IDA eNews: 8/22/07

IDA ACTION ALERTS
1. IDA Urges Closure of Elephant Exhibit Following Tanzy's Death
2. Urge USDA to Help Circus Elephants
3. Animal Fighting Rings Against the Ropes

NEWS & CAMPAIGN UPDATES
1. Japan Dolphin Day 2007 - September 25th
2. Project Hope Helps Chained and Abandoned Dog
3. Two More Dog Tracks Close

IDA ACTION ALERTS

1. IDA Urges Closure of Elephant Exhibit Following Tanzy's Death
"Take Action" to help send surviving elephant to a sanctuary, not another zoo

Animal advocates are mourning the recent passing of yet another elephant who died from the effects of long-term confinement to a tiny zoo enclosure. Tanzy, a 49-year-old African elephant who lived for almost two decades at the Abilene Zoo in Texas, is the latest victim of the zoo industry's calculated denial and deception, and will undoubtedly not be its last. That is why IDA has sent an urgent plea to Abilene's Mayor urging him to send Tanzy's surviving enclosure-mate Tanya to a sanctuary instead of another zoo, and to permanently close the zoo's elephant exhibit so that no more pachyderms have to die before their time.

Tanzy spent nearly 20 years of her life in Abilene Zoo's woefully inadequate elephant exhibit, which provides an outdoor yard of less than a half-acre in size and indoor concrete-floored pens measuring just 24'x15'. By contrast, wild elephants walk 10 or more miles a day over varied terrain, which is necessary for maintaining foot and joint health. In the last years of her life, Tanzy was maintained on a steady diet of painkillers for degenerative arthritis.

Abilene Zoo medical records, obtained by IDA under Texas public records law, indicate that in addition to painful arthritis, Tanzy also suffered from foot problems, including deep holes in her foot pads and "chronic irritation [on her feet] from water and urine pooling in floor." An estimated 62 percent of elephants in U.S. zoos suffer from foot disease and nearly half suffer from arthritis, a result of unnatural exhibits that prevent adequate movement and force elephants to stand for decades on hard unyielding surfaces like concrete and compacted earth.

In our letter to Abilene Mayor Norm Archibald, IDA president Elliot M. Katz, DVM wrote: "Tanzy suffered for years from painful physical and psychological conditions caused directly by the inadequate and unnatural zoo environment in which she was held for decades. Her sad life and death should serve as a wake-up call to zoos to stop holding these magnificent animals in exhibits that cause them to suffer, become sick, and die."

He also blasted the Abilene Zoo for its public misrepresentations regarding elephant lifespan, which they claim is 33 years. However, in the wild, elephants' lives are cut short by illegal poaching, habitat destruction, famine, drought, and disease -- threats from which they are protected in the zoo. Under these circumstances, elephants should theoretically be living far closer to their natural lifespan of 60 to 70 years. At 49, Tanzy was only elderly by zoo standards, and had she been sent to a sanctuary earlier, she might have lived another decade or two.

"Inadequate zoo conditions are cutting short elephant lives. It is too late for Tanzy," Dr. Katz concluded in his letter, "but it's not too late for the Abilene Zoo to do the right thing for Tanya by sending her to a spacious and naturalistic elephant sanctuary and closing its elephant exhibit. It's time for Abilene Zoo to recognize that it has neither the space nor natural conditions that elephants need to thrive."

What You Can Do:

- Please "Take Action" to urge Abilene Mayor Norm Archibald to send Tanya to an elephant sanctuary instead of another zoo
( http://ga0.org/campaign/tanya/wwwxu8s4038837i? ) and to permanently close the Abilene Zoo's elephant exhibit so that no more elephants have to die prematurely, like Tanzy, from captivity-related causes. Also follow up with a polite letter, phone call, fax, or email:

Mayor Norm Archibald
717 Byrd Drive
Abilene, TX 79601
Tel: (325) 670-2203
Fax: (325) 670-2209
E-mail: norm.archibald [at] abilenetx.com

- If you live in the Abilene area, we could use your help in getting Tanya to a sanctuary. If you would like to get involved, please send an email to zoos [at] idausa.org .

- For more information about IDA's efforts to help elephants in zoos, please visit http://www.helpelephantsinzoos.org .


2. Urge USDA to Help Circus Elephants
Two elephants with Ringling Bros. need to be retired

Luna and Tonka are two elephants who are forced to perform for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus, even though they have been identified as "dangerous" by the circus' own staff. As a result, they suffer even more than the other elephants in the "Cruelest Show On Earth" because, when they arrive at each new venue on the tour, they are not permitted to walk with the other elephants from the train to the arena. Their aggressive behavior, a result of the horrible lives they lead as circus elephants, also makes Luna and Tonka potentially dangerous to circus performers and attendees.

