A great opportunity to make a difference for animals

A Close Call for the Horses of Omak

Someone was looking out for the horses of Omak at this past weekend’s finals of the World Famous Suicide Race. Thankfully no deaths occurred. Still, it’s both sad and disturbing that despite our pleas year after year to end this inhumane race, event organizers continue to trade notoriety and cash over humane treatment of their horses. What will it take to put this senseless event to an end—more horse deaths or human deaths?

What you can still do

Please take a moment to let the organizers of the Omak Stampede and Suicide Race, the PRCA rodeo agency that sanctions and promotes them, and the elected officials who ignore requests from constituents to prosecute them, know what you think of this “race.” Year after year, horses have died solely to bring cash to the town of Omak. The basic fact is the self-stated goal of the race is suicide. The horses pay with their lives. Misinformation can no longer shield the Omak Stampede—it’s time this race is stopped for good! Act now, and let’s make 2006 the last year the Suicide Race is run.

Read the July 21st PAWS Actionline protesting the Omak Suicide Race.

Write or Contact:

1. Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association
   101 Pro Rodeo Drive
   Colorado Springs, CO 80919-2301
2. Dale Sparber, Mayor, City of Omak
   Email: mayor@omakcity.com
   Phone: 509.826.1170
   Address: 2 North Ash Street
   PO Box 72
   Omak, WA 98841
3. Omak Stampede and Suicide Race
   Email: stampede@northcascades.net
   Phone: 509.826.1983
   Toll-Free: 1.800.993.6625
   Address: PO Box 2028
   Omak, WA 98841

Abused and neglected birds still need your help in Pierce County.

Thank you for your hard work supporting the proposed Pierce County Aviary Ordinance, which would require bird aviaries to be licensed and inspected. Your letters, emails and phone calls were a great collective effort. Unfortunately, Pierce County Council’s Public Safety and Human Services Committee voted against moving toward the ordinance, 3-2. The committee instead voted for the development of an Aviculture Advisory Commission. While the composition of the commission is still weighted heavily in favor of the commercial bird breeding industry, representation from the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County and animal control has been included. Which representatives will serve on the commission, and when the first meeting date will happen, are to be determined.

Please take a moment to thank the Chair of the committee, Barbara Gelman, for her efforts on the proposed ordinance and continue to encourage all members of the Pierce County Council to protect exotic birds.

We need to show we will not give up our fight to protect exotic birds, and in this case specifically, parrots in Pierce County. Please contact ALL of the council members and ask them to:

1. Set a date for the first Aviculture Advisory Commission meeting AND
2. To include a date when the commission will submit recommendations pertaining to an ordinance.

The entire council still needs to hear how you feel about this issue. Your participation at any upcoming commission meetings is also still very important to demonstrate your commitment to enforcing humane treatment of exotic birds in Pierce County. Follow the actions of the council on their website. Council members’ contact information is provided here for more information.

Read the July 7 th PAWS Actionline on protecting exotics in Pierce County and at the Scudder’s Parrot Depot.

For everything you do for the animals, thank you!