I attended a protest with Compassion Works International on Saturday, October 21, 2017, protesting animals in captivity.  We protested on the strip here in Las Vegas in front of the Mirage Hotel and  Casino.  From the CWI Facebook page:  "We invite you to our main event to be held outside the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, where dolphins, tigers, lions, and other animals are being held captive for the purpose of entertaining Las Vegas tourists. MGM Resorts International, which owns the Mirage and is the LARGEST EMPLOYER in the state of Nevada, has been unwilling to hear a call for change. "  Also from CWI's Facebook page:  "They can't protest, create law, or speak out against those who abuse them. They need YOU. Never stop fighting!".  And that is why I was out there.  Fighting for their freedom , BECAUSE THEY CAN'T.  

Since we were out on the strip, there were lots of folks/tourists walking by our group.  Some people walked by reading the protest signs and just kept walking.  One lady clapped in support as she walked by.  Another lady actually stopped to talk to us about her journey trying to become vegan.   Some people just scurry  by and don't look. And shockingly, some people actually got angry, lol.  One gentleman shaking his head in disbelief, a couple walking by muttering and giving us the evil eye, and one gentlemen muttering something about us being thousands of miles from the ocean.  Hmm. Then there are those who said things out of sheer ignorance.  For instance "That is what they're bred for"  (REALLY??!!) and  "They got it pretty good in there though".  Both of these statements made me very angry.  And instead of standing on the rooftops SHOUTING the reasons why both of these statements are so wrong, I chose to write.  To educate.  Because as I said, these statements were made out of ignorance.  People do not know any better.  They haven't made the connection yet.  Once upon a time  I thought this way.  So, that is what this blog post is about.  Education. And why Freedom Matters to All.

I will never forget the first time that I started connecting the dots about animals being used for human entertainment.  My sister had a sticker on the back of her van that stated "CIRCUSES ARE NO FUN FOR ANIMALS".  At the time I didn't think much  about it, but it always stuck in my mind.  Now that I am vegan (meaning I do not eat or  use  any food or product that comes from or harms animals in any way), I  am aware of the horror and degradation that these poor innocent animals endure for human entertainment, food and clothing.  I cannot in good conscious contribute to any of it.  I cannot "unknow " what I know.

Let's get back to the animal attractions at the Mirage, which is home to Siegfried and Roy's  Secret Garden and Habitat.  This  is where a  baby dolphin was born in captivity recently.   The  calf's mother and  older sister were also born in captivity at the habitat according to the Mirage website.  So yes, unfortunately  these poor creatures were bred to be entertainment  as ignoramus #1 suggested.   According to MojaveDolphins.com, the original stock  of dolphins were wild caught.  Stolen from their real homes and families.  Now they are forced to entertain and breed more little entertainers in captivity.  This is not normal. Dolphins do not come  from pools inside of  "dolphin habitats".  A dolphin's natural habitat is  THE OCEAN.  A pool is like a cage for them.

Here  is what the Mirage offers  as "entertainment" with the dolphins (from the Mirage website);

1)   Meet our new baby dolphin, housed with sister, mother grandmother and another female dolphin.

2)     Become a trainer for a day, "You'll participate in hands-on activities including playing with, training, getting in the water with, and caring for our family of dolphins".  Starting at $495.00, 5 Hour Experience,  Fruit & Pastry Breakfast from Pantry Express, Poolside Lunch over-looking Dolphins & Digital Photos of Experience. (Mirage website)

3)    Painting with the dolphins, "With a canvas in your hands, watch as our bottlenose friends bring their art to life. You will receive your masterpiece, a certificate and a photo of your experience." (Mirage website) Starting at $159

• 1-3 colors for Dolphins to paint with
• 8x10 Art Canvas
• 6x8 photo with a Dolphin

4)     Yoga with the dolphins in the underwater viewing area

• 1-Hour Morning Session
• Full Spa Facility Access
• Complimentary Smoothie

5)   Enjoy a one-hour escorted tour behind the scenes where you'll learn about how our specialists care for all of our wondrous creatures. Every participant receives a complimentary 6x8 photo to seal in the memory. (Mirage website)

• Starting at $200
• 1 Hour Tour
• Groups up to 5 Guests
• 6x8 Photo for Each Guest
• (All information above from the Mirage website)
  

​They make a lot of money off of these dolphins as you can see by the prices listed.   Dolphins do not paint in the ocean.  Dolphins do not take selfies in the ocean.  Dolphins do not do stupid human tricks in the ocean.  None of these ridiculous activities come natural to a wild animal.  I guess kidnapping and enslaving wild animals is worth it to greedy mega-corporations.  All under the guise of conservation and research.  BULLSHIT.  I agree that there are some institutions who are dedicated to conservation and rehabilitation, but the Mirage is not one of them.  These dolphins are being exploited  to make them money.

