Take Action for Chimps
On January 22, the Working Group on the Use of Chimpanzees in NIH-Supported Research presented its final report to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Council of Councils, which voted unanimously to support the report’s 28 recommendations. They call for the retirement of the majority of government-supported chimps as soon as new homes can be built and the suspension of half of all current studies using chimpanzees. If accepted by NIH, 350 chimpanzees will be immediately and permanently retired from research!
NIH has opened a 60-day comment period in which the public can weigh in on chimpanzee retirement and voice support and/or concerns about the Working Group’s recommendations. We need your help to ensure that chimpanzee retirement becomes a reality!
Please check out this link to send comments to the NIH

Tell Congress To End Cruel, Wasteful, Taxpayer-funded Animal Experiments
Tell Congress to end cruelty in labs and provide stricter oversight for granting money to biomedical research, and to ensure that all NIH-funded experiments comply with its stated mission to enhance human health. See this link for the cruelty and waste.

Contact:

Find and contact your U.S. Senators
http://www.senate.gov/

Find and contact your U.S. Representative
http://www.house.gov/

Ask your Representative and Senator to Support the Spay/Neuter Assistance Bill (HB 1229 and SB 5202)
Spay/neuter assistance bills have been introduced in the 2013 Washington State Legislature: SB 5202 and HB 1229. Hearings were held on February 5 and 6 in Olympia.

Please let your Senator know that you want to see SB 5202 passed, and your Representative know you want HB 1229.
Emails, phone calls & letters are best.

To find your legislature and their contact info, see this link

Elephant Tania Needs Your Help
Tell the European Commissioner for the Environment, who is responsible for implementing and enforcing the EU Zoo Directive to investigate Tania’s situation, and work toward raising standards to improve the lives of millions of zoo animals in the European Union.
Tania is a 37-year-old elephant suffering a life of solitary confinement at the Targu-Mures Zoo in Romania, transferred from an Italian zoo in September. Although the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria requires that zoos house female elephants in groups, Tania continues to languish without the company of other elephants. This is cruel punishment for female elephants, who are profoundly social.

Contact:

Mr. Janez Potocnik
Commissioner for the Environment
European Commission
Environment DG, B-1049
Brussels, Belgium
janez.potocnik@ec.europa.eu

Also, ask the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria to take immediate action to alleviate Tania’s suffering and integrate her with other elephants.

EAZA Executive Office
Dr. Lesley Dickie
Executive Director
c/o Artis Zoo – Amsterdam
PO Box 20164
1000 HD Amsterdam
The Netherlands
lesley.dickie@eaza.net

For more information, see IDA

Save the AstraZeneca Beagles
Contact AstraZeneca TODAY urging them to release the beagles for adoption and NOT send them to labs.
Please support calls being made by our Swedish friends at Djurrättsalliansen (Animal Rights Alliance) that hundreds of beagles currently housed at AstraZeneca kennels in Sweden, earmarked for closure, be rehomed, instead of being sent to facilities to be used as research tools.
The beagles near Örkelljungain are currently destined to be sent to the UK, to AstraZeneca labs in Cheshire, and we have been informed Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), where they will be subjected to cruel and painful tests.
According to The Times, the closure is part of a £1 billion cost-cutting drive involving 7,300 job cuts and the company buying in, rather than breeding, dogs. In addition to the Swedish facility, AstraZeneca is also closing kennels in the UK.

Contact:

Please contact AstraZeneca TODAY urging them to release the beagles for adoption. Send a polite email to kontakt@astrazeneca.com and IR@astrazeneca.com

Please ask the airline Aeronova not to transport animals for research. Send a polite email to info@aeronova.com and info-cargo@aeronova.com

Contact the UK Prime Minister David Cameron and the Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt asking them to take immediate action to prevent the beagles being sent for research

Comment in Support of Listing Lesser Prairie Chicken as Threatened

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is accepting public comment in its proposed rule to list the Lesser Prairie Chicken as Threatened. The listing would protect many acres of wild grasslands in Northern Texas and surrounding states and restrict oil drilling, development, and ranching operations in those areas. This would not only help the listed species, but many other species and the environment as a whole.

