Dear Ms. McCoy,

Looking back on my childhood I recall visits with my aunt fondly. As an Avon Representative with a closet full of samples she let my sisters and I play with her lipsticks, lotions and perfumes to our hearts content. Years later in the early 1990′s, right after Avon abandon all animal testing, I became an Avon Representative. At the time Avon was considered a pioneer in the industry as they set an example of compassion along with a higher standard of the true cost of beauty. Affordable, reliable and kind to the animals Avon products really sold themselves. Many years later, after my kids were in school and I pursued work outside the home, I sadly gave up my position as an Avon Rep. The one thing that I took with me after I left was my love for your products and continued to be a customer for many years. Last year amid a scandalous discovery that Avon had made the choice to sell their products in countries that require animal testing and had quietly begun testing again, I ceremoniously dumped every single Avon product I own in the garbage. As CEO of Avon I hold you personally responsible for not only that decision but for the death sentence that you wrote for every animal that will lose their life because of Avon’s decision. To put your bottom line ahead of the welfare of innocent animals is reprehensible. In this age of social media is it any wonder the news of the aboutface on your antianimal testing policy spread like wildfire? Women all over the world dropped each and every Avon product they owned into the trash and vowed to never buy your products again.

Earlier this week, I read that after cutting 1,500 jobs in December, Avon will be cutting an additional 400 due to slumping sales in many parts of the world. Mere weeks ago the European Union enacted a full ban on animal testing, of which I am sure you are intimately familiar with. How can you wonder why sales have slumped in Europe? While I am truly sorry for those who will be losing their jobs I ask you to look a bit further into animal testing and understand that perhaps the reason for your lagging sales is that many of us no longer believe in Avon? While we are the largest demographic spending our hard earned money on beauty products we are also sensitive to the suffering of sentient beings who do not deserve to be subject to painful and useless experimentation. I applaud your move to meet with foreign governments to discuss alternative methods to encourage them to abandon their animal testing requirements. However, I urge you to look at companies such as John Paul Mitchell Systems who are not only actively working with these foreign governments but refusing to allow their products to be sold in these counties until animal testing requirements are lifted. With many alternative methods to test beauty products available there is no reason except for self serving profit margins to continue to do so. I am not sure if the day comes when Avon decides to once again develop a conscience for animals if I will ever become a customer again but one thing is for sure, as long as you continue to do so.

In closing I would like to introduce you to Juno, my beagle and former laboratory animal. Having spent the first five years of her life in a laboratory for the purpose of household and personal care products testing she is my biggest and most fierce ally in my desire to put an end once and for all to animal testing. She is the face of animal testing and through her I give voice to those still suffering at the hands of large corporations such as yours. I implore you to look first within yourself and then within your company and take immediate measures to stop the animal testing.
Karma always finds a way to balance the universe.

Regards & Wags,
Kate & Juno
www.JunoRescuedBeagle.com

“Working towards the day when animal testing is nothing more than a distant memory.”
~Juno Rescued Beagle

Juno n Me ~ Summer 2012

Cosmetics companies in the European Union (EU) are being required to abandon all animal testing by March 11, 2013. They were given over two years to phase out animal testing and develop new protocols for testing their products. Recently several large companies lobbied for an extension to that law claiming that they were not given enough time. Luckily, for my brethren across the ocean the deadline was not extended and in a few short weeks the animals of the EU will no longer be subjected to useless and painful procedures for whiter teeth and silkier hair. The time is now to help us in supporting organizations that are actively lobbying in the US for an end to the cosmetics testing. You vote, every one of you, when you shop. If the product is not on my Compassionate Shopping Guide or Leaping Bunny’s or PETA’s lists then you are supporting animal testing. It is not difficult or expensive to support the companies who do not test or contract to conduct animal testing. Knowledge is power and when you walk down the aisle of your supermarket or discount store, be aware of what you are voting for. We are all equally responsible for making the right choices to help put an end to animal research. Without people like Rosa Parks this country would perhaps not be what it is today. If she were alive today she would be close to celebrating her 100^th birthday. I can only hope that the legacy of ending animal testing and our part in ending it will be alive and remembered long after I too am gone.

