Author: emilyturner0007

Cosmetic Animal Testing

by emilyturner0007, posted in Uncategorized
New York Residents: Take Action to Ban Cruel Cosmetics Testing!

Preface of the issue:
When I go to the mall with my friends, they almost always want to go to beauty stores like Sephora. Walking into the store, I immediately smell strong perfumes and run into a salesperson asking what I’m looking for, to which I politely decline. I browse the vast array of products, helping my friends look out for the popular brands on TikTok. The products’ containers are covered in features the company says they will do to “enhance” their beauty. I pull out my phone and Google the product my friend is standing in line to buy, L’Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara, and I quickly discover that it is an animal-tested product. The one thing missing from all these product labels is the Cruelty-Free logo. Despite the benefits the product says it can do, that label does not reveal the whole truth. Most beauty product labels do not include how the product was made or what was done to make it sit on the shelf before you. This is because cosmetic companies cover up the cruelty of their production more than your natural appearance. What most buyers do not know is that of the “50 largest cosmetics companies ranked by market value as per Brand Finance in 2021” in the U.S., approximately “88% fund animal testing” (“Animal Testing Statistics”).

Cosmetic animal testing is said to determine the safety of products, but companies do not acknowledge the solvable harm they are causing. Hundreds of major cosmetic brands in the U.S. conduct tests on animals with no indication label to the consumer. Because of the lack of accurate labels, consumers do not know about the animals suffering in the brand’s factories. In addition, U.S. laws protecting animal welfare rights are being ignored. Most animal testing is not beneficial to humans, and millions of animals suffer. However, there are cheaper and more efficient solutions. So why are no changes being made? Understanding the harm of animal testing, animal welfare violations, limited test effectiveness, and numerous other causes and effects of cosmetic animal testing is crucial to finding solutions. In order to work towards stopping cosmetic animal testing in the U.S., which is rapidly developing technologically, we must start applying more advanced, practical, and humane solutions.

Alternatives to Animal Testing in Cosmetics

Causes and Effects:

Animal testing in the cosmetics industry is mainly caused by the lack of regulation and the disregard of laws on animal welfare in the U.S., leading to increasing animal suffering. Despite some laws like the Animal Welfare Act, which protects against torture and cruel treatment of animals, major cosmetic testing countries like the United States have made little effort to enforce and create effective laws. Susan Nicol from the World Animal Foundation explains how “only nine states” in the U.S. “have passed laws banning cosmetics testing on animals” (Nicol). Without specific laws in all states in the U.S., cosmetic companies (especially multinational companies) can easily find another state or country to test in. The lack of laws also makes it easy for these companies to cover up what testing was done to create their products since laws are not in place or are being avoided. Because of the lack of U.S. laws preventing cosmetic animal testing, animals are subject to torture and cruelty. People often do not consider or know about the testing that happens behind the scenes in order to make a product that seems as “innocent” as a bottle of lotion, for example. Grace Hussain from Sentient Media explains, “These victims of testing suffer as chemicals are applied to their skin, injected into their bodies, and placed on their eyes, all so that we can have our favorite shade of lipstick or scent of deodorant” (Hussain). U.S. cosmetic companies care about profits, not the toxic torture and mass death resulting from cosmetic production. Humans and animals both should have just rights, but animals experience a drastic difference in treatment. Animals’ decisions are made for them because they cannot vocalize their own. No human would want to go through excruciating tests with little to no benefit, yet animals continue to be used for testing because they are considered of low importance. Their lives are being thrown away, their suffering covered up, and no laws stop it. Due to inadequate laws in the U.S., cosmetic companies continue their process of ineffective testing for human gain.

