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rebeccathenaturalist · 11 months

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Okay, I know people as a general rule tend to not care about invertebrates as much as cute, fuzzy mammals, but this is a must-read if you care about animal welfare. The short version is that horseshoe crab blood has been used for decades in medicine as a way to test whether something is truly sterile; the blood clots in the presence of bacteria. Since then millions of horseshoe crabs have been captured and drained of blood, even though a synthetic alternative was developed a few years ago.

They go through a pretty brutal experience in the process. They're caught by fishermen who often throw them by their tails into a pile in the open air, and they're then trucked to a bleeding facility where they're strapped down and their blood is removed with needles jabbed directly into their hearts. Over half their blood may be taken, after which they're supposed to be returned to the ocean. However, it's likely many of them never make it back, instead turned into fish bait and sold by the same fishermen who caught them in the first place.

Apart from the fact that this is a horrific thing to put any animal through, the attrition due to fatalities has put a serious dent in horseshoe crab numbers. This is compounded by massive habitat loss, pollution, and the capture of horseshoe crabs as food, particularly as the females of one species are considered a delicacy. And other animals that rely on horseshoe crabs are suffering, too. The American rufa subspecies of the red knot, a medium-sized shorebird, is critically endangered as the horseshoe crab eggs it must have in order to successfully complete migration have become increasingly scarce, and it is likely the bird will become extinct if trends continue.

While there are guidelines for medical horseshoe crab harvest, they're considered optional. The few laws that exist are poorly enforced. Short of a complete ban on horseshoe crab blood in favor of the synthetic alternative, these animals are in very real danger of going extinct after a history spanning over 400 million years on this planet.

Thankfully, this article is not the first to bring forth the issues surrounding horseshoe crab harvest. Here are a few resources for further information and action (US based, though horseshoe crabs are threatened throughout their entire range):

Horseshoe Crab Conservation Network - https://horseshoecrab.org/conservation/

Wetlands Institute - https://wetlandsinstitute.org/conservation/horseshoe-crab-conservation/

Horseshoe Crab Recovery Coalition - https://hscrabrecovery.org/

#animal welfare #animal cruelty #cw animal cruelty #animal suffering #horseshoe crabs #invertebrates #wildlife #animals #environment #conservation #endangered species #extinction #nature #medicine #science #scicomm #science communication

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is-the-snake-video-cute · 1 year

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whats "stargazing" in a snake? i saw it mentioned on Snake Discovery but they didnt say what it is or what causes it

Stargazing is a symptom of severe neurological disorders that we see in some snakes. It's most often seen in colubrids like cornsnakes, but does occur in other families.

You'll sometimes hear about "stargazer syndrome" in cornsnakes, but stargazing is not a disorder or disease in itself, it's a symptom. Stargazing is often a cluster of symptoms - the main one is contraction of cervical muscles that causes the snake to look up (called "stargazing"), and this most often presents along with balance issues and a general inability to right themselves that mean the snake will probably spend a lot of time laying on their back.

Stargazing looks like this. Note the very stiff neck and the way the snake is laying belly-up.

Stargazing is usually a symptom of neurological issues. It could be neurological problems the snake was born with, or due to later illness or injury. Pythons and boas with IBD will often stargaze in the later stages of the disease. In older snakes who suddenly stargaze, I find it's often due to exposure to too-high temperatures causing neurological damage. By the time a snake is stargazing, it's most often a sign that something is very wrong, and it should be treated as an emergency.

Now, it's super easy for snake owners to freak out a bit whenever we see our snakes looking up because stargazing is so serious and scary! But here's the thing I always tell people about stargazing - if you have to ask if your snake is stargazing, your snake isn't stargazing. It's a sign of neurological issues severe enough that you will notice symptoms other than stargazing. Obviously, take your snake to the vet if you think anything's up, but the thing about stargazing is you will usually know it when you see it. There's really no mistaking it.

#not a rating #snake health #animal suffering #stargazing #stargazer corns

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jhoumous · 2 years

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Same arguments

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vegandude72 · 11 months

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#animal testing #rats #mice #speciesism #veganism #animal cruelty #go vegan #animal rights #animal suffering #animal slaughter

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the-lady-maddy · 2 months

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A post shared by Translating Palestine فلسطين (@translating_falasteen)

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#endisraelsgenocide #israeli siege #animal suffering #pets #palestine #gaza #animal rights #i stand with palestine 🇵🇸#free gaza #free palestine 🇵🇸#gaza strip #free palestine #gazaunderattack #palestine resources #israel is a terrorist state #israel is committing genocide #Instagram

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nando161mando · 3 months

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charleslebatman · 1 year

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hii I never found out about these so I have questions hope your don't mind but what did Isa do? and an army (like kpop?) removed accounts?

