Blog Update and Facebook Page Link

I started this Animal Abuse Awareness blog over a year ago in an effort to expose and vent about the harm I witness to my local Wildlife.  I changed the name several times as I not only witnessed such heartbreak, but as I read about it on my Facebook page daily, posted by friends and organizations that care about Animals.   The change in name and focus the early stages I got involved in the early stages of an event that was posted by a friend, but involving a soul-less coward celebrity, country singer Blake Shelton.  The information that came out of that incident about he and his wife, the equally awful Miranda Lambert, made me so sick that I had to stop writing about it.  ... Everyday I either witness and/or read about something heartbreaking perpetrated by Humans towards Voiceless, Defenseless Beings.  Each time, I wish I had continued so that there was a place for Awareness from my corner of the World.  ... I like things in chronological order and what's delayed me from re-starting my effort has been the lack of time and energy to lay things out how I envision.  A few months ago I attempted and re-posted some of the existing posts, and put the rest in draft form, planning to organize and continue in the way I envision.  That time still has not come, but I'm going to forge ahead with a Facebook Page today, Thanksgiving 2013.  A day in which I have already read many items to share.  A day I am thankful for finding a group of Friends here that feel the same way I do.  Please join us in our Passion being the Voice for those who don't have one.  The Facebook Page and this site will supplement each other.  Longer versions of my thoughts on issues will be posted here.  Shorter versions of issues and articles of relevance I come across on Facebook will be shared there.  Feel free to post items there, that are reflective of the subject.  Please note that the words of our Voices will not always be PC or PG!  We have come to have zero tolerance and our words not soft.  As long as in regard to the subject, I will allow this expression, for it is wielded by frustration and rage.  Please do not comment about the vulgar vocabulary you will encounter or I will delete your comments.  I want people to be outraged because these issues need an army of outraged to strive for change.   Thank you and hope we can all together create Awareness and create Empathy both locally and globally. 

Join the Act With Empathy - Animals Feel Too!  Facebook Page :)

https://www.facebook.com/ActWithEmpathyAnimalsFeelToo

Golden Gate Park Rangers Remove Signs That Save Lives

There are many who visit certain areas of Golden Gate Park daily.  We go to visit the Wildlife Friends we've made there, walk socially and for exercise.  Over the past couple years, visitors who care have often posted signs in an attempt to help the Wildlife stay safe.  This is something the Rec and Park should do, but doesn't. They call attention to the Wildlife wonders, but do nothing to help them when needed.

There is much need for certain information to get out and signs are often the best on the spot way.  Some information is life saving.  There is a specific spot at Stow Lake where cars speed through and where Ducks often cross.  There is one Mallard Duck couple who nest across the path, so they walk across at the spot.  The other day I saw the Geese Family cross at that same spot and when I stopped traffic for them, all the babies (14!) sat in the road.  I continued to halt traffic while motioning them all back on land.

The sign someone posted last season is long gone, but someone replaced it with three signs along the road leading up to this spot at the turn.   These signs appeared about four weeks ago and there has been a noticeable change in the speed cars are approaching that area, as well continuing on the road that circles the Lake.  The signs were welcomed by the Gardener Staff and when they trimmed the tree's last week, the crew re-positioned back in place.  We have all been grateful for these signs and what they have done to slow down cars and maybe saving the lives of Ducks Crossing.

Tonight a regular who visits in the evening emailed me and said she saw a Park Ranger parked near one of the signs and heard them throw something in their truck.  When the truck pulled away that sign and the ones before it were gone.

WHY?  Believe me I will call them and ask in the morning.  I'm sure there will be some BS answer of even a lie of denial.  I have dealt with the Rec and Park before.  Regardless of what they say, the fact remains that they allegedly removed these signs for some ridiculous reason.  They weren't hurting anyone, in fact they were saving lives.

Human Actions that are Harmful to Wildlife

coming soon.

Issue of the Moment - Its Breeding Season!

Originally posted April 25, 2012, it is the reason once again for my re-start.

I re-started this blog today as I have an Issue of the Moment I'd like to call attention to.

Its breeding season for some Wildlife in our Parks.  I call it "Ling" season.  It notes the arrival of Goslings and Ducklings to the Lake areas in our Parks.   

