A n i m a l W r i t e s © sm
The
official ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter
Publisher ~ EnglandGal@aol.com
Issue # 12/27/00
Editor ~ JJswans@aol.com
Journalists ~ PrkStRangr@aol.com
~
MRivera008@aol.com
~ SavingLife@aol.com
THE NINE ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE ARE:
1 ~ Christmas Eve Attack on SPCA Workers
2 ~ Christmas Day by Sbcharley@aol.com
3 ~ Richard Pryor Speaks Out
4 ~ Poland Says No to Massive Hog Farms
by Rachelle Detweiler, The
Animals’ Agenda
5 ~ Peace
6 ~ Reward Offered in Opossum Killing
7 ~ Outside Dogs by Dennis Fetko,
PhD
8 ~ The Circus Slave by
WantNoMeat@aol.com
9 ~ Quote To Remember
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Christmas Eve Attack on SPCA Workers
from Merritt Clifton - anmlpepl@whidbey.com
The Visaka SPCA, founder Pradeep Kumar Nath, the
many other people involved with it, and the thousands of street dogs and other
animals they serve in Visakhapatnam, India, remain in imminent danger after a
Christmas Eve mob attack on their Animal Birth Control clinic.
The information about the attack presented below, received by e-mail from Nath,
has been verified by telephone by ANIMAL PEOPLE publisher Kim Bartlett.
ANIMAL PEOPLE can testify from direct knowledge, including a five-day visit
just three weeks ago, that the Visakha SPCA is one of the outstanding humane
organizations in India, and that the Animal Birth Control program it is
operating is both well-managed and eminently effective.
The civic authorities of Visakhapatnam evidently need to be reminded that
their duties extend to protecting the Visakha SPCA from violence,
upholding the animal protection laws of India, and apprehending and jailing
those responsible for the Christmas Eve attack.
ANIMAL PEOPLE shall be putting this incident on page one of our forthcoming
January/February 2001 edition.
---------------
To Kim Bartlett, ANIMAL PEOPLE publisher,
From "pradeep"
Date: Mon, 25 Dec 2000 07:30:29 +0530
Dear Kim,
As you saw here three weeks ago, the Visakha S.P.C.A. has been conducting our
Animal Birth Control program since Feb. 11th 2000 in a makeshift shelter.
This program replaced the heretofore merciless and extremely cruel way the
municipality had of electrocuting the stray dogs.
Since then we have been struggling to keep pace, making maximum use of the two
veterinarians available to us through the generosity of our donors, and of our
veterinary technician, Teresa Gibbs, who has been provided by PETA.
Besides this ABC program, as you know, we are also maintaining a shelter for
distressed cattle, protecting wild animals, protecting sea turtles and
dolphins, stopping the illegal slaughtering of cattle and their illegal
and inhumane transport, and protecting migratory birds and the entire forest
cover.
Unfortunately, today -- on Christmas Eve -- about 200 people from the nearby
village attacked us with sticks and we exchanged blows in self defense.
Teresa Gibbs was punched on the face as she charged at one of the attackers who
was removing the kennels with dogs inside and rolling them around like a
ball. Some attacked our van and were removing the air from the tires.
All of this happened in front of two policemen. They squatted in front of the
dispensary and did not allow us to operate. The one dog brought by the
municipality van was let loose by these miscreants. We believe the mob
was comprised of hooligans paid by the combined efforts of three major
political parties. All the news media were there. There was a
complete traffic jam from 9.00 A.M. till 2.00 P.M. The police came, after
frantic efforts to get help from them, two hours after the incident, and as
usual asked only stupid questions. As most of the police were deployed
for the Utsav (a festival occurring on the sea turtle nesting beach, at peril
to the turtles who are nesting even now), few were available to respond to our
emergency.
The mob wanted us to stop our operations immediately and move elsewhere.
Their contention is that we should neuter more than 200 dogs per day. They
say that the operated dogs are being let loose in the village, which is not
true (they are returned to their locations of capture), and that their
livestock are being eaten (also not true).
