed at whatever endeavors you partake in. It can help you further your goals and resolve the pesky obstacles that hold you back from achieving your dreams. If those dreams are to help animals, even better!
- One 45 minute session with life coach Genna McWhinnie ($100 value) – High Priestess of Planning. Mistress of Momentum. Incendiary Coach. Genna is a vegan life coach.
- One 45 minute session with life coach Sally Hope ($100 value) – Inspiring You in Life, Love, Business and Other Things That Rock. Sally is a rock star life coach (literally, she used to be a rock star).
4. One on One Health and Wellness Counseling Session ($100 value).You can’t achieve your goals if you’re not healthy! Nutritional coach Heather Pierce Giannone is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in NYC and she is certified as a Holistic Health Coach by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. She will help you analyze your individual needs to get you on a healthier, more energetic and focus-minded path!
5.VegNews Gift Pack ($50 value).This gift pack features their signature oversized tote bag, 6 jumbo vegan cookies, an organic cotton t-shirt, the current edition of VegNews, and a one-year subscription to the magazine!
Second Place Prizes:
1. Trip to a Farm Sanctuary ($200 value).Enjoy 2 nights at a hotel or bed and breakfast near a farm sanctuary of your choice (maximum cost of $100 per night).
2. Vegan Cooking Lessons with Verite Catering ($400 value). See description above.
3. One Night’s Stay at Any Kimpton Hotel.Kimpton Hotels are the most pet friendly hotels in the United States. Born of a love and respect for all living creatures, their hosPETality program goes far beyond allowing your pet to stay at their hotel; they include fun amenities and services to ensure that their pet guests have an incredible journey. Any number of pets are welcome (zero fees) regardless of size, weight, kind, or breed. Kimpton Hotels are located in over 20 cities!
4. Two One on One Life Coaching Sessions ($200 value). See above description.
5.One on One Health and Wellness Counseling Session ($100 value). See above description.
Third Place Prizes:
1. $300 Discount Off Your Next Your Time Travels Trip Abroad (minimum trip cost of $1,000, not including flights).
2.Two One on One Life Coaching Sessions ($200 value). See above description.
3. One on One Health and Wellness Counseling Session ($100 value).See above description.
JUDGES
I’m honored by the judges who have agreed to participate in this contest. These judges hardly need any introduction. They are tireless advocates for compassionate living and have graciously agreed to lend a helping hand in picking the winners from the top contestants. They will help determine which contestants are doing the best job at putting their unique skills to work for animals! The judges are as follows:
1. Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States of America.
Wayne Pacelle is president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. Wayne took office on June 1, 2004 after serving for nearly 10 years as the organization’s chief lobbyist and spokesperson. During his tenure as HSUS president and CEO, Wayne has spurred major growth for the organization which is now the nation’s largest animal protection organization with 11 million members and constituents, an annual revenue of $135 million, and assets of more than $200 million. The organization is the 155th largest charity in the United States. Wayne has played a central role in more than 25 successful statewide ballot measure campaigns, has led successful campaigns to defeat ballot measures hostile to animal protection, has worked for the passage of hundreds of new state laws, and has helped to pass more than 25 federal statutes to protect animals. Wayne’s work has been featured in thousands of newspapers and magazines across the country. He has been profiled in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times, and has appeared on almost all major network television programs – including “60 Minutes,” “The Today Show,” “The News Hour with Jim Lehrer,” “Larry King Live,” “Good Morning America,” and ABC’s “Primetime Live.” He is author of the new book, The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them.
2. Kris Carr, New York Times best-selling author, top motivational speaker, and wellness coach.
Kris is the subject of the inspirational documentary, Crazy Sexy Cancer, which she wrote and directed for TLC, and the author of the award-winning Crazy Sexy Cancer book series. Kris’ third book, Crazy Sexy Diet is the ultimate diet and lifestyle game plan for wellness warriors seeking peak health, spiritual wealth and happiness. Carr regularly lectures at medical schools, hospitals, wellness centers, and universities such as Harvard. She is a Contributing Editor for Natural Health Magazine and writes for many online publications including Psychology Today and The Huffington Post. Television appearances: The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, The Early Show, Today Show, Access Hollywood, Good Morning America and The Oprah Winfrey Show. Check out her website, crazysexylife.com for daily tips, articles and inspiration. Make juice not war!
Photo by Derek Goodwin for Farm Sanctuary
3. Gene Baur, President and Co-Founder of Farm Sanctuary, America’s leading farm animal protection organization.
Genegrew up in Hollywood, California and worked in commercials for McDonald’s and other fast food restaurants. He adopted a vegan lifestyle in 1985, and today, he campaigns to raise awareness about the negative consequences of industrialized factory farming and our cheap food system. After volunteering and working with various environmental and human rights causes, Gene turned his attention to animal agriculture. He has conducted hundreds of visits to farms, stockyards and slaughterhouses to document conditions, and his photos and videos, exposing factory farming cruelty, have been aired nationally and internationally, educating millions. He has testified in court and before local, state and federal legislative bodies, and has initiated groundbreaking legal enforcement and legislative action to raise awareness and prevent factory farming abuses. He played a significant role in passing the first U.S. laws to prohibit cruel farming systems, including the Florida ban on gestation crates, the Arizona ban on veal and gestation crates, and the California ban on foie gras. His efforts have been covered by leading news organizations, including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, National Public Radio, ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN. His book, entitled Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food, was published by Touchstone (a division of Simon and Schuster) in March 2008 and has become a national best-seller.
4.Colleen Holland, Associate Publisher of VegNews.
Passionate about publishing and business, Associate Publisher Colleen Holland is the co-creator of VegNews. From their humble beginnings in 2000, she and Joseph Connelly grew the publication from a 28-page newspaper tabloid to an award-winning, full-color glossy magazine. A graduate of UCLA and the Natural Gourmet Institute, her background in food, marketing, and brand-building has helped to create a savvy, internationally renowned media company. Colleen has traveled around the world and enjoys yoga, cooking, urban hikes, and dining out at veg restaurants.
5. Leanne Hilgart, founder of Vaute Couture.
Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart is founder & creative director of Vaute Couture, the first apparel line to develop a winter proof dress coat that’s also vegan! She spent 8 months on fabric research and quit her full ride MBA and international modeling contracts to start-up her company. Since launching in 2009, Vaute Couture has been named Company of the Year by VegNews Magazine, Best Fashion Company by Peta2, Awarded the Apex Award in Design by Polartec, Named 1 of 22 Best New Coats by Chicago Magazine, featured in Marie Claire Magazine, FOX TV’s BONES, and on the red carpet. Celebrity fans include Alicia Silverstone, Emily & Zooey Deschanel, Ginnifer Goodwin, the Breakfast Club’s Ally Sheedy and Twilight’s BooBoo Stewart. TeenVogue said, “We can’t think of a better way to keep warm this winter.” Oprah.com used Vaute Couture to spread awareness on animal fabrics and issues saying, “Vaute Couture proves that compassionate style can be cute, chic, and sexy,” and Alicia Silverstone tells her fans, “I love the styles, I love even more what this company stands for, Leanne is so sweet.” Leanne has been on the cover of VegNews Magazine as 1 of 8 Brilliant Eco Entrepreneurs, named 1 of 40 Redefining Green by Grist.org, & 1 of 7 Best New Green Designers by Ecouterre. Her fabrics are not only vegan but also cutting edge closed loop recycled high technology fabrics that are exceptionally warm and light and her apparel is constructed locally and ethically in NYC.
6. Jasmin Singer, co-founder and executive director of Our Hen House.
Our Hen House is a multimedia hive of opportunities to change the world for animals. With her partner, animal rights law professor Mariann Sullivan, Jasmin hosts a weekly podcast, with recent guests including Peter Singer and Jane Velez-Mitchell. With her video production unit, Jasmin makes videos for the Our Hen House series, The Gay Animal and Art of the Animal. From 2007-2010, Jasmin was the campaigns manager for Farm Sanctuary. She is currently a contributing writer for VegNews Magazine, as well as a host of VegNews TV. Jasmin was also named by VegNews as one of twenty stand-out stars of the animal rights movement. Her articles have also been seen in Satya Magazine and Heeb Magazine. Jasmin’s activist workshops have been presented at universities and law schools throughout the country, as well as conferences such as Taking Action for Animals, Farm Sanctuary’s Hoe Down, Let Live Northwest Animal Rights Conference, the Institute for Critical Animal Studies North American Conference, and the SUNY Social Justice Conference. Jasmin has been featured in media outlets such as TimeOut New York,CNN, Associated Press, and the New York Observer. Visit www.ourhenhouse.org, a place to find our way to change the world for animals.
RULES
- You will be judged based on how you make the most out of your skills to help animals.
- The contest will run from Monday, April 4th, 2011 until Friday, April 29th, 2011 at 5:00 PM EST. No late entries will be considered.
- 750 word essay or 3 minute video max.
- The above judges are clearly very busy people so I will narrow down all contestants to the top 7 contestants. Then our celeb judges will vote for their top 3 favorites in order. I’ll then count up all votes from the judges which will determine the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize winners!
- All contest entries must be submitted in the comments section of this blog post. No emails please.
- BONUS POINTSgiven for people who post tweets and facebook updates daily (up to 3 times per day). When tweeting always use twitter hashtag #yttcontest. You may modify the below samples as you wish.
- Sample Tweet: “I want to win the crazy amount of prizes in the @liztimetravels Your Skills for Animals Contest!! #yttcontest”
- Sample Facebook Post: “I want to win the crazy amount of prizes in the @Your Time Travels Your Skills for Animals Contest!!”
- To stay apprised of important contest updates make sure you sign upfor blog updates by entering your name and email in the sign up form on the top right hand corner. Please also join the YTT facebook page atwww.facebook.com/yourtimetravels.
ENTER YOUR CONTEST SUBMISSION IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW!!
So many thanks to our very generous sponsors and prize donators: Earth Balance/MadeJustRight.com, Hurraw! Lip Balms, VegNews, Verite Catering, Business Hours Creative, Kimpton Hotels, Genna McWhinnie, Sally Hope, and Heather Pierce Giannone.
Wow! what a fabulous prize…will have to get creative on how I help animals…
Thanks Djanira!
incredible amount of prizes, and all-star list of judges
i’m all over this – fire-up the video cameras
good luck to all
Thanks Carl
What an insanely AWESOME contest! I am going to get on this and enter. Thank you for providing such a great way to celebrate our animal friends. Love it!
Thank you Lisa!!
Liz!!!! this is amazing! may the best animal lover win
Thanks Elsa!
I am an animal rescuer, I volunteer for my parishs’ Animal Control. I am a foster for the most heinous equine cases. So basically rehab rescused horses. I also document the animal abuse/neglect and would help the Dr. as her vet tech assistant. I believe I have rescused, treated and foster about 3 dozen different animals like dogs, cats, horses, goats, squirrels, birds, turtles, snakes -whatever really. Is this how I enter the contest?
Basically I love animals back to health. With proper nuitrition, vet care and love. I can and will save as many as possible.