Another driver of cosmetic animal testing is companies claiming that testing is needed to check product safety; however, these tests for “safety” often result in useless discoveries. Many cosmetic companies believe that animal testing is the best way to ensure product safety for human use. Because cosmetic companies and even some scientists believe that animal testing is the “only effective method to evaluate the quality and safety of different products and their ingredients,” animal testing continues based on fake claims (“Animal Testing”). Cosmetic companies can disguise their use of testing by claiming that they are testing to create a safer product. In addition, companies use animal testing to defend themselves against lawsuits by customers who claim to have been harmed by the company’s products. Some companies may not realize that repetitive animal testing results are often unreliable, misleading, and unusable. The Humane Society of the U.S. explains how “‘different species can respond differently when exposed to the same chemicals’” so the results of the tests given back to the company “‘could be irrelevant to how their products could affect the human body’” (Zuazua). Misleading results from testing on animals can also affect further development in medicine because an ingredient identified as dangerous on an animal could be discarded when it could potentially have different effects on humans. Tons of products have already had ingredients tested on animals, but these ingredients continue to be retested constantly for each new product. Unusable and unreliable results are an outcome of cosmetic companies using “product safety” as an excuse to continue their current practices.

Everything You Need to Know About Animal Testing for Cosmetics

Current Solutions:

Although the upsetting effects of cosmetic animal testing seem overwhelming, there are currently solutions being developed in the United States, like computer modeling. Computer modeling is an effective way of testing for safety in products. In recent research development, the University of Oxford was able to use computer modeling and “outperform animal models in drug trials of a new cardiac drug” with an accuracy of “89%-96%” (Gallagher). On the other hand, cosmetic animal testing for toxicity has an accuracy rate of approximately 81%, proving computer modeling has a higher success rate than animal testing. Additionally, the progress in computer modeling could allow for other medical innovations, such as simulating disease progression. The rapid development of computer technology has allowed researchers to begin developing more humane ways to test product safety. Computer modeling is a recent and so far positive solution that could be expedited with the use of human volunteers. 

Another current solution being investigated is human volunteer studies, which could also safely replace cosmetic animal testing through its ability to produce directly applicable results. While human volunteer studies as a replacement to animal testing may seem dangerous, “volunteers are given an extremely small one-time drug dose,” and advanced “imaging techniques are used to monitor how the drug behaves in the body” (“Alternatives to Animal Testing”). Because ingredients tested on animals do not always have the same effects on humans, using human volunteers would safely increase testing success rates. Through safely using computer imaging techniques, especially on the brain, new research benefiting humans and illness could evolve. Giving human volunteers microdoses would eliminate animals being used in testing, allow more successful results, and for less testing in general. Although the approach of using human volunteers is still developing, it could soon be exponentially successful.

Cosmetic animal testing is an ongoing issue causing tremendous harm to the animals suffering and hindering medical development. Limited regulation and cosmetic companies covering up their use of animal testing with false safety claims allow the testing to continue without an end in sight unless people start stepping up. Not only are millions of animals dying, but animal testing also is ineffective and is holding health technologies back from innovation. We have rights; animals should have rights too. It’s time to start looking behind the scenes. We need to stop letting guilty cosmetic companies make millions off of mass torture and cruelty. These companies do not care about the animals; they only care about the profit. The animals deserve better, and we know better. We need to act to end the negative loop and the suffering. Go through your cosmetics right now and search which brands you own use animal testing. Many of the cosmetics you use daily would likely not be there without multiple lost lives. Next time you want to buy cosmetics, look for the Cruelty-Free certification or Google the product’s information. It only takes a moment of your time to look out for guilty brands. Stop ignoring the issue; start fighting for change. Cosmetic companies hide under their successful brand name to make you hand over your money as quickly as possible. Moving away from animal-tested brands means less money for the company and more reason for them to change their inhumane practices. If we can take these precautions to avoid cruel cosmetic brands, it will ultimately mean a significant step towards the government and major brands to take notice and put the suffering to an end.

Works Cited

“Alternatives to Animal Testing.” PETA, 9 Feb. 2022, http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/alternatives-animal-testing/#:~:text=These%20alternatives%20to%20animal%20testing,and%20studies%20with%20human%20volunteers. 

“Animal Testing in the Cosmetic Industry. What Should You Know?” PCC Group Product Portal, 9 May 2022, http://www.products.pcc.eu/en/blog/animal-testing-in-the-cosmetic-industry-what-should-you-know/. 

Gallagher, Katherine. “Alternatives to Animal Testing in Cosmetics.” Treehugger, 30 Nov. 2021, http://www.treehugger.com/alternatives-to-animal-testing-in-cosmetics-5202649. 