“You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.”  ― Rosa Parks

For the sake of the animals please do the right thing.

Luv n Wags,

Juno

Juno the Courageous ~2013

As I sat in the car during the long ride I simultaneously dozed and got my ears scritched by Mommy.  We arrived midday in a freezing and blustery parking lot. As I got out of the car I smelled the other dogs right away. But my nose smelled something else too, sadness, overwhelming profound sorrow. As my bandanna was secured around my neck I went to work. In this world there are lots of working dogs and each offers such a valuable part of themselves to their humans, none more important than another as we each serve our own purpose.

As we were buzzed in through the locked doors a small rush of children were suddenly surrounding me. “Oh, she’s so cute.” “Oh pet her ears, they are soooo soft.” “Boy or girl?” ” What’s her name?” “How old is she?” “Why did you name her Juno?” “What do these numbers in her ear mean?” The same questions over and over. Mommy happily answered each one as I sat quietly allowing all of the children to fight their way to see me, pet me, hug me and allow me to heal their tiny wounded hearts. When I woke up this morning I had no idea what an important day it was for me. And as I was petted and scratched and yes even some tail and ear pulling I found out one thing I will never forget. One heart was back for the very first time today. As we shared a special moment and they hugged me tight I felt something almost desperate. I did the only thing I know how to do, submit and be loved. As they left the room an adult pulled Mommy aside. “They have lost someone dear to them and are back today for the first time. You have no idea how therapeutic that moment was they just shared with your dog.” Such a young fragile heart to be broken into so many pieces. Mommy sat on the floor for a  few minutes alone with me, face buried in my soft scruff, digesting what she just heard. Today we learned that not all of our adventures are easy.

We left later in the day as the sun began to set over the mountains with promises to return. The gratitude from all was overwhelming. I wanted to say no no no it is us who are grateful. Thankful that by virtue of our presence we made today just a bit more bearable. We will be back until their hearts are healed and they can get through their days without us. For some we know that there will always be a piece of your heart unable to heal and for those we will just sit and let you love us.

As I sleep soundly I dream of all the children, their squeals of delight over all the dogs. I also dream of a day when we can all be safe and accounted for no matter where we go. And as my dreams fade into the background and I awake slowly I still see the face of a child, the one child I was sent to today, special delivery.

Luv n Wags, 

Juno

Angels Among Us  2012

Max was the first dog to call this his forever home. His story is kinda cool and I think you will want to know. So I’m lending my blog space to Mommy for this story cause she was there from the beginning…..

Luv n Wags, 

Juno

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Exactly as written)

Dear Santa,

You can bring me presants if you wont to but all i really wont is a dog.

Thank you.

From,

Paul

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mom: Paul, what do you want to be when you grow up?

Paul: A dog…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The neighborhood kids have a play-date.

Nick: I am the Dad, Emma is the Mom and Paul who do you want to be?

Paul: The dog…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Imagine for a moment being in a public place and your four year old decided to drop to his knees barking and panting. Curious onlookers smiled, commented, looked away or gave me disapproving stares as my child lay splayed on a public walkway pretending to be a dog. I learned the hard way that by trying to stop him I only encouraged this behavior. So instead I played along, earning more than my share of disapproval from perfect moms and grandmothers everywhere as I stroked his head telling him what a good dog he was. I have to admit that this suspension of belief became so commonplace I did begin to worry, privately of course, that my son was a little off his rocker. But as any good parenting book will tell you, a child, as long as they are safe, should be allowed to explore all of the possibilities their imaginations can dream up. This is the same child who became the class clown and the “project” of his first grade teacher because he managed to get a rise out of her every single day just by being silly. Thankfully his second grade teacher knew his type and the letters home stopped. Throughout his adolescence he never wavered in his desire to have a dog. A buddy and someone to call all his own.