Animal predators (Sea Gulls, Herons, Turtles, Fish, Raccoons, Foxes, Coyotes) by nature are not the only harm that can come to these tiny innocent beings.  Humans and human actions can be the cause as well.  After several years of visiting these little ones almost daily once the season begins, there is one specific action that I would like to have brought to attention.

In addition to Dogs off leash, running grounded babies back into the water, often times right into the sea gull mix, there are also Humans who try to pick them up, sometimes with intent to steal them for a pet or food.  One gal standing next to me the other night said to her friend, "I wonder what would happen if I took one?"  I said, "I would take you down, that's what would happen!"   The most common that I see is when people, mostly unknowingly feed the babies, or any of the Ducks/Birds around them.  

I contacted the San Francisco Park and Rec last season and asked it they could post signs, and use other outreach to at least try and get the word out, that this is a dangerous often fatal (for the babies) situation.  Like in all other cases, they did nothing.

The problem is when people feed in the area where the babies are, the Sea Gulls will swarm in and they are a major predator of the babies.  Too many have been snatched by them, sometimes dwindling a dozen Ducklings down to only two :(    I have alerted people while standing there, but that is basically a minute in time.  

I would like more attention to this.  If anyone reading this cares, please contact any Park outlet, the actual Park and Rec, the Commission, the Boathouse, ... by phone, email, twitter, facebook,...   Ask them to post signs at our Lakes, especcially Stow Lake where most of the breeding goes on.   Ask them use their social networking outreach to get the word out.  I'd actually like to see signs on the backs of benches near where the Ducks and Gooses bring their families ashore.

A sign that simply says "For their safety, please DO NOT FEED any Ducks, Geese, Birds, ect near the babies."

I have found for the most part people to be respective and understanding once they are aware of this.  Most people never consider the other Animals predators.  There are also the ones who could careless and continue to do whatever they want.  Yesterday a gal and her two young children were throwing bread to the Gulls right where the babies were.  I explained to them what can happen, yet they continued.  Only when I said to the mother, "Why would you continue?", did she stop.   I'm not trying to rule the roost so to speak, just trying to save some lives.  No one (I hope) wants to witness a babie get snatched and carried off.  I've heard the stories and that's horrifying enough.  Its a big Lake with tons of hungry water life, just pick another spot. 

ADD NOTE May 5, 2013

I didn't change any of what is written because it basically stands alone as is, and therefore saves me time on writing a whole new post.  Although, since the situation at present is still the same, along with some other added instances,  I plan to do a post detailing actions I've witnessed.  

San Francisco Park Ordinace

Originally posted October 18, 2011 in support of my original Mission regarding local issues.

After the San Francisco Zoo Grizzly Bear Trespassing incident in 2009, San Francisco City Supervisor Sean Elsbernd, worked to get Amendments made to the (then) standing San Francisco Park Code.

I was in email correspondence with Sean Elsbernd immediately after the offenders sentencing hearing, in which he basically got off without even a slap on the wrist so to speak. I was outraged and sought out Elsbernd to find out how this could happen and what can be done to tighten the Law.

I was happy to hear he had planned this Amendment action. Once it was passed, he sent me two documents that covered it entirely. What follows is the exact wording, that pertains to Animals.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LEGISLATIVE DIGEST

Ordinance amending the San Francisco Park Code by amending Section 4.01 to prohibit entrance into animal habitats or enclosures at the San Francisco Zoo and the bison paddock; amending Section 5.07 to prohibit feeding non-domesticated animals in parks; amending Section 5.08 to prohibit taunting or endangering animals at the Zoo or in the bison paddock; and amending Section 10.01 to increase the penalties for violation of the Park Code up to $500 maximum for an infraction and up to $1000 for a misdemeanor.

Existing Law

Currently, the Park Code generally defines disorderly conduct on park property, prohibits feeding or offering substances that are harmful to animals in parks and disturbing animals, birds and fish on park property. Fines are set at $50.00 to $100.00 for infractions, and $500.00 for misdemeanors.

Amendments to Current Law

1) Prohibits the following behavior:

Entering into, or attempt to enter into, any animal enclosure or habitat at the San Francisco Zoological Gardens, or at the bison paddock in Golden Gate Park, without specific authorization by Zoo staff;

Failing to follow all rules of the San Francisco Zoological Gardens, or any directions or instructions given by Zoo staff.

