A n i m
a l W r i t e s © sm
The
official ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter
Publisher ~ EnglandGal@aol.com
Issue #
02/14/01
Editor ~ JJswans@aol.com
Journalists ~ Park StRanger@aol.com
~
MicheleARivera@aol.com
~ SavingLife@aol.com
THE NINE ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE ARE:
1 ~ Shelter Animals Get Well-Deserved Second
Chances
by MicheleARivera@aol.com
2 ~ Good Home Needed For Two Children
3 ~ What You Can Do
4 ~ Easy Way To Send Letters
5 ~ Animal Rights 2001 Early Registration Deadline
6 ~ Wolves Ontario !
7 ~ Seminar Announcement
8 ~ A History Lesson
9 ~ Quote To Remember
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Shelter Animals
Get Well-Deserved Second Chances
by MicheleARivera@aol.com
Sometimes,
animals in shelters, especially adult dogs and cats, have a difficult time
getting adopted. Most potential adopters, if they can get past the need
for a purebred dog or cat, still feel that they would have an easier time with
kittens and puppies than they would with an adult animal. In some cases,
that is true, particularly if there are already dogs and cats in
residence. It is difficult to bring an adult dog into your home and
family not knowing what is in his personal history. Remember the movie
with Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt where Ford brings Brad Pitt into his home and
family in good faith only to find out he's an IRA activist who is out for
blood? It can be that way with a big
dog from the shelter. A little scary, a little uncertain. Without some kind
of training from the start, the chances for a successful, PERMANENT
adoption are very, very slim.
A lawyer friend of mine called me recently to say he found two big dogs in
terrible shape running down a busy highway. I thought he was calling me
to ask if he could bring them to the shelter, but no, he was asking for advice
on how to help them. This kind soul took these dogs to his vet, had them
neutered, treated for all their illnesses and injuries, and gave them a loving
place in his own home. A week later he called to tell me that his beloved cat
of seven years was in critical condition because one of the dogs he took in
attacked her and severed her tail. It's a heartbreaking story, but with
older dogs, you never REALLY know what they are capable of.
A while back, I wrote an article, an expose' really, about the Mannheimer
foundation. Mannheimer was a man who made a place in his heart and in his
home for chimpanzees. He wanted them to have sanctuary, but upon his
death, his trusted friends instead turned the animals over to a research and
breeding facility in South Florida. It was a tragic story with a tragic
end.
This article is about a man who also loved animals and wanted to help
them. A man who also had a vision for
animals and didn't live long enough to see his vision realized. However,
this article has a happy ending, because those entrusted to carry out this
man's vision are doing so - with remarkable
results.
The man's name was Walter D. Turken. We need to know his story.
I first learned of the Walter Turken program through the humane society where I
am Director of Education. It seemed impossible to me that the program
would work when I first heard of it, but it is working, and we have the numbers
to prove it.
Walter Turken was not an animal-rights activist or even an animal person in any
real sense of the word. He was a businessman who happened to have a profound
love for dogs in his heart. He took note, however, of the fact that so
many dogs were turned over to shelters simply because they were unruly or
untrained. Indeed, inability to control a dog is one of the top ten reasons for
giving up a dog. His heart broke when he heard these stories of unwanted dogs -
good dogs with good hearts who simply never
learned the right manners or what behavior is appropriate. In his heart,
he knew most of these dogs would be euthanized, never knowing the love of a
family or what it means to be a loyal friend.
Turken decided to make a difference in the lives of these dogs. Like so
many before him who had a vision, he put himself on a mission to save these
dogs. Unfortunately, he died before he could realize his dream. He
did, however, speak of his passion to his friends, authors and animal-advocates
Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson.
I first met Brian in December when he came to our shelter to explain about the
Walter Turken program. Training shelter dogs to be good citizens and
loving friends has become Brian's mission now. Unlike the rogues in the
Mannheimer story, Brian's friendship with Walter Turken proved to be solid
gold, and that meant good news for the dogs in shelters across America.