Hitchings-Hales, James, and Imogen Calderwood. “8 Massive Moments When Hashtag Activism Really workedJames Hitchings-Hales.” Global Citizen, 23 Aug. 2017, http://www.globalcitizen.org/fr/content/hashtag-activism-hashtag10-twitter-trends-dresslik/. 

Hussain, Grace. “‘Many Cosmetics Are Tested on Animals. But That’s Finally Starting to Change.’” Sentient Media, 15 Dec. 2021, sentientmedia.org/animal-testing-cosmetics/#:~:text=Animal%20testing%20in%20the%20cosmetics,is%20up%20to%20the%20manufacturer. 

“New Research Points to Social Media as Important Tool for Animal Shelters and Rescues.” ASPCA, 9 Oct. 2018, http://www.aspca.org/about-us/press-releases/new-research-points-social-media-important-tool-animal-shelters-and-rescues. 

Nicol, Susan. “How Do They Test Makeup on Animals? And How to Stop Cosmetic Testing?” WAF, 19 Jan. 2023, worldanimalfoundation.org/advocate/how-do-they-test-makeup-on-animals/.

Rose, Suzana. “88% of Top Beauty Brands Fund Animal Testing (Animal Testing Statistics).” Cruelty-Free Kitty, 4 Oct. 2021, http://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/news/animal-testing-statistics/. 

Zuazua, Rebeccah. “Cosmetic Animal Cruelty: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” FINE Homes and Living, 9 Mar. 2022, http://www.finehomesandliving.com/featured/cosmetic-animal-cruelty-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/article_22f3191b-8ef2-50a6-962a-c540748a9b43.html#:~:text=Humane%20Society%20International%20estimates%20that,their%20safe%20use%20for%20humans. 

Why Animal Testing Needs to be Banned

by emilyturner0007, posted in animal welfare
  1. Subject: Animal Testing
  1. Definition of Key Terms: 

Animal Testing – The medical experimentation on animals

  • Used for medical research
  • Animals testing for drugs later to be used on humans
  • Testing occurs before product is marketed
  1. Contention #1: The majority of animal testing does not contribute to human health. 

Dunnuck, Heather. “Save the Animals: Stop Animal Testing.” Save the Animals: Stop Animal Testing

  • Animal toxicity studies are poor predictors of toxic effects of drugs on humans
  • The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has noted that 95 percent of all drugs that are shown to be safe and effective in animal tests fail in human trials because they don’t work or are dangerous. 
  • More than 110 million animals are killed in the US alone every year (Peta.com)
  • Around 97 percent of the animals experimented on in any animal testing end up dying directly due to the circumstances they were put under (Haaretz.com)
  • Therefore, testing is not worth the pain, suffering, death and waste of material when most of the testing doesn’t benefit us.

“Animal Testing: Animals Used in Experiments.” PETA, 9 Feb. 2022, 

  • Tons of animals are being killed yearly for no good reason — some people believe the testing is just on small animals like rats and mice — but that’s not the whole story
    • The PEOPLE FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS explain “Each year, more than 100 million animals—including mice, rats, frogs, dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, monkeys, fish, and birds—are killed in U.S. laboratories for biology lessons, medical training, curiosity-driven experimentation, and chemical, drug, food, and cosmetics testing.”
      • Furthermore, they provided some examples of testing, “Before their deaths, some are forced to inhale toxic fumes, others are immobilized in restraint devices for hours, some have holes drilled into their skulls, and others have their skin burned off or their spinal cords crushed. “

Tons of animals are being experimented on like they are just objects — this is against their rights

4. Contention #2: Testing  violates animals’ rights.

Dunnuck, Heather. “Save the Animals: Stop Animal Testing.” Save the Animals: Stop Animal Testing 

  • According to the Lonestar Edu on the topic of animal rights
    • A Philosophy Professor at North Carolina State University, states: “Animals have a basic moral right to respectful treatment. . . .This inherent value is not respected when animals are reduced to being mere tools in a scientific experiment” 
    • Animals don’t have the decision to opt out of a test
    • We are animals too, but we have rights, and our pets don’t?
    • Their decisions are made for them because they cannot vocalize their own preferences and choices.