Raising my two boys alone was challenging enough without the added stress of another mouth to feed and take care of. Having dogs growing up I always knew we would adopt one someday, but I had to be ready. I can’t say that I had a date or magical number in mind but I will say that one day  I woke up and said to myself, it’s time for a family dog. In spite of knowing that our family cat, Merlin, would never forgive me I began my secret search. I told no one of my plan except for a friend of mine who I swore to secrecy. As the days stretched into weeks I stopped at every shelter I would come within 10 miles of in my travels. I was greeted with the same question each time. What kind of dog are you looking for? Honestly, I had no idea, but I knew that when I laid eyes in him or her I would know. Call it blind faith but I felt very strongly about it. So my search continued. And then one day I found the Humane Society of Blooming Grove and decided to drive over on my lunch break. As I entered the shelter I was greeted by several volunteers who asked me that age old question. What kind of dog are you looking for? I asked to see the dogs and was ushered into the adjoining room. The moment the door was opened a cacophony of howls ensued. Jumping from every direction, over each other vying for my attention. Oh pick me, pick me they all seemed to howl. It can be overwhelming to say the least. As I made my way through my eyes met his. He sat quietly in spite of the obvious excitement of all the other dogs around him. His eyes drew me in. My first thought was this baby does not belong here, he is so beautiful. As I approached his cage he gingerly and sweetly nuzzled my hand as I attempted to pet him through the chain link fence. It was love at first sight. I knew my gut instincts to let the dog pick me were correct. The volunteer caught up to me and I turned to her and said I want him. She smiled sweetly and said that he was picked up as a stray that morning and policy was to hold him for seven days. My heart sank, I knew he didn’t belong there. They promised me that I was the first to inquire about him and that if he was not claimed in one week that I would be able adopt him. I filled out all the paperwork and was approved before I left the building. I’m pretty sure I drove them mad with my daily phone calls to see if this beauty was claimed yet. Secretly, I wanted them to remember that if no one else claimed him that I wanted him. And then on day six the phone rang, it was a Saturday and I was home with the kids. It was the shelter letting me know that his owners had shown up. My heart sank and I could feel the tears hot behind my eyes. I had so easily fallen in love with him that I already felt he was mine. As I resigned myself to the fact that I would not be bringing him home the voice on the other end of the phone said this. His owners have decided they don’t want him anymore and if you are still interested they want to give him to you. I couldn’t believe it and the tears of sadness suddenly became tears of joy. A friend of mine offered to go pick him up while I prepared the house. Mind you the boys still had no idea that a new family member was about to be introduced. Neither did the cat I’m afraid. And all at once there he was, bounding into the house. I wish I had snapped a photo of the looks on my kids faces as I announced that he was ours. The cat took all of three seconds to let the dog know his place in the house with a well aimed swipe across his nose. Nuf said the dog seemed to say, you’re the boss. In the minutes that followed there were some intense negotiations over who would be holding the leash first and whose dog he really was. Paul was bestowed the honor of first walker and the title of lord and master. As we walked Max to the ball field at the end of the street my heart sung over the life we had saved and at the joy he had already brought us. Once at the ball field Nick announced his turn to walk the dog. Paul  stood, back to me, watching his big brother walk his dog. I noticed his shoulders begin to shake up and down and as I walked over to him I saw that he was crying. When I asked him why he said because it was the happiest day of his life because all he ever wanted was a dog.
As Max settled into his new digs I couldn’t get over what a great dog he was. My friend who picked him up had met Max’s previous owners who filled him on on Max. He was about one and a half years old and unneutered. They were his second owners and didn’t want him anymore because he kept running away. Skinny and still intact I made him an appointment with the vet the day after. There were enough unwanted dogs in the shelters without contributing to the pet overpopulation not to mention Max’s desire to roam. 

