Bea Arthur

In Defense of Animals (IDA) is pleased to announce the award of $5,000.00 to the C.A.R.E. 4Pets Sanctuary, made possible by a bequest to IDA from legendary actress and animal advocate Beatrice Arthur. The awards will be distributed annually in celebration of Bea’s May 13 birthday. C.A.R.E. is our first recipient.

The C.A.R.E. (Cat & Canine Assistance, Referral and Education) Sanctuary in the Antelope Valley near Palmdale, California, is a no-kill, cage-free home to over 200 abused, abandoned, handicapped and elderly dogs and cats. C.A.R.E. truly honors Bea Arthur’s acts of compassion that affect animal lives.

“We could always count on Bea to support animal causes while also fighting other injustices. She had a great concern for the downtrodden, both animal and human.” said Bill Dyer of IDA.

Charlie the rescue cat

C.A.R.E. is dedicated to saving the lives of homeless “unadoptable” dogs and cats by rescuing at-risk animals. Since 1992, C.A.R.E. has proven that it is possible to care for “unwanted” or “surplus” animals who face an uncertain future. C.A.R.E. exemplifies the quintessence of Bea’s gift.

Visit www.care4pets.org for more info.

Click here for IDA’s 2011 announcement about Bea’s generous gift to the animals

SB 1221, a bill that would ban hound hunting in California, passed the Senate Natural Resources Committee on April 24. The vote was split right down the political divide with five democrats voting “aye” and three republicans voting “no”. The California state capitol was overrun with cammo and cowboy hats on one side, animal advocates on the other. Each side was able to make statements, and at the end of the hearing, the score was bears and bobcats 1, hunters 0.

Thanks to the hundreds of IDA members in California who contacted the Natural Resources Committee about this bill, and those who showed up at the hearing in Sacramento! It worked! Please respond just as strongly when we contact you again about this bill soon. The bill now heads to the Appropriations Committee. There are a few more steps – this battle isn’t quite won yet.

IDA’s Hope Bohanec spoke at the hearing on behalf of IDA’s California members, encouraging the committee to ban the cruel practice of hunting with hounds. Many people find hounding inhumane and even some hunters consider it unsportsmanlike. A 2011 survey by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research, Inc. revealed that 83 percent of California voters oppose the practice of bear hounding.

Fourteen states do not allow hunting bears with hounds including Montana, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Washington. Hounds are vulnerable to injury and death in hunting accidents from guns, vehicles and the prey they are pursuing. Some of the hounds are treated inhumanely, including being abandoned in the field, and others suffer abuse from neglect and lack of veterinary care. Many of the dogs are abandoned at animal shelters, exacerbating the drain on shelter resources.

IDA would like to thank State Senator Ted Lieu for introducing this bill that would ban hound hunting of bears and bobcats in the state of California. We also thank the five yes votes — Senators Fran Pavley, Christine Kehoe, Alex Padilla, Noreen Evans and Lois Wolk. Please click here to find their contact information and thank them for their support of SB 1221. IDA will keep you updated on this important legislation as it moves through the legislature.

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Barnabus

Hope Animal Sanctuary Director Doll Stanley, along with volunteer Lisa Martin and staff member Lainey Mansour, left IDA’s sanctuary in Mississippi on April 23 with 108 dogs and two kittens. This is the larger of two transports scheduled for the next week to Every Creature Counts in Colorado. This transport is mostly small dogs and puppies, while the next will be mainly large dogs – some 60 of them to be exact.

This team is no stranger to transports, but two in just over a week is a lot to ask, even of seasoned transporters. Hope Animal Sanctuary fills up quickly and our rescue partners in Colorado have plenty of space and several big adoption events scheduled. It takes a lot of effort and fundraising to make these transports happen, but it makes all the difference in the world to the individual animals on the truck who will end up in loving homes. (Please click here to donate to Hope Animal Sanctuary’s extraordinary efforts.)

Juni

Transporting the animals is just the final step of many steps required to make these transports possible. Most if not all of the animals have been spayed/neutered by Dr. Bushby and his team of veterinary students from Mississippi State University. Others were vetted and cared for by Dr. Abernethy and his team at Veterinary Associates in Grenada. We were fortunate to be able to help several of our rescue partners in other parts of Mississippi and received dogs from Sherri Norquist in Cleveland, Cindy Bailey from Mississippi Animal Rescue League in Jackson, and from Winona Animal Advocacy in Winona.

Last, but certainly not least, a huge thank you to the staff at Hope Animal Sanctuary who have truly performed above and beyond – Rob Hollis, Lainey Mansour, Sarah Thomas, and Kelly Stokes. Without their dedication and commitment, none of the amazing things we accomplished would be possible.

Elephant calf Hugo in background with adult female elephant

Though not yet a year old, Hugo is already on the road. IDA has confirmed that Hugo has been “rented out” to the Cole Brothers Circus. While he is not yet performing, there are indications that his training is underway. This is nothing new for Carson and Barnes elephants; Hugo’s five-year-old sister, Val, has been performing with the circus for over three years, much of the time without her mother.

