Cruelty Free Consumer

Here is a list of some surprising animal ingredients to look for on cosmetic labels and some greener alternatives:

Ingredient: Allantoin

Source/Use: Found in cows and other mammals and used as a healing agent in many cosmetic creams and lotions

Alternative: Allantoin is also found in many plants, particularly the extract of comfrey root.

Ingredient: Beeswax 

Source/Use: Wax from virgin bees is used as a sealant in lipsticks, mascaras, eye creams, lip balms and nail whiteners

Alternative: Paraffin, vegetable oils and fats.

Ingredient: Boar bristles 

Source/Use: Hair from boars commonly used in makeup brushes and toothbrushes 

Alternative: Nylon or vegetable fibers.

Ingredient: Biotin 

Source/Use: Found in all living cells and used in cosmetics and shampoos

Alternative: Plant sources.

Ingredient: Stearyl alcohol or sterols 

Source/Use: A mixture of solid alcohols that may sometimes be prepared from sperm whale oil and is used in skin creams, hair rinses and some shampoos

Alternative: Vegetable stearic acid

Ingredient: Fish liver oil 

Source/Use: A source of vitamin A sometimes used in cosmetics and hair dyes

Alternative: Vitamin A derivatives from carotene (carrots) or synthetic sources

Ingredient: Mink oil 

Source/Use: An emollient used for its moisturizing properties in cosmetics and skin creams

Alternative: Vegetable/natural oils such as avocado, almond and jojoba

Ingredient: Silk/silk powder

Source/Use: The tiny fibers made by silk worms to form a cocoon — used as a coloring ingredient ion face powders and soaps

Alternative: Milkweed seed-pod fibers or synthetic silks

Ingredient: RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)

Source/Use: Slaughterhouse waste that is commonly used in many protein-enriched shampoos and conditioners

Alternative: Plant cells

Ingredient: Sponge (luna and sea) 

Source/Use: A sea animal that looks like a plant and is used as an ingredient for sponges and loofahs 

Alternative: synthetic sponges

Ingredient: Stearic acid 

Source/Use: Fat extracted from cows, sheep and pigs and used as a lubricant in deodorant, hair spray, shampoo and soap

Alternative: Vegetable fats or coconut

source: http://www.rominachirre.com/romina_chirre_english/rominas_blog/?cat=5&paged=3

Abandoned

Nowadays empathy is nothing but a faded dream in a reality that can only be defined as cruel. People don't care about people, so what expectations can I have towards animals. Today I was supposed to give for adoption a kitten that I fostered for a couple of days. The girl (she was over 20 years old) neutered an indescribable lack of respect and she was definitely incapable of taking her own decisions at that age. In the end the kitten remained in the association's custody.

Another volunteer had to take her over from me, so we met close to the place where we hold our weekly adoption fair. While talking, we saw a dog with a collar around his neck wondering around, looking lost. I managed to catch him, thinking that he might have a phone number on the collar...how stupid of us...we live in Bucharest...of course he didn't. Just then a women passed by, with her dog, and asked whether the dog is ours. This is how we found out that two girls have just abandoned him and she thought it was we. We couldn't leave him on the street now, it was clear that he wasn't wanted. Silvia soon remembered that two weeks ago, at the fair, two girls came with the dog. They wanted to leave him in our care in exchange for a smaller dog. They claimed that he has gotten too big and they wanted a small dog. We didn't fall for that...but it seems that in the end his faith was to become one of Robi's dogs. After a short adventure, we managed to take it to the president of the association. We felt bad about it, but none of us could take him home. He's going to stay in her car over the night, and tomorrow he will be taken to Glina. We are lucky that tomorrow another dog from Glina will be adopted, and this one will take his place. It seams like a never-ending rollercoaster between the minds of people who just don't seem to care when they let their animal bread and abandon or kill the puppies. In their minds it's much easier to commit murder then to spay or neuter their pets.

Silvia thought that we might be going crazy after this short adventure. I honestly think that we are all crazy, but we are a bunch of crazy people who save lives...could you say that a doctor or a fire fighter is crazy?

Tora Lisa

It's been two weeks since Tora "joined" the cat family of Robi. My sister brought her at the door as I was getting ready to leave the house...she was purring, so I couldn't say no to that. My new studio needed some life, though she was out for adoption.

She's the most loving, purring 4 months cat I have ever seen. Her beautiful eyes mark her kitty attitude, as she gracefully moves around the house. I don't think she was born on the street, or at least she did not spent a big part of her life there. She knows how to use the tray (though that's a cat instinct), she's fleas free and vaccinated. All she misses at this moment is a loving house.

