-
Vladimir
- Male
- North East Coast
- United States
- Share
- Blog Posts
- Discussions (121)
- Groups (16)
- Photos (25)
- Photo Albums
- Videos
"Dogs, ye have had your day." —(Homer, The Odyssey) To my friends, it has been a nice trip, knowing you all.
Gifts Received
Vladimir has not received any gifts yet
Profile Information
- Proud pet parent of:
- Mr. Katt, 3 year old, neutered male DSH, adopted from a shelter. He is proof that neutering does NOT make a cat fat, lazy, or boring. His personality has not changed at all, except that he now, in parallel with being aggressive in his desire to play, is also much more demonstrably affectionate. So he is now, so much of all that I could want in a cat, he is crazy, and affectionate, depending on his mood. "Behavior starts with Nutrition!"
- Pet likes:
- Running, running... running...
Also, "hiding" (he THINKS he is invisible) behind the doorsill and popping in the air like a fuzzball ready to attack... !
- Pet dislikes:
- Continuously BORED. He is quite troublesome, with an insatiable appetite for play, investigating the unknown, and surveying his territory through second-floor apartment windows. Also continuously disappointed at my height: I am over six feet, but in an old apartment (with high ceilings), standing on my shoulders fully stretched-- he is still six inches shy of the ceiling, which he insists on investigating.
- Pet’s favorite spot:
- A carpeted window shelf in the kitchen (one of many), from which he can survey the bird feeders I've placed below and the trees which arch in disarray nearly to the window itself, and from which neighborhood squirrels (and the occasional cat) seek every opportunity to harrass him. Second favorite spot: perched on my shoulders, inconveniencing me as I try to cook.
- Pet’s favorite toy:
- Home made "bird" toy, made from collected feathers from various birds (hawk, blue jay, gulls, sparrows, etc.) glued together, tied to an elastic string, and affixed to a long wand. This toy can be made to "fly" and "flutter" amazingly like a real bird. I am forced to hide it away between sessions, it would not survive otherwise. However, it is not unusual to arrive home to find the desk doors open, and the toy in some distant room. In fact, there are a fair amount of his toys that simply cannot be "left out," but must be hidden in drawers lest they be destroyed in short time. Saving the occasional round-up, the rest of the house is littered with his toys.
- Pet’s silliest habit:
- Is it silly, or just inventive, or "survivalist"? Spotting a moth on the ceiling, (very high: old building), he will solicit my invitation, then ride my shoulders as I secure a chair to stand on: with my assistance, he can get all the way to the ceiling for his attack, and typically (gulp) meal.
- Pet’s sweetest moments:
- He has a split personality. I am the surrogate playmate, and am subject to attack at any moment. But my father, who is elderly and cannot "play" aggressively, he instead follows and "bunts" with unrelenting affection.
- My pet is unique because:
- Well if being nuts does not qualify: he has an off-center spot instead of a normally pigmented nose.
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." --Albert Schweitzer
We must ask why we are continuously told that processed foods aren't good for us, and advised to eat whole, fresh foods and vary our diets in order to stay healthy. But equally, we are told NEVER feed whole, fresh foods to our pets, NEVER vary their diets, NEVER disturb the “balanced” processed diet from the supermarket they are supposed to eat every day of their lives. Does this make sense? It does: to the pet food manufacturers. It makes sense because it makes money. Pet food manufacturers finance veterinarian training programs and subsidize vet school clinics. Vets are reluctant to challenge companies that financed their education, and spend years learning through industry sponsored “research,” passing that on to their clients. The result: eat the commercial “processed” diet— don't feed table scraps— don't feed raw meat— don't give bones. Don’t give your pets anything that might resemble their ancestral diet.
I will urge, implore, BEG… anyone with a cat to learn the basics— just the basics, really: about feline nutrition. Once you learn the basics, you will never need to ask anyone, “what food should I buy?” because you will have no need to: you will make the decision for yourself simply by reading the label on the can or package. With this knowledge, you will be empowered to know how manufacturers manipulate labeling to make food look more nutritious than it really is, and how so-called “premium” brands are so often dominated by useless, inferior, and unhealthy ingredients.
