What are SPONGES... are they alive, or were they alive? Would appreciate any info. About them. THANKS.

Yes; alive. A Sponge is an animal.

http://www.ices.dk/marineworld/Sponge%20article/factbox.asp

I appreciate your link, but I would also like to know how is it if they are alive, that they can end up in our homes to be used for cleaning, personal use, etc.. If it is an animal... then are they killed? Do they look like this when they are in the seas?

Yes; alive. A Sponge is an animal.

http://www.ices.dk/marineworld/Sponge%20article/factbox.asp

www.oceanicresearch.org/sponges.html
The are considered animal and some of the sponges you see used to clean house I think those are synthetic and there's not really anyway to tell how they would feel about something unless you are some sort of sponge sycologist.

RE: SPONGES... I would like to know in what process they come from the sea to our homes. I have seen natural ones, which one can obtain at the natural food store, and am curious to know what is actually done to a sponge, as it is alive and an animal, for us to be able to purchase the final product at the natural food store? THANKS.



www.oceanicresearch.org/sponges.html
The are considered animal and some of the sponges you see used to clean house i think those are synthetic and theres not really anyway to tell how they would feel about something unless you are some sort of sponge sycologist.

If you are worried about the sea sponges they do regenerate and harvesting is actually helpful to them.

www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/chic22.htm

Hi,
You have already received some good answers as to Sponges, with some good links.
Yes, as said, they are alive at one point, before harvesting.
If you are worried about killing sponges, then you might consider many, many other living things that were alive at one point; such as fish, etc. As said, some sponges are "artificial", man-made. Others are natural.
Most sponges at department stores, etc, are man-made, not natural.

Dear if you go to the link in my above post and read through the whole thing it actually explains the process by which sponges are harvested. Happy holiday.