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Learn more from the Nurture Nature Now blog.
“Dogs are People, Too”
Those are the words of neuroscientist Gregory Burns. Burns wrote those words in a New York Times article after having spent two years studying the brain activity of calm, unrestrained dogs in MRI scanners. After all that time, his "one inescapable conclusion is this:...
Switching to a Vegan Lifestyle: It’s Not That Hard!
Lots of people feel like, as much as they would like to transition into a vegan lifestyle, that they just couldn't do it. It's too hard, they wouldn't be able to enjoy their favorite meals, it would be too expensive — there's all kinds of reasons someone might give...
Suppressing Dissent: Ag-Gag Laws in the U.S and Around the World
In 2002, the corporate lobby group ALEC (the American Legislative Exchange Council) put forward a model law which they handed off to lawmakers across the United States. This act, called the "Animal and Ecological Terrorism Act" had one purpose in mind: to silence...
Best Friends: Domestication and the History of Dogs
There's nothing else on Earth like the relationship between dogs and humans. Sure, there are plenty of other examples of inter-species collaboration and cooperation throughout the plant and animal kingdoms. But nothing approaches the depth and significance of the bond...
The Myth of the Preachy Vegans
We've all heard of them. In the workplace, at school, on the street. They're everywhere! Read the comments section on any news piece having to do with animal rights, and you'll find all manner of people complaining about the nuisance of preachy vegans. The problem, it...
Monkey Selfie: Adventures in Copyright
Have you heard the one about the macaque who took a picture of herself? Turns out it's no joke! The monkey selfie has caused quite a stir. Odds are pretty good that you've seen the picture. It's a pretty fantastic shot of a crested macaque taken in 2011. What's most...
The Problem With Pure Bred: Animal Rights and Eugenics
If you're a dog lover, chances are there are certain breeds that have an extra special place in your heart. Maybe you grew up with a pure bred, or maybe the first breed of dog you brought into your own family. Or maybe you have a soft spot for dog breeds that come...
What’s So Humane About Catch and Release Fishing?
How humane is catch and release fishing, really? It turns out that there are a whole range of negative impacts on fish communities to this completely unnecessary practice.
Animal Rights and Language — Pronouns and Personhood
We see it all the time. Animals referred to as "its". Even animals that we love. Even when we are describing some incredibly complex behavior. For some reason, we talk about them like they are pencils. Animals though — including us humans — aren't mere objects. This...
Stop Puppy Mills
We have lived with dogs for thousands of years. Our relationship with these animals stretches back to before the invention of agriculture, before Rome was an empire, and long before Socrates was bothering the Athenians with so many questions. So maybe it's not really...
Adopt Don’t Shop
Finding the right pet isn’t like shopping for anything else. If you don't choose to adopt, some unlucky pet may be destined for a life of caged living. Rescue today. Here are 6 reasons why to adopt vs. shop: 1. There’s a Special Kind of Love. While the humane society...
The Sad Truth About Veal
Veal: Always Inhumane The production of veal has made a lot of strides since the 1980’s when animals rights activists released photographs of calves tied to the crates that they were raised in for the 3 to 24 weeks of their lives. The consumption of calves has dropped...