Cats and Dogs Skinned ALIVE!

Recently while researching a project, I came across a very disturbing video on the faux fur industry in China. I felt it was important to share this with other animal lovers to make them aware of what the faux fur could be that is on garments these days. These cats and dogs live a life of unimaginable cruelty, only to be skinned alive and turned into gloves, coats, hats or fur trim. Their skins are also used in the production of drums and other musical instruments. This video is extremely difficult to watch and just heart wrenching! I had to force myself to look at it, but had to often turn away unable to bear the horror of what I was seeing. As long as I live, I shall never forget, the face of the poor raccoon dog that was still alive at the end of the video despite the horrific cruelty that it had just endured. That frame will haunt me until the day I die. Even if you cannot bear to watch the video, please visit the sites and educate yourselves before doing your winter shopping this year. I know many of you that read my blog are animal lovers and I know you would not willingly want to contribute to such a barbaric industry. You can watch the video and get more information at:

http://www.animal-protection.net/

For further reading visit:

http://www.caft.org.uk/factsheets/cats-and-dogs.html

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Now I’m going to go and hug my babies and thank God that I don’t live in China!

All My Best,
Suzy

My Favorite eBay Alternative

At a time when our economy is in dire straights and people are already struggling to make ends meet, the big online auction giant eBay decides to stomp on it’s sellers some more, even though they posted net earnings of $460.3 million in the second quarter, up 22% from $375.8 million a year ago. Sellers final value fees have gone from 5.25% to a minimum of 15% over the last 6 months, and many sellers find themselves shut out of the marketplace, just as they were preparing for the season to start. I depended on my eBay income to pay for medical expenses for myself, and a darling cat that we took in after he was severely injured and abandoned by his owners. Others that I have met are in even worse circumstances as they depended on their eBay income for daily living expenses of food, shelter and gas. Well Merry Christmas to us all eBay! How greedy can one company be?
Meanwhile sellers are flocking to other sites, in the hopes of salvages the ruins left in the wake of eBays policy changes. One up and coming site stands out among all that I have researched. At Bonanzle.com you can set up a free store with relative ease, and if you need help there is an excellent community of friendly buyers and sellers eager to help, as well as excellent support from Bonanzle themselves. What a refreshing change it is to actually converse with a real person, and get real answers, not a form letter that takes you no where. Problems are solved quickly, and the powers that be are actually interested in what you have to say and welcome suggestions for improvement! How about that! There are no auctions on Bonanzle, however sellers can set up their items, where buyers can haggle with them over their prices. It’s like going to a flea market with friends. Buyers can talk with sellers in real time and sellers can also hold a Bonanza sale, which highlights their booth for a specific time period. Did I mention the low final value fees? How about:

Less than $10 - .50
Less than $50 - $1.00
Less than $100 - $3.00
Less than $1000 - $5.00
$1000 or more - $10.00

Compare that with what you’re paying now and I believe you will run, not walk to Bonanzle! All in all, this is my favorite eBay alternative and you owe it to yourself to check it out! Steve and Peter, I hope to see you there! Best of luck to you!

Suzy