Hi ! Here for Isa and her sweet fun with her friends.

@ it comes from the account just_another_e.g_account.2

I just found weird that miss piquet with her “army” can make remove so many “haters” accounts who exposing her, in like one day. However, it’s impossible and radio silence to report a truly hater account on her boyfriend family that she loves so much. 😭 Let's put our foot down to enter in the world of conspiracy, but clearly the woman had a connection with this account directly or not.

They tried to remove an account fan of Max, @maxverstxppen.

#f1 #f1 gossip #formula 1 #formula one #wags #isa hernaez #kelly piquet #animal suffering #carlos sainz jr #<- to show what kind of girlfriend the man is dating #ask box #replies

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meret118 · 1 year

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Nicholas hadn't eaten or had a bowel movement in at least three days. I took him to the animal ER on advice of my vet. They whisked him off for tests, and wanted to keep him overnight because the vet couldn't feel an obstruction, even though I thought he was just badly constipated.

They wouldn't let me say goodbye, but said I could see him tomorrow. The vet called, and said he was indeed constipated based on the x-ray, and dehydrated so they would give him IV fluids, and an enema, but otherwise he looked really great for his age.

I got a call at 2 AM that they went to check on him, and he had passed away. So he spent the last hours of his life in a cage given awful procedures thinking I had abandoned him. I am heartbroken.

ETA - I have a really long queue/scheduled list of posts that will show up, but I may be offline for awhile.

#Trigger Warning #Animal death #Nicholas #Animal suffering #Pet death

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fuckthisshitimin · 1 year

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The Magnus Arcats: The Corruption aka The Clawruption

[ID: A drawing of the cat incarnation of the Corruption and its content warnings. The CWs read “Animal suffering, worms, vomiting”. The drawing is of a dirty white cat throwing up while walking over a black background, titled “The claw-ruption”. The cat seems to be in pain, and nondescript worms crawl over its fur, out of its skin, some of them clustering together. It casts a sickly green shadow on the floor. Signed: Meaningless Mikhaïl. End ID]

The End aka Terminou

The Vast aka Vertipaws

The Web aka The Meowther of Puppets

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oediex · 3 months

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As I wake up slowly, animals are suffering. As I walk to the bathroom to get ready for the day, animals are being gassed. As I cycle to my therapist, rain trickling down on me, animals are being mistreated. As I talk to her about my inability to live in this world, animals are being forcefully impregnated. As I am cycling back home, amidst a group of teenagers just finishing the school day, animals are crushed underneath the weight of their fellows. As I'm walking around the supermarket, buying my plant-based products and ignoring (trying to) the animal-based ones, animals' throats are slit. As I play a game on my console, losing myself in a narrative so I can flee the real world, animals are being maimed. As I get in my pyjamas and hide under the covers, animals are suffering and suffering and suffering.

And the species causing that suffering is mine.

#animal rights #veganism #animal cruelty #animal abuse #animal suffering #writing #my writing #a story every day #6 february #2024

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library-child · 1 year

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Without Shedding a Tear

Hear me, Thrice Great Hermes, who art in heaven, Antoinette thought. Itamar had told her that if she wanted to pray, she was to pray to Hermes Trismegistus, the god of wisdom and the father of alchemy. You are with the brave and the unfaltering. You wanted to keep us so we could serve you. He saith: I am Man-Shepherd, Mind of all-masterhood; I know what thou desirest, and I’m with thee everywhere. You're with me, aren't you? Please have mercy on us. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Synopsis: At age ten, Antoinette Mauvais had to kill the only friend she ever had. And so much more.

Fandom: The Secret Series (Pseudonymous Bosch)

Length: One shot (2048 words)

Genre: Drama/Angst

Rating: T for mild violence and dark themes

Content warnings: Abuse, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Grooming, Trauma, Animal death, Death wish, Self-Harm

Thanks for beta reading @volunteerfelinedetectives

She stopped seconds before colliding with the door, fighting for balance on the smooth marble floor. Only now she realized how fast she had been running and felt the clenching pain in her chest. Gasping, she leaned against the wall. Faint voices were coming from behind the large double doors. She took one last deep breath and knocked. The voices fell silent for only a moment before continuing as if nothing had happened.