Please go here to submit a comment in support of listing the Lesser Prairie Chicken as Threatened: http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=FWS-R2-ES-2012-0071-0001

You do not need to fill our every field in section 1 but make sure you post your comment [section 2] and submit it [section 4]. The more you can write in support the better. Be articulate and professional so your comment will carry more weight.

For some background you can view the USFWS news release here: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/Documents/R2ES/LPC_Proposed_Listing_NR_Final_30Nov2012.pdf

Help End Maternal Deprivation Experiments at UW-Madison

Tell UW-Madison System President Kevin P. Reilly that depriving baby monkeys of their mothers and then terrorizing them is unacceptable, is NOT useful for humans and is horrifically cruel. Tell him to put a stop to Ned Kalin’s ridiculous experiments once and for all.

Over the past 18 years, Dr. Kalin’s research using monkeys to study the neurobiology of fear has cost taxpayers many millions of dollars. In the past ten years alone, it has cost us $5,075,798. [National Institutes of Health. Grant R01MH046729. Development and Regulation of Emotion in Primates.]

Contact:

Kevin P. Reilly, UW System President
phone (608) 262-2321
fax (608) 262-3985
kreilly@uwsa.edu
1720 Van Hise Hall
1220 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706

Kate Wodyn, Assistant to the President
kwodyn@uwsa.edu

Tell AFAR Travel Magazine To Stop Glorifying Fur Trapping

In the January-February 2013 issue of AFAR (a travel magazine), in an article featuring Quebec City, travel journalist Jennifer Kahn glorifies fur trapping, and marvels at pelts from beavers, wolves, ermines and lynx – animals killed by a local trapper.
As an educational and sophisticated travel magazine, AFAR should be aware of the incredible cruelty and torture of innocent animals involved in trapping for animal fur. Even companion animals like dogs and cats are frequently injured or killed in indiscriminate trapping devices.
Tell AFAR’s EVP Publisher and VP Associated Publisher that you oppose recreational and commercial trapping because it devastates animal populations, and the cruelty inherent in trapping should not be glorified in AFAR’s magazine or website.

Contact:

EVP, Publisher Ellen Asmodeo-Giglio
phone (646) 430-09894
ellen@afar.com

VP, Associate Publisher Bryan Kinkade
(phone (646) 873-6136
bryan@afar.com

Sales and Marketing
fax (212) 382-3559

Speak Out For Wolves

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is holding meetings this week concerning gray wolf recovery and management.  It’s important that they hear from Washington state residents who support wolf recovery instead of more wolf killing.  Attendees will be able to submit questions to a “panel of experts”.

The meetings are scheduled at three locations:

January 16th – Center Place Regional Event Center, 2426 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley, 6-8 PM
January 17th – Office Building #2, at 14th Ave. and Jefferson St., Olympia, 2:30-5 PM
January 18th – Magnuson Park’s Garden Room, 7400 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, 6-8 PM

Wolf opponents may be present in force demanding that more wolves are killed.

Please plan to attend and speak out for the wolves.  Tell WDFW to protect endangered species instead of cattle and hunting interests.

Help Stopped Elephants Being Shipped to China

Born Free was shocked to learn that 4 elephants were taken from the wild in Zimbabwe and exported to Chinese zoos, one of which subsequently died not long after arrival. We are also very concerned that there are reportedly a further 14 elephants at the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe that have also been earmarked for export.

In the wild, elephants live long lives in social and ecological complexity. Taking them from the wild and sending them overseas to a life in captivity is unacceptable. We have seen photos of the elephant enclosure at one of the Chinese zoos where the first Zimbabwe elephants were sent, and it is woefully inadequate and completely barren.

We are raising our concerns in the strongest possible terms with the Zimbabwean and Chinese authorities. We are also making an official complaint to the CITES authorities, the body responsible for overseeing the international trade in endangered species. It was the Zimbabwe CITES authority that would have approved the issuing of permits allowing these elephants to leave the country.