Dolphins are highly intelligent and social animals. They even have their own culture according to wikiipedia.  They are also known to help each other out, when other  dolphins or even other species  are in trouble or ill.  And, dolphins live long lives.  According to DefendersofWildlife.org, a bottlenose dolphin can live up to 40 years.  They can swim up to 50 miles per day in their natural habitat ( MojaveDolphins.com.)  I'll say it again, a dolphin's home is in the ocean.  A pool is a cage for them. 

Have you ever wondered just how a dolphin is caught?  The most common method of hunting and capturing dolphins is called  dolphin drive hunting.  This is done by hunters/fisherman chasing down pods of dolphins with boats into a bay or beach and closing off any escape  routes with nets or boats.  Some end up as meat, others end up  in pools as entertainment.   "Many dolphins do not survive the trauma of capture.  Of those that do 53% die within three months of confinement".  (MojaveDolphins.com)  They die from  intestinal disease, stress-related illness and chlorine poisoning.  (MojaveDolphins.com)

So there are 9 dolphins currently at the Secret Garden and Habitat in 3 pools.  They have no shelter from the sun and get to breathe in the fumes from the surrounding roads and highways..  Twelve dolphins have died  while in captivity since it's opening in 1990.  (MojaveDolphins.com)  Food is commonly withheld to force dolphins to do tricks.  Tell me again how good they have it, Ignoramous #2.  If they could speak English, maybe they could tell us where they would rather be.  Until then, humans should leave wildlife wild.


I could not find anything on the lions or tigers at the Secret Garden.  However, MGM has made the decision to retire their lions.  (MojaveDolphins.com) We protested for all of the animals in captivity everywhere.  Freedom Matters To All.

Love and Light
Michelle



​All information and facts are from Wikipedia, Compassion Works International, Defenders of Wildlife.org, Mojave Dolphins.com & the Mirage website.  

Sunday, October 1, 2017, is a day every single person living in or visiting  Las Vegas will never forget.   The day evil struck down happy festival goers at the Route 91 Country Music Festival.  The day Stephen Paddock  decided to bring his heinous plot to fruition, to bust the windows out of  the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino, and start shooting  into the festival crowd  across the  street,  Killing 58  and injuring over 500 innocent people.  People who just went out for a night of  fun and music.  Drinking and dancing. Celebration.

I remember waking up sometime in the night as my husband was watching video news on his phone.  I asked "what the hell are you doing?"   He replied "there's a shooting on the strip!"  And I remember saying "how horrible" and fell back asleep.  I had taken some Nyquil before bed because I had a head cold, so I was out of it.  I woke up that Monday morning to the horrible news of what had happened.  I remember looking at my Facebook feed and seeing all of the posts from friends who were either on their way to or working on the "strip".  "Shooting on the strip", "freeways closed".  And then I watched the chilling videos of it happening.  The sounds of the bullets. The poor people screaming that there was nowhere to go as a spray of bullets rained down on them.  I cried. My chest felt like it was sucked up inside itself.  My heart broke into a million pieces as I watched these poor, innocent people scramble to escape.  This was a sad, dark  day for our city.

Stephen Paddock checked into the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino  on Thursday, September 28, 2017.  He was a frequent gambler. A 64 year old retired millionaire who lived in a Mesquite, Nevada retirement community..  There was absolutely no reason for anybody to suspect him of anything.  He must have smuggled the 23 weapons and ammunition into the hotel  with the 10 suitcases that Las Vegas Metropolitan Police found in his hotel suite.  He ended up killing himself before the police got to him.  He had no criminal record.  No affiliation with any political or terrorist groups. You could see that his poor brother Eric Paddock was completely baffled and horrified to find out that his brother was responsible for such an evil act. when the media interviewed him.

But despite this horrible tragedy, I watched my city come together in droves to help those in need.  I watched and read the stories of heroes in the midst of chaos. Regular people who shielded one another from the spray of bullets.  Regular people who used their own,  as well as random vehicles, to transport the wounded to hospitals and then  come back for more.  A young Marine who shielded a young woman as they both ran out of the festival, and used his phone  to  text the young woman's sister that she was safe .  A young man who saved 30 people's lives by carrying them out. A woman who stayed with a young man and held his hand while he died.  A man who shielded his wife.  A young mother who shielded her fiancé because he was hit and then got hit herself. Amazing stories of bravery and courage and compassion.  

I would also like to say that our police department did a fine job of acting quickly, bravely and professionally to stop this madman.

Our county commissioner started a Go Fund Me account with 10, 000 dollars of his own money for the victims.  It's up to over 8  million dollars  3 days later.  The lines to donate blood that Monday were 2 miles long.  They had to turn people away because they were at capacity that day.  The waiting list is booked for the next 2 weeks . People and local businesses donated food and beverages to the folks waiting in line to give blood.  Evel Pie Pizza in downtown Las Vegas donated boxes of pizzas.  Hotels and casinos offered free rooms for those victims who were displaced.  I have never been more proud of my hometown.  In the wake of this despicable tragedy, we rose up.  We came together. We are Vegas Strong.

We offer our thoughts, prayers and love to all of those affected by this horrible tragedy. 

Love and Light to all.