Matt Leming's column "Silence on vivisection" offended me as a biology major, as a linguistics major and as a vegetarian.First, the column is couched as a call for discussion on animal ethics, but the stilted language it uses is at odds with anything like openness; the word "vivisection," for example, is a label used exclusively among those who oppose animal experimentation.It goes on — the label "pseudoscience" gets tossed into the mix — but I suspect most readers don't need my help to notice the author's stance on animal testing.
Second, the characterization of animal experimentation that Matt puts forward is dangerous; the images he evokes are offensive to our human sensibilities, but they represent cases in which the animals are killed while under anesthesia — their experience is no different from pet dogs that are put to sleep — or provided care to veterinary standards, again,China Exhibition Dinosaurs manufacturers, no different from the way in which we treat our pets. Indulging in this kind of gut-reaction horror porn causes us to miss the real issues we need to discuss.
Instead of becoming diverted by our particular biases in individual cases, we should look at the standards we use for the systematic treatment of welfare in all animal experiments. We must especially look at the problem of failure to adhere to or enforce the standards we establish;Dinosaur Fossil Replica Landscape-Triceratops Skeleton, most animal welfare violations, including a 2002 case at UNC, involve staff that do not follow established procedures, rather than the enforcement of inherently cruel standards.
2013年3月21日 星期四
2013年3月20日 星期三
Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center covers variety of disciplines
Automotive technology students work hard to build knowledge, develop their skills and achieve competencies in various areas of the field. Upon completing the program, students may participate in industry certification training, testing and accreditation such as NOCTI, OSHA Safety, EPA 609 Refrigerant and Recovery and PA Safety Inspection Mechanic.
"We are currently working to add the NATEF accreditation to our list of offerings," Payne said. "In addition to their regular academically integrated automotive curriculum, our students enjoy participation in community service projects. In the fall, the auto tech students were asked to assess and repair a vehicle that was donated to the Angels of Mercy Animal Rescue and Adoption Agency. Upon our inspection of the vehicle, it was agreed that the former police cruiser was in such disrepair that it would be a better financial decision to replace the car with a different vehicle.
"After some brainstorming, fundraising and sponsorship by local businesses, the students purchased a minivan for the cause. Once we complete the process of refurbishing the vehicle, we plan to add some animal-appropriate modifications to aid the organization in using the vehicle for its intended purpose," Payne added.Another way the department is working to serve the community is through adult education classes. Payne offers a State Safety Inspection Mechanic Certification class. Enrollment information and forms are available on the CACTC website under the "Adult Education" link.
"We are currently working to add the NATEF accreditation to our list of offerings," Payne said. "In addition to their regular academically integrated automotive curriculum, our students enjoy participation in community service projects. In the fall, the auto tech students were asked to assess and repair a vehicle that was donated to the Angels of Mercy Animal Rescue and Adoption Agency. Upon our inspection of the vehicle, it was agreed that the former police cruiser was in such disrepair that it would be a better financial decision to replace the car with a different vehicle.
"After some brainstorming, fundraising and sponsorship by local businesses, the students purchased a minivan for the cause. Once we complete the process of refurbishing the vehicle, we plan to add some animal-appropriate modifications to aid the organization in using the vehicle for its intended purpose," Payne added.Another way the department is working to serve the community is through adult education classes. Payne offers a State Safety Inspection Mechanic Certification class. Enrollment information and forms are available on the CACTC website under the "Adult Education" link.
2013年3月18日 星期一
Springfield task force may suggest revamping vicious animal ordinance
The city of Springfield is considering revamping its vicious animal ordinance, to include all breeds of dogs. A task force could make some recommendations to the City Council this year.Right now,China Simulation dinosaurs, pit bull owners definitely have to jump through the most hoops to own that dog -- like registering it with the city, having a permit, etc.
A task force made up of citizens is discussing possibly recommending removal of that pit bull-specific part and making it where all vicious animals would be covered, regardless of breed.At the city pound, there are all sorts of breeds. Most of the dogs there were dropped off because they were wandering the streets of Springfield, homeless.
