From Peta2 at: http://www.peta2.com/tc/t-wetseal.html
To write to Wet Seal go to http://www.peta2.com/ot/wetseal/index.asp or contact
the email addresses below in the article:

Wet Seal Butchers Bunnies
While we'd love to simply bask in the glory of our victory against Forever 21,
we know that animals need us to keep fighting for them. Forever 21 made the
compassionate choice to put an end to its sale of fur, thanks to the efforts of
PETA2 Street Teamers. This is a monumental change—Wet Seal must follow Forever
21's lead and take a stand against cruelty to animals.

Just as PETA was contacted by people who were upset about Forever 21's sale of
fur, we've received another flood of calls and e-mail messages about the selling
of rabbit fur at Wet Seal stores. PETA contacted Wet Seal to pass on the message
that consumers are infuriated to find products made of fur on the store's racks,
but the company refused to remove fur from its stores and its catalog. Wet Seal
does not seem to understand that the PETA2 Street Team doesn't take "no" for an
answer …

Tags reading "100% rabbit fur" are meant to be a symbol of quality, but those
who have seen the cruelty that animals raised for their fur endure are horrified
by such a label. Hundreds of millions of rabbits are slaughtered each year for
their fur and their flesh. Animals on fur farms spend their entire lives
confined to tiny metal cages with no shelter from weather extremes and no chance
to dig, jump, or play. To kill the rabbits, fur farmers snap the animals' necks
or smash their skulls before stringing them up by their legs and cutting off
their heads.

Top fashion retailers such as Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, and most
recently, Forever 21 have paid attention to the consumer backlash against
companies that sell fur. Now is the time for Wet Seal to follow their lead and
cut out cruelty. It's up to us to make sure that this happens.

PETA2 wants you to distribute our new Wet Seal leaflets outside malls and Wet
Seal stores. If you didn't order a PETA2 Fur Action Pack during our Forever 21
campaign, please order one now. The pack contains a stack of leaflets, "Fur
Hurts" cards, and a variety of anti-fur stickers.



We'll hook you up with a whopping 3,000 Street Team points if you organize a
demonstration. E-mail PETA2@... ahead of time, and we'll help you get
everything you need for a successful demo—we'll send you extra Wet Seal leaflets
and some demo posters, we'll contact local activists to let them know about the
demonstration, and we'll even help you get media attention. There are lots of
other ways for you to help the animals who are suffering on fur farms for Wet
Seal. Click here for a list of actions that you can take to let everyone know
that torturing animals is not fashionable.

Please contact Wet Seal, explaining that you'll be boycotting the chain—and
telling all of your friends and family to do the same—until it stops supporting
cruelty to animals:

Joseph Deckop, Interim CEO
26972 Burbank
Foothill Ranch, CA 92610
949-699-3918
949-206-4977 (fax)
Joseph.Deckop@...

Helen Rotherham, Vice President
26972 Burbank
Foothill Ranch, CA 92610
949-699-4804
Helen.Rotherham@...

Customer Service
1-800-735-7325
949-699-4714 (fax)
CustomerService@...

Additionally, Vice President Helen Rotherham is temporarily working from Wet
Seal’s New Zealand office. During this time, if you are in New Zealand, please
contact Helen Rotherham at her home (phone 0-9-524 9385) or her office (phone
0-9-309 6663), and politely let her know that animal cruelty is not fashionable.
In the US, dial 011-64-9-524 9385 or 011-64-9-309 6663 to reach her.

If any New Zealand activists would like to stop by and politely voice their
disgust to Helen in person, she is staying at the following address:
19 Ngaiwi St.
Orakei, Auckland
New Zealand

She can also be found at her office at:
16 Kingston St., Level 15
Auckland City, New Zealand




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"It's Their Destiny"

                   News items on Asian animal abuse

                         3rd January 2005
                               Tsunami Animal Appeal

                               Dear Friends

                               By now you will all be aware of the tsunami that
caused such devastation recently. We won't waste your time by going into the
details of the terrible loss of life that this brought about  - you will have
heard of this already.

                               At this time over UK£1,000,000,000 has been
committed by the international community for the recovery of this region. We
must stress that this money is purely for human assistance - it has no allowance
for the thousands of domestic animals including cats and dogs displaced by this
disaster.

                               Of course the first concern of all people will be
the welfare of the survivors of this catastrophe.

                               The welfare of domestic animals has however not
been addressed by the international community funding, hence the reason for this
appeal.

                               Some animal organisations have apparently sent
people into this region to assess the situation, although due to the holiday
period have not been able to give us an update on the current situation as they
perceive it. Our sister organisation, Sirius GAO has however been approached by
shelters in India and Phuket for whom the situation is desperate. In some cases
they literally have no food or clean water for the dogs and cats in their care.
This situation will certainly get worse over the coming weeks.

                               At ITD we know that our supporters are
warm-hearted. Many of you will probably have already contributed to the
charities that are concerned with the effects on the human population in this
area. The animals however are in need of your help as well.

                               We have never asked you for money before, but we
do so now without reservation. A couple of pounds or dollars could mean the
difference between life and death for these animals who have nowhere else to
turn.

                               Please make donations on-line at
http://sirius.2kat.net/helppage.html#14 - whatever you can afford will be
greatly appreciated.

                               All donations received will be sent to animal
shelters in the tsunami hit region. Sirius GAO is a fully registered charity in
New Zealand.


                               Our continued thanks to all of you for caring.
                               From all the team at ITD

                               This Update service is supplied to our members and
supporters worldwide, for many of whom English is a second language, We have
therefore tried to symplify the wording as wuch as possible. If you still have
difficulty in understanding, please e-mail us and we may be able to get this
translated for you.  If not through another list, you will have received this
email because you either have helped with a campaign or requested to receive
these emails in the past. We have no wish to send "spam", so if you do not want
to receive similar news items from ITD or our sister organisation Sirius GAO in
the future, just send a blank email to itd@... with subject line
"Unsubscribe".
                               Our updates are sent in html - if you receive in
simple text through another list and would like to receive in the original
format, please email itd@... with subject line "Subscribe".




                     http://itstheirdestiny.2kat.net




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Mary Alice Pollard <moonflower.uk@...> wrote:
Canada's cowardly face

Matthew Scully
(author of "Dominion", and recently a George W speechwriter!)



             National Post


       Wednesday, January 05, 2005


       When you are in the business of killing baby seals, it takes a strange
turn of mind to think of yourself as a victim. Yet this is how Canada's seal-pup
hunters have always wanted us to see them -- as the victims of "propaganda,"
meddlesome "outsiders," unfair trade restrictions and other forces arrayed
against the noble sealer. And now, as they prepare the boats, guns and clubs for
another intrepid assault on the nurseries of the North Atlantic, they ask once
again for our sympathy.

       The hunters wait until the pups are weaned, at about 12 days, and left
alone by their mothers on ice floes off the coasts of Newfoundland, Labrador and
Prince Edward Island. If you were there before the sealers arrived in early
spring, you would see great masses of pups huddled together, and hear their soft
cries filling the air. In one of nature's own stern measures, the baby seals are
calling for mothers who have left them forever.

       John Efford, a Newfoundland MP and Canada's Minister for Natural
Resources, objects to the very term "baby seals" as sentimental propaganda.
"It's absolutely wrong," he recently told The Globe and Mail. "It can't be any
more wrong to say we're killing baby seals when we're not." Mr. Efford means by
this that, instead of killing them in their first week on Earth, the sealers now
restrain themselves until the second week, when the pups' winsome white fur has
given way to a rougher, grayish coat. But of course, using "baby seal" in the
normal, objective sense of an utterly defenseless newborn creature of that
species, these are most assuredly baby seals.

       In six weeks' time they would learn to fend for themselves. Instead, the
men move in, welcoming the newborns into the world with clubs, hakapiks and
hooks. With all the manhood -- and less skill -- that it would take to execute
tens of thousands of frantic puppies or kittens, they go by boat and snowmobile
from nursery to nursery. British and Canadian veterinarians, observing the scene
in recent years, estimated that about 40% of victims are skinned alive.
Uncounted others are "struck and lost," meaning shot and drowned.

       Those who followed last year's hunt, which brought death to some 350,000
pups, will remember such typical scenes as one seal trying to escape as another
is clubbed nearby; the creature makes it to water's edge but, too young to even
swim, must wait there as the man with the club approaches. Other footage -- seen
across the world, however unfairly, as the face of Canada -- showed sealers
routinely dragging conscious pups across the ice with boat hooks, or shooting
the seals and leaving them to suffer.

       Yet standing there, ankle deep in gore and innocent blood, the sealers
just can't understand why anyone would object. And we're all supposed to feel
sorry for them, these fine, upstanding fellows so unappreciated by the modern
world. Mr. Efford, back when he led Newfoundland's fisheries department,
demonstrated the mindset when he proposed to ban all cameras from the scene of
the hunts -- as if the problem were public knowledge of the event, rather than
the event itself.

       All involved are understandably averse to cameras. Before the films
started airing in the 1970s, the rest of us knew little of seal nurseries or of
seal hunting except from the colorful accounts of sealers themselves -- much as
we once knew nothing of whales and whaling except from the adventurous and
self-serving accounts of whalers. The camera, in both cases, allowed all of
humanity to witness the scene for ourselves. And this evidence, requiring no
narrative or interpretation, has never squared with the proud and heroic
self-image of the hunters.

       What they have never faced up to is that the "propaganda" by which they
feel so victimized consists of straight photographic documentation of what they
do, and to whom they do it -- the complete helplessness of the creatures an
unanswerable rebuke to their slayers. What the sealers still dismiss as
"cultural intolerance" is actually the natural and objective reaction of an
overwhelming majority of people -- urban and rural, liberal and conservative, in
Canada and beyond -- who have not been desensitized to the cruelty and who have
no money to gain from the mayhem.

       Self-righteousness and self-pity are a fierce combination, however, and so
in recent years the sealers -- full-time fishermen who get about 5% of their
income from the hunt -- have found someone else who's been victimizing them: the
seal.

       The most obvious problem with the now-common claim that harp seals are
depleting the North Atlantic cod population is that the seals were there for
eons before our fishing fleets arrived, and cod remained plentiful. Marine
biologists uniformly tell us that commercially fished cod comprise no more than
3% of a harp seal's diet. The seals eat squid, skate and other predators of cod,
and so, in this and other ways, actually aid the fisherman if given a chance.

       How do such elementary facts of marine science get brushed off? In a
political version of the aquatic life chain, industrial fishing interests shift
responsibility for their own excesses -- the actual cause of cod depletion -- on
to provincial authorities. These authorities, in turn, have exerted pressure on
Ottawa, which now basically pays for the seal hunt as a sort of
supplementary-income program for the coastal communities harmed by industrial
overfishing. Canadian taxpayers today actually subsidize seal processing plants,
along with their government's efforts to peddle seal products abroad as trims,
trinkets or useless "aphrodisiacs" for the Asian market.

       In this way, the long-term interests of Atlantic Canada have been
sacrificed to easy, short-term economics, and a perverse and destructive
industry is artificially sustained. Meanwhile, U.S. restaurants, hotels and
seafood distributors are preparing to boycott Canadian fish products, which will
place many thousands of legitimate Canadian jobs at risk. A seafood and tourism
boycott will be aided by a resolution now before the United States Senate to
condemn the slaughter, should it be allowed to continue. It is a high cost to
pay for the conduct of a cruel and prideful few.