The Chief Medical Officer of the Municipality did come to sort things out but
we felt very disappointed when he further instigated the villagers against us
by saying that the Municipality wanted to kill the dogs which was the only way
to control the population but was not allowed because of us. He was seen
giving ideas on how to petition the District Collector and the court against
us.
We have suspended operations. I am asking that an immediate meeting be
arranged between Visakha SPCA, Police Commissioner A.K. Khan, Municipal
Commissioner Sanjay Jaju, and District Collector J.S.V. Prasad. We are also
requesting police protection.
Warm Regards,
Pradeep Kumar Nath,
President,
Visakha S.P.C.A.,
26-15-200, Main Road,
Visakhapatnam 530001 A.P., India
phone: 91-891-564759
fax: 91-891-528662
email: vspcanath@satyam.net.in
-----------------------
We have the following contact information for the Visakhapatnam officials:
Shri. A.K. Khan, Commissioner of Police
Phone No: 91-891-525500 (R) or 91-891-562763 (O)
FAX No: 91-891-562763
Shri. J.S.V. Prasad, District Collector
Phone No: 91-891-726999 or 91-891-754106
FAX no: 91-891-564426
email: viscoll@ap.nic.in
Shri.Sanjay Jaju, Municipal Commissioner
Phone No: 91-891-754395 (R) or 91-891-746300 (O)
FAX no: 91-891-568545
Shri.H.J.Dora, Director General of Police
Phone No: 91-40-3235170
FAX No: 91-40-3296565
Dr.C.Rangarajan, Governor of Andhra Pradesh
Phone: 91-40-3310521
FAX: 91-40-3311260
-----------------------------
ANIMAL PEOPLE has available for e-mailing photographs of the dog electrocutions
formerly practiced by the city of Visakhapatnam, halted by Pradeep Kumar
Nath of the Visakha SPCA and Christine Townend of Help In Suffering.
These photographs include current attached by two wires to truck and dogs take
up to 25 minutes to die; overcrowded dog cage, kept in sun without any food or
water two days before dogs are electrocuted; a dog who is alive after 15
minutes of electrocution and a boy is seen poking with an iron rod to kill the
dog; Dogs still alive are killed with rod; at the back of the van, a brown dog
is seen vomiting blood after electrocution and spearing.
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Christmas
Day
by Sbcharley@aol.com
My sister and I celebrated this day by going to
church hoping to get some inspirational message and meaning aside from the
traditional exchange of gifts on Christmas Day. We both realized that the love
we share for animals is special and strong and we held each other remembering
how we were told to keep the love and joy in our hearts and to look to God for
peace of mind. But it is sometimes hard to find peace when we are
reminded each day how cruel the world can be especially for the innocent
creatures of God.
How the wild creatures struggle in frozen ground to find food in the winter and
the domestic animals are too often thought of as just things, possessions or
amusements until they are tired of and then tossed away like trash. It hurts to
know how many dogs and cats are left homeless, cold and starving just from
lack of food but without human kindness and how parrots are trapped inside
cages like lifeless ornaments. It''s a curse to have these feelings, because
you live in constant pain sharing their suffering from the ignorance and
selfishness of mankind.
And then the pain comes too real and we witness the deliberate inflicted
torment by hunters and it is hard to forgive.
As we stood frozen in terror, a wild boar darted from the woods and onto the
road, bloodied and half crazed in fear and agony. His ear was shot off or
ripped by pitbulls and he squealed and circled in pain and then ran helplessly
back into the woods.
We could do nothing but weep for his torment and suffering from human beings.
It made my sister sick to her stomach. And we realized still the hell on
this earth for the animals.
Dear Lord give us strength to keep our faith and so our hearts are not filled
with hatred for all of mankind and Bless the animals.
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Richard Pryor Speaks Out
from Amanda Valencia - mandypandy5@yahoo.com
Los
Angeles - Richard Pryor may suffer from multiple sclerosis, but the legendary
comic is so adamantly against the use of animals in medical experiments, he's
helming a new PETA campaign against charities that try to eliminate human
suffering by inflicting pain and death on animals.
