Tuesday 29 November 2011

IFAW: Buried alive; help give this crippled dog a second chance


Our Mdzananda clinic in South Africa has just rescued a dog from a shocking instance of cruelty.

The veterinarian at our clinic received a frantic call that two school caretaker were burying a dog alive. Our vet and a caregiver rushed to the scene and demanded that the janitors unearth the dog.

After digging down three feet, they uncovered the dog. Amazingly she was still alive, but barely breathing (the photograph below shows her moments after she was unearthed) ...


Can you imagine how frightened this poor pup must have felt?

Our team rushed the injured dog to the clinic and began treating her immediately.

They named her “Warrior” because of the spirit she showed in fighting to stay alive. I’m thrilled to report that she did indeed survive, but her recovery will be long and difficult. Her rear legs are partially paralyzed and she needs specialised treatment and a fitted harness to get around.



Please donate here:  IFAW: HELP FOR WARRIOR

Saturday 26 November 2011

Woody's rescue ...











This is Woody, he was found in the woods - hungry, hurt, damaged and alone. Luckily he was found, his fur was so matted it had to be shaved off, his injuries were stitched, he was given a warm bed and is now receiving lots of love. He is neurologically damaged and has cataracts yet he still knows how to purr. The lady who found him will take him home once he has recovered as far as he is able. This is why we need the RSPCA and other animal shelters. Please consider donating to rescue cats (and other animals) who need our help ...

Tuesday 22 November 2011

BAN THE TIGER TRADE


It’s now one full year since the International Tiger Forum in St Petersburg. At that event, many countries came together and committed to doubling wild tiger numbers by 2022. China was one of those countries
 
We now understand that China is allowing the trade in skins from ‘farmed’ tigers

This trade is the perfect ‘smokescreen’ for the poachers who kill wild tigers. The poachers can now go about their business knowing that, if apprehended with skins and other products, they can hide behind the potential confusion of whether it is a ‘farmed’ skin. Allowing this trade is totally at odds with the commitments made by Wen Jiabao (Chinese Premier) at the Tiger Forum in 2010.

Please sign the petition here:  TIGER TIME

Troy Quarry, Valley of Stone, Haslingden Grane ....

Sunday 20 November 2011

Bury Photographic Society

My submissions for the November DPI (digital projected image) contest:

End of the Road - 18/20



Mawddach Panorama - 17/20
Anlaf's Hill Pasture - 12/20

Unfortunately the judge didn't "understand" the last image - I guess textures are a no-no!  The photo was taken on Anglezarke Moor, which the title refers to.  See more info here:  Anglezarke

Thursday 17 November 2011

Tuesday 8 November 2011

Write up - Dunham Massey Park, Cheshire - Bolton DPS mini day out

Early-ish on Sunday morning (6 November) three club members - Eadaoin Flynn, Sue 
Berry and Stephen Dutch - gathered outside Stephen's flat in Bolton for the 
drive to Dunham Massey, which is a National Trust property near Altrincham. As 
it was a sunny Sunday - probably one of the last this year - the car park was 
already filling up by the time we got there - and Stephen's car had developed an 
interesting rattling noise.

Entry to the house and gardens is pricey - around £10 - but admission to the 
general grounds and deer park can be had for just the price of car parking, 
which was £5.

We started by investigating the sounds of what seemed like a minor riot by the 
moat. It turned out to be some geese, swans and seagulls getting way too excited 
by the arrival of lots of small children (also way too excited) with vast 
amounts of stale bread. The ensuing activity provided lots of opportunities to 
capture shots of the birds flying, hissing and jumping in and out of the water.
 


When we'd finished watching the birds, Stephen was ready to head off away from 
the crowds in search of some deer, but Eadaoin and Sue, remembering that an army 
marches best on a full stomach, decided to check out the restaurant before 
heading any further. The food was good, but pricey and the restaurant was very 
crowded. Once refreshed, more photos were taken, mainly of foliage, fungi and 
the odd swan, the deer proving somewhat elusive. We also had a bit of a chat 
with a Ray Mears lookalike park ranger, who sadly did not invite us back to his 
handmade shelter for a tasty meal of fungi and worms..... 
 


Once our powers of concentration returned we did manage to get some shots of a 
stag with one antler, despite him deciding to sit down in the long grass at a 
crucial moment. We later we got some shots of more deer with a fully-antlered 
stag, although these were further in the undergrowth of the deer sanctuary (from 
which visitors are currently banned, it being the rutting season). Stephen 
didn't mention meeting any Ray Mears lookalikes (or their female equivalents) 
but he was luckier in encountering the deer and got some excellent close-up 
shots.
 


When we'd exhausted the photo opportunities, and ourselves (the park is large, 
but thankfully it is also fairly flat) we met up at the gate for the trip home. 
Interestingly cars were continuing to flow steadily into the car park even 
though the park was only open for another half an hour or so. Dunham Massey is 
clearly not the place for a quiet weekend stroll if you're the solitary type.
 


Despite some further rattling noises from Stephen's car we made it back to 
Bolton safely before dark ready for a long night of photo editing.
 
Write up by Eadaoin Flynn
More photos on FLICKR 

Wednesday 2 November 2011