       Somehow, though, charges of "cruelty," "barbarism" and the like have never
quite resonated with the sealers. Such terms have a plaintive, weepy ring that
only plays into their image of "outsiders" as soft and over-refined, and of
themselves as rugged and daring men. So this time around let us put the point
more plainly, in terms they will understand: The problem with clubbing and
skinning these most defenceless of creatures is not merely that it is merciless.
The problem is that it is low, dishonourable and cowardly.

       These men are forever telling us to take a hard, unsentimental look at the
baby seals. They would do better to take a hard, unsentimental look at
themselves for once, for their country's sake and for their own.

       Matthew Scully served until recently as special assistant and deputy
director of speechwriting to U.S. President George W. Bush. He is the author of
Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy.;
www.matthewscully.com

       © National Post 2005




Mary Alice Pollard
Cornwall's Voice for Animals ( CVFA )
http://justnicephotos.homestead.com/CVFA.html



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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Reminder - Anti-Fur Protest at Steven Corn Furs - 358 Route 17 North
Paramus, NJ
Sat. Jan. 8th from 12:00 - 2:00pm
***It will probably be raining, but as long as it is not a snow
storm, we should be out there.  We could all grab a cup of coffee
when we are done at the Starbucks next door if you'd like!
Call me on my cell if you have any questions the day of - 201-927-
3617
Julie :)

----- Original Message -----
   From: darwin<mailto:dkany821@...>
   To:
animalrightsactivistresources@yahoogroups.com<mailto:animalrightsactivistresourc\
es@yahoogroups.com>
   Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2005 4:05 PM
   Subject: [Animal Rights Activist Resources] CAAF ALERT: ANTI FUR PROTEST NJ



   Reminder - Anti-Fur Protest at Steven Corn Furs - 358 Route 17 North
   Paramus, NJ
   Sat. Jan. 8th from 12:00 - 2:00pm
   ***It will probably be raining, but as long as it is not a snow
   storm, we should be out there.  We could all grab a cup of coffee
   when we are done at the Starbucks next door if you'd like!
   Call me on my cell if you have any questions the day of - 201-927-
   3617
   Julie :)






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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

CAAF ALERT:  HI everyone Caring Activists Against Fur.   I make fur
free, fur sucks and VEGAN bracelets. They are great conversation
starters!!!    You can see these bracelets on my new yahoo group
site go to photos.  check out the calendar for upcoming events.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caafgroup

check out the photos of the bracelets buttons and our protests.
contact Debbie if interested in items all procedes go towards CAAF.

Thanks for all you do for the animals

dkany821@...

From: Animal Friends Croatia [prijatelji.zivotinja@...]
http://www.prijatelji-zivotinja.hr/indexen.html
CROATIA ... A LAND OF CRUELTY?
an essay expressed by Croatians... for the world to read
"A small country for great holidays ... But a small country for great
cruelty!"
Our familiar tourism slogan could soon appear with those extra words you see
above.
Why? ... Because if we take some of the following facts into consideration,
my country Croatia shamefully stands out amongst others by it's appalling
treatment towards animals ... and the situation is getting worse.
Until recently, we were proud of our population of griffon vultures, about
one hundred of them. Now we have only fifty. Half the population were
poisoned in just one day during a bear hunt. No attempt was made to even
look for, let alone punish the culprit. Excuse the pun, but this incident
was barely reported or written about in Croatia, or anywhere else.
Just as a comparative example, Romania has a population of two griffon
vultures and spends millions of euros on them. In Croatia, 50 or so are
killed annually...
Likewise, we could have been proud of our bear population, which was one of
the largest in South Eastern Europe; but instead we decided to give up this
wonderful creature for the sake of hunting.
Ironically, a bear is actually featured on our five-kuna coin.
So, for a couple of thousand euros, foreign hunters can come to this
country, kill a bear, eat lunch and go home with its fur as a trophy.
With no proof to back up their claims, local hunters blamed our bears for
the mysterious deaths of sheep on the island of Krk. Just another excuse for
these misunderstood creatures to be hunted and shot. Local authorities
didn't even respond to solutions offered by respected foreign experts.
Instead they continued to insist on extermination.
The hunting lobby is strong in this country; therefore offers by foreign
environmental organizations are often ignored.
At a sitting of the hunting alliance, The President of the Croatian
Republic, Stjepan Mesic stated that various negative stories about bears and
other animals tend to circulate amongst those who do not know a lot about
hunting.
In fact, misinformation circulates amongst much of the Croatian public,
mostly uneducated about animal welfare. Completely unproven claims of
rampaging bears and other wild animals ripping whole herds of sheep to
pieces just give more credibility and support to the country's hunting
lobby. Because of this ignorance, bloody sports and killing for pleasure
seems to stand proud in our countries cultural curriculum.
The way things are going at the moment, the only place we are likely to see
a Croatian bear in the future is on our five-kuna coin.
Croatia is probably the only country in the world where a hunter can openly
say on national television that he has killed somebody's dog, cat, donkey
etc. - and that he will also kill others.
Hunting grounds start as close as three hundred metres from private land.
Hunters take full advantage of this and intentionally kill "everything that
moves". They know too well that the law allows them to do so, and they
stretch that law to extremes.
It is simply repulsive to watch these hunters - macho he-men in military
dress, armed with guns and lead by dogs. They set out on their heroic
crusades - the killing of "dangerous wild beasts" - such as rabbits,
pheasants and foxes ... It's pathetic.
However, hunters are not the only ones who use loopholes in our catastrophic
Animal Protection Act. Croatia's entertainment industry regularly uses
animals as stage props. The performers hurl them around the stage, batter
them or sacrifice them in the course of "artistic expression".
Up to a point, public activities like this might get condemned - and there
is talk of bringing charges, but the sentiments are short-lived and soon
forgotten. These occurrences are overshadowed by other, more inane news
incidents, which the media would rather make space for.
Although we are a small Central European country, we are the largest world
producer of chinchilla fur, with up to 50% of the total world production.
These small South American animals are kept throughout their life in cramped
cages. And when their time comes, their necks are broken - then they are
skinned. These poor creature's pelts proudly contribute to Croatia's export
economy. In just 6 months, Chinchilla Co. Ltd. produced 10.5 tonnes of
carcasses of these small rodents.
Even though more and more people in the world support synthetic fur, and are
against the production of natural (animal) fur, Croatia is not interested in
banning fur farming. Croatia is not interested in the fact that the anti-fur
movement is gaining strength all the time and that a large number of
civilized countries across the world condemn this kind of cruelty. But in
our country, a woman thinks she is not a 'real woman' without a fur coat.

"In Croatia, we ask ourselves, in which century and time are we living: the
stone-age or the third millennium?"

With regards to animal species from other continents, it is necessary to
mention ostriches, which are presently one of the growing problems in
Croatia. There are more and more breeders of these African birds, even
though there is no legislation in our country on the keeping and slaughter
of these animals. The bringing of such legislation is sought from
authorities. In the meantime, neighboring Austria has banned the slaughter
of ostriches.
This is the irony, because everything that is repulsive to the "West" - just
a border away - is allowed in our country; from the hunting of protected
species to the farming of fur and the slaughter of ostriches.
Unfortunately, the problem does not just lie in the farming and slaughter of
animals from other continents. In all countries around the world, animals
such as chickens, pigs, cows, horses and sheep are nothing but articles to
serve and fulfill meat eaters. That is the common state of world animal
farming for the masses. In some countries such as Great Britain there are
rules, which are supposed to be followed when slaughtering animals. This is
to reduce their pain of death to the minimum. But in Croatia they are
inconsiderately slaughtered without anesthetic. Their teeth, wings, tails
and testes are cut with no thought given to help reduce their pain.
Passing through any Croatian rural settlement, anyone can see for themselves
how such barbaric techniques are used to put animals to death. Veal calves,
for example, are hung alive, upside down and their throats cut to drain
their bodies of blood as the heart continues to pump.
Also located in Croatia are some of the largest chicken farms in Europe, as
well as some of the larger European farms for milk cows and pigs. Similarly,
we can 'boast' about our huge turkey, calve and beef cattle farms ... all
run using barbaric slaughtering methods.
Favourite specialties and popular meals are young pigs and lambs.
Particularly ugly sights are the numerous restaurants along busy Croatian
roads, with skewered baby animals turning over fires in front of the
restaurant entrances.
There is no celebration, wedding or holiday without a roast or an excess of
meat fare.
However, probably one of the greatest problems occurs in the Adriatic Sea,
which is almost totally depleted of fish. Fishing trawlers have ruined the
seabed, by dragging their nets, and have over fished the entire area. Apart
from our local fishermen, the Japanese are now assaulting the Adriatic Sea
using new, more intensive methods.
We take this opportunity to consider some of our folk traditions, such as
the beheading of bulls on the island Korcula. In fact this wasn't even a
tradition in the first place. It was introduced as a tourist attraction, but
instead gave rise to criticism and repugnance. Thankfully, it was given up
after just two seasons.
What else can we expect? What other horrific ideas lie in the heads of our
people or tourist associations? People who are more concerned about profit
rather than conserving their depleting natural resources and native animals.
The Croatian public must stand back and realize that they are ecologically
out of sync with global concerns about the environment, species extinction
and the ethical treatment of animals.
Is Croatia becoming the slaughterhouse of Europe?
Whilst some countries laws prohibit the abuse of animals, our country seems
to revel in it ... as a tourist attraction.
The number of vegetarians worldwide is steadily increasing and health
organizations around the world are supporting vegetarianism as healthy and
ethical choice. But in our country, authorities still have no understanding
for the introduction of vegetarian meals or food labeling into public
institutions.
In Croatia, nobody has yet been punished because of cruelty to animals.
Almost anything is tolerated. Pet owners can abuse their animal with no
worry about being charged with cruelty. Therefore, it's no surprise when
dogs and cats are abandoned and thrown out onto the street during the
holiday season. They finally end up in a pound where they are killed within
a shorter time limit than the law permits.
At the beginning of this article we parodied, "A small country for a great
holiday". This is the advertising slogan of the Croatian Tourist
Association. It's inspired by a seldom seen natural beauty of our land - its
large potential for eco-tourism and the production of ecological (organic)
growth and health food.
The purpose of this article is not to dispute that, but to seek an answer to
the questions:
"Why is Croatia turning to blood thirsty tourism of killing donkeys and
bears?
"Why is Croatia killing and selling of rare songbirds?
"Why is Croatia farming animal species endemic to other climes and the
opening of new hunting-grounds?"
At the same time, our rural tourism - illustrated by the beauty of ancient
castles - deteriorates further, as they become overgrown with nettles and
acacias. What was once among the cleanest rivers and springs in this part of
the world are now undrinkable, poisoned a result of bad planning of
industrial waste zones.
The resulting cruelty and negligence towards all the animal species that
share these expanses with us is overwhelming.
Even though we are a 'small' country, Croatia is unfortunately also a land
of great cruelty.
An article by the Croatian Animal Welfare Group, Animal
<http://www.prijatelji-zivotinja.hr/index.html>  Friends.
Edited and revised by LGGN

http://www.looking-glass.co.uk/news/library2002/2002-5-east-europe.htm#croat
ia



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello,

My name is Michelle and I live in Mercer County, West Virginia. I just recently
joined this group and hope to be able to learn a lot about protecting animals in
my community.