When they are not performing, elephants used in circuses spend most of their lives chained in boxcars, standing in their own filth, on trips that can last several days. They finally get a chance to stretch their legs and breathe fresh air when they arrive at their destination, but not Luna and Tonka. Instead they are isolated from the other elephants, and driven in a truck to the arena.

Elephants don't perform stupid tricks for people voluntarily, so they have to be forced to do so through painful "training" methods that involve being beaten and stabbed with bullhooks -- heavy rods with sharp points on the ends. After a lifetime of such abuse, it's no wonder Luna and Tonka are angry! Throughout the history of circuses, there have been many instances in which elephants finally snap and rebel against their oppressors, seriously injuring and even killing handlers and unsuspecting audience members.

Such tragedies indicate that elephants don't belong in circuses. As a priority, elephants identified as "dangerous" should be routinely removed from circuses for their own well-being and the safety of others. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has the power to help Luna and Tonka and set a precedent for other elephants, so please join IDA and other animal protection groups in calling for their immediate release from service. Elephant sanctuaries have rehabilitated elephants previously labeled as "aggressive" by providing them with the space, natural conditions, and freedom of choice they need to be physically and psychologically healthy.

What You Can Do:

- Please "Take Action" to urge the USDA to remove Luna and Tonka from Ringling Bros. ( http://ga0.org/campaign/lunatonka/wwwxu8s4038837i? ) and send them to a sanctuary where they can live in peace.

- Ringling Bros. is appearing in San Jose now through August 26th. If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, please join IDA and Citizens for Cruelty Free Circuses as we protest outside of the HP Pavilion ( http://ga0.org/indefenseofanimals/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=10384026#3 ).

Learn more about the suffering endured by animals in circuses ( http://www.idausa.org/facts/circusfacts.html ).


3. Animal Fighting Rings Against the Ropes Activists target illegal bloodsports in wake of Vick indictment

The guilty plea of NFL quarterback Michael Vicks on felony charges of dog fighting
( http://idausa.org/campaigns/sport/dog/feature_070725.html ) has brought this illegal bloodsport into the media spotlight, and activists across the country are taking full advantage of this opportunity to combat the cruel competitions. One recent victory shows that we are achieving success in making sure that Vick's corporate sponsors know the public is outraged, and that cutting their ties with the infamous football player is the right thing to do.

An IDA supporter recently informed us that Kohl's department store ( http://www.kohls.com ) was advertising the sale of Vick's Atlanta Falcons jersey on their website. Especially disturbing was the fact that their advertisement for this item featured a young boy wearing the jersey, because given the serious charges against Vick, he is not an appropriate role model for children. We are pleased to report that after receiving a letter from IDA pointing this out, Kohl's immediately removed the jersey from their website and stores.

Other corporations have also recognized the seriousness of this situation, and have already pulled Vick-related items from their shelves. Nike has suspended Vick's contract without pay, and is not selling any items bearing his name at this time, while Rawlings ended their endorsement deal with Vick altogether. Reebok, Dick's Sporting Goods, Sports Authority, and the NFL itself have stopped selling all Vick-related items.

Given the actions taken by companies to end their association with Vick because of the dog fighting charges, it seems strange that online retailer Amazon.com has refused to stop selling subscriptions to cockfighting magazines like The Gamecock and The Feathered Warrior
( http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/103-1241321-0938201?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Dmagazines&field-keywords=The+Gamecock+&Go.x=15&Go.y=12 )
that blatantly advertise the sale of fighting animals and weapons used in these bloody battles. Cockfighting is now outlawed in 49 states, and a law banning cockfighting will go into effect in Louisiana in 2008. Amazon is clearly violating the federal Animal Welfare Act by using the U.S. mail to promote an activity -- animal fighting -- that is clearly illegal. Despite this and the mounting pressure from animal advocates urging them to remove these contraband items from their website, Amazon has refused.

Every state in the U.S. recognizes the cruelty of cockfighting through laws criminalizing this vicious bloodsport, and it is widely condemned by the vast majority of Americans. Amazon has neither the law nor the public on its side. IDA and numerous other animal protection organizations have dropped Amazon as their online book retailer to send the company the message that we won't support a company that blatantly disregards animal welfare concerns. Just as Kohl's and other companies have stopped selling Michael Vick products because of his association with an illegal and inhumane bloodsport, Amazon must admit that what they are doing is wrong and immediately end their sale of cockfighting magazines.

