RED CARPET ROXY'S "RED ALERT" OF THE WEEK-JUNE 8, 2009

Red Carpet Roxy's "Red Alert" of the Week focuses on the troubling issue of puppy mills in the United States. The mills are commercial breeding facilities in which multiple dogs are stuffed into unsanitary, wire cages usually in the elements with little or no socialization, exercise, veterinary care, or loving human interaction. Sadly, many of these dogs paws have never even touched solid ground and when they have been rescued they do not even know how to walk on the soil after living on wire their whole lives. These dogs are bred cycle after cycle and once they are unable to produce any more offspring, they are either destroyed or discarded.

Currently, Petland Inc., the largest chain of pet stores in the country that sells puppy mill dogs, and Hunte Corp. the largest broker of factory produced puppies, are being sued in a class action lawsuit by plantiffs such as The Humane Society for misleading the public into believing they were purchasing healthy, non-puppy mill pooches when the opposite was true. Many of the dogs puchased were extremely sick with multiple issues/ailments and often died soon after they were taken home by unsuspecting dog lovers.

So how can you try to ensure that you do not purchase a dog from a puppy mill? Click here to read up on how to prevent this from happening.

Click here if you are concerned about a potential puppy mill in your area or if you think you might have purchased a puppy mill dog.

Click here if you would like to make a donation to the Humane Society's Stop Puppy Mills Campaign.

Image from Dog Lovers Monthly

RED CARPET ROXY'S "RED ALERT OF THE WEEK"-MAY 25, 2009

Today's Red Carpet Roxy's "Red Alert of the Week" goes to an organization dedicated to saving the lives of animals who are in danger of being euthanized at local shelters. Pilots N' Paws coordinates willing pilots with over crowded shelters so that the pilots are able to donate their flight services in order to move these animals to a safe place like a rescue group, sometimes several states away, until a permanent forever home can be found. Often times, these innocent animals are in danger of being put down simply because of over crowding and lack of the means and man power to tranfer them to these rescue groups. What a great way to earn your wings!

Click here to read more about the mission of Pilots N' Paws and how you can help by donating funds or flight services.

According to the Humane Society, about 4 million cats and dogs are put down in shelters across our country each year, many times just because of over crowding. That is 1 cat or dog every 8 seconds! Please spay or neuter your pet in order to help to curb the pet over population problem and unecessary euthanization of perfectly good animals. Click here to read about affordable, effective ways to spay or neuter your pet.

A SEALED FETE

One of Nigel Barker's playful subjects posing next to Red Carpet Roxy

Host Nigel Barker and Red Carpet Roxy

Co-Hosts of the event, Current TV founding hosts/producers Max Lugavere and Jason Silva with Red Carpet Roxy
Red Carpet Roxy interviewing Nigel Barker about the Canadian seal hunt

Red Carpet Roxy speaking with Carmen Electra while she cuddled with a stuffed baby seal
Actress Jayde Nicole, "The Hills" star Brody Jenner, and Red Carpet Roxy
Nigel Barker flanked by Carmen Electra, a stuffed baby seal, and Khloe Kardashian



It was a celebration of the seals last night at Zune L.A. as "America's Next Top Model" dashing judge, Nigel Barker, and the Humane Society of the United States hosted a showing of Nigel's exhibit called "A Sealed Fate?" documenting the short-lived lives of baby harp seals slaughtered during the annual Canadian seal hunt. Many of the celebrities who attended vocalized their support for the cause as well as updates on their lives.

Concerning the recent nuptials of fellow co-stars on "The Hills" Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, Brody Jenner joked, "Good for them. I think it has been the 3rd or 4th or 5th wedding they have had." And on Spencer's recent Twitter bash of Lauren Conrad, Brody continued, "That sounds like Spencer." Brody's girlfriend, actress Jayde Nicole agreed, "He does that to everyone all the time. So it's like normal."

Dazzling in a sparkly Robert Rodriguez dress that captured the light, Carmen Electra reminisced about the fun she had on "Dancing with the Stars," but not as an actual contestant, just as a one time dancer. She said, "My heart goes out to the contestants. I don't think I could put myself in that position. I am too sensitive. I would probably cry." On her recent engagement, "I feel like an expert because I have been married a few times." But she says she doesn't want "any pressure" to set a date so she can enjoy this time.

A svelte Khloe Kardashian is getting pumped to star alongside her sister Kourtney in a spin off show from "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" set in Miami. Both recently broke up with their boyfriends and are ready to meet new men! Men-get your best game on because Khloe is officially on the lookout, "I am looking forward to all of the men. I don't care what color. Just give me them. All of them!" What you don't know that she divulged to me is that she will be hosting her own weekly radio show called "Khloe After Dark" on Y100 in Miami. So set your radios!

