Shift in Wind Frees Trapped Orcas

Photo by Andy Moorhouse

During Thursday night, a shift in wind and tide opened up gaps in the ice through which the trapped Orca pod could escape the ice flow in Hudson Bay. Helicopters and ice hunters were sent out to confirm that they were no longer trapped in their breathing hole. No recent disturbances in the slush and no sightings of the Orcas since Thursday indicate that they have left the area. 

Orcas Trapped in Ice at Hudson Bay

Quebec - The race is on to rescue between eight to 17 orcas filmed trapped in ice near Inukjuak, northern Quebec. Activists are now urging Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), to step in and help the whales.

Video of the orcas who are spyhopping and appear stressed was originally sent to CTV by Lisa Di Ciero. Clement Rousseau then uploaded the video to his Facebook page, in the hopes of getting the killer whales some help.

 Rousseau said he posted Di Ciero's film, "hoping that the right person will see this video, a person that can help us to bring them back to the open water ..." 

Now the activist community is putting pressure on Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), to step in and seek a solution. Reminiscent of the 1988 grey whale rescue in Point Barrow, Alaska, that was featured in the film Big Miracle, activists are using social media to urge Canada to take action. 

 News of the trapped whales reached CTV Montreal who said "Residents of Inukjuaq are concerned that there is not enough open water for the whales to swim out." How many orcas are trapped remains unknown, but estimates put the number somewhere between eight to 17 mammals. 

 According to CBC News, DPO officials haven't decided yet what to do about the orcas. Johnny P. Williams of Inukjuak told the station he visited the whales, and they seem desperate for air. 

 "It is difficult to go near the ice since the waves from the whales are making it impossible," he said in Inuktitut. "The breathing hole is getting smaller and smaller. Their whole body jumps up for air." 

An airplane was dispatched to determine how far the whales were from open water. Williams reported, "the open ice is too far away for the whales to go on their own and only an icebreaker could help them out." 

In 2005, six killer whales trapped by thick ice in Russian waters died exhausted and wounded after an attempt to break free. Strong winds blew in ice floes which trapped the whales in shallow waters in the Sea of Okhotsk. It is unclear how the current pod of whales became trapped. 

Erin Cunliffe said that she has already called emergency fisheries of Canada and they have the information on the orcas. "All he could tell me," Cunliffe said, "was that they are doing something about it." 

Activists are urging people to call DFO's emergency number to request they intercede on behalf of the orcas. They can be reached at (877)-722-5346. 

Inukjuak is a northern village located on Hudson Bay at the mouth of the Innuksuak River in Nunavik. It is in the Nord-du-Québec region of northern Quebec, Canada. 

 Digital Journal has contacted DFO and we will update this story as it unfolds.

Update: Nathalie Letendre of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, told Digital Journal a short while ago that DFO is "aware of the situation and confirms that a pod of killer whales is trapped in ice near Inukjuak."

Letendre added, "a team of experts from DFO is working very closely with its partners in Nunavik to evaluate the situation. Situations where marine mammals are trapped by the ice are not unusual in the North."  

Digital Journal asked DFO if this situation is not unusual in the North, would you say then that DFO does not think the situation critical at this point?  
NL: By unusual, I mean that it is not the first time that marine mammals are stuck in the ice. DFO considers it important to be on site to evaluate the situation correctly. That’s why our experts are presently travelling in the direction of Inukjuak.

 Digital Journal also asked how available immediate help is and whether DFO has the resources to rapidly respond and assist these whales if needed. DFO has not yet responded to the question.

Source: DigitalJournal.com

Dancing With the Stars Judge Starts Animal Foundation

Just call her Captain Elf! Carrie Ann Inaba may be a Dancing with the Stars judge by day, but most other waking hours are spent caring for animals, including six dogs and cats she calls her own. This year, Inaba also fulfilled a lifelong goal of starting an animal foundation when she launched The Carrie Ann Inaba Animal Project, which aims to support the rescue, welfare and well-being of animals.

Source: People.com 

Penguins in Sweaters!