In the back room, a handful of dogs are on the naughty list.Some are pit bulls,Amusement Dinosaurs Model-Maiasaura Replica, but there are even small dogs that are all on a hold for biting someone."The landscape may have changed and that is the reason this ordinance is being reviewed," said Clay Goddard, assistant director of health for the Springfield-Greene County Health Department.
A task force made up of citizens is discussing possibly recommending removal of that pit bull-specific part and making it where all vicious animals would be covered, regardless of breed.At the city pound, there are all sorts of breeds. Most of the dogs there were dropped off because they were wandering the streets of Springfield, homeless.
In the back room, a handful of dogs are on the naughty list.Some are pit bulls,Amusement Dinosaurs Model-Maiasaura Replica, but there are even small dogs that are all on a hold for biting someone."The landscape may have changed and that is the reason this ordinance is being reviewed," said Clay Goddard, assistant director of health for the Springfield-Greene County Health Department.
2013年3月14日 星期四
Pet subjects does my rabbit understand me?
Can rabbits understand emotions? My pet rabbit, Ed, hops up and sits quietly beside me when I'm feeling sad, and jumps around enthusiastically when I'm in a good mood. Yes, I do think that Ed may well be sensitive to your emotional state. There's increasing evidence to suggest that most mammals feel similar emotions to humans. Medical imaging studies have shown that emotions are associated with neural activity in the primitive parts of the brain that animals share with humans.
Research has shown that rats, mice and even chickens display empathy: in one study, untrained laboratory rats prioritised setting trapped companions free over eating a stash of chocolate. It seems that social helping behaviour happens earlier in the evolutionary tree than scientists previously believed. Of course there is a danger of wishful thinking causing pet owners to anthropomorphise – projecting human thoughts and intentions onto their pets' behaviour – but there's also the opposite risk, of humans arrogantly ignoring their pets' emotions out of convenience or laziness.
Are there any games/puzzles that will help to keep my 11-year-old labrador's brain active? The games that he used to play involve too much movement for a dog with arthritic hips. I bought a puzzle game but it needs treats to make it work and I don't want him to gain weight. In the light of the recent scandal about the source of meat in human food products, is there a possibility that the food we give our cat and dog may be contaminated with horsemeat or harmful drugs? Is there a standards agency for animal food?
Research has shown that rats, mice and even chickens display empathy: in one study, untrained laboratory rats prioritised setting trapped companions free over eating a stash of chocolate. It seems that social helping behaviour happens earlier in the evolutionary tree than scientists previously believed. Of course there is a danger of wishful thinking causing pet owners to anthropomorphise – projecting human thoughts and intentions onto their pets' behaviour – but there's also the opposite risk, of humans arrogantly ignoring their pets' emotions out of convenience or laziness.
Are there any games/puzzles that will help to keep my 11-year-old labrador's brain active? The games that he used to play involve too much movement for a dog with arthritic hips. I bought a puzzle game but it needs treats to make it work and I don't want him to gain weight. In the light of the recent scandal about the source of meat in human food products, is there a possibility that the food we give our cat and dog may be contaminated with horsemeat or harmful drugs? Is there a standards agency for animal food?
2013年3月13日 星期三
Clark County holds off on animal shelter deal
Clark County's contract with the Humane Society for Southwest Washington, over shelter services for those with paws, is on pause.Clark County commissioners have officially offered the Humane Society a counterproposal for a one-year contract, as opposed to the two-year agreement that was before the board.But one commissioner says he would likely return to a two-year agreement if he could get a closer look at the Humane Society's books.Commissioners first took up the matter last week, but elected to hold off for a week so Commissioner David Madore could get caught up on the financial situation surrounding the agreement.
