Did You Know...

That there is a museum for animals? Ok, not 'for' animals but about animals and society? Thanks to Community Member, Lisa Taron, I found the museum online at National Museum of Animals & Society where they "Explore the human-animal bond."

Here's their mission statement: "The National Museum of Animals & Society is dedicated to enriching the lives of animals and people through exploration of our shared experience. To this end, NMAS promotes interconnections with the animal world."

They also have a kids' link where they have coloring pages and activity pages. Kewl, yes?

On their Shared Experience page they have some fantastic panels - showing the evolution of animals. And, reminding us, "You're an animal. I'm an animal. We tend to forget this." The panels are a bit hard (impossible) to read, but I suspect they are displayed at the museum and can be read easily there.

They are in Santa Barbara, CA, I believe.

Their blog, On Bipeds & Brutes (kewl name!), is discussing "animals in domestic abuse shelters help humans to heal." Isn't that something we've talked about here? Something some of us are committed to - the connection between domestic abuse and animal abuse and how animals can improve a healing process?

PLUS... on November 12th, they're holding a "Conversation on Animals & Food" which should be fascinating. As they report, "Increasingly individuals across the country have begun to take a closer look at their meals. From the “slow food” movement, to non-GMO campaigns, to locavorism, to the implementation of animal welfare rating systems at local supermarkets, the ethics of our food system are an evermore scrutinized topic. Continuing this discussion, the National Museum of Animals and Society and Go Vegan Santa Barbara are pleased to present Ethics and Your Plate: A Conversation on Animals and Food. This one-day symposium will explore contemporary issues surrounding animal agribusiness through presentations by speakers representing a variety of perspectives from vegan to the “ethical omnivore.”

I wish I could be there. If any of you attend, will you share your thoughts, afterwards? I love the picture of a pig they have displayed on this page! Mind you, I'm not a vegan, but I am beginning to look more closely at the food I eat and why I eat it. And, I know we have members who support the Farm Sanctuary - because farm animals need our attention, too. Here is what the Farm Sanctuary site says, "Farm Sanctuary works to protect farm animals from cruelty, inspire change in the way society views and treats farm animals, and promote compassionate vegan living."

As with everything I write here, this is information I felt was worth sharing. BlogPaws exists to talk about animals, pets, and ways to make life better for them and us- using social media. We support open dialogue. We believe in saving animals. We try to share a variety of resources and ideas. We cannot be everything nor do everything, that needs doing. So, we try to work with you to support the health and welfare of our animal friends.

Share your experiences and the places you visit every day, online, in our comments. Thanks!

Comments

[Penelope the Cat From Hell]

Great Post! A Animal Museum! Me must go!
Kisses
Nellie

[Caroline Shapiro]

Thank you so much for the write-up! I am the Museum's Public Relations Coordinator. Founded in January of 2010, the National Museum of Animals & Society focuses on exploring the human-animal bond, preserving artifacts of the animal protection movement, and extending humane education to children. Through our school presentations, we've reached about 1,000 kids in the Los Angeles area so far! Currently we exist as a "virtual museum" without a physical space -- it takes a long time to fund something like that, but that is our ultimate goal. We definitely need all the support we can get! You can learn more about us on our website (http://www.museumofanimals.org), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TheNMAS), and Twitter (http://twitter.com/AnimalMuseum).

I'd like to personally invite your readers to take part in our latest exhibit, "Souls Awakened: The Animals Who Have Shaped Us." This community art and photography exhibition seeks to highlight the various ways in which animals throughout history have changed how we feel, how we think, how we act, and who we are. You can read more about it and submit YOUR image and story here: http://www.museumofanimals.org/souls-awakened-exhibit

Thank you again! What an honor to be featured on your distinguished blog!

[Michelle Maskaly @ My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much]

Very neat!