Penguins caught in a New Zealand oil spill are given little sweaters to prevent them from preening and ingesting oil on their feathers.
Click here for full story

Surfers Save Stranded Baby Great White

This baby Great White Shark was stranded on Venice Beach, CA and tangled in fishing line. Luckily, some good samaritan surfers come to the rescue.

Friday Find

Today's Friday Find is a whopper: 150 guinea pigs! You read that correctly. These poor little guys were dumped at a SoCal shelter and quickly absorbed by area small animal rescues Wee Companions & Orange County Cavy Haven. Many of these guinea pigs are skinny, suffer from various health issues and illnesses, and/or are pregnant. The rescues are in desperate need of funding and supplies, so here are a few simple ways you can help out:

Local folks:
1) They are in need of anything and everything as far as supplies and food** go
2) Offer to volunteer and/or foster
3) Adopt 1 or 2 or 3 of course! :)

Non-local folks:
1) The easiest option would be to donate via Chip-In which will be divvied up between the rescues involved.
2) You may donate or ship items directly to the rescues
4) As the Chip-In link says, some will be transported to UT & AZ so keep an eye on your local piggy rescue if you live in one of those states and are looking for a new BFF!

Items needed includes bedding, guinea pig food**, timothy hay**, water bottles, food dishes, etc etc
**Food and hay brands accepted are: Oxbow or KMS Hayloft

Guinea pigs hail from South America where they play an important role in the culture. They are traditionally used in religious ceremonies, folk medicine, and also as a protein source. As pets, they make delightful companions. They are a social animal that prefers having company of their own kind, however can be housed singly as long as a significant amount of time is dedicated to providing attention. Guinea pigs are the most vocal of the rodents and make a variety of noises. They are also quite intelligent and are capable of learning tricks. To learn more about guinea pig care, check out Guinea Lynx.

Rescue Dogs Turn Vick House of Horrors into House of Hope

Rescue dogs arrive at old Vick home: wavy.com

Rescue Dogs Arrive At Old Vick Home
Home to become dog rescue facility

Updated: Monday, 27 Jun 2011, 10:07 AM EDT
Published : Monday, 27 Jun 2011, 6:07 AM EDT

SURRY COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) - The first of many rescue dogs arrived Sunday to the home once owned by Michael Vick in Surry County.

It was once the home of dogfighting rings, but now the home is officially becoming a dog rescue facility.

A rescue group called Dogs Deserve Better bought the 15 acre property in May.

The group plans to renovate the property and make it a state of the art facility for hundreds of dogs who were either chained or penned.

"We want this place to be a memorial to all the dogs who lost their lives here," said Tamira Thyne with Dogs Deserve Better. "I don't want our dogs here, because I do think there's been a lot of sadness and a lot of pain here."

The group is in need of volunteers and funding.

If you would like to donate time or money, visit www.dogsdeservebetter.org .

Dog Trainer Receives Tony Award

Dog Trainer Makes History at Tonight's Tony Awards

Tonight’s Tony Awards telecast will be eye and ear candy for fans of the New York theater. But even if Broadway show business isn’t your thing, there’s one feature of tonight’s program that’s sure to appeal to Dogsters. In a historic first, the prestigious Tony Honor for Excellence in Theater will be awarded to … a dog trainer.

William Berloni – Bill to his friends – is the founder of William Berloni Theatrical Animals and director of animal behavior at the Humane Society of New York. His specialty is discovering K9 stage stars at animal shelters, then prepping them for a run on the Great White Way.

He’s so modest, and he makes it look easy, but it’s a lot harder than it sounds, as Bill’s memoir “Broadway Tails,” explains. Dog trainers who work in movies have the luxury of re-takes. Dogs who perform in live stage productions only get one shot at stardom: You mess up on stage, your career is over. Berloni’s dogs never mess up. They are the creme de la creme of K9 talent – true professionals who work hard to earn every ovation they get. And to get his dogs to achieve their best, Bill uses only positive, gentle training methods.

