Stop Ontario's Plans To Increase Wolf & Coyote Hunting

I wish I had a picture of a wolf or a coyote to get your attention for this post but I don't.

So instead picture wolves, coyotes and moose running in this setting, together, in their natural habitat

because this is THEIR NATURAL HABITAT & in this day and age it's about time we learn to protect instead of constantly taking and destroying!
I am ashamed to be Canadian if this new law gets through.

Quickly put, the moose populations are on the decline

But the real reasons of the decline are not being addressed.

Climate change & hunting are the culprits, end of story.

The Ontario government wants to change the hunting regulations

because that's them blaming the moose population decline on wolves and coyotes!!!

Wolves and coyote and moose have for centuries been co-existing.

Wolves and coyotes are simply NOT main predators of the moose...

hunters are...

climate change and therefore food source changes, pest problems etc are....

NOT wolves & coyotes but the hunting community of course wants everyone to think so

and the the government is under pressure and is in danger of curtailing to the ones

who care about our natural habitat and our cultural icons the least.

What can you do?

Write the Ontario government.  I just did.  My letter is below. Use it, change it as you please,

just let your voice be heard on behalf of the innocent.

Help fight for the wolves and coyotes PLEASE.

The deadline for letters/comments is tomorrow night 12pm,

It just take a few moments, especially if you go off my letter below.

For more info go here and write your comment/letter right here

(Thank You to those who do XO)

Hello,

I am writing to you today with a very heavy heart as I recently hear about the proposed changes to the management of the wolf, moose and coyote hunting regulations in northern Ontario (ERO 019-0405/ERO 019-0406).

Most people know that the moose population is not under attack by the wolves and coyotes but by climate change and hunters. As the world seems to worsen by the day, people are losing hope, now is the time more than ever that the population needs to believe in its government.  We simply cannot continue to see our government as the bad guys constantly stepping all over and using our amazing natural world to their advantage.  Please do not bow to the pressure of the hunters and instead show that the Ontario government will take steps to protect our moose, who are indeed a cultural symbol. 

In this day and age where cruelty is being fought against at every corner of the world, be part of the movement to a kinder future and show that Canadians care to protect its wildlife.  Show that we are intelligent as we know there is absolutely no scientific proof that the new hunting law for wolves and coyotes will help the moose populations from declining. Also, consider that wolves, coyotes and moose have been living together in their own natural dynamic for longer than any of us have been around.  It is irresponsible and disgusting of anyone, especially our government, to move forward placing blame on the blameless when it should be looking at the real culprits: habitat loss, climate change, hunting, especially the hunting of moose calf.

By easing regulations, removing requirements for reporting, extending the hunting season we are taking a terrible step backwards instead of forward.  By making these changes we are sending the wrong message about Canada, that we are irresponsible, cold and do not care to protect the amazing animals that help us a beautiful place to live in and experience

I implore my government to not take steps to make life easier for the hunting community but to instead protect the moose habitat and end all moose calf hunting.  I want to feel proud of how my government protects our iconic natural world and its sentient living beings.  I need my government to be protectors not destroyers.  Please reconsider the proposed regulations.

A Compassionate Concerned Canadian,

Mandy Saile

Please Share & Spread This Easter Education Message



Please Share - Make Yours Chocolate



Please Share & Spread - Make Yours Chocolate 3



Make Yours Chocolate 2



Coloring Page, Kindness & Easter Oh My!

So you know on this dear blog of mine

I try to spread some knowledge and kindness about house rabbits

and with Easter just around the corner I am already thinking about

all the sweet precious bunnies that will sadly be bought as Easter presents

and about how many of those Easter bunnies end up in a shelter (sometimes not such a good 'shelter')

or worse how they are 'let lose' in the wild and therefore sent to certain awful death

because, let's face it, house rabbits just don't have the skills to survive on their own in the wild.

So much sadness is about to ensue just because people don't research house rabbits first.

It's quite plain and simple...Rabbits aren't for everyone.

So for the next couple of weeks I'll be doing special posts on the days I usually don't blog...

These posts will hopefully spread the word to people (especially to parents)

to think before they purchase a bunny as an Easter present.

