Volunteering For The Hoe Down

In case you had not heard, Farm Sanctuary, the rescue organization that focuses on farm animals, had it's annual Hoe Down in Watkins Glen, NY and SARO was there.

The event consists of a couple hundred people coming to the farm and setting up camp - literally, we were camping out for this event. After camp was set up, people were free to wander the farm and visit with the animal residents there. At certain times during the day everyone was to meet up at the "People Barn," Farm Sanctuary's visitor center and lecture hall, for meals, speakers, and cooking demonstrations.

SARO signed up to volunteer for this event, meaning that we were behind the scenes. Mostly we helped in the kitchen with setting up the meals, or we helped clean up the dining area when everyone was done eating. But wait, don't think because we were doing work that we acctuall missed out on anything. Most of the work that had to be done was when people were just hanging around. The volunteers had plenty of time to visit the farm animals and we got to listen to most of the speakers. Most of us agreed that we had a great time and we probably had more fun as volunteers than we would have had we not volunteered.

Fireworks Safety

It's the forth of July and while you may be looking forward to the fireworks that come with the holiday, your pets are not.  To your pet, fireworks are loud, confusing and down right scary.

For your pet's safety and comfort you should:

• Leave your pet at home.  Your house is where your pet spends most of their time and therefore where the feel the safest. If they become scared while at home they will be less likely to run off, but if they do, it will make it easier for your pet to find it's way home.
• Bring your pet indoors.  Putting the walls and curtains of the house between your pet and the lights and sounds of the fireworks will help your pet feel safer.  Being indoors will also make it harder for your pet to run off.  Make sure you close the curtains as your pet may break through a glass window for a path to escape.
  
• Take your pet for a walk before the fireworks start.  Having your pet go potty before the fireworks will help keep your pet from having "accidents" should they become frightened from the fireworks.
• Make sure your pet's tags are up to date.  Should your pet run away during the fireworks, current tags help anyone who finds your pet get them back to you.  You should include a cell phone number on your pet's id tags, if possible.
  
• Don't bring the fireworks home.  Your pet is going to be curious and want to investigate new smells and sounds.  So when you light a firework and set it on the ground to get a safe distance before it explodes, your pet is going to investigate the firework, which may explode in your pet's face.

Have A Happy and Safe 4th of July!!

Additional Links:

• HSUS: Fireworks Are No Blast For Pets
• PETA - Fireworks Disasters: Tell Us Your Story

SARO Goes on Summer Vacation and Back Again

I've heard rumor that some folks think that when summer rolls around SARO disbands and goes away, becoming just a memory. Now I'd like to tell you that contrary to at least one business here in Syracuse's hopes (that would be the restaurant that serves foie gras) we don't go anywhere and we don't disband. A lot of people are used to seeing us on some of the local school campuses when these same campuses close for summer break SARO finds it more useful to move our activities to other places. It's not that we have given up on the campus it's simply that we wish to reach a wider audience than the summer staff and students.

Summer is also a time when SARO members take their families on vacations, just like you do. So yes sometimes a few of us might be out of town, but we promise that we will return – even we like to take a trip to the beach now and then.

As a matter of fact it was a week ago this very morning that I was waking up for the first time in New York City. I had never been to NYC before but have been dying to go, since I moved to New York state a few years ago. Surprisingly I've talked to quite a few people who grew up in Central New York but have never been to the city. Well I got an invite I couldn't pass up.

PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animal, was planing to do a protest demonstration in Times Square on Wednesday, June 24th at noon and asked if I, along with other members of SARO, would be willing to help out. A few of us said yes, and got the chance to bare our backsides for the animals (bulls in this case). I'll give you a hint: In the picture we were wearing black underwear. Sorry, can't be more specific.

Unfortunately, PETA's protest of the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain was bumped from most television and print media so that the untimely death of not one but two high profile celebrities could be covered. But just because it wasn't covered on YOUR news doesn't mean it wasn't news.

Within a couple of days of returning from New York City it was time to put on a local demonstration of our own. Our demonstration was for the organization Dogs Deserve Better and their national campaign Chain Off 2009, where we chain ourselves and try to bring awareness to the public that life on a chain is no life for a dog.

I'm happy to say that both events were a complete success, thanks to all those who participated.

As you can see we do stay active even when you don't know what we're up to. Now this was just one week, of one month, of our summer. What will you do with your summer? No clue? How about joining us? Visit our website to find our next event: http://SyracuseAnimalRights.com .