Maria Daines: NEWS

KESTANE OUR CD COVER GIRL ARRIVES IN UK!! - January 10, 2012

Sharing the wonderful news that Kestane & Bella are now enjoying their happy new lives in UK -

AMAZING & INSPIRATIONAL - A MUST SEE!! - January 10, 2012

Best Speech You Will Ever Hear - Gary Yourofsky

DOWNLOAD A MINORITY PASTIME THEME SONG - December 28, 2011

Theme song for award winning documentary film 'A Minority Pastime'

Please download & share and help to keep the ban on hunting with dogs.

Download links -

http://soundcloud.com/maria-daines/a-minority-pastime
http://www.maria-daines.com/music-104.html

A Minority Pastime Extended Trailer from Minority Pastime on Vimeo.

‘For anyone who loves animals this film is a ‘must see’. It takes an objective look into the cruel world of fox hunting and the people who continue to break the law in order to satisfy their lust for animal blood. A real eye opener. You owe it to yourself and to wildlife to see this powerful film.’
Michael Groth, Producer/Presenter the AM Show.

Petition link - http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/4894

Background information -

When Slad Valley resident Nisa Ward witnessed a deer torn apart by out-of-control hunting hounds her life changed forever. As a child lost in the woods of a grim fairy tale she unearths a shocking world of cruelty, violence and fear. This film follows her journey of discovery as she tries to understand why the right to hunt and kill animals for sport is so important to a small, but very powerful, group of English people.

A MINORITY PASTIME WEBSITE

THE LAUNCH OF 'MY SONG IN A MILLION' !! - October 10, 2011

Hi all,

The new song commissions website is finally up & running & many thanks to Janice for creating the art work & Bill for helping us to get the whole idea off the ground!

To visit the website either click the banner above or go to the link below -

www.mysonginamillion.com

Best wishes,
Maria & Paul xx

DUBLIN CITY FM INTERVIEW - OFFBEAT RADIO - July 19, 2011

Dear all,

I was interviewed by fabulous musician and radio presenter Karishmeh Felfeli on her Offbeat Radio show on Dublin City FM recently and the archive stream is available to listen to on the links below -

http://www.karishmeh.com/offbeatmusicplayer.html
http://www.offbeatradio.blogspot.com/

A huge thanks to Karishmeh for giving me the opportunity to talk about our music and discuss the issues behind some of the songs.

You can also find out more about Karishmeh's work on by clicking the banner or link below -

http://animaltalkies.blogspot.com/

Maria & Paul xx

GIVE ALFIE A CHANCE, SPEAK UP FOR STAFFIES, UK!! - July 4, 2011

AMERICA, SAVE YOUR WILD HORSES!! - July 2, 2011

http://WildHorseEducation.org

ROMANIA MASS KILLING OF DOGS IN SHELTERS!! - May 22, 2011

ROMANIA, you MUST STOP THIS KILLING!!

The WORLD IS WATCHING...

http://youtu.be/4Kkg1SeaNA0

Please register your voice against these atrocities on every petition you can find, starting with reading more via Serbian Animals Voice website, here -

http://tinyurl.com/3rxfnzx

And sign the petition at Four Paws here -

https://www.secureconnect.at/4paws.org.uk/protest/110407/index.php

Please make your VOICE heard for these innocent dependent animals, they only have us to speak up for them and this depraved, inhumane and cruel treatment of unwanted dogs must stop, this is 2011, enough is enough!

K9 PROJECT CAMBRIDGESHIRE NEW VIDEO - May 16, 2011

Dear all,

Please share the great work of the K9 Project in Cambridgeshire, a wonderful group of young people leading the way and making a difference in their community. We had a brilliant time with the K9 Crew last year when they recorded their song 'One Dog One Life' which you can hear and support via the video and links below -

Website and TV clip -

www.k9project.co.uk

K9 Project on Anglia TV -

http://www.itv.com/anglia/k9-project56839/

Press release -

K9 Crew sings One Dog One Life.