Max was with us for over 11 years, in that time he never ran away once. Loyal to a fault he gave Paul what every little boy wants, a trusted friend always there for him. Because of Max I took up hiking again as we explored the beautiful Hudson Valley together. Always ready for an adventure the only thing he loved more that hiking was swimming. Best guess he was a cross between a yellow lab and golden retriever. He was the best dog ever. Two weeks ago I held him in my arms as he crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. His old body had given up on him. I spoke softly to him in his final moments thanking him for giving of himself so selflessly for so many years. For always taking the back seat to his pesky attention hogging canine sisters. Happy to just be noticed we sometimes called him Eeyore .. Thanks for noticing. I forced back my tears as I held him in his final moments, there would be plenty of time to cry later, now was about him and it was my turn to be selfless. We all knew that Max’s days were numbered once his diagnosis was given but we just didn’t know how long we had. Days, weeks, months? Calling Paul in those final hours was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do.  All he ever wanted was dying in my arms and I was powerless to stop it. Powerless to take his pain or Max’s for that matter. I held the phone to Max’s ear as Paul said his goodbyes. Within a minute of Paul doing so Max passed. Only then did I uncheck my emotions. For days I couldn’t sleep. I still go to grab his food bowl at meal time. Old habits die hard I suppose. I will miss his downy soft fur and his dopey old self. We always joked that Max had only two brain cells in his head. But you know what? Those two brain cells were filled with more love and devotion that one could ever imagine. 

Maxy I will always miss you, sweet Muddy Boy! You brought us so much happiness and laughter. I will miss your army crawl on command, your dog hair everywhere, the foghorn dinner bell but mostly I will just miss burying my face in your soft scruff when I’ve had a bad day. Thanks for just being you. I love you. 

If I have made you cry I am sorry. This is cathartic for me, to share the memory of my sweet Max and to honor his life as he deserves it to be. I am honored to have been a part of it and to have been loved by him.

Kate

Note: I am happy to report that as of my last conversation with Paul, now in his senior year at college, he is indeed not a dog but a Computer Science/Information Systems major. So to all the perfect mothers out there who looked down their perfect noses at me and who didn’t allow their perfect kids to be dogs in public, I have tech support for life…nanny nanny poo poo!! 

Max visits Paul at school  for his birthday ~ April 2011 

Ole Muddy Boy after a swim in the lake ~ July 2011

1. I gets to watch Mommy pack the whole world in her car. I watch as she gets it all in and then remembers she forgot something and unpacks the whole world to make more rooms to pack more things.

2. No matter how many things she crams in there she always makes sure that us doggies have luxuries in the back seat. For a smallish doggie I need a lot of room.

3. I get to go places that many doggies don’t including special events that only allow special doggies who also happen to be Ambassadors.

4. Mommy takes me places where I can run up and down the beach for a lot of days making all the peoples we meet laugh and laugh. I know they are laughing with me and not at me…. or wait.

Last week as we packed our whole house into the car and then climbed in early in the morning. We got on the highway and got caught in something called rush hour. I’m not really sure why it’s called rush hour since everyone is going so slow. They may want to call it the dilly dally shuffle? And they say dogs are not very smart.

So there we were, going and stopping and stopping and going until finally we arrived at the ferry. My nose told me that we had been there before and I was on high alert for my tormentors, the ever elusive gullies! Oh they were around, perched high atop the pilings making rude gestures to me… Okay not really rude gestures but maybe just the old stink eye. Mommy says to stop making things up but I swear they were talking about me. Okay fine, they were just ignoring me pretending I wasn’t there but I kept my eye on them just in case. We were lucky to have Nick with us to help to unload the contents of our home onto the ferry. A quick sniff of everything assured me that my noms were not left behind. The ferry man was not impressed with our pile of belongings that practically sank the ship, apparently all Mommy’s pack this way.

On the boat Mommy decided to sit upstairs in the sunshine which meant that I would have to climb a ladder that was about 30 feet high or maybe it was just a steep set of stairs about 6 feet high. Anyway she hoisted me up and I turned to see all the gullies laughing at me. It’s okay I thought to myself, your time will come my gullie “friends”. As we left the dock I made one last quick survey of the gullies who were now sending letters in bottles, no doubt to their cousins who lived on the island warning of my impending arrival. On the ferry we were whisked out to sea with the sun and the wind on our faces. Just as I closed my eyes taking in the fresh sea air and warmth on my face the ferry slowed to a crawl. We were greeted by a small contingent of adoring fans, well wishers and groupies…. or maybe they were there to meet the other people getting off the ferry. An Ambassador can never be sure.

