francene--blog. Year 2013
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April 19th

4/19/2013

 
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sunbears.wildlifedirect.org
Last night, The British Animal Honors 2013 brought to light some wonderful, disgusting and heart-rending stories. All the animals featured in last night’s celebration had loving, devoted owners, and happily-ever-after stories. There were dogs, horses, cats, otters, even endangered fish.

A segment on cruelty to captive bears was harrowing. The large animals wearing metal appendages around their body were confined to a cage so small they couldn't turn. Resuced after a life of subjection to constant withdrawal of their fluids, they now live free in a large park.


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Chiew Lin May/Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center
The show showed the achievements of the country’s most extraordinary animals; there were the absolutely adorable, those who play a vital role in airport security, in international war zones, and many who have transformed their owners’ lives.

The first winner, Haatchi, the three-legged mutt who survived being hit by a train and befriended a seriously disabled youngster, didn't say much—not even a bark, although his wagging tail expressed happiness. A snippet from stage show War Horse showed some of the trials horses went through in the Second World War. Afterwards, most horses were abandoned overseas. There were a couple of genuinely jaw-dropping moments. The guide dog with the ability to tell its owner when a seizure was approaching, with exactly 42 minutes’ notice, for example, and the sniffer dog which escaped capture from the Taliban in Afghanistan.


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www.telegraph.co.uk
And as lifetime achievement awards go in the animal world, Born Free ’s Virginia McKenna took some beating. Her standing ovation was richly deserved, and her passionate, inspirational, show-stealing speech moving. She spoke about how every human and animal on earth should be free, not confined to a cage and subjected to unspeakably cruel treatment.

Overall, I enjoyed watching the British Animal Awards. However, Virginia McKenna's impassioned speech left me wondering about pot plants. They are living things, confined to a container, and at the owner's mercy. Only last year, my prized (I mean respected and esteemed)bay tree died from a disease, despite my every effort to save it. Had the tree been free, maybe it could have overcome the skirmish.


Harriet Stack link
4/19/2013 03:17:48 am

An interesting and inspiring post. I missed this so thanks for sharing.

Francene Stanley link
4/19/2013 03:22:33 am

I'm glad I helped you catch up.

Daphne link
4/19/2013 03:23:29 am

I believe animals should be free for the most part. However, I do like zoos, but I prefer the habitats be as natural as possible. As for potted plants, they definitely should be free. I cannot keep any plants alive, so my plant enjoyment comes from nature or my backyard. Anywhere where they can fend for themselves.

Francene Stanley link
4/19/2013 04:59:55 pm

Good point, Daphne. I think I'll have to free my remaining plants so they can fend for themselves. I'm feeling so guilty.

Suerae Stein link
4/19/2013 08:00:16 am

I am a huge animal lover and believe that all creatures deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. I don't love zoos unless they are rehabilitation centers for injured animals who can no longer live in the wild. I am no good with houseplants, so I keep all plants outside. But if I could get them to thrive indoors, I might try. I don't think we have animal honors over here in the US, but we certainly should. Great post!

Francene Stanley link
4/19/2013 05:02:48 pm

Animals deserve our kindness. And yes, zoos are the best place for animals who can no longer live in the wild.The Bitish people love animals and there are so many television programmes about them.

Alana link
4/19/2013 11:19:48 am

I also live in the U.S. and I haven't heard of this program - which doesn't mean anything except that now I want to see it. As respects potted plants, an interesting viewpoint. Some of the potted plants I grow (yes, I have a number of them) can grow outdoors in the ground in Florida but not where I live in upstate NY. So should I not have them? I do treat them with kindness. I have a pot of mother in law's tongue plants that I originally purchased in 1977. My good friend has an avocado plant her son started in kindergarten and he is now in his 30's. I care that they are happy, believe it or not.

Francene Stanley link
4/19/2013 05:05:24 pm

You made me laugh about treating you plants with kindness. I don't have the answers about the morals of keeping potplants. Just the questions. However, I'm leaning toward setting the outside plants free.


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    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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