Peppercorn the potbellied piglet, all 12 pounds of him, came into my life squealing one April afternoon about five years ago. He was skittish and jumpy, obstinate and forever hungry--and really, really tiny. It was love at first oink.
Author: Laura Lee Cascada
Here’s Why Trademarked Glowing Fish Aren’t Such a Bright Idea
Saltwater aquariums, though prized for their glorious colors and living reefs, are a massive undertaking. And the havoc the exotic fish trade wreaks on tropical sea life is no secret. But for people who are itching to adorn their homes with vibrant fish, science came up with an easy solution: fluorescent freshwater fish. And the pet industry lapped it up--but at what cost?
Our Cockatoo Died Flying Cargo. Don’t Let This Happen Again.
He was supposed to live 70 years. Instead, as he traveled to his forever home in paradise, a series of mistakes and, ultimately, negligence killed him.
Rescued Rooster Found His Flock—and Is a Huge Snugglebug
Like thousands of birds who are unlucky enough to be born as males in the backyard chicken movement, he wasn't considered particularly useful. So Lucia was dumped and abandoned.
The Two Million Victims of Florence We Aren’t Talking About
Update: As of 5:00 pm on September 19, the numbers have risen to 3.4 million birds and 5,500 pigs killed in Florence's aftermath. And media is now widely reporting on these casualties. Our story remains below as originally printed to provide a tiny glimpse into the lives of the beings behind these staggering figures. Unrelenting … Continue reading The Two Million Victims of Florence We Aren’t Talking About
All She Had Was This Plastic Cage and Some Pebbles
At the door of a Maryland townhouse, I stood in the rain as a man thrust a plastic container into my hands. I ran back to the car, dripping, and hopped in. There, we opened the lid—and we were immediately floored by a pungent odor much like that of a fishing pier. I was pretty … Continue reading All She Had Was This Plastic Cage and Some Pebbles
Meet a 2-Year-Old Pig the Size of a Milk Jug. Where He Came from Will Shock You.
Meet Beacon. Hunched over, timid, and hardly bigger than a gallon of milk -- you'd think he was just a piglet. But Beacon was two years old when he was rescued and given a chance to truly live. He was born February 6, 2016. "That date is also the date I got married in 1996," … Continue reading Meet a 2-Year-Old Pig the Size of a Milk Jug. Where He Came from Will Shock You.
This Slaughterhouse Kills a Pig Every 5 Seconds. Soon, Many More Could Follow Suit.
His name is Scott David. But in 2015, when millions laid eyes on the footage he collected inside Quality Pork Processors (QPP), one of the fastest pig-killing facilities in the country, he was known to the public only as "Jay," an anonymous undercover investigator for Compassion Over Killing (COK)
These Cockatiels Found Their Paradise
It took a lot of courage to let them go. But it was easy to set them free. And if I ever doubt that it was the right thing to do, I just whisper to myself these words of the late, great Maya Angelou: "The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown … Continue reading These Cockatiels Found Their Paradise
The Red-Eyed Rat Who Stole My Heart
In 2003, when I was 15, I screen-printed a t-shirt with a photo of my albino rat, Hammy, and paraded it around school. The other kids laughed, but I wasn't fazed. I'd made a best friend--one who was a whole lot more loyal, and maybe even a little smarter, than my classmates. It was February … Continue reading The Red-Eyed Rat Who Stole My Heart