The next week was filled with adventure of chasing gullies, eating noms and getting lots of extra attention from all the cousins who came to see me. Or maybe they came to chase gullies too. Either way they helped me a lot. Some things I learned this year. Gullies are too fast and even though I had a 30 foot rope it was just not long enough. (Note to Mommy: please order the 500 foot rope for next year) Getting covered by a wave isn’t so bad when you’re chasing gullies, otherwise it stinks. When you don’t want to follow Mommy anymore just flop over in the sand, belly side up. You may get dragged a few feet until Mommy realizes something is wrong but then everyone stops and waits for you! Bonus. If you drop your cookie in the sand it is never the same. (I said that last year but wanted you to know that nothing has changed.) Thunder-boomers follow you to bacation and they are just as scary and loud. Butterflies who make their migration each year past our little island are fun to chase too. Although Mommy made mad eyes at me for almost catching one. Never pass up the opportunity to make new friends on the beach. Raven is very good at this, thinking that she can run willy nilly all over the place making new friends. I do not have time for such frivolity, there is work to be done on the beach. Everybodies leaves their flip flops on the top of the stairs by the beach. If I had pockets I would have taken some home with me, but at the beach I am much to busy for flip flops.

While I will never ever tire of chasing gullies and butterflies on the beach or trying to eat jellies who wash up on shore there is one thing I can tell you for sure. There’s no place like home. 

Until next bacation….

Luv n Wags,

Juno

Juno chasin gullies  - September 2012

1. New Jersey is very long and sometimes fast and then other times, most times actually very slow.

2. If you take a short nap or maybe even blink you will miss Delaware completely.

3. Washington DC doesn’t have a sign that says hey Juno welcome! But that never stopped a smallish beagle from taking the town by storm.

After many hours we arrived to the hottest day of the year, 104 degrees on the thermometer in the car. I think I bringed the wavey heats, but maybe someone else did. All things considered I understand I left New York just in the nick of time to avoid cannonballs falling from the sky and shaking the windows. I consider myself very lucky in that regard.

As luck would have it everybody in the hotel loves me. After parking the car and trying to drag all our stuff from the parking garage up to our room we were stopped about two thousand or maybe three or four times by people who wanted to say hello. They all had to leave their doggie and kitties home so they have to borrow me so they can have some dog hair on their clothes. I’m proud to tell you that I was not even as far as the lobby when I was stopped for the first time by some wonderful new friends from the Humane Society of the United States. Oh, they said can we say hello? Oh of course you can! Belly rubs followed. Within 24 hours there was no where in this big hotel I couldn’t go where people would either stop to say hello or shout out as they passed… Oh look it’s Juno!

I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Humane Society University party where the director and my new friend Stephanie decided that I would make a great adjunct professor to help teach humane education to middle school kids. I signed on right away because I know how important it is to help teach today’s kids about not only compassion towards laboratory animals but kindness to all living breathing creatures. What an honor to be asked to do something that important. I never knew I wanted to be a professor but now that I think about it I just might be pretty good at it. Anything I can do to further the cause I always say. I hope it comes with a hat.

My first day in the exhibition hall as a very busy one and I got belly rubs from so many people it sometimes was a blur. So many wonderful people who miss their own pets stop by for some free pets and leave with a hole in their hearts because I have taught them something they didn’t know before. I encourage them to not be sad but to work with me to make a difference because together is how we get things done. I was able to attend a lecture about animal experimentation and met some wonderful people who are working hard on the Great Ape Protection and Cost Saving Act. 