The story of how Bill secured his unique niche in dog training reads like a Broadway-bound play itself. Back in 1976, director Martin Charnin was getting ready for the opening of a musical based on a popular comic strip about an orphan girl and her best friend, a sandy-haired mutt. Charnin charged Bill, then a 19-year-old aspiring actor, with securing a dog for the production, and training the K9 to do tricks on cue.

Bill, who had loved and worked with dogs since childhood, was happy to volunteer as the trainer in exchange for his actor’s card. After visiting various animal shelters in his home state of Connecticut, he discovered the perfect dog to play Sandy. A dog star was born. Sandy the mutt charmed and delighted fans of the musical “Annie,” on and off the stage.

As everyone knows, the musical “Annie” became a blockbuster. Berloni’s professional destiny was sealed. He wouldn’t act after all; instead, he’d be the force behind Broadway’s fabulous, four-footed stage performers, motivating and guiding his proteges all the way to superstar status.

Today, Bill has a stable of some 30 Sandy mutts, all veterans of various “Annie” revivals, and all adopted from animal shelters (that’s one of them in the photo above, taken at last year’s Tonys). He works with many other breeds and mixes as well, from pit bulls to poodles (like the toy poodle he trained for “Gypsy,” starring Bernadette Peters). Remember Chico, the famous Chihuahua who starred as Bruiser in the Broadway blockbuster “Legally Blonde”? He’s a Berloni discovery, as is Toto in Broadway’s “The Wizard of Oz” and Pi the Boston Terrier, the sweet scene-stealer in Susan Stroman’s “Double Feature” for the New York City Ballet.

He’s soft-spoken and modest, but Bill is a legend – and other legends have tipped their hats to him. Documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles of “Grey Gardens” and “Gimme Shelter” fame has a doc in the works about Berloni; famed photographer Elliott Erwitt shot an iconic image of Berloni and Sandy sitting on a park bench; director Mike Nichols tapped Berloni to train the animals (dogs plus a cat) for the Tom Hanks movie “Charlie Wilson’s War.”

But the thing we love most about Bill Berloni is this: He’s steadfast in his loyalty to shelter animals, and remains dedicated to raising awareness of the heartbreaking numbers of dogs in animal shelters across the country whose talents too often go unnoticed. He always gently urges everyone he meets to try following his proven m.o. for success: Find and adopt pets from animal shelters. Whether they perform on Broadway or just do tricks for you and your family, those dogs are the ones with star quality to spare.

Bravo, Bill - Dogsters will be cheering as you pick up your richly deserved award tonight. Knock ‘em dead!

Paula Deen Gives Rescue Chickens a Home

Paula's Chicken Coop from Paula Deen on Vimeo.

She's one of my favorite cooks and this just bumped her up a few more notches on the awesome scale! And take a look at that amazing coop! Those are some spoiled chickens, yall!

All sorts of critters are in need of loving homes. You can find them all on Petfinder.com!!

Hotel for Dogs + Pedigree

There is a new dog movie coming out soon made by Nickelodeon called Hotel for Dogs. For every ticket purchased, Pedigree will make a donation to help shelter dogs.

On the Hotels for Dogs website they have a "meet the pups" section where you can read about their stories and the all too common reasons dogs are dumped.

Most if not all of the dogs casted were, indeed, rescues.

Keiko's Dream..... Keiko's Legacy

KEIKO'S DREAM... KEIKO'S LEGACY
An Educational Video
Coming in 2008

Joshua Records in association with The Free Willy Keiko Foundation to release an Educational Video about Keiko’s Life and Legacy, utilizing music written by Theresa Demarest from The Keiko’s Dream Tour.

The goal for this film is to encourage you to take a second look the whole effort to release Keiko back to the wild. We hope to evoke within you a desire:

*to ponder Keiko's own strong will to survive
*to explore his enormous embrace of his own freedom
*to observe his behavior and compare it to orcas in the wild
*to see things about Keiko in a way that maybe you didn't think about before
*to look at what The Free Willy Keiko Foundation and all those directly involved were doing
*to look at the ways in which the effort to release a captive whale into the wild succeeded perhaps from Keiko’s point of view
*to encourage the study of so many questions left unexplored...

