The Cheerful Vegan

23/05/2023

It’s that time of year! We mainly get calls for dogs and cats but every once in a while we will get a turtle call! Our is dedicated to our turtle friends!

11/01/2023

Thanks for this one, Elayne Boosler.

31/12/2022

IMPORTANT

New Year's Eve is today! But though we enjoy the celebrations, tonight can be a very stressful time for cats and kittens. Here are our top tips to keep cats calm and safe during fireworks.

18/12/2022

Tumblr user no-this-is-ryan:

I think it's so funny how we bred JOBS into dogs. I have two shih tzus and they were bred to be lap dogs. All they care about is looking cute and cuddling with people. Meanwhile my grandma has a border collie and that dog needs to feel so useful all the time, he acts like he will pass away if he doesn't have a job to do constantly

Tumblr user halomancer:

On one hand this is extremely fu***ng funny, but on the other hand, it really boggles my mind how many people punish their dogs for just… doing the thing they were bred to do.

Your husky isn’t “hyperactive”, it’s bred to pull sleds for 8 hours straight and you have it in a 400 sq ft yard.

Your English sheepdog isn’t “pushy”, it’s bred to herd sheep, and you have neither to space nor the herd to allow it.

Your terrier isn’t “nippy”, it’s bred to kill rats and your hamster looks a hell of a lot like one.

Your Catahoula isn’t “mean to animals”, it’s bred to hunt any and all animals smaller than it, and you didn’t acclimate it to your cat.

Your Lhasa Apso isn’t “yappy”, it’s bred to bark at any tiny noise and alert watchmen to intruders

Like Jesus Christ, if you can’t provide an environment where your dog can’t fulfill its literal life purpose, maybe?? Don’t get that dog??? And if you do, maybe know the breed characteristics so you can redirect those traits into more constructive outlets????

16/09/2022

YAY!!

Progress! ❤️♧

06/09/2022

text copied from below:
Give a snake a break, use safer alternatives to plastic garden netting 🐍
This Eastern Black Racer was brought in by Barnstable Natural Resources last week completely entangled in garden netting. The large snake had tried to push through one of the holes and managed wrap the netting around his "mid-section" several times over. By the time he reached us the netting was so tight around his mid-section it had started to cut into his skin and he was virtually immobilized.
After a preliminary exam three members of our veterinary team set to work cutting away the netting , while another gently restrained him to prevent further injury he was not particularly thrilled with the procedure, but before long he had been freed and we were able to perform further diagnostics and treat the wounds with topical antibiotics. The majority of the lacerations were superficial, however he did suffer some minor trauma to one of his eyes. Black Racers have excellent vision (as far as snakes go at least) and will often scan a meadow or field for prey items. Despite his **ehhem** feisty demeanor we decided to keep him for a few extra days to make sure the eye was still functional. We are happy to report he did very well, and retained vision in the damaged eye. He was successfully released back to his home turf shortly afterwards
Each Summer our hospitals admit snakes and birds alike that are tangled in plastic garden netting. Using heavier grade cloth netting, building plant cages from hardware cloth, or using netting with very small hole size can all help reduce risks to wildlife. Don't let hisssss-tory repeat itself this season, by ditching the plastic netting

03/09/2022

EXACTLY

If it's too hot for your bare feet, it's too hot for their paws!

28/08/2022

text copied from below!
The fruits of our labor 🍍🍉🍊🥝
This Eastern Box turtle was transferred to our hospital in need of a surgical consult after he was attacked by a predator that ate away a significant portion of his back shell and caused severe soft tissue injury. Our vet was able to remove all of the dead tissue and suture the remaining skin back into place. To keep the wound clean we applied a bandage which gets changed every week. Our staff’s bandaging skills can get quite creative and the theme for this guy’s treatments are all of our favorite fruits!
Joking aside this turtle got very lucky that he was found in time for medical intervention. The soft tissue will take a few weeks to heal, while the shell will take months ( even sometime a year) to granulate to a healthy layer of tissue. The shell will never regrow completely but it should heal to a state that will provide protection when he boxes up in his shell.
Turtles are once again on the move as they make their way back to their hibernating spots, so please keep an extra eye out on the roads.

