Full Transcript for Lady Freethinker: The International Non-Profit Animal Protection Organization

know what that is. And I just find that right, like scratching your head over it, like really but exactly. 00:06:24 Speaker 1: And there's so many unscrupulous breeders. Yeah, you know, we actually just finished a report on puppy mills in Pennsylvania and this includes both licensed and unlicensed dog breeding kennels because a lot of these breeders, you know, even though they should be licensed under the law, they're not. They try to fly under the radar and then you know what might happen is they might get a citation, but then they can just apply to be licensed and end up still operating like it's it's kind of insane, you know, even after being cited for not just operating legally. But you know, sometimes animal coolty and abuse, it's just like okay, well, you know, maybe they'll be on probation for a little while, but then they can just go ahead and keep their animals and continue reading. And then you know, those dogs end up in test doors or sometimes they're sold online, you know, the online petsails of another that's not big problem. 00:07:17 Speaker 3: Yes, you're in my head I was just going to say that, like that to me is even It's just I don't even know if it's worse or just it's just as bad. 00:07:24 Speaker 2: It's because people believe that, Oh but it's so beautiful. 00:07:27 Speaker 3: It's a little puppy on grass, Like, do you realize it's like you're not real? 00:07:32 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm not. 00:07:33 Speaker 1: Feeling it's so easy for them just to stage that shot, righttle puppy that you know that, you know, moments in the grass might be the only time that puppy has seen the outdoors in. 00:07:44 Speaker 2: Weeks exactly exactly the se uh huh. 00:07:48 Speaker 3: So even if the grass is even real in the shot, because I think that sometimes it's not even real. It's like, you know, like when you bring a baby to a photo shoot at a department store. 00:07:57 Speaker 1: You know, it's like right, yeah, I mean, I have no doubt that that happened. 00:08:01 Speaker 2: I know, I know. 00:08:02 Speaker 3: I mean I just feel like, I mean, I feel like, I don't know, just to try to be positive that it's a little bit better than it has been over the years, but I mean you would know better than me. I just feel like, on the flip of it, it's not at all because all of these puppy mills still exist, and all these pet stores, you know, some get shut down. 00:08:21 Speaker 2: Some states you know, have laws. 00:08:23 Speaker 3: That you can't sell puppies and kittens from a store. Ye, but I feel like, why is it taking so long? You know, I can feel impatient about it. 00:08:33 Speaker 1: Yeah, so do I I agree. I mean it's very promising that we do have more and more states that are you know, banning pets sales. And you know, in Pennsylvania there's actually a proposed bill. You know, Pennsylvania is a hot spot for them, the puppy mill. Yes, so there is a bill called Victoria's Law that you know, if it's passed, could could make a really big difference. And it's named after a dog called Victoria, who was a ninety pound German Shepherd who was just crammed into a crate and she's actually lost the ability to walk from a genetic disease, but she was still forced to breed over and over again for ten years. She actually first one hundred and fifty puppies. Yeah, and those puppies inherited her disease, which is something that you see a lot of ers because they're just you know, churning out these these sick puppies and then unwitting people, you know, don't realize that they're buying an animal that's going to need a lot of serious veterinary care. And then what happens to the animal. Maybe they end up in the shelter, maybe they end up euthanized, you know, the tragic day. But you know, hopefully legislators will pass Victoria's Lot and that you know, will will help. But you know, I agree that it's we're not close to solving the problem. But but we've come a long way. And you know, now, usually when I talk to somebody and they mentioned their dog, in most cases, they rescue the dog in most cases, yeah, the shelter dog. Yes, you know, not always, And you know you still get that, Oh well, it was a reputable breeder. 00:10:14 Speaker 3: Yeah, I always love that, and I always when people say that to me, and I try not to be, you know, like rude about it. 00:10:20 Speaker 2: But why why is it reputable? 00:10:22 Speaker 3: Like have you been going to the same breeder for years and years or do you know someone who also had you know, adopted, i mean, bought a dog from the same breeder and you know, not not that it makes it better, but it makes it like a tag better but not that much. But yeah, I know it's the same thing, but I do. I know, I feel like I know more people now who rescue an animal than before. 00:10:46 Speaker 2: But then again, and it's probably the same for you. 00:10:48 Speaker 3: If they knew, if they know who we are and what we do, they probably are afraid to say that they bought a pet. 00:10:55 Speaker 1: Oh, definitely, definitely, that's true. Yeah, that's the only things of them. 00:11:02 Speaker 2: Yes, yeah, I know that's terrible. 00:11:04 Speaker 3: I don't mean to be so negative, but yeah, I know it's terrible. But I also and this is another thing, and I'm sure you can help me on this what I find more and tell me if you've noticed the same thing. I just feel like the way the economy is and the way you know, people have lost their jobs. I just keep hearing that shelters are starting to get overcrowded again, more so right because people have to give up, which I for me, and I'm sure and for you and for probably most people who are listening, if they had to give up their animal, they would not eat so their animal could eat, you know. But there are people I get it, you know, who have like large families or on a fixed income or whatever the reason, and they have to give up their pets. And I just feel like it's really increased, like in the past couple of months I. 00:11:56