The K9 Crew are a group of young people from East Cambridgeshire, UK, who are regularly involved in projects and activities with the K9 Project.

The K9 Project works with dogs and the young people who attend our project all like dogs. They like dogs a lot! They have been involved in fund raising activities and they are currently raising money for Canine Partners and Nowzad dogs. Recently they have taken part in activities like sponsored dog walks, charity market stalls and cake sales at schools. This time they decided to do something different and write a song to celebrate the relationship between dogs and man, as well as to highlight the large numbers of dogs who are abandoned in this country. This was quite a brave step as none of the young people had ever sung in front of anyone else before and they had certainly not made a record! The young people wrote the lyrics after watching films about Nowzad Dogs, assistance dogs, and abandoned dogs. Maria and Paul composed and arranged the music and Maria sung along with the group.

Proceeds from the song (released on CD with 4 page booklet) will be donated to Nowzad Dogs and Canine Partners and an online download will also be available.

This project and the completed song was made possible by the East Cambridgeshire Community Development Fund, wonderful support, guidance and creativity from Maria Daines and Paul Killington, support from the young peoples' school - Witchford Village College, and the K9 project staff and dogs - Kevin, Chris, Ruby, Taz, Billy, Cassie, Buck and Izzy!

To purchase a copy of the CD please visit these links -

http://www.justgiving.com/chris-kent

http://iacmusic.com/artist.aspx?id=146364

'One Dog One Life' available on CD, cover art above.

CHINA CRISIS FOR GREYHOUNDS - VOICES NEEDED WORLD WIDE!! - May 14, 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybWtQxfUDCg

Please share far & wide -

For information on how you can help protect greyhounds from being sent to China (from any country) please read the editorial from South West Animal Protection and visit the links on campaign websites, below, where resources can be found online to add your voice to this campaign -

Many of you will now know that the Department of Agriculture in Ireland have dropped their plans to export Irish greyhounds to China for racing due to the overwhelming response in protest from campaigners, animal welfare groups and animal lovers across the world. Well done to everyone for achieving this, thank you, however this vital campaign is far from over as the Irish Greyhound Board are now insisting that they will help the Chinese set up 5 greyhound stadiums in China, which we are deeply concerned about so more URGENT lobbying to the authorities is needed now to stop this.

Please see this more recent article about this new proposal -

IRISH TIMES

And further info here -

THE DOGS WHO RUN FOR THEIR LIVES

The fact that the department of Agriculture has refused to allow the export of Irish greyhounds to China shows their own concern for these dogs, however their own concerns must still be upheld with any new proposal from the Irish Greyhound Board to promote racing in China with the building of 5 new stadiums, as the grim fate of these dogs in a country with no animal welfare laws is a MASSIVE concern, no matter where these greyhounds come from! Many dogs in China are skinned alive for their meat/fur and human consumption. We cannot allow the Irish Greyhound Board to continue their plans promoting animal abuse in other parts of the world.

We cannot emphasize the importance of everyone all over the globe continuing to campaign for these poor greyhounds who have no voice of their own! This campaign as already stated is not over, it must be stronger than ever and pressure must be given to those people that make the decisions to not allow it to happen.

Links -

http://www.aran.ie/

http://www.greytexploitations.com/

http://ameurogreyhoundalliance.org/ireland-china-greyhound-export/

http://www.greyhoundcompassion.com/news-144.htm

With grateful thanks to all the fantastic greyhound friends and advocates who offered photographs for inclusion in this video and huge thanks to the celebrities who are giving their time and voices to greyhounds at risk from the proposal to launch stadium dog racing in China.

RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES... - May 9, 2011

I'm a dog like any other. I once raced at this track in Henlow, Bedfordshire. Today I went back there with my human companions, but not to race and not to be used as a means to make money. I'm one of the lucky ones and I stood proud for all my greyhound buddy's who are being raced to death.

Greyhound Action Blog

The RSPCA believes: "at least 20 greyhounds a day - either puppies which do not make the track, or 'retired' dogs aged three or four - simply 'disappear', presumed killed."