18/08/2022

Lots of personal space on that last one 😁❤️

15/08/2022

❤️❤️ (Text copied from below)
We’ve been manipulating you. That’s right. You’ve been conned. It’s about time we came clean. We have learned the best way to get people to be open to understanding a species is to have them fall in love with one first.

Nibi and our team have schemed to make you fall in love with him so that you would be more open to learning about how to coexist with beavers.

Beavers don’t have the best reputation. Many people don’t like them because they can do a lot to change the environment they are in. Many times, we humans want things a certain way and we don’t like it when animals mess with that.

Beavers don’t like the sound of running water and are driven to make it stop. Often times, that means building their dams where we humans don’t want them.

There are ways to get around that which we will get to in another post, but for now, we want to tell you about the good beavers do.

Beavers build dams because they are much safer in water than they are on land. They are great swimmers but a bit clumsy on the surface.

By building their dams they help create wetlands for other species and plants. Beaver activity in an area can increase plant biodiversity by as much as 33%. Other animals such as otters and muskrats rely on beaver dens for safe places to call home.

Beaver dams actually help improve water quality by reducing soil erosion and retaining sediment. The sediment retained helps absorb and filter pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and fertilizers.

Beavers have a dramatic influence on the creation and maintenance of wetlands even during extreme drought. The water they work so hard to store actually helps prevent droughts.

So let’s give these guys a break! When we take the time to understand a species, it helps increase our patience when we are inconvenienced by them. We humans don’t own this planet. We are all living here together. Beavers are actually making it a better place, cleaner place for all of us to enjoy.

Here you were just trying to enjoy an adorable picture of a baby beaver and we tricked you into learning something! Mission complete.

Good job Nibi….

Please help protect Nibi and his friends by spreading this message. ❤️

We’ve been manipulating you. That’s right. You’ve been conned. It’s about time we came clean. We have learned the best way to get people to be open to understanding a species is to have them fall in love with one first.

Nibi and our team have schemed to make you fall in love with him so that you would be more open to learning about how to coexist with beavers.

Beavers don’t have the best reputation. Many people don’t like them because they can do a lot to change the environment they are in. Many times, we humans want things a certain way and we don’t like it when animals mess with that.

Beavers don’t like the sound of running water and are driven to make it stop. Often times, that means building their dams where we humans don’t want them.

There are ways to get around that which we will get to in another post, but for now, we want to tell you about the good beavers do.

Beavers build dams because they are much safer in water than they are on land. They are great swimmers but a bit clumsy on the surface.

By building their dams they help create wetlands for other species and plants. Beaver activity in an area can increase plant biodiversity by as much as 33%. Other animals such as otters and muskrats rely on beaver dens for safe places to call home.

Beaver dams actually help improve water quality by reducing soil erosion and retaining sediment. The sediment retained helps absorb and filter pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and fertilizers.

Beavers have a dramatic influence on the creation and maintenance of wetlands even during extreme drought. The water they work so hard to store actually helps prevent droughts.

So let’s give these guys a break! When we take the time to understand a species, it helps increase our patience when we are inconvenienced by them. We humans don’t own this planet. We are all living here together. Beavers are actually making it a better place, cleaner place for all of us to enjoy.

Here you were just trying to enjoy an adorable picture of a baby beaver and we tricked you into learning something! Mission complete.

Good job Nibi….

Please help protect Nibi and his friends by spreading this message. ❤️

12/08/2022

Cali peeps!

Activists have criticized the limited number of adoption appointments at OC Animal Care in Tustin, which doesn’t allow people to walk in to view animals they might adopt.