I also rescue blind horses.
thanks for the contest.
mab
Thanks for your entry Michele! Yes, this is how you enter. Would be great if you could expand on your skills a bit – how exactly do you rehab them? What about your skills makes you perfect for this work, etc. Thanks!!
I rehab them on my ranch by healing their physical injuries, by the time these horses get to me, they are usually very very thin, and either sick or injured. One horse only had a shell where his hoof should have been. It takes time to grow a Throughbreds’ hoof back.
I’ll write more later if you are interested, I have the day off and I need to be outside with my horse clan.
Thanks for your entry Michele and for all the work you do with your rescued horses and other animals!
Hey Michelle – is that you!? Haha – from Louisiana ( USL class of 1994 ). It’s Tancie – so funny running into you here – you wrote ‘parishs’ so I am pretty sure it’s you. The work you are doing sounds incredible – fingers crossed for you to win!! xo
Hay Tancie, thanks for the heads up to this site! Thanks for the kind words, From the FB it sounds you lead a very interesting and helpful life!
I am a children’s writer and illustrator. My latest book, “LUCKY PIGS”, is due out May 2011. Listen in as Nikki retells a favorite bedtime story to her 5 piglets; Portia, Ellen, Rory, Freston, and Chuck. Her story is about how they arrived at Farm Sanctuary from the 2008 Iowa floods. My hope for this book is that it facilitates discussions between 4-12+ year olds and their caregivers about from where our ‘food’ comes. Please click HERE HERE to check out my book trailer here
Thank you for all you do for the animals,
Susan Rooker
Amazing Susan! I will definitely check out the trailer. Thanks for your entry!
Shoot! You can’t enter if you’re good friends with one of the judges right?
Brenda, email me – liz@yourtimetravels.com. We have 6 judges so we may be able to figure something out that keeps it fair!
Sigh-I wish I could enter!
But this is what I do-
I adopted a puppy mill survivor mini dachshund. I needed all the help I could get and had a hard time finding it so I started my own puppy mill survivor support group. We have monthly conference call meetings with a trainer, we also have guest speakers that talk about the issues and the emotional well being of the animals. Lastly we just started a group in house 6 week postive training session which sold out. All to help our furry babies.
This is so exciting! Can’t wait to see all the entries and the amazing things people are doing for animals!
Growing up I always felt like I had a special connection with animals, as I’m sure a lot of people do. My father was not a real big animal fan but my mother was (and still is). This of course meant we always had animals present in our family. Cats and dogs, rabbits, fish, and even a hedgehog. I daydreamed about being able to talk to animals and have them talk back. I relished in the idea that someday I would be able to give back to animals what they had always given me: happiness.
Skip forward to when I was around 19 years old. I always had this incurable need to want to help living things. I began going to school to take the prerequisites to apply to the nursing program. During this time I got hired on at an assisted living residence. Six months later I was burned out. I left the dream of nursing school and left my job at the assisted living residence. As much as I loved helping people, it was too much and it didn’t feel like it was one-hundred percent right for me. To make ends meet, I got a job working at a fast food restaurant. Not until a year later did I see a want ad for a receptionist position at a veterinary clinic. I did not have any experience in the veterinary field but I applied anyway. One phone interview, two in-person interviews, and a working interview later, I received a phone call saying that I had beat out sixty other applicants and had gotten the job.
I worked hard to learn what I could about veterinary medicine and the field. I have an innate ability to catch onto things quickly and learn to do them well which helped greatly in this case. I fell deeply in love with the job. It felt less like a job and more like something I looked forward to. After a year working as a receptionist, I yearned for more. I wanted to be more hands on with the animals. My boss agreed and allowed me to move to the position of veterinary assistant. I then expressed interest in wanting to become a veterinary technician. My boss told me that he thought that I would make a great technician and said that he would pay for my first two semesters of school. I was over the moon.
Now fast forward to present day. I wake up going to work feeling like I have the best job in the world. When people talk about winning the Lotto, I imagine that if I won that I would still work at least part-time so that I could do what I love. Not only do I get to be around animals every day, but I get to help them. It is so rewarding to help aid an ailing animal back to health. Seeing a sick animal that is dehydrated and looks to be on its last leg come back a week later for a recheck appointment and seeing how greatly improved it is because of something we did together as a team; that feeling is priceless. Of course the part of the job that never gets any easier is assisting the doctor with the euthanasia of a parent’s furry loved one. However, this too proves to be a rewarding experience. I get to be there by their pet’s side and soothe him or her as he/she passes on to what lies beyond this life. To feel the amount of love in the room for that one small creature is so tremendous that I find myself fighting back tears.
However, euthanasias make up only a small percentage of what I do. Working towards becoming a veterinary technician, I get to perform blood draws, perform radiographs, administer medications, clean wounds, monitor surgeries, be there by an animal’s side as he/she wakes up from surgery, educate clients, and so much more. I get to be there for an animal’s (and their parent’s) up and downs, and watch puppies and kittens grow into adults. An eagerness to always want to learn more got me to where I am today. Patience and having what feels like a natural ability to care for the sick makes me better at what I do today. When I get up in the morning and after I put on my scrubs, I put these two abilities into my back pocket as I smile to face the day ahead of me.
Thanks for this wonderful entry Heidi! I’m so glad you kept pushing yourself to find your perfect job as a vet tech!
hi
i am from india,i love animals , i am a vegan, i feel very sad to see how people treat animals and in india i have seen bullocks been loaded with heavy weights for transportation of goods and once i saw the bullock couldnt take the weight and was moving slowly so the rider was twisting its tail and hurting it so that it moves faster.. i stopped my bike and started yelling at him that i will call police and this alerted other people around me and they all stood by me, after which a traffic police warned the guy too and he begged pardon after this..like wise i saw a man throwing his heard of sheeps into the compound by grabbing its skin i started yelling at him and he said its my sheep and i will do anything to it its my wish i again created a scene and gathered crowd to teach him a lesson..when ever i find mall pups abandoned i carry them home and post pictures of them on facebook or orkut until i find a owner for them atleast 12 pups until date out of which one has become a champion in dog contests .i have treated injured birds , cats and dogs and released them when they were good to go..i try to spread vegitarianism to as many as possible by showing vedios on youtube and farmsanctury vedios on how animals are treated before they are presented on table. right now i have moved to singapore from 2 months all i get to do here is feed some pegions which come here everyday..I can read animals and they all have deep feelings i cry when i see brutality towards them.. i try to educated younger generation on compassion and love towards animals..)great goind farm sanctury your works bring tears in my eyes..may god bless you .
thanks
Thanks for this entry Supriya! You are a true warrier for animals!
hi
i am from india,i love animals , i am a vegan, i feel very sad to see how people treat animals and in india i have seen bullocks been loaded with heavy weights for transportation of goods and once i saw the bullock couldnt take the weight and was moving slowly so the rider was twisting its tail and hurting it so that it moves faster.. i stopped my bike and started yelling at him that i will call police and this alerted other people around me and they all stood by me, after which a traffic police warned the guy too and he begged pardon after this..like wise i saw a man throwing his heard of sheeps into the compound by grabbing its skin, i started yelling at him and he said its my sheep and i will do anything to it ,its my wish i again created a scene and gathered crowd to teach him a lesson..when ever i find mall pups abandoned i carry them home and post pictures of them on facebook or orkut until i find a owner for them ,atleast 12 pups till date out of which one has become a champion in dog contests .I have treated injured birds , cats and dogs and released them when they were good to go..I try to spread vegitarianism to as many as possible by showing vedios on youtube and farmsanctury vedios on how animals are treated before they are presented on table. right now i have moved to singapore from 2 months all i get to do here is feed some pegions which come here everyday..I can read animals and they all have deep feelings i cry when i see brutality towards them.. i try to educate younger generation on compassion and love towards animals..
great going farm sanctury your works bring tears in my eyes..may god bless you .
thanks
So proud of you! I am totally entering this!
You should Mary!!
Cool Liz- I passed this on.
Great entries so far everyone!! Very inspiring! Keep em coming!!
I am a photographer who thru my wanderings outdoors looking for pictures to take have discovered cats that were living outdoors either in housing projects or as farm cats. In all cases, the cats were breeding out of control and were horribly neglected.
Thru my images of these cats posted at a photo sharing website, I was able to raise enough money to spay/ neuter hundreds of cats [ using my own money or donated funds] these past two years. In doing so, I educated the farmers to treat their barn cats with compassion and concern.
A large cat colony that was breeding out of control, are now spayed/ neutered, most rehomed and the remaining dozen well cared for thanks to a helper who lives at their location and feeds them with the food I provide.
I have also encountered and helped dogs that needed rescuing and-or spay/neuter. Being retired and having the free time to drive around my part of the state has enabled me to help
people and their pets as well.
Here is a link to images of “my” cat colony that started it all, in 2008.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rainriver/sets/72157617061545333/
Thanks for your entry Rebecca. Your cat colony photos are beautifu!! I can see why they were so effective.
Telling a story through photographs …
For the last four years, this has been my personal project. To tell the story of neglect, abandonment, and all to often, abuse, through a collection of photographs called “Shelter Series”. I volunteer my time and photographs to local animal shelters and rescues in the Dallas Fort Worth area. My hopes in continuing this project, are to share and spread the stories and faces of the forgotten ones who perish in shelters daily. The images are haunting and powerful, and cut to the very heart of the animal overpopulation issue we face in this country. In the eyes of each of the animals I photograph, lies a past, a story, and me – a photographer hoping to extend a message of hope for these sweet and innocent souls.
Fortunately, this project that is so close to my heart, has resulted in adoptions and increased awareness – even if it’s just within my small community.
Image from “Shelter Series” can be viewed at http://www.sylviaelzafon.com.
Sylvia, your photos are amazing. They are so full of emotion and are truly haunting. I want one framed! Thanks for your entry!
Thank you for your kind words, Lizzy!
And, I’d be happy to make you a print!
Liz, this competition kicks ass ON SO MANY LEVELS!
Well done doll and good luck everyone!
Gxx [who is only slighty peeved that this is for American peeps only. Oh I wouldnt be able to enter anyway, good friend of Liz ya see
]
Yes, I could never judge you fairly Genna
Loving all these entries. I’m starting to post snippets of your stories on the facebook page so even more people can see how you use your skills for animals! So show off your stuff!!
http://www.facebook.com/yourtimetravels
I am currently a 3rd year U.S. veterinary student living on the beautiful island of Grenada. After being here for about a year and having a lot of people say to me, “You’re vegan! Oh it must be so hard. What do you eat?” I decided to start a blog called “Being Vegan in the Caribbean”. http://caribvegan.blogspot.com/
I realized that vet students, just like most other people, are completely disconnected to the foods that they eat and really don’t put much thought into what they are consuming. My blog shares delicious recipes of easy things to make on the island (and at home). It celebrates the availability of fresh local produce all year around while promoting a vegan diet. I also decided to organize movie nights where we watch films that address the U.S. food system and then have discussions afterwards. I have veggie potlucks where I challenge all my nonveg friends to bring a vegan dish and try to use mostly local ingredients. I often bake vegan goodies to take to class and share, to show people that vegan tastes good! I make sure to bring snacks and lunch to school that are homemade and look and smell delicious to encourage people to try the recipes I have posted on my blog. I am also very active on Facebook, posting informative articles and videos that share with people the realities of the food animal industrial world, as well as other problems in U.S. agricultural, and ways people can get involved and make a change.