“Laws That Protect Animals.” Animal Legal Defense Fund, 29 Oct. 2020, 

  • The Animal Welfare Act was signed in 1966, and it states, “ 1.Torture. No person shall overdrive, overload, torture, cruelly beat, neglect, or unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate, or kill any animal, or cruelly work any animal when it is unfit for labor, whether it belongs to that person or to another person.”
    • According to this law, animal testing fits along the lines of illegal treatment.

Animals suffer throughout the process of experimentation which is morally wrong to do to a living creature.  

  • Most animal research facilities do not believe in using painkillers during procedures claiming it is a waste of medication for an animal who will die anyway.  

-Animals end up living for years enduring these painful tests without any way to ease their pain and without being put out of their misery (Peta.com)

  • Animals are kept alive in unbearably painful conditions where they have to endure cruelties without the opportunity of death.  This can be considered a form of torure. 

5. Questions to think about:

  • Do you think animal testing is beneficial to humans? Why or why not?
  • What gives animals less rights than us? The animal welfare act was signed nearly 60 years ago?
  • Are you aware that about 110 million animals are killed each year just for laboratory testing?
  • And you are also aware only 3% of animals survive testing – that is – out of the 110 million?

6. Common questions on animal testing:

  • Could you clarify what law makes animal testing illegal? 
  • The Animal Welfare Act was signed in 1966, and it states, “ 1.Torture. No person shall overdrive, overload, torture, cruelly beat, neglect, or unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate, or kill any animal, or cruelly work any animal when it is unfit for labor, whether it belongs to that person or to another person.”
  • You said earlier that animals shouldn’t be subjects of testing, so what do you propose we use instead?
  • PETA explains, “These alternatives to animal testing include tests using human cells and tissues (also known as in vitro methods), advanced computer-modeling techniques (often referred to as in silico models), and non harmful studies with human volunteers.”

7. Rebuttals: Prepare to refute what you think your opponents will talk 

about. 

  • Science and technology is not developed enough
    • Humans can’t be used for experiment
  • Rebut: Yes, however PETA explains, “These alternatives to animal testing include tests using human cells and tissues (also known as in vitro methods), advanced computer-modeling techniques (often referred to as in silico models), and non harmful studies with human volunteers.”
  • Animal testing contributes to live saving cures and treatments 
    • Develop vaccines

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has noted that 95 percent of all drugs that are shown to be safe and effective in animal tests fail in human trials because they don’t work or are dangerous.

Trophy Hunting: Why It Should Be Banned

by emilyturner0007, posted in Uncategorized
  1. Definition of Key Terms: 
  • Trophy hunting is hunting of wild animals and displayed trophies
  • Whole or parts of the hunted animal kept and usually displayed to represent the success of the hunter
  1. Reason #1: Trophy hunting contributes to the endangerment of animal species

Humane Society International. “Trophy Hunting – Humane Society International.” Humane Society International, 2018, https://www.hsi.org/issues/trophy-hunting/ Accessed 14 March 2022

  • Tons of species will be driven to extinction because of trophy hunting, and some species already have
  • “Over the last 20 years lion population has gone from 300,000 to less than 30,000,” said Shandor Larenty, an animal trainer and conservationist at Lion Park in Gauteng Province, outside Johannesburg, South Africa
  • The organization Save Animals From Extinction reports “The population of African lions is less than half of what it was just three decades ago, and their populations have been wiped out across much of Africa. Unless we act now, African lions could be extinct in the wild by 2050.”
  • “In the 1950’s, the lion population was at 450,000. Today, the lion population has dropped significantly to only 30,000. Why such a big drop? The answer is simple. Hunting and poaching.”
  • ABC news writes, “75 percent of wild lions have been killed in the last 20 years,  and if nothing is done to slow that pace within 10 years the only lions left could be in zoos”
  • Therefore, since so many animals are being put at risk of endangerment which eventually leads to extinction, if we don’t solve the trophy hunting problem now, we will run out of time.  

Multiple studies have proven the dramatic effect of extinction and that’s not all.

