IDA's e-news: 5/11/05

1. IDA's May 2005 Auction for the Animals
2. Greyhound Racetrack Closure Leaves Dogs In Need of Homes
3. Schedule Posted for the Animal Rights 2005 National Conference
4. Urge the House of Representatives to Pass the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act
5. IDA's Animal Guardian Volunteer Day
6. Denver's Pit Bull Ban Unfair to Dogs and Guardians


1. IDA's May 2005 Auction for the Animals

Support IDA's mission to defend the rights, welfare and habitats of animals during IDA's Auction for the Animals on eBay for the month of May. The auction gives you the opportunity to help IDA help animals while having fun bidding on a wide selection of over 250 elegant, exciting and unique items valued at more than $45,000 that have been donated to IDA for this very special online fundraising event.

While the auction started on May 1st, the second wave is going on right now and new items will be added for the third wave starting on May 15th. There are many fabulous items to bid on, including fantastic travel and accommodation packages, special celebrity memorabilia, and tickets for great entertainment and sporting events. Visit http://www.ebay.com/ida to see what's available. Once you find an item that you like, click on the link to view its description, the current bid price, and how much time is left until the bidding ends. Place your bid and keep an eye on it to make sure that, by the time the bidding ends, it's YOURS.

We are still accepting donated items to sell during the auction, so if you have an item that you would like to contribute, please contact Nicole Otoupalik at (800) 338-4451. All donations are tax deductible. If you already sell on eBay, now is a great time to designate 10-100% of your own auction proceeds to IDA by registering at http://www.missionfish.org, the partner of eBay Giving Works.


2. Greyhound Racetrack Closure Leaves Dogs In Need of Homes

The greyhound track in Plainfield, Conn. will discontinue greyhound racing, at least for the remainder of 2005, leaving many of the 500 dogs currently at the track in need of homes. Greyhound Pets of America, a non-profit greyhound rescue organization, is trying to rescue as many of these dogs as possible, and they need help immediately.

What You Can Do

- Adopt or foster a greyhound. All of the dogs in need of homes are young and healthy, between 2 and 4 years of age. Gentle, quiet, sweet, and graceful, greyhounds make wonderful family pets. They are great with kids and get along well with other animals, including cats, once they've been introduced. They are especially good dogs for apartments or small homes because when they're not running around they like to spend a lot of time snoozing and relaxing. For more information about greyhounds and adoption, visit http://www.greyhoundpets.org or call (888) 267-1099.

- Donate to Greyhound Pets of America. They need resources to care for all of the greyhounds until homes can be found for them.


3. Schedule Posted for the Animal Rights 2005 National Conference

The program schedule for the Animal Rights 2005 National Conference is now posted at http://www.ar2005.org/schedule5.html . AR 2005 features 100 sessions taking place over four days, including workshops, rap sessions, campaign reports, and high-level discussions of movement issues and tactics. The 90 presenters represent the broad political and geographic spectrum of our movement. Speakers include Lorri Bauston, Michael Budkie, Theo Capaldo, Lawrence Carter-Long, Karen Davis, Karen Dawn, Michael Greger, Tippi Hedren, Alex Hershaft, Steve Hindi, Kevin Jonas, Patrice Jones, Elliot Katz, Greg Lawson, Howard Lyman, Anthony Marr, Michael Mountain, Martin Rowe, Jerry Vlasak, Paul Watson, Persia White and many others.

Special features of the conference include newcomer orientation, California network planning, an employment clearinghouse, 90 exhibits of animal rights literature and vegan products, 80 video screenings, networking receptions, and an awards banquet.

The conference will be held at the superb Westin LAX Hotel in Los Angeles, a facility that features fabulous accommodation rates with free dog beds, cruelty-free personal care products, discounted vegan meals, low-cost parking, a free airport shuttle, and use of the hotel's magnificent Grand Ballroom and Video Theater. More than a thousand people representing 80 groups are expected to attend.

To take advantage of the current discounted rate, please visit http://www.AR2005.org/register.htm before May 15. Low-income and work discounts are still available.


4. Urge the House of Representatives to Pass the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act

Although animal fighting is illegal in virtually every state, it is still common in the U.S., fueled in part by a subculture naively fascinated with violence and killing. To combat this criminal activity, a pair of bills known as the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act has been introduced in the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Act would strengthen current federal law by authorizing felony-level jail time for the interstate and foreign commerce of fighting animals or animal fighting implements (such as knives that are strapped onto roosters' legs to ensure bloody battles). Violators convicted under this new law would face up to two years in prison.

The Senate passed its version of the bill on April 29, 2005, and now it's time for the House to do the same. Please join animal advocates across the country in the effort to enact this important legislation.

What You Can Do

Click here (http://ga0.org/campaign/HR817) to send an automatic email urging your Representative to support H.R. 817.


5. IDA's Animal Guardian Volunteer Day

IDA started Animal Guardian Volunteer Day to honor and recognize the strong emotional bonds shared by humans and companion animals. We also wanted to give people an opportunity to share their "guardian pride" by celebrating the spirit of this important relationship with other animal lovers. Last year's Animal Guardian Volunteer Day events in New York City and St. Louis drew crowds of people and companion animals as well as official recognition from elected representatives. This year, we are encouraging everyone who cares about animals to volunteer for an animal-related cause on Saturday, June 11 as a way of giving back to the animals who give so much unconditional love to us each day.