"Make sure the check you write to a charity doesn't pay for cruel,
pointless experiments on animals," warns Pryor from the cover of the
animal rights group's newest publication. "Your donation should help end
suffering -- not cause it."
Entitled "Health Charities: Helping or Hurting?," the PETA booklet
lists charities, including the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, that (often
unbeknownst to donors) bankroll experiments on animals. Also listed are
charities that vow never to spend contributions on animal tests. Pryor posed
for PETA in Los
Angeles this fall. Sharing the cover with him is a white rat who was rescued
from a testing laboratory. Free copies of "Health Charities: Helping
or Hurting?" may be obtained by calling PETA's toll-free "Charities
Hotline" at 1-866-TEST-KIND.
Jennifer Lee, who describes herself as "Richard Pryor's partner-in
business and in life - for the last 23 years," recorded the hotline's
outgoing message. "Helping Richard
live with multiple sclerosis has been challenging, rewarding, and
enlightening," Lee tells callers. "One thing I discovered early on is
that, while some charities ask for money to help people with diseases, they actually
spend your dollars on horrible experiments on dogs, rabbits, primates, and
other animals."
Pryor and Lee hope their efforts will convince those who are in a generous mood
(and eager to meet year-end tax deadlines) to give exclusively to PETA-approved,
cruelty-free charities, such as Easter Seals and the National Federation of the
Blind. These organizations focus on prevention and patient services and utilize
modern research methods such as human clinical trials and in vitro tests.
"If the season finds you sharing your good fortune with others, please
don't give to charities that fund experiments on animals," says Pryor.
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Poland Says No to Massive Hog
Farms
by Rachelle Detweiler, The Animals’ Agenda
In
a modern-day version of David and Goliath, Polish farmers recently blocked
efforts by Smithfield, the world’s largest pork producer, to modernize their
farms using production methods that can hurt animals, small farmers, and the
environment.
Last year, a group consisting of Polish farmers, environmentalists, educators,
and presidential candidate Andrzej Lepper witnessed the aftermath of
Smithfield’s massive U.S. pork facilities on rural communities during a tour
organized by the Washington, D.C.-based Animal Welfare Institute (AWI).
After speaking with local residents, seeing the habitat degradation first-hand,
and briefly entering one hog facility, the Polish contingency refused to allow
Smithfield to jumpstart their agricultural economy through vertical
integration, an agribusiness system that centralizes production from birth to
slaughter and processing under tight and often inhumane standards.
“These are concentration camps for hogs,” stated Lepper, the president of
Samoobrona Self-Defence, the Polish Farmer’s Union, after traveling among sites
in North Carolina to Missouri and Iowa. “We had concentration camps in Poland
before. We will not allow them again.”
The outspoken Populist kicked off an anti-Smithfield campaign in Poland by
sending about 5,000 copies of the videotaped tour to every town, city, and
county government along with a letter asking them to deny building permits to
Animex, Poland’s largest meatpacking plant and a company in which Smithfield’s
has held a majority stake since 1999. Poland’s agriculture minister and
the head of the state Agricultural Property Agency surprised everyone by
joining the campaign, along with many farmers whose rebellious natures helped
them keep 80 percent of their farms in private hands while under communist
rule. Their relentless drive to control their livelihoods helped them thwart a
pork-industry powerhouse. After less than a year of campaigning, Smithfield
withdrew their plan earlier this summer to make Animex the largest hog producer
in Europe -- with a projected revenue of about $1 billion-- by replacing three
of its plants with four massive hog factory complexes. Yet despite the victory,
activists remain wary. “He [Smithfield CEO Joe Luter] plays to win,” said Tom
Garrett, AWI’s rural advisor who led the campaign. “So we’re waiting for
the other shoe to drop to see what concession he exacted in return for
suspending [conversion] of the Animex plants.”