“Trophy Hunting – Are There Pros to Go with the Cons?” Ranger Mac, 17 Feb. 2018, https://rangermac.org/trophy-hunting-pros-go-cons/ Accessed 13 March 2022

  • People trophy hunt for the bragging rights and money without thinking about some severe consequences. It doesn’t show bravery, it just shows carelessness and selfishness
    • “A few years back, for instance, a Texas millionaire paid $350,000 and won a bid to hunt and kill one of the last remaining black rhinoceroses in Namibia.”
    • Again, why do people trophy hunt if it endangers animals? – They do it for displaying the animals parts or making a big stuffed animal out of them all for bragging rights and money
    • More than 200,000 threatened or endangered animals are killed for trophies each year
    • More than half of the United States allows the hunting of black bears for sport.
    • Animals are killed too young to have a chance to reproduce

4. Reason #2: Not only does trophy hunting endanger animals, it has a negative impact on the environment. 

Briggs, Helen. “Trophy Hunting Removes ‘Good Genes’ and Raises Extinction Risk.” BBC News, 29 Nov. 2017,https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-42152393 Accessed 14 March 2022

  • My partner will touch up more on this side of our argument, but briefly: killing the largest and strongest animals causes population decline which negatively affects the species and environment
    • For example, killing a dominant lion can leave the cubs vulnerable to other animals and mother nature
    • A Study led by Dr. Robert Knell at the University of London, England found that animals killed for trophies often have the best genes suited for survival.“They also father a high proportion of the offspring, ” said Knell. “But if they’re killed before they can spread their ‘good genes’ around, this reduces the overall fitness and resilience of that population. If the population is having to adapt to a new environment and you remove even a small proportion of these high quality males, you could drive it to extinction.”
    • We’ve seen a similar situation in Yellowstone when the wolves were killed off causing a tremendous effect on their ecosystem
    • To provide some context, EarthJustice, a nonprofit organization based in the United States dedicated to environmental issues states “after the wolves were gone, the bears and coyotes that were left weren’t able to kill as many elk as the wolves had done. Soon, the elk population skyrocketed, resulting in overgrazing, particularly of willows and other vegetation important to soil and riverbank structure, leaving the landscape vulnerable to erosion.” 
    • Wouldn’t that just happen again regardless of areas being “protected”
  • Some people believe that trophy hunting supports the environment because areas are protected for conservation and prevented from human development, and while some of the money from trophy hunting supports conservation, much of it goes to the wrong people and is not used for conservation
  • According to a 2013 study by Economists at Large, “…only around 3% of revenue generated by trophy hunting stays in local communities for welfare, education, and other community-based programs. The vast majority goes in the pockets of the trophy hunting outfitters”
  • With eco-friendly tourism as a replacement, the whole issue could be solved. Whilst teaching people about animals, local communities get income areas that are still protected and most importantly, animals are too.
  • Micheal Markalean, Chief Program & Policy Officer, The Humane Society of the United States, “Are these animals worth more to local economies alive or dead? One African conservationist estimated that eco-tourists from just one lodge paid more in a week to take pictures of Cecil than the $55,000 that Palmer spent to put the lion’s head on his trophy wall. Over his lifetime, a living Cecil could have brought in $1 million in tourism.”
  • The Humane Society International explains, “They also do their sport-killing domestically: Bears, bobcats, mountain lions, wolves and other domestic wildlife also fall victim to trophy hunting, damaging natural ecosystems.”

Whether you are an environmentalist or not it is important to understand the impact trophy hunting has on the world and how it will end up affecting us. Like we’ve seen before, taking out one thing can change everything else. That goes for DNA, one deletion messes up all of the codes, and for animals, again, like we’ve seen in the wolves of yellowstone, one removal of a species collapses everything relying on that, the food chain, plants, water etc.

6. Questions the opposing side may have:

  1. In most African countries conservation is underfunded, and many areas simply don’t have the money to effectively manage wildlife without the significant revenue generated from trophy hunting.

→ If eco-friendly tourism was the replacement for trophy hunting, there would be profit which would contribute to African communities more than trophy hunting, and no human development since the area is protected. Ecotourism engages visitors with Africa’s biodiversity and culture, with a focus on preserving it rather than destroying it.

  1. Helps to protect many different species that wouldn’t otherwise be protected. If trophy hunting were to be banned, this land would likely be transformed to generate the most money having negative impacts on wildlife and reducing available habitat.