I have one very important question that I'd like to start out with, if anyone
could help. How do I get started in filing a complaint against my local
county-operated animal shelter for blatantly breaking both WV State and Federal
laws when it comes to the 5-day holding period before they're allowed to adopt
out or euthanize?

One of my puppies was taken to the animal shelter on December 29th at 2pm by a
neighbor who mistakenly thought someone had "dropped" her in his yard. They
euthanized her at 5:30pm the same day...just 3 and a half hours after she got
there. I found out where she was the next morning and was the first person in
the door when they opened, to pick up my puppy. They lied to me and told me
she'd been adopted out. After pressing them and threatening to go to the
magistrate if they didn't get my puppy back from whoever took her, they FAKED a
phone call right in front of me where they pretended to contact the "adoptive
parents". The employee then stated that the adoptive parents had said No, they
want to keep her. This went on for 3 days before finally the director of the
animal shelter called me after hours at home and said that she'd just found out
that my puppy had actually been euthanized. She admitted that they do this all
of the time, but that this was the first time they'd gotten caught. I've got all
of that on tape, per advice from my local State police station. The director
also admitted that they'll run into this same "issue" again this week, next
week, the next week...etc. So they have no intention of abiding by the law.

No attorney in my town will represent me because of two reasons they've all
supplied me with: 1) There won't be a big enough payoff to make it worth their
while OR 1) They're friends with the county commissioner and it would be a
conflict of interests. So my question is...if a county-operated facility, which
is funded by the government, does not have to abide by either state or federal
laws...why does anyone else have to? And has it gotten to the point where if the
crime you commit doesn't result in a huge financial payout, it's ok for you to
commit that crime because no one will complain/prosecute?

I am at my wit's end with this and don't know where to go next. I finally talked
the animal shelter into releasing the body of my puppy to me this past
monday...on the 5th day after she'd been taken there. They dug her out of their
deep freezer located outside behind their building and handed her to me in a
black trash bag. I had to let her thaw out for a day and a half before we could
re-shape her so that she would fit into the makeshift casket we'd gotten for
her. This whole ordeal has been a nightmare and has completely devasted my
family. We helped that little puppy into the world when her mama had trouble
giving birth, and we've been with her every single day of her life. She was only
3 months old. That little baby meant the world to my husband and me and we have
not been able to get past the hurt or the feeling of utter helplessness.

Does anyone have any advice on what I can do to at least prevent this from
continuing to happen, and to hold those accountable that make the decisions to
break these laws on a regular basis?

Thanks in advance,

Michelle Bailey

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dawn Marie <goodnessmercy@...> wrote:

Please consider going to the Oprah website (that Linda was kind enough to
research) to suggest a show on animal cruelty, rescue, treatment,
spay-neuter, vaccination, volunteering, and state cruelty laws. See
suggested text below. You’re welcome to copy and paste, and change into
your own words. However you want to do this. We need maximum attention on
this case because the county prosecutor is wimping out. He has dropped the
charges. Our felony law allows cruelty if there is “damage to property” --
the cat lived in a Wal-Mart storage trailer. Our misdemeanor law covers
only “beating” an animal – so shooting it is technically not covered and
therefore not illegal. I am disappointed in the correspondence with animal
activist leaders in our state who don’t want to offend the prosecutor by
calling attention to him. This has become political. “Forget the cat. Let
’s compromise for the next battle.” In my opinion, *this* *is* the battle.

Original Message-----
From: LJMoore [mailto:ljmoore@...]
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 12:28 AM

http://www.oprah.com/email/email_landing.jhtml


Oprah, you could do a real service educating the public against animal
cruelty. Right here in Indiana, several WalMart managers were fired for
shooting a stray cat with a pellet gun from the store, killing it slowly
over two days, then wrapping the body in shrink wrap, and bragging to other
employees and delivery people what they'd done, as though it were a feat to
be proud of. The big boss at the store ordered them to "get rid of" the cat
and this was their interpretation of the order. What's that say about our
working professionals?

You could make several valuable points to the American public:
1. Cruelty to animals is directly tied to the capacity for cruelty to
humans -- and is nearly 100% in the early history of imprisoned criminals.
2. There are rescue organizations in every city, and most humane societies
will loan Have-a-Heart live traps with coaching on how to use them. Urge
the public to call them and make a donation to support their good work
because resources are stretched to the maximum.
3. Follow on to the Howard Lymon theme that animals have feelings, and that
we must be kind to animals. Evoke the compassion of your good audience,
including children who may be watching at home.
4. Urge people to volunteer as foster homes for pets that need
resocializing, but warn your audience that they may become owners because
it's hard to let fosters go -- to someone who couldn't possibly love them as
much as you do. '-))
5. Urge your audience to adopt from shelters, humane societies, purebred
rescues, etc. *NOT* pet stores where the animals originate from puppy mills
and kitten mills. That's an expose it itself!
6. Urge people to spay/neuter and to vaccinate. There are many low cost
opportunities as well as vans that travel through cities to offer these
services at minimal cost. You could also drive the point home by showing
some of the surviving off-spring of kittens exposed in utero to disease.
Particularly disturbing is a palsy-like uncoordination that is so unlike
what we expect from graceful cats. The graphic image will stick with people
and get them to vaccinate!
7. Urge all Americans to campaign for felony animal cruelty laws for their
state. Give examples of good laws. This Indiana Wal-Mart case may go no
where because misdemeanors cover "beating" only, and felonies can be excused
if the perpetrator can justify "damage to property." The county prosecutor
is wimping out because he wants a record of wins for his office. So the
killers are getting off with no punishment. This is a very sad thing
because Indiana's law has no teeth.
8. Last, how about covering some veterinarians, who are highly educated,
but underpaid compared to their counterparts in human health care? There
are some heroes out there! Urge people to send a thank you card to their
vet(s)!
9. You could also touch on the alternative health care providers, a very
creative and hopeful area of healing that works with the Creator to copy
what nature does and enhance natural healing processes.

You live in Indiana and you love animals. Please do this series!

You could do a whole week on animals!!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
List website (contains articles, FAQs, etc.): http://www.holisticat.com
Recent posts available at: http://www.escribe.com/pets/holisticat/
Any problems, contact Sandy: mailto:owner-holisticat@...
----------------------------------------------------------------------



---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
  Yahoo! Mail - 250MB free storage. Do more. Manage less.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Susan Gordon <veganvirago@...> wrote:

Also...

Please send POLITE letters to the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor's Office,
letting them know how disappointed you are that they refused to prosecute
this heinous crime. Let them know that people all over the country were
following this case and are angered that these violent criminals will go
untried and unpunished.

CONTACT INFO:
Vanderburgh County Prosecutor's Office
ATTN: Stanley M. Levco
Prosecuting Attorney 1st Judicial Circuit
Civic Center Complex
Administration Building - Room 108
Evansville, IN. 47708
Fax (812) 435 - 5810
Phone (812) 435 - 5150
You can e-mail comments from:
http://www.vanderburghgov.org/external/index.asp?site=http://www.vanderburghpros\
ecutor.org/&type=County




__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Michelle, I am so sorry to hear about your situation. I can't
really offer the help you're looking for, but I wanted to express my
sincere sympathy to you and your family and let you know that I'm am
terribly sorry about your loss. My prayers and thoughts are with you
and your family. Take care.

--- In animalrightsactivistresources@yahoogroups.com, "Michelle
Bailey" <webwiz@c...> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> My name is Michelle and I live in Mercer County, West Virginia. I
just recently joined this group and hope to be able to learn a lot
about protecting animals in my community.
>
> I have one very important question that I'd like to start out
with, if anyone could help. How do I get started in filing a
complaint against my local county-operated animal shelter for
blatantly breaking both WV State and Federal laws when it comes to
the 5-day holding period before they're allowed to adopt out or
euthanize?
>
> One of my puppies was taken to the animal shelter on December 29th
at 2pm by a neighbor who mistakenly thought someone had "dropped"
her in his yard. They euthanized her at 5:30pm the same day...just 3
and a half hours after she got there. I found out where she was the
next morning and was the first person in the door when they opened,
to pick up my puppy. They lied to me and told me she'd been adopted
out. After pressing them and threatening to go to the magistrate if
they didn't get my puppy back from whoever took her, they FAKED a
phone call right in front of me where they pretended to contact
the "adoptive parents". The employee then stated that the adoptive
parents had said No, they want to keep her. This went on for 3 days
before finally the director of the animal shelter called me after
hours at home and said that she'd just found out that my puppy had
actually been euthanized. She admitted that they do this all of the
time, but that this was the first time they'd gotten caught. I've
got all of that on tape, per advice from my local State police
station. The director also admitted that they'll run into this
same "issue" again this week, next week, the next week...etc. So
they have no intention of abiding by the law.
>
> No attorney in my town will represent me because of two reasons
they've all supplied me with: 1) There won't be a big enough payoff
to make it worth their while OR 1) They're friends with the county
commissioner and it would be a conflict of interests. So my question
is...if a county-operated facility, which is funded by the
government, does not have to abide by either state or federal
laws...why does anyone else have to? And has it gotten to the point
where if the crime you commit doesn't result in a huge financial
payout, it's ok for you to commit that crime because no one will
complain/prosecute?
>
> I am at my wit's end with this and don't know where to go next. I
finally talked the animal shelter into releasing the body of my
puppy to me this past monday...on the 5th day after she'd been taken
there. They dug her out of their deep freezer located outside behind
their building and handed her to me in a black trash bag. I had to
let her thaw out for a day and a half before we could re-shape her
so that she would fit into the makeshift casket we'd gotten for her.
This whole ordeal has been a nightmare and has completely devasted
my family. We helped that little puppy into the world when her mama
had trouble giving birth, and we've been with her every single day
of her life. She was only 3 months old. That little baby meant the
world to my husband and me and we have not been able to get past the
hurt or the feeling of utter helplessness.
>
> Does anyone have any advice on what I can do to at least prevent
this from continuing to happen, and to hold those accountable that
make the decisions to break these laws on a regular basis?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Michelle Bailey
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

RAIN COLD did not stop us from getting out there!!  Thanks to every
dedicated activist who came to the Steven Corn Fur protest Janurary
8th YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!Here is the Bergen Record article:

  Protesters hot under collar over furs

Sunday, January 9, 2005

By JOHN CHADWICK
STAFF WRITER



A group of about 20 anti-fur activists targeted Steven Corn Furs in
Paramus on Saturday, shouting at customers and holding signs showing
bloodied, skinless animals with the words: "Here's the rest of your
fur coat."

Members of the group, Caring Activists Against Fur, said they're
combating a new surge in demand for fur coats. Celebrity music and
film stars are fueling some of the sales through the development of
their own clothing lines, they said.

"We need to be out here connecting the dots between the fur coat and
the murder of the animals," said Julie Bolkin O'Connor of
Tenafly. "Our presence educates people."