She was not supposed to be here. Itamar had given her the day off because he was in a meeting which was not to be disturbed under any circumstances.

She pounded her fists against the door.

"Please, Itamar, Sir! Forgive me! Will you come out? Please!"

Soon enough, swift footsteps approached from the other side; then, the door was opened just wide enough that Jean, one of the servants, could slip into the corridor. He shut the door immediately.

"Have you lost your mind?" he hissed. "Be quiet, will you?"

"It's an emergency. I need to speak to him!"

Jean looked her up and down, frowning at her torn riding habit, messy hair, bruised hands, and most of all, at the mud trail she had left on the floor.

"You fell off your horse and are still on your feet. I don't see any emergency. Now get out. Someone spent the morning cleaning these floors, you know."

Antoinette threw herself against the door. Jean tried to pull her away, but she kicked his knee.

"Sir, please!"

There was a pause. Someone else approached and opened the door entirely.

"Come in," said the servant holding it.

Suddenly, Antoinette found everyone inside the room staring at her. A dozen elegantly dressed people, most of whom she had never seen before, were sitting around a large mahogany table covered in books and papers. She hastened to stand up straight, fold her hands behind her back, and cast down her eyes. It was too late to brush off the dirt now.

Itamar was sitting at the head of the table, wearing a black velvet frock coat that fit him impeccably and contrasted with his crisp white stockings and gloves. His face was as calm and serene as always, like nothing could ever shake his confidence. His gaze told her he understood her.

"Well, Antoinette? Do you wish to greet the fellow Masters?"

Jean hurried forward, flustered. "Sir, I'm -"

Itamar silenced him by raising one hand.

"Now, don't be shy," he said kindly, beckoning to her. "Come in and join us. Come on, dear."

Hesitantly, Antoinette stepped into the meeting hall. This was the first time she was allowed inside. The lofty ceilings and the ornate white walls made her feel tiny. All candles had been lit because the sun had not risen today, heavy clouds extinguished all daylight, and the windows still were wet with the rain from the night before.

"What's wrong with this one?" someone whispered.

"It's a shame." Madame Smirnova, one of the overseers of the laboratories, sipped at her glass. "She's a prize. Quick learner, a hard worker, and disciplined, unlike anything I've ever seen. Good breeding. Gentry, I believe. She was left from one of the first mass executions last year. The family was convicted of being royalists, enemies of the Revolution. But you know the downside of those newly orphaned ones. They're always damaged, one way or another."

Antoinette bowed her head toward the table without looking at anyone. She stopped in front of Itamar’s seat and stood perfectly still. This was something he praised: Her ability to keep her posture without moving.

He rose and slapped her across the face. She squeezed her hands behind her back to keep herself from wincing.

"What is it? And how do you even look?"

"It's Léonidas, Sir. He tripped. We fell. He can't get up. I think he's broken his leg. He's in pain. I tried to pull him, but I couldn't. I had to leave him to get you. Please, will you come and help him?"

Some of the Masters laughed, but Itamar remained silent for several moments.

"Well, that's a pity. Such a splendid horse. And still quite young, isn't he? You know what that means."

A cold, terrible force seized her and began to drag her down.

"Sir, please. I will make up for the trouble, anything you want. It's not fair. He didn't do anything wrong. He's always stayed with me."

Often, she would be crushed before she knew it, no longer able to see, hear, move, or speak. She was being eaten alive from the inside, terror clawing into her, burning her. She would die now, any moment. Léonidas had always been the only one to bring her back. He would nudge her until she remembered she was still here and breathing.

"And you want to thank him by letting him suffer? I don't think so." Itamar's voice sounded distant and muffled, like she was underwater. "Now, take Jean to him; he will arrange everything."

"No!" she screamed. "You can save him. You promised we could be saved. You promised! You did! You did!"

"Mind your tongue!"

"You said that's why I was the only one left! So you could find me and teach me how to save us all! So teach me now!"

He raised his hand, and she flinched.