Brian is also an author of several books on getting along with our companion
animals, and one in particular, Mutts: America's Dogs is an important
validation that best friends don't NEED a pedigree! He's also written
about cats and their behavior, and though, of course, nobody can truly be
called a cat expert, I found his book helpful when I brought yet another
shelter cat into my home. And I was surprised and delighted to read words
in Brian's books that are very much oriented to animal rights, though his is
not a name often associated with animal rights activism.
The Turken Program is working in our shelter. The first weekend after
beginning the program, we placed thirteen large dogs! This broke all
previous records.
The way it works is this: Volunteers are recruited from the
community. They commit to several
weekends where they come and work with professional trainers and shelter dogs.
They come during the week and work with the dogs as well. They teach simple
commands, like sit, stay, heel. Just simple things. But these simple
commands are so impressive when one is walking through the shelter seeking the
perfect housemate. One who will sit when asked is one who has an
advantage. What if all the dogs in the shelter learn to sit when asked?
Then they all have an advantage! That's what is happening in our shelter,
and it's very exciting to watch. At a meeting of our soon-to-be Federation
of Florida Humane Societies last month, I told the assembly about the Turken
program. Maybe they will bring it to their own shelters as well.
And there is one more thing. Being that unruly behavior is one of the top ten
reasons for giving up a dog, wouldn't it make sense to try to remedy that
behavior BEFORE it becomes a terrible problem? It seems if guardians could find
inexpensive, or better yet, free help for their dog's behavior
problems they may be able to avoid taking him or her to a shelter in the first
place. Animals have the right to make mistakes and be given a second
chance. Animals deserve that much. So there's a website where we
can post our behavior questions and have them answered by experts in the field.
I am pleased to share that website with our readers, because maybe one day a
reader may hear of an animal being given up because of behavior problems, and
can intervene on that animals' behalf as they have done so many times before
for the whales and the wolves and the rabbits in laboratories.
Because dogs have rights too. We forget that sometimes when we get caught
up in all the issues we face as animal-rights activists. Dogs have rights
too.
For information on behavior problems, or to learn more about the Turken
program, visit
Greatpets.com
Good Owners. Great Pets.
http://www.greatpets.com/
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Good Home Needed For Two
Children
Please help! After two long years of being
on a waiting list for a dog, we were finally notified by the shelter that at
long last, our number has come up, and... WE'RE HAVING A PUPPY!
We must IMMEDIATELY get rid of our children now, because we just KNOW how time
consuming our new little puppy is going to be! Since our puppy will be
arriving on Monday, we MUST place the children in new homes this weekend!!!
They are described as:
1) One male, white, blonde hair, blue eyes. Four years old.
Excellent disposition. He doesn't bite. Name is Tommy.
Temperament tested. Current on all shots. Tonsils removed already
and very healthy condition!
Tommy eats everything, is very clean, house trained and gets along well with
others. Does not run with scissors and with a little time and training,
he will do well in a new home.
1) One female, strawberry blonde hair, green eyes. Three years old.
Can be surly at times. Non-biter, thumb sucker. Her name is
Mary. Temperament tested, but needs a little attitude adjusting
occasionally. She is current on all shots, tonsils out, and is very
healthy and happy (mostly). Gets along
well with little boys, but does not like to share toys. She is house
trained, and would do best in a one child household.
We really LOVE our children, and want to do what is best for them. I hope
you understand, that ours is a UNIQUE situation, and we have a real emergency
here! They MUST be placed by Sunday night at the latest.
I hear that in Tennessee there are bins where you can leave off strays... does
anyone know if there is something like that around here for children?
Author Unknown
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What You Can Do
from Linda Jean Gubbe - catbuddy@indigo.quadrant.net
A
volunteer called me the other day and said "I was in a lineup at one of
the local stores and I overheard the woman ahead of me say "I just got
five cats and one of them is pregnant already. Isn't that
exciting?" Of course she gasped, but felt that by making a scene in
the middle of a crowded store, it
would likely turn the person away from the issue instead of trying to make her
understand the seriousness of what she had just said. So my volunteer
said to me, we should have something that you could simply hand the person
without too much of a fuss, and still feel that you have done something to open
this person's eyes. I said "Great idea!" Quickly she
searched and found a wonderful photo of a tiny orange tabby kitten. I
wrote up the words and she made up business cards. Simple, easy to hand
to someone, they can just put it in their pocket without a fuss and then if
they choose to look at it later when you are not around, then it will still
hold a lot of impact. The photo of the
kitten will draw their attention quickly and they will be reading before they
realize.
