Guest guest Posted February 5, 2003 Report Share Posted February 5, 2003 All animals are equal and have the right to live a life free from suffering and abuse. You speak of being " tortured " by this letter campaign, I would suspect that you fail to understand the meaning of torture for if you had bothered to enquire as to the fate of countless animals across the globe you would not dare use this word so freely. Furthermore, for your information I am strictly vegan and would no more eat a cow anymore than I would eat a dog. As for your comment " I think it is important, to treat the animals right if they are alive. But I don't have problems if people eat them. " -can you not see just how little sense this makes, you seemed to have missed the point entirely. The message that we are trying to convey to you is of the immense suffering that the dog meat trade for human consumption causes to animals while they ARE ALIVE. Re- " Don't you think that we have bigger problems in the world at the moment? " Really and what may that be? If you refering to the impending war then we are talking about the same issue for it is merely a reflection of how we treat our fellow beings, human and non-human animals alike. Is there anything more important? Helena Harrington I am more and more in the mood to try once to eat dog-meat, if you are torturing us all the time with this letter-campagne. I don't know anybody here around our place, who is eating dogs. And if: What would be so shocking about that? What makes dogs and cats to better animals than cows and chicken??? I think it is important, to treat the animals right if they are alive. But I don't have problems if people eat them. If you are so strictly against eating dogs and cats, I think you should stop to eat animals at all. Do you have any facts about the dog-eating people in Switzerland? I would be very interested, because I have never heard about it. Perhaps you have wrong informations??? In which part do they live? And by the way: Is a Saint Bernard a better dog than an other one? Don't you think that we have bigger problems in the world at the moment? Blanca Imboden Helena Harrington wrote: > Dear Councillor, > > I was both shocked and horrified to learn that some Cantons in > Switzerland are killing and eating their dogs, including the Saint > Bernards, of which your country is so proud. > > This atrocious situation must be urgently addressed. I understand (and > do not condone) that some Asians carry out this type of barbarity on > domesticated companion animals who serve mankind faithfully, but to hear > that this practise survives in modern Switzerland is totally unacceptable. > > Whilst I understand that Switzerland is not a part of any trading > federation per se, you must be aware that your closest neighbours are > the European Union. Every Member Country of the EU has banned the > consumption of dog and cat meat. Should Switzerland at any time in the > future wish to join the EU (or any other trading federation), I will > actively campaign to deny your membership whilst you permit such > abominations to take place within your country. > > There is no excuse whatsoever for this practice to continue and I > respectfully demand that your Government pass legislation in the very > near future to make it illegal to slaughter dogs for human consumption. > > I always believed that Switzerland was in every respect a model country > even in its animal welfare laws. Actually Switzerland is reputable for > having some of the best animal welfare laws in Europe. Apparently you > forgot to include in these laws the protection of dogs. > > Switzerland has always been renown for it's humanitarianism. I beg you > not to allow this image of your nation to become tarnished. > > Yours sincerely > Helena Harrington > Melbourne, Australia > > _______________ > Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail _______________ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 6, 2003 Report Share Posted February 6, 2003 Dear Rebecca, Hi, thanks so much for your support and kind words of encouragement. It is amazing how just one letter can brighten your spirits so much that it makes this long hard battle seem a little less dismal. Yes, sadly form what I have read and seen from video footage not only are dogs throughout Asia beaten to death, they are also skinned alive, boiled alive, burnt alive, electrocuted, tied to fences and posts so that there limbs may be torned from their sockets and last but not least hung from trees. To the perpetrators it does not matter what means of killing is used as long as the suffering is prolonged (the longer the better). The theory is the longer the animal anguishes the more tender the animal's meat will be, not to mention other products from the animals remains that are conviently packaged into powders to curb male impotency, a proven fallacy at best. It is wonderful that you have chosen not to consume veal! You, do however mention that if, you knew cows and chickens were being beaten to death you would refrain form eating them. Without trying to impose on your free will may I make a suggestion. There is an extremely insightful book titled " Slaughterhouse " , which I hope that you might consider reading. It reveals the truth about current intensive farming practices and it may even make you re-condider your current eating