Speaker 1: Have seen that. 00:11:57 Speaker 3: Yeah. 00:11:59 Speaker 1: I don't have the day, but it does seem that way. 00:12:01 Speaker 2: That way. 00:12:02 Speaker 1: Yeah, I remember, you know, during the pandemic, when everybody bought their pandemic you know, puppy or kitten, and then you had that same problem after the pandemic, you have shelters, and yeah, you know, when times are tough, it's the animal to really, you know, suffer first. I mean, everybody's suffering. I don't want to minimize human suffering because right, no, I know, obviously something that to solve to you, of course, of course you know the animal is going to be the one returned to the shelter. 00:12:30 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, which isn't fathomable to me and to you. But I but I understand what people are in such dire straits. And I mean I'm also seeing and I see this on social media a lot also lately that I see people are getting deported and their pets are left behind, and yeah, and I see that so much, and I'm like, you know, because a lot of times with anything with social media, then I have to vet it because is that true? 00:12:59 Speaker 1: Is it? 00:12:59 Speaker 2: Ai? 00:13:00 Speaker 1: Is it? 00:13:00 Speaker 3: You know, it's it's very complicated. It's just like it's very frustrating these days. 00:13:06 Speaker 1: It's very hard to tell truth from fiction on social media, even with rescues. Yeah, we work a lot on animal cruelty on social media. Actually, that's one of our bigger issues that we're constantly tracking and monitoring, you know, animal abuse for entertainment. And you know, along with that is the sort of fake rescue epidemic where you know, the animals are actually put into these horrible situations on purpose and then somebody you know, pretends to go in and save them and you know, oh wow, or not paying wow. Yeah, you definitely have to be careful. It's a little lot topic. 00:13:47 Speaker 2: But no, no, no, but that's no, that's on topic. 00:13:50 Speaker 3: That's I mean, I don't want to say it's fascinating, but I am not even aware of that. Like that's insane. Yeah, that's really awful. 00:13:58 Speaker 2: People who are just so awful, you know, Oh my god. 00:14:02 Speaker 1: Being diligent is just crucial and it's usually not that hard to research or rescue organization. Sure, that's true, you know, and they're telltale signs like if they don't disclose their location, which is very common, or you know, they don't really even have an organization, and a lot of these pages are listed as something like totally different, like a you know, a media company or a you know, marketing company. Is like, well that's weird. Yeah, they're not too hard, but usually. 00:14:36 Speaker 2: Well, just do your homework. 00:14:37 Speaker 3: No, that's actually very good advice to give to people, because you know, so often you you, oh, well, I got this dog. I bought this dog on Craigslist, and it's like, what, you know, so these are That's a really good tip to

give for someone who's listening, because especially you know, these places that aren't real, and of course they pull at the at our heartstring and you know, sometimes it's human nature. 00:15:03 Speaker 2: You can't help it. And then you go, oh wait, what did I just give money to? Or who do you have a staff that actually monitors all of that? Wow, that's pretty cool. 00:15:12 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, for the past how five this year, we've been chatting that you know, I feel like in twenty twenty and it's been probably happening since the birth of social media in some way, but it seems to really kind of take off around twenty twenty, you know, during the pandemic for whatever reason, and people sort of figured out that they could, you know, abuse animals, and you know, there are people who actually enjoy watching animals suffer that. You know, it's called zoo sadism, which is a different issue than the fake rescues. But they also found their way to social media insane post. I'm not going to go into the details, right, but it's just awful. 00:15:54 Speaker 3: Yeah, it is, Yeah, it is, so so walk me through so with your staff, say, and they're doing some tracking and then they find you know, like a fake rescue that's just trying to collect money. 00:16:06 Speaker 2: What like, what are the steps? What happens next? 00:16:08 Speaker 1: Yeah? So you know, first and for more foremost you want to report it. You know, every social media platform has their own, you know system for doing that and does it always work. No, they're not the best at moderating animal cruelty content, which is why we're camp fanning sure to stop it and you know, get stronger accountability for that. But but you still always want to do that because in many cases the video will be removed eventually. You know, usually more than one person has to report it, and it might take a while, but it's you know, we do see it happen. You know, if something is blatantly illegal and we know the location, will you know, reach out to law enforcement in that area, or if it's a federal crime, because in the United States, there are certain types of animal cruelty videos that are illegal under the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act, which is relatively new, it was signed into law in twenty nineteen. But if a video shows really extreme abuse like dismemberment, killing, burning, things like that, then that's going to be a federal crime. And so we actually do work with federal agencies, including Homeland Security investigations and the FBI. They actually do take those cases seriously. I'm you know, very happy to say, and. 00:17:29 Speaker 2: Which is good, Yeah, it is, It's excellent. 