→  If eco-friendly tourism was the replacement for trophy hunting, there would be profit, no human development since the area is protected. Ecotourism engages visitors with Africa’s biodiversity and culture, with a focus on preserving it rather than destroying it.

  1. Income source for many people and african communities and supports government

→ It’s “fun” until it isn’t – if animals are being killed for fun or as a source of income, what about when they are extinct? Where do you get your income after that? Human Society International: “In eight key African countries, trophy hunters contribute at most 0.03 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and at most 0.76 percent of overall tourism jobs.” HuffPost, Micheal Markalean, Chief Program & Policy Officer, The Humane Society of the United States,“Wildlife-based ecotourism is a big industry in Africa and dwarfs trophy hunting in its economic impact. According to a report by the World Tourism Organization, wildlife-based ecotourism generated an estimated $34.2 billion in tourist spending in 2013. In Zimbabwe, tourism provides 6.4 percent of the Gross Domestic Product of the country, dwarfing the meager 0.2 percent that trophy hunters provide.

  1. Conserves land and biodiversity

→“Research predicts that removing even 5% of high-quality males risks wiping out the entire population, for species under stress in a changing world. Animals prized by trophy hunters for their horns, antlers or tusks usually have the best genes, say UK scientists.”

  1. Hunting protects the land from human development

→  If eco-friendly tourism was the replacement for trophy hunting, there would be profit, no human development since the area is protected. Ecotourism engages visitors with Africa’s biodiversity and culture, with a focus on preserving it rather than destroying it.

          6. Provides jobs

→ The Humane Society International states, “Compared to trophy hunting, wildlife-watching tourism generates far more income to support conservation and provides far more jobs to local people.” “In eight key African countries, trophy hunters contribute at most 0.03 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and at most 0.76 percent of overall tourism jobs.” The common myth that trophy hunting has created 53,000 jobs is not true, Born Free USA states, “Trophy hunting only supports around 7,500 – 15,500 jobs in these nations, which have a combined total population of around 290 million people.”

Works Cited:

“Trophy Hunting – Are There Pros to Go with the Cons?” Ranger Mac, 17 Feb. 2018, https://rangermac.org/trophy-hunting-pros-go-cons/ Accessed 13 March 2022

Briggs, Helen. “Trophy Hunting Removes ‘Good Genes’ and Raises Extinction Risk.” BBC News, 29 Nov. 2017,https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-42152393 Accessed 14 March 2022

“Follow the Money: Trophy Hunting Does Not Help Communities.” Born Free USA, 28 July 2020,https://www.bornfreeusa.org/2020/07/28/follow-the-money-trophy-hunting-does-not-help-communities. Accessed 14 March 2022

Robertson, Josh. “Trophy Hunting | Conservation Conversation.” Conservation Conversation | Wildlife Science & Media, 2010, https://www.conservationconversation.co.uk/trophy-hunting Accessed 14 March 2022

Humane Society International. “Trophy Hunting – Humane Society International.” Humane Society International, 2018, https://www.hsi.org/issues/trophy-hunting/ Accessed 14 March 2022

Top 5’s: Critically Endangered Animals in 2021

by emilyturner0007, posted in Uncategorized
ThroPhoto by Frans Van Heerden on Pexels.com

Throughout the last five years, the populations of animals around the earth have changed. Some for numbers changed to good, and some not so good. First, to bring to light five animals that have recovered from near extinction since 2016; the gray wolf, the bald eagle, the gray whale, sea lions, and white rhino. Although this news should be celebrated, other subspecies have been moved to near extinction since 2016. Today, we highlight the the Vaquita, the Javan Rhino the Mountain Gorilla, Tigers, and Asian Elephants. These five animals are some of the most critically endangered species as of 2021. Another comparison to five years ago when only particular subspecies of tigers were endangered, it is 2021, and now the whole species is on the critically endangered list. Let’s look more closely into some of the most critically endangered animals this year and how you can help.