Nunu the cat

Nunu was abandoned together with his brother. Once ROBI got a hold of them, they were both adopted. Two weeks after enjoying his happy family life, Nunu was returned. Why?! He was a mess....he "destroyed things", "broke mum's favourite vase", "wasn't able to learn where to pee" etc. So, he had to return to ROBI. Since we don't really have a cat shelter, the girl who initially found him had to take him back. This is a major part of the volunteer work at the association...

Now Nunu is at my place...I took him over for a week. He's the sweetest, cleanest cat possible. He has the bluest eyes, matched with a perfect cat attitude. He stays where you put him, loves to play and hide...and knows how to use the tray. I can't imagine why anyone would return a kitty like him.

Dogrescue lobbying for European pets

April 19, four members of the European parliament, among others Marit Paulsen and Carl Schlyter from Sweden, submitted an official document, 26/2010 on behalf of Pets In Europe (PIE) as to our European pets wellbeing. The Parlamient has never legislated in matters concerning the wellfare of pets, as pets do not count within the common politicians fields. As of today, every single EU-country has to legislate their national laws. In practice this means that massive killings of stray dogs are carried out before every tourist season in many of the EU countries.

The document 26/2010 is a first important step on the way to a tangible law proposal regulating the complex of problems with stray dogs. In Romania, DogRescues, in collaboration with Save the Dogs, are together with PIE supervising the proceedings of the Parliament and tries to firstly help with the intensive neutering- and vaccination program. July 10, at the latest, at least half of the members in the EU-parliament must sign the official letter 26/2010 in order of approval.

At this moment representatives from DogRescue together with the Finnish friend organisation Hemlösa Hundars Vänner (Homeless Dogs Friends) are working together with convincing our Nordic members of Parliament to sign the document. On our web site we will keep you updated as to the campaign.

By: Föreningen DogRescue

Legea 9/2008 - privind protectia animalelor

In virtutea legii 9/2008, in cazul in care sesizati acte de cruzime fata de animale (cu sau fara stapan) va rog sa apelati 9667.

Sub acceasi lege sunt pedepsiti: cei ce ameninta animale (mai ales pe cele fara stapan) cu otravire sau ucidere si cei ce le abandoneaza pe strada.

Pentru mai multe informatii despre cum se face o reclamatie click aici

Fair and Fest

Summer seams to be here and events are bulging into my life. Since I've known myself I hated having free time and the lats two years of my life were full of free time and laziness. I feel like I'm back in action, always too busy and sleeping sound. My weekdays are nothing but work and thesis writing...and occasional beer evenings with Ana. ROBI's animals took over most of my weekends, but I'm not complaining.

A prolific weekend, with 18 adopted animals, started on Saturdays, when I was as usual at the fair in Obor. The purpose of the fair is to give animals, stray animals, for adoption. We have puppies and kitties for adoptions, but even though they are cute and cuddly, at the end of the day just a few find a home. For them, it's crucial to be adopted while small, because people usually look for a dog to grow with. If they are not adopted, they have to be moved to Glina, the animal shelter. It's heartbreaking when we see these puppies, full of energy, clumsy and naive, unable to find a loving home and being transported back to the yard where they are temporarily kept, at the end of every Saturday.

On Sunday I'm usually at Glina. The good weather takes a lot of volunteers to Glina, so it's easier to also attend other events. That's why this Sunday I went to ONGfest to represent the animal association. Romania has a lot of social problems, most of these problems clearly dividing the population: gypsies, abandoned children, abandoned elderly people and stray animals. At the fest, most of the attendants were presenting one of these social issues. I was surprised to learn that out of these, children and stray animals were mostly represented and attracting peoples attention. Opinions are divided...I myself could never chose between helping a child or a dog. The only thing driving me towards animals is that I can't sit around sad children...it's too cruel for me. My mother works in a kindergarden for children with hearing and mental deficiencies and I can't even go there to see the children. Most of them have been abandoned...and it's frustrating. I am future driven, so I always think about what will happen with these souls over the years and while dogs can live in a small yard with some food and a little love, you cannot keep a child like that. I'm a beginner in social helping, so maybe over the years I will become more mature and shift my attention...

It's been a while...

...since I visited my blog. The place where I can lay all my frustrations, read them later, and decide whether to delete the post or not.

It's already May...and I:

- am still happily employed - important fact for the way unemployment rates go

- visited Paris for real - all I can say is: another town down, billion others to go :)

- turned 24 - which is before 25, an important age for me because that's when I should start wearing anti-wrinkle face creams

- miss leaving abroad and always think about what I was doing this time last year

- hate having to start digging more and more into the system - you can ask me anything about the labour law, taxes and income laws, state health insurance etc.