In the wild, baby elephants grow up surrounded by a circle of nurturers – mothers and other family members cooperatively care for each baby. Female calves stay with their natal herd for their entire lives and the males until sexual maturity, usually well into their teens. In the circus, however, elephant babies are a box-office draw. Virtually every elephant performing today started out their lives with the agony of being violently separated from their mothers. Added to this trauma is the cruelty of the training process so vividly demonstrated in photos provided to the Washington Post by a former Ringling trainer, showing terrified babies being taught to perform unnatural tricks through pain, prolonged restraint and punishment.

The stress of maternal deprivation, violent training, and constant confinement and travel takes a toll on young elephants, often leading to injury, sickness and death. Chronic stress is known to weaken the immune system and can leave young elephants susceptible to dangerous diseases. Two young Carson and Barnes elephants were stricken with the deadly elephant herpes virus (EEHV); one named Jenny died at age five. The baby elephant Barack, who was performing even before his first birthday with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, has survived two bouts with EEHV and there are reports that he has left the circus again due to illness. In addition, the tricks these calves are forced to perform can cause lasting injury to their developing bones and muscles. Ringling’s baby Ricardo was euthanized at eight months of age when he fell off a tub and broke his legs in a training session that involved bullhooks and ropes.

Our concern is heightened by the fact that Hugo and Val are touring with the Cole Brothers Circus, whose indifference to the welfare of the animals it uses has been demonstrated time and time again. The circus recently settled charges filed by the USDA for more than 10 counts of violating the Animal Welfare Act, and these charges were just part of a long string of demonstrated abuse and neglect of the animals in their “charge.”

Val performing under control of infamous handler Tim Frisco

The person training and handling Hugo and Val is none other than the notorious Tim Frisco, who was caught on video (below) demonstrating how to train elephants by beating them and telling other handlers to “make ‘em scream” in order to get the elephants to obey commands. The cards seem stacked against these calves!

IDA has been asking the USDA for years to acknowledge that forcing baby elephants to travel and perform is a violation of the safe handling requirements of the Animal Welfare Act. The agency has so far declined to take any action to protect young elephants forced to travel and perform.

With several baby elephants at immediate risk, we need your help.

Please check the Cole Brothers Circus schedule regularly (it updates frequently) and email ICAN@idausa.org if you are able to attend the circus and monitor the elephants’ treatment and condition. And let us know if you’d like help organizing a protest to tell the public just how miserable and often deadly circus life is for those adorable baby elephants, and how the use of elephants in circuses must come to an end.

Click here to donate to our Elephant Protection Fund. Thanks for your support!

At Hope Animal Sanctuary our team begins each morning with a bit of time together and with a plan for the day we head for the animals we are each to care for. The animals are the B12 we need to face another seemingly impossible day. Impossible? Why would a day with a plan be impossible? The phone!

Barnabus & Sarah

At this time we are at maximum care for the animals we’ve been entrusted with. There are horses everywhere needing rescue and we do not have space, staff, or funds to take more in. Percy is our only donkey. He might as well be a large dog. Arlin, our Barbados Sheep is solo, but is inseparable from Celeste, the horse he treasures.

Our eleven pigs have told us we can rescue more, but they will have to have their own space. They stand their ground when it comes to someone new snouting in.

The emus would likely welcome friends, but the demise of the “emus market” is far enough behind us that it’s rare to receive a call on their behalf.

The cats are in harmony and those in the main cattery were exposed to leukemia when we took three young cats in last year. The youngsters tested negative for feluke when they came in and later broke with rapid symptoms and a horrendously swift decline. The other cats that were exposed are mostly semi-feral to feral and whether they’ve tested positive or not they will live their lives to the fullest extent with us. That’s what sanctuary means to us.

Dogs and puppies. Whoa! The numbers of dogs and puppies needing help is staggering. We have just exhausted our resources for their care. Between the sanctuary and foster care we are responsible for 150 dogs. The up side is they are safe, cared for, and we are planning a transport to Every Creature Counts the first week of May.

Adela

Dr. Bushby and his team came the 27^th and blessed 30 of our dogs with spays and neuters. In April the mobile clinic will be down for servicing. ECC said they would bring a second vet in when we arrive for anyone who missed out on surgery during April. I love them.

We’ve been busy with cruelty reports and we have an April 12^th hearing for Emerald and her pups. Their guardian seems to have missed his entire role as their provider. We are confident he’ll be found negligent and Emerald, Adela, Barnabas, Bess, Gideon, and Zeke will be free to live their lives with guardians worthy of them.

For now I’ll say “until then” as I have the responsibilities a guardian never neglects.

Thank you all for caring about the animals we all love and for each and everything you do as a guardian to the fellow beings of our world.

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On Earth Day, April 22, 2012, and throughout the month of April, events will take place all over the world. This is a perfect time to educate people about animal agriculture, one of the biggest contributors to the most significant environmental problems around the world. Please check out our Eco-Eating pages and watch the video below to learn more about this important issue.