On Saturday night I met a very special new friend during the banquet dinner. California Congressman Sam Farr who not only is an animal lover but is co-sponsor of the Puppy Uniform Protection Stature also known as the PUPS Bill - legislation that would close a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act that allows thousands of large, commercial dog breeders who sell on the internet to escape licensing and regulations. He is also a co-sponsor of the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act to help end chimpanzee experimentation.  As co-sponsored the bill to ban Animal Crush videos he was honored by the Humane Society in 2009 for his all his good works helping the animals. He asked me to sit on his lap for a photo and didn’t even mind that I got dog hair all over his suit. He kissed me and told me what a good girl I am and to keep up the good work because mostly it takes just one person or Spokes-beagle to start a movement. Thank you Congressman Farr for your good works and your words of encouragement. It’s good to know the animals have a friend here on Capitol Hill.

Today is my last day here in our Nations Capitol and while it’s been a whirlwind trip and so exhausting I know that tonight as we drive home I will sleep soundly in the back seat knowing that I have done a good job yet a little sad for all of  my fellow creatures young and old, big and small still locked away known only by their federal id tattoo. I do this for all of you so that some day you can sleep soundly in the safety of the loving arms of a family.

Luv n Wags,

Juno

Juno with Congressman Sam Farr – TAFA 2012

 Once in a while it does my beagle heart good to see that as small as we may occasionally feel sometimes when we put our voices together we can achieve something wonderful and important. Today, friends is one of those days. To those who feel hopeless or wonder how they themselves can make a difference in the world for a laboratory animal when they feel their voice not heard listen closely cause the beagle has something to say. We did it, we did it!!! You did it and they did it and your friends may have done it to. We put our voices together and we were heard. On behalf of all of the animals, thank you for your commitment. I hope you know how important you are to me and all the other laboratory animals. Today we will quietly celebrate this victory but we will hold back the zoomies until all laboratory animals go home. 

And that my friends is how we get things done.

Luv n Wags,

Juno

Juno – “Get er Done “- July 2012

As the minutes ticked until the bell rang the girls bathroom at the high school was no different than any other. More a social than functional place filled with girls crowding the mirrors fixing  lip gloss and chattering loudly mostly about boys and clothes. She picked the stall furthest from the door and waited. The crowd slowly thinned and the room became still. The ringing in her ears and rapid heartbeat a signal that this time cutting class was not for the usual reason, going to the mall. This time it was for ethical reasons. Always a bit of a rebel, a self proclaimed tough girl who never let anyone or anything get to her, at least on the outside. Show me a teenage girl who doesn’t, in her own private thoughts, have doubts about herself and I will give up cookies forever. I would like to tell you that there was a bit commotion with sirens and fireworks but alas nothing. The 45 minutes ticked by incredibly slowly as her legs began to ache from her perch on the toilet to keep her feet off the floor and away from the possibility of a truant sweep through the bathroom. Occasionally someone would enter the bathroom. Almost certain they could hear her labored breathing from the next stall and her cover would be blown she held her breath only exhaling as the sound of their footsteps would retreat down the hallway. As the period came to an end and the hallways and bathroom once again were filled with students she emerged from her hiding spot to make her way to her next class. Never telling another soul for fear of ridicule. For being “afraid” to dissect a frog.

When her biology teacher inquired as to her absence she mumbled a vague wasn’t feeling well reply. She was told she would have to make up the lab to which she only nodded slightly. She kept a low profile for the rest of the year, sneaking past her biology teacher coming and going. Hoping that she would forget the whole thing. Some people don’t believe prayers work but she knew otherwise because as the year came to a close there was never again mention of the missing lab. Only after her final exam and subsequent report card and a B in bio was she able to breath again.

After graduation and acceptance to a large metropolitan art school she vowed to never ever take biology again. Of course we know that in order to graduate even with an art degree one must take biology. Full of anxiety the first day of class she approached her professor and meekly asked if they would be dissecting anything that semester. He could clearly see her wariness and assured her that in his biological science class there would be no dissection. The weight that lifted from her shoulders that day was like getting a new lease on life as she knew at that moment that she would be able to finish school. From graduation to work to kids to adopting a cat to adopting first one dog then another and then to rescue a smallish laboratory beagle and naming her Juno. Thank you Mommy for taking a stand even though you didn’t realize it at the time.

