Known to some as  jewels that grant all your wishes  (Tibetan interpretation) the yaks pictured here live in the Himalayan region on the Nepal side and can trek as high as 20,000 feet;  higher than almost any other animal on earth. MORE YAK PHOTOS AND YAK FACTS.

Every school should implement a program like this for elementary age children! I wish my own children had been introduced to something like this when they were in school. Take a look at this Canadian program and think about ways you can bring this into your own school wherever you live.

Keep It Wild! 
Elementary School Workshops

Zoocheck Canada's Keep It Wild! half-day, in-class animal-themed workshops offer elementary school students a unique learning experience by combining science and technology with compassion and advocacy towards animals and the environment, while adhering to specific requirements of the Ontario Science and Technology Curriculum. 

STRAIGHT FROM SAN FRANSISCO & COMPANY
The trafficking of children for sexual, labor and other modes of exploitation is a global epidemic. The need to make a change and do something may be in the hearts of many, but thinking about making a difference doesn't lead to action.

A group of fathers in Rocklin who were moved to do something about this issues, decided to join in the fight to stop child trafficking and enable hundreds of others to do their part to end this horrenddous crimes as well and all starts with a coffee bean.

The men have opened up a coffee shop called Origin Coffee & Tea in Rocklin where all of the profits will go towards organizations working to stop and save children that are caught up in the world of sex trafficking. Melissa and Guy chat with the two founders of Origin Coffee & Tea Chad Salstrom and Mark South about their effforts and what those in the community can do to help, one cup at a time. For more information on Orgin Coffee & Tea go to origincoffee.org.

CLICK ANY IMAGE TO GO TO THE ORIGIN COFFEE & TEA WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE

According to Kathmandu Animal Treatment (KAT) Center, 
there are over 20,500 dogs within the ring road of Kathmandu valley in Nepal. 

When I lived in Kathmandu in 2006, I saw first hand how many dogs live on the streets and suffer from starvation. It was heart breaking. Many die of disease, maltreatment and skin disorders. The KAT Center reports that some dogs carry rabies and that 16,000 people get dog bites every year while over 200 people die of rabies throughout the country.

Strychnine poisoning campaigns were employed by the Municipal Authorities in Kathmandu that killed over 10,000 dogs yearly. These dogs died agonizing deaths; taking up to 9 hours to die from the poison.


I met the founder of the KAT Center, Jan Salter, when I was living in Nepal. Jan is a well known artist throughout Nepal and the world over and best recognized for her book the "Faces of Nepal". (See below.) Over coffee one morning, we talked about her love of animals and the program she designed  to drastically reduce the number of homeless dogs on the streets of Nepal. The goal of the KAT Centerl is to create within the Kathmandu valley a healthy, non-breeding, rabies-free street dog population and eliminate rabies. She modeled her registered charitable welfare organization off of something she saw in India that worked very well.  


The KAT Center is  located on over one quarter of an acre of land in Kathmandu that includes an office, an operating theatre, 18 ABC kennels, Treatment unit, in-house rotunda, 2 puppy cages, a cat pen and a staff quarter. They increased their treatment unit from 3 kennels to 8 kennels so that they can treat many more injured and sick dogs.

FROM THEIR WEBSITE:

KAT Centre is working towards the day when all dogs can enjoy a happy life, free from the threat of unnecessary suffering. KAT Centre recognizes that staff play an important role in the future development of the charity and that without committed and dedicated staff its mission cannot be achieved. KAT Centre currently has 11 paid employees.

Volunteers also play an essential part in achieving our goal. There are many different tasks you can get involved in here at KAT. Where possible, we will try to match your skills and expectations with the work available to make this a rewarding experience for both parties.

KAT welcomes both technical (vets and nurses) and non-technical volunteers. Please see separate guidelines for technical and non-technical volunteers. It's worth noting that the longer you stay, the more involved you will become as staff will have time to get to know your competencies and allocate responsibilities to you. We have found it particularly beneficial to both parties when the volunteer is able to spend a month or more with KAT.

 Visit the KAT Center website and learn more about what they do and the volunteer opportunities that await you!

STRAIGHT FROM A PRESS RELEASE:
Washington, D.C., December 8, 2010 – Congressman Jim Moran, Virginia Democrat, announced  that the “Truth in Fur Labeling Act,” legislation which would crack down on the illegal dog and cat fur trade has passed the Senate and is on its way to the President’s desk for his signature. The bill, authored by Moran, passed the House unanimously in July and had been awaiting Senate action which occurred late yesterday.