I have joined other students in helping the Grenadian community. I volunteer with One Health, One Medicine where we go to different parishes on the island and provide free vaccinations, deworming, dog food, and education to pet owners. I also volunteer with an organization called Pothounds Against Pregnancy that provides free spay and neuter services along with health checks, vaccinations and deworming for people’s pets.
After I graduate from vet school, my goal is to move back to Ohio and create Cloverleaf Farm. This will be a sanctuary for all living beings as well as showcase for sustainable farming. At Cloverleaf Farm we will provide lifelong care for rescued animals, which become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. We will raise public awareness, improve access and encourage the enjoyment of foods that are local, seasonal and sustainably grown. We will promote a compassionate lifestyle through tours, cooking classes, volunteer opportunities, and internships. We will grow and harvest food with methods that have a positive impact on our local ecosystems and promote/protect biodiversity.
Emily, thanks for your wonderful entry and for spreading veganism throughout the Caribbean!
[...] Your Skills for Animals Contest: Celebrity Judges & Prizes … [...]
If somebody were to say a word that describes me then “compassion” would definitely be one of them. I am a 32-year-old mom of an almost 7-year-old daughter. I became vegetarian at the age of 8 and have been ever since. I have raised my daughter to be vegetarian and a very compassionate little girl. Growing up with a respect and love for various pets and animals I realized I wanted to be their voice. I would do animal advocacy here and there when I could but then I got married, had a child, divorced and now just trying to do the best I can with what I have. My time is valuable and there’s never enough of it. I still had this desire to do something more for animals and little did I know my craft would become the key to making my desire a reality. I make glass tile necklaces, keychains and magnets and the day I started creating these I instantly knew that I wasn’t going to use just any artwork or message on my items, they were going to be meaningful messages! I began making vegan and vegetarian related tiles. Then a good friend of mine on the east coast started his non-profit rescue “Pittsburgh Pit Bull Rescue” and I still wanted to be a part of something more! I offered to do a fundraiser for him by donating 25% of select tiles sales to his rescue. With that idea, Glass Creations was born and was an instant hit overnight! Though overwhelmed I was so deeply moved and proud! I was helping create something that people were proud and excited to wear or own, messages that conveyed compassion for animals and to raise money to save lives and enhance them! People were so happy with their purchases, they referred friends and family and I’ve been doing this now for almost 3 months. I am presently doing a fundraiser for Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary and will be starting another fundraiser for Parrot Haven. People purchase beautiful items and in return a donation is made to a rescue. The whole process is a beautiful thing! I feel so blessed to be able to help and be a part of something meaningful and to build relationships with these amazing people that volunteer and rescue animals giving them another chance at life. That’s what life is about to me, helping those that have no voice and can’t help themselves.
You can find my glass tile creations at http://www.artfire.com/users/affirmation and you can also find me on my Facebook fan page http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Glass-Creations/147785965271197
Thank you for this opportunity and what a wonderful idea to hold this contest!
Alison, I love your glass tile work! Such a unique way to spread a message of compassion for animals. Thanks for your entry!
Ever since I can remember, I have loved animals. It wasn’t until I was in college, however, that I made the connection between the animals I supposedly loved and what was on my plate. Something drew me to research animal cruelty for various projects in school, and it was then that I found out about the horrors that are inflicted on animals in the name of science, food, clothing, entertainment, etc. I stopped eating, wearing, or using animals in any way. My life changed forever.
The saddness that came with knowledge was very overwhelming so I had to find an outlet for it. I began writing very simple poems that helped put the pain into words for both the animals and myself. I began sharing those poems with others as much as possible through email and social networking. One of my poems was featured in a Dogs Deserve Better video, and several of them appear on various websites. I have been told that my poems have caused people to live more compassionately. A changed heart is all I can ever ask for or hope for. I will continue to be a voice for the animals until I die or the whole world becomes vegan…whichever comes first.
Some of my poems can be read here: http://poemsbyheather.tripod.com/index1.htm
They can be shared freely and used with permission in any way intended to help animals.
Heather, your poems are truly amazing. I got teary eyed reading some of them. Thank you for sharing this with us! Please keep it up!
I’ve been working to make a positive difference in the lives of animals since my childhood. At the young age of thirteen, I took a step away from my family’s traditional SAD diet (standard American diet) to become a vegetarian. My love for animals guided my heart to speak out and fight against modern factory farming practices that affect millions of farm animals each year. What began as a personal animal rights statement grew into a passion for healthy eating and compassionate living. My cruelty-free life journey is 15 years strong and counting. I am proud to say my lifestyle choices have had a positive influence on my nuclear family with four of five family members choosing a vegan or vegetarian diet.
When I gave birth to my son Regan about a year ago, I knew I wanted to raise him on a healthy, vegan diet. Laying the groundwork to educate him about our unique lifestyle choices became a priority of mine over the past year of his life. While vegetarianism is gaining more and more momentum, kids can be real brash these days. As Regan grows, it will be important I continue to educate him about the reasons why we choose to not eat animals. And I want him to be able to explain our philosophy and lifestyle choices to his friends at school in a non-threatening way.
During my research, I wasn’t able to find any cardboard-style children’s books that educate about nutrition and animal welfare in a child’s simple language. As a result, my father (who is also now vegan) and I decided to write Regan his very own book! Regan the Vegan introduces healthy eating habits and addresses the issue of animals as friends rather than food. Our goal is to publish Regan the Vegan and have it widely available for others to purchase. We have a vision of like-minded mothers reading this book to their young child as he or she begins to experiment with solid foods in infancy.
Recently, I chose to redirect my career to promote healthy lifestyles and environmental awareness. I left a job in corporate America to enroll at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I will be establishing a health counseling practice within the next year with a strong focus on healthy nutrition choices for families and children. My target market is pregnant women and new mothers seeking holistic health, natural childbirth, and attachment parenting advice. I plan to use Regan the Vegan as a tool to educate mothers about the growing research and health benefits of a plant-based diet for their families.
Without further ado, I would like to present the text of the book I intend to publish. It is presented here without photo illustrations.
Regan the Vegan
My friends don’t seem to understand me.
But I’m as healthy as a little boy can be.
I eat lots of fruits and veggies my Mommy gives to me.
They’re tasty and give me the highest energy.
I am Regan the Vegan.
I eat food naturally!
I love apples, red cherries, and wild berries you see.
I eat bananas and oranges that grow on fruit trees.
I eat corn, cukes, and carrots.
And plants that grow green leaves.
I am Regan the Vegan.
More fruits and veggies please!
I eat wheat, oats, and grains that wave in the breeze.
Some brown rice and legumes to block sickness and disease.
Healthy snacks are delicious!
I eat them in good measure.
Yes, healthy foods add nutrition to my eating pleasure.
Did I mention potatoes, tomatoes, or peas?
I don’t need cow’s milk, fish, meat, or cheese.
I get my protein from beans, nuts, and seeds.
I am Regan the Vegan.
I eat real foods indeed.
My friends don’t seem to understand me.
But I’m as healthy as a little boy can be.
I love pigs, cows and chickens, all animals agreed.
But I love than as friends not merely as feed.
It’s a different way of living.
Another point of view.
I am Regan the Vegan.
I wish a healthy life for you!
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my passion for animals with you. I am hopeful my writing and health coaching skills will inspire mothers to make lifestyle choices that benefit the health of their families as well as the lives of farm animals and wild life all over the world!
Shannon, thank you for your entry. I love the text of Regan the Vegan! I can’t wait to see it published!
[...] if those contests are not enough for you, it seems there is a great one going on over at Your Time Travels. So, if you’ve ever wanted to plan a vacation that had animals and your ethics in mind, you [...]
can you only enter as an individual or can we enter as a band?
You can enter as a band! But the prizes would remain the same so you’d just have to decide who gets what. Looking forward to your entry!
I’ve loved animals since I was very little. They fascinated me, and I enjoyed watching them in their natural habitat. Soon, I learned the names of all the wild birds.
I founded a local animals’ club and became a vegetarian when I was 11. During my teenage years, I desperately wanted to volunteer at the animal shelter, but you had to be 18 at the time. So instead, I rescued injured wildlife—mostly orphaned baby birds, which I nursed back to health and returned to their habitat when they were strong enough.
At 23, I relocated to the NYC region and became a vegan shortly after. Now, I use my social media and marketing experience to maintain a local animal shelter’s website, facebook page, and weekly newsletter.
I organize and assist with fundraising, events, and everything in between. I spend my free time at adoption events or awareness campaigns, mostly about the plight of shelter animals in general, and abused Pitbulls in particular. One of my fundraisers garnered almost $3,000 online for urgently needed cat medicine—within 48 hours! As an avid knitter, I create custom-ordered accessories and garments, and trade them for donations to local animal shelters and rescue groups.
I’m also a freelance photographer. Every weekend, I take pictures of local adoptable dogs. I’ve found that thoughtfully composed pictures can make a tremendous difference for the animals, and increase their chances of getting adopted. Many adopters mention that they fell in love with a picture, and that it inspired them to visit the shelter and find that dog! A good photograph can literally save a life.
To share my experience with shelter dog photography, I have written tutorials that will help other shelters and rescue groups improve their pictures of adoptable animals, even without special camera equipment.
I really hope that I can continue to make a difference for the animals—there are just so many that need our help!
Carina, you’re amazing! You do SO much to help animals. Thank you for this entry and for being such an inspiration!
I have always have had a love and passion of animals for as long as I can remember. As a child growing up in queens there were so many stray cats and kittens in my building complex. At an early age an overwhelming need to care for the neighborhood cats came over me. When I was 9 I remember taking in many of the stray kittens and cats and finding them homes, or keeping them myself. With the support of my parents and their understanding of my passion, my calling for saving strays began.
I remember going grocery shopping with my mother as a child and force my mother with my persistent ways to buy me some cat food to feed my strays. That is when I started the feedings. Before I went to school I would wake up extra early and go to the alleys and put food out for them. The relationship was building. The Cats would see me come around the corner like clockwork every morning and run to me. This feeling as a child was unexplainable, I knew that I was helping these cats, but they were really helping me. As I got to know the cats and their personalities, I started giving them names. There was Baby, Sheena, Marvin, Muffin, and Rice and Beans. As a child I found my passion early! As I got older I continued my mission of helping these innocent animals by feeding the neighborhood cats wherever I moved.
I then started to notice the population of Cats growing tremendously. Everyday more and more cats would come out for meals and they were also very aggressive. The sounds of screeching and fighting in the alleyways would dominate the quite neighborhoods late at night. The cats would keep me up every night in the spring when it was mating season. Again I felt this overwhelming responsibility to do something about this over population problem.
