My Name Is Henry

 My Name Is Henry

Hi everybody – my name is Henry. I know this because I spent 4 hours with my Mommie before I was dragged away from her forever. In that short time with my mother she told me that I had a great, great grandfather who was a prized bull. His name was Henri and I’m named after him. He lived in a beautiul field with green grass and trees and a noisy, babbling creek. I don’t really know what any of those things are but it all sounded so nice.

Just A Pigeon

 Just A Pigeon

Some people that I knew at the time said “why bother he’s –  just a pigeon”. I didn’t see it that way when I was driving under a train bridge, and a little pigeon fell out of his overhead nest, and fluttered to the ground. His mother was distraught –  frantically and repeatedly swooping down to where he lay on the ground.  I parked my car and went over to the roadside. His eyes were open and I could see a faint, twitching movement in his feet. I’m sure that he was stunned and probably very frightened.

Saying Good-Bye

 Saying Good-Bye

I have loved animals since childhood and saying good-bye is always the most heart wrenching thing that we must do for our pets. My earliest memory of having my ‘very own’ pet was a kitten named Mickey. I was three years old to Mickey’s 6 months. We should have grown up together, but it wasn’t to be. My father accidentally ran over Mickey with his car when he was still a kitten. We had a proper burial and Mickey went to heaven. I was sure of this because I had a very long and serious talk with my mother about the fact that Mickey had always been a very good kitty, and deserved to be with God. Mom assured me that it was so.

Rest In Peace Gentle Soul

 Rest In Peace Gentle Soul

The location – the Tan Hoa Commune Forest – the north/central Province of Quang Binh in Vietnam. The occasion – the discovery of a body. The finding – it is believed that the last known wild elephant in the forest is now dead. Rest in peace gentle soul. Her decomposing corpse was found approximately 2 days after her murder. Foul play is expected. Locals confirmed that this forest had been home to 2 elephants – a male and a female.

The Truth Has A Mighty Heart

 The Truth Has A Mighty Heart

Let me start by saying that I celebrate all humans who are kind to and respect animals – either their own or those with whom they interact in life. This post is in no way a condemnation of people. However it is true that a picture is worth a thousand words and never is this more true than when it comes to how humans treat animals.  The truth has a mighty heart and it will seek to be revealed. My goal with A Beating Heart is to raise awareness about the unseen – the unspoken – the unjust. The dirty little secrets that individuals – corporations and governments just don’t want us to think about. From factory farming to fur farms – animal shelters to animal fighting – rodeos – horsemeat and live animal shipment – to endangered animals who are currently on the red-line threatened list and are still slaughtered nonetheless.