1. Vaquita: As of 2021, there are fewer than 10 Vaquitas on earth. At only around 5 feet long, Vaquitas are also the smallest endangered marine animal. You can mistake them for dolphin calves, however Vaquitas has black patches around their eyes and mouthes. Vaquitas are often threatened by drowning in fishing gear, and are on the edge of extinction if we don’t change our actions. But you can help, check out this website to learn how: https://porpoise.org/knowledge-base/can-save-vaquita-porpoise/

2. Javan Rhino: Only about 60 Javan Rhinos are living right now. Unlike some other rhino subspecies, Javan Rhinos only have one horn. Because of natural catastrophes, habitat loss, diseases, and poaching, these rhinos may not have many years left if we aren’t careful.

3. Mountain Gorilla: Like their name, mountain gorillas live in high up areas. They are a subspecies of the eastern gorilla, and have been classified endangered since 2018. Since then, the situation has gotten worse, there are less than about 880 left in the wild.

4. Tigers: Including the whole species of tigers, there are about 3,900 left in the wild. The Caspian tiger went extinct in the 1970’s mainly due to hunting and habitat loss. The South China Tiger may not be far off from going the same pathway as the Caspian tiger. There are less than 20 left in the wild, although there are a small population in captivity within China.

5. Asian Elephant: Asian Elephants look like the ordinary picture of an elephant, however their population numbers aren’t so great. There are many organizations that strive to save the elephants, so you can help too!

Top 5’s: Intelligence

by emilyturner0007, posted in Uncategorized

Dogs are amazing pets when you spend time with them, train them right, and overall, take care of them, because they depend on you. Dogs come in different sizes, shapes and appearances. All dogs have categories they can fit into, whether its popularity, intelligence, or even the most powerful. We’re going to look at some of the top 5 dogs under our first category for this week, intelligence. If any of these dog breeds interest you to buy/adopt, my advice is to always check your local shelter for the dog breed you are looking at before buying from a breeder. Remember when you adopt you are saving 2 lives, the one you adopt, and because your have adopted, there is a new space in the shelter that has opened up for the next animal to take it’s place.

Intelligence

  1. Border Collie: Known for their ability to herd, and perform many tricks. Border Collies are lovely, but always need a job to do, these velcro dogs will want to stick to you forever and be your best bud. Though, when left alone for longer than an hour, they can become very destructive. And if left home for longer than 5 hours, they can become aggressive.
  2. Poodles: Loyal, affectionate and loving dog breed. Poodles are very smart and are a very good family pet. They are good with strangers, children, other dogs, senior citizens and even cats. Poodles are very popular nowadays for their low shedding and easier fur control with people who have allergies.
  3. German Shepherd: These large dogs are known for their work at police stations, and courageous personalities. German Shepherds make excellent guard dogs and are very territorial. Unfortunately, they were also bred to fight, and if not trained right, they can have a higher than average chance of biting someone. However, if you put in the time to train them and socialize them correctly, you may have found your dream dog.
  4. Golden Retriever: Very friendly, adorable and trustworthy dogs who love attention and to be around their humans. Goldens are very smart and can obey the first command 95% of the time. Like any other dog, you must train them right, so look into training classes, online or in person, and always socialize them from the week you get them.
  5. Doberman Pinscher: Doberman are fearless dog breeds, and although very smart, they aren’t the easiest to train. Although, if you are patient enough to keep working on these skills, you will have an obedient guard dog to come home to.
Golden Retriever
Doberman Pinscher
Poodle
German Shepherd
Border Collie

Am I Ready For a Dog?

by emilyturner0007, posted in Uncategorized

Click here to take the quiz!

Take this quick quiz I created to find out! If you get 11/11 you are mostly ready, you should still do tons more research just to be sure! Sorry, to anyone scoring under an A+ (11/11), in the future, try again and I’m sure you’ll be ready! P.S I made a mistake on the scoring system for the “What Is The Reason You Want a Dog?” question, the answer can be “For emotional support and company”, that answer would be correct and automatically it is marked as wrong! So if you get a 10/11 and you chose emotional support just know your score should have been an 11/11!

Weekly Story: Plastic in the Ocean Dangerously Threats Marine Wildlife

by emilyturner0007, posted in Uncategorized
Sea turtle with plastic in its mouth

Imagine you are a sea turtle, swimming around the ocean floor. You’re starving, and that little clear thing over there looks just like your regular diet, but it isn’t. When you keep on eating these pieces, you won’t have room for anything else to eat. So, what are those little pieces? It turns out, and those small pieces are plastic, plastic that can float around the ocean for centuries. All types of marine animals eat these little pieces that will get sick and even die. But, how did the plastic get there?