The night took a more serious turn as Nigel Barker assumed the stage and voiced his beliefs about his passion which is protecting seals from the barbaric slaughter they are made to endure in an annual seal hunt that continues in Canada-but hopefully not for long. And the celebrities in attendance were in agreement and admiration for all that Nigel and the Humane Society have done in creating awareness of this issue.

The Canadian seal hunt is the largest marine mammal slaughter on our planet. In fact, up to 250,000 seals were killed in a matter of 4-5 days. Nigel was filming in Canada for two and a half weeks, and of the footage he shot, only 5% of it was usable because the remaining 95% was so cruel and disturbing he feared that audiences wouldn't watch it. Actually, part of the challenge for him was to edit the documentary into a version that the audiences could withstand viewing. He disclosed to me, "I saw many, many seals and I mean hundreds in a space of a few hours that were being skinned that weren't actually dead when they were being skinned. They were just knocked on the head and they were still wriggling around and they were skinning them. They were trying to hold them with their foot and trying to skin them alive and they would roll off without their fur."

You would think that this type of incriminating footage, once placed in the hands of Canadian authorities, would warrant criminal charges against these fishermen, right? Wrong! According to Nigel, because the fishermen are committing these atrocities on the ice and not on land, "they don't fine them, they don't take away their licenses, they just ignore them." In fact, the Canadians brought a court case against the Humane Society for this "incriminating footage" in which the Humane Society won "hands down."

So why does Canada continue to support this barbaric hunt? Nigel was adamant, "This isn't an anti-Canada thing, because it does go on in other parts of the world. But perhaps they have been pushed into a corner and they feel like the world is telling them what to do. In this world, there might be a line that says this is Canada and this is America, but I think that animals belong to the world."

The ironic thing is that the seal hunt isn't even a large financial incentive for Canada. According to Patricia Ragan, Director of the Protect Seals Team, the hunt is only worth $7 million. She also shared with me, "the Canadian seafood industry into the United States is worth $2 billion a year." Which is why the Humane Society has taken economic action in an attempt to get their point across to the Canadian government by calling on a boycott of all Canadian seafood. Since the boycott began in 2005, "the value of Canadian seafood imports (that have been boycotted) total $750 million." That's a pretty large chunk of change. And Humane Society is planning on inviting the citizens of European Union to join the protest against Canadian seafood as well.

Dr. John Grandy, Senior Vice President of Wildlife and Habitat Protection at the Humane Society, was vigilant about continuing on in order to halt the hunt even with the recent victories around the world. Those victories include: the European Union's ban on the buying and selling of all seal products in every European nation, the Russian ban on the killing of harp seals under the age of 1, and the passing of the U.S. Senate resolution unanimously condemning the Canadian seal hunt. But don't think the HSUS will relax on this issue. In fact, Dr. Grady reinforced, "These are steps on the way to the end. We have to redouble our efforts."

The compelling reactions to the seal slaughter of many of the guests at the party defined the message of the evening. Animal lover Brody Jenner communicated his frustrations," (the hunt) makes me want to club those people who club the seals. They should be treated exactly how you want to be treated and not slaughtered for their fur." Canadian Jayde Nicole explained, "For Northern Canadians, it has been a way of life. But as generations get older and everyone starts to see the new way and how wrong it is, I believe it will eventually be banned." Carmen Electra confessed, "it's really easy day by day to worry about yourself and I think it is wonderful that Nigel has shot not only a documentary but photographs to help raise awareness so that people know what is going on and help make changes." Khloe Kardashian remarked, "I love how I can bring awareness to animal causes. The clubbing of baby seals on a daily basis is something I never even thought of until they brought it to my attention. It doesn't make sense."

Dynamic duo and Co-Hosts of the soiree, Max Lugavere and Jason Silva of Emmy Award winning Current TV echoed the interests of the party-goers. Max stated,"When we heard what Nigel has done with his photos and documentary, we were just really taken aback that he chose to walk the walk whereas many celebrities would just put their name on something for the press opp that it entails." Jason added, "And also the whole issue of bringing awareness to things like this is very much in line with what we embody and do everyday, working for Current which is extremely socially conscious, cutting edge. A generation of people that want to communicate and want to talk about the things that matter to them. And also giving a voice to the voiceless and there is no better example of the voiceless than these seals."

So what can the public do? Boycott Canadian seafood. Ask your restaurant managers, fishmongers, waiters, friends, or anyone handling fish you might purchase or consume where it comes from. If they don't know its origins, don't buy it. Grady says that the boycott is "the biggest thing that an individual can do in America."

Ultimately, Nigel and the HSUS would be elated to turn this unique seal nursery into eco-tourism for Canada where visitors could observe and learn from these majestic creatures in their natural habitat, much like what Canada did when the country outlawed commercial whaling and transformed it into an extremely profitable attraction without harming the animals. That and of course, a definitive end to this senseless, barbaric hunt.