11/08/2022

teehee! both adorbs 😁❤️

And chickens have both stages. 🤣

03/08/2022

02/08/2022

Nibiiii! ❤️❤️

Ever fall asleep midway through stuffing your face?
Nibi says hello…well…he would, if he were awake 😂

20/07/2022

MA peeps! (text copied from below)
Owls like this one need your help! Ask your Massachusetts State Senator to support H.4931 !
This Barred Owl has been in our care for almost three months receiving treatment for anticoagulant rodenticide (rat bait) poisoning. He presented in a weakened state with bruising and a low red blood cell count. Side effects of the poison cause a delayed blood clotting time so even minor injuries can cause significant bleeding and ultimately death. Like many other birds of prey and carnivores they accidentally get poisoned after eating a rodent that fed on rat bait. This patient fortunately received care in time and after almost 90 days of treatment finally received a clean bill of health with a normal clotting time. This owl is able to return back to the wild but many others are not that lucky.Poisoning with second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARS) is preventable and you can help reduce its occurrence by supporting this bill NOW!
H.4931 (Originally H.3991), the SGARS bill, was PASSED by the Massachusetts House of Representatives and now we need your help to get it through the Senate! The deadline for Senate passage is July 31, 2022. This bill seeks to reduce the use of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARS) in the Commonwealth and improve the reporting process. Please email and call your senators and ask them to reach out to senate committee on ways and means and support this bill!

Owls like this one need your help! Ask your Massachusetts State Senator to support H.4931 !

This Barred Owl has been in our care for almost three months receiving treatment for anticoagulant rodenticide (rat bait) poisoning. He presented in a weakened state with bruising and a low red blood cell count. Side effects of the poison cause a delayed blood clotting time so even minor injuries can cause significant bleeding and ultimately death. Like many other birds of prey and carnivores they accidentally get poisoned after eating a rodent that fed on rat bait. This patient fortunately received care in time and after almost 90 days of treatment finally received a clean bill of health with a normal clotting time. This owl is able to return back to the wild but many others are not that lucky.Poisoning with second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARS) is preventable and you can help reduce its occurrence by supporting this bill NOW!

H.4931 (Originally H.3991), the SGARS bill, was PASSED by the Massachusetts House of Representatives and now we need your help to get it through the Senate! The deadline for Senate passage is July 31, 2022. This bill seeks to reduce the use of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARS) in the Commonwealth and improve the reporting process. Please email and call your senators and ask them to reach out to senate committee on ways and means and support this bill!

Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association Massachusetts Voters for Animals The Humane Society of the United States Mass Sierra Club MSPCA-Angell Animal Legal Defense Fund Mystic River Watershed Association American Bird Conservancy NOFA/Mass Mass Audubon Cape Ann Wildlife, Inc Newhouse Wildlife Rescue New England Wildlife Center State Representative Jim Hawkins

14/07/2022

Nibiiiiii! ❤️❤️

When he is not getting angry at his toys or trying to throw place mats in the trash, Nibi can be found in the pond or stuffing his face. He prefers to stuff his face with Avacados.
If you are missing out on Nibi posts, be sure to adjust your settings on our page. Change settings to “See first” so you don’t miss anything!

13/07/2022

Boosting the signal!

A judge earlier this month approved a plan to move 4,000 beagles out of a Virginia breeding and research facility that has been cited for animal welfare violations. The nonprofit Humane Society of …

10/07/2022

SoCal peeps! (text copied from below)
Did you know that guinea pigs need daily vitamin C? Bell peppers are an excellent source.
Our founder Michelle chats up everyone about the little animals needing homes. Just recently, she went on a trip to TJS to get veg for the shelter guinea pigs. The checkout clerk said he knew someone looking to adopt!
The animal shelters have lots of Guinea pigs and hamsters now. Just like with rabbits, you have to do research on their care prior to adoption!
Southern California Guinea Pig Rescue

06/07/2022

Text copied from below:
Chouchou is ✨thriving✨ right now!