You can help by writing polite letters of concern about the export of elephants from Zimbabwe with the Minister responsible for wildlife at the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and the Director of National Parks, contact details below:

His Excellency Mr Francis Nhema, Minister of Environment
Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources
11th Floor
Kaguvi House
Between 4th and 5th Street
Harare
Zimbabwe

Minister Nhema – Email: environment@gta.gov.zw

Mr. Edson Chidziya
Acting Director of National Parks
Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority
P.O. Box CY 140
Causeway
Harare
Zimbabwe

Mr Edson Chidziya – Email: echidziya@zimparks.co.zw

Thank you.

Iditarod mushers drown innocent puppies

Iditarod dogs suffer horrendous cruelty every day of their lives. Please help these dogs by sending protest emails to the 2013 race supporters. Mushers have drowned, shot, bludgeoned and dragged many dogs to death. For example, Iditarod musher Dave Olesen drowned a litter of newborn puppies. Another musher got rid of unwanted puppies by tying them in a bag and tossing the bag in a creek. Mushers even have a saying about not breeding dogs unless they can drown them: “Those who cannot drown should not breed.”

Terrible things happen to dogs during the Iditarod. This includes: death, bloody diarrhea, paralysis, frostbite (where it hurts the most!), bleeding ulcers, lung damage, pneumonia, ruptured discs, viral diseases, kennel cough, broken bones, torn muscles and extreme stress. At least 142 dogs have died in the race, including four dogs who froze to death in the brutal cold.

Veterinary care during the Iditarod is poor. In the 2012 race, one of Lance Mackey’s male dogs ripped out all of his 16 toenails trying to get to a female who was in heat. This type of broken toenail is extremely painful. Mackey, a four-time Iditarod winner, said he was too stubborn to leave this dog at a checkpoint and veterinarians allowed Mackey to continue to race him. Imagine the agony the dog was forced to endure.

Here’s another example: Veterinarians have allowed dogs with kennel cough to race in the Iditarod even though dogs with this disease should be kept warm and given lots of rest. Strenuous exercise can cause lung damage, pneumonia and even death. To make matters worse, kennel cough is a highly contagious disease that normally lasts from 10 to 21 days.

Most Internet service providers allow people to send up to 40 email addresses at a time. For your convenience, email addresses for the 2013 Iditarod sponsors, promoters, and musher sponsors have been divided into groups of 40. Please email the first group first. Scroll down to find the sample letter. Under it you’ll find individual email addresses for race supporters. Email groups with semicolons are on http://www.helpsleddogs.org/sponsors.htm. The Sled Dog Action Coalition has documentation to prove what it says and will provide it upon request.

GROUP ONE OF FOUR:

David.lauren@ralphlauren.com, sergio.marchionne@fiatspa.com, richard.edelman@edelman.com, msft@microsoft.com, dreiss@canada-goose.com, reuben.gamoran@effem.com, rhonda.germany@honeywell.com, Patrick.t.mulva@exxonmobil.com, gfayard@na.ko.com, john.mulligan@target.com, snisbet@globusfamily.com, mark.eliasen@alaskaair.com, rick@ricksteves.com, bob.toevs@dish.com, rstaton@dennys.com, smason@smuk.org.uk, denise.vaughn@ferguson.com, investorrelations@famousdaves.com, marketing@shemin.net, customersupport@napaonline.com, todd.lachman@effem.com, nraabe@theatlantic.com, kspreekmeester@canada-goose.com, Salvado.ml@pg.com, multimedia@dhs.gov, clewis@berwind.com, matthew.harrington@edelman.com, patrick.taylor@meredith.com, lhubbard@carhartt.com, luis_silberwasser@discovery.com, nconan@npr.org, reid.bigland@chrysler.com, David.M.Carroll@wellsfargo.com, corth@tdw.com, ptalamantes@mcclatchy.com, gpanagos@barrick.com, melanie.hennessey@novagold.com, annezcooke@cs.com, stephen.meer@intrado.com, info@non-stopdogwear.no, Kdanforth@principalmedia.com