BEST SITES: "Feeding Your Cat" @ www.catinfo.org
"What’s Really in Pet Food" @ http://www.api4animals.org/facts.php?p=359&more=1
BEST BOOK: Your Cat, by Elizabeth Hodgkins, DVM; (which will change your cat’s life).
For Dogs (don't mistake my love for them!): Dr. Pitcairn’s Guide To Natural Heath; and Martin Goldstein, The Nature of Animal Healing (both: for Dogs & Cats).
"If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth."
--Chief Seattle of the Suquamish Tribe, letter to President Franklin Pierce
My (very condensed!) Most Important Book List:
Kindred Spirits: How the Remarkable Bond Between Humans and Animals Can Change the Way We Live (Allen M. Schoen) ;
Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy (Mathew Scully);
The Emotional Lives of Animals (Marc Bekoff);
Striking at the Roots, a Practical Guide to Animal Activism (Mark Hawthorne);
Any and every book by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson: The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats; Dogs Never Lie About Love; When Elephants Weep; The Pig Who Sang to the Moon (The Emotional World of Farm Animals).
Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food (Gene Baur)
"There is only one untruthful creature on earth, and that is man. All others are honest and upright in that they openly declare their nature and do not simulate emotions that they do not have."
--Arthur Schopenhauer, philosopher
PLEASE JOIN AND SUPPORT The Humane Farming Association, which accomplishes so much change and good, with so little notoriety and such limited funds: http://www.hfa.org/about/index.html
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
--Anatole France
As part of my personal quest, I would also like to suggest, that cat owners commit to being less concerned (more happy?) with a bit of a messed up home, if it will provide stimulation for our cats! The worst enemy of our cats (and dogs) is boredom! Why do we tolerate our cat being "lazy" or unexicting? Because the most exercise many cats get is walking to the food bowl! How about moving that food bowl around every day, to simulate hunting for food in the wild? How easy it is, to drape a sheet over a table or a few chairs, and make an instant "cave" (didn't Dad do this for us when we were kids, as a quick indoor playhouse on a rainy day?), pull up the backs of the couch cushions on an angle to make a "tunnel," pile some boxes in an ever-changing pyriamid of "steps" to make a "cat's mountain"? What about carpeted resting shelves at the windows? The list can go on and on. Cats want security in their domain, and commonly fear "change" (moving) as a "loss of territory." But within that territory (your home or apartment) they often LOVE incremental change, or the chaos of moving stuff around. My cat is energized to the max during the setup or collapse of Christmas, for example-- all those cartons, bags, places to hunt and investigate, and of course, doing his best to destroy the tree. I grieve for him when I must take down that tree, he so loves hunting and hiding under its "drip zone." During the cleanup, he's found the huge pile of used tissue, and it is a noisy, crinkly, playhouse, where he will hunt that rogue jingle bell that's become detached from some unidentified ornament or perhaps a Santa? He LOVES chaos! So I'd like to see those "perfect" (but BORING) houses be excused, and why not, on your way to work, rearrange the dining or kitchen chairs into a different grouping than yesterday? Why not turn over an upholstered chair for the day (who cares!) to provide a new place to hide or play? Why not hold onto that empty box the new DVD player came in, just for a while-- as a new playhouse? Why not? Who cares about a bit of mess! Your cat will benefit from the mental stimulation, and burn calories to boot, as he plays in this new, exciting, ever-changing world you can create for him, in just a few moments a day.
"To be, contents his natural desire,
He asks no angel's wing, no seraphy's fire;
But thinks, admitted to that equal sky,
His faithful (cat) shall bear him company."
--Alexander Pope: Letters to H. Cromwell
PLEASE CONSIDER TAKING A SHELTER DOG FOR A WALK TODAY. You need not learn his name, but he is there now, as we read this, waiting for some friendship. The ability of an animal to cope with the stress of a shelter environment often determines his ability to survive, and his eventual adoptability. Volunteers help animals cope: you can save a life with a few hours of your time.