Feeding, or offering food or any substance to any animal in any park which is wild by nature and not customarily domesticated in the City and County of San Francisco without specific authorization from the Recreation and Park Commission.

Feeding, or offering food or any substance to any animal in the San Francisco Zoological Gardens without specific authorization from Zoo staff.

Taunting, endangering any animal in any park, including the bison paddock, and the San Francisco Zoological Gardens.

2) Increases the fines for violation of the Park Code to the maximum allowed by state law:

(a) Infractions

from $50.00 for the first offense to $100.00

from $100.00 for the second offense to $200.00

for each additional offense within one year by a fine of not more than $500.00

eliminates minimum fines

(b) Misdemeanors

from $500.00 to $1000.00

[Recreation and Park Department—Animal Protections; Increasing Penalties for Park Code Violations.]

Ordinance amending the San Francisco Park Code by amending Section 4.01 to prohibit entrance into animal habitats or enclosures at the San Francisco Zoo and the bison paddock; amending Section 5.07 to prohibit feeding non-domesticated animals in parks; amending Section 5.08 to prohibit taunting or endangering animals at the Zoo or in the bison paddock; and amending Section 10.01 to increase the penalties for violation of the Park Code up to $500 maximum for an infraction and up to $1000 for a misdemeanor.

Section 1. The San Francisco Park Code is hereby amended by amending Section 4.01, to read as follows:

SEC. 4.01. DISORDERLY CONDUCT.

No person shall, in any park. without permission of the Recreation and Park Department:

(a) Throw or propel objects of a potentially dangerous nature, including, but not limited to, stones, bottles, glass, cans or crockery;

(b)-(k) not applicable to Animals.

(l) Enter into, or attempt to enter into, any animal enclosure or habitat at the San Francisco Zoological Gardens, or at the bison paddock in Golden Gate Park, without specific authorization by Zoo staff;

(m) Fail to follow all rules of the San Francisco Zoological Gardens, or any directions or instructions given by Zoo staff.

Section 2. The San Francisco Park Code is hereby amended by amending Section 5.07, to read as follows:

SEC. 5.07. FEEDING ANIMALS PROHIBITED.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to feed or offer to any animal in any park any substance which would be likely to be harmful to it.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to feed, or offer food or any substance to any animal in any park which is wild by nature and not customarily domesticated in the City and County of San Francisco. However, the Recreation and Park Commission may authorize the feeding of certain animals or birds in specified areas.

(c) It shall unlawful for any person to feed, or offer food or any substance to any animal in the San Francisco Zoological Gardens without specific authorization from Zoo staff.

Section 3. The San Francisco Park Code is hereby amended by amending Section 5.08, to read as follows:

SEC. 5.08. DISTURBING ANIMALS, BIRDS, FISH PROHIBITED, EXCEPTIONS.

Except as provided in Article 7, Chapter VIII (Police Code) of the San Francisco Municipal Code, it shall be unlawful for any person., including City and County of San Francisco, its officers, employees or agents, to hunt, chase, shoot, trap, discharge or throw missiles at, molestharrass, disturb, taunt, endanger, capture, injure, or destroy any animal in any park, including the bison paddock, and the San Francisco Zoological Gardens, or to permit any animal in such person's custody or control to do so; provided, however, that any mole or any gopher, mouse, rat or other rodent which is determined by the Superintendent of Parks to be a nuisance may be destroyed by said Superintendent or a designated representative; and provided, further, that any animal other than a mole or a gopher, mouse, rat or other rodent which is determined by said Superintendent to be a nuisance or a hazard to persons using said areas or to be a hazard to plants or other horticulture, may, in a humane manner, be live trapped by said Superintendent and delivered to the Animal Control Officer for disposition pursuant to the provisions of Sections 41.7 through 41.9, inclusive, of Article 1, Chapter V (Health Code) of the San Francisco Municipal Code. The provisions of this Section are intended to prohibit fishing in any park other than fishing in Lake Merced pursuant to a license obtained pursuant to Article 8 of this Code or in any other area designated by Commission resolution as a fishing area.

The provisions of this Section shall not be applicable to the destruction of any animal in any park where such animal poses an immediate and serious threat to persons or property or is suffering excessively.

Section 4. The San Francisco Park Code is hereby amended by amending Section 10.01, to read as follows:

SEC. 10.01. PENALTIES.