Most Americans do recycle, and although it helps, it’s not enough. You see, when you recycle, very little of what you throw away is reused. It turns up in landfills, then blown into the ocean. Mackenzie Carro explains, “Many creatures accidentally eat plastic, thinking it is food. With stomachs full of plastic and no room for real food, these animals can starve. Other animals can get dangerously tangled in plastic 6-pack drink holders or suffocate inside plastic bags” (Carro, 2020). Because marine animals are becoming sick or even dying from eating plastic, this is endangering species that disrupts the food chain and, ultimately, negatively affects the ocean ecosystem.

Plastic that ends up in the ocean does not disappear. Instead, it is broken down by the sun, heat, and water into tiny pieces known as microplastics, which are dangerous for ocean wildlife. Mackenzie Carro states, “Anna also learned that microplastics are very difficult to get rid of. They are often too small for humans to spot easily. What’s more, algae can grow on microplastics, which makes them blend in with other particles in the ocean. This is what makes microplastics dangerous for marine animals, many of which get sick or even die from” (Carro, 2020). Overall, when we throw things away like plastic, some is recycled, some sit with no place to go. Then toxins are released, which harm plants and animals, and trash on beaches and lakes also is very harmful to the environment. You can help by replacing plastic forks and spoons and straws with metal, reusable ones. Use cloth napkins to dry your hands, use reusable containers, and choose refillable water bottles instead of a disposable water bottle. If we all take these steps, we will have a better environment for us and the beautiful animals around us.

Weekly Story: During the Coronavirus Outbreak Tons of Animals Are Forced to the Streets

by emilyturner0007, posted in Uncategorized
Puppies left abandoned on streets in Wuhan, China

Most people are aware that the coronavirus outbreak is a fast-moving virus with growing numbers by the hour. Over 8,700 people are infected and over 160 are dead in the U.S alone. While we are stocking up on toilet paper and canned food, we don’t realize that there are other lives at stake.

All over China, there are pet lovers. With the largest dog and cat population of 188 million, they have more pets than the U.S does. Like any other city home to animals, there are abandoned cats and dogs roaming the streets. While this issue usually is partly under control in China, since the outbreak, it’s not been the same.

With so many people in China with pets, when an owner falls sick from coronavirus, they go into quarantine with no choice but to leave their pets behind. This creates a massive problem for volunteers because while abandoned animals before the outbreak were hard to control and feed, adding more animals to the situation leaves many starving to death. Overall, by adopting or fostering, you can give these animals a second chance. If unable to foster or adopt, you can donate money to provide these animals food and shelter, which can be critical to the line of life and death. Remember to always look into adopting before going to a breeder. You’ll always have a good feeling knowingly you saved a life. If there were fewer breeders in the world, we wouldn’t have a pet overpopulation, which is a big part of this problem. Don’t get a dog if you aren’t ready, because we can’t afford to have more pets ending up on the streets. I will soon be making a quiz to see if you are ready for a pet.

Weekly Story: On the French Island of Corsica, the ‘Cat-Fox’ found recently may be a new species

by emilyturner0007, posted in Uncategorized

Recently, a mammal with stripes on the front legs, and dark stripes on the back legs was spotted on the French Island of Corsica. It resembled a domestic cat in some ways, like it’s wide ears, short whiskers, and developed canine teeth. What makes this possibly new species interesting is it’s dense, silky coat, repellent to fleas, lice and even ticks.

You might be thinking about why it’s referred to as a ‘Cat-Fox’. It has the fox after cat in it’s temporary name because of their size in contrast to a foxes size is very similar. The Cat-Fox name is also used because of it’s large bushy tail, just like a foxes’. Pierce Benedetti, chief environmental technician of the National Hunting and Wildlife Office stated,”We believe that it’s a wild natural species which was known but not scientifically identified because it’s an extremely inconspicuous animal with nocturnal habits.” To sum it up, this interesting mammal could be the next new species.