Click here to visit the Humane Society's Protect Seals Team to see all that they do to help the seals

RED CARPET ROXY'S "RED ALERT OF THE WEEK"-MAY 11, 2009

The "Red Alert" this week celebrates a victory for seals. Just last week the European Parliament voted to outlaw the buying or selling of seal products in all 27 nations of the EU from the commercial seal slaughter, as reported by the ProtectSeals team. This is a huge victory for seals as the EU was one of the world's top markets for seal products. After several years of providing documentation and the testimony of key witnesses to the cruel slaughter, a declaration was introduced and then a vote of 550 MEP's in favor to only 49 against (41 abstained.) And the ProtectSeals team couldn't have done this without the public's help. Hopefully, this is another huge step in halting this barbaric practice worldwide once and for all.

Image by Bergoita

RED CARPET ROXY'S "RED ALERT OF THE WEEK"-APRIL 20, 2009

The Red Alert wants to share some exciting news with you-starting today and ending this Thursday night, the Giant Steps Foundation will match any donation made to the Humane Society and up to $500,00 in order to protect seals. This is one of the largest contributions the ProtectSeals Team has ever received. Click here to find out how you can help and make a difference in the lives of these seals.

RED CARPET ROXY'S "RED ALERT OF THE WEEK"-APRIL 13, 2009

Photograph by John Kelly

The "Red Alert of the Week" brings us back to the United States and the issue of horse slaughter. Many viewers might not know that although the United States terminated all 3 of its horse processing plants by 2007, there is still a thriving business of exporting horses to Canada and Mexico for slaughter for human consumption designated for countries like Italy, France, and Japan. Often the transportation to Mexico and Canada alone puts the horses in serious danger as they are usually loaded into double decker trucks used for cattle and other short necked livestock. This can mean severed and mamed limbs, eyes, and worse-even death.

Sadly, these horses were usually not purposed to end up on somebody's dinner plate. They are lead to auction in order to place them in good homes. However, "killer buyers"-people hired to buy for the foreign horse slaughter plants- abound at these auctions and often outbid any of the other buyers, including those of equine rescue organizations.

Currently, there is legislation trying to make its way through Congress called the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2009 that would prevent the inception of any new horse slaughter plants in the United States as well as prohibit the the export of American horses for slaughter for human consumption.

Even though there is a tenacious campaign opposing horse slaughter, the Montana legislature passed a bill, H.B. 418, that would make investor-owned horse slaughter plants legal and actually sheild these slaughter houses from judicial challenges. You can contact Governor Schweitzer of Montana and let him know how you feel about this issue and urge him to veto this bill by clicking here. You can help by contacting government officials and lending your voice to this matter.

RED CARPET ROXY'S "RED ALERT OF THE WEEK" APRIL 6,2009

Photograph by Jurgen Freund

Happy Prevention of Cruelty to Animals month! Every April, the ASPCA signifies the plight of animals by dedicating and heightening the awareness of animal and wildlife welfare issues, and this April is no different. As a matter of fact, this week's "Red Alert of the Week" leads us to our neighbor from the North, Canada. Every year at this time, the government makes it legal for sealers to hunt and slaughter seals-some of them only a few weeks old. According to the Humane Society, "it is the largest slaughter of marine mammals in the world." Seals are typically clubbed or shot to death for their fur and are sometimes cut open while still alive. As you can imagine, there is nothing "humane" about this process-in fact, the Canadian government has made it legal for the sealers to kill 280,000 seals this year-up 5,000 seals from last year and generally, sealers are not penalized if they exceed the number allowed. It is not uncommon for tens of thousands of seals to be killed in a matter of days! You can read more about this senseless practice on the Humane Society's website at: http://www.hsus.org/protectseals.html

I had the pleasure of interviewing Nigel Barker of "America's Next Top Model" on this very issue that he is so passionate about at a STYLE360 party in his honor last September during New York Fashion Week. He has documented the hunt with his own lens, and you can view it here.

The European Union will decide in a few weeks if it will ban the trade of seal products and Russia has made the announcement that they will stop the killing of baby harp seals. Canada is still holding out in favor of the barbaric hunt.

Thankfully, there are many Canadians who do not support the hunt, and one in particular, Senator Marc Harb has come forward to express his and others beliefs by creating a petition urging the Canadian government to ban the seal hunt and to try to transition these commercial sealers into work that isn't cruel to animals. Here is the link to the petition.

Also, learn about how you can let your Senators know how you feel on this issue and sponsor the Levin-Collins seal hunt resolution impelling the Canadian government to end this horrific practice by visiting this link.

The Humane Society's ProtectSeals team is on the ground in Canada documenting and recording the hunt and its aftermath. You can make a donation to their efforts of trying to protect the seals here.

You can make your voice heard by signing a petition, making a donation, and/or creating awareness by getting the word out. Nothing you do is too insignificant or ineffective, especially when it comes to the lives of the seals.