On the side with the kitten picture:
THIS KITTEN DOESN'T HAVE A HOME
and she will die because no one will give her a home!
There are simply not enough good homes for all these innocent babies!
Over 200,000 animals are killed every year in Canada's shelters.
On
the reverse side:
Right here in Saskatoon over
2400 animals are killed yearly!
One cat and her offspring + 7 years = 420,000.
Do you have homes to put these 420,000?
PLEASE! PLEASE!
PLEASE! For her sake!
Please Spay/Neuter Your Companion Animal!
And for her sister's sake, please encourage others to do the same!
For more information, call Street Cat Rescue @ 975-3736
If
every one of our volunteers carried two cards with them, and if they presented
these cards quietly to someone, and if even a small handful became aware...it's
a start!
I'll have some cards with me at the upcoming meeting.
>^..^<
Linda Jean Gubbe
President
Street Cat Rescue Program
Saskatoon, SK CANADA
Phone (306) 975-3736
Fax (306) 343-0184
EMAIL: catbuddy@quadrant.net
WEBSITE: http://www.quadrant.net/streetcat/
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Easy Way To Send Letters
from Susan - susan@realgirlsmagazine.com
This
site was recently forwarded to me, and I have already used it three times to
send letters to corporations regarding different AR issues. It's very easy to
use, and it doesn't require that you know the contact info, or email address.
http://www.planetfeedback.com
When
you enter for the first time, remember that you do NOT have to register as a
member in order to send a letter (just skip through those screens; your letter
will still be sent).
Gives you lots of options (pre-written letters vs. writing your own, etc.), and
promises an answer to your email within a couple of days. I actually did
receive responses to all my letters.
Do check it out; I think it could be a great tool and make it super easy to
send letters.
Susan Brooks, publisher
realgirls magazine: hands-on tools for the new girl order
email: susan@realgirlsmagazine.com
http://www.realgirlsmagazine.com
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Animal Rights 2001 Early
Registration Deadline
from FARM - farm@farmusa.org
Greetings
from Animal Rights 2001, the historic first national conference of the new
millennium to be held June 30 - July 5 in the nation's capital.
We would like to remind all our friends and fellow activists that the early
($100) registration closes on February 15 (postmark). After that date, the fee
goes up to $120. If you have any interest in attending, registering now
provides cheap insurance, because you can cancel for a $25 fee until June 25,
when registration fee will be $160. A few work scholarships are still
available.
You can register on-line or by phone (with a credit card), or by mailing a
completed registration form with your payment. For additional details, please
visit
http://www.animalrights2001.org/registration.html
or
send an e-mail to register@animalrights2001.org.
Program, lodging, food, facilities, and exhibit information are all available
at
http://www.animalrights2001.org
or at 1-888-FARMUSA.
This year's sponsors are FARM, Farm Sanctuary, Humane Society of the US, In
Defense of Animals, New England Anti-Vivisection Society, and PETA. Also,
American Anti-Vivisection Society, Animal Protection Institute, Doris Day
Animal League, E Magazine, Fund For Animals, and National
Anti-Vivisection Society.
Key speakers include Carol Adams, the Baustons, Theo Capaldo, Robert Cohen,
Joyce D'Silva (UK), Karen Davis, Mark Glover (UK), Holly Hazard, Alex Hershaft,
Steve Hindi, Elliot Katz, Lisa Lange, Howard Lyman, Erik Marcus, Wayne Pacelle,
Alex Pacheco, Tom Regan, Craign Rosebraugh, Ken Shapiro, Kim Stallwood,
Michelle Thew (UK), Zoe Weil, and Steven Wise.