It's appropriate then, to remember...
I looked at all the caged animals in the shelter...the cast-offs of human society. I saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread, sadness and betrayal. And I was angry. "God," I said, "this is terrible! Why don't you do something?" God was silent for a moment and then He spoke softly. "I have done something," He replied, "I created you."
-- "The Animals Savior," by Jim Willis
"We find beauty in the most incomprehensible places and the otherwise homely faces. It is our gift to see beyond the dirt, terror, sadness and defeat and to find the true soul that lies underneath. We are Rescue."
-- (Author Unknown)
"His name is First Friend because he will be our friend for always and always and always."
--Rudyard Kipling
Remember that legislators DO listen and respond to constituents, but it is important to take the effort to contact them directly so that they know what your feelings are! If you cannot be willing to take that extra step, then your opinions on animal welfare issues and pending legislation affecting animals will not be heard. Written letters are most effective, and you can fax them to your legislator’s office when time is of the essence (and this also sidesteps the issue of anthrax screening in Washington). Phone calls produce immediate effect, and your opinions will be logged in by a staff member, not forgotten or ignored. If you are nervous about a phone call, work from a script; you can also call after hours and use your legislator’s answering service (and work from a script). Making your voice heard and making a difference for animals comes quicker and easier with a bit of practice, may take only moments of your time, and is immeasurably rewarding. It is also important to THANK YOUR LEGISLATOR when s/he works on behalf of an animal welfare position that you support! I posted a discussion, a sort of cheerleading effort: “How Can I Make a Difference for Animals in 2008?” under the Helping Animals Group, which would help you get started, see:
http://aspcacommunity.ning.com/group/helpinganimals/forum/topic/show?id=658300%3ATopic%3A92489.
"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
Please encourage your Congressperson to join and support the Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus! The Congressional Friends of Animals (CFA) Caucus is a bipartisan congressional organization that raises awareness within Congress on animal welfare issues. It was founded in 1989 and has been co-chaired by Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA). Sadly, Rep. Shays was defeated for re-election this past November. The CFA organizes forums and briefings for Members of Congress and their staff on issues affecting animals and upcoming animal welfare legislation formed around the interests and needs of the members. CFA also tracks legislation and provides members of Congress with reliable, up-to-date information. Because the membership covers a wide spectrum of beliefs, the CFA does not write policy papers or produce issue briefs. The organization has achieved success in building coalitions among members on specific animal protection bills. CFA members have used the organization to help promote animal welfare issues of particular interest to them and their constituents. Please see my discussion under the Helping Animals Group, "The Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus Deserves Your Thanks!" @ http://aspcacommunity.ning.com/group/helpinganimals/forum/topic/show?id=658300%3ATopic%3A84339.
"We have enslaved the rest of the animal creation, and have treated our distant cousins in fur and feathers so badly that beyond doubt, if they were able to formulate a religion, they would depict the Devil in human form."
--William Ralph Inge, Outspoken Essays, 1922
TWO WONDERFUL HSUS BLOGS THAT YOU WILL ENJOY:
Subscribe to the blog “Wayne Pacelle: Humane Nation” (E-mail or RSS) through the following link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/typepad/hsus/wayne
Subscribe to “Michael Markarian: Animals & Politics” (E-mail or RSS) through the following link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/hslf/michaelmarkarian
"Vivisection is a social evil because if it advances human knowledge, it does so at the expense of human character."
-- George Bernard Shaw
"Atrocities are no less atrocities when they occur in laboratories and are called 'research'"
-- George Bernard Shaw
PLEASE CONSIDER TAKING TIME TO ENJOY PARTICIPATING IN A RESPECTFUL DEMONSTRATION SHOWING SUPPORT FOR ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUES! You will meet wonderful, interesting people from all walks of life who share your passion; and it will be a rewarding experience that you can hold onto for a long time. Recently, I spent several days picketing the Ringling Bros. Circus in our area. Although we had awful weather, and went hope soaked at least one night, I have nothing but good memories and was disappointed when it was finished. You will find that there is no more rewarding use of your time! Look for advocacy groups that will post information about local activities that you can participate in: (In Defense of Animals; PETA; Friends of Animals, etc.)