GROUP TWO OF FOUR:

Theodore.J.Wojnar@exxonmobil.com, mukent@na.ko.com, pr@halliburton.com, contactus@jjkeller.com,

DLevine@kldistributor.com, marianne.amssoms@ab-inbev.com, lburke@outsidemag.com, cynthiamartinez@rccl.com, lblack@apollolp.com, hk.marketing@starcruises.com, info@tpg.com, media@carnival.com, srobison@prestigecruiseholdings.com, david.anderson@honeywell.com, Kipp.Erickson@pfizer.com, liz.paley@ralphlauren.com, mavara@horizonlines.com, customerservice@nr4e.com, martin.melzer@scurion.ch, info@ibex.com, dsoenksen@aperio.com, ir-usa@shell.com, michael.brune@sierraclub.org, info@edmondswa.com, david_browne@wcmhar.org, pdoyle@adn.com, companysecretary@millenniumhotels.co.uk, Todd.Hofheins@providence.org, rabqa@claytoncorp.com, info@buffalopeak.net, sales@dsrglobal.com, reservations@beringair.com, aihsales@aihalaska.com, dwspencer@microlinetc.com, l.parker@craigtaylorequipment.com, mlambert@miamiherald.com, AMarques@MiamiHerald.com, phenderson@alaskanbeer.com, investor_relations@amerco.com, stephen.hughes@chicagoparkdistrict.com

GROUP THREE OF FOUR:

don@alaskafloats.com, kgood@scholastic.com, BradB@Silversea.com, dmorris@gci.com, scott.kirby@lifemedalaska.com, jcmartin@mtaonline.net, DCoumerilh@TridentSeafoods.com, dha@anderesoil.com, amitchell@mitchelltax.com, mahays@mahaysjetboat.com, lodging@mtaonline.net, cafemichele@matnet.com, info@pizzapietalkeetna.com, lat62@alaska.net, info@alaskawildrose.com, info@mckinleyflighttours.com, info@skytrekkingalaska.com, info@crystalcreeklodge.com, info@tangleriverinn.com, dmichels@nomealaska.org, mayor@muni.org, alcansigns@alaska.net, enisson@nacargo.com, info@penair.com, admin@manitobah.ca, info@aceaircargo.com, help@mtaonline.net, frontsales@accupoint.com, office@kenaiveterinaryhospital.com, jhawks@groundeffectmedia.com, Info@TripleCreekRanch.com, sales@icicleseafoods.com, franchising@batteriesplus.com, dan@lupinenorthamerica.com, info@packard-1.com, hotels@fdifairbanks.com, hhylen@beaconohss.com, shauna@lumberjacksports.com, info@yummychummies.com, dpowers@akserigraphics.com, sales@akmining.com

GROUP FOUR OF FOUR:

info@bradleyreid.com, carolyn@sprocketheads.com, info@intuitionliners.com, customerservice@northernoutfitters.com, info@trapperscreek.com, phil@cacalaska.com, info@st-eliashospital.com, sales@genevawoods.com, info@usibelli.com, qiviut@gci.net, Info@AnchorageSatellitePhones.com, gfandrei@ciaanet.org, info@livelargedesign.com, michele@kaladi.com, broker@mtaonline.net, sellit@tds.net, michael@kasilofenterprises.com, mikes@harborent.com, international@grabberworld.com, hamilton@fishcreekalaska.com, info@lcitw.com, akiaknc@unicom-alaska.com, ccalhoun@ahmpnet.org, mccluskeym@apcointl.org, pr@viator.com, ewaite@sbsalaska.com, info@dogbooties.com, kharris@willcountyillinois.com, Admin@McKinleyWelding.com, surfaceworks@mtaonline.net, heritage@mtaonline.net, cwillard@ryanalaska.com, alpinecreeklodgealaska@gci.net, snug@snugharborseafoods.com, info@flydenali.net, thardt@asrc.com, wiggys@wiggys.com, info@selwynresources.com, ktaylor@remingtontech.net, greg.waller@teck.com, contact@redpawfeed.com, science@tigerscience.com

SAMPLE LETTER (Please personalize)

Dear Iditarod Supporter:

Iditarod dogs suffer horrendous cruelty every day of their lives. Please end your organization’s support of this event. Mushers have drowned, shot, bludgeoned and dragged many dogs to death. For example, Iditarod musher Dave Olesen drowned a litter of newborn puppies. Another musher got rid of unwanted puppies by tying them in a bag and tossing the bag in a creek. Mushers even have a saying about not breeding dogs unless they can drown them: “Those who cannot drown should not breed.”