Now the humane farming advocates are battling to convert the 20 percent of
state-run factory farms to less cruel production systems. The State Farm
Property Agency has agreed to pay for circulating AWI’s humane farming
brochures among existing state farms and farmers leasing land from the state.
The agency would connect interested producers with AWI, which would draw up
individualized conversion methods, with the state covering farmers’ costs. Although no plans have been implemented yet,
organizers anticipate that the Polish farmers may opt for more humane farming solutions
now that they have rejected intensive confinement systems.
“The [agribusiness] changes happened in the United States without the farmers
really doing anything to prevent it, and the Polish farmers are trying to keep
Animex out and the state farms out,” said Gail Eisnitz, chief investigator for
the Humane Farming Association, who contributed to organizing efforts during a
trip to Poland. “The farmers were really outraged and anxious to do anything to
prevent this from happening.”
“Reprinted with permission from The Animals’ Agenda, P.O. Box 25881,
Baltimore, MD 21224; (410) 675-4566; www.animalsagenda.org.”
Email: office@animalsagenda.org
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Peace
submitted by Bleu771399@aol.com
There
once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best
picture of peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but
there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them.
One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror, for peaceful
towering mountains were all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy
white clouds. All who saw this picture thought it was a perfect picture of
peace.
The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was
an angry sky from which rain fell, and in which lightening played. Down
the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look
peaceful at all. But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny
bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her
nest. There, in the midst of the rush
of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest.
The King chose the second picture as the winner. ''Because,'' explained the
King, ''peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble,
or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be
calm in your heart.'' ''That is the real meaning of peace.''
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Reward Offered in Opossum
Killing
from Amanda Valencia - mandypandy5@yahoo.com
Washington - People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and
conviction of the person or persons responsible for the torture and death of an
opossum found by Metropolitan Police at the rear of Three 49th St. S.E. in the
early evening hours of December 13, 2000. A bottle of starter fluid and a
book of matches were found within a few feet of the animal, who was in flames
and screaming when found by police but died at the scene due to the extent of
her injuries.
Mental health experts and law enforcement officials agree: Cruelty to animals
is a red flag. The American Psychiatric Association considers animal cruelty to
be one of the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders, and the Federal Bureau
of Investigation (FBI) uses reports of animal cruelty in analyzing the threat
potential of suspected and known criminals. According to Alan Brantley,
supervisory special agent at the FBI's National Center for Analysis of Violent
Crime, "Violence against human beings, we believe, is an escalation of
violence against animals. Animals can represent human victims. They can grimace
in pain, suffer, bleed, and die. They are easier to obtain and control, and the
penalties for hurting them aren't as stiff."
Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the Washington
Humane Society at 202-723-5730 or PETA's Research, Investigations & Rescue
Department at 757-622-7382
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Outside Dogs
by Dennis Fetko, PhD
Reprinted from Aug. 95 Whiskers & Wags,
Halifax Humane Society Newsletter
I'm
familiar with hundreds of dog breeds, but what's an outside dog?
Unless you're medically intolerant of the dog (and, therefore, can't take care
of him in a medical emergency -- so you shouldn't have the dog anyway), making
a dog stay outside is a costly waste.
If he's for protection, what do you think I want to steal - your lawn?
When you leave, do you put your valuables and your kids out in your yard?
Just what is the dog protecting out there? Most dogs kept outside cause
far more nuisance complaints from barking and escaping than any deterrent to
intrusion. Such complaints cause teasing, antagonism, release, and
poisoning. With your dog a helpless victim, it's no laughing matter.
If I'm a crook and your dog is out, your fence protects ME, not your
possessions or your dog. If I just open the gate, 9 out of 10 dogs will
run off! I can safely shoot, stab, spear, poison, snare, strangle them,
or dart through the fence; and you just lost your dog AND everything I steal!
If he's tied up and I keep out of reach, he's useless. He'll bark, but
outside dogs bark so much, they're usually ignored. But let a dog hit the
other side of a door or window I'm breaking into, and I'm GONE! I can't
hurt the dog until he can hurt me, and nothing you own is worth my arm.