The five-day program features 110 speakers, representing every faction of our
movement. There are five plenary sessions, 75 workshops, 50 campaign reports,
and 12 'rap' sessions. Other functions include exhibits, videos, group
workouts, newcomer orientation, affinity meetings, employment
clearinghouse, receptions, US Animal Rights Hall of Fame, and Lobby Day.
Special features include mapping strategy for the next century, exhibit of the
SHARK "Monster Truck," premieres of four videos, including eyewitness
account of the Buckeye Egg Farm disaster, a workshop on communicating with
animals, six speakers from abroad, and ample networking time.
BE PART OF THE HISTORY OF ANIMAL LIBERATION! AND BRING A FRIEND.
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Wolves Ontario!
from info@wolvesontario.org
Earthroots
a non-profit, grassroots, environmental organization dedicated to protecting
wilderness, wildlife and watersheds through research, education and action. Our
newest campaign is focused on the status of wolves in Ontario.
The goals of the Wolves Ontario! project are the following:
* to raise public awareness of the current situation of Ontario
wolf populations
* to actively engage the public in the campaign
* to make the Ontario government change current policies
governing wolves and wolf hunting in the province.
Through public advocacy, we hope to achieve meaningful legislative protection
for wolves and their habitat.
The reason for alarm is that wolf "control" programs based on
irrational fears have led to virtual extirpation of the wolf from the lower 48
states in the US and significantly decreased wolf populations in Canada.
In Ontario, wolves continue to be hunted and trapped year round, for there is
currently no management plan or governmental policy in place to protect wolves
in Ontario.
With an open season and no bag limits on wolves, and the fact that farmers do
not need a license or a reason to trap or hunt wolves on their property, these
creatures are in a perilous position.
In order to achieve this protection, we are encouraging local community action
which is essential to achieving legitimate wolf protection in Ontario. Community coordinators are needed to
distribute information about the Wolves Ontario! project, organize local
letter-writing campaigns, and educate their friends and neighbors and about the
dire situation that wolves face in Ontario.
If you are interested in helping us with this campaign, we will provide you
with Wolves Ontario! factsheets, postcards, action alerts and sample
"letters to the editor" and advice that you can use to mobilize your
community for the wolves. Information can be handed out to friends, family and
colleagues, and dropped off at library and community centers.
See www.wolvesontario.org/wolves/action/kit.html for more information and to
request a kit online. Alternatively you can email or phone us at
info@earthroots.org or 416-599-0152.
Wolves Ontario!
A Project of Earthroots
401 Richmond St. West
Suite 410
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 3A8
Canada
www.wolvesontario.org
www.earthroots.org
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Seminar Announcement
from Christy Lawrence - cfitness@home.com
The
State Bar of Texas-Animal Law Section will hold its first multi-state seminar
on March 29-30, 2001. This seminar will be held at the Belo Mansion in
Dallas, TX (downtown).
You can download the registration form from
http://www.animallawtexas.com
Contact Christy for any unanswered questions at clawrence@akingump.com,
or at 214/969-4228.
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A
History Lesson
by Michelle Rivera
I dreamed there was a blinding field of snow
that had no end
and in this never-ending field of diamonds
were the tracks of an animal
the tracks went on beyond forever
they came from infinity
and then they abruptly ceased
in a violent colorstorm
a terrible thing had happened here
the snow was stained with blood
the tracks stopped
beyond them, pristine snow
and leading away from the tracks
at an angle, like the number seven
were the footprints
of man
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Quote To Remember
"They
[gorillas] are brave and loyal. They help each other. They rival elephants as parents and whales for gentleness. They play and have humor and they harm
nothing. They are what we should be. I don't know if we'll ever get there.
...You have to love animals for what they are or leave them alone. The best
thing you can do for them if you love them is leave them alone and see that
other people do too.
...Wild animals are not meant to be owned, any more than human beings are.
Nobody has the right to pass a cougar or a gorilla on from hand to hand."
--Pat Derby,
"The Lady and Her Tiger"
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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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