Terrible things happen to dogs during the Iditarod. This includes: death, bloody diarrhea, paralysis, frostbite (where it hurts the most!), bleeding ulcers, lung damage, pneumonia, ruptured discs, viral diseases, kennel cough, broken bones, torn muscles and extreme stress. At least 142 dogs have died in the race, including four dogs who froze to death in the brutal cold.

Veterinary care during the Iditarod is poor. In the 2012 race, one of Lance Mackey’s male dogs ripped out all of his 16 toenails trying to get to a female who was in heat. This type of broken toenail is extremely painful. Mackey, a four-time Iditarod winner, said he was too stubborn to leave this dog at a checkpoint and veterinarians allowed Mackey to continue to race him. Imagine the agony the dog was forced to endure.

Here’s another example: Veterinarians have allowed dogs with kennel cough to race in the Iditarod even though dogs with this disease should be kept warm and given lots of rest. Strenuous exercise can cause lung damage, pneumonia and even death. To make matters worse, kennel cough is a highly contagious disease that normally lasts from 10 to 21 days.

Iditarod dogs endure brutal training. Jeanne Olson, who has been a veterinarian in Alaska since 1988, confirmed the brutality used by mushers training dogs for the Iditarod. She talked about dogs having cracked ribs, broken jaws or skulls from mushers using two-by-fours for punishment. In an article published by the University of Alaska, Dr. Olson said, “There are mushers out there whose philosophy is…that if that dog acts up I will hit that dog to the point where it would rather die than do what it did, ’cause the next time it is gonna die.’”

For more facts about Iditarod dog cruelties: Sled Dog Action Coalition, http://www.helpsleddogs.org.

Please end your organization’s association with this horrific race.

Sincerely,

LISTS OF SPONSORS:
Go here to find information so you can contact Iditarod race sponsors and promoters
http://www.helpsleddogs.org/sponsors.htm#idit

Go here to find information so you can contact Iditarod musher supporters
http://www.helpsleddogs.org/sponsors.htm#musher

Ask Major Airlines to Stop Transporting Nonhuman Primates Destined for Use in Research Laboratories
Last month, Air Canada announced that it would no longer transport nonhuman primates bound for use in research facilities in large part because of the power of public opinion. Air Canada joins a number of other major airlines, including American, Delta, Lufthansa, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Air China and many others that have stopped transporting nonhuman primates for research. Before we can count this as a true victory, we need to keep the momentum going and contact the following airlines that continue to transport nonhuman primates destined for use in laboratories and urge them to stop this practice.

CONTACT:
United Airlines
Customer Care
United Airlines, Inc.
900 Grand Plaza Drive NHCCR
Houston, TX 77067-4323
Online contact form

Air France
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/airfrance
Online contact form:

China Eastern
Online contact form:

INFORMATION / TALKING POINTS

Your voice needs to be heard. Please contact these airlines and tell them:

You are disappointed that they are involved with transporting nonhuman primates destined for use in laboratories
Other major airlines, including Air Canada, Air China, American, Delta, Lufthansa, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and many others have already abandoned this cruel practice
To adopt policies against the transport of nonhuman primates bound for use in laboratories.