One summer morning as I got up to walk my beautiful furry babies, (Bella a rescued Sheppard mix and Peanut a feisty Lhasa Apso who also was rescued from a puppy mill) I noticed from a far little fur balls in the middle of the street. As I got closer I saw that they were kittens that couldn’t be no more then 4-6 weeks old. My heart started thumping I had to get these babies to safety. So all three of us, Bella, Peanut and I tried to shoo them to the sidewalk, but as we did they would run back into the street. Stressed out, I continued my walk and tried to brainstorm what to do. When I got to my apartment I got on my computer and printed out a list of local shelters. My mission was born! I got on the phone and made calls. I explained the situation and asked for their help.
That’s when I learned about the Feral Cat Program. It’s easy to confuse a feral cat with a stray cat (Hint: feral cats are the offspring of lost or abandoned pet cats or other feral cats who are not fixed). They don’t easily adapt, or may never adapt, to living as pets in close contact with people, many don’t survive; if they do, their lives aren’t easy without human caretakers.
Trap-Neuter Release (TNR) is a program where you set up raccoon traps in your neighborhood. You tempt the cats with bait which you leave overnight. When you come back in the morning, you would be surprised how many cats you can catch. You put a towel over the cage and bring them to the shelter where they then get vaccinated and fixed. After they have recovered they are then released back where they were found. This program helps bring down the population, disease and fights amongst the feral cats. The program is NOT funded by the city and is solely run by volunteers. I always thought I was doing a great thing by feeding the neighborhood cats, I didn’t realize I was actually adding to the problem. Now educated and trained, I set aside a budget and started my mission to TNR.
If your neighborhood is overrun by colonies of cats, call your local shelter and inquire about the Trap- Neuter- release program!
Lana, thank you for this beautiful entry and for being so brave in helping homeless cats at even a very young age! You listened to your heart even as a child – such an inspiration!
I have always had a love for animals that was instilled at an early age by my father. He taught me that all life is important, from the smallest creatures to the largest. I was taught to respect and admire what each one contributes to the web of life, because we are all dependent on each other even if we don’t know how. In addition, I was taught to find the beauty in all animals. Not many people would say that rats are beautiful creatures, but if you stop and think about the amazing abilities that they have, how they are able to survive and thrive in conditions that are unimaginable, you can see that what nature made IS BEAUTIFULL! This is the message that I want to get across to my students as a teacher in a NYC public school. I teach in an underserved community where the students have very little exposure to nature. Through books, animal encounters, pictures, and my enthusiasm for nature, I try to instill in them was I was fortunate enough to have instilled in me… a genuine love of nature. I want them to be excited about animals the way I am. I want them to see how “cool” animals are. And, most importantly, I want them to treat animals with respect. When I show them an exoskeleton of a tarantula that has molted, I want them to see its beauty and understand how important they are to our ecosystem. When I bring my pet lizard to school (rescued from an irresponsible owner that was not keeping it under proper conditions), I want them to understand what it is to be a responsible pet owner; how important it is to do the research on proper care prior to acquiring a pet, and how you can rescue all kinds of animals. In this way, I am hoping to provide them with experiences that will stay with them and encourage a positive relationship with nature.
In addition to working with my student at school, I also provide services to young children in their homes. That is where I have encountered pets, usually cats, that are neglected or have not been fixed. I try to work with the families to allow me to provide the animals with proper vet care, including spay and neuter, at no cost, and if necessary, find the animals new homes where they will be cared for properly.
As a final note, I would like to leave you with a quote by Howard Zinn “Small acts when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.”
Cindy, thank you for this beautiful entry. What you wrote about seeing the beauty in all living creatures is priceless. Thanks for all you do to educate your students!
Such beautiful entries!! Thank you so much for sharing your amazing stories. Only 2 weeks left
My skill? I love to play hostess. So I decided to play hostess to a week-long dinner party for the entire city!
After DC participated in Meat Week in 2010, I planned DC Meat-Free Week in response. Organized in a little more than 2 1/2 days (so as to immediately follow Meat Week), Meat-Free Week highlighted the fantastic vegan options available at restaurants all over DC.
This year, with more time to plan, I expanded Meat-Free Week to include meet-and-eats with vegan cookbook authors, a day of specials on veg food truck offerings, and a Meat-Free Week photo contest with winners receiving 15 lbs of fresh organic produce from a local CSA. Several of the events benefited pro-veg non-profit Compassion Over Killing or supported Miriam’s Kitchen, a soup kitchen that features meat-free meals weekly (they were inspired by the Meat-Free Monday resolution that I drafted and passed the DC city council). Meat-Free Week was highlighted on TV and radio shows and numerous print and online publications — that’s a lot of free, pro-veg publicity!
Just watch out because next year, I hope to tackle more cities!
Amber, thank you for this great entry! What an awesome way to take your love of playing hostess to a MUCH bigger platform!! Keep up the amazing work!
As an advocate of holistic medicine, I prefer to use natural remedies whenever possible, not only for myself and my family, but for the our animal friends as well. One of our cats is particularly anxious and seems to be an emotional over eater. When I took her to the vet, she was prescribed a common (and somewhat controversial) human antidepressant. Though I had reservation we gave it a try with awful results. After a month of my being depressed over my poor kitty staring at walls all day long (and still over eating) I tried Bach flower remedies Rescue Remedy instead. Though she still loves to eat, she is much calmer and no longer a zombie cat. She is even less anxious around strangers!
I also practice reiki, Japanese hands on healing, on animals as well as people, a tip passed on by a friend who is a professional pet sitter. Cats, dogs, even our bunny are most agreeable patients, curling up and melting willingly into a session. At a picnic, as I casually laid a hand on a friend’s dog everyone laughed as his eyes rolled back as if I’d given him a drug.
I even use distance reiki on the animals outdoors. When the cats in our backyard get into an altercation, I simply send them some healing energy. Most of the time within a few minutes the hissing and screeching stops and they each go their own way.
Animals are very intuitive and know when you want to help them. Overweight cats sometimes have a difficult time cleaning themselves properly and as everyone knows, cats are fastidious!
Even though it may be uncomfortable, our cats seem to appreciate a occasional bath. I just hold them a little tighter while administering an “energetic” scrub down.
Margaret, thank you for your wonderful entry! My dog would LOVE to get some of your services!
I have always been an animal lover, rescuer, and activist. Since turning vegan over 7 years ago, after being vegetarian for many years before that, I knew I had to do more to spread compassionate living. I started my blog, The Dirty Vegan, which began as a vegan recipe and lifestyle blog demonstrating how one can live naughty and fabulous and still be cruelty-free. I started receiving lots of reader requests to veganize favorite foods and I post these recipes on my blog for everyone. We decided to start Dirty Vegan Foods and fill the vegan snack food void, offering classics like, cookies, crème filled cupcakes, crème filled canoe cakes, various nostalgic snack foods, and more. Between the blog, the business, and our personal daily activism, we feel that we are helping the vegan and non-vegan community alike in promoting veganism as firstly, animal-saving, and also a way to help to the environment, and improve health. Our unique skills, talents, and interests are our compassionate hearts, writing skills, ability to veganize pretty much anything (where there is a will, there is a way!), our awesome baking skills, and last but not least, our motivation and drive to be an influential part of the animal right movement and save these animals! There is not a minute that goes by that we don’t realize that animals are suffering and we work with the urgency and compel to free the animals of their pain and suffering. We would love to see our Dirty Vegan Foods products and other vegan food companies take the place of ones with animal ingredients, thus cutting out the need/ demand for animal products completely. With our talents and skills, we created a wonderful product that vegans and non-vegans love. Spreading the word of veganism through our food and the blog is definitely helping people to see that compassionate living is cool and fun. We have received many testimonials of people who follow the blog and from customers who are trying to turn vegan or have turned vegan. With these excellent results, we hope veganism is catching on and wish for everyone to live kind and compassionately for the animals, for personal health and wellness, and for our environment. It is a beautiful and fantastic thing and we know we will continue to see more people making kinder choices.
Thank you and cheers for the animals!
The Dirty Vegan/
Co-Founder of Dirty Vegan Foods
http://www.dirtyveganfoods.com
http://www.thedirtyvegan.blogspot.com
Katie, thank you for this great entry! Your blog and shop are wonderful, love me some vegan snacks!!
I have always loved to cook. And I have always loved animals. A few years after becoming a vegetarian I decided to start a website dedicated to healthy cooking – vegetarian cooking. I also wanted it to stand for something that would help raise awareness of the plight of our animal friends.
I began not-just-recipes.com and named it that because the site was intended to be about recipes, cooking and nutrition as well as about our support for animal welfare. I have written articles and attended events to help raise awareness. I also donate some of the proceeds of the cookbook I authored to causes I support which include animal welfare and rescue. I use social media as well, to make commentary and to link to and support animal welfare related causes.
I realized pretty quickly that most of what I cook and present on the site is already vegan and so I have been making the transition both personally and on the site to totally vegan. I will continue to use the site as a forum for speaking about animal welfare and a more compassionate way of life. I utilize various links within the site to direct people to those cause we support as well as to causes we think are valid and important. I want to help people realize that it is neither necessary nor compassionate and certainly not sustainable to continue to depend on using animals for food. Providing great vegetarian and vegan recipes is a piece of that – one component of the education piece. The other piece is, of course, utilizing the site to continue to promote animal rights and everything that goes with it.
Oops – a little typo in the link above…
the sentence: “I began not-just-recipes.com and named it that because…” should actually link you to the site…not-just-recipes. Thanks!
Rich, thanks for your entry! Your website is wonderful and spreads such an important message. Keep up the amazing work!
I went vegan almost 2 years after major weight loss. Since then, i’ve been extremely interested in nutrition and am passionate about vegetarian nutrition being the best for an individual’s health while being sustainable for the environment. I’m currently a science major in college and plan on continuing furthering my education so that I can work within the healthcare field and continue to promote vegetarianism. There is a natural connection between what is right, ethically, and what is right for us to eat and it’s about time America started to further realize this. We can’t go on living the way we do, expecting to be healthy and sustain the environment we live within. My end goal is to go to law school and affect public food policy, so that laws can be made that protect the welfare of nature and all of its inhabitants.
Kevin, thanks for your entry! You are on a such wonderful path and I do hope you achieve all of your compassionate career goals!
Growing up on a small farm in rural Texas I was exposed in a very hands-on way to the concept of animals as food. Sadly, it took me until I was 13 to realize what animal agriculture actually was and become vegetarian. In fact, I was well known in my hometown as the only vegetarian in middle school, junior high and then high school. What a thing to be known for! Looking back it makes me laugh.
My dedication to animals, through domestic animal rescue, wildlife animal rehabilitation and eventually veganism, stemmed from my parents’ own examples. Throughout my childhood, my family rehabilitated and released orphaned wildlife – snakes, opossums, raccoons, owls, turtles and even woodpeckers! Not only did they rescue and release injured wildlife but they spayed or neutered every animal in our neighborhood. We even trapped, neutered and returned (TNR) feral cats on the farm. Keep in mind, this was long before TNR became so popular! My parents unknowingly taught me to look at life from an animal’s perspective simply by doing what is best for each individual animal, even if it happened to be a little inconvenient for me. That may be the most important thing I ever learned.