But the manager of the upscale Route 17 shop said the protesters'
presence also brings in customers.

"If anything, we tend to have better business the days they are
here," John Paul said. "It's like an advertisement."

Paul said the sale of fur coats is increasing - about 30 percent
from last year - because of the last few cold winters.

He also said that the accusations of mistreatment of animals are
overblown.

Paul said minks, for example, live better on the breeding farms than
in the animal kingdom.

"For five to seven years they eat, sleep and make more little
minks," Paul said. "Out in the wild they live two to three
years. ... They die from starvation, disease or being eaten by
another animal."

An organizer of the protest begged to differ.

"Breeding minks can live up to five to seven years ... that's in a
prison," said Debbie Kowalski of Hackettstown. "The ones they
actually use for the coat, that they skinned, are 8 to 10 months
old, and they're killed."

Among those who braved the cold, rainy weather to join the protest
was an 82-year-old Westwood man.

"I like animals," quipped Bill Triglia. "They don't kill nearly as
much as humans."

E-mail: chadwick@...



check out past protest pics on CAAFs new yahoo group site  You have
to join to click photo section
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caafgroup/

Hello Fellow Caring Activists Against Fur!

CAAF will be at Wet Seal on Sat. Jan. 29th in NYC:
TIME:  1PM-230PM
PLACE: Wet Seal 100 West 33rd Street... CORNER OF 33RD STREET AND
BROADWAY

We are helping PETA fight against Wet Seal.... they are selling
rabbit fur items... there customers are mostly young adults. Please
mark your calendar for this protest.  Lets make a difference!!

Debbie and Julie
Caring Activists Against Fur

We will supply signs and liturature all we need is YOU!!
need more info Julie - 201-927-3617/Debbie - 908-887-0775

A similar situation kept happening in my town.  We sat in on city
council meetings, wrote letters to the newspaper, staged a march
through our town which ended on the courthouse steps.  Eventually,
they investigated and got rid of the shelter's director.  The new
director is a great animal-lover- the city council made sure of that
after all the bad press.  Find out who on your city council would
also support you.

--- In animalrightsactivistresources@yahoogroups.com, "Michelle
Bailey" <webwiz@c...> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> My name is Michelle and I live in Mercer County, West Virginia. I
just recently joined this group and hope to be able to learn a lot
about protecting animals in my community.
>
> I have one very important question that I'd like to start out
with, if anyone could help. How do I get started in filing a
complaint against my local county-operated animal shelter for
blatantly breaking both WV State and Federal laws when it comes to
the 5-day holding period before they're allowed to adopt out or
euthanize?
>
> One of my puppies was taken to the animal shelter on December 29th
at 2pm by a neighbor who mistakenly thought someone had "dropped"
her in his yard. They euthanized her at 5:30pm the same day...just 3
and a half hours after she got there. I found out where she was the
next morning and was the first person in the door when they opened,
to pick up my puppy. They lied to me and told me she'd been adopted
out. After pressing them and threatening to go to the magistrate if
they didn't get my puppy back from whoever took her, they FAKED a
phone call right in front of me where they pretended to contact
the "adoptive parents". The employee then stated that the adoptive
parents had said No, they want to keep her. This went on for 3 days
before finally the director of the animal shelter called me after
hours at home and said that she'd just found out that my puppy had
actually been euthanized. She admitted that they do this all of the
time, but that this was the first time they'd gotten caught. I've
got all of that on tape, per advice from my local State police
station. The director also admitted that they'll run into this
same "issue" again this week, next week, the next week...etc. So
they have no intention of abiding by the law.
>
> No attorney in my town will represent me because of two reasons
they've all supplied me with: 1) There won't be a big enough payoff
to make it worth their while OR 1) They're friends with the county
commissioner and it would be a conflict of interests. So my question
is...if a county-operated facility, which is funded by the
government, does not have to abide by either state or federal
laws...why does anyone else have to? And has it gotten to the point
where if the crime you commit doesn't result in a huge financial
payout, it's ok for you to commit that crime because no one will
complain/prosecute?
>
> I am at my wit's end with this and don't know where to go next. I
finally talked the animal shelter into releasing the body of my
puppy to me this past monday...on the 5th day after she'd been taken
there. They dug her out of their deep freezer located outside behind
their building and handed her to me in a black trash bag. I had to
let her thaw out for a day and a half before we could re-shape her
so that she would fit into the makeshift casket we'd gotten for her.
This whole ordeal has been a nightmare and has completely devasted
my family. We helped that little puppy into the world when her mama
had trouble giving birth, and we've been with her every single day
of her life. She was only 3 months old. That little baby meant the
world to my husband and me and we have not been able to get past the
hurt or the feeling of utter helplessness.
>
> Does anyone have any advice on what I can do to at least prevent
this from continuing to happen, and to hold those accountable that
make the decisions to break these laws on a regular basis?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Michelle Bailey
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

One further note:  I would contact national organizations such as
PeTA and the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

--- In
animalrightsactivistresources@yahoogroups.com, "lazarusoutcast"
<lazarusoutcast@y...> wrote:
>
> A similar situation kept happening in my town.  We sat in on city
> council meetings, wrote letters to the newspaper, staged a march
> through our town which ended on the courthouse steps.  Eventually,
> they investigated and got rid of the shelter's director.  The new
> director is a great animal-lover- the city council made sure of
that
> after all the bad press.  Find out who on your city council would
> also support you.
>
> --- In animalrightsactivistresources@yahoogroups.com, "Michelle
> Bailey" <webwiz@c...> wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > My name is Michelle and I live in Mercer County, West Virginia.
I
> just recently joined this group and hope to be able to learn a lot
> about protecting animals in my community.
> >
> > I have one very important question that I'd like to start out
> with, if anyone could help. How do I get started in filing a
> complaint against my local county-operated animal shelter for
> blatantly breaking both WV State and Federal laws when it comes to
> the 5-day holding period before they're allowed to adopt out or
> euthanize?
> >
> > One of my puppies was taken to the animal shelter on December
29th
> at 2pm by a neighbor who mistakenly thought someone had "dropped"
> her in his yard. They euthanized her at 5:30pm the same day...just
3
> and a half hours after she got there. I found out where she was
the
> next morning and was the first person in the door when they
opened,
> to pick up my puppy. They lied to me and told me she'd been
adopted
> out. After pressing them and threatening to go to the magistrate
if
> they didn't get my puppy back from whoever took her, they FAKED a
> phone call right in front of me where they pretended to contact
> the "adoptive parents". The employee then stated that the adoptive
> parents had said No, they want to keep her. This went on for 3
days
> before finally the director of the animal shelter called me after
> hours at home and said that she'd just found out that my puppy had
> actually been euthanized. She admitted that they do this all of
the
> time, but that this was the first time they'd gotten caught. I've
> got all of that on tape, per advice from my local State police
> station. The director also admitted that they'll run into this
> same "issue" again this week, next week, the next week...etc. So
> they have no intention of abiding by the law.
> >
> > No attorney in my town will represent me because of two reasons
> they've all supplied me with: 1) There won't be a big enough
payoff
> to make it worth their while OR 1) They're friends with the county
> commissioner and it would be a conflict of interests. So my
question
> is...if a county-operated facility, which is funded by the
> government, does not have to abide by either state or federal
> laws...why does anyone else have to? And has it gotten to the
point
> where if the crime you commit doesn't result in a huge financial
> payout, it's ok for you to commit that crime because no one will
> complain/prosecute?
> >
> > I am at my wit's end with this and don't know where to go next.
I
> finally talked the animal shelter into releasing the body of my
> puppy to me this past monday...on the 5th day after she'd been
taken
> there. They dug her out of their deep freezer located outside
behind
> their building and handed her to me in a black trash bag. I had to
> let her thaw out for a day and a half before we could re-shape her
> so that she would fit into the makeshift casket we'd gotten for
her.
> This whole ordeal has been a nightmare and has completely devasted
> my family. We helped that little puppy into the world when her
mama
> had trouble giving birth, and we've been with her every single day
> of her life. She was only 3 months old. That little baby meant the
> world to my husband and me and we have not been able to get past
the
> hurt or the feeling of utter helplessness.
> >
> > Does anyone have any advice on what I can do to at least prevent
> this from continuing to happen, and to hold those accountable that
> make the decisions to break these laws on a regular basis?
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> >
> > Michelle Bailey
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi is Debbie from Caring Activists Against Fur (CAAF). I am selling
these bracelets and buttons on ebay... all proceeds go towards CAAF
to help fight the war on fur.
In the search section on ebay type in anti fur bracelets or vegan
bracelets. Great gift idea for the AR activist.
see our website www.caafgroup.com for future events or check out my
caaf yahoo group see pics from past protests at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caafgroup/

Hi is Debbie from Caring Activists Against Fur (CAAF). I am selling
these bracelets and buttons on ebay... all proceeds go towards CAAF
to help fight the war on fur.
In the search section on ebay type in anti fur bracelets or vegan
bracelets. Great gift idea for the AR activist.
see our website www.caafgroup.com for future events or check out my
caaf yahoo group see pics from past protests at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caafgroup/

Subject: KOREA - PLEASE RESPOND AND FORWARD ON





Dogs on their way to slaughter (photo courtesy of Animal Freedom Korea)
2. Korean Government Seeks to Legalize Sale of Dog Meat
IDA has learned from our colleagues at Animal Freedom Korea (AFK) that
the Ministry of the Office for Government Policy Coordination in Korea
plans to legalize the sale of dog meat by setting standards for hygienic
slaughter and processing. The Ministry recently completed a report on
"the hygienic control of dog meat," and is about to open an internal
debate. Under current Korean law, dogs cannot be sold as food, but the
law is not enforced. If the Ministry's plans for hygienic control
succeed, it will effectively legalize the dog meat market.

If the sanitary and environmental problems are so serious as to require
government intervention, then the Korean Government must ban dog meat -
not legalize it - in order to protect its citizens. AFK participated in
the policy discussion for the hygienic control of dog meat and strongly
opposed the measure. The group is actively working to block all efforts
to legalize dog meat in Korea.
The sale of dog meat can only be legalized if the scheme is approved by
the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), which is responsible for
the hygienic control of livestock. However, the MAF has already stated
that it is impossible to hygienically control dog meat. In addition, the
people of Korea must support legalization for it to take effect. The
fact is, very few Koreans eat dog meat and most wish to see it banned.
Despite this, the Ministry of the Office for Government Policy
Coordination continues to seek legalization.


Please write polite letters to Korean Government officials and let them
know that for the health of their people and for the millions of dogs
who are already suffering unimaginable cruelties, they must not legalize
the sale of dog meat. To contact these officials or automatically send
them a pre-written email, click here:
<http://ga0.org/campaign/koreandogs> http://ga0.org/campaign/koreandogs.

For more information, please visit
<http://www.animalkorea.org/bbs/view.php?id=meat&no=2> AFK's web site or
e-mail  <mailto:animal@...> animal@....







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Man Convicted of Selling Animal-Cruelty Videos
Fri Jan 14, 8:44 AM EST

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A pit bull enthusiast who sold videos of dogfights and
dogs
attacking a pig became the first person on Thursday to be convicted under a
federal law
banning depictions of cruelty to animals, prosecutors said.