What You Can Do:

Please "Take Action" to tell Amazon CEO Jeffrey Bezos that the company must immediately stop selling cockfighting magazines ( http://ga0.org/campaign/amazon2/wwwxu8s4038837i? ), and that until they do, you'll be doing your online shopping elsewhere. You can also leave a voicemail message for Bezos by calling (206) 266-2171 and entering "0" in response to the first two prompts.

Learn the facts about the cruelty of animal fighting ( http://www.idausa.org/facts/fighting.html#afb-c ).


NEWS & CAMPAIGN UPDATES

1. Japan Dolphin Day 2007 - September 25th Join IDA and others in worldwide protests against slaughter

Every year in small towns along the Japanese coast, fishermen conduct drive fisheries to massacre about 20,000 marine mammals in the most brutal way imaginable. They herd whole pods of dolphins, porpoises, and small whales into shallow bays, then slaughter them using sharp spears and hooks. Most are butchered for meat that is sold in restaurants and supermarkets, while a choice few are sold to marine parks where they spend decades in loneliness and deprivation.

The annual Japan Dolphin Day
(h ttp://http://www.idausa.org/campaigns/marine/feature_060927.html ) is a global day of action when a broad range of organizations and activists band together to oppose the drive fisheries. As a member of the Save Japan Dolphins coalition ( http://www.savejapandolphins.org/ ), sponsor and coordinator of Japan Dolphin Day, IDA asks you to take part in one of the many demonstrations that will be held outside of Japanese embassies and consulates around the world on Tuesday, September 25th. We hope this will be the biggest Japan Dolphin Day ever so that together we can finally bring this atrocious "tradition" to an end.

In our eNews earlier this month
( http://www.idausa.org/campaigns/marine/feature_070808.html ), we reported that, for the first time ever, Japanese government officials publicly condemned the consumption of dolphin meat on the grounds that it is contaminated with dangerously high levels of mercury. Coupled with the cruelty involved in the dolphins' capture and killing, this development provides an unprecedented opportunity for activists to pressure the Japanese government into taking action to stop the drive fisheries.

What You Can Do:

- Take part in Japan Dolphin Day on Tuesday, September 25th, and ask your family and friends to join you. IDA will again hold a protest at the Japanese Consulate in San Francisco, so please be there with us if you live in the Bay Area (contact melissa [at] idausa.org for more information). Other events are already planned Washington, D.C.; New York City; Boston; Mexico City; Toronto; London; Stockholm; and Budapest. For more information on these events or for help planning a Japan Dolphin Day event in your area, contact ricobarry [at] bellsouth.net .

- Download and print out our flyer
( http://www.idausa.org/campaigns/marine/pdf/dolphinflyer_2.pdf )
for distribution at protests.

- If you belong to a conservation or animal protection organization, urge them to join this effort by organizing an event. Call (415) 788-3666 or email marinemammal [at] earthisland.org for more information.

- Watch a short video about the drive fisheries produced by the Save Japan Dolphins coalition ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd5lHbtyxzs ). Be aware that some of the scenes depict graphic slaughter.


2. Project Hope Helps Chained and Abandoned Dog "Cole" found starving and dehydrated in 100+ degree Mississippi heat

In rural Mississippi, Doll Stanley, Director of Project Hope sanctuary ( http://project-hope.net ) and IDA Mid-South, continues to work around the clock for animals in need. In a recent case, Doll received a voicemail message explaining that a family in a nearby county had moved and left their dog behind. That evening Doll and IDA staff member Eric Phelps went to investigate.

Doll and Eric drove around on completely darkened streets in a remote town miles away from Project Hope. When they finally arrived, the grass was unmowed and very high and there were no lights, so it was difficult to see the medium-sized, greyish-black dog, who they later named Cole. Beyond dark outside by this time, they parked their car where the lights would give them something to work with, and got out to make their way toward the dog who was tethered to a mobile home.

It had been over a hundred degrees in Mississippi for nearly a week straight. It was apparent that Cole had been there outside, chained by the neck to that trailer with little shade, no food, and only a small amount of filthy water for at least that long. He had been left to slowly die by his previous guardian. At first Cole was a little skittish, but soon realized Doll and Eric were there to help. Although he was severely underweight with his ribs and skull bones protruding, Cole still managed to wag his tail for his rescuers as they removed the chain and gently placed him in a carrier inside the air-conditioned car.