practices. It is the story of one extremely brave individual who goes undercover working and interviewing people in slaughterhouses across the U.S. What she discovers will both horrify and alert you to some of the most unimaginable suffering happening in our planet today. You will never look into the eyes of a cow in the same way again, for her book exposes our brutal and systematic betrayal of one of God's most gentlest creatures. Yes, you are quite right dogs most definitely share a special bond with us and that makes it all the more distressing to hear of atrocities being committed against them. However, I believe that it is the will of mankind that has created this situation. We have systematically and deliberately broken our bonds with other animals so that we might exploit them for our own personal satisfaction and monetary gain. We have in effect made it impossible for other animals to share the same type of loving relationship with us that we share with dogs. I believe most animal species would willingly enjoy a close and nurturing relationship with us, if only we would give them the chance. Thanks again for your words of encouragement and may all the animals that surround you touch your soul. Warmest Wishes, Helena Helena: Three cheers for your logical and well written response to Blanca Imboden. Obviously this person fails to see the big picture. You have chosen to focus your efforts on Saint Bernards because there are only so many hours in the day, and only so many dogs that one person can save. But the issue isn't the particular breed you have chosen to work with -- the issue is the slaughter of all animals -- particularly dogs. It is my understanding that live dogs are slowly beaten to death because of the belief that the adrenaline released into the dog's bloodstream and meat during this torture, creates the so-called health benefits that many people in the world seek. I am an occasional consumer of cow and chicken meat myself, and although I feel some guilt, I hope that the farming industry puts these animals to death in a single-shot, humane manner so that they do not suffer. If I thought that cows and chickens were routinely beaten to death, I would not consume their meat. By the way, I refuse to eat veal because I firmly believe that these animals live horrible lives, trapped in tiny cages and fed artificial gruel to soften their meat. There is another issue. Dogs (and perhaps cats) are the only animal who innocently trust human beings, and looks to us for companionship, love and protection, all of which they are capable of returning in vast amounts. The term " man's best friend " is not a fantasy. The thought that such loving creatures could be trapped, hog-tied and beaten for hours until death, by any thinking human being, is incomprehensible. We are indeed judged by our treatment of those unable to defend themselves. Keep up your good works, and do not be discouraged. RC - " Helena Harrington " <largibbon <bimboden Cc: <aapn > Wednesday, February 05, 2003 16:10 Re: Saint Bernards > > All animals are equal and have the right to live a life free from suffering > and abuse. You speak of being " tortured " by this letter campaign, I would > suspect that you fail to understand the meaning of torture for if you had > bothered to enquire as to the fate of countless animals across the globe you > would not dare use this word so freely. Furthermore, for your information I > am strictly vegan and would no more eat a cow anymore than I would eat a > dog. As for your comment " I think it is important, to treat the animals > right if they are alive. But I don't have problems if people eat them. " -can > you not see just how little sense this makes, you seemed to have missed the > point entirely. The message that we are trying to convey to you is of the > immense suffering that the dog meat trade for human consumption causes to > animals while they ARE ALIVE. Re- " Don't you think that we have bigger > problems in the world at the moment? " Really and what may that be? If you > refering to the impending war then we are talking about the same issue for > it is merely a reflection of how we treat our fellow > beings, human and non-human animals alike. Is there anything more important? > > Helena Harrington > > > I am more and more in the mood to try once to eat dog-meat, if you are > torturing us all the time > with this letter-campagne. I don't know anybody > here around our place, who is eating dogs. And if: What would be so shocking > about that? What makes > dogs and cats to better animals than cows > and chicken??? I think it is important, to treat the animals right if they > are alive. But I don't > have problems if people eat them. If you are so strictly > against eating dogs and cats, I think you should stop to eat animals at all. > > Do you have any facts about the dog-eating people in Switzerland? I would be > very interested, > because I have never heard about it. Perhaps you have wrong informations??? > In which part do they > live? > > And by the way: Is a Saint Bernard a better dog than an other one? > > Don't you think that we have bigger problems in the world at the moment? > > Blanca Imboden > > > Helena Harrington wrote: > > > Dear Councillor, > > > > I was both shocked and horrified to learn that some Cantons in > > Switzerland are killing and eating their