It’s been one of those scattered weeks and I didn’t manage to get it together for a focused travel post. But I’ve got a lot on my mind to share, some of it even pet-travel related.
A BIG Thank You to Karen a.k.a. Doggie Stylish (and a teeny one to UPS)
I’ve written about the problems I’ve had with Frankie’s insulin; the attempt to switch over to Humulin N was unsuccessful and, on my vet’s advice, I decided to go back to Caninsulin, the Canadian version, as long as it is available. It can be a big hassle to get it and to get it in a timely fashion but, thanks to my internet pal Karen Friesecke at Doggie Stylish who spent considerable time driving to a Toronto pharmacy, packing the bottles, and sending them via UPS, Frankie got enough meds for the next seven months.
After a rocky start — the apparent losing of the paperwork — the package was delivered to me when it was supposed to be, i.e., within two days of its being sent, which is what I paid $81 for. And thanks to Karen’s expert packing, the insulin was still cool. I shouldn’t really have to thank a company for doing what it is paid to do, and the delivery guy dropped the package off on my front porch without knocking on my front door but — due to whatever weird but wonderful serendipity I seem to have going lately with Frankie’s insulin — I had left my desk to go into the kitchen and saw the UPS truck stopping on my street and opened the door. Voila — insulin! So they get a teeny gratitude thanks for not screwing up as monumentally as they did last time.
Seeking Pet Travel Experts
I’m looking for my next pet travel podcast subject for Animal Cafe. I’ve already interviewed Mary-Alice Pomputius at DogJaunt.com (traveling with a small dog), Amy and Rod Burkert at GoPetFriendly.com (traveling in an RV), Diane Silver at ToDogWithLove.com (traveling internationally), the owners of The Lazy Dog Ranch, a very pet friendly B&B, and the representatives of Pet Airways. (Just search for “pet travel” or “Edie Jarolim” at AnimalCafe to listen to the interviews.)
Anyone have any ideas on pet travel bloggers or businesses to cover? Don’t hesitate to suggest yourself or your business. I’d like John Woestendiek, the author of Dog Inc., who is traveling around the country with his dog, to be my next guest and tried to contact him via his OhMiDog! blog, but haven’t heard back. If anyone knows him, tell him I’ll promote the hell out of his book if he agrees to be interviewed.
Will the Real PETA Please Stand Up?
You can imagine my surprise this morning when an article on PeoplePETS.com about Kirk Douglas and his love for dogs linked to a site I hadn’t seen before: The PETA-does-Martha-Stewart PETA prime. They even have a sexiest vegetarian over 50 contest.
In the meantime, over at the real PETA, they’re planning one of their ultra sexist campaigns: A porn site to promote veganism. Read all about it at Life With Dogs. By the way, Neil, what happened to that original woman-carved-into-cuts-of-meat picture that was originally posted on your site to accompany the article? I can’t find it.
I don’t want to go on another PETA rant; it’ll just make me angry. If you want to see why I loathe PETA, here’s the link.
I’m not sure I buy that abuse can stop abuse. Currently the porn industry is an abusive one. It’s abusive to women yes, but really to all its workers. I will consider it abusive until the use of condoms becomes de rigueur. Porn right now is the antithesis of ethical behavior. Of course if you ask me so is PETA so I guess it’s a match but I don’t think it’s gonna help animals at all. PETA hauls in over 20 mil a year and yet it can’t bring itself to spend a penny on a no kill shelter. So do I think this is really about stopping abuse? Not really. It’s about lining PETA’s pockets and sex sells.
I completely agree. Here’s the PETA defense: “Our demonstrators, the models, all chose to participate in our campaigns … It’s not a very feminist thing to do to turn to women and tell them whether or not they can use their voices, their bodies to express their voice.”
Right. And when PETA starts using men in its campaigns equally maybe I’ll start believing that they aren’t completely sexist.
It just wasn’t ‘porny’ enough. 😉
Unless you have a meat fetish…
There are certainly good reasons to object to PETA’s rhetoric. And then someone will argue that the ends are worth the means, which is what PETA says when confronted.
I’m curious to know if they actually do any good. Yes, they get a lot of attention. But does it translate into better conditions for animals?
If you look at the record of their single shelter, located in the U.S., it’s appalling, with one of the highest kill rates anywhere. IMHO, they do more harm than good in general, causing animal welfare advocates to be confused with animal rights extremists by the general public. If you can think of any good PETA has done, do share…
I really don’t get the PETA thing at all. I think they’ve gone off the deep end. Seriously.
On another note, have you considered talking to the folks from According to Gus? Mitch, Lori and Katie, her sister, are traveling all around the United States. I bet they would love to tell you how it’s going!
I’m not sure if PETA was ever anything other than over the top, but they’ve outdone themselves in crazy here!
Great idea about the folks from According to Gus! I’ll see if I can pin them down for an interview. Thanks, Mel.
You’re welcome!
BTW – Agree on your comment on PETA.
Ugh… I hate when PETA goes in that sexist direction (which seems like all the time).
Sadly, yes…
I was equally as surprised as you with UPS’s prompt service – cross border shipping and all!! Thank-you for your kind words, you are making me blush 😀
AS for the PETA Porn, I find that business move just really wacky. Abused animals and naked women? I suppose that there is a market for that – Serial killers and sexual deviants. Yuck!
You’re welcome, all praise deserved.
As for PETA — yuck indeed. Remind me not to hire their PR consultant… Maybe they’re hedging their bets with that other soft and fuzzy site?
I don’t really have a problem with PETA’s edginess. It distinguishes them from the other advocacy groups in the mix. I’m sure they have a certain niche.
As far as Pet Travel here’s something not to do — lose the cat in baggage. I’m following this Facebook page –
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jack-The-Cat-is-Lost-in-AA-Baggage-at-JFK/143108332445793
The cat has been missing for a month already. Sad.
We’ll have to disagree here, Karyn. I don’t want to have to choose between exploitation of women and animal abuse; both causes are equally important to me. And PETA has gone way beyond “edgy” to sexist for a long time. That said, I wouldn’t have a problem with anything they did if they actually helped animals, but they have a horrendous record of kills at the one animal shelter they have in the U.S. and they advocate the destruction of pit bulls as a breed.
I’m sorry to hear about the cat being lost, but I can’t imagine why anyone would transport a cat via cargo in the first place when most cats are small enough to fit under the seat. Boy, do I sound like a grouch. Even talking about PETA puts me in a bad mood!
PETA seems successful in spreading their campaigns with advertisements of beautiful and semi-clad women. Sometimes it is annoying when some people went overboard with their campaigns. For example, I remember a PETA member asked the zoo to free an elephant from their sanctuary. And it is annoying since the elephant is doing really well and it seems a good place for the animal since its parents became victims of poaching. Thanks for your insights about PETA.