Ask the USDA to Seize Abused Bears
In 2012, PETA conducted an undercover investigation at Chief Saunooke Bear Park (CSBP), a roadside collection of bear pits in Cherokee, North Carolina. CSBP confines bears to desolate concrete cells, where they are forced to beg for food and are deprived of all that is natural and important to them.
PETA’s investigator found that the bored and frustrated bears turn endlessly in circles. One of them routinely rocks back and forth—a sign of profound deprivation and stress. They bite the metal cage bars, which breaks their teeth. This is painful and can cause bone infections, so it requires veterinary care, but PETA’s investigator never saw a veterinarian at CSBP or the bears given any pain relief.
In June 2012, the USDA charged CSBP with violating the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and requested that its license be revoked or suspended. PETA submitted its evidence, which shows that many apparent AWA violations continue to occur, to the USDA and asked that it confiscate CSBP’s bears.
Please take a moment to request that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) immediately confiscate all bears from CSBP and work with PETA to place them in a safe, accredited sanctuary.
TAKE ACTION NOW: http://links.causes.com/s/clH6Cl?r=K9aV

Transportation Safety Administration: Stop losing our pets!
Sign the petition asking the TSA to implement a new policy on how to handle pets, including asking pet owners if they’d like to be screened in an enclosed room to reduce their pet’s stress and establishing a protocol on how to react if an animal does get loose.
Sign at Change.org

Take Action to Put Animals Back in the Animal Welfare Act!

Please contact your legislators today to ask them to co-sponsor HR 6693 oo put animals back in the Animal Welfare Act.

Find and contact your U.S. Senators
http://www.senate.gov/

Find and contact your U.S. Representative
http://www.house.gov/

TALKING POINTS

The Animal Welfare Act currently fails to protect 95% of all animals used in research and testing. This undermines the purpose of the law: to provide humane treatment for these animals. In 2002 a rider to the Farm Bill removed protections for rats, mice, and birds, subjecting them to poorly conducted animal research without sufficient review.

Working with ALDF, U.S. House Representative Gerald Connolly (D-VA) has introduced a bill (HR 6693) that restores coverage for rats, mice, and birds under the AWA. Cosponsored by Representative Sam Farr (D-CA), the bill will:

Fix the massive carve-out of 95 percent of animals in research. Rats, mice, and birds compose 95 percent of the animals used in research. Restoring their protections will help fulfill the purpose for which the AWA was designed.
Fit the commonsense definition of animal. The AWA currently does not define rats, mice, and birds as “animals.”
Protect sentient beings from laboratory abuse. Without AWA oversight, many rats, mice, and birds suffer unnecessarily from shoddy experiments and research practices. For example, a USDA inspector discovered a rat dying in a University of Hawaii freezer, yet could not enforce this “egregious lack of humane care” because rats are not protected.
Provide researchers and the country long-term economic benefit. By putting researchers in a system of pre-experiment review, AWA coverage of rats, mice, and birds will eliminate poorly conducted scientific experiments and testing. Such review will improve science, bolster the economy in the long-term, and stop taxpayers from funding wasteful research.
Create minimal impact on the USDA and industry. Oversight from USDA will provide sweeping animal welfare benefits at little cost. Regulatory infrastructure has existed for years and will easily transition into oversight.

Stop Yellowstone’s Plans to Slaughter Buffalo
Tell Yellowstone Superintendent Dan Wenk that you absolutely oppose any capture or slaughter of wild buffalo. Yellowstone is mandated by law to protect wild bison, not cater to Montana’s cattle politics. Tell Superintendent Wenk to stop being a puppet for Montana livestock interests, pull out of the draconian Interagency Bison Management Plan, and to stand up for the wildlife that the American people have placed in his care.
Wild bison are a natural, national treasure, the prehistoric and rightful roamers of North America, and we will not stand by and allow Yellowstone or Montana’s cattle industry to jeopardize their future for any reason. Sadly, three Buffalo were killed on Christmas morning.