Producing animal products wastes enormous amounts of energy and fossil fuel, and emits greenhouse gasses in the process. Add in deforestation for cattle grazing, and you have a recipe for serious impact on climate change. Cutting back or eliminating the consumption of animal products is one of the most powerful ways an individual can reduce his or her carbon footprint, reduce animal suffering and reduce the risk for chronic degenerative disease, all with a tasty plant-based diet.

What you can do:

- Write a letter to the editor and educate your community on the environmental impacts of animal products.

- Find out when and where your local Earth Day event will be held and apply for a table at the event. We can provide you with materials for tabling.

- Can’t commit to table? Leaflet an Earth Day event for an hour or two, passing out information to the attendees. We can provide you with flyers.

Speak out for animals and the planet this Earth Day! For more ideas and to order materials, contact Hope Bohanec at hope@idausa.org.

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Animals used in circuses are cruelly trained, chained and intensively confined, and forced to travel and perform. Denied all that is natural to them, they suffer physically and psychologically, and often develop abnormal behaviors such as repetitive rocking, swaying and pacing.

TEAPA is at a critical stage and we need your support to see that it becomes law. Help IDA convince Congress that it’s time to join the many countries that have banned the use of exotic animals in circuses, including Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, Singapore, Costa Rica, Peru, Bolivia. Join us by taking action this week!

Click here to read more and find out how you can help, including sending a message to your Representative!

Thank you for taking action to help stop the suffering of wild animals in traveling circuses!

Click here to donate to our Elephant Protection Fund. Thanks for your support!

Trump son holding elephant's tail

Public reaction was swift and IDA’s condemnation of the needless killings appeared in articles by TMZ and the Hollywood Gossip.

Trump, Sr., responded to his sons’ brainless exploits, stating that while he doesn’t believe in hunting his sons had become good at it and that he was sure their actions were “100% OK in terms of the hunting community.”

In fact, Trump’s sons were hunting in Zimbabwe, a highly troubled country where it is suspected that wildlife numbers are greatly exaggerated. For example, in 2009 the Zimbabwe Parks Management Authority estimated that 100,000 elephants existed in the country, however, experts say that a proper audit has not been conducted there in years; they estimate the elephant population at only 35,000 to 40,000.

Donald, Jr., has since lashed out at his critics claiming, as did Parsons, that killing threatened species helps conservation and local people. IDA suggests that if the Trump brothers and their friends had any real interest in conservation, they would open their overflowing pockets and contribute to the efforts of real conservation groups working to help people and the wildlife around them.

Elephants are among the world’s most intelligent, sensitive and social animals. Research suggests that both males and females grieve for lost relatives and associates, remembering the deaths over long periods. They are also under increasing pressure due to poaching, habitat loss and human-elephant conflict.

If you are as outraged as we are about these senseless killings, please donate to IDA’s Elephant Protection Fund and help support our work for elephants around the world.

Dolly, who was taken from her wild family in 1987, was on the road with the circus when she died. According to the necropsy report provided to the USDA, her presumed cause of death was “metabolic failure secondary to esophageal obstruction and general anesthesia.” She was brought to a veterinarian’s office with a wad of “feed material” choking her and put under anesthesia so that the material could be removed, became very weak, and died.

IDA has long had grave concerns over the health and welfare of all of Barreda’s elephants. Last year we filed several complaints questioning their veterinary care. Following one IDA complaint, a USDA inspection found “no noncompliances.” But we pressed the USDA to investigate further, armed with photographic evidence demonstrating a lack of appropriate foot care. This resulted in the issuance of an “Official Warning” to the Barredas for failure to provide adequate veterinary care. It was issued about a month after Dolly’s death.

Dolly deserves to be remembered, and IDA will honor her memory by continuing to fight for other elephants forced to live unnatural lives in circuses. And we will urge the USDA to confiscate Dolly’s surviving companions from an exhibitor with a proven history of indifference to their medical needs.

UniverSoul Circus’s schedule is available here. If they are coming to your area, and you can help by organizing a leafleting event or by monitoring the elephants, please contact circuses@idausa.org.

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The Harvard researchers examined data from 110,000 people over a 20 year period. Some of the participants were studied for 28 years, with diets assessed through questionnaires every four years.

Meat has long been associated with increased risk of cancer and heart disease, but this comprehensive study goes further to link actual deaths to the consumption of certain meats. The study took into account chronic disease risk factors such as body mass index, exercise levels, age and family history.

“Our study adds more evidence to the health risks of eating high amounts of red meat, which has been associated with type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers in other studies,” said lead author An Pan, research fellow in the Department of Nutrition at HSPH.

The study also found that replacing one serving of red meat with one serving of healthy protein sources lowered mortality risk by 19% for nuts, 14% for whole grains and 10% for legumes.

This study provides clear evidence that regular consumption of red meat, especially processed meat, contributes substantially to premature death, said Hu. On the other hand, choosing more healthful sources of protein in place of red meat can confer significant health benefits by reducing chronic disease morbidity and mortality.

Click here for more information on the vegan lifestyle, to order vegan literature from IDA and share it with friends and family.

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