Unless otherwise specified in this Code, any person violating any section of this Code shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor or an infraction. The complaint charging such violation shall specify whether the violation is a misdemeanor or infraction, which decision shall be that of the District Attorney; provided, however, that whenever a person has been arrested and incarcerated based solely on the violation or violations of this Code, he or she shall retain the right at the time of arraignment or plea to object to the offense being made an infraction, in which event the complaint shall be amended to charge the misdemeanor and the case shall proceed on the misdemeanor complaint.

Upon conviction of a violation charged as an infraction, the person so convicted shall be punished for the first offense by a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $50$100, and for a second and each additional offense within one year by a fine of not less than $20 nor more than $100$200, and for each addtional offense within one year by a fine of not more than $500.

Upon conviction of a violation charged as a misdemeanor., the person so convicted shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500 $1000 or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

DENNIS J. HERRERA, City Attorney

By:

VIRGINIA DARIO ELIZONDO

Deputy City Attorney

Mission

Originally posted as the Welcome post, October 18, 2011

I am in constant furor over actions against Wildlife that I witness almost daily. I am in constant wonder, what can be done to stop these actions.

I have written in another blog about misbehavior I have witnessed at the San Francisco Zoo, a place where I am a Visitor at least once a week. I am a Visitor to Golden Gate Park almost daily. This is where I witness most misbehavior.

Yesterday I was on the phone with a friend while walking to feed my lake friends. We were as usual, discussing the disgusting behavior we witness. I said, "I need to start a blog and just start calling out and calling attention to, all the misbehavior I witness."

Sadly, today was the day I was forced to start this blog. Sadly I say, because that force came in a Facebook post by the local rescue and rehabilitation group WildRescue. The post noted today's sfgate.com article, "Hawk with nail gun injury eludes rescuers."

My heart breaks when I witness someone misbehaving towards any Animal. I just don't understand actions of such hate, against innocent creatures.

I have so much more to say on this subject and many posts planned. I had to quickly put this together so as to be in a timely manner with the horrible event of the day. I hadn't made a layout plan for opening posts, so things might change a bit once I get it together. Please check back to see how this develops.

Hopefully it can be used as an outreach tool to make a change, whether its in a big way worldwide against the awful treatment of Animals or in a small way in your own local park against the awful treatment Wildlife that lives there. Maybe it will just be a forum for exposing the evil humans that walk among us.

ADD NOTE May 5, 2013

The article I refer to can be read here
http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/crime/2011/10/wildlife-rescuers-searching-golden-gate-park-hawk-possibly-shot-nail-gun

The Hawk was eventually caught and rehabilitated and released.  I never heard of the findings of the investigation, but as someone who is in the park daily, it is my opinion that this crime against this Animal was by one of the outsourced workers.  At the time there was work being done and only someone who had that kind of equipment at hand and knew the Birds of the area could have made such a shot, both in timing and accuracy.

WildRescue the organization I noted has since changed their name to
http://www.wildlifeservices.org/

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area and visit area where Wildlife live, please visit their website and carry their phone number in case you come across an Animal in need.  As well take a look at their blog to see the work they have done.

Welcome

In October 2011, I started this blog using the title Stop Abusing Wildlife.  It went threw two other changes, Stop Bullying Animals and Stop the Hurt Against Animals.  The reason for the changes was because I went from one instigating issue to another, feeling that my Mission needed to be broader.

I made eighteen posts, which garnered over 500 page views, but with each post I felt more and more disheartened.  There also seemed to be something new to post about everyday and it was too overwhelmingly spirit dampening.  

With each of the things I'd either experience or read about, I would always think about this blog and wish I had kept it current.  Doing so would require not only changing the name once again, as I now feel like this new title expresses a direct message, but also re-organizing all the posts already posted.  The past posts are no longer accessible via the original links once (each time) the name changes went through.

I have many blogs, mostly San Francisco Zoo related, so I have kinda honed a way I like to do things.  I'm a big fan of chronological order and flow.  That said, I do want to re-post all that I had on here under the previous titles, so while they may seem outdated the content is not.   This re-organization may take some time, so please follow the blog, or me ( user leo811 ) on Twitter to keep updated.

I am moved to re-start this now because it is Spring and with Wildlife Births in my local park, there are new lives being threatened daily because they are vulnerable to Human Bullies.   New Lives, New Start.