Each day thousands of animals, domestic and wild perish
unnecessarily. Animals, natural hunters and scavengers are not prepared
to forage for food in our modern environment. These animals are the
innocent victims of our trash and its careless disposal. Some of the
possible problems can easily be amended with caution if we are aware.
One of our main concerns today is the plastic yogurt
containers made by Yoplait. They are easily lodged on a cats head as
they lick the contents. The shape of the Yoplait container makes it
almost impossible for the cat or small animal to remove. The plastic
forms a vacuum as the animal inhales. This secures the container tight
to the head. It then cuts off the air and the frightened animal will be
asphyxiated. This may be prevented by cutting the plastic containers.
"As of today, Yoplait refuses to change their products shape.
Objects such as the plastic rings on a six pack can get
around the neck of a water bird or a small animal, causing them to choke
to death. Lids and metal rings off of pop cans and jars can lodge in
throats, get caught in teeth, slice paws, tongues and mouths of almost
all animals. Deadly infections can then occur. Small objects of all
kinds are almost always a choking risk.
Cans also pose a threat. A hungry animal will force its
mouth and snout into the can retrieving the remaining food. Sometimes
the can becomes stuck on the animals' head. Now it is helpless and will
fall prey to another animal or starvation. Please make sure all of your
cans are flattened before placing in trash
Animals will consume things that are uneatable. A
plastic bag or piece of saran wrap can be very tasty if food particles
remain. (Cats are especially vulnerable to this sort of snacking. Cats
have a barbed tongue, once they begin to swallow something they must
continue or choke .) Once swallowed these objects can block the
digestive system and death results.
Almost all of our chemicals are deadly. They should be
disposed in an environmentally safe fashion. They should always be
placed in containers or cans that are impossible for animals to access
and the lids must be secured.
It just takes a few minutes of extra work to make sure
your trash is animal friendly. Remember nature made this earth our home.
Lets keep it safe for all of us. Please help to protect the starving
cats and dogs from this manmade danger.
Today please write or call Yoplait. Explain to them your
concerns. Ask them to change the shape of their yogurt containers. Tell
them you will boycott their product until they make their containers
"animal friendly."
You may access Yoplait at: http://www.generalmills.com/yoplait/
AOL subscribers may use this following link:
eneral Mills yogurt: products and health benefits.
Yoplait may also be reached by calling 1 800 328 1144 or
writing:
General Mills Inc.
PO Box 1113
Minneapolis MN. 55440
Go on to Poem: I
Think I Know No Finer Things Than Dogs -
Hally Carrington Brent
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