- am getting ready to move out

...but most important:

- am a volunteer for an animal association (ROBI) - I am doing what I always wanted to do: help those who can't ask for it.

I've been a volunteer for 3 months now. I can say that I passed my trial period well.

Yes, I did become a little bit more obsessed with stray animals, and turn my head after each dog.

No, I am not a vegetarian and I don't think I could ever be.

Yes, I've been called crazy and told that there are so many other good deeds that I could do, if I wanted to (like helping abandoned children or elderly people).

No, my house is not full of animals now, and I don't go around like people from the church preaching my cause and asking for money and moral support.

Yes, I think I became a better person.

I've done my first good deed and castrated two of the "bitches" from my block....tomorrow they will also be pest free. But this is like a star fish in an ocean. :)

I think my experience with animals (added to the experience I get just by walking out of the door in the morning) hasn't enriched my knowledge about them, their habits and diseases, as much as it enriched my knowledge about people. When I say this, I do not refer to the way people see animals and behave towards them, but to the way people are. We (Romanians) are very uneducated, frustrated and scared. The system is rotten, and as positive as I am in general, I don't see anything in the near future. Myself, like the majority of this country's population wait for tomorrow to see what will happen...it is well known that the lack of security can take away lives...unfortunately, this is what defines Romania in 2010.

First time at Glina

This week I became an official volunteer for ROBI - The Animal Association (http://www.4animals.ro/home.html), and today I had my first visit at Glina. This is a small "city" next to Bucharest, 40 km closer to Bucharest than my grandparent's village and it looks nothing different.

The stray dog's shelters aren't far from the main road, in an opened field. Water and electricity represent a luxury for that area. As we got closer a pack of dogs started running towards the car. They seemed to know that we were there to feed them and patiently waited, waving their tails, until a lady we were with got out of the car and gave them something to eat, not much...We weren't there yet. On our way, I got warned that I will be very muddy when we will be leaving, and next time I should pack extra clothes. We got there...150 dogs barking at the same time, rusty shelters, a filed full of garbage and mud, lots of mud. The land is loaned from a man, and there are several animal associations with shelters there. We started feeding them, they were rather hungry and impatient.

A few hours before we arrived "an intruder" was killed there. "Intruders" are dogs that don't belong to the shelters and surroundings. The others dogs attacked and killed him, fearing that he might become competition for food. The dogs weren't even tolerating other dogs from the shelter jumping over the fence and demanding food before their turn. As soon as one of them was doing this the riot started, 150 dogs barking at the same time again.

After we finished feeding them, 190 kg of dried food and about 50 cans (only a part of them got that treat), we added water and a bit of love. The mud and the hungry dogs make everything look scary, but once you start talking to them and see how they wave their tales and jump up the fences so you can put your hand through the bars and pet them a bit, your heart melts instantly. You have dogs of all sizes and personalities. You have three legged dogs and blind and deaf dogs...everything that managed to be saved from really traumatizing environments. Worst story: a female dog saved from a stray person who was...raping her.

This is nothing like Animal Planet. It is nothing like anything...but this is the maximum they can get from the mercy of people. Food is gathered from donations, just like the money for rent and building those horrible shelters. On my next visit I will try to take pictures and post them. 

Till then, a representative movie:

Animal Cruelty

Yesterday I was shocked by they case of a kitty, killed in Bucharest by some teenagers. I cannot believe the world I'm living in. I'm tired of stray animals....I'm tired of seeing them suffer because of the stupidity of people. Why is this happening when it's not necessary? I couldn't sleep all night because I only thought about the poor kitty...I know this sounds crazy but it was if I could feel her pain, especially because I saw the movie the stupid kids have taken, where she was helplessly crying for help.

So today I wrote PETA and told them everything, even though I'm sure they know about the situation here in Romania. I don't know why, but knowing that they are like The Thing when it comes to animal cruelty cases, I hoped for a positive response. But instead I was very disappointed when I got the reply. They said they don't have enough staff in Europe and projects to deal with the problems of every country and they recommended me to check out a website with different Romanian animal organisations. I did that, but I think they didn't check the list themselves in a while, because some of the organizations don't exist anymore. Out of 20 or 30 only 5 to 10 still help animals here in Romania. This is a small number for a country with such a big problem.

Till then, I just signed this petition through which I agree with an Animal Police in Romania:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/384591711

You can sign it too!