And that, if we can't discourage the purchasing of a rabbit for Easter

than hopefully we can encourage the route of adoption over pet shop buying.

 

Now usually these sweet colouring pages of mine

are just for the sweet group who are signed up to "Keep In Touch"

BUT this month and this month only,

in an attempt to spread some kindness and knowledge

I am going to offer you this coloring page of mine for free

All you have to do is share my blog link www.BijousWhimsy.Blogspot.com

anywhere on your social media, be it on your own Blogs, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook etc... 

just tell me where & when your doing so in an email (email me at Whimsy@MandySaile.com)

and I'll happily email you back with the page and a big thank you for helping me spread the word

about how awesome rabbits are but how they shouldn't be an impulse Easter purchase

Sound Good?

And even if you don't want the colouring page, I encourage you to share these posts anyways.

NOT an Easter Present 2

Make yours chocolate...

 

 

Spread the word...



Coloured Pencil Student Feature

I was recently asked to write an article for Coloured Pencil Student.

 

I was asked to talk about how we adopted our rabbits from the shelter,

how they inspire me and the artwork that I do

and the editor also asked me to put in abit of an advocacy slant to help educate people,

since so many rabbits are purchased as Easter presents...which we don't want to see.

 

I mean to talk about my art, my rabbits &

to be able to educate a little on buns...what more can I ask for!

 

 

 

 

 

I just received the digital copy...it looks great.

 I am beyond pleased & so happy with all the images the editors chose to use.

 

Click right here if your interested in getting a printed copy or digital version.

 

I can't wait to get the actual magazine and hold the issue & article in my hands. YAY!

 

This is a really great thing...So happy.

 



Not An Easter Present 01

Easter stresses us out & makes us sad.

Apparently over 90% of rabbits purchased as Easter presents

don't even make it past their 1st birthday.

 

 

My honey made this poster...

Please help us spread the word...share this post on Twitter, Facebook etc...

Tell people that rabbits are NOT Easter presents. 

Thanks so much.

 

Alot Of Our Time & To Be Clear...

A lot of our evening and weekend time looks like this...

 

In our Jeep with Frenwyck, Teela and Yuuji trying to bond and forge a fuzzy trio!

They want to be friends, we can tell by certain behavior,

but Frenwyck just isn't 100% sure about how to go about it.  He's really trying though.

We've made progress and some kissing has been going on the last few times, which is a great sign.

 

 

We do so in the truck because it's a neutral space,

which is important because rabbits are very territorial.

And the movement of the truck usually takes their minds off attacking one another and instead

they will often seek comfort from one another, which allows them to get used to another bunny moving around them etc and eventually hopefully leads to the epiphany that 'hey I am not being hurt'.

 

You can't just take rabbits and throw them together and expect that they'll get along...no way!

As cute as rabbits are,

they can be very very vicious towards other rabbits...

so one has to be careful, know what they are doing & move slowly to ensure no one gets hurts.

It's time consuming & doesn't always work out.  You have to be prepared for that.

Some times years will go by and suddenly a rabbit will fall in love with a certain furry

when all others before them were refused.  Rabbits are strange & confounding that way.

 

 

We'll be doing this routine with Jaks and his new little buddy really soon,

hopefully it doesn't take long, hopefully it happens, we know Jaks is typically a friendly dude and it sounds like the new buddy we picked out for him is a nice little guy, but you just never know.

(So we indeed do have a back up plan incase the 2 boys don't bond)...ugh!!!

  

We're pretty confident in knowing when to keep trying and when to give things a break.

 

Teela and Yuuji took months of trying before they just suddenly decided they loved each other

and now they are thick as thieves and completely adorable...

and unless you've been around a bonded rabbit pair,

well, it's hard to describe just how heart tugging insanely sweet it is.

 

(And because Easter is around the corner and sadly parents will be buying rabbits as presents)

I must stress that rabbits NEED loads of company,

they are NOT solitary animals...

if you have a bunny who is alone a lot, they will be very unhappy little creatures.

If you don't gently interact with them on a daily basis like I do with mine,

you won't have snuggle buns like you see on this blog.

