Greyhound racing: an accident waiting to happen

The issue of greyhound racing is suddenly heating up in Massachusetts, because this November there will be a referendum on the ballot (Question 3) called the “Greyhound Protection Act” that would outlaw commercial dog racing by 2010. An earlier attempt to do this was made in 2000, but it failed by less than 2 percent of the vote. This time, the chances of success are much higher because graphic evidence of cruelty to racing dogs has been gathered by the Committee to Protect Dogs, and it is overwhelming.

Now, as cruelty to dogs goes, perhaps greyhound racing doesn’t sound like the worst abuse in the world. A bunch of dogs have fun running around a track once in a while―big deal, right? But take a closer look: There are a lot of hidden horrors in the dog-racing business. And it is a multimillion-dollar business, although one that is in decline. The two worst greyhound-racing horrors, in my view, are: (1) what happens while the dogs aren’t racing and (2) what happens while the dogs are racing.

While not racing, the dogs at two Massachusetts greyhound racing tracks typically spend about 20 hours per day confined to cages measuring only 32 inches by 42 inches by 34 inches. These cages are five times smaller than the dog kennels at the Massachusetts SPCA. Many of the dogs can’t even stand completely upright. This makes me feel stiff and claustrophobic just thinking about it! What a frustrating and uncomfortable life!

What happens to the dogs while on the track is that they frequently collide and end up crashing into walls and injuring themselves. In just one year, starting in May 2007, there were more than 800 injuries, including fractures, dislocations, lacerations, and amputations, on just two greyhound racing tracks in Revere, Massachusetts, Raynham Park and Wonderland Greyhound Park. Footage of more than 5,000 races was reviewed and more than 300 collisions were catalogued by GREY2K USA, a greyhound advocacy group. Seven of these were then compiled into a four-minute video to share with the public. And it’s sickening to watch, especially when you realize that all this carnage is so unnecessary.

This issue caught my attention when I came across an article about it in the New England Patriot-Ledger this past weekend. As I looked further into the subject, I was surprised to find out that 14 states (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin) still allow greyhound racing on a total of 40 racetracks. This means that there is still a lot of work to do in order to abolish this dog-unfriendly industry from our society. If you would like to get involved in banning commercial dog-racing in your state or if you are considering adopting a “retired” greyhound, please contact GREY2K USA.

For additional information on greyhound racing, check out PETA’s comprehensive factsheet on the subject.

Dogs deserve better than this.

Image: dogster / cc

iPig

This little piggy knows how to have fun. In addition to being the cutest thing I have ever seen an iPod symbiotically latch onto, the iPig also works as speakers for all your audio, video, and gaming devices—and has volume control on the ears! With five speakers that put out more than 25 watts of premium sound and a 4″ subwoofer with a bass-reflex system, your techno getting-ready-for-work jams will sound so great that you might not even need coffee to get your day going. This could also give you an incentive to be more of a morning person if you are working on that, as I am.

For a limited time (until September 26th), the iPig can be yours for $20 off the retail price with this special promotional offer.

Add this special little pig to your life in pink, yellow, or white and celebrate the awesomeness of pigs every day while also celebrating the awesomeness of your music!

VeganVintage

I’m not a lady who likes to focus on one thing. If you’ve ever seen my craft space, you know what I’m talking about. I have stained-glass supplies and projects going on in one corner, paintings and collages in another, a sewing station with a tower of fabric, bags full of knitting projects, usually a loaf of cold-process soap curing on a table, and a pile of what I deem “random supplies I may or may not use one day.”

I am also an avid reader and have spent a decent amount of time drooling in bookstores and taking home too many books filled with crafty goodness. I read and dig through my supplies and craft and craft and craft. What’s the best thing about being crafty? It’s incredibly easy to be a vegan crafter. Check out the following books:

1. SuperCrafty. This is the fist thing I pull out when I’m in the mood to craft and have no idea what I want to do. From tips for making shrink-plastic projects and vinyl purses to instructions on how to decorate the inside of your car, this book has got it all.

2. No Sheep for You. This book is a must for anyone who thinks you need wool to knit—not true. And while some of the patterns in the book call for silk, I just substitute bamboo yarn or soy silk.