A ROYAL WEEKEND AT SCOOBY!! - May 9, 2011

Greyhound Compassion Volunteers Spend A Royal Weekend At Scooby!

Over the Royal Wedding weekend, seven Greyhound Compassion volunteers descended upon the Scooby shelter to lend a hand with building and repair jobs as well as cleaning out the dogs, preparing food, feeding and assisting the vet. In between jobs, we enjoyed catching glimpses of the Royal Wedding in London – but our sun hats didn’t quite match the occasion!

Trevor and Keith managed to overcome the Spanish/Portuguese language barrier and worked with the visiting Brazilian builders to erect some isolation kennels which will be used to house the dogs in the days immediately before they are transported to homes or home finders in mainland northern Europe. Over the last 5 weeks, 100 dogs have been transported to new homes in Europe. One such transport left for France and Italy on the Friday as we arrived.

The ladies in the group spent time cleaning out the dogs and preparing bin loads of food for them. Scooby had received a mountain of donated sachets of food and we spent hours opening these into food bins. We were joined around the bins by American volunteers from Scooby North America and exchanged ideas and news with them about the international greyhound movement. Uppermost on our minds was the prospect of the export of Irish greyhounds to China. We all came home to the news that the Irish government has shelved its intention to export greyhounds in favour of managing stadia in China instead. We still need to be vigilant while the potential for racing in China exists.

Thanks to the Americans, 5 galgos left Scooby that weekend for homes in the USA – we wanted to swap places with “Bless”, the galgo destined for California.

During our trip, we were joined by a team of 4 Dutch volunteers who pitched in with the hard graft of regular duties such as cleaning and feeding.

In between jobs, we spent time with the nervous dogs trying to develop their confidence or we helped the vet in the on-site surgery. He did a sterling job with the materials available to him. This is the perpetual challenge facing Scooby. The shelter is constantly battling against adversity in animal welfare and always stretching its limited means to do the best it can.

To support Scooby animals please visit the website, here -

http://www.scoobymedina.org/

And to support Greyhound Compassion, click here -

http://www.greyhoundcompassion.com/

SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE MY GUITAR IS A WEAPON - May 3, 2011

Paul Killington
2010

Photograph by Martin Bond

Dear all,

Please read the excellent editorial by Bonnie Snider, US National Animal Advocacy Examiner, on the link below.

Bonnie speaks up for animal rights and welfare around the world, writing enlightening and encouraging testimonies as to why the end of abuse of sentient creatures is vital. Bonnie has been a supporter of our music for many years and in this piece she reflects on Paul's belief that music can be a useful tool in the movement to make life humane for the voiceless.

http://tinyurl.com/3nzfarq

NATIONAL ANIMAL ADVOCACY EXAMINER

Many thanks to Bonnie

Best wishes
Maria xx

GUILTY 'TIL PROVEN INNOCENT - April 21, 2011

The "Fear" Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFluwBz9ICo

Dear all,

Winter 2011 will see the release of a new film documenting the plight of Pit Bulls in Ohio, USA and will feature some of our music.

Please share the links to support this bold presentation which will highlight the issues surrounding dogs condemned because of their physical appearance.

Thank you xx

Website -
www.GuiltyTilProvenInnocentDoc.com

Facebook -
http://tinyurl.com/3w3xhtm

WORLD STRAY ANIMALS DAY - April 2, 2011

Our thanks to Avril Simms and friends of Turkey's Strays/Forest Dog rescue for providing this photograph of Kestane (Chestnut). Kestane is very young and suffering from severe mange but she is getting better with treatment from funds raised in the UK for her care. Kestane's confidence is growing and she is much loved by those who feed her twice daily and she has also been spayed...but Kestane is still a stray so she will never really be safe.