What You Can Do

- Choose a volunteer project that interests you. For example, you could walk an elderly or sick neighbor's dog, organize a fundraiser for a local shelter, present a humane education program to children or hold a pro-animal film screening. Register your event at http://www.guardiancampaign.org and IDA will mail you the Animal Guardian Day 2005 poster pictured above, which was designed by award-winning artist Patrick McDonnell, creator of the comic strip "Mutts." Also be sure to list your event on IDA's Action Calendar and in your local event calendars. Contact valerie [at] idausa.org for more information or for assistance planning your event.

- If you are a member of a grassroots animal advocacy group, promote Animal Guardian Volunteer Day by including an electronic banner or button on your website directing people to information on events taking place around the nation on June 11. You can view and download buttons and banners at http://www.guardiancampaign.com/guardian_day.htm .


6. Denver's Pit Bull Ban Unfair to Dogs and Guardians

An unjust ban on pit bulls in Denver, Colo. is forcing hundreds of loving guardians to move out of the city or give up their beloved companion animals. Enacted in April, the ban gave guardians only 30 days to remove their dogs from the city or face prosecution. The May 9 deadline has already passed, and many pit bulls relinquished by their guardians to Denver Animal Control have already been put to death.

Denver's breed-specific ban unfairly discriminates against pit bulls and their guardians based on the myth that this breed is naturally vicious. In truth, pit bulls are no more violent than other popular dog breeds. In a recent study by the American Temperament Testing Society (ATTS), pit bulls were actually found to be less aggressive than both beagles and golden retrievers on a range of behavioral measures. This is consistent with the experiences of many people who adopt pit bulls and find that they are good with children.

Unfortunately, some people exploit pit bulls by deliberately training them for dog fighting rings, fueling the misconceptions about their natural disposition. In enacting a ban on pit bulls, the Denver City Council is making scapegoats out of misunderstood animals. They are taking harmless dogs away from loving guardians while doing nothing to protect the public or stop the real problem of dog fighting. Those who abuse pit bulls are already breaking the law, and will most likely keep their dogs hidden inside rather than surrender them willingly.

What You Can Do

- Click here (http://ga0.org/campaign/PitBullBan) to send an automatic email urging the Denver City Council to reverse the ban on pit bulls and enact a dangerous dog law that would realistically protect the public. A dangerous dog law would hold individual guardians responsible for their dog's behavior, regardless of the breed, and enforce heavy fines or jail time for guardians whose dogs engage in violent behavior.

- If you or someone you know lives in Denver and has a pit bull, contact rita [at] idausa.org for help placing the dog in a temporary foster home.

- If you live in the Denver metro area, contact rita [at] idausa.org to join the effort to reverse the pit bull ban and restore the rights of guardians and their animal companions to live in the city of Denver.


Join IDA and Get a FREE Book!

IDA Distinguished Guardian honoree, Stray Rescue of St. Louis Founder Randy Grim, knows all about heartache and miracles. One dog, Cain, who later became known as Quentin the Miracle Dog after surviving a St. Louis gas chamber, forever changed Randy's life. Ever since, IDA has been proud to promote Quentin as the "poster dog" for ending the use of gas chambers in shelters and to promote our Guardian Campaign.

Randy tells Quentin's amazing story of survival and triumph in his heartwarming new book "Miracle Dog: How Quentin Survived the Gas Chamber to Speak for the Animals on Death Row." As IDA founder and president Dr. Elliot Katz writes in his introduction to the book, "I am honored to introduce you to these two very special individuals, Quentin and Randy, each in their own way performing miracles. Share in their adventures; their story will fill your heart, as it has filled mine, with love and hope. Discover how you, too, can become part of their wonderful story, their miraculous journey, and how you, too can work miracles."

IDA is pleased to offer a FREE copy of Quentin's inspirational story when you donate $30 or more to help IDA protect animals. You can give a tax-deductible contribution directly to IDA via your MasterCard or Visa using our secure donation website at https://secure.ga3.org/02/idadonations . Please type "Quentin" in the First Name field of the "in honor of" section of the form to indicate that you would like to receive the book. Or, if you prefer, you may send a check via mail to:
In Defense of Animals - Quentin Book
131 Camino Alto
Mill Valley, CA 94941

You can also make a gift over the phone with your MasterCard or Visa by calling (415) 388-9641. Please let our member services representative know that you would like a copy of this very special book when you make a gift of $30 or more to IDA.

If you'd like to find out more about supporting IDA, please visit http://www.idausa.org/supportf.html .

To learn more about Quentin's amazing story, please visit http://www.idausa.org/quentin_frame.html. To find out more about Randy Grim - "the Man who Talks to Dogs" - and his wonderful work on behalf of animals, visit http://www.strayrescue.org .

With your help we can truly make a difference for the animals!


Help Someone Kick the Meat Habit with FARM's Meatout Monday Newsletter

If you know someone who says they'd like to cut meat out of their diet but thinks it's too hard, then tell them about Meatout Mondays, a free weekly e-newsletter designed to help those who don't want to quit "cold turkey" kick the meat habit one day at a time - starting with Mondays! Easy and fun to read, Meatout Mondays encourages individuals to make changes at a pace that is comfortable for them, and is an excellent tool for introducing vegetarianism to anyone.

Every week, Meatout Mondays includes tasty vegan recipes, new product and book reviews, important health information, and inspirational stories of people who have changed their lives for the better by cutting animal products from their diets. The latest Meatout Mondays includes a brief review of T. Colin Campbell's new book, "The China Study," which details the most comprehensive study of nutrition ever conducted. Click here (http://www.meatoutmondays.org/05-05-09.htm) to read the most recent issue.

Please visit http://www.meatoutmondays.org to review past issues and to subscribe your friends and family members. Meatout Mondays is a free e-newsletter, and individuals can easily unsubscribe at any time.