3. Plush-O-Rama. Whoever said stuffed animals were only for kids is a liar. From “Plucky the Chicken” made of fleece to the reversible happy-cloud/sad-cloud pillow, the crazy and creative creature designs in this book make it a must-have for people who like to sew.

4. Pretty Little Things. If you are interested in using stained-glass techniques and collages to make fun jewelry and keepsakes, this book is definitely worth checking out. While the techniques take patience and practice, the results are worth the work and the wait.

5. The Natural Soap Book: Making Herbal and Vegetable-Based Soaps. Cold-process soapmaking is not for the faint of heart—and it’s not cheap either. Having said that, handmade-process soap is probably the best soap you will ever use. If you want to learn to make your own soap, this is the best beginner book I have found. And if you want the benefit without the work, check out Hibiscus City Soap Co.

The following post was originally published by Amy Cook on The Veg Cooking Blog. Click here to view the original post.

Children are known for their picky taste buds. Sure, there are some full-blown foodies who haven’t even hit puberty yet, but most kids like their food plain and simple. This preference has led to many well-known “go to” recipes for busy parents who need to pack a quick lunch each morning. These are the ones that you know your children will love and that you won’t have to force them to eat, and luckily, many of these can be easily veganized.

Here are 10 easy vegetarian lunch ideas that will certainly please a variety of palates.

Top 10 Vegetarian Lunchbox Ideas

1. Homegrown happy meal. Use frozen veggie patties (Boca carries a vegan version)—or make your own soy-free patties from black beans—to whip up kid-approved burgers. Add a side of oven baked fries and throw in a toy for an even happier meal.

2. Deli slices and cheese, please. There’s a wide variety of meat-free sandwich slices available nationwide at major grocery stores. Check out our product spotlight to learn about a few of our favorites. Pair these with soy cheese and you’ll have a classic sandwich, or use them for cracker stackers.

3. Who doesn’t like pizza? Top a toasted English muffin with a dollop of pizza sauce and a slice of vegan cheese (yes, brands like Follow Your Heart really melt!) to make a mini pizza. These “pizzas” will be so tasty that you may even be able to sneak a few veggies on top too.

4. Roll ‘em up and send ‘em out. Try a veggie dog rolled up in a crescent roll and baked until golden brown. Or cover a tortilla with yummy fillings—such as vegan cream cheese (Tofutti brand is available in major grocery stores), veggie pepperoni, and veggies—roll it up, and slice into fun pinwheels.

5. PB&J, deconstructed. Make the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich more fun for your little one by packing the peanut butter and jelly in separate cups and adding a few breadsticks for dipping. Throw in other healthy dippers, too, such as celery and apples.

6. Kid-style salads. Yes, even your child will like this salad—pasta salad, that is. Mix tricolor pasta spirals with diced veggies, such as tomatoes and cucumbers, and vegan mayo or dressing. Try other kid-friendly salads, like faux-chicken salad, on a sandwich or with crackers.

7. Pack-and-go tacos. Try healthy black bean and brown rice tacos made with flour or corn tortillas. If you’d like to use a soggier filling, such as veggie crumbles cooked in taco seasoning, simply pack the filling in a thermos and let your child have fun assembling at lunch.

8. What’s in your thermos? Warm your kids up on cold winter days by heating canned vegetarian chili—available nationwide by Hormel—and packing it in a thermos. Pack a baked potato so they can top their spud with the filling chili.

9. Pitas are perfect. Cut mini pitas in half and stuff them with hummus, falafel, or your other favorite sandwich filling and add some veggies.

10. Beanies and veggie weenies. Vegetarian baked beans, such as Bush’s Best Vegetarian Baked Beans, are available at almost every grocery store. Add sliced veggie dog pieces and you have an instant lunch that’s nutritious and delicious.

For more back-to-school lunch ideas, check out our feature “Pack a Lunch With Punch.”

hungry-girl / cc

You don’t have to live in a big city to get a great vegan meal. Many nationwide restaurant chains offer tasty vegan options. Here are five of my favorite veg-friendly restaurant chains (in no particular order). I like to take my nonvegetarian friends and family members so they can see how easy it is to find delicious meatless meals in mainstream places. It’s usually not hard to convince them to try the vegan dishes—and they always rave about them.