As an adult, I’ve taken the compassion they taught me and used it to rescue probably thousands of homeless felines. I ran a Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) program for No More Homeless Pets in Utah as well as the Free Fix – a program geared toward families who truly cannot afford to spay or neuter their pets. My (vegan) husband and I volunteer and rescue homeless cats no matter where we live. Whether we’re with an organized group or on our own, we rescue, spay/neuter and adopt-out hundreds of cats every year. We even have a bedroom dedicated to fostering cats! Maybe we just can’t help ourselves. For two years now I’ve been the Programs Coordinator for an all-volunteer rescue group called Feline Friends, a small but dedicated group of individuals rescuing neglected felines and educating Northwest Arkansans: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Feline-Friends/113956908622944
I’ve also had a vegan food blog for almost 2.5 years now: http://bicyclingvegan.blogspot.com. Originally I created this blog to (hopefully) influence my sisters and family back home to eat more veg*an meals. They’re very compassionate people and I know they could be vegan – that’s my dream, anyway. However, I always live so far away that they don’t always have my nagging vegan voice in their head urging them to do better. That’s really what drives me to keep this blog updated with meals that I know they can create in their own kitchens. After all, it’s not enough to just be vegan, you have to teach others as well.
Active in the domestic animal community, I’m on a constant crusade to convert my fellow animal-lovers into vegans. How else can you truly call yourself an animal-lover, I ask you? So, hopefully we’ve been able to leave a wake of vegetarians (with their own determination to go vegan someday) everywhere we live. In the last 8 years we’ve roamed from Texas to Utah and now Arkansas and I truly believe we’ve been able to teach many people the value of veg*anism if they truly want to call themselves animal-lovers. We lead by example… and it seems to be catching on.
Amanda, you do SO much to help animals – just amazing!! Thank you for being such an inspiration!
I am a huge animal lover but have never been able to have pets because my sister is allergic to so many things. For the last 2 years, I have been watching the Animal Planet and have become extremely passionate about working on a wildlife reserve in Africa to save the big cats. A good friend of mine is an accountant and just began working for Habitat for Humanity and travels all over the world making sure funds are being dispersed properly for the animals.. I am an attorney and I have been researching this program, love the idea of doing the same thing only I’d like to have more hands on work with the animals, caring for orphans, nursing sick animals back to health, teaching the children and people in the local villages about not poaching & respecting the animals, do any legal work necessary for the organization including raising funds for the preservation of these animal reserves. I have always loved animals and animals have always been drawn to me. I feel this line of work is my destiny and I have a strong calling that I simply can’t resist. In the meantime, I would love to donate time working for the Humane Society in Manhattan but I don’t think there is a facility near where I live. I’m sure there are many people who have worked in shelters and have a huge amount of experience making a better life for all animals. I don’t have that experience but I have already made the decision to do as described above and I plan on doing that for the rest of my life. Without these beautiful animals, which are dying off so fast that in a generation or so, the only lions and tigers alive on this planet will be those in zoos, this world would be such a sad place. That’s absolutely horrible and I will do anything I can to make sure that wild animals can survive and thrive being free.
Diane, thank you for this entry! You have such a compassionate heart and I do hope you achieve your destiny!
[...] addition to our Your Skills for Animals Contest, there’s another fabulous contest going over on the Earth Balance site, MadeJustRight.com. [...]
I’ve been a vegan and a bellydancer for 8 years now. About 3 years ago, I performed in a show organized by my dance teacher(who’s also vegan,yay!) called Bellydancers Love Animals. We raised money for Voices for Animals of Western PA. In addition to the show, there was also vegan food and drink, and an open dance floor for anyone to get up and dance. I love bellydancing just as much as I love being vegan and bettering the lives of animals. I love to travel and have always been fascinated by other cultures. I spent 10 months living in Israel. I was on a kibbutz for the first 5 months, and for the second 5 months I lived in Tel Aviv. While I was living in Tel Aviv, I started volunteering with the SPCA. I walked the dogs twice a week, helped clean up the shelter, and once I accompanied a fellow volunteer to the vet to pick up 2 dogs. Every few weeks, the SPCA had a fundraiser at the mall. We brought a small dog with us(yes in Tel Aviv you can bring your dog into the mall), and set up an information booth and collected donations. In addition, I also took a photography class while I was there. At the end of my 5 months, I put together a small photo album of some of the dogs at the shelter, and gave it to the director. He really appreciated it. It was a lot of fun, the best 5 months of my life. It also turned out to be a great way for me to practice my Hebrew! Although, I still can’t pronounce the name for the SPCA in Hebrew, it’s too many syllables! Recently, I started volunteering at the Animal Rescue League. I took the classes offered to help you learn about the shelter and what it means to volunteer there. I started off as a cat cuddler. That didn’t last very long because I wanted to take them all home with me, and I already have 3 cats and a dog. So, I started helping out at the fundraising events. I thought this would be easier, but I’m a bit of a shy person. However, I remembered how much fun I had in Israel with the fundraisers, and also remembered that I was doing it for the animals, so that made it a lot easier.
Rachel, thank you for this entry and for sharing all the amazing things you’ve done to help animals on your travels!
I forgot to include a link to the pictures of the dogs I took: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.1149839860715.2023133.1069153234&l=9ac7bc43f1
Good luck to everyone!
Love these!
[...] Too lazy to read about it? Watch the video. YTT is currently hosting a big contest on their blog for average everyday under-the-radar heroes for animals. EVERYONE deserves to be thanked for the [...]
Hi everyone, your contest entries are all so amazing and touching!! You are all beautiful people who do wonderful things for animals and I’m in awe of you. Thank you for sharing your stories and if I could I would make you all contest winners! Only a few days left to enter. So much love to you
You’re right, it’s great to see the entries. I’m super excited! I love the idea of this contest.
Thanks Alison!!
The simplest answer is: Everything I do is for the animals.
At a very young age, for no apparent reason, I found myself unable to eat any animal products. It would be years before I understood the connection between the food on my plate and the lives sacrificed. But once I had that knowledge, it has affected everything since. Even my long time boyfriend eventually turned vegan himself and went on to lead one of the largest animal rights organizations to unprecedented victories for animals.
Now, as a writer and photographer, I’m 100% focused on supporting ethical living through education and empowerment about how to eat amazing food without being a murderer, and how to find the joys in living a life that’s in harmony with all these amazing creatures we share the planet with rather than fight against them. The more people celebrate our animal friends, the harder it is to hurt them.
It often seems that supporting animals is an overwhelming, daunting task. It is. But, I continue to find hope and inspiration every time I hear that someone went vegan–even if just temporarily–rescued a dog or cat, or stopped wearing fur. Because in the final analysis, just one single life saved, one life spared, is such an amazing gift. And as animal lovers and supporters, we have already saved so many more than that. The tides are indeed turning, and I know I am not the only one who will continue to keep the goal of ending animal suffering at the forefront of everything I do for the rest of my life.
Sarah, thank you for this compassionate entry! I agree, the tides are turning. Thank you for dedicating your life to ethical living!
Hello,
I just wanted to enter this contest, I would love to win but, I just wanted to say how much I understand the compassion some people have towards animal and how others totally do not understand the need to CARE for the animals they decide to take in.
I have lived in and out of the city all my life and it hurts to see some of the neglect towards animals.
I have had kittens dropped off in our front bushes in a box, because at the time we lived on a farm. We had to take them to a recuse vacillity.
I have been recusing animals through out my life. I recently recused 4 kittens under a pourch (I beleive the mother may have been killed). I was able to keep them feed and healthy till a near by pet store took them. I have used live traps to catch neighboring cats that have been dumped out side to fend for themselves- even thou they have had human contact.
This one kitten was easy to catch, because he would come up to you and want to be held. The surrounding neighbors called him Stanley, he was so cute – I could not bare to see him in the winter storms and trying to survive, so I brought him in and found a place that would adopt him.
I once found a dog in the ditch in the upper thumb of Michigan, she had frost bite feet and could barely walk- so hungery and weak , I wrapped her up in my down coat -took her in and she became the best companion I ever had. God love her ( I had her for 11 yrs). She still brings a tear to my eyes when I think of her. So smart and so loving, just dumped on a vacant road. She must have been meant for me.
I now have 4 cats and two dogs all which have been recused. I love them all, I care for them and keep them safe and love them.
I wish people would realize, that to take an animal means fully caring for it. Not just when it smalll and cutzie, but through-outs it life time. I still feed and help with the outside cats, they come to me for food and water. So many I can’t keep track. So many people think cats are dispensable I don’t get it….
To all the animal lovers out there!! BRAVO!!
Sandra, thank you for this beautiful entry. I wish everyone was as responsible a pet guardian as you are!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxRhHafBUeY
Here are my video comments for the contest…
Thank you for this eloquent video Pamela! Such an important message about how to be an effective advocate for animals!!
After spending a number of years as a volunteer for Animal Haven in NYC, I had the opportunity to change careers and become a teacher. For me, it was an opening where I can bring my love of animals into the world of education. I believed that if I can teach my students to have high character standards, then I could make them humane citizens of the world. I could pass my love of animals to them and open their eyes to what they can gain if they embrace compassion for all living beings.
While starting my first year teaching, I was working on my Masters in Education and while doing our thesis course, our professor asked us to consider our passions while considering our subject matter. It occurred to me that there was a program where young children read aloud to therapy dogs and so began my research into this program and its use as a literacy tool. It was so well received by the University that I was invited back to present my research to the National Certification group who allows the school to teach teachers. And so began my desire to be a humane educator! In fact, all the rest of my classes took on the humane point of view! For one class, I researched Humane Laws in Israel and how they are used for Humane Education, which was a fascinating learning experience for me.
I started with my 6th grade class and before I knew it, they had raised money to adopt Yoko, an orphaned chimp through IDA-Africa. Our classroom was, of course, in animal décor, pictures and posters of their work. With little encouragement, they actively pursued entering the NYC UFT Humane Education Committee’s Big Book contest. The theme: farm animals. Their entry contained drawings and poems and they went on to win first prize for middle school grades.
My upper level classes were given projects in which they were to research various animal related issues ranging from puppy mills to marine life to vegetarianism to factory farming to the seal hunt to animals in entertainment and medicine. The interest and involvement surprised even me and exceeded my expectations. Students reported reaching out and encouraging family and friends not to attend aquariums and circuses and expressed dismay at the issues they were uncovering. We watched The Cove, read humane related literature and analyzed humane quotes. All activities related not just to humane and character education but also in preparation for Regents exams in which they could use all that they had read and learned. They went on to enter the NYC UFT Humane Education Committee Big Book contest on horses and won first, second and third prizes.
