I just love this story. A tiny wet suit has helped an elderly penguin who had lost his feathers and was too cold to swim. Extremely cute.
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/balding-penguin-gets-wetsuit-for-warmth/20080425083009990001
Friday, April 25, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
This is pretty cute
Apparently Simcha the cat decided that either a cat bad OR a cat cube wasn't enough. Simcha decided to pull the cat bed INTO the cat cube and have the best of both worlds.
I always say cats have a way of getting exactly what they want (although in our house, it's usually because I run around doing whatever they want for them).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o0tQpIzdKY
I always say cats have a way of getting exactly what they want (although in our house, it's usually because I run around doing whatever they want for them).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o0tQpIzdKY
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
A note from Green Chimneys in New York State
Fiona Apple has wanted to work as a Green Chimneys farm intern for years. On a rainy Monday, her wish was granted! The Grammy winning singer and songwriter was on campus this week for the “Spend a Day on the Farm with Fiona” program. A day with Fiona was auctioned off during last year’s spring gala auction. Fiona mucked stalls and fed animals -- just like our other farm interns do! Upper barn manager Maureen Doherty introduced her to Sylvester, a calf rescued from a slaughterhouse in NYC, and Petey, an alpaca that watched her over the Dutch door. She also met many of our students.
Fiona and her mother visited Brian MacCarry’s music class, Dale Picard’s ECAD dog training program and the greenhouse, where they learned about some of our programs for children with special needs. The pair was accompanied by auction winners Cynthia and Margo Manocherian. Michael Kaufmann, director of the farm and wildlife center, provided a comprehensive farm tour.
Fiona and the auction winners were treated to a trip into the flight rehabilitation cage where wildlife specialist Paul Kupchok captured a red-tail hawk ready for its return to the wild. After a vegan lunch specially prepared by chef Mark Kaplan, Fiona assisted in the release of the rehabilitated hawk in heavy April showers, which she enjoyed sans umbrella!
The day was capped off with some artistic flair as she painted a fiberglass Labrador retriever that will be auctioned off in our fall celebrity dog auction (www.charityfolks.com). Thought you might like a photo of Fiona with some of our students in the East Coast Assistance Dog (ECAD) training program.
She is pictured here with the winner of the auction and two of our students.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Ten Funniest Pet Web Sites
AOL posted this link today...but don't forget to keep Our Place to Paws on your list of sites to visit often!
http://www.switched.com/2008/04/02/top-10-funniest-pet-web-sites
http://www.switched.com/2008/04/02/top-10-funniest-pet-web-sites
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Hayden Panettiere Awarded For Trying to Save Dolphins
You wouldn't expect to see a link to a People Magazine story here, but the magazine covered the Humane Society's recent award to Hayden Panettiere, a star of the TV show "Heroes." I was so moved when I read about Hayden's efforts to save dolphins from a horrible slaughter in Japan (sadly, she and her colleagues were unsuccessful). I've never forgotten that story, and I'm glad she was honored for her willingness to step forward in the name of animal welfare causes. So many young "startlets" today have so little to say about anything important or are spending their time partying or in rehab, and here is a young girl using her celebrity for something real. Congratulations, Hayden!
You can read the story here:
Hayden Panettiere Awarded For Trying to Save Dolphins
You can read the story here:
Hayden Panettiere Awarded For Trying to Save Dolphins
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Celebrate Earth Hour Tonight
From an email sent by the World Wildlife Fund:
Earth Hour is tonight, March 29, from 8 to 9 pm local time! Get ready to make it a great celebration for the planet.
Wondering what to do after you turn the lights out? Here are 10 fun ideas to help you, your family and your friends make a change and make a difference today.
Time to switch to CFLs!
1. Host a Green Party
Get your friends together for an Earth Hour eco-party. Fire up the flashlights and battery lanterns, serve organic food, avoid the disposable utensils, use natural décor (like flowers and hanging plants) and have a friend provide acoustic music. Talk to your guests about how you're each reducing your environmental footprint and share ideas and solutions for saving more energy, money and carbon dioxide.
2. Give Yourself an Energy Makeover
Use Earth Hour to make your home more energy efficient: Replace your old light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs; install power strips (so you can turn computers and electronics on and off more easily); and change your air conditioner filters. Or go one step farther and install one new energy-efficient item, like an EnergyStar qualified DVD player. And on Monday, call your local utility and sign up for green power-like wind, hydro or solar.
3. Go Green with Your Kids
Earth Hour is a perfect time to talk to your kids about the environment and why we need to protect our planet from the dangers of climate change. Check out books on the environment from the library and read by flashlight, or head into the yard and have a night picnic. Or how about a night of board games? Check out our downloadable Earth Hour kids' activities.
4. Do a Recyclables Scavenger Hunt
Get your flashlights and scour your cabinets and shelves for cans, bottles and cardboard (like cereal boxes) that you don't normally recycle. Make a list of all the non-recyclable containers you're using now (like plastic shopping bags and butter tubs), and figure out ways to reduce your consumption of items that end up in landfills. One easy tip: get reusable grocery bags... and reuse them!
5. Green That Workspace!
Working the night shift? Even if you can't turn off all the lights at work, look around and see what you can unplug, turn down or use less of (like consuming less paper by printing double-sided). Every day millions of computer screens and speakers are left on overnight--shut 'em off! And talk to your coworkers about what they can do to help make a difference, too.