00:17:32 Speaker 1: Yeah. You know, you think Homeland Security think, you know, many different things, but one thing that they do. 00:17:37 Speaker 2: Right, they do that, right, Yes, exactly, they do. 00:17:40 Speaker 1: Yeah, they do. And so in you know, one sort of phenomenon of this very deep dark world of people who enjoy watching baby monkeys being tortured. You know, global rings involved, and you know there have been international things where people in Indonesia has been arrested for making the videos, and then people in the US who are purchasing the videos in the UK, you know, have been prosecuted. So there's actually been a lot of global cooperation on that. Also. 00:18:15 Speaker 2: Well that's good, that's great. 00:18:17 Speaker 1: Yeah, no, it is good. 00:18:18 Speaker 3: You know. 00:18:19 Speaker 1: Unfortunately, the videos still like to make their way to the social media sometimes because people just want to share them for some strange reason. 00:18:28 Speaker 2: So, yeah, people are so weird. I'm sorry. 00:18:31 Speaker 1: Yeah, they're very weird. 00:18:32 Speaker 2: They're just so weird. 00:18:33 Speaker 3: That's why we love animals so much, because people are just like really like, what's wrong with you? 00:18:38 Speaker 1: You know, exactly? Yeah, exactly? 00:18:40 Speaker 3: Did you have no friends growing up? Could that be it? I mean, you know, it's just I just don't. I know, it's terrible to say, but I mean, like, I just I just don't understand. And the older I get, it's more and more difficult to be honest. 00:18:52 Speaker 1: Yeah, I know, I know. I think, you know, animals feelings are just diminished in people's mind and they don't understand that we are animals too, and yes, those animals experience the same suffering and the same feelings, and I think that it's hard for some people to wrap their heads around, you know, maybe because of cultural reasons or because of the way they were raised. 00:19:16 Speaker 2: Or all the above. 00:19:18 Speaker 1: Probably Yeah, yeah. 00:19:20 Speaker 3: Yeah, No, I think you're right, And I think I think sometimes, well not usually all the time, if it's someone who just has just no regard for an animal's feelings or suffering, well, if you can do that or feel that way about an animal, then you probably have no problem doing that to a human, you know, because that usually goes hand in hand as well. 00:19:40 Speaker 1: Yeah. Absolutely, yeah, And I mean I'm sure you know this, but you know, the people who are giving horrorfic crimes against humans very often it started with animal with animals. 00:19:49 Speaker 3: Yeah, like the serial killers they started, you know, they were torturing a cat when they were five, you know, yes, and that's not just made up, that's facts. 00:19:56 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, it's really Yeah. 00:19:59 Speaker 3: But you and your organization are doing such great work and cracking down and finding people and finding sites. So you know, more power to you for doing this, Nina, because you know, no seriously, because we need more people like you, you know, the good guys. So yeah, So, if there was one piece of advice, I mean, and it might not be one, but if there's like one piece of advice you would want to share with, you know, anyone who is thinking about owning a pet or you know, adopting a pet, or doesn't know anything about animals and needs what what's like one if there's one thing, and maybe you said it already that you know they're like us, that they have feelings and emotions and everything else. 00:20:42 Speaker 2: But is there something else? 00:20:44 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean that's obviously a very important one to you know, treat them as though you know, you would want to be treated and be in tuned to their feelings because they do communicate with you and usually will tell you what they want or when they need something or when they're suffering. You know. Also, just speaking to what you said earlier about the you know, pets going back to shelters and abandonment, you know, I think it's important for people to understand that it is a financial commitment and you know, beyond just the food and you know, the kitty litter, if it's a cat, there will be that bills. You know, sometimes they can be pricey. You know, it's a good idea to get pet insurance, you know, if you're able to, because if something catastrophic happens, you know, that can mean the difference between sure, you know, the animals getting the treatment they need or not. But yeah, I think you know, understanding that commitment in general, you know, you're really taking on a life that is going to need things, not that unlike having a child, and it's really your responsibility to make sure that that animal is happy and healthy and loved and you know, has a good life. So basically you are the one responsible for that animal's life now for you know, maybe twenty years. 00:22:05 Speaker 2: Yeah, No, you're right, that's the perfect Yeah. 00:22:08 Speaker 3: No, that is something huge to think about, and I think sometimes people don't so I think that's a great piece of advice. I really do, So thank you for that one. 00:22:17 Speaker 1: Yeah. 00:22:18 Speaker 3: So for those who are listening, it's Nina Jackal and she is the founder of Lady Freethinker and you can see all of the stuff that they do and it's a nonprofit. So if the holiday season is coming, if you'd like to make a donation and to keep the cause going, I'm sure it would be welcomed at Ladyfreethinker dot org. It's Lady Freethinker Altogether dot org. So Nina, thank you, thank you for taking the time out. Thank you for all that you do. More power to you, you know, keep on fighting the good fight. 00:22:48 Speaker 1: No, thank you, it's been a pleasure to speak with you. Thank you for having me on and for you know, using your voice for good well. 00:22:56 Speaker 2: Thanks, thank you, thank you. Sharon has never been a grater operator in the spot see a Raider Momgator