Not only does P.F. Chang’s have an array of already vegetarian options, like the sautéed spinach, coconut curry vegetables, and savory tofu-stuffed lettuce wraps, everything on the menu can be made with tofu instead of meat too.

At Johnny Rockets, the diner with the old-time jukeboxes and the dancing wait staff, you can get a vegan Boca burger (called the Streamliner) with grilled onions, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, ketchup, and mustard. Order fries and a cherry or chocolate Coke, too, if you want to get in the diner spirit.

The blueberry, chocolate chip, cinnamon sugar, cranberry orange, pumpernickel, and rosemary olive-oil bagels at Bruegger’s Bagel Bakery are vegan. Bruegger’s also sells hummus and several vegetarian sandwiches (just order them without cheese or dressing, and add some vegan fixings).

Although Denny’s is known for its traditional all-night, diner-style meat-based fare, it also has some vegan options. You can get a vegan Boca burger patty for any burger on the menu and order it with seasoned French fries, a garden salad, or a baked potato with vegetable toppings. For breakfast, try the vegan oatmeal, bagels, grits, or fresh fruit.

You can substitute tofu for meat in the tacos, fajitas, salads, and burritos at Moe’s Southwest Grill. You can order whatever ingredients you like, so just ask for a vegan tortilla and tell them to skip the cheese and sour cream.

Mmmm mmm, my mouth is watering already. If you know of any other chain restaurants that serve veg options but aren’t listed in the link above, let us know.

Dogs get depressed and anxious too.

I could not get those Karen Carpenter song lyrics out of my mind after I read a recent article in the Connecticut Record-Journal called “Doggie Depression: It’s a Gnawing Problem” about dogs with “empty nest” syndrome. Today is the first day back to school for all the kids in the vicinity of PETA’s headquarters, and many dogs will suddenly find themselves all alone―after a summer of companionship. According to the article, this is especially upsetting to dogs when the parents in the family are teachers―they’ve been home all summer, too, and suddenly they’re gone as well. And if the kids are going off to college in another town or state, it’s even worse since they won’t even be home in the evenings.

I think a lot of people don’t give this much thought, and then they wonder why their dogs suddenly start acting out by chewing up furniture, barking excessively, or even becoming withdrawn or irritable. Do they think their dogs are automatons with no feelings? I have witnessed a few situations in which dogs have become depressed by someone’s absence, and I have to say that it was heartwrenching. In one case, a roommate of mine had developed a very close bond with my late Doberman, Shandy, and after he moved out, Shandy used to watch the door every evening, waiting and waiting for the roommate to come home. This went on for weeks, and it just broke my heart.

No, dogs definitely have intense feelings. They just can’t articulate them to us―just like children, people with autism, and a lot of other people of few words! And while we’re on the subject of being sensitive to dogs’ feelings, here’s a little more food for thought: An article by the BBC last week, called “Hurt Feelings ‘Worse Than Pain,’” describes research indicating that psychological pain can linger and haunt us much longer and more intensely than physical pain. Although the article is about humans, I have no doubt that the findings would apply to dogs just as easily. Apparently, as our cerebral cortex evolved to help us “work better in groups or societies,” it also had the “unintended effect of allowing humans to relive, re-experience and suffer from social pain,” whereas the memory of physical pain, which is processed in a different part of the brain, tends to fade with time.

As pack animals, dogs certainly evolved to work better in groups, too, so they likely evolved this same trait, the ability to relive psychological pain. As we know, this type of pain can lead to depression and anxiety. If anyone doesn’t believe that dogs can suffer from these, they don’t know dogs. My dog Dexter came to me four years ago filled with anxiety. As he relived whatever psychological pain had been inflicted on him by his original owner, he would chew the tip of his tail bloody every single day. This went on for a month before the bad memories finally began to loosen their grip on him.

