Fresh Friday Finds

TheDiscerningBrute — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:08:30 +0000

1. John Patrick Organic Spring 2009 John Patrick has done it again! As one of my favorite designers, his dreamy, bucolic, utopian vision came to life at the Desmond Tutu center in Chelsea last month. This American Gothic reminds us that our land-base in primary, and taking care of it (like using organic cotton, fair-labor, sustainable practices - developing sustainable cottage industries, and growing your own organic cotton in the jungles of Peru) is crucial. Click here to view the complete collection for men and women. 2. Vegetable-Based Leather is my bag, baby! Vegetable-based 'leather' made by Amazonian natives from sustainable plant matter, and recycled canvas from cargo trucks. Need I say more? The bags and accessories from Paz Apparel are hot, and I love this oversized "Uptown Handbag". Thanks to reader, Ari for the tip-off! Also from Paz: 3. One of DB's favorite organizations, Sea Shepherd, will be featured in Animal Planet's 7-episode special series "Whale Wars". On Friday, November 7th Animal Planet will premiere Whale Wars at 9 PM ET/PT in the US, and internationally in early 2009. For additional information, photos and a sneak peak at the series go to: http://animal.discovery.com/tv/whale-wars/ 4. Peter Singer is the Godfather... I got the honor of meeting Peter Singer, father of the modern animal rights movement and author of "Animal Liberation" at a party for Karen Dawn's (Dawnwatch) birthday and book reading. It's not often you get to meet the person who set the new course for your life. I recommend reading both books! When Purchasing Books, I also strongly recommend supporting local independent bookstores. Use Indiebound.org as opposed to the not-at-all-ethically-fabulous Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Do it!!!

5. Autumn is in the Air And so are these seasonal smells from DB friend, A Scent of Scandal! Check out: OLD SCHOOL - granny smith, ROUGH PATCH - pumpkin, & TURNING TRICKS - candy corn. 6. Do Rabbits Scream? Find out more about Armani on peta.org. The answer is yes, and this new undercover video of rabbit fur farms in France and China is enough to make anyone give fur the cold shoulder. PETAs Armani campaign is in full swing. Get involved! 7. Shoes that will make you swoon A little bird told me that Elizabeth Olsen (Olsen Haus), whose vegan shoe line is blowing up and selling out all over the place right now, will be making vegan shoes for men that are as equally badass as her womens' shoes. And to get a taste of how she rolls, take a look at these: (All I can say is that I am looking forward to dancing in some blue suede-like mens' shoes.) More to come, stay tuned. 8. In Defense of Animals is taking on Zappos' hairy sales, exposing outdated primate nicotine experiments,planning for Fur Free Friday, and standing up to Puppy Mills. Check out their campaigns and get involved! . . . . . 9. Pick an Apple! Get out of town before the season is over. If you haven't been to the Hudson Valley in New York State for an autumn adventure, you don't know what you're missing! Click Here! or Here!

10.

Support Farm Sanctuary's Party for the Pigs: A benefit for the survivors of the Midwest flood disaster

In June of this year, Farm Sanctuary mobilized in Iowa to take part in one of the most ambitious farm animal rescues ever undertaken, after thousands of pigs were left to die in the Midwest flood disaster. During both land and water rescue operations, 69 pigs were rescued, including many pregnant sows who were once confined to gestation crates on factory farms. Now, these pigs, many of whom are still suffering from serious health problems, are at Farm Sanctuary receiving urgent care and undergoing rehabilitation.

On October 18, Farm Sanctuary will honor these survivors of the Midwest floods and raise critically needed funds for their care.

Please, help the pigs by attending the event or making a donation today!

PARTY FOR THE PIGS

Saturday, October 18, 6-9 p.m. Equality Center 1640 Rhode Island Ave. N.W. Washington, D.C.

FEATURING

Hosts Persia White and Nellie McKay

A special performance by Singer/songwriter and Broadway actress Nellie McKay

And… Vegan hors d'oeuvres, a wine and beer bar, and a silent auction

Cocktail attire requested

RSVP now or call 607-583-2225 ext 221 to reserve your space. General admission tickets cost $50.

Don't Buy A Dog

TheDiscerningBrute — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:59:20 +0000

Meet Enzo. He is my new 3-year-old child. The people that originally 'owned' him neglected, abused, and abandoned him, but he is doing really well after only a couple of months with me. I rescued him through www.sugarmuttsrescue.org. Enzo is one good reason NOT to buy a dog from a pet store or breeder. Every time we purchase a pet, be it fish, fowl, feline or French Bulldog, wonderful creatures like Enzo sit in a shelter, waiting to be put-down - or possibly worse yet, rot in a no-kill shelter for their whole lives without a family or proper care. The demand for pure-bred designer puppies is so powerful that breeders and puppy-mills that force dogs to spend their entire lives in cages constantly breeding have become a serious problem. They continue to thrive because they prey on unwitting consumers who fall for cute puppies in pet store windows and on fancy websites. How can we ethically purchase a dog when so many need to be rescued? Did you know that there are almost 4 million dogs and cats put to sleep each year due to pet overpopulation?

"Life is particularly bad for "breeding stock," dogs who live their entire lives in cages and are continually bred for years, without human companionship and with little hope of ever becoming part of a family. These dogs receive little or no veterinary care and never see a bed, a treat or a toy. After their fertility wanes, breeding animals are commonly killed, abandoned or sold to another mill. The annual result of all this breeding is hundreds of thousands of puppies, many with behavior and/or health problems. "
Number of cats and dogs entering shelters each year: 6-8 million (HSUS estimate)

Number of cats and dogs euthanized by shelters each year: 3-4 million (HSUS estimate)

Number of cats and dogs adopted from shelters each year: 3-4 million (HSUS estimate)

Number of cats and dogs reclaimed by owners from shelters each year: Between 600,000 and 750,000 -- 30% of dogs and 2-5% of cats entering shelters (HSUS estimate)

Number of animal shelters in the United States: Between 4,000 and 6,000 (HSUS estimate)

Percentage of dogs in shelters who are purebred: 25% (HSUS estimate)

Average number of litters a fertile cat can produce in one year: 3Average number of kittens in a feline litter: 4-6Average number of litters a fertile dog can produce in one year: 2Average number of puppies in a canine litter: 6-10 Updated Oct. 12, 2006
- The Humane Society of the United States

These gorgeous gals in my lap were rescued by my friends Chloé Jo and Jeremy. As you can see, these pitbull mixes are totally vicious! Contrary to popular opinion, pitbulls and pitbull mixes can make amazing companions. Avoid the temptation to "rescue" a puppy mill or pet-store puppy by buying him. Even though your intentions may be good, don’t buy a puppy with the idea that you are “rescuing” him or her. Your “rescue” opens up space for another poor puppy mill puppy and puts money into the pockets of the puppy mill. Pet stores won’t leave their cages empty and websites won’t leave their pages blank. The money you spend on your puppy goes right back to the puppy mill operator and ensures they can continue breeding and treating dogs inhumanely. If you see someone keeping puppies in poor conditions, alert your local animal control authorities instead of buying. HSUS has a great resource on adoption. Adopt a New York City animal in need today from NYCACC, BARC , Sugar Mutts Rescue and ASPCA

The Discerning Brute: fashion, food & etiquette for the ethically handsome man » puppy mill

Fresh Friday Finds

Don't Buy A Dog