Over the years, as I have continued to pursue humane education in my classroom, I not only joined the UFT Humane Ed Committee but I am now co-chairperson. In this position, I consider a number of workshops every year in which teachers across the NYC area are invited and provided humane materials on various topics to take back to their classrooms. We have covered topics from healthy eating to equine advocates to utilizing pit bulls in anti-bullying lessons. I have co-hosted workshops partnering with both the ASPCA and H.E.A.R.T (Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers). I am a proud member of the Association for Professional Humane Educators and I am also a Humane Education Ambassador for Best Friends Animal Society. I have participated in ‘I Read to Animals’ programs in various locations such as the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. I have reached children through my continuing connection to Animal Haven in visiting classrooms around the city to teach dog safety and adoption versus shopping issues.
I have volunteered for working with up to 150-200 dogs coming into the NY area from Midwest puppy mills every few months and share my experiences with my students.
I hope to continue to share my compassion for animals with children and teach them that kindness and respect for all living things are what make them good citizens of the world!
Gail, you’re doing such amazing work with both your students and other teachers. Thanks for this inspirational entry!
I am a skilled software developer who has used my programming skills to help animals by developing a mobile app version of the popular guide book, The Vegan Guide to NYC 2011.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vegan-guide-to-nyc-2011/id408689259?mt=8
When my then bride to be and now wife adopted a vegan lifestyle almost 2 years ago we did not know any vegan friendly restaurants in NYC until she came across the book, The Vegan Guide to New York City. I thought it was a great book that would make for an even better app because I could add interactive features. Find the right restaurant by searching / filtering by distance from you, neighborhood, price, cuisine, and critics pick. Then make it easy to reserve a table and get there by having a map, directions from current location, and the ability to call with one click. I contacted the author, Rynn Berry, who just completed the 17th edition of the book and he was excited about the idea.
Now the app is approved and available on the app store. It is for everyone from the curious and health-conscious to strict vegetarians and vegans. Other paid and free restaurant guide apps contain so-called “vegetarian friendly” restaurants that serve some vegan dishes amid the predominantly carnivorous fare and their reviews are often outdated and unhelpful.
My programming skills and resulting iPhone app are making it easier for people to find meatless meal options in NYC that spare animals from being eaten.
Follow us on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Vegan-Guide-to-New-York-City/113542568714998
Follow us on Twitter at:
http://twitter.com/veganguidetonyc
Peter, this is such a unique way to use your software skills to help animals. I’m gonna have to download that app! Thanks for your entry!
Ever since I was young, there were only two things I was really interested in: animals and technology. I got both bachelors and masters degrees in computer science and have been working in the IT industry ever since. I also currently volunteer at two animal shelters. I use my skill set as a technologist to help animals by volunteering my time and money to work with the shelters on any IT consulting needs they have. This has ranged from simple tasks, such as cleaning a computer infected with a virus, to much more complicated and time-intensive tasks, such as programming a custom database and application that the shelter can use to track important information on the animals both adopted and currently at the shelter. I also help manage their Petfinder site, getting adoptable animals out there for the world to see and gain interest in. A lot of these tasks don’t directly impact the animals at the shelter, but keeping the shelter’s systems running is vital to keeping donations coming in and adoption rates high. They also help free up time for the animals and for other important programs that the shelter staff would otherwise be spending on computer-related administrative duties.
Unrelated to my skill set as a technologist, I also volunteer at least three times a week to socialize with cats and rabbits, work community outreach events, and conduct adoption interviews with potential applicants. I also foster animals on a regular basis. I have been a vegetarian for over 3 years and have influenced other family members to switch to a vegetarian diet as well by educating them on the plight of factory farm animals and the health benefits of a plant-based diet.
In the future, I will continue to be an active volunteer in the animal welfare community and hope that by inserting my technology skills when and where I can, I will someday make an even bigger impact with the shelters than I am today. I also aim to buy a farm where I will be able to rescue and adopt all sizes of living creatures, especially farm animals…I really have a soft spot for cows. =)
Elise, I love how you’re using technology to help animals – amazing! Thanks for this entry!
I relate on a very personal level to dog fighting. Much like these innocent and fiercely loyal pit bulls, I too experienced the trauma that results from exploitation at a painfully young age. I trusted someone who was supposed to care for me, and once I was comfortable with this person I was forced to engage in acts that no child should ever have to endure. I had no voice, and no one knew how I privately suffered. I carried these memories throughout my adult life, drifting aimlessly with no real security or purpose as a result of the experiences I carried inside….
When I first saw the reports about Mike Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels, there was an image of a dog with an all too familiar look in his sweet eyes. It was as if I was staring into my own reflection, asking “Why?” As I learned about the secret fighting ring, and about the torture of these inherently gentle and trusting souls, I realized that we very much have the same story. The difference is that I survived, while many of these dogs met a slow and excruciating death. I decided at that moment that all of the pain, all of the trauma, and all of the awful memories served a purpose after all. I am here to protect those beings who cannot help themselves.
I used my extensive sales background to rescue animals from abuse. While corporate sales and animal rescue may seem to be polar opposites on the surface, the skills gained from years of negotiation have served me well. I am able to raise money for rescue groups, I can convince kill shelters to give me just one more day to find a death row dog a foster home, and I am even able to persuade gang members to surrender injured animals to me for treatment. While it is very scary to wait outside of a Brooklyn warehouse for hours trying to bust a fighting ring, I never back out of a rescue. How can I knowing how badly I had wished for someone, anyone, to save me from the trauma I was enduring as a child? I HAVE to rescue these animals, and in doing so I heal a bit more every day. In truth, these dogs do so much more for me than I can ever do for them.
That said, I do need a vacation! So thank you for this contest and for providing us animal lovers with cruelty free travel
Nicole, your entry is so beautiful it made me cry. Thank you for your bravery in sharing your story and for all the fearless work you do.
I have always felt a special bond and connection with animals but particularly cats. I was born a Cat-Lover! I volunteer on the weekends with a local non-profit rescue group in my area – The Feline Rescue Association. We rescue abandoned, neglected and abused cats & kittens from streets of Baltimore, MD.
Hundreds cats and kittens are thrown out onto the streets of Baltimore when their owners can no longer care for them or they move. Unfortunately, being a friendly cat in Baltimore can be very dangerous. Some adults and teens in Baltimore find amusement in torturing and killing these stray cats and often use them as bait in dog fighting rings. The friendliest cats are the most vulnerable to abuse because they will walk right up to anyone. We do our best to rescue as many cats as our resources allow. All of our rescued cats & kittens receive full medical care, are spayed & neutered, vaccinated and then adopted into the loving homes they deserve
Every Saturday and every other Sunday volunteers from the Feline Rescue Association hold adoption events to find homes for our rescued cats and kittens. This is my absolute favorite part of volunteering! Myself, and all of the volunteers with Feline Rescue Association really strive to make sure that our rescued cats have the BEST second chance at life and are adopted into wonderful, loving homes. I truly enjoy helping potential adopters find the perfect cat for their family and providing them with information on how to best care for their new pet. It’s amazing to see the joy and huge smiles our rescued cats bring to their new adopters. There is nothing better or more rewarding than helping find a loving home for a cat or kitten that has been abandoned, abused or neglected.
To learn more about this organization that I support and believe in so much, please visit http://www.baltimorecats.org or find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/felinerescue
Thank you to all the people who work so hard to advocate and be the voices for those who can’t speak.
GREAT WORK ERIN !!!!!!! I’M VERY PROUD OF YOU.
Erin, thank you for this entry and for all the amazing work you do to help homeless cats!! This is clearly your calling!
When I was 17 years old I worked in a vets office. One day, a family brought in two kittens that had been born that morning to a feral barn cat. The cat abandoned her kittens on this freezing cold Northern California day and most of them were dead by the time the family found them. Two kittens were still barely alive, so they brought them to us. One kitten passed away and I volunteered to care for the only surviving kitten. She was less than 24-hours old and still had her umbilical cord attached. Having no previous experience with newborn kitten care, I learned as I went and cared for her just as a mother cat would. I bottle fed her every two hours (12 times a day). Further, since neo-natal cats cannot eliminate waste on their own, I had to recreate the mother cats licking with a moist paper towel. Finally, since kittens cannot create their own body heat, I used the aid of a heating pad to keep her constantly warm.
Thirteen years later, Bigsby is still the light of my life and the reason I volunteer to care for orphaned kittens to this day. Since Bigsby entered my world, I have personally raised and adopted out over 100 orphaned kittens. I have become an expert at bottle feeding and have trained volunteers for other rescue organizations and technicians at the local animal shelter how to properly care for these tiny kittens.
Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest part of Bigsby coming into my life is that I have been able to care for and find hundreds of orphaned kittens their forever homes. The excitement and love these families have for the kittens I have raised is a reward that I never expected to recieve before that freezing cold Northern California day thirteen years ago.
Natalie, you sound like an amazing kitten mama!! Thanks for this entry and for all you do for those kitties!
Thanks for watching our short video!
http://youtu.be/SqVJV2ijjfE
Dan & Christopher, thanks for this uplifting and happy video!! Loved it!
[...] cooking classes with these classy ladies are part of the 1st & 2nd place prizes in our Your Skills for Animals Contest – a $400 value each. Enter by Friday and you can not only taste their outstanding food but [...]
Sometimes, now that I am fully aware, I am ashamed to say that I haven’t had a long history as a Vegan. The fact of the matter is, I just stopped eating meat in November, becoming Vegan a few months ago. But then, I stop and remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day and the path I have embarked upon has already started to make a difference in my life, the life of my family and friends.
Right now, my impact is small, but it will grow with time. I feel this choice is how I have begun to really help animals. I mean, like most people, I have always loved them – from caring for pets to putting the huge spider outside when others suggested a worse alternative. But I have now stopped eating and purchasing all animal products – finally realizing, like most that become Vegan do, that I cannot love animals and allow a person to kill one for me.
I know that my small story is just that, small, and that many many others have a similar story. But it is one that is currently very close to my heart and very personal and I am now and always will be excited to share – especially at this new and exciting juncture. It is one that I hope has a large ripple effect with those that I love. I am very proud of the small ripple effect has started. One of those closest too me has become Vegetarian (Vegan when I am cooking). At family holidays those foods that would have had milk or cheese in them have soy milk and tofutti. I bring peaceful sides and desserts and help with other peaceful suggestions for others to bring. Even just friends joining me at a Vegan restaurant for dinner instead of a pub makes me smile. All of these things help animals.
Now that I am awake, I wish to do more. I have recently become involved in my local Vegan community, have begun to look for an animal shelter to volunteer at. I am just at a starting point and I realize this, but I can only see a bright future ahead. I want to scream my new knowledge and happiness from the rooftops!!
A few days ago was Easter and as I was strolling through my hometown along the water there were two ducks, a male and a female. I had my camera with me and I sat on a curb to watch the ducks beyond the fence, both of which were sitting quietly until they noticed me and came straight over, about a foot away to “talk.” As I sat there, I couldn’t believe that I would have once thought to eat such a beautiful animal. They were truly beautiful and I saw them in a different light, with a stronger connection. I look forward to my future with this new insight.