So dogs need to be treated with care and consideration for their physical and their psychological well-being. I would suggest the following ground rules for respecting a dog’s psyche:

1. Never yell at Fido, unless he’s in imminent danger of being hurt by a falling object or some other hazard.

2. Never threaten Fido: Feeling safe is the bedrock of psychological well-being.

3. Never tease or make fun of Fido. Dogs usually don’t understand that type of humor anyway, but regardless of whether Fido gets the joke, allowing yourself to deprecate him can have a subtle but negative effect on your view of him and, thus, on your relationship.

4. Never leave Fido alone for long periods of time. If you can’t be with him, then provide another form of companionship, such as an animal companion or regular visits by a trusted neighbor or friend.

5. If you must leave Fido alone, provide for all his needs: a comfortable environment (a cozy dog bed or the family couch, soft classical music on the radio), mental stimulation (windows to look out of, interactive toys such as a Kong filled with peanut butter), physical activity (a long walk in the morning, the run of the house―never lock Fido inside a crate!), and the means to relieve himself (a doggie door into a secure back yard or kennel, a doggie litterbox, newspapers, or someone to let him out).

6. Notice which people and animals Fido loves and give him ample opportunity to spend time with them, even if you don’t like them yourself. Make arrangements to meet at the dog park or have them over to your home for a play date―Fido can’t make these arrangements, so it’s up to you to fulfill his longing to hang with his buds.

7. Always keep Fido in mind when life-changing events are imminent. A change in schedule, a change in household members, a move to a new home―these are all huge to him. So try to look at the situation from his point of view and figure out ways to make these changes as low-stress as possible.

Remember, Fido is only on this Earth for a limited amount of time―when he’s in his twilight years, you don’t want to have to look back on his life and say, “I wish I had treated him better!”

ranchosnaturalfoods / cc

In a previous post, I was singing the praises of Pangea and all the vegan chocolates, cakes, and cookies it sells. Well, I’m not done raving yet: Pangea just started selling the yummiest, “creamiest” vegan mac ‘n’ cheese ever. It’s called Leahey Macaroni and Cheese, and it’s the best “boxed” mac ‘n’ cheese I’ve had since I went vegan 17 years ago.

It comes with a powdered sauce mix, but it isn’t an unnatural fluorescent orange like other boxed macaroni and cheese. It’s only 97 calories per serving, too—and it’s cholesterol-free, of course. Plus it’s only $2.99, which isn’t bad considering how delicious it is.

A few years ago, Tofutti added a macaroni ‘n’ cheese dinner to their expansive line of dairy-free foods. It was rich and gooey—not bad at all—but they stopped selling it, so it must not have been one of their more popular products. Some people like Road End Organics Mac & Chreese, although I personally wish it were a bit “cheesier.”

But back to Pangea … when you order this fabulous mac ‘n’ cheese —do it now, you won’t regret it—you should also get some vegan caramels for dessert. They’re chewy and delicious on their own, but they’re even better covered in dark chocolate. I just melt dairy-free chocolate chips in a double broiler (you can melt chocolate in the microwave too) and dip the vegan caramels in. Place them on aluminum foil, and put them in the fridge for a few minutes for the chocolate to harden.

Serve the mac ‘n’ cheese and the chocolate caramels with a salad, some fruit, and whole-wheat bread, and you’ve got dinner—simple but scrumptious.

If you know of a vegan mac ‘n’ cheese that’s even better than Leahey’s, please let me know. And I’m always looking for new recipes.

allaboutthepretty / cc

This weekend, while shopping and catching up on errands, I kept seeing this fantastic set of cruelty-free and environmentally friendly makeup brushes pop up in every store I went to. They are called EcoTools, and from what I noticed this weekend, they seem to be available everywhere.

Instead of being made of animal hair, these brushes have animal-free taklon bristles made from soft and pliable synthetic hair. The handles are made from bamboo, and the metal coverings are fashioned from recycled aluminum cans! The pack I got even came with a hemp carrying case. Of course, I tried them as soon as I got home, and they are fabulous! Their eyeshadow brush gives you great control for creating dramatic color layers.

These brushes are too good to be true. As if being environmentally friendly, available everywhere, and cruelty-free weren’t enough, they are also extremely affordable. A set of five will only set you back about $10. Now, what are you waiting for? Go get your eco-chic on!