Robert Stevens, 64, of Pittsville, Virginia, was found guilty in a Pittsburgh
court of selling
three videos a jury decided violated the ban on depicting the intentional
maiming,
mutilation or torture of animals or any wounding or killing.

Under the law, signed by President Bill Clinton (news - web sites) in 1999,
prosecutors
must also prove such videos have no serious educational, historical or
scientific value.

Stevens who runs a company called Dogs of Velvet and Steel, also sold "break
sticks" and
"spring poles," which are used to condition pit bulls for fighting. Dog fighting
is illegal in
all 50 states.

Stevens advertised the videos in an underground dog-fighting paper called the
Sporting
Dog Journal, which reports the results of illegal dog fights. He was caught by
undercover
law enforcement officials posing as customers.

"This dangerous and inhumane crime promotes violence and degrades our
community,"
said Mary Beth Buchanan, U.S. attorney for Western Pennsylvania, in a statement
after the
verdict. "Justice has been done in a very serious case."

U.S. District Judge Alan Bloch also banned Stevens from owning, breeding,
training or
selling pit bulls or possessing any device used in dog fighting. The court
rejected Stevens'
argument that banning the videos denied his First Amendment rights of free
speech.

Stevens faces up to 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of $750,000. His
sentencing
was set for April 21.

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=2005
-01-14T134410Z_01_N13571625_RTRIDST_0_ODD-CRIME-CRUELTY-DC.XML

Animal Rights 2005 Update
#####################

We are pleased to announce the opening of early registration for the
Animal Rights 2005 National Conference. Please visit www.AR2005.org and
take advantage of the current discounted registration rate!

The conference will be held on July 7-11 at the superb Westin LAX Hotel
in Los Angeles. Special features include fabulous accommodation rates
with free dog beds, cruelty-free personal care products, discounted
vegan meals, discounted parking, free airport shuttle, and use of the
hotel's magnificent Grand Ballroom and Video Theater, with exhibits in
one hall. More than a thousand people representing 80 groups are expected.

The schedule will begin with the Welcome Reception and Opening Plenary
on Thursday evening and close with the Sunday evening Awards Banquet and
Farewell Reception.  Other features will include plenaries, workshops,
rap sessions, campaign reports, videos, exhibits, Newcomer Orientation,
Employment Clearinghouse, Networking Receptions, and musical interludes.
A number of post-conference activities including seminars, special
interest meetings, and demos, are planned by several groups for Monday,
July 11.

The daily program will run along the traditional Issues, Organizing,
Remedies, Raps/Reports, Videos, Exhibits tracks, but there will be ample
time for socializing, networking, and scheduling special meetings. Key
speakers signed up thus far include Lorri Bauston, Steve Best, Michael
Budkie, Theo Capaldo, Karen Davis, Karen Dawn, Tim Gorski, Michael
Greger, Alex Hershaft, Pattrice Jones, Elliot Katz, Howard Lyman, Paul
Watson.

In this critical transition time for our movement, we expect a superb
conference, with ample opportunities for learning, networking,
strategizing, and "recharging batteries." This year, your presence is
more important than ever. Be there for the animals and bring a friend!

We look forward to seeing you in LA,

Frank J. Gomez, for the AR2005 Management Team
P.O. Box 30654
Bethesda, MD 20824
888-FARM-USA


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Register  your  Meatout 2005  event  at  www.meatout.org!
Register for the AR2005 conference at www.AR2005.org!
<http://www.meatout.org/>

DawnWatch <news@...> wrote:News on the animal situation in the Tsunami
zone is sad. On Saturday, January 16, the Los Angeles Times carried a story, by
John M. Glionna, headed, "Orphaned Sri Lanka Dogs Seen as Danger. Many canines
were left to fend for themselves after the tsunami. Fears of deadly rabies
trigger a government plan to exterminate them."

It opens:
"They are perhaps the most overlooked victims of last month's devastating
tsunami, increasingly desperate creatures existing without shelter and little
food or even clean water. And under a new government program, their days are
numbered.

"They're dogs of all sizes, color and character, former pets that have been left
without masters after the tsunami flooded this eastern Sri Lankan village,
killing at least 1,000 of its 6,000 residents.

"For three weeks, hundreds of dogs have wandered through the rubble of Ulle in
search of food, puddles from which to lap and often just a reassuring pat on the
head.

"The animals are too timid to compete with humans for the food that arrives at
refugee camps every day. Yet in Ulle and across this poor island nation, some
dogs are slowly getting meaner, howling at night, joining wandering packs,
snarling at one another over the animal carcasses that wash up along the beach.

"Last weekend, Sri Lankan officials began planning a dog eradication program
after one person in Ampara province, which includes Ulle, reportedly contracted
rabies, presumably after being bitten by a dog. The victim's condition was not
known. In Ulle, more than half a dozen people — including two foreign relief
workers — have also recently been bitten by dogs. None has been diagnosed with
rabies so far."

Because of fear of a major rabies outbreak, "Officials say the canine
eradication program will start in the next few days and could soon be extended
to other regions. They plan to poison the dogs with cyanide-laced meat, although
they've had problems finding enough cyanide."

A veterinarian who has been so far vaccinated about 300 "free range" dogs is
quoted:

"These dogs are starving. It's hard enough for people in these refugee camps to
find food. One can only imagine the plight of these animals. They rely on the
leftovers from humans. But now there are no leftovers. And the dogs will get
desperate."

We read,
"The vet, whose efforts are sponsored by the Humane Society International and
other donors, said that most of the dogs were undoubtedly former pets because
they looked well-fed and had healthy coats of fur.

"'They're very nice dogs, most of them. This is not their fault that they have
lost their owners. It's very tragic, actually.'"

And we read,
"The veterinarian said that French Red Cross doctors in Ulle asked him last
Sunday to stop vaccinating stray dogs and concentrate only on those that were
identified by owners. Many dogs now wear bright red collars, signifying that
they are not to be euthanized."

How odd that the word "euthanize" is chosen to describe death by cyanide. We
tend to use the word too loosely.

You can read the full Los Angeles Times report on line at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-dogs16jan16,1,7523155.story

Perhaps it will inspire you to write a letter to the Los Angeles Times about the
plight of dogs in the Tsunami zone, or here in the USA. The Times take letters
at: letters@....

You can read reports from the Humane Society International (a sponsor of the vet
referred to who is vaccinating animals) and donate towards the group's efforts
at:
http://www.hsi.org.au/news_library_events/Tsunami_Intro.htm

And HSUS has a great page specifically on this issue:
http://www.hsus.org/about_us/humane_society_international_hsi/hsi_asia/relief_ef\
forts_focus_on_human_tragedy_after_catastrophic_tsunami.html OR
http://tinyurl.com/7x95s

Regarding Anderson Cooper on CNN:

I have missed his reports on the issue, and unfortunately I cannot find them on
CNN's website, but I hear that Anderson Cooper has gone out of his way to call
attention to the suffering of the dogs, reporting on them in a highly
sympathetic manner. I heard that, on January 7, as he reported on the dog's
plight and petted and examined the foot of a dog who seemed attached to him,
another reporter asked if he were not afraid of disease; he replied that it was
a chance worth taking. Since one of the reports I read suggested that many dogs
coming to humans seem to be looking as much for a reassuring pat as anything
else, Cooper's response is particularly touching. Today, January 18, Jill Church
tells me that his report on the Indonesian government's plans to exterminate
stray dogs was again very sympathetic, and gave donation information for groups
such as the Humane Society International and WSPA.

Many millions of people saw that report, so Anderson Cooper's choice to focus on
animal suffering, when many reporters would refuse to do so when there is so
much human suffering (as if compassion is a limited commodity) is no doubt
responsible for some extra aid going to the animal victims. Please take just a
moment to let him know that his focus on the animal issue is deeply appreciated.
There is a page that asks specifically for feedback about Anderson Cooper at:
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form4.html?5
It will take just a moment to go there and post a quick thank you for his
Tsunami dog coverage.

Those new to DawnWatch will find my extensive report from earlier this month, on
the Tsunami animal situation, at:
http://www.dawnwatch.com/1-05_Animal_Media_Alerts.htm#TSUNAMI

Yours and the animals',
Karen Dawn

(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues in the
media and facilitates one-click responses to the relevant media outlets. You can
learn more about it, and sign up for alerts at http://www.DawnWatch.com. To
unsubscribe, go to www.DawnWatch.com/unsubscribe.php. If you forward or reprint
DawnWatch alerts, please do so unedited -- leave DawnWatch in the title and
include this tag line.)




--




---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
  Yahoo! Mail - Helps protect you from nasty viruses.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Anti fur, Vegan Bracelets and Buttons  Help our group and get the
word out in style
***All proceeds go towards CAAF****

Here is the direct link to the store we
are an anti fur group based in NYC/NJ

http://stores.ebay.com/Caring-Activists-Against-Fur

also our website is www.caagroup.com
yahoo group join up see our protest pics
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caafgroup/

Thanks
Debbie

Funeral March for the Hunted

Washington DC to New York City
375 km / 235 mi
Start date: March 15, 2005


Experience tells Canadian wildlife preservationist and anti-hunting
activist Anthony Marr (http://www.HOPE-CARE.org) that when he
informs people that the annual quota of the Canadian Commercial Seal
Hunt is 375,000 out of a total population of 5 million, they react
lukewarmly, some mumbling something about 7 percent, but when he
shows them what 375,000 seals look like, they react volcanically,
some exclaiming "Oh my God!", others "Bastards!" or worse, depending
on their religious orientation.

So, what do 375,000 dead seals really look like?  If lined up nose
to tail, at one meter per seal, 375,000 seals would form a single
file stretching 375 kilometers or 235 miles – the exact distance
between Washington DC and New York City.

In the Animal Rights 2004 conference, Anthony Marr spoke on "Engage
Media".  "It is well known that in real estate, the three key words
for success are `location, location, location'.  In activism, the
three key words are `media, media, media'.  Basically, what the
public did not see on TV did not happen," he said.  "So, to engage
media.  What you need are seven essential ingredients, the more used
per event, the better, all if possible:

1. The event must be original (not copycat);
2. it must be creative (as outlandish as possible as long as it
works - without damaging the movement as a whole);
3. it must be new to media (bearing in mind that something new
is new only once at one place);
4. it must be photogenic (TV-friendly; an newspaper article
without a photo is weak);
5. it must be difficult and/or dangerous to execute (what few
would dare to attempt);
6. it must offer a new viewpoint on an old and hackneyed issue
(rejuvenated perception); and
7. it must be transformative (from dry statistics to heart-
rending visions)."