dogs, including the Saint > > Bernards, of which your country is so proud. > > > > This atrocious situation must be urgently addressed. I understand (and > > do not condone) that some Asians carry out this type of barbarity on > > domesticated companion animals who serve mankind faithfully, but to hear > > that this practise survives in modern Switzerland is totally > unacceptable. > > > > Whilst I understand that Switzerland is not a part of any trading > > federation per se, you must be aware that your closest neighbours are > > the European Union. Every Member Country of the EU has banned the > > consumption of dog and cat meat. Should Switzerland at any time in the > > future wish to join the EU (or any other trading federation), I will > > actively campaign to deny your membership whilst you permit such > > abominations to take place within your country. > > > > There is no excuse whatsoever for this practice to continue and I > > respectfully demand that your Government pass legislation in the very > > near future to make it illegal to slaughter dogs for human consumption. > > > > I always believed that Switzerland was in every respect a model country > > even in its animal welfare laws. Actually Switzerland is reputable for > > having some of the best animal welfare laws in Europe. Apparently you > > forgot to include in these laws the protection of dogs. > > > > Switzerland has always been renown for it's humanitarianism. I beg you > > not to allow this image of your nation to become tarnished. > > > > Yours sincerely > > Helena Harrington > > Melbourne, Australia > > > > _______________ > > Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* > > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail > > > _______________ > STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail > > > For more information on Asian animal issues, please use the search feature on the AAPN website: http://www.aapn.org/ or search the list archives at: aapn > Please feel free to send any relevant news or comments to the list at aapn > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 6, 2003 Report Share Posted February 6, 2003 Dear Nancy, & George Shinn Frank Cassianna, Ellen & Pat Cassianna, Barbara & John MacKay (USA), A beautifully executed and well thought out letter guys, well done! Even if, through our actions just one person stops and thinks about the suffering they are causing or contributing to then we have made a differnce. It is really hearbreaking and discouraging to see the comments made by people like Blanca, but we must not loose hope. Sadly, but understanably ignorance is bliss for many people like her but, there will come a time when they realize that only in accepting the truth can there come peace. Keep up your wonderful work on behalf of our fellow animl kin and thanks for your kind words of support. With Warmest Wishes, Helena Dear Blanca, Sorry but we couldn't help resopnding to your letter to Helena Harrington about how much you would like to eat a dog now because of the letter campaign. How else are we supposed to get information out? We are vegan because we don't believe in using animals the way the big factory farms are using them. IT IS AN INDUSTRY WHERE ANIMALS ARE NOT EVEN CONSIDERED ALIVE< BUT MERELY AS UNITS OF PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFIT> AND YOU< BY THE WAY< ARE MERELY A CONSUMER> IF YOU GET MAD COW DISEASE BECAUSE THEY FEED THE COWS MEAT BYPRODUCTS, well, that's your tough luck. They don't care as long as they get rich. But it is more than betryal of a companion animal. These animals, as you know, are tortured because the crazy assumption is that their adrenalin will cure people. Have you ever seen an animal peering out of half dead eyes with no skin on it? We have. And before the skin was ripped from its body, it was boiled to make it easier to skin. There are laws against this kind of brutality in civilized countries. Perhaps if the world was a little more humane and civilized, even Switzerland, there wouldn't be bigger problems in the world at the moment. Yes, there are many bigger problems in the world at the moment. There is war and starvation and killing and horrible suffering. We belong to Amnesty International and Food First. We know intimately about a lot of human sufferring in the world and we put our money and efforts into stopping it. But it doesn't mean that we don't have time to help our little brothers, the animals and to try to alert clear thinking, civilized people about the atrocities being done to these little ones who cannot protect themselves. They are like children or babies. If we don't take up their cause, they are slaughtered mindlessly. Yes, we have big problems in the world. Meaness and ignorance. But we also have people like Helena Harrington from Melbourne who take the time to speak out against it. Please help us. We need all the help we can muster. We also always believed that Switzerland was in every respect a model country, having some of the best animal welfare laws in Europe. But what are the use of laws if they are not enforced. Sincerely, Nancy & George Shinn Frank Cassianna, Ellen & Pat Cassianna, Barbara & John MacKay (USA) Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now _______________ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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