Contact:

Daniel Wenk, Superintendent
Yellowstone National Park
P.O. Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190-0168
(307) 344-2002 phone
(307) 344-2014 fax
Dan_Wenk@nps.gov

Tell Nordstrom to Stop Selling Fur

1) Visit the website of Nordstrom Downtown Seattle at http://shop.nordstrom.com/st/nordstrom-downtown-seattle and scroll down to click on “Tell Us What You Think” — then fill in the comment box to ask them to stop selling fur!
2) Please sign this online petition and share with your friends: https://www.change.org/petitions/nordstrom-stop-selling-all-animal-fur-3
3) Please print out this letter, sign, and mail it to Nordstrom: http://afa-online.org/NordstromLetter.pdf Or better yet, use the letter as a template for your own personalized letter. Please do this in addition to signing the petition! Paper letters carry much more weight than petitions or emails, especially these days.

Tell Target to Stop Selling Rabbit Fur

Please call 1-800-591-3869, and tell Target to stop selling rabbit fur. And please don’t shop there until they stop!

Stop Horse Slaughter in Snohomish County

Due to changes in a federal policy, a horse slaughterhouse in Stanwood, WA could re-open. On December 19, the Snohomish Country Council will be considering a ban on horse slaughter, which would prevent that slaughterhouse as well as any others from operating in Snohomish County.

Read The Herald’s article about the proposed ban here: http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20121204/news01/712049937

Then please visit http://www.change.org/petitions/snohomish-county-council-members-pass-ordinance-no-12-106-to-ban-the-slaughter-of-horses to sign our petition to ask the council members to pass the ban. Then please forward this link to friends and family to ask them to sign as well!

Thank you for caring about horses! And please show that you care about all of the animals whose lives end horrifically in slaughterhouses, by living vegan!

Tell Nordstroms to Stop Selling Fur

1) Visit the website of Nordstrom Bellevue Square at
http://shop.nordstrom.com/st/nordstrom-bellevue-square and scroll down to click on “Tell Us What You Think” — then fill in the comment box to ask them to stop selling fur!
2) Please sign this online petition and share with your friends:
https://www.change.org/petitions/nordstrom-stop-selling-all-animal-fur-3
3) Please print out this letter, sign, and mail it to Nordstrom: http://afa-online.org/NordstromLetter.pdf Or better yet, use the letter as a template for your own personalized letter. Please do this in addition to signing the petition! Paper letters carry much more weight than petitions or emails, especially these days.

 
Elephants at Woodland Park Zoo Need Your Help!

Friends of Woodland Park Zoo Elephants have advocated for the retirement of Bamboo, Chai and Watoto, the elephants living on display at Woodland Park Zoo, to a sanctuary.

 Sadly, the Zoo “owns” the elephants and only public pressure will help save the elephants from dying at WPZ.

Let them know you are disturbed that WPZ allows Bamboo, Chai and Watoto to suffer in an environment that directly harms their physical and psychological health and you want immediate actions taken to improve their conditions while working for retirement at a sanctuary. 

 WPZ receives more than $10 million from Seattle and King county tax payers every year yet claims: “we do not have a record that gives the cost of housing or caring for the elephants”.  Ask the City and County Councils to take control over the elephants’ welfare and WPZ’s irresponsible use of our hard earned tax dollars. We want action!

 We’ve included The Seattle Times’ address so they, too, hear the outpouring of support for the elephants— as well as for the article.

 In the subject line, make sure to use a word like: elephant, zoo, Chai, Bamboo

 sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov, richard.conlin@seattle.gov, sally.clark@seattle.gov,   nick.licata@seattle.gov, bruce.harrell@seattle.gov, tim.burgess@seattle.gov,  jean.godden@seattle.gov, mike.obrien@seattle.gov, tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov, larry.gossett@kingcounty.gov,  bob.ferguson@kingcounty.gov,  kathy.lambert@kingcounty.gov,  larry.phillips@kingcounty.gov,  julia.patterson@kingcounty.gov,  jane.hague@kingcounty.gov,  pete.vonreichbauer@kingcoounty.gov,  joe.mcdermott@kingcounty.gov, regan.dunn@kingcounty.gov, opinion@seattletimes.com

 While writing an e-mail is appreciated, we understand that short letters or even postcards sent via regular mail have the greatest impact – do both!!!

 Metropolitan King County Council
516 Third Ave., Rm. 1200
Seattle, WA 98104

 For more information, go to www.freewpzelephants.org