Abiding by his own advice, Marr executed an event in March 2001,
called the Funeral March for the Hunted, where he walked 100 km
(about 60 mi) along Hwy 7 from Mission City to Vancouver, British
Columbia, Canada, carrying a Canadian flag with the maple leaf
colored black, and a sign saying "Civilize Canada" on one side
and "End the barbaric Seal Hunt" on the other.  When asked by media
for a sound bite, he said, "100 km is the length of a single file of
100,000 dead seals at one meter per seal; you would have to drive a
full hour at highway speed to go from one end to the other.  If you
think this is outrageous, consider further that 100,000 is less than
one third of the total number.  Canada kills 350,000 seals per
year.  The line would stretch 350 km, all the way from Vancouver to
Kamloops.  You would have to drive 4 hours at highway speeds to go
from one end of the line to the other.  Frankly, I don't have time
to walk that far, but you get the picture."  And the people in
British Columbia too got the picture, loud and clear, since all
major BC media, and many minor media along the march route, covered
the event, some more than once.  Upon further questioning, Marr
talked about the cruelty inherent in the industry and the
scapegoating of seals for the declined of the North Atlantic Cod
precipitated in fact by overfishing – a human travesty.

Now, in 2005, in view of the U.S. Senate urging Canada to stop the
hunt, and the HSUS unleashing its Boycott Canada campaign, Marr
feels that a large-scale Funeral March for the Hunted could just be
the final push needed to send the seal hunt to the abyss.

According to the above, Marr has determined to execute Funeral March
for the Hunted 2005 from the Capitol building in Washington DC to
the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, via Baltimore,
Wilmington, Philadelphia, Trenton, Princeton and Newark, to generate
maximum national and international coverage of the issue.  The
departure date has been set for March 15, to coincide with the
opening of the hunt, as well as the continent-wide demonstrations
planned by HSUS and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.  The
duration depends on the amount of speaking engagements enroute.  He
will be carrying a Canadian flag with a ban-sign superimposed on the
maple leaf.

Anthony Marr will be inviting activists to join him on the March, in
whole or part, each carrying a sign or banner of his/her own making.

He will also explore the possibility of organizing many simultaneous
marches across the land.  This organizing effort would not be too
difficult, given the existence of the Global Anti-Hunting Coalition
which Marr formed on his 38-states-in-7.5-months Compassion for
Animals Road Expedition (CARE tour – see http://www.HOPE-CARE.org).

More than awareness-raising and action-generating (e.g. boycotting
Canadian fisheries products and tourism), this is also a fund-
raising event, to further advance Anthony Marr's effort to protect
the seals in particular and wildlife in general (e.g. seals, Bengal
tigers, grizzly bears, whales, dolphins, etc. - see http://www.HOPE-
CARE.org).   We ask that you make a generous pledge or donation for
this march.

Further, please forward this email in its entirety to your friends
and email-list contacts.

"I'll be 61 when the March starts.  I want to put my legs to some
positive use while they still work," said Anthony Marr.

Please copy-paste the following Pledge/Donation Form on to a word
document or new email page, fill it out, and send it back to HOPE-
CARE via Anthony-Marr@... at your earliest convenience.




Funeral March for the Hunted 2005

Pledge/Donation/Participation Form


I would like to make a donation in support of Anthony Marr's effort
to help end the Canadian Commercial Seal Hunt and save other
endangered wildlife.

My name is: _____________________________________________

My address is:
_________________________________________________________

Tel.:_______________, Email:
____________________________________________

At C$/US$______ per km/mi of the 375-km/235-mi Funeral March for the
Hunted, I will donate C$/US$____________ in total.

I would like my donation to go specifically to Anthony Marr's anti-
sealing effort
or (please delete one)
I would like my donation to go to Anthony Marr's wildlife
preservation and anti-hunting effort at large.

I would like to participate in the DC-NYC Funeral March ____
	 Full length _______
	 Part length (please specify)
__________________________________________

I would like to organize a local Funeral March in my area ____
	 State/Province and city
__________________________________________
	 Length of March _____________ km/mi, or ____% of full length




Thank you for your attention, and in advance for your generosity, on
behalf of the seals.

Please send donation cheques to:

Heal Our Planet Earth (HOPE)
4118 West 11th Ave.,
Vancouver, BC, Canada  V6R 2L6

For life on Earth,

Contact:
Anthony Marr
(604-222-1169), toll free 1-866-822-1169
http://www.HOPE-CARE.org
Anthony-Marr@...

-----Original Message-----
From: Linda Furness [mailto:linda.furness1@...]
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 3:38 PM
To: Linda Furness
Subject: Fw: For the Animals say NO to the European Constitution
Importance: High


----- Original Message -----
From: Maria Lopes <mailto:marialopes@...>
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 9:19 PM
Subject: For the Animals say NO to the European Constitution

INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT AGAINST BULLFIGHTS
MOVIMENTO INTERNACIONAL ANTI-TOURADAS
MOVIMIENTO INTERNACIONAL ANTITAURINO
MOUVEMENT INTERNATIONAL ANTI CORRIDAS
  <http://www.2kat.net/iwab> www.2kat.net/iwab
  <mailto:marialopes@...> marialopes@...

PRESS RELEASE
20th January 2005

The International Movement Against Bullfights recommends all supporters
in Portugal and Europe to vote NO to the referenda to be held about the
European Constitution.

After reading the future E.C. we realise that certain animals are
totally disrespected and can be a target to torture according to the
laws of each Member State, whenever this is made in name of cultural
tradition.

This is the content of the Article III - 121º

"In formulating and implementing the Union's agriculture, fisheries,
transport, internal market, research and technological development and
space policies, the Union and the Member States shall, since animals are
sentient beings, pay full regard to the requirements of animal welfare,
while respecting the legislative or administrative provisions and
customs of Member States relating in particular religious rites,
cultural tradition and regional heritage".

Although the E.C. considers animals sentient beings nonetheless excludes
certain animals when it came to religious rites and cultural traditions.

Therefore countries with bullfights like, Portugal, Spain and France can
continue to torture bulls in the name of cultural tradition. Also ritual
slaughters like Halal and Kosher are allowed in the name of religious
rites.

Even circus with animals or other kind of animal torture can be allowed
as long as a Member State claims that is a cultural tradition.

Every year thousands of bulls are tortured in Portugal, Spain and France
in the name of cultural tradition.

Obviously this Constitution does not protect the animals and therefore
we appeal to all animal defenders to vote NO and speak for those who
have no voice.

For the Animals say NO to the European Constitution.

Maria Lopes
Coordinator of the International Movement Against Bullfights


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

From: Animal Freedom Korea [mailto:animal@...]
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 7:02 AM
To: ??????
Subject: KOREA:The scheme for the hygienic control of dog meat

Dear Animal Frends,

AFK got information regarding that the Ministry of Office for Government
Policy Coordination in Korea plans to hygienically control the dog meat in
November, 2004, and we are actively dealing with this matter. Currently, the
Ministry of Office for Government Policy Coordination completed a report on
'the scheme for the hygienic control of dog meat ' and they are in the stage
of opening an internal debate.

As for now, the Korean government came to a conclusion that to legalize the
dogs to be the livestock, therefore, they prescribed the dog meat which is
'unregistered as livestock' as food and are seeking the ways to hygienically
control it. Based on the current Korean law, dogs meat cannot be registered
as the' livestock'. However, there is not any law that can penalize for the
dog slaughter.

For the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, which deals with the hygienic
control of livestock, to legalize the dog meat, there should be a mutual
agreement among the people, however, there is not. Therefore, they made
their view point clear that it is impossible to hygienically control the dog
meat. Despite the whole situation, the Ministry of Office for Government
Policy Coordination takes the initiative to find the ways to legally control
the dog meat.

The intention of the Ministry of Office for Government Policy Coordination
is that a huge amount of dog meat is consumed in reality, and they cannot
ignore the hygienic control of the dog meat. However, as most of the dog
meat consumed is not based on the overall eating habits of the Korean, if
the hygienic and environmental problems are critical, Korean government has
to seek a policy to ban dog meat to meet the needs of the current of the
times and the culture.

AFK participated in the 'Policy discussion for the hygienic control of dog
meat' and strongly opposed to legalizing the dog meat in Korea. We believe
that when the dog meat is tacitly approved by the Ministry of Office for
Government Policy Coordination, it is fairly dangerous to discuss the ways
to hygienically control the dog meat.

We cannot permit any control of dog meat by legal regulations however small
it is, and we should make it impossible even just to try to have a policy
discussion.

AFK commenced a campaign to urge the Ministry of Office for Government
Policy Coordination to discontinue the discussion regarding the 'Policy for
the hygienic control of dog meat 'and to repeal it. Around next week, I will
be able to roughly sense the policy direction of the Ministry of Office for
Government Policy Coordination. I will let you know the details then,
therefore, depending on your situation, please actively commence a campaign
to ban the dog meat targeting the Korean Ministry of Office for Government
Policy Coordination and the Korean embassy in your country.


< For your reference >

Minister of Office for Government Policy Coordination
Han Duck-Soo
e-mail :  dshan@...


< Our Request >

When you commence the anti-dog meat campaign, please never blame Koreans for
eating dogs. You have to be careful especially when this is spread through
the media. There still remains the old habit that it was inevitable to eat
dog meat in the past, therefore, many people who don't eat dog meat don't
fully understand the anti-dog meat movement.

When people from overseas blame Koreans for eating dog meat, Koreans feel so
offended that it can cause unfavorable side effects, which amplifies the
movements to solidify the dog meat as a Korean eating culture.

We have to win those who don't eat dog meat over to our side, and amplify
the range of anti-dog meat movement.


Sincerely,
Hee-kyung Jo

Animal Freedom Korea

307-18, Hangdang-dong, Songdong-gu,
Seoul, 133-070  South Korea
TEL 082-2-2292-6337
FAX 082-2-2292-6339
http://www.animalkorea.org (Eng)
http://www.animals.or.kr <http://www.animals.or.kr/>  (kor)
e-mail : animal@...



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

_____

From: Yoon Kerr [mailto:yoons_choi@...]
Sent: Saturday, January 22, 2005 8:55 AM
Subject: Update on Korean dogs and cats from IAKA and KAPS

Dear Friends,

Forwarded is the latest IAKA update on Korean dogs and cats.

The Korean government tried to legalise dog meat trade in the past and is
likely to do so again. Unfortunately the Korean government never seems to
understand how seriously the dog and cat meat trade damages Korea's
interests. The only way to stop them from continuously seeking ways of
legalising dog meat while doing nothing or as little as possible to clamp
down the trade is to deliver a coherent and strong message against the
inhumane trade from all sides.



With endangered wildlife, the Korean government passed a strong law against
not only those who kill the animals but also those who consume them. They
never attempted to defend the practice of eating parts of a tiger, a bear,
etc. as Korea's culture. This was possible because no animal group told the
Korean government to kill them humanely and then go on to consuming them.
Therefore, please remember and actively inform people that what the Korean
government need to hear is not 'please don't torture the animals while you
are killing them' but 'stop the dog and cat meat trade and expel the
groundless health myth'. Otherwise, the Korean government will never
permanently give up its intention of legalising dog meat.



Please give all your support if IAKA and KAPS decide to initiate another
major protest campaign, which will depend on the outcome of their talk with
the Korean government. In the meantime, continue to participate in IAKA and
KAPS' existing campaign.

http://www.koreananimals.org/help.htm#government



Please also help Korean animals by correcting the misconceptions that
prolonged the misery of Korean dogs and cats. We cannot solve a problem
without tackling the cause. You can find many useful articles on the subject
from the below link. Please share them with as many people as possible.

http://www.friendsofdogs.net/articles.html

.