Madore said at Tuesday's meeting he's seen a fair amount of information from the society, but is still curious about the salaries paid to the animal group's executives."We certainly support the good work (of the Humane Society)," Madore said "None of this,Animatronic T-Rex Dinosaur, just simply an inquiry, asking for transparency, asking for what should tell a very good story, is in any way (meant) to take away from that at all."He continued, "The only reason why we are asking for the information that has so far not been provided is because we are charged to be good stewards of the public trust."
Madore made a point that it was "hundreds of thousands of dollars" the Humane Society is requesting, Animatronic Tyrannosaurus Rides,and while he believes it is a "very good effort," he wants the county to be financially prudent with its expenditures.The reason the contract is raising scrutiny appears to stem from the Humane Society's request that the county pay more to operate the shelter.
Madore said at Tuesday's meeting he's seen a fair amount of information from the society, but is still curious about the salaries paid to the animal group's executives."We certainly support the good work (of the Humane Society)," Madore said "None of this,Animatronic T-Rex Dinosaur, just simply an inquiry, asking for transparency, asking for what should tell a very good story, is in any way (meant) to take away from that at all."He continued, "The only reason why we are asking for the information that has so far not been provided is because we are charged to be good stewards of the public trust."
Madore made a point that it was "hundreds of thousands of dollars" the Humane Society is requesting, Animatronic Tyrannosaurus Rides,and while he believes it is a "very good effort," he wants the county to be financially prudent with its expenditures.The reason the contract is raising scrutiny appears to stem from the Humane Society's request that the county pay more to operate the shelter.
2013年3月6日 星期三
Extreme mammals arrive at Fernbank
Briefly swallowed by a model of the Indricotherium, the largest mammal that ever walked the earth, Chisler was helping assemble the dramatic monster in a downstairs gallery of the Fernbank Museum of Natural History."It takes two people, one inside and one outside, to bolt the panels on," said Chisler. "They are actually rather light."Though life-size, the model is constructed of lightweight (and translucent) fiberglass panels,Amusement Park Equipment-Garden Decoration, hung on a wood-and-steel armature, but at 15 feet tall and 21 feet long, the real McCoy was a hefty vegetarian, weighing in at 20 to 30 tons.
Meticulously constructed — each eyelash was fletched by hand — the model is also a dramatic sight. It soars nearly to the ceiling of the first gallery to house a new show called "Extreme Mammals," a collection of models, fossils and stuffed specimens on loan from the American Museum of Natural History.Fernbank's exhibit tells the mind-boggling story of the birth and evolution of this class of warm-blooded animals and the bewildering diversity within it, from the 21-foot Indricotherium, a rhino-like creature,Carnival Equipment-Pleasure Boat, to the 1 1/2-inch Batodonoides, an extinct relative of the shrew and the smallest mammal known.
(The diminutive prehistoric shrew was discovered when a scientist, examining fossil remains under a microscope, realized that he was probably looking at tiny, tiny teeth.)There are some significant fossils and casts of fossils in the collection. One of these is a copy of Ida, a 47 million-year-old lemur-like anthropoid discovered in Germany that is the earliest known animal with an opposable thumb and perhaps is the missing link between humans and more primitive primates.
Meticulously constructed — each eyelash was fletched by hand — the model is also a dramatic sight. It soars nearly to the ceiling of the first gallery to house a new show called "Extreme Mammals," a collection of models, fossils and stuffed specimens on loan from the American Museum of Natural History.Fernbank's exhibit tells the mind-boggling story of the birth and evolution of this class of warm-blooded animals and the bewildering diversity within it, from the 21-foot Indricotherium, a rhino-like creature,Carnival Equipment-Pleasure Boat, to the 1 1/2-inch Batodonoides, an extinct relative of the shrew and the smallest mammal known.
(The diminutive prehistoric shrew was discovered when a scientist, examining fossil remains under a microscope, realized that he was probably looking at tiny, tiny teeth.)There are some significant fossils and casts of fossils in the collection. One of these is a copy of Ida, a 47 million-year-old lemur-like anthropoid discovered in Germany that is the earliest known animal with an opposable thumb and perhaps is the missing link between humans and more primitive primates.