ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip

May 12th 2008

Glenn Close Receives Golden Bone For Work With Dogs

Filed under: animals, products, shopping, web — parrish @ 8:51 pm

Paris has too many. DMX might have been too cruel. Michael Vick…well we all know how that story ended. Aren’t there any celebrities out there treatin’ Snoopy right? Enter Glenn Close. 

Glenn Close recently received a “Golden Bone” from LookToTheStars.org for her role as co-founder of Fetchdog.com — an online store that offers high-end canine supplies while raising money for charity. Each time you purchase an item through Fetchdog.com a percentage of the total will be donated to a select dog charity of your choice. Some doggy-options are: Little Angels Pug Rescue, Animal Rescue New Orleans,the ASPCA and many more. 

The site is also home to Glenn’s blog and a section called Lively Licks where Glenn interviews celebs like Mary Steenburgen, Ted Danson, Dan Zelman and Debra Messing about all things canine. “Our dogs love us and keep us laughing through good times and bad,” writes Close on her blog, “This blog is a tribute to all the fabulous dogs who trot and wag their way through our lives and to the people who they have so successfully trained.”

Close has several dogs herself and is known for bringing her “kids” to the set while shooting. Now I know some of you might be wondering if Glenn got her dogs from rescue shelters, so I did a little digging (no pun intended).  I couldn’t get word if any of her CURRENT dogs are from shelters, but she has a solid record of owning rescued dogs and she certainly supports some great rescue shelters!

So a big high five, Glenn, from me to you. Thanks for setting the example and doing them doggies right! 

May 12th 2008

Rapper DMX Arrested For Animal Cruelty And Drug Charges

Filed under: animals, not green — parrish @ 10:25 am

What the Michael Vick is going on, you guys? On Friday, rapper DMX was arrested at his home in Cave Creek, Arizona on four felony drug possession charges and seven misdemeanor animal cruelty charges.

DMX is no stranger to animal drama, having faced a 1999 animal cruelty charge in Teaneck, New Jersey, that was dismissed after the performer agreed to record a series of public service announcements for an animal rights group. 

Most recently, police seized 12 pit bulls and pit bulls mixes this past August after receiving a tip the animals were being abused.  Officials also discovered the carcasses of three dogs that were partially buried and concluded that one of the dogs may have been burned.  At the time no arrest was made because, while the dogs were underfed and lacking water, there was no sign of dog fighting. Um…what?

This time around DMX WAS arrested and five pit bull mix puppies were taken from the property.  County Attorney Andrew Thomas said the rapper’s celebrity status will not play a role in how the case is treated. “We are handling this case as we would any other incident of alleged animal cruelty,” Thomas said.

Of course this incident comes far too soon after the now infamous Michael Vick Dog-Fighting Extravaganza, and while I don’t much care for jumping to conclusions…it ain’t lookin too good!  Stay tuned Ecorazzi readers for more updates as we get them!

via: cnn.com

January 18th 2008

Extreme Dog Makeover Post Hurricane Michael Vick

Filed under: animals, events — parrish @ 11:59 am

I’m sure by now, everyone knows ALL about the whole Michael Vick dog-fighting incident. Well, on January 28th, for the first time since the trial, the media will be invited to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary to meet the 22 animals that were rescued from the dog-fighting operation.

The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is located in Kanab, Utah and stepped up to the plate by providing the rescued animals with a much needed puppy vacation. The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary also saves cats, birds, bunnies and horses and bills themselves as the nations largest no-kill rescue. The event will feature interviews with the dogs’ caregivers and the opportunity to meet the cast of the new National Geographic Channel documentary series “Dogtown.”

Can’t make it all the way to Utah? Luckily, the Humane Society has provided a resource to help locate your local animal shelter.  So put on some sturdy vegan footwear, hop in your bio-diesel car, and grab some of your dawgs to go help those dogs!!!

December 26th 2007

PETA Names Senator, Robert C. Byrd, Person Of The Year

Filed under: animals, green and famous, honors, politics — parrish @ 11:37 am

When I think of West Virginia, the first word that pops in my head surely isn’t: progressive. But color me ignorant! PETA has just announced that their person of the year is no other than West Virginia senator, Robert C. Byrd. Senator Byrd (or as his friends call him Big Byrd…oh how I joke) has spent six decades fighting the man for the sake of the animal.