Deterrence is effective protection.
Protection and aggression are not the same. Protection is defensive,
reactive, often passive, and threatens or injures no one. Aggression is
active, harmful and offensive, threatens all and benefits none. Yard dogs often
develop far more aggression than protectivity because everyone who passes by or
enters has already violated the territory that dog has marked dozens of times a
day for years. That's not protection, it's not desirable and it overlooks two
facts of life today:
* First, property owners have implied social contracts with others in the
community. Letter carriers, paper boys, delivery people, law enforcement,
emergency medical personnel, meter readers and others are allowed near and at
times on your property without your specific permission. And sure that
ten-year-old was not supposed to jump your fence after his Frisbee; but neither
you nor your dog are allowed to cause him injury if he does. Imagine
this: A neighbor looks into your yard or window and sees you, your wife,
or child laying on the floor in a pool of blood. They call 9-1-1 and your dog
prevents paramedics from assisting! Should they shoot your dog or just
let you die? Great choice.
* Second, even if the intruder is a criminal, few places allow you or your dog
to cause physical injury to prevent property loss. Convicted felons have
sued the dog's owner from jail and won more in the suit than they ever could
have stolen!
Appalling? True.
And don't be foolish enough to believe your homeowner's insurance will cover
the loss. Now you see why many feel that an outside dog is a no-brainer.
The more a dog is outdoors, the less behavioral control you have. It's
easier to solve four or five indoor problems than one outdoor problem.
The reason is valid and simple: The more you control the stimuli that reaches
your dog, the more you control the responses. You've got a lot more control
over your living room than you do over your entire county! When your dog
is bored, but teased by every dog, cat, bird, squirrel, motorcycle, paperboy,
airplane, firecracker and backfiring truck in the county, OF COURSE he'll dig,
chew, and bark. Would you sit still all day everyday? Do you want
unnecessary medical and parasite fees, especially as the dog ages?
When a dog is alone indoors, you are still 30% there because your scent and
things he associates with you constantly remind the dog of you and your
training. When he's out, your dog is alone whether you're home or
not. Do you really expect him to keep YOU in mind while the entire world
teases, distracts and stimulates him?
The media is full of stories about the family dog saving everyone's life during
a fire. How many people, including children, would be dead today if those
dogs were kept outside? SURE - you ALWAYS get up to investigate every
time your yard dog barks. And I've got this bridge.
An outdoor dog has an address, not a home. Dogs offer real value as
companion animals. Stop behavior problems and start enjoying real protection
and companionship. Bring your dogs inside.
Cross posted by Victoria King - hero@bigplanet.co
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The Circus Slave
by WantNoMeat@aol.com
Taken from mother after birth
she will never know freedom on earth
A baby elephant born a circus slave
freedom just a relentless crave
Training starts and she's on her own
confused she stands all alone
Each foot is held by a thick chain
this begins her awful life of pain
Her first beatings are felt here
where she'll learn about fear
The whips, chains and bats alike
she wails and winces with every strike
Cowering, she can take no more
worn and bleeding she hits the floor
To struggle she has lost her will
her spirit broken she lays still
She'll be forced to entertain
from this life she'll go insane
Still the crowds keep rolling in
waiting for the show to begin
Most will never know or see
that behind the scenes is misery
You have the power of your voice
to speak for those without a choice
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Quote To Remember
"We
cannot have peace among men whose hearts find delight in killing any living
creature."
--Rachel Carson
"Silent Spring"
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Susan Roghair - EnglandGal@aol.com
Animal Rights Online
P O Box 7053
Tampa, Fl 33673-7053
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/1395/
-=Animal Rights Online=-
&
Advisory Board Member, Animal Rights Network Inc.,
not-for-profit publisher of The Animals' Agenda Magazine
http://www.animalsagenda.org/
The Animals' Agenda Magazine: WebEdition
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»
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