Can I tell you something? A big fear I have is that people will fall in love with Chouchou online…and then want to buy Persian cat. So please know that if you love kittens like Chouchou, the last thing on earth you should do is support the breeding of Persian cats!

Persian cats are bred to have unnaturally flat faces for no reason other than the aesthetic preference of humans. But this brachycephaly leads to many problems for them, including respiratory issues, eye issues, and often congenital abnormalities including cleft palates, like Chouchou has. Unfortunately most of the kittens born with these medical problems will not be lucky like Chouchou—they will suffer and die as newborns, because it is very difficult and not cost efficient to save a kitten like Chou. Kitten deformities & death are just part of the cost of doing business for a Persian breeder! In fact, Persian cats have the highest infant mortality rate of any breed, according to research.

So while I’m happy that we all love Chouchou, I just want to continually emphasize that Chouchou’s story isn’t one about how Persian cats are desirable animals. His story is about why no one should ever, ever support the breeding of Persian cats. The truth is that most people have no idea what they are supporting, or getting themselves into, when buying a Persian kitten. But babies like him don’t deserve to suffer or die just so someone can make a quick buck off of the ignorance of others.

P.S. Don’t believe me that these cats are often born with cleft palates? Check out who is raising another little Persian kitten named Cabbage with the same exact problem (I’ll pop Cabbage’s photos in the comments.) Cabbage and Chouchou are two of the lucky few who live to have someone tell their story, and to advocate on behalf of those who are less lucky than them. If you love them, please — never breed or buy these flat-faced cats. ♥️

Chouchou is ✨thriving✨ right now!

Can I tell you something? A big fear I have is that people will fall in love with Chouchou online…and then want to buy Persian cat. So please know that if you love kittens like Chouchou, the last thing on earth you should do is support the breeding of Persian cats!

Persian cats are bred to have unnaturally flat faces for no reason other than the aesthetic preference of humans. But this brachycephaly leads to many problems for them, including respiratory issues, eye issues, and often congenital abnormalities including cleft palates, like Chouchou has. Unfortunately most of the kittens born with these medical problems will not be lucky like Chouchou—they will suffer and die as newborns, because it is very difficult and not cost efficient to save a kitten like Chou. Kitten deformities & death are just part of the cost of doing business for a Persian breeder! In fact, Persian cats have the highest infant mortality rate of any breed, according to research.

So while I’m happy that we all love Chouchou, I just want to continually emphasize that Chouchou’s story isn’t one about how Persian cats are desirable animals. His story is about why no one should ever, ever support the breeding of Persian cats. The truth is that most people have no idea what they are supporting, or getting themselves into, when buying a Persian kitten. But babies like him don’t deserve to suffer or die just so someone can make a quick buck off of the ignorance of others.

P.S. Don’t believe me that these cats are often born with cleft palates? Check out who is raising another little Persian kitten named Cabbage with the same exact problem (I’ll pop Cabbage’s photos in the comments.) Cabbage and Chouchou are two of the lucky few who live to have someone tell their story, and to advocate on behalf of those who are less lucky than them. If you love them, please — never breed or buy these flat-faced cats. ♥️

04/07/2022

Nibiiii! ❤️❤️

02/07/2022

Please prepare before July 4th!!!! 🙏🏼🐾

16/06/2022

Copied from below...
This is probably one of the most important posts we will do. Please spread the word! 🙏
Every year rehabbers receive orphans that they are unable to save simply because the finder fed the animal while they had it.
Seems crazy right? How could feeding an animal hurt it?
This is how:
Many orphans are found with hypothermia (low body temperature) and extreme dehydration. When an animal is in this state, it CAN NOT digest anything. Its body simply can not process food. If offered food in this state, the animal will most likely die.
Also, there are very specific formulas that wildlife rehabbers use for each particular species of animal. Offering the orphan the wrong kind of formula can cause extreme discomfort, diarrhea and even death.
If you have found a baby that you know to be orphaned, please place it in a warm, dark and quiet place and contact your local wildlife rehabilitator for further instruction and assistance.
Thank you so much for caring about our local wildlife. ❤️🙏❤️

This is probably one of the most important posts we will do. Please spread the word! 🙏

Every year rehabbers receive orphans that they are unable to save simply because the finder fed the animal while they had it.