Back at Project Hope, Cole was given a comfortable, clean place to sleep, fresh water, and a little food. Knowing he had not eaten in what must have been a week or more, his caregivers did not want to risk the dog's eating too much too quickly before they could get him to the vet.

The next morning at the vet's office, Doll and Eric received the bad news that they had both feared: Cole was not going to make it. His age (estimated to be 10 years), combined with a very advanced stage of heartworm, made it very difficult for him to breathe, and was too debilitating for him to be saved. Rather than seeing him suffer any longer, Doll and Eric made the difficult decision to have the vet euthanize Cole. While it was the saddest possible outcome, they took solace in knowing Cole died with dignity in loving arms, and that he knew comfort and peace during his final hours.

Several days later, Doll went to the local sheriff's office and filed animal cruelty charges against Cole's previous guardian. Fortunately, the county in which this horrific neglect took place is one where Doll has had a lot of success in prosecuting animal cruelty cases. IDA is pushing for the stiffest penalty available in hopes that justice will be served to the individuals who left a living being behind to die alone, helplessly chained to his home.

Learn more about IDA's efforts to save chained dogs from lives of neglect and suffering ( http://ga0.org/indefenseofanimals/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=10081147 ).
Also support the important work of Project Hope by making a tax-deductible donation to IDA ( https://secure.ga0.org/02/idadonations_project ).


3. Two More Dog Tracks Close
Greyhound racing industry faces diminishing attendance

Good news for greyhounds! Two more racetracks have gone out of business this month, marking a trend that could foretell the eventual end of dog racing in the U.S. Ongoing political pressure from animal advocates and financial woes caused by competition from more popular forms of gambling have forced six dog tracks to close in the last three years alone, leaving only
35 working tracks in just 13 states ( http://www.grey2kusa.org/action/state.html ).

According to GREY2K USA ( http://www.grey2kusa.org/ ), a greyhound advocacy group, Florida's 75-year-old Tampa Greyhound Track announced the end of live racing at their facility this month. In addition, the Wichita Greyhound Park in Kansas announced that it will close down completely in several months due to the fact that voters rejected a ballot measure that would have allowed the owners to bring in slot machines to save their failing business. With the closure of more dog tracks, people are becoming increasingly aware of and concerned about how greyhounds exploited by this industry are suffering behind the scenes.

Though born, bred, and trained to run, these dogs spend most of their lives -- between eighteen and twenty-two hours a day -- in cages, during which they are also kept muzzled. Even though their low body fat and thin coats make greyhounds extremely sensitive to temperature, they are forced to race in all weather extremes, ranging from sweltering heat to freezing cold. Tissue injuries and bone fractures are common during races, and countless dogs have suffered spinal injuries, seizures, and death from cardiac arrest.

Get more facts about greyhound racing
( http://www.idausa.org/facts/greyhound.html ).

What You Can Do

- Never go to a greyhound race or to any race that uses animals.
Urge friends and family to avoid this form of "entertainment" as well.

- If you have the time, resources, and room in your heart and home, consider adopting a retired greyhound from a rescue organization. There are thousands of retired racing dogs in need of loving homes. Visit http://www.ngap.org for more information.


Invest in Compassion: Give a Gift that Gives Back

A Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) is a combination gift and investment that allows smart investors to increase current income while helping stop animal abuse and exploitation. When you establish a CGA, you transfer cash or securities to IDA and, in return, we pay you a guaranteed, fixed payment for the rest of your life. You can even name someone else as the beneficiary, or annuitant, of a gift annuity. Generally, the older you are when your gift annuity begins, the higher your scheduled payment. Upon your passing, or that of the last survivor of a "two-life" annuity, the principal underlying the annuity then becomes available to IDA.

The benefits of an IDA Charitable Gift Annuity include:

- The security of fixed interest income of up to 11.3% for the lifetime of you and/or a loved one.

- A charitable income tax deduction for a portion of your gift in the year it is established. Reduced capital gains taxes (if your annuity is funded with long-term, appreciated securities).

For more information on establishing a Charitable Gift Annuity (including interest rate information as proposed by the American Council on Gift Annuities), or to learn about other Planned Giving options, please contact IDA's Planned Giving Coordinator Nicole Otoupalik at (714) 389-2823 or via email at nicole [at] idausa.org .


Subscribe to IDA's Weekly eNews

Subscribe to IDA's eNewsletter to get the latest information on campaign developments and animal protection news from around the world. Visit http://ga0.org/indefenseofanimals/join.tcl to sign up.