In 2005, Byrd coauthored the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, which prohibited the transport, purchase or sale of our equestrian pals for human consumption. Willie Nelson publicly added his stamp of approval to this bill as well. Byrd also petitioned to convince the Senate Appropriations Committee to provide 5 million dollars (the most money ever requested) for improving enforcement for the Humane Slaughter Act, in 2002. And most recently, during the Michael Vick case, Byrd delivered a 24-minute speech on the senate floor, condemning dog fighting and describing it as “barbaric.”

Now lately you know this blogger has had mixed feelings about the People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals, but surely one must salute Senator Byrd for his noble acts and must also thank PETA for showcasing them. SALUD!!

December 19th 2007

PETA Administers The 39th Lash To Michael Vick With A Festive Holiday Card

Filed under: not green, sports — parrish @ 11:05 am

The People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals love their e-cards. As Ecorazzi reported earlier, Michael Vick is currently serving a 23-month jail sentence on dog fighting conspiracy charges.  Well in the spirit of the season, PETA has just released a brand new “holiday” card featuring Michael Vick in an orange jump suit locked inside of a snow globe designed to look like a prison with a ball and chain around his leg. Behind Vick is a guard with his  dog ferociously watching over him. When you visit the site you can “shake” the globe and watch Vick crash into the walls as a voiceover says, “They got to the quarterback’s blind side there. He never had a chance.”

Ok, If you’re familiar with some of my previous posts you know that I am a PETA member and supporter, but I think this is just plain tacky. Ok, we get it, Michael Vick seriously messed up and now he’s paying for his mistake. Do we really have to mock the guy with a festive card? The only holiday message this is sending is, “Na, na nee boo, boo”, and gloating is never attractive. Sometimes, PETA crosses that oh so delicate line and goes from helping to hurting. We got our point across guys, I have a feeling Vick will be staying far away from anything with four legs for a very long time. As we approach the end of 2007, we should be focusing on forgiving, not mocking. 

If you MUST see the card you can view it HERE.

December 11th 2007

Michael Vick Gets 23 Months For Dogfighting Disgrace

Filed under: animals, not green, sports — parrish @ 11:46 am

You’d think that if you were one of the highest paid NFL players in the country you wouldn’t get your jollies from watching two dogs kill each other, but I guess you never know.  Michael Vick was recently sentenced to a 23 month jail sentence for his involvement in an underground dogfighting ring.

Although Vick had some hard-hitting supporters in his corner, such as Hank Aaron, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and the pastor of his church,  US. District Judge Henry E. Hudson still had little sympathy. During the sentencing Judge Hudson stated, “I’m convinced it was not a momentary lack of judgment on your part. You were a full partner.” And when Vick apologized to the court and his family, the judge shot back, “You need to apologize also to the millions of young people who look up to you.”

Although he could have been sentenced to up to five years, the Federal sentencing guidelines recommended a sentence of 12 to 18 months, so all in all Vick received a pretty firm sentence. 

You know, I usually close out my posts with something witty and light, but there are no witty or light comments to be made here. One can only hope that this helps put a stop to the horrific “sport” that is dogfighting, and teaches Michael Vick a lesson he won’t ever forget.

November 24th 2007

Willie Nelson Urges Passage Of Anti-Dogfighting Bill

Filed under: animals — michael @ 8:58 pm

Country music star Willie Nelson is lending support to a dogfighting bill that would help tighten laws throughout the state of Georgia. A national animal-welfare organization, Best Friends Animal Society, produced an ad that has Nelson speaking into a camera while “Georgia on My Mind” plays in the background. From the article,

“‘Dogfighting is against the law in Georgia, but the laws are so weak, the beautiful state of Georgia has become a haven for dogfighters from around the country,’ he says. The bill would make it a felony for anyone to sell, trade or transport dogs for the purpose of dogfighting.”

Supporters of the new bill (which has already cleared the state Senate) hope to have the ad in full circulation around the December 10th sentencing for suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. The former star footballer has pleaded guilty to a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge.

Rock on, Willie!

via CNN