I’d also just like to say thank you to all those compassionate people out there. You have been my inspiration.
Jesuba, thank you for this entry. No story is small, you are doing far more than most people and I love your eagerness to keep doing more. If only everyone challenged themselves this way! Thanks for sharing your story and for embarking on such a beautiful journey for animals!
Beautiful people! Only one more day before the contest ends!
I’ll be traveling over the next few days but next week I’ll review all of your entries again in detail. Then I’ll send the top entries off to the judges for their votes!
Make sure you sign up to my list (above right hand corner) so you get notified of the results! Happy weekend!
Three years ago, I began fostering dogs through Wolf Creek Weimaraner Rescue. Having a Weim myself, I felt that I understood the breed and could so a great job of fostering/neutering/rehabilitating them before they found their forever home. ( I also lost my job last year, so instead of being home alone…I decided to add a few more dogs) I have always enjoyed taking photos, but it wasn’t until the foster dogs came into my home that I realized how much I liked capturing the hurt in their eyes, their abused/neglected bodies. So, I got my first “fancy” camera two years ago and added photography to my hobbies! I’ve had such a joy photographing my foster dog’s journeys. The before and after pictures leave one speechless. And, for sure pull the heart strings to help people understand that neglect of animals must stop and how far a little TLC will go. (or how much good dog food & kale with drizzled olive oil will do for your weims coat) I foster because the dogs didn’t ask to be in their situation nor do abused children. Being able to share their story, photos, videos, etc. allows me to share with others that just a little time, little money and effort can go a long way! No, I won’t save them all-just as a teacher won’t save all of her students that may be in harm. But, maybe reaching that one person, will reach another person and another…and before long just maybe e will all understand how to change the cycle…with pets and our young generation.
Wolf Creek: look for Walker and I this past Saturday. http://www.facebook.com/WolfCreekWeimaranerRescue?ref=ts
My photos:
http://www.facebook.com/WolfCreekWeimaranerRescue?ref=ts#!/media/set/fbx/?set=a.408429863902.185593.593158902
Christy, thanks for your entry and for being such a wonderful voice for Weimaraners and for all dogs!!
I was lucky enough to grow up in beautiful Costa Rica where animals and nature have always been highly valued. I was surrounded by lizards, butterflies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, cows, chickens, sloths… from the time I was born! And there was never existed a concept of animals being a separate entity from humans. They are as much a part of our planet as we are of theirs. They are capable of happiness, fear, humiliation, resentment and love, just as we are. The problem is… they often don’t get the chance to speak for themselves, and even when they do, we sometimes fail to listen.
I have found that photographing these beautiful creatures and sharing these photographs with the world has been one of my most creative contributions to spreading the awareness that there is a life within them that we often don’t have the full ability to comprehend but still need to respect. I’ve made it a goal of mine to capture their mysteries through photography. My childhood dream was to become a National Geographic photographer. And although I found my life going in a slightly different direction, I’ve still been able to capture some amazing shots and show people that every being, from the cockroach to elephant, is beautiful, special and has its own place in this world.
Please enjoy just a very small sample of my photos here….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvpFTpGs-Jc
Ana, thank you for this entry. I absolutely love Costa Rica, it is a nature and animal lovers paradise. Your photos are beautiful, I really enjoyed your video!
It has been just over 3 years now since I moved into my journey to help animals on many levels. Painting is my first and foremost skill that has changed my life. I watched a movie called “Sharkwater” and then I decided to paint about the shark finning industry and tried to submit it to an art showing that was juried but was denied. This set me off onto a whole new world that not only changed my way of thinking but I took on a vegan lifestyle.
I now paint the plight of the ocean with what I call my “Awareness Paintings”. I do my best to compile all the needed visuals to promote the story of the issue I want to relay to young and old. I have started with the slaughters of the ocean and now the plight of the ocean itself. The paintings have been shown at many art showings but I do not want to sell them. They are meant to be together and tell the story of what is happening from Whales, dolphins, seals, sea turtles and sharks. I am compiling a book of these paintings to further the animals lives of decline into book readers from schools to bookstores.
Now when I started my journey of researching animal slaughters I learned a lot to the point I needed to go public. I joined ARK II – Animal Rights Kollective of Toronto – Canada as their Director of International Campaigns since I built up a worldwide network just for animals. My first campaign with them was about shark cartilage against a company called Holista. We won this campaign 9 months after making it a nationwide win throughout Canada. I became very active on the streets with organizing demonstrations, protests, fundraisers for animal charities. I also became a board member for Oceanic Defense that was based out of California at the time to aid them in any grassroots action required. After that I founded my own organization called “Ocean Activists United – International Grassroots Action” which had 16 locations worldwide at one time. Then at the end of 2010 I was asked by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society if I wanted to be the Regional Coordinator for their Toronto Chapter which I gladly accepted.
Throughout the 3 years I only travel now for animal related issues from documenting, painting and/or organizing. This year alone I have gone to Japan where they slaughter dolphins in the town of Taiji to educate my readers and followers of the source of cetacean captivity and swim with dolphins. I witnessed 90 Dolphins slaughtered and 4 species of dolphins the time I spent there in Japan. Just a month ago I helped organize an Anti-captivity Mass Gathering in Miami – Florida where we did it at a location called Seaquarium that houses a very lonely female Orca named Lolita. The event was for worldwide captivity from zoos to aquariums with the focus on one establishiment while we had 5 other cities worldwide join in on the same day. I have also recorded 95% of what I do from the streets to the fundraisers as another tool to educate and bring awareness to the subject we are speaking about.
I also have done a lot of public speaking ever since I became aware of the animal issues globally. I feel it is the passion to help animals that gives me the courage to speak up and be a voice. I take any and all opportunities that come my way for animals and I do my best to support and/or network animal organizations to get them the help they need especially sanctuaries. I also donate prints of my art work to many fundraisers worldwide and I have one in particular that I donate to dozens of Sea Shepherd events every year that alone has raised over $3,000.
I am on facebook and I am very active locally and globally. I connect people, help support, and or raise awareness for them all for the bottom line of helping animals.
My facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/aArtistfortheOcean
Bob, thank you for this extremely impressive entry. I am in awe of your art work, dedication and advocacy skills. The work you are doing is amazing.
My love Susan Asato and I were never very interested in food. But when our love of animals finally nudged us to follow our hearts and become vegans, it changed our lives in more ways than we could’ve imagined. We became more aware of our food, and much to our surprise, discovered that cooking was fun! And vegan food tasted really, really good! We’d never appreciated or enjoyed food more.
We wondered why we hadn’t known this sooner. And we realized it’s because vegans, vegetarians and true foodies knew this, but non-vegetarians needed to hear it, too. We had even met grown adults who wouldn’t even put food in their mouths if they were told it was vegan.
So we thought, wouldn’t it be great if we could somehow do our small part for the animals by helping to show that vegan food could taste just as good as non-vegan? What better way than a head-to-head competition? Susan’s first thought was to hire an experienced chef to create a good vegan recipe to enter and win a contest. Then I told her, why don’t you just do it?
So she read a bunch of cookbooks, made a lot of really bad pies, then finally a consistently good one, and entered it into a local Apple Pie contest. Not some vegan or health-food category, mind you. Just Apple Pie. And guess what? She got 2nd Place! The presenter even made a point of saying it was vegan. I think the crowd gasped. I know I did. I mean, I know Susan is capable of anything she puts her mind to, but it wasn’t that long ago that her cooking reputation was primarily based on setting a bagel on fire in the break room at her office.
Encouraged by that experience, she decided to enter some items in the 2009 Orange County, California Fair. Again, there weren’t any separate vegan categories or anything – just head-to-head with the non-vegan stuff. She was hoping for maybe one ribbon. She got FIVE, including a 1st Place for her Vegan Apple Pie (a tweaked version of the one that started it all). When they announced her win at the award ceremony, the crowd gasped again when the announcer said it was vegan. And then to her surprise and delight, people (including some who had previously refused to try vegan food) began asking to taste the things she’d made.
For the 2010 OC Fair, she was energized, but also a little nervous. What if 2009 was a fluke? She started thinking about it months in advance, preparing recipes, making test batches. Me, dutifully eating the early rejects and giving my unbiased feedback. Finally, everything was ready.
In the first week of competitions, her Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies got a 3rd place. And her Vegan Almond Brittle got a 2nd. Then, an Honorable Mention for her Vegan Apple Tart and a 1st for her Vegan Chevre Tartlette. Next, another 1st for her Vegan Hawaiian-Asian Party Mix, and a 2nd for her Ginger-Soy-Lime Tofu Cutlets. Plus her Vegan Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies got an Honorable Mention.
But the greatest thrill was when we saw the big blue ribbon sitting next to her Vegan Coconut Lime Cake in the display case. BEST OF SHOW! Of ALL baked goods! She was in such disbelief that she stood outside the hall and sent me back in (twice) to make sure that the ribbon was really for her cake, and not the one next to it. She just couldn’t believe it. A VEGAN CAKE won Best of Show! Afterwards, she offered to bake that winning cake for any of her non-vegetarian friends who went vegetarian for two weeks, and nine people accepted her offer! Two of them remain 95% vegetarian to this day, and are working towards vegan!
Susan’s starting off 2011 with a bang, with her first national award: a 2nd Place ribbon in the Fruit/Berry category at the 2011 National Pie Championships in Orlando, Florida, for her Vegan Blueberry-Cranberry Pie!
I can’t tell you how proud I am of her. But she doesn’t do it because she’s competitive. Anyone who knows Susan knows how uncomfortable she is with a lot of attention. She’d never enter any competitions if it weren’t for her love of animals. She hopes that when people hear that vegan food is winning awards against non-vegan competition, it may help inspire them to move a bit closer toward more compassionate choices about the food they eat.
Ryan, I loved this fun entry! Thank you for sharing the story of Susan’s culinary adventures!
I’m a teacher. It’s a phrase that fills me with joy and pride every time I shout it from the rooftops. I can’t remember wanting to be anything else. Some would say it is a thankless job but I disagree, my kids thank me every day by just showing up and opening their minds.
I’m a vegan. It isn’t so much a lifestyle as it is a basic part of who I am. It informs every part of every day and every choice that I make. I can’t imagine ever going back to a less compassionate lifestyle.
That being said….
When searching for a place to work, I was lucky enough to find a wonderfully progressive charter school with a strong environmental mission right here in Philadelphia. I jumped at the chance to be a part of a movement to reach under-served kids with the following simple message: “We take care of the earth that takes care of us.” It spoke to who I am as a vegan and a teacher. I was also lucky enough to set up shop right next door to a fellow vegan (and now raw-foodist) who was equally passionate about teaching and veganism. We naturally gravitated towards each other, not only trading recipes, stories and frustrations that come with being a vegan, but trading ideas and brainstorming ways to inspire change in others. We realized, quickly, that our population of students had limited access to information and experience with a more compassionate lifestyle. It was not the norm’ in their neighborhoods and communities.
This was an opportunity.