Turkey's Strays/Forest Dogs

A Song to Commemorate April 4
World Stray Animals Day

The Day for Compassion, care...
And Action for Stray Animals Worldwide

STRAY ANIMALS DAY WEBSITE

STRAY ANIMALS DAY ON FACEBOOK

'STRAY'

When I was just a little girl
I cared for anything left lonely
Birds n' rabbits, cats n' dogs
Anything without a home, see
I could never walk on by
I knew I'd only sit and cry
If I could help I knew I would
Turn something bad into good

Cos if they're stray there's gotta be a way
Helpless here n' helpless there
We gotta find a place for you to stay
Cos if they're stray, they'll need help some day
N' loving arms gotta come their way
If they're stray, they'll need help some day.

Something told me right from wrong
That gentle souls must find a home
Any creature on its own, should never be left out alone
See someone's got to bring them back
Someone's got to think of that
Anyone can play their part
And save a precious beating heart

Cos if they're stray there's gotta be a way
Helpless here n' helpless there
We gotta find a place for you to stay
Cos if they're stray, they'll need help some day
N' loving arms gotta come their way
If they're stray, they'll need help some day.

I don't wanna be the one to tell you you got nowhere to go
People tell me all the time this world is on a slippery slope
Things are getting worse but there's nothing worse than life without hope
Take the world by storm and make a life for some sweet lost precious soul

Cos if they're stray there's gotta be a way
Helpless here n' helpless there
We gotta find a place for you to stay
Cos if they're stray, they'll need help some day
N' loving arms gotta come their way
If they're stray, they'll need help some day.

© Maria Daines/Paul Killington
All Rights Reserved
(mcps) ASCAP
21.01.11

ABUSE OF ELDERLY CIRCUS ELEPHANT ANNE, UK - March 26, 2011

Dear all,

Please be a voice for Anne, an elderly elephant suffering extreme abuse in a circus in the UK.

Please read the Daily Mail editorial and sign the petition. Anne is shackled and has painful arthritis in her leg, the sad and pitiful life she is leading cannot be considered acceptable in a civilised society.

No animal should be kept a prisoner or suffer abuse for the entertainment of human beings.

Warning: Distressing images of animal abuse -

Daily Mail editorial -

Anne's agony: Battered, kicked and stabbed, the desperate plight of Britain's last circus elephant

http://tinyurl.com/64hg3ew

The Telegraph -

Abuse of Britain's last circus elephant caught on camera

http://tinyurl.com/6xywkwy

Petition link -

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/free-annie-the-asian-elephant/

ADI - Animal Defenders International, website -

http://www.ad-international.org/adi_world/

To help stop this abuse please write to -

Lord Henley (Minister responsible for Animal Welfare)
House of Lords,
London, SW1A 0PW
Tel: 020 7219 3108
Email - henleyo@parliament.uk

And write to your MP asking for support for EDM 403 which would ban wild animals performing in the circus.

Your voice counts!!

URGENT APPEAL TO RESCUE BILI THE CHIMP - March 21, 2011

URGENT APPEAL !!

This is Bili a 30+ male chimpanzee.

Bili has spent the majority of his life alone in captivity in Western Europe. We can give him a more fulfilled life here at our sanctuary with the company of his own kind.

To be able to rescue Bili we need donations ASAP!

Please join us in this rescue, just look at Bili's picture, we know we can turn him into a happy chimpanzee just like the others at Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary.

Please help us to help Bili, please share our website and donation point.

Thank you xx

Donations can be made via paypal here :

http://www.ape-monkey-rescue.org.uk/payments.html

Website :

http://www.ape-monkey-rescue.org.uk/

Facebook :

http://www.facebook.com/walesapeandmonkeysanctuary

ROMANIA IN THE WORLD, STRAY DOGS - November 23, 2010

An important TV debate regarding the barbaric treatment of stray dogs in Romania, please view and share, thank you -

To help, please visit -

http://www.romaniaanimalrescue.org/

Thank you xx

A SONG TO REMEMBER JOLLITY FARM - November 14, 2010

A tribute song to show our grateful thanks for the compassionate work of Mary Alice and Chris Pollard (pictured above) and remembering always the wonderful safe haven of peace they created for the rescue animals of Jollity Farm.