Thank you for your kindness to Korean animals.





Yoon





-----Original Message-----
From: iakakaps [mailto:iaka@...]
Sent: 19 January 2005 17:43
To: iaka
Subject: Update

Dear friends of Korean animals,

As you all know, we have been recently campaigning against the Korean
government's attempt to legalize dog and cat meat trade through the
definition of pet animals. Although we were rather disappointed that the
Korean government did not accept our proposed definition of companion
animals which would have established a solid legal basis for protecting all
dogs and cats as companion animals in the Animal Protection Law Amendment,
we were much relieved when KAPS was told that the Ministry of Agriculture
decided to drop the dangerous definition of pet animals. Unfortunately it
came to our notice that the Ministry of Agriculture is under pressure to
change its mind and may need to introduce a new definition of companion
animals as below.

'Companion animals are animals mainly raised for companionship and emotional
development, as designated by the Ministry of Agriculture.'

This means that the Ministry of Agriculture will have the power to decide
what counts as companion animals. If the Ministry of Agriculture decide that
companion animals are registered dogs and cats and exclude dogs and cats
raised for human consumption from the object of the pet animal registration
scheme they are going to introduce, this will effectively justify the
distinction between pet dogs/cats and food dogs/cats in the eyes of law. We
are very concerned about this development and are talking to the Ministry of
Agriculture to adopt our proposed definition of companion animals if they
intend to introduce a definition of companion animals in the Amendment.

That the Korean government did not give up their intention of legalizing dog
and cat meat trade has been confirmed by the fact that the Ministry of
office for Government Policy Coordination held a meeting to discuss hygienic
control of the dog meat. Without tacit approval of dog meat, such a meeting
cannot take place. We cannot but suspect that the government officials were
trying to discuss a possibility of legalizing dog meat trade after making a
legal distinction between pet dogs and food dogs. The participants in the
meeting included the infamous Dr. Dogmeat (a well-known fanatical advocate
of dog meat) and a representative from dog meat trade, a clear sign that the
discussion was never intended for genuine hygiene or environmental concern
but was held to please dog meat traders.

The Ministry of Agriculture assured Sunnan that the legalization of dog meat
cannot happen at least for a while because there is no consensus for
legalizing dog meat among the general public in Korea and no government
department wants to take on such an unpopular and troublesome task. We
cannot however take comfort from their assurance if they keep trying to
legitimize the distinction between food dogs/cats and pet dogs/cats through
a definition of companion animals. We are waiting for a reply from the
Ministry of Agriculture over our concerns. We will start another major
protest campaign and inform all of you if we suspect that the Korean
government will legalize or take serious steps to legalize dog meat anytime
soon.

Yours sincerely,


Sunnan and Kyenan Kum






International Aid for Korean Animals
Korea Animal Protection Society
P.O. Box 20600, Oakland, 94620-0600, USA
www.koreananimals.org
iaka@...
(Tel.) 510-271-6795
(Fax) 510-451-0643



________________________________________________________



Friends of dogs
http://www.friendsofdogs.net
Dogs brighten our life with their gift of love. It is our turn to help our
dogs. Please help organisations who are fighting to get dogs out of the food
chain.

http://www.koreananimals.org/
http://www.animalsasia.org/
http://www.linisgobyerno.org/special_projects.htm

---------------------------------
Does your mail provider give you a FREE online calendar? Yahoo! does.
Get Yahoo! Mail

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



For more information on Asian animal issues, please use the search feature
on the AAPN website: http://www.aapn.org/ or search the list archives at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aapn
Please feel free to send any relevant news or comments to the list at
aapn@yahoogroups.com



   _____

Yahoo! Groups Links
* To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aapn/

* To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
aapn-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:aapn-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe>

* Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
<http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> .


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

"It's Their Destiny"

                   News items on Asian animal abuse

                         24th January 2005
                               Proposed Changes to Korean Animal Protection Law

                               Dear Friends

                               The following information was supplied by our
colleagues at IAKA/KAPS on 19th January 2005.

                               "As you all know, we have been recently
campaigning against the Korean government's attempt to legalize dog and cat meat
trade through the definition of pet animals. Although we were rather
disappointed that the Korean government did not accept our proposed definition
of companion animals which would have established a solid legal basis for
protecting all dogs and cats as companion animals in the Animal Protection Law
Amendment, we were much relieved when KAPS was told that the Ministry of
Agriculture decided to drop the dangerous definition of pet animals.
Unfortunately it came to our notice that the Ministry of Agriculture is under
pressure to change its mind and may need to introduce a new definition of
companion animals as below.

                               " 'Companion animals are animals mainly raised for
companionship and emotional development, as designated by the Ministry of
Agriculture.'

                               "This means that the Ministry of Agriculture will
have the power to decide what counts as companion animals. If the Ministry of
Agriculture decide that companion animals are registered dogs and cats and
exclude dogs and cats raised for human consumption from the object of the pet
animal registration scheme they are going to introduce, this will effectively
justify the distinction between pet dogs/cats and food dogs/cats in the eyes of
law. We are very concerned about this development and are talking to the
Ministry of Agriculture to adopt our proposed definition of companion animals if
they intend to introduce a definition of companion animals in the Amendment.

                               "That the Korean government did not give up their
intention of legalizing dog and cat meat trade has been confirmed by the fact
that the Ministry of office for Government Policy Coordination held a meeting to
discuss hygienic control of the dog meat. Without tacit approval of dog meat,
such a meeting cannot take place. We cannot but suspect that the government
officials were trying to discuss a possibility of legalizing dog meat trade
after making a legal distinction between pet dogs and food dogs. The
participants in the meeting included the infamous Dr. Dogmeat (a well-known
fanatical advocate of dog meat) and a representative from dog meat trade, a
clear sign that the discussion was never intended for genuine hygiene or
environmental concern but was held to please dog meat traders.

                               The Ministry of Agriculture assured Sunnan that
the legalization of dog meat cannot happen at least for a while because there is
no consensus for legalizing dog meat among the general public in Korea and no
government department wants to take on such an unpopular and troublesome task.
We cannot however take comfort from their assurance if they keep trying to
legitimize the distinction between food dogs/cats and pet dogs/cats through a
definition of companion animals. We are waiting for a reply from the Ministry of
Agriculture over our concerns. We will start another major protest campaign and
inform all of you if we suspect that the Korean government will legalize or take
serious steps to legalize dog meat anytime soon."


--------------------------------------------------


                               At ITD we take no comfort from the soothing words
of the Ministry of Agriculture either, largely because we do not believe their
claim that such legalisation would not be readily accepted by the Korean people.
The 1991 Animal Protection Law was legislation designed solely to give Korea a
facade of respectability at a time when the world's eyes were focussed upon it.
This law has been an embarrassment to them since then, as is proven by the fact
that they have never paid more than the most cursory lip-service to it. Although
dog and cat eaters are still in the minority, we have certainly seen no evidence
that the Korean government has any intention of halting the spread of this
industry - quite the opposite.

                               We must not forget that under current legislation
dog and cat eating is illegal, yet the Korean govt has invited proponents of
these practices onto its working party! Their intentions could not be made more
clear!

                               In the past we have asked you to write emails to
the Korean government and Assembly. Their email addresses are however
notoriously unreliable largely due to their dislike of criticism. We therefore
ask you instead to contact the Korean embassy in your own country, asking the
Ambassador to forward on your email. The contact details for Korean embassies
world-wide can be obtained from Google or you may find it easier to use our
engine at http://itstheirdestiny.2kat.net/mainProposedLaw.html

                               The following is an EXAMPLE email. Please write an
original if possible, but PLEASE send it in your own language. This has far more
impact than form letters.

                               Dear Mr Ambassador

                               Please ensure that this mail is forwarded to
President Roh Moo-Hyun and the Korean Ministry of Agriculture.

                               In 1991 your country took a step forward toward
acceptance in the western world by its passing of the Animal Protection Law.
Regrettably however, you have never implemented that law.

                               Refusal to enforce its own laws brings shame to
any nation.

                               The discussions that the Ministry of Agriculture
are planning with confessed dog eaters to introduce a clause defining some
dogs/cats as exempt from the protection of current legislation are highly
questionable - these discussions are to be held with self-confessed criminals.

                               I know that the majority of the Korean people do
not eat dogs or cats and I am amazed that your government is considering the
retrograde step of legalising the consumption of these trusting companion
animals.

                               There can never be a distinction made that some
dogs or cats are "bred for slaughter" while other are bred to be Man's valued
and trusted companions.

                               If Korea is to be seen as credible by both the
many millions of people world-wide and its own people who are concerned about
removing companion animals from the food-chain, it must state now, once and for
all, that the consumption of dogs and cats is illegal and can not be tolerated
in a modern civilised society.

                               Yours sincerely

                               Name,
                               City/Country


--------------------------------------------------

                               Our continued thanks to all of you for caring.
                               From all the team at ITD

                               This Update service is supplied to our members and
supporters worldwide.  If not through another list, you will have received this
email because you either have helped with a campaign or requested to receive
these emails in the past. We have no wish to send "spam", so if you do not want
to receive similar news items from ITD or our sister organisation Sirius GAO in
the future, just send a blank email to itd@... with subject line
"Unsubscribe".
                               Our updates are sent in html - if you receive in
simple text through another list and would like to receive in the original
format, please email itd@... with subject line "Subscribe".




                     http://itstheirdestiny.2kat.net




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks,

Alexandra Yurkiw

-----Original Message-----
From: ITD [mailto:itd@...]
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2005 3:23 PM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Subject: [Animal Rights Activist Resources] ITD Update 24/01/05


                  "It's Their Destiny"

                   News items on Asian animal abuse

                         24th January 2005
                               Proposed Changes to Korean Animal
Protection Law

                               Dear Friends

                               The following information was supplied by
our colleagues at IAKA/KAPS on 19th January 2005.

                               "As you all know, we have been recently
campaigning against the Korean government's attempt to legalize dog and
cat meat trade through the definition of pet animals. Although we were
rather disappointed that the Korean government did not accept our
proposed definition of companion animals which would have established a
solid legal basis for protecting all dogs and cats as companion animals
in the Animal Protection Law Amendment, we were much relieved when KAPS
was told that the Ministry of Agriculture decided to drop the dangerous
definition of pet animals. Unfortunately it came to our notice that the
Ministry of Agriculture is under pressure to change its mind and may
need to introduce a new definition of companion animals as below.

                               " 'Companion animals are animals mainly
raised for companionship and emotional development, as designated by the
Ministry of Agriculture.'

                               "This means that the Ministry of
Agriculture will have the power to decide what counts as companion
animals. If the Ministry of Agriculture decide that companion animals
are registered dogs and cats and exclude dogs and cats raised for human
consumption from the object of the pet animal registration scheme they
are going to introduce, this will effectively justify the distinction
between pet dogs/cats and food dogs/cats in the eyes of law. We are very
concerned about this development and are talking to the Ministry of
Agriculture to adopt our proposed definition of companion animals if
they intend to introduce a definition of companion animals in the
Amendment.