6. Involve Your Local Leaders
If your city or town isn't hosting an Earth Hour event, ask your local government to set up a community "green" discussion this spring. Help organize attendance by reaching out to local environmental and community groups, and come prepared to ask your leaders what they're doing to make your city greener.
7. Clean Up Your Neighborhood
Grab a flashlight and take a long walk through your neighborhood, picking up trash and recyclables as you go. It's a great chance to do some stargazing, too!
8. Unplug and Chill Out
Most of our daily activities--like watching TV, shopping online and texting friends--require loads of electricity, but do we really need to do so much stuff all the time? Take one hour for yourself to just chill... turn off the screens, put down the handheld devices and just take some "you" time to reflect, read or talk to your family. After all, why do more when you can do less?
9. Take Your Temperature
Your thermostat and your refrigerator are responsible for a huge portion of your carbon footprint. If you lower your thermostat by just 2 degrees and set your fridge to 37 degrees F. and the freezer at 0 degrees F., you'll make a big difference.
10. Make a Pledge for the Planet
Earth Hour shouldn't end at 9:01 pm--it's a chance to take a first step toward lowering your overall impact on the environment. So use part of that hour to make a personal pledge to do more--recycle, drive less often, turn off or unplug electronics, and beyond. The only way we're going to stabilize our climate is if we make real changes in our everyday lives. That change begins with Earth Hour, and ends with a healthy planet.
Of course, there are more than 10 ways to make a difference. Visit WWF's website for additional ideas on things you can do every day to help the Earth and reduce your environmental footprint.
Thank you for being a part of Earth Hour and committing to lowering your impact on the planet.
Switching off,
Richard Moss
Managing Director and Vice President, Climate Change
Earth Hour is tonight, March 29, from 8 to 9 pm local time! Get ready to make it a great celebration for the planet.
Wondering what to do after you turn the lights out? Here are 10 fun ideas to help you, your family and your friends make a change and make a difference today.
Time to switch to CFLs!
1. Host a Green Party
Get your friends together for an Earth Hour eco-party. Fire up the flashlights and battery lanterns, serve organic food, avoid the disposable utensils, use natural décor (like flowers and hanging plants) and have a friend provide acoustic music. Talk to your guests about how you're each reducing your environmental footprint and share ideas and solutions for saving more energy, money and carbon dioxide.
2. Give Yourself an Energy Makeover
Use Earth Hour to make your home more energy efficient: Replace your old light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs; install power strips (so you can turn computers and electronics on and off more easily); and change your air conditioner filters. Or go one step farther and install one new energy-efficient item, like an EnergyStar qualified DVD player. And on Monday, call your local utility and sign up for green power-like wind, hydro or solar.
3. Go Green with Your Kids
Earth Hour is a perfect time to talk to your kids about the environment and why we need to protect our planet from the dangers of climate change. Check out books on the environment from the library and read by flashlight, or head into the yard and have a night picnic. Or how about a night of board games? Check out our downloadable Earth Hour kids' activities.
4. Do a Recyclables Scavenger Hunt
Get your flashlights and scour your cabinets and shelves for cans, bottles and cardboard (like cereal boxes) that you don't normally recycle. Make a list of all the non-recyclable containers you're using now (like plastic shopping bags and butter tubs), and figure out ways to reduce your consumption of items that end up in landfills. One easy tip: get reusable grocery bags... and reuse them!
5. Green That Workspace!
Working the night shift? Even if you can't turn off all the lights at work, look around and see what you can unplug, turn down or use less of (like consuming less paper by printing double-sided). Every day millions of computer screens and speakers are left on overnight--shut 'em off! And talk to your coworkers about what they can do to help make a difference, too.
6. Involve Your Local Leaders
If your city or town isn't hosting an Earth Hour event, ask your local government to set up a community "green" discussion this spring. Help organize attendance by reaching out to local environmental and community groups, and come prepared to ask your leaders what they're doing to make your city greener.
7. Clean Up Your Neighborhood
Grab a flashlight and take a long walk through your neighborhood, picking up trash and recyclables as you go. It's a great chance to do some stargazing, too!
8. Unplug and Chill Out
Most of our daily activities--like watching TV, shopping online and texting friends--require loads of electricity, but do we really need to do so much stuff all the time? Take one hour for yourself to just chill... turn off the screens, put down the handheld devices and just take some "you" time to reflect, read or talk to your family. After all, why do more when you can do less?
9. Take Your Temperature
Your thermostat and your refrigerator are responsible for a huge portion of your carbon footprint. If you lower your thermostat by just 2 degrees and set your fridge to 37 degrees F. and the freezer at 0 degrees F., you'll make a big difference.
10. Make a Pledge for the Planet
Earth Hour shouldn't end at 9:01 pm--it's a chance to take a first step toward lowering your overall impact on the environment. So use part of that hour to make a personal pledge to do more--recycle, drive less often, turn off or unplug electronics, and beyond. The only way we're going to stabilize our climate is if we make real changes in our everyday lives. That change begins with Earth Hour, and ends with a healthy planet.
Of course, there are more than 10 ways to make a difference. Visit WWF's website for additional ideas on things you can do every day to help the Earth and reduce your environmental footprint.
Thank you for being a part of Earth Hour and committing to lowering your impact on the planet.
Switching off,
Richard Moss
Managing Director and Vice President, Climate Change
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