You can listen to the song on this link -

http://www.maria-daines.com/music-112.html

Jollity Farm - Febuary 20th 1997 to January 20th 2010

We will always treasure fond memories of our visits to Jollity Farm in Gerrans, Cornwall. Jollity was home to over 40 rescue animals, from chickens, turkeys, ponies, ducks, sheep and goats, even tortoises were kept safe, well fed and loved by the kind hands of Mary Alice and Chris.

Since Jollity Farm closed due to the demands of developers earlier this year, I have wanted to express how I felt about the loss of this special little place of green and comforting beauty and peace. I know Mary and Chris were heartbroken. Can you imagine, over 10 years of your life and work gone in an instant. All the animals were found the best forever homes possible, but still it was wrong that progress gobbled up a small sanctuary and cast it to the wayside. Later we learned that it was all for nothing, the developers didn't actually want or need the land that Jollity stood on. That was the final cut. Yet Mary and Chris, ever determined to do what they can to help animals at risk and in need, created a new, tiny sanctuary in a field nearby and they are still saving lives and giving their fur and feathered friends a life of happiness and care in a small peaceful corner of Gerrans now known as The Jollity Meadow.

Paul and I wanted to make something beautiful out of the sad story of the loss of Jollity Farm and so we wrote this song as a gift to Mary and Chris. We hope they will know how much we wish things had been different and through this song share our feelings, because there was no other place like Jollity and a little piece of our hearts will always be there.

The true spirit of Jollity remains and it is rebuilt, smaller but just as safe and peaceful for those animals that need a home and those that nobody else can save.

JOLLITY FARM

I been tryin' to write this song, too long
Feels like breakin' an arm
Something's stirrin' in my heart, long gone
I'm goin' home, to my Jollity Farm

Someone took away my home, hard as stone
Cut me to the bone
Now I wander in the blue, because of you
I never felt so alone

Some folks fall n' some folks cry
You'll see hardship in their eyes
They'll stand tall to do what's right
Some give up n' some give in
And I know just where you been
Your gentle heart will bear the fight

I saw Alfy in my dreams, sweet dreams
Never saw love so true
I know heaven ain't so far, too far
For someone good as you

People hurt n' people change, not you
Your love stays the same
If I'm comin' home today, well it ain't far
I'm comin' home, to my Jollity Farm

Progress swept away your land, good land
Cast those wicked deeds
Broke your hearts n' wrecked your plans, oh man
Blew away the seeds

But I know you are fightin' still, you always will
Keepin' life from harm
You put that flag back on the hill, yeah you rebuilt
Yeah you rebuilt, our Jollity Farm...

© Maria Daines/Paul Killington
All Rights Reserved
(mcps) ASCAP
9.10.10

Mary Alice and Alfy

Photographs on this page courtesy of Justnice Photos

www.justnicephotos.com

LENNOX IS STILL WAITING TO COME HOME - November 13, 2010

This is a recent photograph of poor Lennox in solitary confinement, taken from his home and those who love him, simply because Belfast City Council Dog Control Dept say he resembles a pit bull 'type'.

Please share the Lennox campaign links and help to save an innocent dog's life!

A one hour radio broadcast aired Sat 13th November on Offbeat Radio, Dublin City 103.2 FM

http://www.offbeatradio.blogspot.com/

If you missed the show you can hear it again on the podcast player link below. Karishmeh tells Lennox's heartbreaking story and speaks out passionately against BSL -

http://www.karishmeh.com/offbeatmusicplayer.html

Start a Petition »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOrM7hVk6ts
Website -

http://www.savelennox.co.uk/

Petition -

http://www.petitiononline.com/sl190510/petition.html

Facebook group -

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Lennox/125005200853097

Twitter -

http://twitter.com/SaveLennox

Breed Specific Legislation as part of the Dangerous Dogs Act, is unfair, unworkable and it harms innocent family dogs. When a law is flawed it must be changed.

Help to save a life, say NO to BSL!!

EVERY VOICE COUNTS!!