Luv n Wags,

Juno

Mommy n Me – 2011

For some practical information about public and private school policies and the laws in some states that do not require a child to participate in any type of animal dissection please visit

The New England Anti Vivisection Society

A. They are delicious!

B. They are made with all natural ingredients. Nothing artificial and no refined sugars!

C. They are locally made in by Micki herself in Scituate Ma.

D. Mama Micki’s makes vegan and non-vegan cookies.

E. They also make doggie cookies of several varieties… ~faint~

Mama Micki had always dreamed of opening her own bakery. One day, when her sons were teenagers her husband said to her,  “you never opened that bakery – it’s time”. That was about 10 years ago. She opened it and loved it. Then, about 5 years ago life events forced Micki to close her business. Over the years Micki had been steadily losing her hearing and the time had come for a cochlear implant in an attempt to restore her hearing. During this difficult time her Mom had also become ill and it was up to Micki to care for her. And then one day she suddenly had what she called her “mid-life epiphany”! Being tired and overweight and feeling terribly unhealthy all of the time Micki realized that she just wasn’t taking good care of herself.This ah ha moment for her helped her to change her diet and give up refined sugars and all artificial ingredients. And while the implants did nothing to help her hearing about three weeks after switching her diet something amazing began to happen. Her hearing began to improve dramatically. We’ve all heard the saying, you are what you eat and here is living proof that switching up your diet can have a huge impact on your overall well being. Since that time Micki has committed herself to a new lifestyle and about one year ago was able to reopen Mama Micki’s an all natural and organic bakery. The bakery offers both vegan and non vegan choices and since Micki does all of the baking herself you can be assured that vegan and non-vegan cookies are baked on different days assuring no cross contamination with animal ingredients. The vegan cookies are certified by Vegan Action. On a typical day Micki can bake up to 40 dozen cookies. She is a hands on owner and does most of the work herself from the baking to packaging, label making and sealing. She also conducts her experimental new recipes in her kitchen with her husband and their doggie. (Did I mention that Micki also makes doggie cookies? ~faint~)

Micki’s strong commitment to her own wellbeing has spilled over into her bakery as her philosophy is that chemicals and additives have no place in our food system. Her products are all baked with only the finest ingredients free from harmful chemicals, pesticides, GMO’s (Genetically modified organisms) or preservatives. In fact Mama Micki’s has applied for their organic certification with the hopes of gaining that approval by the end of summer 2012.

Mama Micki’s All Natural Bakery also believes in giving back. Most recently they participated in the Fishkill Cares for Cats event donating a basket full of cookies! During World Laboratory Animal Liberation Week Mama Micki’s offered my friends a 10% discount and also included a 10% sponsorship to the Juno Humane Education Program which helps to offset my expenses as I travel to help educate people about animal testing and the small steps each of us can make to help bring about an end to this inhumane practice. With all that said I think this smallish doggie can safely say that biting into a Mama Micki cookie just might be the highlight of your day! Good for you, your family and the Juno Humane Education Program. Thank you Micki for loving the animals that much.

Luv n Wags,

Juno

 Mama Micki in her kitchen – April 2012

– Professor Charles R. Magel (1980)

Good morning compassionate friends. As the sun rises on the final day of World Laboratory Animal Liberation Week I ask you to take a few moments to consider those animals who awoke this morning with nothing more to look forward to than the peace of not being subjected to testing today, a Sunday. To please consider them and what they endure for the sake of mankind. As we move forward let us not let a day go by without keeping those animals on our minds. Remember, above all, to keep them close to the heart when you shop and donate to charity. Change happens when we all decide collectively that enough is enough. As this week of awareness ends know that my advocacy will not. My wish is for all animals to be free and loved especially those like me. I thank you all for your never ending support and encouragement. You are all the reason we hold hope within. For now I work towards the day when animal testing is nothing more than a distant memory.

Luv n Wags, 

Juno

Belly rub time for Juno – April 2012