Seems crazy right? How could feeding an animal hurt it?

This is how:

Many orphans are found with hypothermia (low body temperature) and extreme dehydration. When an animal is in this state, it CAN NOT digest anything. Its body simply can not process food. If offered food in this state, the animal will most likely die.

Also, there are very specific formulas that wildlife rehabbers use for each particular species of animal. Offering the orphan the wrong kind of formula can cause extreme discomfort, diarrhea and even death.

If you have found a baby that you know to be orphaned, please place it in a warm, dark and quiet place and contact your local wildlife rehabilitator for further instruction and assistance.

Thank you so much for caring about our local wildlife. ❤️🙏❤️

16/06/2022

Did you know that pigs…

Pigs are very clean animals.

Pigs can’t sweat.

Pigs are smarter than your dog.

Mother pigs sing to their babies.

Pigs love belly rubs!

Pigs dream and like to sleep nose-to-nose.

Pigs have excellent memories.

Yet, pigs are one of the most poorly treated animals on the planet. But we can change that! Choosing plant based alternatives will ensure a lot of happy snouts are grateful to you!!

14/06/2022

13/06/2022

Very cool!

SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT FISHERS!

There is so much misinformation floating around about these guys, so we thought we would set the record straight!

Fishers belong to the weasel family. Technically, they are just called “Fishers” not “Fisher cats”. They are amazing hunters equipped with large paws, sharp claws and an impressive set of teeth.

They don’t get very large. Males tend to be between 8-16 pounds. Females are significantly smaller, weighing only 4-6 pounds. The largest fisher ever recorded weighed 20 lbs.

Many people will tell you they have blood curdling screams but, more likely than not, what they are hearing are foxes. Fishers are generally very quiet and, when they are vocal, it’s not quite as intense as the sounds foxes make.

We are often warned that they eat people’s cats. A study done in New Hampshire in 1979 tested the stomach contents of 1000 fishers. Only one tested positive for cat hair. Similar studies were done in New York and Massachusetts as well. Both of those studies did not find any trace of cats. That’s not to say they will not prey on cats. They certainly can but it’s not as common as many would think. Considering outdoor domestic cats have contributed to the extinction of over 60 songbird species, as well as some mammals and reptiles, the real concern when letting a cat outside should be the damage the cat will do to the wildlife - not the other way around. Cats are not indigenous to this area. What they do to our wildlife is not what nature intended.

Fishers are one of the only predators that hunt porcupines. They have developed techniques to avoid the quills. Though we LOVE porcupines here at the rescue, we respect Mother Nature and understand that every creature does what is necessary to survive out there.

Fishers can be very aggressive but attacks on humans are VERY RARE and generally only when provoked.

Fishers are hunted for their pelts (fur). In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, fishers were virtually eliminated from the United States due to over trapping and deforestation. Restrictions helped their numbers to bounce back.

It’s uncommon to see one. They are elusive creatures. Though sometimes they are out during the day, they are mostly active at dawn and dusk. Most of the pictures you will find online will show them looking very mean and aggressive. These photos obviously get lots of attention. Though, these guys can certainly be aggressive at times, there is a lot more to them. That’s why it was important to me to circulate this photo.

They are magnificent creatures and probably one of the most misunderstood ones.

12/06/2022

❤️❤️

Life is precious. Don't destroy it over a meal.

04/06/2022

Foster and Get Your Bunny Fix Without the 10-Year Commitment!

In Los Angeles, www.larabbits.org/fostering.

Help us save bunny lives. ❤️

04/06/2022

~Kate