It’s no wonder that Hunter Shaffer’s dream is to swim in the ocean. He loves the inhabitants.
At the age of seven, he started to research fish. Having his own aquarium, he wanted to see that his little friends were well taken care of. As time wore on, he became well versed in aquatic nature. By the time he was 9, he was educating others on natural habitats and the ideal conditions for finned pets.
His online ventures gained him many friends and acquaintances. When he was nearly 11 years old, a biochemist at George Mason University introduced Hunter to Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Learning that our ocean’s inhabitants were in such danger prompted him to become more than just an educator. He became an activist!
If you are among our circles of cyber activists, you have most probably seen Hunter Shaffer pop up here and there on pages, in groups and conversations — mostly on Facebook. This 14-year-old teen is the administrator of a number of pages and groups, including: H&H Activists, Occupy The Cove, Boycott Loro Parque, Humphrey the Humpback Whale, Boycott Dolphin Tale, Anti Miami Seaquarium and Activism. I was so impressed with Hunter’s zeal that I even made him an administrator for Youth & Teen Cyber Whale Warriors.
Hunter did not take up his torch for saving marine life after watching Animal Planet’s Whale Wars or the 2010 Academy Award winner for best documentary The Cove. He was recruited into our ranks via the Worldwide Web. He is therefore a testament to how well cyber activism can have a significant impact in spreading awareness. But that’s not all!
Not only is he a strong presence in the virtual world, he is a warrior in his home town in upstate New York. He is office Manager and Wildlife Rehabilitator for the New York chapter of Global Conservation Group. (See Video below) Wow! This kid gets around and he does it all from the confines of a wheelchair.
Sea Shepherd Cove Guardian Bob Timmons rallied to raise the funds necessary to grant Hunter Shaffer his dream. If all goes as planned, he will be swimming in the ocean this coming April. You can find out more via Bob Timmons’ web site, Artist for the Ocean.
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Follow Hunter Shaffer on Twitter
- Visit and “Like” Youth & Teen Cyber Whale Warriors
Related articles
- Please Help Me Raise $ for Sea Shepherd (cyberwhalewarrior.com)
- ‘Whale Wars’ spin-off coming in April (mnn.com)
- Cyber Activism on Facebook (cyberwhalewarrior.com)
- Save the Whales! (everywherealways.wordpress.com)
- Research Project Rough Draft 1: A Changing Arctic (envirowriters.wordpress.com)
- Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (shadowwolf32.wordpress.com)
- Japanese Whale Hunt Ends For Season – Sanctuary At Peace Again (wefightforwhales.wordpress.com)
- Discovery Announces ‘Whale Wars’ Spinoff Premiere Date (ecorazzi.com)
- More Japanese Turn Against Whaling – IPS ipsnews.net (cyberwhalewarrior.com)
A Marine and a disabled MWD (military war dog) are in the fight of their lives: trying to spend their lives together as friends after fighting side by side in Iraq. Now Megan Leavey and Rex have some power in their corner.
Photo credit Peter Carr/The Journal News
Influential New York State Senator Chuck Schumer has already written a letter to the secretary of the Air Force, which is responsible for all training and adoptions of MWDs at Lackland Air Force Base. We hope to do our part by creating more awareness of Megan’s efforts to give Rex, her battle buddy and savior, the life he deserves in a loving home.
Both suffered serious injuries following the explosion of an IED (improvised explosive device) in Iraq, and spent almost a year recovering from their respective injuries. Since separating from service in 2007 with a Purple Heart, Megan has been trying to adopt Rex. Until recently, he was considered too valuable as a working dog and her requests were denied. However, Rex was diagnosed recently with a type of nerve paralysis that has left him – Camp Pendleton’s oldest active service dog – unable to serve.
We don’t know if sharing this story can do more than a letter from a well-known senator. After all, we’re not famous or connected. But at Pets for Patriots, we believe the power of people can inspire great things. Several months ago a simple blog post saved Rocky, another disabled, retired MWD who faced a very bleak future; as a result of our post, Rocky was saved.
Although we have no information that Megan will not ultimately be allowed to adopt Rex, we hope he can serve the rest of his days in the loving companionship of his best friend Megan.
How can you help? Just share this story; good goes around!