"Are you done pitying yourself, child?" Itamar's voice had become cold as ice. "I thought you had realized by now that the world is not fair. It has no mercy, and it does not forgive. It will wipe you out at the first chance. What I promised you is that we can learn to save ourselves, for we are the Masters of the Midnight Sun. We are the everlasting light in the darkness. We have purified ourselves from our mortal weaknesses through our work. And you...you are here because I trust you to have the strength to become one of us. Of course, it is still possible that I was wrong, and death merely keeps forgetting you. Perhaps it would have been better for all of us if the fall had broken your neck instead of that horse's leg, don't you think? That would have saved us from wasting any more effort on you."

Every word hit her like a blow in the stomach. She was pushed over the edge, lost.

"Jean, take her out. And send someone to clean up that dirt."

And suddenly, it was all over.

"I can do it."

Itamar stopped at her small flat voice.

"I can put Léonidas down, Sir. I know how. Papa used to take me along hunting. You must fire a clean shot through the shoulder blade into the chest. That's the safest way to make it quick and clean."

He scrutinized her.

"Right now?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Very well. Let's go, then. My friends, will you excuse me?"

He did not wait for an answer.

* * *

Antoinette did not utter a single word as they walked down the hallway and out the castle entrance into the park. Jean followed a few steps behind, carrying a gun. They got off the path and moved across the wet, muddy lawns. Antoinette watched Itamar's heels sinking in. Soon, his shoes were covered in dirt. He had not even taken the time to change them for boots.

"When we get there, you will do it right away. No goodbyes, no touching, nothing. Do you understand me?"

She nodded without listening. Where had the warning been that she had missed? Perhaps she had been too happy to be granted an entire day outside with Léonidas.

She remembered overhearing her parents fighting in the library.

"How much longer do you want to wait?" said Maman. "They're not stopping at anything. We should leave."

"Our place is here. No one is going to change that. No mad lawyer, that’s for certain."

"Don't say that out loud! Not even here."

When had been the last day they could have left? What had she done wrong to end up all alone?

Léonidas was lying in the grass just as she had left him: shaking and sweating, foam covering his mouth. One of his front legs stood out at an unnatural angle. Upon spotting her, he gave a gut-wrenching scream that sounded almost human.

She avoided looking him in the eye as she got behind his back, out of reach of his uncontrolled kicking. This was just a shoulder blade covered in glossy fur, like any deer or wild boar that they had hunted in the woods.

"If you wish to eat, you have to kill, " Papa told her. "That's the way of life."

Itamar gestured towards Jean to hand her the gun. It was too large and heavy for her to hold on her own. She struggled to lift it to her shoulder and take aim. Léonidas turned his head to look at her and screamed again.

Itamar stood beside her, waiting.

Léonidas opened his mouth for another scream.

Antoinette exhaled and pulled the trigger. Recoil hit her hard and sent her staggering back to the ground. The bang resonated in her head, turning her vision white.

There were several loud snaps right next to her ear. Startled, she looked up at Itamar. Was it Itamar? He was smiling.

"Do you hear me now? Get up, dear. We need to get you cleaned up, don't we?"

Antoinette rose to her feet.

"I knew you would not disappoint me. You are one of us because you are strong enough to do what must be done. There's no need to be afraid. One day, everything you fear will be gone, but you will remain."

As they walked back towards the castle, Itamar placed his silk-gloved hand on the back of her head and stroked her, brushing her tangled hair with his fingers as if she were a horse herself. Still, she made no sound but tilted her head and pressed into his palm.

* * *

Antoinette dreaded the nights.

Alone in her dark bedroom, she fought to stay awake because falling asleep meant waking up screaming. She hid under her blanket and sobbed, biting into her pillow to stifle her cries.

Thrice Great Hermes, hear me. I'm giving you all I can. I’ll purify myself. How much more do you want from me?

She slammed her head against the wall, harder and harder, trying to force the pain out of herself until she had to stop from sheer exhaustion.

Thrice Great Hermes, please let me sleep and don't make me wake up ever again.

But she always woke up.

She rose at dawn. When the morning was chilly, she lit a fire. She still had to do this herself while the servants heated the Masters' rooms. Then she washed her face, got dressed, and combed her hair. She pinned it carefully, checking and double-checking that every strand was in place.

Her reflection watched her from the mirror. She pressed her forehead against the glass, as she had always done with Léonidas.

"Where are you?" she whispered.

"I'm right here," her reflection replied. "I'll always be here. As long as you see me, you'll never be lost."

She reached out to hold her reflection's hand, wincing at the sting the recoil had left.

"Don't make me look weak," her reflection scolded. "I am the everlasting light. I don't feel mortal pain. Try again."