AND sometimes even with all the love offered up in the world,

they still may never be snuggle buns...some rabbits are just not friendly,

some are grumps, just like people!

We've had a few of those in our time thus far & though disappointing we just have to find

happiness and satisfaction in knowing that we are keeping them warm, safe, healthy and loved.

 

Also if you cage a bunny & don't allow them time out of the cage to stretch and play

at least 3 or 4 hours a day, you will likely NOT see their wonderful personalities.

Bunnies need to be bunnies...

they need to run & get lots of exercise for healthy gut motility & happy spirits.

 

The only reason Jonathan and myself are comfortable having so many in our home

is because we both work from home (most of the time), we don't mind mess & destruction!

and we're both real homebodies & just spent a lot of time at home with them.

 

Life with rabbits isn't for everyone...

I must point this out because I know my blog makes bunnies very tempting for some people.

 

So help me spread the word. 

Be kind....do NOT buy a real rabbit as an Easter present.

(Unless your completely aware of the big commitment they are)

Make sure your advocating Chocolate Easter bunnies & feel free to spread this post around.

Thanks XO

 

 

BunnyFest

I am so happy.

 

It is a long standing and constant dream of mine to have my artwork help out animals.

 

 

When the House Rabbit Society in San Diego contacted me

and asked if I could donate some of my prints

to help them raise money for their 2013 BunnyFest,

I was so so pleased and said 'yes, of course...gladly'.

 

So I sent them these...

 

I hope they cause a bidding war and raise lots of money

for the new rabbit shelter they are trying to build. 

 

Stuff like this is so very very good for my soul.



Happy Easter

Just hop hop hopping in to wish you all a very wonderful & cozy

 

Happy Easter

I kindly ask for your help to spread that word that Easter is for chocolate bunnies...

NOT time for a passing whimsy to buy real ones as Easter gifts!

Unless your ready for the big commitment of caring for

a real bunny for it's whole precious lifespan & all that that entails...

and if you are serious about it, PLEASE adopt from shelters or rescues, don't buy!)

 

 

We hope you all get some rest & eat lovely kind food

& just to let you know, I'll be back very soon.

 

XO Mandy & Jonathan

and our own Easter Bun Babies,

Teela, Jinny, Jaks, Flynn, Yuuji & Frenwyck

(all amazingly wonderful & beautiful rescue adoptees)

Featured on Animal Ethical

I was asked some time ago to submit an article about myself & my work to

"Animal Ethical"

a new site where Etsy artists & sellers who are against the sale of any animal
parts/bits on Etsy, can have their shops featured.

It's a new site and the creator of it is, Bettina (a.k.a Mrs Masha of The Hare Apparent),
she is a fellow rabbit lover & rabbit rescuer living in the United Kingdom countryside.

I was tardy with my submission of info due to all the stuff going on with Roo, etc...
so I wasn't sure if I was featured or not...turns out I was, yay.

I've not been featured anywhere for awhile, so it was a nice surprise,

let alone for something important such as this.

 

 

Click Right Here

to visit the 80+ Etsy Animal Ethical team and our shops.

And don't forget, you animals lovers out there, visit my shop for oodles of beautiful animal art

www.BijousWhimsy.Etsy.com

 

I am honestly getting fed-up with Etsy & their allowing of animals heads, faces, furs, taxidermy, etc

to be sold, these ARE NOT Handmade items & should NOT be allowed for sale on Etsy.

 

Hence my current working away on setting up a new primary shop

which will be linked to my own cruelty-free, Joyful & Kind sites.

I can't wait to have it up and running, though I think it'll be a bit longer yet!



Rabbit In Black & White

It's so rainy and gloomy out there today, I wish I had a splash of bright colour for you as usual.

But, I do have a new image to show you.

I've been playing abit more with my new Prismacolour markers.

I was thinking of adding some colour to it but I actually think it's a stronger visual in black & white.

I think this would make a really cool t-shirt image.  Do you think so???

I'd like to put some words on it too, like

"ANIMALS, For Love & Friends NOT Food or Fur".

Would you buy such a T-Shirt???