Supported by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the “Truth in Fur Labeling Act” would close a loophole in current law which allows products valued at less than $150 to not have to list the types of fur included in garments sold in the U.S. 
  
“This loophole has been exploited by exporters pawning off dog and cat fur as an artificial fiber,” said Moran.  “Many Americans choose not to purchase fur products, preferring instead “faux” fur as a substitute.  The public would be outraged to learn their favorite hat or pair of gloves was lined with the fur of their favorite companion animal.”

Half of all fur garments entering the United States come from China, where large numbers of domestic dogs and cats as well as raccoon dogs are killed every year for their fur by brutal methods, sometimes skinned alive.  The Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000 banned the trade in dog and cat fur after an HSUS investigation revealed the death toll at 2 million animals a year and found domestic dog fur for sale in the United States.  READ FULL ARTICLE

STRAIGHT FROM THE HUMANE SOCIETY:
More and more retailers and designers are rejecting animal cruelty and potential consumer deception by adopting fur-free policies. Listed here are those who've announced that they don't sell animal fur or are phasing in a fur-free policy.

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AAbercrombie & Fitch
ActivewearUSA.com
Adolfo Dominguez   
aerie (American Eagle Outfitters)
aerie f.i.t. (American Eagle Outfitters)
Aéropostale 
Alber Nipon (Jones Apparel Group)
Alloy (Delia's, Inc.)
Amanda Pearl 
AK Anne Klein (Jones Apparel Group)
American Apparel   
American Eagle Outfitters
Analog Outerwear (Burton Snowboards)
Angelrox
Ann Taylor
Anne Klein New York (Jones Apparel Group)
Anthropologie 
Apple Bottoms by Nelly
Ashley Paige 
Ashley Watson 
Athleta (The Gap, Inc.)
Axcess (Liz Claiborne, Inc.)
Axis (Perry Ellis International, Inc.)
Axist (Perry Ellis International, Inc.)

GO TO HUMANSOCIETY.ORG FOR A COMPLETE A-Z LIST OF GOOD COMPANIES

STRAIGHT FROM GLOBAL ACTION NETWORK:
Do not buy fur or clothing lined or decorated with fur.
Fur from dogs and cats is generally not used to make full-length fur coats, but rather to line the inside of parkas, gloves, hats, handbags and other accessories. Approximately 20% of all animal figurines covered in fur are fabricated using dog and cat fur.

Whether captured in traps which cause immeasurable damage and pain, or raised on farms under brutal conditions where they are deprived of their natural habitat, animals suffer enormously at the hands of the international fur industry. Out of the 40 million animals that are killed for fur every year around the world, about 85% are minks, fox, raccoons and other animals that spend their entire lives confined in small cages before being killed.

With so many high-quality alternatives to fur, compassionate consumers can spare animals, including dogs and cats by choosing soft acrylics, brushed cotton and faux fur. READ MORE

“Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no 
birds sang there except those that sang best.” 
Henry Van Dyke

"There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before."  ~ Robert Lynd

From the Audubon Society:
Birds are important indicators of the overall health of our environment. Like the proverbial canaries in the coal mine, they send an urgent warning about threats to our water, air, natural resources, climate and more.

Audubon’s State of the Birds reports provide a picture of how the continental U.S.’ birds – both common and rare – are faring. They bring together population data from our Christmas Bird Count – the longest running wildlife census in the world, the U.S. Geological Survey’s Breeding Bird Survey and other wildlife and habitat research to highlight population declines and explore the threats behind them. A new series of State of the Birds analyses is being launched with June 2007’s Common Birds in Decline. Other’s will add to the picture periodically. Both new and archived reports are provided below to offer an ongoing picture of the State of the Birds. READ MORE

Since 1500, over 190 species of birds have become extinct, and this rate of extinction seems to be increasing. The situation is exemplified by Hawaii, where 30% of all known recently extinct bird taxaoriginally lived. Other areas, such as Guam, have also been hit hard; Guam has lost over 60% of its native bird taxa in the last 30 years, many of them due to the introduced Brown Tree Snake.

There are today about 10,000 species of birds, with roughly 1,200 considered to be under threat of extinction.
SOURCE: wikipedia

I call this photo: Landed On Me Just Because. I have several wild "pet" birds in the mountains around my cabin that come when I whistle and will even go for walks with me. 

I watched the female and male feed the baby birds over the course of a couple of weeks. They dined mostly on beakfuls of red ants. This tree was at the edge of my mountain property. It was such a treat to have my very own nature show so close by.

Purchase framed photos of Jasper, Chippy, Albert and the crew! Proceeds help support this website.