"Auschwitz begins wherever someone looks at a slaughterhouse and thinks: they're only animals."
--Theodore Adorno
I am no longer active in this community and do not post to discussions. I am not notified of messages sent to me or posts to my page here. I want to thank you, the friends I have made here, for your unwavering support and kind words. I admire and congratulate you for your relentless fight for the integrity of this site; and for the reasoned-- and reasonable commentary that you have left here, in your attempts to offer informative and stimulating discussion and debate. Even in disagreement, I admire and respect you. I offer my sincerest and most profound good wishes that your endeavors for your families and for your individual interests in animal welfare come to fruition with the greatest splendor. You all bring honor and justice to your work with animals both in your personal care and in your activities for animal advocacy.
We must ask why we are continuously told that processed foods aren't good for us, and advised to eat whole, fresh foods and vary our diets in order to stay healthy. But equally, we are told NEVER feed whole, fresh foods to our pets, NEVER vary their diets, NEVER disturb the “balanced” processed diet from the supermarket they are supposed to eat every day of their lives. Does this make sense? It does: to the pet food manufacturers. It makes sense because it makes money. Pet food manufacturers finance veterinarian training programs and subsidize vet school clinics. Vets are reluctant to challenge companies that financed their education, and spend years learning through industry sponsored “research,” passing that on to their clients. The result: eat the commercial “processed” diet— don't feed table scraps— don't feed raw meat— don't give bones. Don’t give your pets anything that might resemble their ancestral diet.
I will urge, implore, BEG… anyone with a cat to learn the basics— just the basics, really: about feline nutrition. Once you learn the basics, you will never need to ask anyone, “what food should I buy?” because you will have no need to: you will make the decision for yourself simply by reading the label on the can or package. With this knowledge, you will be empowered to know how manufacturers manipulate labeling to make food look more nutritious than it really is, and how so-called “premium” brands are so often dominated by useless, inferior, and unhealthy ingredients.
BEST SITES: "Feeding Your Cat" @ www.catinfo.org
"What’s Really in Pet Food" @ http://www.api4animals.org/facts.php?p=359&more=1
BEST BOOK: Your Cat, by Elizabeth Hodgkins, DVM; (which will change your cat’s life).
For Dogs (don't mistake my love for them!): Dr. Pitcairn’s Guide To Natural Heath; and Martin Goldstein, The Nature of Animal Healing (both: for Dogs & Cats).
"If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth."
--Chief Seattle of the Suquamish Tribe, letter to President Franklin Pierce
My (very condensed!) Most Important Book List:
Kindred Spirits: How the Remarkable Bond Between Humans and Animals Can Change the Way We Live (Allen M. Schoen) ;
Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy (Mathew Scully);
The Emotional Lives of Animals (Marc Bekoff);
Striking at the Roots, a Practical Guide to Animal Activism (Mark Hawthorne);
Any and every book by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson: The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats; Dogs Never Lie About Love; When Elephants Weep; The Pig Who Sang to the Moon (The Emotional World of Farm Animals).
Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food (Gene Baur)
"There is only one untruthful creature on earth, and that is man. All others are honest and upright in that they openly declare their nature and do not simulate emotions that they do not have."