My co-worker proposed the idea of a possible elective (recreational class) around the idea of compassion and caring towards all living things and thus, S.E.T.A. (Students for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) was born! Made up of ten curious and open-minded students in grades 6-8 and two vegan teachers, S.E.T.A.’s mission is creating awareness and speaking out against animal cruelty in all forms through Students Animal Activism.
At only 4 weeks old, S.E.T.A. has already paid a visit to the PSPCA (www.pspca.org) to learn the ins and outs of the facility and learn about the harsh realities of animal cruelty in our area. Prior to our visit, students collected donations for homeless pets, made cat-toys from recycled materials and homemade vegan dog-treats and elected to participate in the school-wide morning announcements every day for a week to create awareness about their cause. Some of our students will even be giving up their Saturday to run an information table at our annual Earth Day festival tomorrow to get the message out to families.
… and that’s just the beginning…
We are continuing our learning and activism by taking a hard look at the products we use and foods that we eat every day. Through activities like “Follow your Food” students will research how the food that they eat makes it to their supermarket and what type of environmental impact it creates. We will also examine ways that we as students and teachers can make changes (big and small) that can positively affect the lives of people AND animals. Upcoming activities include a vegan cooking class where we will veganize some of their favorite meals and look for ways to eat responsibly as often as possible and a trip to a nearby farm-sanctuary to meet rescued farm animals ‘face to snout.’ ☺
Students are already brimming with ideas about ways to help. Talking to the school cafeteria about “Meatless Mondays”… designing and selling t-shirts to raise money for shelters and sanctuaries and starting a website/blog are among the many, many suggestions.
While we are already amazed at the capacity for kindness in this group of thoughtful students, we’re being careful to “teach instead of preach” so that when the time comes for students to make their own decisions regarding the treatment of animals, they can utilize what they’ve learned in their time with S.E.T.A. to make a sustainable change that works for them. We are already planning on continuing the club next year in the hopes that it will grow to reach more students, teachers and the community! GO S.E.T.A.!
‘It must be remembered that the purpose of education is not to fill the minds of students with facts… it is to teach them to think, if that is possible, and always to think for themselves.’
— Robert Hutchins
**Feel free to contact me if you would like to help out, would like US to help out or you have a suggestion! MiaRotondo@gmail.com
Mia, the work you are doing for your students through S.E.T.A is so inspiring. Thank you for being such a good role model for your students!
Hi Liz,
I am the volunteer spokesperson for the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals. Thank you for this amazing opportunity and all that you do for animals! I posted my contest entry on Your Time Travels’ facebook page because your blog site allows for written entries only. Have a wonderful weekend!
http://www.facebook.com/yourtimetravels#!/video/video.php?v=10150172416937159&oid=151157691560949&comments&set=o.151157691560949&type=1
Warm Regards,
Stephanie Mattera
Stephanie, thank you for your video entry! You are clearly an amazing communicator and putting that skill to great use!
I believe that by instilling in our youth empathy and compassion for all living creatures, our world will be a better place for animals and humans alike. As a long time vegetarian and animal rights activist, I am using my position as Miss South Carolina United States to spread this message throughout my state.
My motivation for entering the Miss South Carolina United States pageant was to promote my passion for animals. As Miss South Carolina United States, I have a unique opportunity to promote my humane education platform state-wide.
Before the state pageant, I won my city’s local title and learned firsthand the power a pageant titleholder has to impact her community. I became actively involved in local animal welfare and rescue charities, using my title to support their work. In addition to making appearances at fundraisers and adoption events, I became a volunteer humane educator. In elementary schools, I speak with students about the importance of taking care of animals in their neighborhoods and communities.
Since winning the state title I have partnered with a compassion education program in my state called Healing Species. Through my involvement with this program, I have had the chance to speak to schoolchildren about making kind, healthy choices in their everyday lives and how this can impact both their future and the future of those who share our planet.
Speaking as Miss South Carolina United States gives me instant credibility. Entering classrooms wearing my banner and crown gives me the students’ focus and concentration in a way that I would probably not get otherwise.
In my experiences working with children, it’s been exciting to see them make the connection that animals have feelings just like them. Many of the children I speak to live in at-risk neighborhoods where animals are often ignored, neglected or abused. Having these children ask questions and share stories that show heartfelt empathy and compassion gives me all the motivation I need to forge ahead in the fight for bettering the lives of animals. This July in Las Vegas, Nevada, I hope is to be crowned Miss United States and take my humane education platform nationwide.
Miss South Carolina United States facebook page has photos of some of my speaking engagements:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Miss-South-Carolina-United-States-2011/130825956991012
Valarie, I love how you are using your position as Miss South Carolina to effectively advocate for animals. The work you are doing with school children is so admirable. Thank you for this inspirational entry!
Here is our video…
http://www.youtube.com/peebes555#p/a
Cara/Erik, thank you for your awesome video and for using your influencial position as a band to spread such a positive unifed message for animals. Loved it!!
Cara, is your email carajanelle@me.com?
Yes, it is! I just got all of your emails
Thank you so much, we are all so honored!!!! We are actually headed to the east coast for a few shows next week and we are all super excited to get to try some Dun-Well Doughnuts while we are in NYC.
Awesome Cara! I hope to hear you guys play live sometime!
Thank you all for participating and for sharing your beautiful and inspiring stories!! I’ll be in touch next week when I’m ready to send the top contestants to the judges. Remember to subscribe to blog updates above so you get notified! xoxo
I am studying animal welfare law at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon. The idea of becoming a lawyer is fairly new to me. I studied psychology and music in college, pretty set on becoming a music educator or music therapist. Through a story I refer to as, “The Best Disaster That Ever Happened,” I found myself in Hong Kong for a summer, unable to volunteer at the organization I was scheduled to be at, and in need of a network of people with whom I could spend a few months. Animals Asia Foundation took me in, and I spent my summer helping with their moon bear campaign and teaching ‘Professor Paws’ courses. Professors Paws classes entailed bringing certified therapy dogs into Chinese government-run classrooms, and while teaching the children English, teaching the children to love and respect dogs and animals. At the end of four one-hour sessions over the course of four weeks, the children graduated as official “Pet Cadets,” ready and able to stand and take a pledge to protect all animals.
Watching the children transform over the four weeks was incredibly touching to me. My own dog has meant the world to me growing up, and being able to share that love of an animal with children who formerly viewed it as dirty or scary – what a feeling. Animals Asia’s lawyer invited me back the following summer to work directly under her supervision, and well, the rest is history.
I am using law school as an opportunity to explore the giant field of animal law, to figure out the precise area to which I want to happily devote my life. So many areas of the field pull at my heartstrings: research chimpanzees, farmed animals, hunted endangered species, genetic engineering that is becoming so prevalent in so many consumption animals, and the list continues. Law school is giving me the tools – the research, writing, and advocating skills – that I need in order to put my passion for animal welfare to efficient use. While I am not yet devoted to a single aspect of animal law, I am wholly committed to peaceably educating others as to the intrinsic value of all animals in our society.
I am involved in animal law and animal welfare efforts both at Lewis and Clark and in the greater community. In my first year at Lewis & Clark (L&C), I enjoyed tremendously helping with the 2010 Animal Law Conference, and I am serving as the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Conference Coordinator for the 2011 conference. In this position, I am acting as a liaison between the conference planning board (L&C animal law faculty and Animal Legal Defense Fund outreach coordinator) and the conference planning committee (L&C students). I am working on our conference board team to develop the conference theme and panel ideas, and I will be in touch with the conference speakers. I am enjoying tremendously having the opportunity to work with truly incredible students, faculty, and other professionals to create an event that will inspire continuing work in animal law.
I participate in weekly SALDF meetings (and I was just informed that I won the competition to design a new SALDF logo for our school), and I also blog for the Center for Animal Law Studies, striving to make our school animal law community vibrant and outward-reaching. I am writing a comment evaluating how the California Department of Fish and Game is managing wildlife populations, and drafting a petition to the US Fish and Wildlife Service to get Nevada black bears listed as Distinct Population Segments, which could result in ending the bear hunt in Nevada. I am also a source checker for Lewis and Clark’s Animal Law Review. In addition to my school participation, I volunteer with the Portland Animal Welfare Team in running clinics for homeless individuals to bring their pets for free care and supplies.
I am not fully committed to a specific area of animal law; however, I am fully committed to the field and to becoming an advocate. Through law school I hope to seek out the most effective ways I can transform the lives of animals in a positive way using the legal system. My goal is to work fulltime as a legal advocate for animals, but also continue to volunteer, and someday be in a position where I can financially contribute to worthy causes that will assist animals. Because I am early in my law school career, I do not know which path is open, but I am interested in all kinds of work: in house at a nonprofit, private practice, or at a governmental agency. Additionally, whether through a paid work position or through volunteer service, I aspire to continue with the work I’ve done peaceably educating others about the importance of respecting animals and the vital importance of continuing progress in the field of animal law.
Jaclyn, thank you for this very impressive entry! The animals of the world will undoubtedly be lucky to have you on their legal team!
Hello,
My name is Mary Vincent, and I founded the Gratitude Gourmet website in May 2008 which was primarily sparked by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Report on Climate Emissions. Gratitude Gourmet features gourmet vegetarian and vegan food and drink products, science, international policy, and events. I also speak on these subjects.
We know food choices have a significant impact on global health, nutrition, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and our Oceans, in addition to animal ethics issues. The United Nations Climate Change Report states that animal agriculture causes more greenhouse gases (GHG) than transportation: 18 percent of worldwide GHG. UK hospitals are now cutting meat to cut carbon, the UK is introducing a low carbon food labeling system, and Ghent, Belgium is going vegetarian once a week. The medical journal, The Lancet, recently published health and climate benefits by reducing livestock production by 30%. Check out Bon Appétit Management’s Online Food Carbon Calculator in my interview with Bon Appétit’s CEO. Water use is also an important consideration; it takes 1000 liters of water to produce 1 liter of milk. If we can change a light bulb, we can change our food practices to help our planet, animals, and our health today.
More information on Gratitude Gourmet is here.
http://www.gratitudegourmet.com/about.html
What’s interesting about me is that I work in the Green IT industry and was previously in the US Peace Corps.
Thanks very much. Mary Vincent
Mary, thank you for this passionate entry and for all the work you do for animals!
I’ve been around large and small animals my whole life .I grew up having on avrage 10 horses of our own.I remember foaling,breeding,tending to wonds on our foolish fillys.I remember raising differant breeds of dogs,watching the police dogs work for my dad.The Horses always had a special place in my heart though they gave me the freedom i dreamed of.The sperit of freedom i crave today.God bless all who love animals…
Thanks for these beautiful words Alexis!
The top 7 contestants will be announced tomorrow, stay tuned!!
[...] am now sending the top 7 contestants to our AMAZING JUDGES for their votes. Once I have their votes I will announce the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners! Expect [...]
[...] because the introvert in me has really been taking over. As much as I enjoyed throwing that big contest for you in April, it was a whole lotta putting myself out there all over the place online. [...]
[...] The judges have voted on the top 7! I again just want to say that you are all winners, seriously. [...]