PAWS Suicide Erasers Back in the Saddle for 2005!
2005 is going to be a great year for the PAWS Suicide Erasers! Our 2005 program launches today with an all-out assault on the barbaric and senseless Omak Stampede and World-Famous Suicide Race. In the last 20 years that PAWS has monitored the Suicide Race, 20 horses have died. In 2004, three horses were killed in the first heat alone!

Washington law prohibits the "injury or death of animals for amusement or gain." If horses racing at Emerald Downs were to die at the same rate as horses in the Suicide Race- one horse in every four races- it would be shut down immediately. What makes the horses of Omak unworthy of the same protection?

PAWS has been in contact with corporate sponsors of the Omak Stampede to ask that they withdraw their support until the Suicide Race is cancelled. You'll be surprised to see how they responded! PAWS has also sent notice of the 2005 Suicide Erasers kickoff to local and national animal welfare and equine advocacy and rescue organizations. Combined, we are confident our efforts will lead to a victory for the horses of Omak.

Please visit the new Suicide Erasers web site at www.suiciderace.com to sign up as a Suicide Eraser and find out what you can do to stop the Omak Suicide Race. The web site features shocking videos of the race, a contact list of corporate sponsors, an Omak FAQ, downloadable brochures, race history and much, much more.

Please forward this notice far and wide and help stop this gruesome excuse for "entertainment" once and for all!

Ask Local High School to Scrap Plans to Abuse Donkeys
South Whidbey High School is hosting a donkey basketball game June 5th. The game is being sponsored by the local Eagles Club as a fundraiser for a local charity. Please contact both the school and the Eagles, asking them to cancel this event and replace it with a cruelty-free fundraiser.

Donkey basketball is not a sport, nor is it entertainment. Donkeys used in such events endure mishandling by participants including being punched, whipped and kicked by frustrated riders who don't know the donkeys have been trained to do nothing unless given a special signal. Food and water are also withheld from the animals to prevent them from urinating or defecating on slippery gym floors.

Robert Brown, Superintendent
South Whidbey School District
P.O. Box 346
721 Camano Ave.
Langley, WA 98260
360-221-6100
360-221-3835 (fax)

Fraternal Order of Eagles #3418
16691 Hwy. 525
Freeland, WA 98246
360-321-5636

Thanks for Protecting Animals in the 2005 Washington Legislative Session!
2005 was a banner year for animal-friendly legislation in Washington State. Thanks to everyone who took the time to contact your Senators and Representatives.

PAWS has compiled a list of Washington State bills and their status to date which can be viewed here.

The end of our state legislative session marks the beginning of the U.S. legislature, so please contacting your local legislators to comment on national legislation. Here are some the current bills you should know about:

Increasing national penalties for animal fighting. This bill has passed the U.S. Senate and will be heard in the House soon. Please make your voice heard!

The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act and the Wild Horse Act Write now to reinstate protections for wild horses!

The Captive Primate Safety Act Help prohibit the interstate and foreign commerce in primates for the pet trade.

The Sportsmanship in Hunting Act Put the lid on canned hunting once and for all!

Add Chickens and Turkeys to the Humane Slaughter Act! Ask Congress to amend federal law so that poultry will be included under the basic protection afforded to livestock in the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act.

Uphold the USDA Ban on "Downer" Cattle Do not allow sick animals to become part of the U.S. food supply!

Support Animal Welfare Enforcement Funding Make sure there's adequate funding to enforce new and existing animal welfare laws.

All rights reserved. ©2005 Progressive Animal Welfare Society