--Arthur Schopenhauer, philosopher
PLEASE JOIN AND SUPPORT The Humane Farming Association, which accomplishes so much change and good, with so little notoriety and such limited funds: http://www.hfa.org/about/index.html
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
--Anatole France
As part of my personal quest, I would also like to suggest, that cat owners commit to being less concerned (more happy?) with a bit of a messed up home, if it will provide stimulation for our cats! The worst enemy of our cats (and dogs) is boredom! Why do we tolerate our cat being "lazy" or unexicting? Because the most exercise many cats get is walking to the food bowl! How about moving that food bowl around every day, to simulate hunting for food in the wild? How easy it is, to drape a sheet over a table or a few chairs, and make an instant "cave" (didn't Dad do this for us when we were kids, as a quick indoor playhouse on a rainy day?), pull up the backs of the couch cushions on an angle to make a "tunnel," pile some boxes in an ever-changing pyriamid of "steps" to make a "cat's mountain"? What about carpeted resting shelves at the windows? The list can go on and on. Cats want security in their domain, and commonly fear "change" (moving) as a "loss of territory." But within that territory (your home or apartment) they often LOVE incremental change, or the chaos of moving stuff around. My cat is energized to the max during the setup or collapse of Christmas, for example-- all those cartons, bags, places to hunt and investigate, and of course, doing his best to destroy the tree. I grieve for him when I must take down that tree, he so loves hunting and hiding under its "drip zone." During the cleanup, he's found the huge pile of used tissue, and it is a noisy, crinkly, playhouse, where he will hunt that rogue jingle bell that's become detached from some unidentified ornament or perhaps a Santa? He LOVES chaos! So I'd like to see those "perfect" (but BORING) houses be excused, and why not, on your way to work, rearrange the dining or kitchen chairs into a different grouping than yesterday? Why not turn over an upholstered chair for the day (who cares!) to provide a new place to hide or play? Why not hold onto that empty box the new DVD player came in, just for a while-- as a new playhouse? Why not? Who cares about a bit of mess! Your cat will benefit from the mental stimulation, and burn calories to boot, as he plays in this new, exciting, ever-changing world you can create for him, in just a few moments a day.
"To be, contents his natural desire,
He asks no angel's wing, no seraphy's fire;
But thinks, admitted to that equal sky,
His faithful (cat) shall bear him company."
--Alexander Pope: Letters to H. Cromwell
PLEASE CONSIDER TAKING A SHELTER DOG FOR A WALK TODAY. You need not learn his name, but he is there now, as we read this, waiting for some friendship. The ability of an animal to cope with the stress of a shelter environment often determines his ability to survive, and his eventual adoptability. Volunteers help animals cope: you can save a life with a few hours of your time.
It's appropriate then, to remember...
I looked at all the caged animals in the shelter...the cast-offs of human society. I saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread, sadness and betrayal. And I was angry. "God," I said, "this is terrible! Why don't you do something?" God was silent for a moment and then He spoke softly. "I have done something," He replied, "I created you."
-- "The Animals Savior," by Jim Willis
"We find beauty in the most incomprehensible places and the otherwise homely faces. It is our gift to see beyond the dirt, terror, sadness and defeat and to find the true soul that lies underneath. We are Rescue."
-- (Author Unknown)
"His name is First Friend because he will be our friend for always and always and always."
--Rudyard Kipling
Remember that legislators DO listen and respond to constituents, but it is important to take the effort to contact them directly so that they know what your feelings are! If you cannot be willing to take that extra step, then your opinions on animal welfare issues and pending legislation affecting animals will not be heard. Written letters are most effective, and you can fax them to your legislator’s office when time is of the essence (and this also sidesteps the issue of anthrax screening in Washington). Phone calls produce immediate effect, and your opinions will be logged in by a staff member, not forgotten or ignored. If you are nervous about a phone call, work from a script; you can also call after hours and use your legislator’s answering service (and work from a script). Making your voice heard and making a difference for animals comes quicker and easier with a bit of practice, may take only moments of your time, and is immeasurably rewarding. It is also important to THANK YOUR LEGISLATOR when s/he works on behalf of an animal welfare position that you support! I posted a discussion, a sort of cheerleading effort: “How Can I Make a Difference for Animals in 2008?” under the Helping Animals Group, which would help you get started, see:
http://aspcacommunity.ning.com/group/helpinganimals/forum/topic/show?id=658300%3ATopic%3A92489.
