Rumblings from PAWS- by Pat Derby

PAWS (Performing Animal Welfare Society) is an amazing sanctuary for wild animals who have been used, and therefore, abused for entertainment. Here, on acres and acres of land in Northern California, these animals (elephants, lions, tigers and bears)are cared for, given space and company and loved by Pat Derby & Ed Stewart and all the caretakers. I have supported them for years and have heard the slanderous lies from zoos and the AZA. Here, Pat educates us further to some past and present stories of this mistreatment by the AZA & zoos.It seems that AZA mistreats people as well as animals! Continue reading »

Congress considers law that would ban use of elephants in circuses

Good things are happening for the poor wild animals in circuses. Ingrid Newkirk of Peta posted this. “It has to do with elephants who are beaten with bullhooks by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Feld Entertainment, Inc., parent company of Ringling, will now pay a penalty of $270,000. for violations of the Animal Welfare Act dating from June 2007 to August 2011. It is the biggest penalty paid by a circus in the history of the United States.” But there is more good news. Congressmen, led by Jim Moran (Dem), have introduced the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act, HR 3359, which says that “No exhibitor may allow for the participation of an exotic or wild animal (including a non-human primate) in an animal act if, during the 15- day period preceding such participation, such animal was traveling in a mobile housing facility.” Although this doesn’t sound so stringent, it will stop traveling circuses. Unfortunately, this bill does not address wild animals in films, television or advertising or those used in rodeos. As disappointing as that is, this bill is worth passing as it would be a significant blow to using/abusing wild animals in show business and it will virtually end their use in traveling circuses. Please call your Representatives and Senators and politely ask them to support this important bill. Continue reading »

Rescue operation uses humane solution to stray dog problem in northern Quebec community

This past month, I had the opportunity to go on another animal rescue with Animal Rescue Corps. I have written about my first rescue with them in Tennessee where we rescued some 150 small dogs from horrific conditions. Most were living outside in dilapidated hutches with layers of feces stuck to their floor, others living among dead ones and others so severely matted as to limit their movements. The ones inside (the mothers with newborns, babies & 5 birds) were living in a warmer, cleaner but severely toxic atmosphere. It was so toxic that the hazmat team, which evaluated the toxicity of the garage, wouldn’t even let us in to get them out for more than a half hour as they used huge fans to drive the fumes away. It was a real eye-opener to me, even though I knew of how horrible puppy mills are. I will never understand how one middle-aged lady can do this kind of cruelty to these innocent dogs!

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My Trip to Borneo and the Orangutans

In March of this year, my friend and videographer, Sandra Mohr, and I began a journey that would forever change our lives. We set out for Indonesia and the island of Borneo, also known as Kalimantan, with the woman who has made it her life’s mission to save the orangutans, my friend Dr. Birute Galdikas. For over 40 years, Dr. G. has lived with them, she has studied them, she has rescued them and all along, she has been making plans and taking action to try and ensure their very survival. Dr. G., as the locals call her, has conducted the longest continuous study by a scientist of any wild mammal in the world. While she started out as a researcher hoping to learn more about these elusive and mysterious creatures, it quickly became apparent that their very survival as a species was in danger and that something had to be done before they vanished from this earth forever. At that time she founded Orangutan Foundation International – OFI – whose sole mission is to save the orangutans in Borneo. Continue reading »

What’s Wrong with American Humane Association? by Patty Shenker

Movie-goers who care about animals being used in films come away with a certain amount of comfort after reading American Humane Association’s famous slogan- “No animals were harmed” in the film credits. But after researching this organization, I have learned that their presence assures us of no such thing and in fact provides us with a false sense of comfort and a very different reality. When I recently wrote to AHA, criticizing them for allowing wild animals to be used in the film, Water for Elephants, I received this response from their head of Communications, Jone Bouman- “As long as animals are involved in the process of filmmaking, American Humane Association vigorously believes it is important that we are present whenever animals are so that we can do our absolute utmost to ensure their welfare and safety on set.” Most people believe that they abide by their mission statement but nothing could be further from the truth. Continue reading »

The World’s Biggest Problem? Too Many People!

Our unsustainable population levels are depleting resources and denying a decent future to our descendants. We must stop the denial.

Think back on what you talked about with friends and family at your last gathering. The latest game of your favorite team? “American Idol”? An addictive hobby? The new movie blockbuster? In a serious moment, maybe job prospects, Afghanistan, the economic mess? We live in an information-drenched environment, one in which sports and favorite programs are just a click away. And the ease with which we can do this allows us to focus on mostly comforting subjects that divert our attention from increasingly real, long-term problems. Continue reading »

You Eat Dogs? Cows? Whales? by Patty Shenker

1. Meat, sadly, is a universal ‘food’, though the particular animals eaten vary from country to country. I purpose that, to support the eating of any animal is to globally support the eating of every animal. Americans eat cows, Koreans eat dogs and the Japanese eat whales and none of it is necessary, healthy or humane. Because the truth is that all of these animals suffer, physically & psychologically, to end up on your plate. As Jeremy Bentham wrote in 1789, arguing for moral & legislative rights for animals-“The question isn’t- Can they talk? Nor- Can they reason? But- Can they suffer?” So I ask that, if you are repulsed by the eating of certain animals as you eat others, you acknowledge your complicity and reconsider your food choices.

I AM AN ELEPHANT by Stu Bykofsky

I was not born for your amusement any more than you were born for mine.

If you see me in the zoo, and especially in the circus, which arrived here yesterday, I am not there willingly.

I was kidnapped and carried far, far away from my home and my family. I might have been an adult, but was more likely a baby when captured. Some “brave” hunter might have killed my mother – who could be dangerous – and sold me to a zoo or circus as an orphan. Continue reading »

Watch out for HumaneWatch!

HumaneWatch has recently had full page ads in the LA Times, accusing the Humane Society of the United States of spending less than 1% of their budget on our country’s shelters. But the truth is that HSUS is not responsible for the overpopulation in our shelters nor is their mission to tackle that particular aspect of the problem. However, they do very effective work to reduce the pet overpopulation in other ways. HumaneWatch is anti-animal, anti-human and very pro-business. Too many people are fooled by their name & their confusing ads and I think it is crucial for the animal community to know that THEY ARE OUR ENEMY!  Please pass this knowledge on so none of us are fooled by their ridiculous claims. Continue reading »

A Message About Our Dear Oreo

Animal Acres is a farmed animal sanctuary outside of Los Angeles, Ca. It was co-founded by Lorri Houston and myself in 2005 and it houses over 300 farmed animals who have been rescued from abusive situations. Recently, we rescued three calves from the horrendous veal industry. As is often the case, they were in need of medical care. One little guy, Oreo, never did recover completely from losing his mother and her much need colostrum and he died last week. Our education and outreach liaison, Cameron O’Steen, writes a touching piece here about Oreo and all the calves who suffer due to the milk and veal industries. Continue reading »