copyright 2009 Teresa Wagner
all rights reserved

The thinking person must oppose all cruel customs
no matter how deeply rooted in tradition or surrounded by a halo.
We need a boundless ethic which will include the animals also.

Dr. Albert Schweitzer

I became a vegetarian because of the great love of a whale who spoke to me about this issue in 1988. He helped me see that if I love one species, to be whole I must love all species, and cannot knowingly act in ways that create harm for any of them. I have learned from him that for me to love some species and harm others is damaging to my heart and soul.

Since then, I have found that I can't be aware of the suffering of an animal, or a group of animals, turn my back to this suffering, and remain whole, or at peace. If I participate in harming animals, it not only harms them, but it harms me too. This includes what I eat.

copyright 2008 Teresa Wagner
all rights reserved

My cats and I are blessed to live in this beautiful place on earth called Big Sur. It is a holy place, a sacred place, the spiritual energy of which is felt just by driving any of the 90 miles of coast highway that dramatically dissects land and sea. We make our home in a 150 year old log cabin in a redwood forest, just in from the ocean. This forest is nestled in a canyon directly adjacent to the perimeter of one of the Big Sur fires still burning. Since mid June over 2,000 separate fires have begun burning throughout California. Over 1,000,000 acres of wilderness and wildlife habitat have burned.

copyright 2008 Teresa Wagner
all rights reserved

On July 31, 2008, near the time of the Big Sur fires becoming contained, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lt. Rosanna Leighton, who is a member of the Humane Investigations department of the SPCA of Monterey County in California. Our conversation follows:

Daisy and Friend, photo courtesy of the SPCA of Monterey County

copyright 2008 Teresa Wagner
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No one is immune from natural disasters—fires, floods, hurricanes, tornados, snow storms, earthquakes and other tragedies happen. When they do, for many of us our first thought is about getting our animals to safety, or, about what we can do to help the animals in a disaster zone away from us. This article offers resources and ideas for providing practical, emotional and spiritual support for the animals and people involved in disasters and trauma, and to help us with our own fears, concerns and overwhelm when we hear about animals in peril.

copyright Teresa Wagner
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Many of us have heeded recommendations from health professionals to include adequate amounts of essential fatty acids in our diets by regularly eating fish and taking fish oil or krill supplements rich in omega 3, 6, & 9 oils. Taking these substances may be good for our bodies but not so good for the whales. Why?