"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
Please encourage your Congressperson to join and support the Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus! The Congressional Friends of Animals (CFA) Caucus is a bipartisan congressional organization that raises awareness within Congress on animal welfare issues. It was founded in 1989 and has been co-chaired by Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA). Sadly, Rep. Shays was defeated for re-election this past November. The CFA organizes forums and briefings for Members of Congress and their staff on issues affecting animals and upcoming animal welfare legislation formed around the interests and needs of the members. CFA also tracks legislation and provides members of Congress with reliable, up-to-date information. Because the membership covers a wide spectrum of beliefs, the CFA does not write policy papers or produce issue briefs. The organization has achieved success in building coalitions among members on specific animal protection bills. CFA members have used the organization to help promote animal welfare issues of particular interest to them and their constituents. Please see my discussion under the Helping Animals Group, "The Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus Deserves Your Thanks!" @ http://aspcacommunity.ning.com/group/helpinganimals/forum/topic/show?id=658300%3ATopic%3A84339.
"We have enslaved the rest of the animal creation, and have treated our distant cousins in fur and feathers so badly that beyond doubt, if they were able to formulate a religion, they would depict the Devil in human form."
--William Ralph Inge, Outspoken Essays, 1922
TWO WONDERFUL HSUS BLOGS THAT YOU WILL ENJOY:
Subscribe to the blog “Wayne Pacelle: Humane Nation” (E-mail or RSS) through the following link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/typepad/hsus/wayne
Subscribe to “Michael Markarian: Animals & Politics” (E-mail or RSS) through the following link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/hslf/michaelmarkarian
"Vivisection is a social evil because if it advances human knowledge, it does so at the expense of human character."
-- George Bernard Shaw
"Atrocities are no less atrocities when they occur in laboratories and are called 'research'"
-- George Bernard Shaw
PLEASE CONSIDER TAKING TIME TO ENJOY PARTICIPATING IN A RESPECTFUL DEMONSTRATION SHOWING SUPPORT FOR ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUES! You will meet wonderful, interesting people from all walks of life who share your passion; and it will be a rewarding experience that you can hold onto for a long time. Recently, I spent several days picketing the Ringling Bros. Circus in our area. Although we had awful weather, and went hope soaked at least one night, I have nothing but good memories and was disappointed when it was finished. You will find that there is no more rewarding use of your time! Look for advocacy groups that will post information about local activities that you can participate in: (In Defense of Animals; PETA; Friends of Animals, etc.)
"Auschwitz begins wherever someone looks at a slaughterhouse and thinks: they're only animals."
--Theodore Adorno
I am no longer active in this community and do not post to discussions. I am not notified of messages sent to me or posts to my page here. I want to thank you, the friends I have made here, for your unwavering support and kind words. I admire and congratulate you for your relentless fight for the integrity of this site; and for the reasoned-- and reasonable commentary that you have left here, in your attempts to offer informative and stimulating discussion and debate. Even in disagreement, I admire and respect you. I offer my sincerest and most profound good wishes that your endeavors for your families and for your individual interests in animal welfare come to fruition with the greatest splendor. You all bring honor and justice to your work with animals both in your personal care and in your activities for animal advocacy.
Vladimir's Photos
Latest Activity
From the Gift Store
From the Gift Store
Yep I know what u meant crying for him for months..I did the same thing for 4 months when my ex and I first broke up and he would not let me see him..
Florida is my Favorite state Bams ....it's kind of ironic that they have moved to there really ...
Badge
© 2009 Created by ASPCA
Comment Wall (180 comments)
You need to be a member of ASPCA Online Community to add comments!
Join this Ning Network
Visit (FFASC) Fight For Animal Safety Communities
Visit (FFASC) Fight For Animal Safety Communities The reason I started this group on the Ning site is not to draw members away from the ASPCA community to have a chance to check out the Social Network and maybe join.
Thanks for the great advice on getting photos on my phone. My husband and I removed the internet, and texting part of cell program. Like everyone in this country, we are cutting costs where we can. We don't use these applications on our phones. Our kids, however have all the bells and whistles on their phones. I will get pics of Gina soon. Thanks again.
Lisa
Thanks,
Janis
View All Comments