Friday, October 24th, 2003
PAWS
Actionline
A weekly opportunity
to make a difference
for animals
PAWS Campaign Against Circuses That Use Performing Animals
Important Links
PAWS Animal Cruelty Resources and Links
Legislative Links
Washington State- House of Representatives
- Senate
Federal
- House of Representatives
- Senator Maria Cantwell
- Senator Patty Murray
Vote Smart is an excellent resource for all sorts of legislation.
Please direct questions or comments to info@paws.org. To unsubscribe, or subscribe to additional newsletters, please click here. If the PAWS Actionline was forwarded to you and you would like to subscribe, click here. The Actionline and other PAWS services rely entirely on your donations. Please give to PAWS.
Progressive Animal
Welfare Society
PO Box 1037
Lynnwood WA, 98046
Letters to the Editor needed re: Seattle Weekly story, "Ban It of the Apes" (October 22-28)
This weeks's Seattle Weekly included an excellent story by Philip Dawdy, entitled, "Ban it of the Apes", which discusses the possibility of a future ban on the use of chimpanzees in research in the U.S. Dawdy also goes to great lengths to shatter the myth that people who advocate on behalf of animals are "animal terrorists." You may read the story at:
www.seattleweekly.com/features/0343/031022_news_animalresearch.php
Please send letters to the editor in support of this article to: letters@seattleweekly.com
"Free to Good Home" ads endanger the animals being offered, especially around Halloween
Animals obtained from "Free to Good Home" ads are often sold to animal research laboratories, used in ritual sacrifice, or sold to dog fighting rings.
Unscrupulous people who obtain animals in this way prey upon unsuspecting pet guardians who are simply looking for a good home for their companion animal. These individuals are very good at disguising themselves and making fraudulent promises of a good home. Sometimes they go so far as to bring their children along. Those that acquire and sell these trusting animals to testing facilities are called "bunchers" because they sell the animals by the bunches, usually the same day.
If you are looking to find a new, loving home for your companion animal we recommend the following:
1) Make sure the animal is spayed or neutered to prevent future litters from being born and then having to find good, safe homes for your pets in the first place.
2) Charge at least $50-$75. This deters the people who are looking to sell the animals and make a profit.
3) Screen applicants by visiting their home and meeting their entire family, getting drivers' license numbers and social security numbers if possible, conducting reference checks (including a reference from a veterinarian), and obtaining a signed contract.
Also, this is a good time of year to call people who have placed these ads with a friendly educational message about the risk of "free to good home" ads, and a suggestion that they charge a fee for the companion animal, as well as require a signed contract.
If you would like more information or a sample contract, please contact PAWS Companion Animal Advocate, Tamar Puckett, at 425.787.2500, ext. 257, tamarp@paws.org
Spook-free Halloween for our Companion Animals
With lots of commotion during Halloween- trick-or-treaters, bell ringing and parties, it's easy to lose track of our pets during Halloween. Keep companion animals in a room with the door closed so that they can't slip out when a ghost or goblin comes to the door. Leaving your cat or dog in her favorite room with comfortable bedding and the radio on helps reduce anxiety caused by noisy groups of trick-or-treaters.
Black cats
Because of the mythology that black cats are associated with witches, cats are especially vulnerable during Halloween. Incidences of animal cruelty take place throughout the year, but black cats are more likely to be harmed at this time. Even kids who mean no harm may yell when they see a black cat, scaring the cat much more than they are scared by the cat. White and Calico cats have also been victimized during Halloween. Again, it is best to avoid these risks by keeping your cats inside.
Candy and chocolate
Keep candy away from your pets. Some types of candy can make your pets sick, and chocolate can even cause death if enough is eaten. Treat your dogs and cats to biscuits and catnip toys instead!
Taking your dog with you for tricks-or-treats should be okay if your dog is not easily spooked by strangers, is patient around children, and is kept on a leash at all times. Have fun!
National Wolf Awareness Week- October 19-26
Please join PAWS in remembering National Wolf Awareness Week. Early last century, there were over 250,000 wolves living in the lower 48 states. Tragically, the population was reduced by 99.8 percent to only 450 animals by the 1960s. Human persecution, largely due to misinformed farmers and ranchers, has been the primary reason behind removal of wolves from their territory. This week provides an excellent opportunity to dispel misconceptions about wolves, and educate the public about the important role that wolves and other predators play in maintaining biological diversity. PAWS suggests two ways that you can help wolves:
1) Eat a vegetarian diet- livestock grazing for the meat and dairy industries is one of the leading causes of wolf population decline in the U.S.
2) Tell Governor Locke that you support wolf conservation and education! For a sample letter to the Governor, visit www.defenders.org/waw/action.html
Washington Governor Gary Locke
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002
(360) 902-4111
To email the Governor, visit: www.governor.wa.gov/contact/contact.htm
To learn more about wolves and National Wolf Awareness Week, visit Defenders of Wildlife at www.defenders.org/waw
Good News: You Can Still Order Spay/Neuter Stamps from the Post Office!
Even though the spay/neuter stamps are no longer available from our
local post offices, you can still order them from 1-800-STAMP-24 for
only an additional $1.
Keep this information handy to phone in your order! Let's help make the spay/neuter stamp the #1 seller in history so that the Post Office will design more stamps with an animal-friendly message!