                               "That the Korean government did not give
up their intention of legalizing dog and cat meat trade has been
confirmed by the fact that the Ministry of office for Government Policy
Coordination held a meeting to discuss hygienic control of the dog meat.
Without tacit approval of dog meat, such a meeting cannot take place. We
cannot but suspect that the government officials were trying to discuss
a possibility of legalizing dog meat trade after making a legal
distinction between pet dogs and food dogs. The participants in the
meeting included the infamous Dr. Dogmeat (a well-known fanatical
advocate of dog meat) and a representative from dog meat trade, a clear
sign that the discussion was never intended for genuine hygiene or
environmental concern but was held to please dog meat traders.

                               The Ministry of Agriculture assured Sunnan
that the legalization of dog meat cannot happen at least for a while
because there is no consensus for legalizing dog meat among the general
public in Korea and no government department wants to take on such an
unpopular and troublesome task. We cannot however take comfort from
their assurance if they keep trying to legitimize the distinction
between food dogs/cats and pet dogs/cats through a definition of
companion animals. We are waiting for a reply from the Ministry of
Agriculture over our concerns. We will start another major protest
campaign and inform all of you if we suspect that the Korean government
will legalize or take serious steps to legalize dog meat anytime soon."


--------------------------------------------------


                               At ITD we take no comfort from the
soothing words of the Ministry of Agriculture either, largely because we
do not believe their claim that such legalisation would not be readily
accepted by the Korean people. The 1991 Animal Protection Law was
legislation designed solely to give Korea a facade of respectability at
a time when the world's eyes were focussed upon it. This law has been an
embarrassment to them since then, as is proven by the fact that they
have never paid more than the most cursory lip-service to it. Although
dog and cat eaters are still in the minority, we have certainly seen no
evidence that the Korean government has any intention of halting the
spread of this industry - quite the opposite.

                               We must not forget that under current
legislation dog and cat eating is illegal, yet the Korean govt has
invited proponents of these practices onto its working party! Their
intentions could not be made more clear!

                               In the past we have asked you to write
emails to the Korean government and Assembly. Their email addresses are
however notoriously unreliable largely due to their dislike of
criticism. We therefore ask you instead to contact the Korean embassy in
your own country, asking the Ambassador to forward on your email. The
contact details for Korean embassies world-wide can be obtained from
Google or you may find it easier to use our engine at
http://itstheirdestiny.2kat.net/mainProposedLaw.html

                               The following is an EXAMPLE email. Please
write an original if possible, but PLEASE send it in your own language.
This has far more impact than form letters.

                               Dear Mr Ambassador

                               Please ensure that this mail is forwarded
to President Roh Moo-Hyun and the Korean Ministry of Agriculture.

                               In 1991 your country took a step forward
toward acceptance in the western world by its passing of the Animal
Protection Law. Regrettably however, you have never implemented that
law.

                               Refusal to enforce its own laws brings
shame to any nation.

                               The discussions that the Ministry of
Agriculture are planning with confessed dog eaters to introduce a clause
defining some dogs/cats as exempt from the protection of current
legislation are highly questionable - these discussions are to be held
with self-confessed criminals.

                               I know that the majority of the Korean
people do not eat dogs or cats and I am amazed that your government is
considering the retrograde step of legalising the consumption of these
trusting companion animals.

                               There can never be a distinction made that
some dogs or cats are "bred for slaughter" while other are bred to be
Man's valued and trusted companions.

                               If Korea is to be seen as credible by both
the many millions of people world-wide and its own people who are
concerned about removing companion animals from the food-chain, it must
state now, once and for all, that the consumption of dogs and cats is
illegal and can not be tolerated in a modern civilised society.

                               Yours sincerely

                               Name,
                               City/Country


--------------------------------------------------

                               Our continued thanks to all of you for
caring.
                               From all the team at ITD

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Scapegoated Seals Save Cod

by Anthony Marr
submitted to the National Post

Once, while driving from Toronto to Ottawa – a four hour trip at 100
km/h - I asked my unlikely companion, a sealer, whether he would
consider walking from Toronto to Ottawa.

"What for?" he asked me.

"The two cities are 248 miles or 390 km apart.  If you line up all
the seals you guys kill every year in a single file, the line of
some 350,000 seals would stretch from the CN Tower all the way to
the Parliament Building.  I think, out of respect for these sentient
beings, the least you can do is to walk a funeral march for them
from the first one you kill to the last.  This would be good for
your karma, or you might reincarnate as a seal next life, one
destined to be skinned alive."

"A funeral march for seals?  That's ludicrous.  They don't even have
souls.  Reincarnation?  Karma?  Sound like bullshit to me," he said
with a sneer.  "Besides, lots of the seals we kill are just babies
only a couple or three weeks old.  They don't measure up to a meter
in length.  Your line of seals would be well short of 390 km; 300 km
at most.  So there."

Adult harp seals average 1.8 meters long, which would counter-
balance the baby seals' shortfall, but I rest my case.  Instead, I
asked, "How can you justify this kind of carnage?  Don't you have
feelings?"

"Sure I have feelings.  But it's no skin off my back."  The sneer
broadened into a lopsided grin.  No seal could ever produce an evil
expression as this, that's for sure.

What can I say?  So, I asked another question.  "So, why do you do
it?  You don't make all that much money out of it.  You're primarily
a cod fisherman."

His eyes lit up above the grin.  "Aha!  I kill seals because they
eat fish, cod in particular.  The more seals, the fewer cod, the
fewer seals, the more cod.  Plain and simple.  There are some 5
million seals out there.  They eat up a hell of a lot of cod.  So, I
don't get enough."

"I think you got too much.  It is called over fishing.  And you're
scapegoating the seals for your own blunder driven by greed," I
could have sounded a little less hostile, but I'm not a seal; I'm
human.

"We follow the law.  If the law says it is okay, it is okay.  The
law says it is okay."

  "Only 3% of a seal's diet comprises cod," I pointed out.

"3% of the total amount of fish eaten by 5 million seals is still a
lot of cod."

I pressed on, "In other words, 97% of the seal's diet consists of
other fish species that prey on cod.  Without the seals controlling
the population of the predatory fish species, the amount of cod
eaten would be many times greater."

"I've heard that before.  It's just a theory, and a vague one at
that.  There is no proof."

"I don't know about your guys on the east coast, but we on the west
coast have proof," I asserted.

"What proof?  Your harbour seals there eat salmon.  I'm sure the
same law of nature applies.  More seals, fewer salmon; fewer seals,
more salmon."

"That's just it.  It's just the opposite.  On the west coast, it is
more seals, more salmon, fewer seals fewer salmon," I sought to
humbly inform him.

"That's ridiculous.  Where's your proof?"

"Before I provide the proof, could you tell me what fish species the
harbour seal preys on?"

"Salmon, of course, and some others, maybe herring, smelt, hake,
mackerel, something like that."

"There are about 20 major fish species on which the harbour seals
feed.  In descending order of volume consumed, they are rock fish,
Pacific sand lance, Pacific herring, Pacific staghorn sculpin,
smelt, Pacific tomcod, lamprey, flounder, shad, flatfish, Pacific
hake, Shiner surf perch, gunnel, prickleback, juvenile salmonids,
Northern anchovy, adult salmonids, Peamouth chub and Pacific
Macheral, as well as cephalopods like squid."

"So?"

"Where are the salmonids on this list?"

"I thought you were going to give me some kind of proof," he said
evasively, but in doing so, jumped from the pan into the fire.

"Do you know that there used to be a commercial seal hunt on the
west coast too, combined with a bounty hunt?" I asked him.

"Can't say that I do."

"Well, it happened in the late 30's through into the 60s.  By the
late 60s, the seal population had become so decimated that the hunt
was banned in 1969.  The ban stays in force today.  The seal
population has recovered."

"Bad news."

"Good news.  According to your formula of more seals, fewer salmon,
fewer seals, more salmon, the salmon population in the 30s, 40s, 50s
and 60s should be high and that in the 70s, 80s and 90s should be
low.  Correct?"

"Damn right."

"Well, just the opposite is true."

"What?  More seals, more salmon; fewer seals, fewer salmon?"

"Correct."

"I don't believe it."

"Believe it."

"What do you have to back this up?  "

"Could you open the Road Atlas to British Columbia?"

He did, reluctantly.  "This better be good."

"Pick a river.  Any river."

"Why?"

"Just do it."

"Alright.  The Kitimat River."

"Do you know about escapement?"

"Sure.  It is the number of adult salmon that make it all the way up
to their spawning ground to spawn in a salmon run.  What about it?"

"Now, let's see.  For the Kitimat river, the 1950s escapement of
Chum salmon averaged 16,700; 70s, 26,400; 90s, no mistake, 129,000.
For Chinook salmon, 1950s, 4,100; 80s, 9,900; 90s, 16,700."

"You're making things up as you go."

"No.  Just photographic memory.  Try another river."

"I don't particularly want to play this silly game."

"It is no game.  Why don't you write down these numbers, and check
them in a government library in Ottawa when we get there?"

"A waste of time."

"So, you are afraid to find out?"

"Not at all, `cause I know you must be wrong.  So, lie some more.
Here.  The Babine River.  What numbers are you gonna make up?"

"1950s, Babine River escapement of even-year Pink salmon average
11,800; 60s, 41,000; 70s, 106,000; 80s, 202,000; 90s, 214,700."

"The Kishwan River."

"1950s, escapement of Chum salmon 4,000; 60s, 1,150; 70s, 7,350;
80s, 13,200; 90s, 21,000."

"The Pinkut River."

"Escapement of Sockeye salmon in the 50s, 27,200; the 60s, 40,500;
the 70s, 73,900; the 80s, 241,000; and the 90s, 260,900."

"Enough of this crap!  Even if these are true, they are west coast
harbour seal and salmon, not the east coast harp seal and cod."

"And the natural law is different in the west than in the east?"

"If your figures are correct, it damn well is."

"So, are you going to do a funeral march for the seals you slaughter
or not?"

"Why should I?  They eat my cod."


Anthony Marr
4118 West 11th Ave., Vancouver, BC, Canada V6R 2L6
604-222-1169, toll free 1-866-822-1169
http://www.HOPE-CARE.org
Anthony-Marr@...

Hi all,
Please join CAAF in protesting the annual slaughter of 70.000.000
fur-bearing animals.
****THE POLICE HAVE DENIED US A SOUND PERMIT FOR THIS EVENT..... WE
NEED ACTIVISTS PRESENCE FOR THIS ONE******

CAAF (CARING ACTIVISTS AGAINST FUR) will hold a protest event at Wet
Seal at the Manhattan Mall located at:  100 W. 33rd Street and 6TH
AVE  (its a weird corner broadway and 6th ave meet dont worry you
will hear us we will be on 6th ave and 33rd)
WHEN:   Saturday,  January 29th
TIME:      1:00 - 2:30

During the protest Anita will have an outreach table with fliers,
CAAF buttons, and anti fur jewlery.  Please consider offering to
help at the table after the demo.  If we have enough volunteers,  we
can table for another hour and a half.  It will be cold,  so warm up
breaks will be welcome!!!!

Thank you on behalf of Debbie, Anita, and Julie
Looking forward to seeing you!!!!!

***WE SUPPLY EVERYTHING ALL WE NEED IS YOU****
Need more info contact Debbie 908-887-0775/Julie 201-927-3617