Slowly, Antoinette moved her sore arm up and down. Every time, her shoulder hurt worse, but her reflection betrayed no emotion.

"See, you can do it. Now off you go. Don't keep him waiting."

After she had left the room, only the imprints of her palm and forehead remained as tiny warm smudges on cold glass.

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girlblocker · 2 years

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I hope all goes well with your cats checkup!

thank you!!! they’re old but doing well medically. it’s mostly that taking them to the vet makes them miserable and when they’re in the carriers they literally scream and wail like human children which is kind of hard to listen to

#it almost sounds funny but they’re so upset :(#answers #anon #ask to tag #animal suffering #?

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is-the-snake-video-cute · 2 years

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Hi! I've been doing a ton of research on snakes and really want to get one. But today I read an article from PETA basically saying do not get a pet snake under any circumstances for a bunch of different reasons (https://www.peta.org/living/animal-companions/snakes-never-pets/). Thoughts?

Link for everyone to the artcile - be warned that this is PETA, though, so definitely read with caution and your critical thinking glasses. Article contains many images of animal suffering.

So, like with many other things that PETA put out, most of this list is absolute malarkey. I totally get that it sounds really compelling if you're still new to the reptile-keeping scene, though! So I'm going to go through this list point by point, and hopefully that'll help. :)

"The pet trade is abysmal."

Yeah, it is. Fortunately, you can (and should!) avoid contributing to reptile breeding mills by buying a snake from an ethical breeder. I never recommend buying your pet reptile from a chain pet store. Buying from a reputable breeder, though, means you'll be getting a healthy, well-started pet, and supporting a small business to boot! Check out my "buying a snake" tag for tips!

2. "No captive environment can compare to snakes' natural habitats."

This argument really hinges on the assumption that snake owners are tossing their pets into a barren glass box. That is not what good snake owners do. The point of a good snake enclosure is allow room and opportunity for natural behaviors, like climbing, burrowing, and exploring.

3. "Snakes aren't 'starter pets.'"

No, they're not. That's why I always advocate for a great deal of research before buying any reptile.

PETA also brings up a study that "75% of pet reptiles die within one year in captivity" - this study is heavily skewed by counting wild-caught lizards, which are notoriously fragile. If you buy a reptile from a reputable breeder and your husbandry is good, the chances of your pet dying within the first year are very small.

4. "Snakes have specific needs that are nearly impossible to meet in captivity."

Frankly, if you don't know that your snake will have highly specific temperature, humidity, and enrichment needs, you shouldn't be buying a snake. We know that it's possible to meet the needs of snakes because their captive lifespans average literal lifetimes over wild lifespans, and minimalist keeping isn't okay.

5. "Buying small animals to feed a snake supports the cruel pet trade, even if you adopt a snake."

I never recommend feeding your snake live rodents. Instead, feed your snake frozen/thawed rodents - they're bred for the purpose from non-pet lines, and are humanely euthanized before being sold.

6. "Having a snake doesn’t make you look edgy—just foolish."

This one kinda baffles me, to be honest. The people who buy a pet snake just to look "edgy" should not be buying snakes.

7. " Not only can snakes make you sick, you can also make them sick."

This point hinges on the risk of reptiles transmitting salmonella to humans, which you can easily avoid by taking common sense precautions. The snake health issues mentioned, like respiratory illness, are all associated with poor husbandry and are not an innate risk to captive snakes.

8. "Snakes have feelings."

We can't be sure how snakes experience the world. That said, though, when PETA argues here that minimalist keeping causes snakes pain, they're right. No snake should ever be kept in a barren enclosure - and, once again, people who keep them that way shouldn't have snakes.

9. " Snakes have rights."

I'm a strong believer in animal welfare, and that means animals should always be free from poor treatment. I don't believe that captive-bred pet snakes are suffering, though. There is just no evidence to support that.

Like a lot of PETA's stuff, this article heavily relies on misinformation and presenting bad situations from the chain store pet trade as the norm.

There can be many good reasons not to get a pet snake - maybe you aren't in a situation where you can find or afford necessities like a large enclosure, f/t food, or veterinary care. Maybe a snake just isn't the right pet for you! But snakes in captivity are most often perfectly ethical pets, and if you do your research before buying, you can ensure a pet snake will live a long, happy life.

#not a rating #animal cruelty #animal suffering #PETA #buying a snake #buying reptiles

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