The "KEIKO’S DREAM... KEIKO'S LEGACY" DVD utilizes footage provided by the Free Willy Keiko Foundation, Ocean Futures Society, Orcalab, and independent videographer Eric Engelken. The DVD is being produced by Joshua Records.

The title song "Keiko’s Dream" is an original instrumental piece dedicated to Keiko that evokes the whale’s song through the extra-ordinary lead guitar theme written by Theresa Demarest and eloquently performed by Good Company band member Tim Ellis. A second song titled: “Keiko” written for the DVD is performed by Theresa Demarest, Renato Caranto, and Thera Memory.

This is Keiko's Dream... This is Keiko's Legacy.

Go Orange on April 10th

Join Animal Lovers Everywhere and Go Orange for Animals on April 10 for ASPCA Day!

On Thursday, April 10, cities all over the country will be going orange to celebrate the ASPCA’s victories on behalf of animals and the joy they bring to pet parents everywhere. Lend us your voice on April 10 by dressing yourself, your kids, your pet—even your school or company!—in ASPCA orange, and show the world you support the ASPCA and the pets we protect. Visit the ASPCA Day Online Community Group to give—and get—good ideas for going orange.

Learn more about ASPCA Day here

Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl IV

Tired of the same old Super Bowl™ pre-game show? Looking for some excitement before the opening coin-toss? Before the big men in pads take the field for their gridiron battle, watch some players that are ready to rumble and "ruff" their way to victory. We've traded in linebackers for labradors and quarterbacks for corgis and we're releasing the hounds for PUPPY BOWL IV on Sunday, February 3, from 3-6 PM (ET/PT).

From baby beagles to mini dachshunds to mixed breeds — viewers are in for a fantastic lineup that's itching to play in a winning combination of tackles, puppy penalties and fido first downs. The renowned Harry Kalas, voice of NFL Films, returns to call the play-by-plays of this year's game.

For all the feline fans, the BISSELL KITTY HALF-TIME SHOW is back! The lively kittens show off their moves on a glittery stage and chase each other around the field. Tom Petty's performance has nothing on these tiny tabbies and cuddly calicos which prove that watching curious kittens batting around a toy mouse is all the entertainment you need. It's the pick of the litter for halftime shows!

And this year, viewers are able to see all of the frolicking like never before. For the first time, PUPPY BOWL IV will be broadcast in high-definition, capturing all of the thrilling action of our cute and cuddly pups in stunning clarity.

Tune in on February 3rd at 3 pm e/p to get in on the action!

Check out the starting lineup
Starting lineup brought to you by these shelters.

Vick dogs make their debut

The gag order is lifted as the last defendant is sentenced and Bad Rap opens up about their experiences and discoveries made when evaluating the ex-fighting dogs.

See video, pictures, a timeline, and the entire process on Bad Rap's website here- A Second Chance for the Vick-tims

Their blogspot has also been updated and can be read here

These dogs were immediately labeled "ticking timebombs" by PETA and HSUS who took it upon themselves to decide it was best that they be put down with no further evaluation because of their fighting background. But evaluation of these dogs may help reinvent how to assess prior fighting dogs and show that shelters need to treat them on an individual basis instead of generalizing. You may recall that only ONE dog failed the rigerous temperament test admistered by both Bad Rap and the ASPCA.

Thanks to good people like Bad Rap and ASPCA EVERY dog no matter what breed, size, or background has an equal chance at finding that perfect home.

zee cuteness, you die from it, ja? ja!

Pinups for Pit Bulls

Pinups for Pit Bulls is a unique project that stives to promote the true "nanny dog" Pit Bull image that is often overshadowed in combination with classic pinup style photographs.

All of their proceeds go towards various Pit Bull rescues, and you can help in several ways including-
*Becoming one of their pinups and being featured in their calander (if you meet their criteria)
*Buying one of their calanders which makes a great gift for both fans of pinups and Pit Bulls
*Simply donating

Pre-orders are now being accepted for their 2008 calander!