SIMON COWELL SPEAKS UP FOR ANIMALS!! - November 9, 2010

Well done to Simon Cowell for speaking up for animals!!

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, A PIT BULL'S TALE... - November 6, 2010

We can send rockets to the moon, yet our species thinks it is ok to ban and destroy dogs of a certain shape?

Wake up to the disaster of BSL and please be a voice against this cruel and unfair law.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFUe2caxPmo

STAFFIE RESCUE, UK - October 21, 2010

STAFFIE RESCUE, UK

Please share -

http://www.staffierescue.co.uk/

VIDEO FROM WAD AMBASSADOR IN FRANCE - October 12, 2010

Sharing for Anouk

ASPASG WEBSITE -

https://sites.google.com/site/apasgilles/

Une visite parmi les protégés du refuge APASG de Saint-Gilles dans le Gard, pour remettre les dons des Facebookiens lors de World Animal Day-Journée Mondiale des Animaux. Le refuge garde ses pensionnaires âgés, tous les dons et aides sont les bienvenus, ainsi que les adoptions de pensionnaires doyens. Ce fut un bonheur de rencontrer des personnes admirables telles qu'Andrée Mulatierri et les bénévoles du refuge qui est un exemple de transparence et d'harmonie où les chiens arrivent de partout, abandonnés, laissés pour compte, blessés, malades et reçoivent tant d'amour qu'on ne peut que se sentir humble face au travail accompli.

♥ Sur les chansons de Maria Daines et Paul Killington, dédiées aux chiens torturés, abandonnés, tués.

A tour of the shelter APASG in the Dpt Gard - south of France. It has been an honour to pass on the donations that the members of the Facebook group World Animal Day France had collected to help Andrée Mulatierri in charge of the shelter, as to offer the elderly dogs a little more comfort. Most dogs are elderly, an awesome chain of compassion has formed on Facebook as to raise awareness about adopting elderly dogs, finding famillies to foster or to adopt them. Most dogs arrive at the shelter in pretty bad shape, sick or been tortured. André Mulatierri and her team of benevolents care for the dogs with so much love to help them get back on their feet or to feel condident in human kind again.

♥ on Maria Daines' songs for the dogs.

A CHRISTMAS PRAYER FOR SHELTER DOGS - October 5, 2010

'A Christmas Prayer for Shelter Dogs'

Christmas is coming and the dogs are getting fat
This is because of over breeding but some don't care about that!
Some people just want money and they don't care how it comes
And many unspayed mothers will soon become new mums...
What about their puppies, where will the poor things go?
When shelters are overflowing and the pounds are full of woe
What happens to the unwanted when Christmas has gone by?
Will you think of them next April when they sit alone and cry?
Will you go to your local shelter and see how many wait?
So many worried faces staring sadly at the gate…
Nowhere to call their own, no family, no home
Now there's just too many and some will die alone...
They'll go off to the clinic with their little heads held high
Some just six months old, they don't expect to die
They'll wag their waggy tails for all the world to see
But you won't hear their cries as they wriggle to break free
They will feel a sharp injection; it will take their breath away
And leave them floppy on the table; they won't see another day...
And this is because of humans, because we breed and sell and buy
We don't ask any questions because we think we're right.
We just carry on regardless, doing things we've always done
But somewhere a little pup will lose her life before it’s begun.
Each year the story grows into a graveyard of the lost
And we are all responsible for the fate of companion dogs
We could all make a difference; we could all save a life
If we stopped our greed, our ignorance and did not breed or buy.
So remember in December when the adverts begin again
That each new litter is a warning, that a dog will die in vain
In fact many, many dogs will never reach a grand old age
Because someone didn't care enough to neuter or to spay!
So endlessly we hear the plight of those we call best friends
But do we really care enough to stop and make amends?
Will we think of how they feel when they are waiting all alone?
And there's nobody to save them because too many need a home.
Some will never make it though they have so much to give
It's hard to be forgotten when you haven’t even lived...

Maria Daines
2010

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